Dabura

Helm, Quincey, Kindl, and a 1st for Girardi (if it comes to that with him and the Rangers). I doubt any top free agent is going to want to "make Alfie's mistake" in signing with the Wings unless we get to the guy first, i.e. trade for him this season. Abdelkader Datsyuk Alfredsson Franzen Weiss Nyquist Jurco Sheahan Tatar Miller Andersson Eaves (Z on LTIR) Kronwall Ericsson Smith Girardi DeKeyser Marchenko meh

I like your enthusiasm, VM - but age is definitely not just a number. I'm not saying anyone above 30 is a useless old horse, I'm just saying our core is old, injury prone, and will be in decline sooner rather than later (if it isn't already). I don't like that that's true, but it is. Again, if it were only one or two guys, that'd be one thing. But it's not. Datsyuk, Franzen, Kronwall, Zetterberg, Alfredsson...

Can we afford to sell, though? The playoffs are still the goal, and to get there we're gonna need all hands on deck. I actually think we're more likely to be buyers.

I have to say, sort of in concession to a point someone made a bit earlier: this Finns team - in case you'd forgotten - is missing its top four centermen. They are just an impressive, impressive team, these Finns. I'd totally forgotten about Yandle. He and Ryan definitely should've been picked. I love Wheeler, but he's barely seeing the ice. And it's not like our blue line is super stacked. Ed was just making a point about where the Americans played their college hockey and such - and Pierre stayed absolutely silent. What is this madness?!

Kane is really good at wheeling around the tops of the circles and setting up the far point man. But he needs to do what he was brought here to do: score. I'm probably getting overly negative now, but I'm still not totally sold on Parise as captain.

Somewhere Bobby Ryan may be smiling.

This is all Quincey's fault.

Hit the post. Oh God, it's the Red Wings.

Our lack of really clutch, top-end fin(n)ishing ability is on full display. Kane gets another penalty shot!

Someone should check on kipwinger, just to make sure he's ok. I've got friends and family who don't even care about the Olympics all that much, but they're none too pleased with us suddenly being on the outside looking in, medals-wise.

US is reminding me of the Wings, in a bad way.

2-0 Finland. See, that's what I'm talking about. They may get outchanced, but they're going to convert on the chances they get.

2037. That's gonna be our year.

Re: The penalty shot - That is indeed the right call. Incredibly stupid decision by Timonen. No. But I get what you're saying.

US is toying with Finland, possession-wise. Thing is, the Finns are ok with that. As they've shown, they're opportunistic. Rask can stop harmless shots all day. Also, I feel compelled to say: I love hockey. I just do.

Man. Even though the difference in this game was a redirected shot, the US never threatened. I guess that's the mark of this Canadian team - winning 2-1 or 1-0, but in dominant fashion. What I really liked about Canada's game was the puck possession. Now we're really seeing What Mike Babcock Wants from His Boys in Red and White (so...Canada and the Wings).

I don't think anyone here is going to seriously question Z's commitment and ability. The fact is, though, he's 34 and he's got a bad back, bad enough to nag him for most of the season, force him to withdraw from the Olympics, and now put him through surgery. I guess if it were just Z that'd be one thing. But our core is old, injury-prone, and soon to be in decline. And that's not counting the 41-year-old Alfredsson, who's been pretty huge for us. At the very least, the days of overripening every single one of our prospects should be over. Or we could bring back Cleary, Samuelsson, Bertuzzi, and Quincey and tank for McDavid.

Ah, but you're assuming we'll be mostly healthy.

Wait, why are we talking about Mantha? He's still a few years away. Or are we thinking about trading him?

edit

Very interesting that Lidstrom's retirement was no secret. Makes it that much more ridiculous that we haven't brought in a single top-end "replacement" for him and/or Rafalski.

Happy drunk!

[Everyone glares at Carey Price. Carey prices glares at...hey, where'd Alex Pietrangelo go? Carey Price could've sworn Alex Pietrangelo was over there at his corner stall just a couple seconds ago...]

You're missing my point, though. Firstly, it's all probably overstated, overblown. Secondly, even if it isn't, they're young and talented and they play for poorly run organizations with lame head coaches (who hate them, or at least don't really understand how to work with them, utilize them) and a lack of quality veteran leadership. (Phaneuf is the Leafs' captain. Legendary future Hall of Famer Brian Gionta is the Habs' leader. See what I mean?) Thirdly, the Wings are indeed special in that every person of prominence in the organization's ranks is expected to conduct himself or herself in that certain Red Wings Way - which is why I think it might be interesting to add a P.K. Subban. Like, if Subban's thing is he needs some venerable guiding hands to set him straight and bring out the best in him...and we're gonna go on about how the Wings are the best run organization in professional sports and how every player who puts on the Winged Wheel becomes a *A Detroit Red Wing*...doesn't that seem like a potentially fruitful marriage, for Subban individually and the Wings collectively? Take Cleary. Today, he's the guy who can do no wrong in Mike Babcock's eyes. He's a warrior. He's the ultimate team guy. He's a fearless veteran leader. All that good stuff (putting aside the bad stuff, for argument's sake). But, we forget: when he first came to the Wings, he was an ugly reclamation project. He was a guy who had all the tools to be a star in this league but pissed away his prime years, burned his bridges, and, ultimately, came to Ken Holland looking for what was essentially one last shot in the NHL. Subban has issues? Cleary had issues. I mentioned Tatar. Had Tatar been some other team's prospect, everyone here would've hated his guts, wanted no part of him. Cocky! Arrogant! All he cares about is scoring goals! And now he's saying he might bolt to the KHL because his spoiled prima donna ass wasn't good enough to make the team out of camp?! F*** Tatar! Hell, there were people on these very boards saying stuff like that. And now? Now everyone loves the s*** out of him. Because he worked stuff out and has sold his soul to Our Cause. Because that's what you do if you want to be *A Detroit Red Wing*. I also mentioned Fedorov. Scotty Bowman - who hated everyone - felt he was a worthwhile project. Why? Because he had truly limitless potential. This won't go over well with you guys, but Subban, like Feds before him, has truly limitless potential. Ken Holland and Mike Babcock could build a dynasty around him, and that's saying nothing of the talent we already have on the team and in the pipeline. Speaking of pipelines - Subban as a Wing is, of course, a pipe dream in the extreme. And yet, maybe not. Holland was willing to pony up for Suter, and was willing to consider throwing an offer sheet at Weber.

I felt compelled beyond reason and restraint: