Heaton

Another top 6 forward would be nice, but I don't think it's needed. We scored fine last year in the playoffs (save some powerplays) and this year we're 1st in scoring across the board. If we can get Hossa, Sundin or whomever I'd be all for it (within trading reason) but I don't think it's 100% necessary. As for another top 4 defensemen, I agree, but the thing is they actually have to be better than what we have. People rag on Lilja, but if we bring in someone who isn't as good on the PK what's the point? This season Lilja has been far and away our 2nd best penalty killing defensemen, I love Chelios but Lilja has stepped up big time. Obviously it's not for sure that Lilja would even sit out but just making a point. I'd still like to get Blake, I'd trust him more with the puck and he's battle tested and knows what it takes. It would give the Left/Right combos all the way down and it would take Samuelsson off the point on the 2nd unit.

Because he's a career minor leaguer.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3218517 Heart warming to Horrific.

Holland doesn't trade players he signs to 5 year deals. Holland knew his injury history before he signed him, Kronwall turned a huge corner this year, he won't be traded, ever.

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/2008/01...r-kronwall.html Week to 10 days, no call up needed.

The ironic part is I don't think Brashear has ever really had to stand up for Ovechkin mostly because Ovechkin is doing the hitting.

How long?

Maybe we should wait until Matthais actually does something at the NHL level before we anoint him some great player. It's one thing to dominant at the junior level when you're bigger than everyone else, it's quite another thing to dominant at the NHL level when everyone is your size or bigger. Not to mention that Florida is going to overrate the HELL out of him for his entire career because they basically traded Luongo for Matthais and Allen.

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Drake out, Downey in.

By average I assume you mean very good.

We have no idea if we would've drafted him regardless.

The Wings weren't as good for the first two periods, then for 15 minutes they played like they normally do and the Wings almost won. Bit of a wake up call for the Wings, no big deal.

While I understand the want to see Downey dressed, I really don't want to see Downey on the ice against their Alfredsson - Fisher - Niel line.

You'd have to put him on IR for that and make him sit a week.

Lidstrom, Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Case closed.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...ign_osgood.html

I won't go as far as calling either of them a defensive liability, but defense is not Hudler or Holmstrom's strong point and while Zetterberg (or Datsyuk) can make up for a lot, I, nor Babcock it seems is comfortable having those 2 on the ice together for a great deal of time with the way this team plays. The way it's set up now, we have almost perfect balance.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=226837&hubname= 3 years, 1.5m per year.

There's no way in hell Babcock has Hudler and Holmstrom on the same line.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=11346 Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Iginla Phaneuf - Lidstrom Luongo http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=11345 Crosby - Lecavalier - Alfredsson Chara - Markov Brodeur

A great display of team togetherness/toughness after McCormick cross checked Lidstrom for no reason and Chelios/Kopecky were ready to kill him but the refs broke it up too quickly. That's the 2nd time that's happened in the past few games and the boys aren't letting it go.

Babcock already commented on this, the lines should look like: Filppula - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Hudler - Zetterberg - Samuelsson Cleary - Franzen - Kopecky Drake - Draper - Maltby

Babcock will choose the goalie who gives the team the best chance to win.

Toews and Havlat were out the first time the Hawks beat the Wings. Havlat is in tonight, though. http://blackhawks.nhl.com/team/lineup010608.htm

You're kidding, right? Just because the big names are older and there are more up and comers doesn't make it the "worst since the early 90's". On paper means nothing, the individual names mean nothing, all that matters is the quality of play on the ice.