mackel

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

Harold.... you are 100% correct.

Now this could get me in trouble BUT... I don't think Crosby will top Wayne's record(s) and its not for a lack of ability/talent... reason being GOALTENDING, most backups in the league currently are far better than many of the starter's in the 80s (due in part to equipment). If you look at film from the 80's look at some of the goals scored in that era on what were considered above average goalies like Liut, Hrudy, Fuhr, etc Their were many goals scored on what now are considered to be routine stops, thanks to the butterfly. The good old pad stack looks pretty sad by comparison. AM

Its rare that I or anyone else can honestly say this... but a good game from Ozzie tonight. AND #3 should die!

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.