mackel

Their is a simple reason for that, he does suck... He makes a few good saves here and there granted, but he lets in way too many softies to make up for them. He is good value for money compared to other starters in the league but you get what you pay for. In a case where the defence infront of him isn't in lock-down mode he is exposed as the weak link that he is.... see the All-Star game last year, talented ofensive players and not much real defence being played. He got roasted worse than the other goalies on the Western squad (or Eastern for that matter) and it took him 2 months to get back in form (limited though that form is). Moving forward this team needs to invest some money in a decent starting goalie, Howard by all accounts is being out played by Larsson meaning our best goalie prospects are 3-4 years from NHL play, Osgood is getting older and his limited skills are obviously in decline and Conklin is a career backup (see Manny Legace).

I don't remember mentioning Mike Vernon.... I thought we were talking about Chris OsBad

Yes and one Roy can do it with a team that doesn't compare to an All-Star team, while Osgood needs lock-down defence and a lethal offence. Good comparison you may want to try again, and next time try sticking to reality.

Thats like comparing a Warship (Roy) to a Row-Boat (Osgood).

These topics really get me going, and until now I've been fighting the urge to reply but I just can't bit my tongue anymore. First off let me say I've been a wings fan since 1990 ( I was 10 years old at that time), through the good times and the bad... I am as much a fan as anyone on this board... BUT this notion that not liking a player on your team makes you less of a fan is really getting under my skin. I'm not, nor have I ever been a "fan" of Chris Osgood, he is an interchangeable part of this team. We've never won a cup because of Osgood, but there is a good case to be made that we've won a few in spite of him. Osgood played well last year not great, not awesome, but ok, good enough as usual. Osgood is playing terribly this season, his record this season just proves the point of those reasonable, objective fans, who, for years have said his numbers are propped up by the team surrounding him. "His win" last night was a farce, he needed (and almost wasted) a 6 goal performance by his team. He looked like a fish out of water yet his record on the season improved with another tick in the win column. But all of this talk is irrelevant... We have no cap room to get a better goalie and we know that Osgood will start in the playoffs because of our two goalies he has experience in the playoffs. We just have to hope that our team can compensate for this obvious weak point as it has in the past.

If Drake retires what about bringing in Shean Donovan as his replacement... this guy can be clutch and should come dirt cheap. Thoughts?

How about HASEK for NOT being a CANCER in the room... lol On a more serious note... although I'm not a fan of his, the answer is obvious... OSGOOD.

How do you know that? Its just as likely that these guys will be rusty, or depending on the injury more prone to getting re-injured.

How is it a weak argument? Right at the moment this team is in shambles... we look worse than the Leafs. What player with any say would want to come into an uncertain situation when they have the choice of a surging team in Anaheim... Its a bery sound argument, and one I'm sad is a reality.

Yes and their is no guarantee that any of these players will be back at full capacity before the playoffs... in fact at our current rate of slippage its mathematically possible we wont mak ethe playoffs. I'm simply making the point that a player like Sundin maybe more likely to go to another top team without the issues the wings currently have.

Here's a good question, why would anyone waive a "No Trade" to come to Detroit?? With the tailspin the team is in and the rash of injuries we've had... We are really in a weak position as far as being a desired desitination don't you think?

The two forwards I'd most like to see us land are: Olli Jokinen and/or Vaclav Prospal Each player is close in age to our core players and in the case of Jokinen he's signed for a year or two afterward. Personally I view him as a younger already signed version of Sundin. But the elephant in the room here is our lack of depth on "D". Again we are one or at most two injuries on "D" away from a disaster. I think we need to add a couple of guys to slot into the 4-5 holes as needed. Lillypads as the 7th "D" would be ideal.

We don't need scoring, we need defencemen... Chelly is too old for an expanded role and Quincy and Meech are just not ready for the big time (and may never be). Scoring will pick back up once the team feels it can play without worring that we'll have a terrible give away every shift.

PLEASE NOTE: The Cup will be awarded in June... we need not 1 but 2 quality defencemen.... not all stars but guys that can play solid hard hitting "D" eg. Steve Staios

Trading a D-man is not something I think will happen, instead I think we'll be trading for D-men.... We have the best D in the league, but its not very deep. Meech/Quincy are not guys I'd want to have to count on in the 3rd round if someone gets injured, they lack playoff experience. On that note, did Danny Markov ever sign anywhere? I wonder if he'd be a depth option for a couple of months at 750 for the rest of the year?

Does anyone know who the 1st rounds we traded turned out to me?

I'm on record as not being a huge Ozzie fan BUT that being said if he has the numbers why should he not win the Veznia, this argument that he plays on a great team is foolishness. Maybe the team is playing well due in part to his efforts, the NHL is notorious for rewarding mediocrity and not recognizing those who should be.

Hey Guys how's sopel looking in camp... any idea if he'll make our club?

If Steve Yzerman was offered the GM position in Toronto I hope he takes it. I think he would do an excellent job, his loyalty to our team has been more than proven. That being said he needs to think of his own career and to turn down an opportunity to be a GM with an original 6 team would be stupid. And out hurt feelings would heal.

Obviously you don't watch baseball on TSN with Rod Black doing comentary.... If I watch a Jays game I have to have the mute button on... Rod Black = HORRID. <END RANT>

Chris Osgood was an average goalie on a great team, hence he won 2 cups... only 1 as the starter. In my opinion he was the weakest starting goalie to win a cup in the 1990's. In other words, Osgood was carried by his team and not the other way around as his fans would try and lead us to believe. AM

I think the best look on defence would be: Lids/Kronwall Rafalski/Markov Lebda/Chelios Lily, Quincey (7/8)

The OSGOOD blinders are on big time... He was once a good enough starter on the best team in the NHL and his numbers were a product of team effort. At this point he could not be a starter on a good team, because with him in net it would not be a good team. So what if he has 300 wins thats all on the past!

At this point in his career Osgood is just looking for a paycheque... his best days are long in the past. He is a capable backup and that's about it.

Its been confirmed at TSN.ca 5 years 30 Million