haroldsnepsts

With White and Commodore in the lineup, it seems like Babcock can spread the minutes around even more than he was able to last year. Hopefully that means Lidstrom's will come down a little more.

You shouldn't really compare a defenseman's contract to forwards. Different roles, different teams, different market value. Ericsson was overpayment that hopefully he may earn one day soon, but there's plenty of examples of overpayment when you look at the UFA's that are defenseman.

Don't know a ton about him, but seems like a decent signing at a good price. He's not gonna replace Rafalski's offense really, but with him, Commodore, and Ericsson, at least there's not some options on the bottom three of the blueline, and potential for guys to step up.

With Ericsson's new contract, there's no way anyone could be a bigger whipping boy than him. He was the biggest one this year as a #5 guy making 900k. Next season they'll probably bash him for not stepping onto the ice correctly for his very first shift.

Yes that's what I thought you were saying, because you kept saying he'd be taking Rafalski's place. He won't be. I totally understand being concerned about Ericsson sliding up to the #4 spot and agree with your last statement.

Right. As in "If we don't find another top 4 defenseman, Ericsson will fill that role..." AS A TOP FOUR DEFENSEMAN. AS IN #4. That does not equal "Ericsson will fill Rafalski's role." He is not saying Ericsson will fill Rafalski's role. He doesn't even come close to saying that. You guys are making a massive assumption.

Exactly. In his own post he has Kronwall in the #2 spot. Talk about trying to stir s*** up.

It's likely nobody noticed because it doesn't necessarily mean either of those things. Ericsson will not be Rafalski's replacement, even if they don't sign another defenseman. He'd fulfill the #4 spot and Kronwall will likely take on a more offensive role to fill the void left by Rafalski.

Stuart is a better overall D-man, but Ericsson has a better first pass than Stuart. No he isn't.

This is what the Wings blueline desperately needs and I hope Commodore brings some of it. Assuming he does, hopefully Ericsson and Kindl will be taking notes.

Why exactly does Janik deserve a shot? He's a known quantity to the Wings and is basically a career AHL'er. Short of making some magical transformation as a 30 year old, if Janik is in the lineup it probably means the Wings defensive corps is in a seriously bad way. This. For the hundredth time, he is not a Rafalski replacement. He is a Salei replacement and should be an upgrade.

Commodore doesn't prove your point. He's a defensive defenseman taking the 6th/7th spot. Like it or not, with Rafalski gone, Ericsson is one of the Wings best puck moving defenseman behind Lids and Kronwall.

Boom? Holland signed Commodore to replace Salei. He's an overpaid bottom pairing defenseman that Columbus wanted to get rid of. They'll still be paying half his salary and the Wings get him on the cheap for a year so they take a chance on a guy with some issues. If Holland hadn't signed Ericsson, he'd still have a 19 minute hole in his lineup and be missing a #4/5 guy. You don't get that for $1 million. Waiting around and trying to fit some deal into your vague prediction doesn't somehow make you right.

It adds an experienced, big, physical bottom pairing D man. The Wings needed that. For $1 million for $1 year, Commodore could turn out to be a bargain.

I knew there was some history between Commodore and Babcock. Sounds like it's basically Commodore holding some grudge against Babcock that Babs doesn't even remember. He better show up to camp in shape though, that's for sure. uh, so you blame babcock but admit you were drinking 3 or 4 nights a week? Shocking that your coach would question your commitment. Let's hope he's learned his lesson. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/01/27/jackets_1-27.ART_ART_01-27-09_C1_M8CMUVB.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101

Honestly I didn't think Salei played with the edge I was hoping he would. I don't know how nasty Commodore is to play against most shifts. He will drop the gloves on occasion. If you guys are thinking of this as Holland's big move, then I get being disappointed. But the Wings needed a bottom pairing guy to replace Salei and they got a decent one for cheap, who could turn out to be a steal. And if he doesn't, it's one year.

Commodore is actually 6'5" and 235 lbs. As someone already mentioned, hopefully this will be another successful Holland reclamation project. He's slow, but could he really be slower than Salei?

Are you being serious? He won't be our #2 guy. I'm not a Commodore fan, but he's big, can play on the PK and PP and is a RH shot. For one year for $1 mill, it's a decent signing as a bottom pairing guy. If you think of it as a replacement for Salei, it's an upgrade. Now let's see how him and Babs get along....

Did you seriously just quote a James Taylor song for Derek Meech?

Who do you have for 4-7? Lids, Stuart, Kronwall for top 3. then E likely as 4 or 5. Then?

I want to believe that, but right now the Wings blueline is the same as last year, minus Rafalski and probably Salei. Raf leaves a huge hole, and there aren't really guys left to fill it.

There isn't. He doesn't exist. If he did, Ericsson would not have gotten what he did.

Is Devereaux available?

I didn't see O'Donnell had gone to the Hawks today. Old guy, but I wouldn't have minded having him as the #6 guy. His experience could've helped settle down the kids a little. And the Hawks got him for only 850k.

Just signed with the Flyers.