haroldsnepsts

Definitely. As I've said in the past, I'd be celebrating if Ericsson took a crosschecking penalty for knocking someone's head off in the crease. He needs to find the line by going over it. So far, he hasn't even come close. They need to make him watch 500 hours of video of Pronger in front of his own net.

And most importantly, clear the crease. Our opponents had free reign around the Wing's net last season.

All he did was point out that it was hypothetical. Then made a joke about the poster not seeing many trades in the 80s (and he even included an emoticon). so compared to your post, exactly how is that trolling? The Oates and Lindros trades were definitely a hell of a lot worse than this one would be. Other than apparently being a fan of one of the biggest douchebags in hockey, I can't see how this guy did anything wrong. And LGW could use some fans from other teams, if they're sensible and respectful. That's been in short supply here. Everyone gets their hackles up just because someone had a hypothetical question about trading Zetterberg, and an apparent Hawks fan commented on it? When did we get so insecure about this team we couldn't tolerate that? As I said before, there's not a ton going on in hockey right now. What's the harm in a hypothetical trade thread that's not completely outlandish (because it's not, in terms of talent)?

Sorry, I probably could've been clearer. I skipped Helm and Eaves because they're our #1 and #2 guys. Miller and Malts were three and four. Drapes only averaged 27 seconds a game on the PK, even with all the injuries. So if last season were an indication, Babcock would put Flip, Cleary, Z and Dats all in before him. With secondary scoring, Hudler is back and needs to step up. And assuming the Wings stay healthy, they need more scoring from the guys they're paying to do that. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Flip, Hudler, Franzen. So I'm just saying with the money that's left, I think the things the Wings need more than a guy like Modano is that Dman and physical winger. They've already got a lot of cap money tied up in scoring. It just wasn't there last year, largely due to health.

Because that proves what exactly? It's the same tired old response. Just because they don't play in the Cup playoffs doesn't mean they're not relevant. Time and time again, Babcock and Wings players have said how they appreciate having those guys on their team. No, not just because they're being diplomatic. It probably has something to do with the fact that when you have a guy like that dressed, a douchebag like Perry is much less likely to cheapshot you after the play. And over the course of an 82 game regular season, that's a lot less cheapshots you have to put up with. I don't know how many different ways players can say they like that those guys are out there and have their back. Players play bigger when there's someone who can fight on the team. You can see it happen. They're less afraid to muck it up because they know they won't be out there alone. zero games in the playoffs does not equal zero value to the team. Exactly. We don't need to be the 07 Ducks. But right now we have less grit than the 08 Wings. And to say for the thousandth time, I'd prefer the Wings get a guy who can fight and play the game. But right now they don't even have anyone who can fight really. E is big, but not a fighter. Abby is scrappy and shows heart, but hasn't really shown a lot. Lillypads is likely gone and he was never that great either. EDIT: I'm trying to remain civil, but this is probably the wrong night for me to be discussing the need for toughness on the Wings. R.I.P. Probie. I miss the days of those Red Wings.

I disagree with that statement, because I think while it doesn't take a roster spot away from that D-man, it could take some of the money he could use to get a higher quality Dman than he otherwise might. How much is that 6th Dman going to cost, assuming it's not Lillypads? A tough stay at home guy who can kill penalties and mentor E. Those are all great qualities in a defenseman. And while I agree Miller is replaceable, if we're swapping him with Modano, then the Wings lose their number 3 PK guy, because Modano doesn't do that anymore. If Maltby's gone too, he was right behind Miller in PK minutes. So now you're looking at Cleary, Flip, Dats or Z picking up more PK minutes, when we want them to be scoring. Abby may pick up some minutes eventually, but I dont' think it'll be soon. As for the guy who can fight and play the game a little, that's a broader wish I have in terms of Holland's priorities. Once again, it's basically an afterthought with him so all the Wings can afford is someone off the scrap heap who will play half a season and limited minutes. If it were a priority, he could find that player and fit him into the Wings lineup, and I would believe it would make the Wings a better team.

What's my point? I was directly responding to the comment below. Here, I'll connect the dots for you. He's making it sound like physical play is some bygone era. I was pointing out that physical, gritty, nasty teams are still successful in the current NHL. Just because it's been 10 years since the Wings played that way doesn't mean that's true for the rest of the league. And while the Wings weren't overly physical when they won the Cup, they were definitely more physical than the current lineup.

Meech? I'm just worried that Holland is going to spend the money and roster spot on Modano, who we don't really need, at the cost of picking up a guy who can fight and play the game a little. Because to be clear, I'd rather Holland spend some money getting a good fighter who can play, rather than picking someone up that'll play 5 minutes a night 40 games for one season. Which, we had Downey and Drake when the Wings won the Cup. Even though Downey only played 56 games, that made the Wings tougher than the current lineup.

