Dabura

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Franzen - Filppula - Hossa Cleary - Draper - Samuelsson Hudler - Helm - Kopecky

Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart This is the Wings' top 4. Barring injuries, this will be the Wings' top 4 for as long as possible. At very best, Ericsson will play on the third pairing this season.

Sammy is a checking-line forward playing on a scoring line. If anyone should be blamed for his perceived shortcomings, it's Babcock. Proof: he played the best hockey he's ever played as a Red Wing when he was put on a line with Drake and Draper.

I can; he established himself as injury-prone before even putting in a full solid season. Thankfully he finally delivered.

Giguere has nothing to do with it; GMR's just waiting for someone to bait him into a "toughness" debate. DUCKS R TEH TUFFEST

The Ducks are a sinking ship. Morrison isn't going to change that -- not much, at least. The Stars beat them and were within sniffing distance of mopping the floor with the Sharks before letting them back in the series, only to, as we all know, beat them in the end. The Wings' biggest test this season will come from Dallas or San Jose. The 'hawks may steal some games in the regular season, but that doesn't make them a legitimate threat come the postseason, aka the season that matters. The 'yotes will suck again. I could see the Oilers making the playoffs, maybe doing a little damage. No one in the East worries me.

The Detroit Red Wings.

Chelios is valuable for his experience, work ethic, and, yes, grit. People keep saying, "We have so many young guys!" Well, that's kind of the point -- the Wings would be wise to have a grizzled veteran hovering around the bottom pairing, as two of the other three veteran defensemen -- Lidstrom and Rafalski -- play on the same pairing, and Stuart is locked up with Kronwall.

Next: Cap'n Jazz reunion.

When I think of Thorne, I think "DRAMA." When I think of Doc, I think "Guy might as well be an old lady who doesn't believe in the Internet." It's all about Thorne's voice, really.

A bit too rich, but I'll take it. Assuming he's put on a line with Hossa, I imagine this will look like a steal by season's end. Then again, Hossa could be gone at season's end. Oh well, we'll see.

I don't know about that. They're both among the best players in the game, but Hank has the definitive edge; his defensive game is much more solid than Iginla's, and his straight-up offensive prowess is, I think, at least as good as Iginla's. Iginla has certain strengths of his own, and he plays to them. But again, when you get right down to it, Hank is a more complete, valuable package.

qft

I'll do it for you: Zetterberg is better than Iginla. Iginla is stronger and feistier, probably healthier overall. Maybe a more consistent scorer, I don't know his stats off the top of my head. But overall, Hank is the better package.

Possibly. That's not really why I quoted it, though.

I fail to see how Sundin is overrated in any way, shape or form. No, he hasn't won an Cup, and yeah, this whole recent drama's gotten old. But his point production hasn't dropped off in his old age, he still battles every night, he's still a top-notch leader -- he's a machine.

Thornton, Hossa.

I don't know why this column was even written. We all know the Penguins still have the most formidable lineup down the middle of any team in the NHL, with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal, plus an emerging elite netminder in Marc-Andre Fleury. - Burnside

Osgood was absolutely monstrous last season. I don't know what the guy has to do to earn mad props around here.

Feds is a lock for the Hall, but 91 won't be raised to the rafters. Bam.

No way does Hank go past the 8 mark. Mule's a huge question mark, but I expect him to come back down to earth a little after last season and put himself somewhere around 3.5-4. It depends largely on what Flip gets -- or doesn't get....

Nick can and will do whatever he wants. The thing with Homer is, if he's not playing with one of Hank and Dats, he's kind of useless -- and that's talking about Homer in the present. Add another two or three seasons of aging and compound that with the physical punishment he takes on a regular basis and I don't think he'll be around 3-4 seasons from now. I could see him signing a one-year extension in '10, but I wouldn't be surprised if he calls it quits altogether. Maltby's looking at an even smaller window. At this point, he's just barely making it into the lineup in the postseason. I expect Draper to be around a bit longer than Maltby -- if not here, then with another team. I could see Ozzie sticking around until '11 and gradually..."becoming" Howard's backup along the way. Maybe.

Sid owes Hank an apology. I heard his ears are still ringing.

That's the point, in a way. Not really. The s*** would need to hit the fan in a big way for Babs to dress Downey for a playoff game. As NN has pointed out, Drake and Mac (both being higher up on the totem pole than Downey) were lucky to get the minutes they played in the playoffs.

They are, though. If the Wings were to change their winning philosophy in order to work more tough guys into the roster all for the sake of courting people's respect (which, correct me if I'm wrong, you seem to be in favor of doing), they wouldn't be playing to their strengths, and would, in all likelihood, weaken their chances of winning it all -- last season, this season, and for the foreseeable future.