YoungGuns1340

Franzen would never in his life center a line with Zetterberg on it. Center is Zetterbergs natural position. Not LW. Despite what NHL.com says. Same with Datsyuk. Especially when Filppula is not a good distributing center. Franzen - Zetterberg - Hossa Filppula - Datsyuk - Holmstrom But really, I couldnt give two s***s about what our line combos look like. We'll have kick-ass lines regardless, and they'll be tossed around early in the season to find the perfect fit as it is.

Please. Thats a stupid reason if I ever heard one. If he changed his mind in the middle of free agency while Pittsburgh is banking on not having some 7 million in cap space because of re-signing Hossa, I can understand. But Hossa had the respect to tell them he'd test the market well before July 1st. Its nothing but sour grapes around the league. Not only is our team better, but our GM is too. And can I just point something out here that NO ONE seems to bring up in these discussions? He was with the Penguins for four months Whoop-dee-do. He doesnt owe them anything.

Just cause Hossa and his agent laughed about, doesn't mean Rich Winter didn't head straight to a shooting range after he left his meeting with Hossa. Winter lost out on a TON of money. Of course hes pissed.

Milbury ripped Tiger apart and he didnt even know the guy. Imagine when theres incentive for MM to rip a guy apart...Id probably cry too.

Point me in the direction where I said Holland was sure to overpay for Filppula?

They havent made the switch to digital cable yet??

I see him as a good defensive forward. But a mediocre offensive forward. And on the Red Wings you have to have both to be, and get paid like, a fantastic player.

I'm not sure why you responded to my post in that way, other than if you competely missed my point. Let me spell it out for you: 1) I wasn't mocking Filppula, I was mocking HC, because I don't ever expect Filppula to put up "fantstic" numbers. 2) I dont care if Filppula asks for 100 million or 1 million. All I care is if Filppula comes asking for big money on a long term contract that we turn him down. See point 1 for my reasoning on that.

We'll see if Val can put up "fantastic" numbers then. Thankfully if it goes to arbitration, it'll be a one year deal. And if Val really proves hes worth the "fantastic" claims, then we can sign him long-term after he proves it. If not, we can possibly go the route of re-signing Hossa.

Haha chill. Im well aware that we signed Conklin, but its yet to be seen if Sabourin will be their full time back-up. I would guess they're still going to make a move for a different back-up. Edit: And you're right, I would guess that back-up wont be as good as Conklin was for them..

The Pens just signed Cooke too. Thats probably the only player they upgraded on. Cooke > Ruutu Hossa >>> Satan Malone >> Fedotenko Laraque > Godard. Am I forgetting others?

I think you missed the initial post... Did Mapletoft ever play for the Leafs? I wish Red Berenson would be chosen as our assistant coach..

But he didn't go after Yzerman again...

Most of whats available on the free market right now is crap. So I would think any viable enforcer would come via trade.

Well I suppose they can come in use during pre-arbitration negotiations, should Filppulas party want to use contracts as such for his negotiations. I also forgot Chris Kelly: 30 points - 2.125M. Svatos' and Vermettes contracts could possibly be seen as comparable as well.

Of course.

Filppula will be a RFA after next season. He won't be 27 years old, and he won't have 7 years of service in the NHL.

That was last year. This is this year. Filppula: 36 points - ? Steen: 42 points - 1.7M Hagman: 41 points - 3M Pavelski: 40 points - 1.64M Laich: 37 points - RFA Gaustad: 36 points - 2.3M Paille: 35 points - RFA Tucker: 34 points - 2.25M Fedotenko: 33 points - 2.25M Avery: 33 points - 3.9M Metropolit: 33 points - 1M Ruutu: 33 points - 2.5M Bernier: 32 points - RFA Backes: 31 points - 2.5M Ryder: 31 points - 4M I listed some players who haven't signed yet, but their signings would likely influence arbitration if they were to happen prior to Flips potential hearing. For the salaries listed there, the average number is 2.25M, which is a fairly good estimate for Flip. If Holland and co. dont get something figured out before arbirtration, it shouldnt be too rough..

The thing is, arbiters are not allowed to infer whether or not a player is overpaid. They can't look at Vanek and say, "well hes making 7 million, but he only scored 60 some points, so hes overpaid and cant be used as a rule of thumb." Instead what they have to do under arbitration rules is say "well, Vaneks GM paid him 7 million, and hes only a 60 point player, so I have to take into account that 60-some point players can garner 7 million." Fortunately, Vanek is a poor example and is in now way a comparable player to Filppula. But you get the point. And fortunately as well, arbitration is stat based and Filppulas game lies mostly in the intangibles..

Haha thats pretty true. Thats kind of why Im bummed we didnt get Laraque. He seems to fit the Red Wing enforcer mould but in the end he went for more than we could afford..

I dont particularly have a criteria. My only criteria is that I want more than Downey. Either I want Downey AND a guy like Boogard or McGrattan or Ivanens, or Id want a guy like Carcillo (pretty sure hes taken on some heavies. I know he threw down with Ivanans..), Neil, Laraque, Tollefson, etc. Obviously we dont need more Dmen like Ole, but you get the point.

I never said a guys presence on the bench couldnt have an impact. Go back and read my posts. Where you and I differ is that I think if you have a guy on the bench, he should have a bigger reputation than what Downey carries.

Late in the game when the Wings have a 5 goal ROAD lead where they dont have the advantage of second line change and you've got King roaming, along with Jackman, Walker, etc? Yeah actually I would expect them to see fewer minutes. Especially when the risk of injury would be high AND we'd get railed for "running up the score". Also, keep in mind your little scenario here is based on the hypothetical that the Wings would NOT have a fighter (class regardless) in the lineup.

I was never against that. What I am against however is just signing Downey and having him sit out half the season and then have no one else on the ice for the other 40 games that can throw down and only Downey on paper to secure some revenge. Ideally Detroit trades Sammy or Lilja for a guy like Neil and then brings back Downey or Dmac (and yeah, I actually do prefer Downey) so that we have all bases covered.

What are you talking about? At what point? Do you mean the game where the Red Wings beat the Blues 5-0 and King was a healthy scratch? Was it that game?