The Flyers just made it to the Cup finals and they had more PIMS than any team other than Tampa in the regular season. The Ducks won the Cup in 07 and had a whopping 1427 PIMs. Those are two nasty, gritty teams. It's not like we're talking ancient history here. That style of play is still relevant and can be successful. And I like Abby a lot, but if it's up to him, then we're in trouble. He should be "another guy on the Wings who fights" not "THE guy on the Wings who fights." And if there was another toughguy in a the Winged Wheel, Abby would play even bigger. I'm hoping that the Boogaard deal won't inflate prices for enforcers, because that deal was so ridiculously awful.

I actually like Getzlaf, but the more I see him, the more I wonder if our perspective of him here might actually be a bit inflated, because for whatever reason the guy kills the Wings singlehandedly. There's no denying he's a great player. But it seems like he often brings his best when he plays the Wings. I've heard from some Ducks fans about him disappearing for long stretches and having some lazy tendencies. I'd love to have him on the Wings, but at the cost of Zetterberg? Not so much. EDIT: and why did the OP get so many minuses just for making this suggestion? It was pretty good idea for a thread and elicited discussion here when there's not much else going on.

Hopefully it falls through. Seriously. I've been a big Modano fan over the years, but if signing Mike is Holland's one big move, I'm going to be pissed. The Wings badly need a bottom pairing guy, ideally someone big and physical who will clear the crease. Sure Modano could be a decent addition to this team, but it shouldn't come at the cost of a defenseman and/or grinding forward (who hopefully can fight).

RIP Probie. Arguably the greatest enforcer the game ever had. I started watching the Wings in the mid-80s, and man was Probert one of the reasons to watch. Yzerman was the Wing's offense, and he got so much room out there because of #24. It would've been too easy to take a run at Stevie Y if they didn't have to answer to Probert. Bob's 87-88 season was the best ever for an enforcer of his caliber. I'll never forget seeing him in the all-star game with Yzerman. He didn't know what to do out there because you don't really hit guys in the All star game. 74 games, 29 Goals, 33 assists for 62 points while amassing 398 PIM. In the playoffs that year he led the team with 8 goals and 13 assists for 21 points in 16 games (that was the year of Yzerman's knee injury). It was a record held by Probert until Fedorov broke it in the mid 90s, I think. Sad day for the Red Wings. Sad day for hockey.

That's pretty much it. They gamed the cap. It worked because they won the Cup, but it's no surprise a whole lot of people are enjoying watching them get dismantled.

The quotes about Maltby should ease some people's fears a bit.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts on the matter.

Maybe they had to outbid the Islanders, who probably wanted to sign him to a 20 year $30 million deal?? I guess the good news is, his lost salary will be a nice contribution to the Player's Emergency Fund when he get suspended. I'm just thankful he didn't end up on the Wings at any price.

At 1 million, it would be tempting. But I still don't know the intangibles are worth it. I guess I'd just like the Wings to pick up a few tangibles, like a solid D man and someone who will drop the gloves. And Holland's implication aside, exactly what is our bottom pairing right now? Ericsson Meech?

I'm a big Modano fan and hope he gets to keep playing somewhere if he's got hockey left in him, just not Detroit. Given the cap/roster situation, I just don't think he's what this team needs right now. Even for a year.

I've always been a Modano fan. That being said, I don't think he's a good fit for Detroit. He's just not what we need right now.

Because they've sucked for so long? Old habits die hard. Seriously the benefit of being that awful is drafting the likes of Kane and Toews. Any team with those two and Keith probably isn't going to suck. Any team with those three that can piece together a decent supporting cast will be good. Especially when you throw in Hossa, you know they'll be good in the regular season. I think some of the fixation people have on watching the Hawks Cup team get dismantled is because they had a crazy amount of talent on that team, in great part because of the contract situations of their young players. Everyone knew a day of reckoning would come when those players got contracts at their market value. Those days are here now. Not to mention it's just a reflex to hate the Hawks. In a weird way it's nice that they're a team worthy of hating again.

I disagree, as re-signing Chelios in part did force them into a decision, but I don't want to rehash the whole Quincey debacle. As for Maltby, I'm withholding judgement until he actually gets signed, retires, or signs elsewhere. And as I've stated, I love all that Maltby has done for this team in the past, but he doesn't offer anything Miller, Eaves or other players don't. It's time for the Wings to let him go.

This. If Holland says he made an offer months ago, he very likely did. I don't know that Lilja will be on the team or not, but this sounds more like posturing from the agent more than anything else.

I voted none of the above, as the Wings don't really have that great of a fighter to speak of. So it's hard for me to call one of them the best. I also voted no on enforcer, but only because I would rather Holland go out and get a player that can fight, hit, and play some hockey. Yes they'll cost more, but if they're going to take up a roster spot, it'll be better for the team than an aging enforcer they get for cheap who will only play 5 minutes a game for 40 games a season.

Minus some of the douchiness of guys like Perry, I wholeheartedly agree. I would love for the Wings to be more like the Ducks were. The year the Ducks won the Cup, I'm pretty sure they also had the most penalties in the league. I'd love to watch a Wings team that beat you as they beat you.

I was born and raised in and around Detroit, started watching the team when they were the Dead Things. So it'd take a lot for me to stop following them. Moving to another city, changing identity would definitely do it though. Mostly because I'd be so pissed.