Heroes of Hockeytown

Not actually sure, but if they can't work anything out with his agent they can take him to arbitration and get a one-year deal guaranteed. Of course, that means the season after he can become a UFA.

Buyout money (and the remaining cap hit that is tied to it) is paid out over twice the time remaining on the contract. So if he had one year left on his deal and was owed $2.66M in '08, he would be paid $1.33M for the next two years.

I think there's an old proverb, something about grass maybe, that can apply to this.

I'm not convinced it'll the "worst offensive line ever," but let's apply a little scrutiny to those figures. Cleary and Bert put up those numbers playing on the top two lines, mostly with the team's two best players, Zetteberg and Datsyuk, and occasionally with Filppula. Cleary fills a very specific net crashing role (and Bert too when he feels like it) and requires a skilled playmaker to get the puck to the net. Abdelkader might develop into a decent scorer sooner or later but he will never be that player. When the Wings had a third line that saw each player put up 40-50 points, it was Sammy-Flip-Hudler. This proposed line isn't anywhere close to that.

There's surely no chance that Malts will uproot his family now, and I wonder if he really wants to go wherever by himself in case he does sign elsewhere. But if he wants to keep playing hockey in Michigan the only way it could happen is in Grand Rapids. Kenny would almost certainly oblige him if that were his wish; not a bad guy to have on the depth chart in case of injury disaster. There's absolutely no room for him on the big club, though.

He doesn't need anything, but if you're trying to get the best possible lineup than you should put your best finishers with your best playmakers. You can't squeeze blood from a stone; Draper played on Datsyuk's wing extensively in 2006, is Pavel no good because he couldn't turn him into a goal scorer?

Those have got to be the two least skilled wingers Pavel has ever centered. He has always had a great finisher on his line like Hull/Shanny/Hank/Hossa/Franzen.

Which is still a concern, so I'm wondering how he managed to squeeze a raise and term out of Kenny. I'm okay with Bert but I'm not too convinced we'll be getting more 82 game seasons out of him. My only concern now is that we're looking at seven forwards trying to fill six spots (Hank, Pavel, Franzen, Hudler, Bert, Homer, Flip). These guys are either too talented or completely useless for a traditional bottom six role. It will be interesting to see how the lines shake out. Will they try to make a third scoring line or are they good with playing one guy essentially out of position (in a completely healthy forward lineup, anyways).

My thanks to Mrs. Martin, then.

I was very amused by the Halak hit.

Kopecky would get up to take a leak, trip over absolutely nothing, and break his jaw faceplanting. Leino would have the hardest time trying to get anything done, but as soon as he leaves to go play it with his bro Timmonen he'd start to dominate. Draw.

They're good enough, but their schedule is brutal. Only six games against teams that finished under .500 last year, and two of those are against Chicago who have improved, and Washington who improved with McNabb. Hopefully they can pull of some upsets, but I think it's going to be more tough sledding despite the team being a huge step up from last year's and especially the year before.

Not for much longer you won't!

Outside of Pronger I'd say he was Philly's best player in the Finals. It boggles my mind how he could have been the absolute worst player on the Wings for 42 games, and never even show a hint of what he did this playoff season.

A return to greatness is upon us.

Yeah, after two years of bouncing between teams at the deadline. Guys overachieve on small contracts all the time -- look no further than our own Red Wings and a guy like Dan Cleary (before he signed his big contract) for more evidence of that. You can't just go out and sign a guy that scores 60 points to that deal, you have to take a chance on a questionable player. Should the Wings let Holmstrom, a guys whose value is concrete and completely known, walk to try and find some diamond in the rough? Nonsense. Sorry, I think Homer's deal is a great value. You'd have to show me something very compelling to change my mind on that. You clamor for a player that excels on defense, at even strength (and presumable on the power play to replace Homer's presence) for a salary close to Homer's. But not every player on the team is going to be some two-way dynamo that can do it all -- you need guys that are bargains to fill roles in order to stay under the cap. Holmstrom's role is primarily a PP specialist, and the Wings put him with guys like Datsyuk at even strength to cover for his lack of footspeed and defensive shortcomings -- and can you really argue with the results?

Considering they still need to fill out the roster, whoever they signed in his place would have to be making around the same money anyways. Who do you think would've been a better pick up? Yeah, I'd rather have Kovalchuk too, but he's going to make a little more than Homer. Anyways, tipping pucks and banging home rebounds will never go out of style. Is there something else you think Homer is doing? 25 goals, right? They're not really "handcuffing" themselves by signing a solid scorer and big PP contributor to two years for under two million. I don't necessarily agree with but can at least understand folks being unhappy with Cleary's or Rafalski's contract. I'm not sure what to make of this; Homer makes next to nothing and contributes a ton to the Wings.

I know, just speaking generally. My main point is that you said Holland would have to have a screw loose to sign Pronger because of his questionable character, but turn around and say that others like Chelios/Samuelsson/Hatcher etc. that had considerable reputations upon joining the team are okay because (most of them) behaved themselves as Red Wings. Seems to me you're contradicting yourself.

So then what's the problem with Pronger? He comes in, doesn't elbow or stomp on anybody, and we're all pals, right? Honestly besides the puck stuff which is just inconsequential nonsense, he's behaved himself in these playoffs anyways.

Well I'm not sure what your criteria for "questionable" is if not the above mentioned. Chelios was a master cheap shotter in his heyday (Brian Propp probably his most famous victim), but he did tone down his act when he came to Detroit. Samuelsson pretty much ended Cam Neely's career with a dirty knee on knee collision. As vladdy16 mentioned Hatcher threw one of the most viscous elbows I've ever seen in the 2004 playoffs (it was actually on Matt Lombardi by the way), and was well known for that style of play throughout his career. Bertuzzi is widely perceived as a villain for his actions too. None of these guys are wearing halos, I can tell you that.

Chris Chelios, Ulf Samuelsson... Kenny's job is to assemble the best team possible, not field a squad of Lady Byngers.

Seidenberg has re-signed with Boston.

I noticed that, which is why I wasn't very confident in it, but if I had to take one it'd be Eaves. He has a good shot and has scored 20 goals before, but that was a while ago and he hasn't been able to replicate the feat since. As for Abdelkader, I haven't seen anything from him in his first 80 or whatever combined games to indicate he has a scoring touch at this level. He might develop that and that would be good, but he's looking like more of a chip-n-chase kinda dude. Which is fine, but as a center -- where normally you'd want him to have the puck and try to create offense -- would make for a dysfunctional scoring line.

Doesn't really seem much point to try and get three scoring lines if you're going to center one with Abdelkader or Helm. I think the only way to accomplish that is to continue to split up Hank and Pav (audience groans) and give Flip the third line, as was done in the days of old. Or, they could load up the top two lines and try to get two quality grinding lines. But I'm not sure they have the personnel right now to do either. Seems to me we're looking at a pretty half-assed third line no matter if you try to make it a scoring line or a checking line.

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Homer Hudler-Flip-Franzen That's the top 6 right now. I could see a case where Homer is buried on the 4th liner during even strength and then brought out more as a PP specialist. But on the PP Flip is maybe the only guy any forward they could bring in would have a chance at replacing. Injuries will obviously have an impact but even that's not cut and dry; if Homer gets hurt Cleary is more likely to be elevated to fill that role than a finesse guy. Either way I don't think it's realistic to expect a guy competing in that environment to get 70-80 points, whether it's Bert or Tanguay or anyone else.