mackel

I wonder... if Minnie would part with either Backstrom or Fernandez either guy would work well for a few years as Howard hopefully devlopes and takes over.

I agree, BUT if the wings can sign a proven start goalie with playoff experience, they should. I'm not sold on Howard, atleast not yet... at the very least he needs another year starting in the AHL before hes good to go.

OR maybe hes been looking at the stats and realizes that Howard needs time an may never materialize... 23 Jimmy Howard Grand Rapids Griffins 30 1677 841 78 3 2.79 0.907 14 12 1 In fact Drew MacIntyre who we gave away is doing much better: 4 Drew MacIntyre Manitoba Moose 27 1443 681 54 2 2.24 0.921 14 7 2

The one quirk of the NHL standings that drives me wild is the ranking by division... this means a team with fewer points can be ranked higher than a non division leading team with more points. Case and point: 1. Nashville 77 2. Anaheim 74 3. Calgary 65 <---- 4. Detroit 76 5. San Jose 71 6. Dallas 66 7. Vancouver 64 8. Minnesota 62 Some people will say that this is because some divisions are stronger than others... personally I think that's BS... you have to win the games if not then you didn't its that simple.... Calgary should by all rights be 6th in the conference.

If we were to trade for him who would we move? What can we offer? The only tradeable assests we have are picks... I doubt that will do. Which may be where the no trade part of the equation comes into play but...

If you want to trade with Islanders, you MUST pick-up Hunter. If you want to trade with Penguins, you MUST pick-up Malone. Hunter would be a fine pickup... IMO

I'd like to see us trade Dats with a pick to the Isles for Mark Parrish (holding out) and another player maybe Eric Godard or Mattias Weinhandl... and then sign Hank to a decent deal. This maybe doable.... it is Milbury afterall... We're likely going to need to trade him for another hold out to get full value... why would a team trade a player under contract for an ass who won't sign with his current club... especially when the player wants money he's not earned to this point in his career.

Its interesting that people are assuming we will be paying our back-up more than our starter... Who's to say Manny will be the back-up? Both goalies are relatively equal in skill and ability... it seems as though the Wings will ride the hot goalie ala what the Wild have done with Fernendez and Roloson.

We should sign Sean Burke and platoon him with Legace... cheap and effective goaltending.... and perhaps by the end of the year work in MacDonald, Howard, or someone else as Manny approaches UFA status next summer.

Bondra is a pure scorer and would be a nice addition... if for nothing else other that the shootout. -M