Dabura

A slapshot has always been a slapshot.

Signing a long-term deal would make testing the market in that way impossible.

You need to do some reading up.

Hossa would not be a rental; he's looking for a long-term deal. Why does everyone think he'd be a rental? There's no basis for that.

But you know it'll be at least another ten years before they even crack the ECF. I don't have an inside scoop or anything, but I've got to think that when Hossa says, "contender," he's not talking "hot."

I must have missed the part where I said that. I'm well-aware that the times have changed. The fact is, though, that doesn't justify the crap some goalies are pulling with their equipment. It's really that simple.

We can, though. It's just a matter of Holland's willingness and the assets the other teams are putting on the table.

Datsyuk was playoff a flop until very recently, even with the the luxury of a tremendous supporting cast throughout his entire postseason career. There's absolutely no basis for this statement. If you're going to give him that tag, you might as well do the same for Datsyuk. Hossa plays a physical game -- not a bruising one or a grinding one, but one in which he uses his size to his advantage, making himself an all-around pain in the ass to play against. Or have you forgotten that time not too long ago when he singlehandedly assraped us, the mighty Detroit Red Wings? Sundin is a tremendous package, no doubt. But he's in the last leg of his career and would realistically only be a one-year rental. Hossa, on the other hand, is only now heading into his prime years and is looking for a long-term deal. He has "franchise player" written all over him. Furthermore, he's a winger. The Wings need a winger, not a center. Point being, GTFO.

If you're seriously denying that there's an equipment issue, I see no reason to even start an argument with you.

If Hossa really wants to go to a contender, I can't see him being happy with Boston or Montreal. It's the Sharks and Sens that worry me -- they have assets, and they're legitimate contenders. To say I'll be pissed if we lose him to either of those clubs would be a drastic understatement.

For starters, it's much easier to establish and enforce a goalie equipment rule than it is...well, basically tell everyone who's not a goalie to "be better." Second, it's the goalies who are in the wrong, not the other skaters. Why should forwards and defenders be penalized for something goalies are doing? Third, the league wants more scoring, needs more scoring. This would go a long way in addressing that problem. Fourth, this is not the kind of controversy you want fermenting when steroids are a hot story in the sports world. The list goes on.

...So? The point of equipment is to protect, not to eliminate sensations altogether. I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with Campbell -- enough's enough. If goalies want to be sissies and elevate their play through equipment "upgrades," they can take a walk.

We'll never get Jokinen. Hossa we can get.

Haha, that'd be nuts.

That's insane.

Hossa is better and more valuable than Flip could ever hope to be -- especially to the Wings, who, given their track record, could find another player in Flip's mold much more easily than they could find one in Hossa's. At best, Flip will be a solid second-line playmaker. A poor man's Datsyuk. At best, Hossa will give us four or five 40-goal seasons and solid two-way play. No one in Detroit's system outside of Hank Zetterberg can offer that.

And now he's just another sob story, stumbling around the streets at night, looking for his next hit. For shame, Flip. For shame. :nonono:

This thread has made my night.

Can you imagine the shootout list? Hank...Dats...Hossa...Feds (?)... I dare say I'd s*** myself.

Well I had initially thought it was accidental because back in my AAA days (when I was still in shape. Oh where has the time gone?) a team mate of mine netted a goal in exactly the same way, but said he hadn't planned it. But watching that video...the intent is clear. Somehow I missed that the last time I saw it. Point being, Hossa = Sick. I'm happy his name is even being thrown around at this stage; I had thought for sure he'd have signed elsewhere by now.

For the record, Fed =/= Bertuzzi Sundin =/= Bertuzzi

I remember the first time I saw that I thought there's no way he planned it that way. I think he did, though. Which is sick.

I'd just like to add: You'll never see Flip do that. Not that you'll see Hossa do it a lot, but just saying.

Exactly. I was actually about to reference that before realizing I'm still bitter.

Hossa's no grinder, but he definitely knows how to use his size. And that's not in the Robert Lang sense -- if Hossa gets rolling, he's practically impossible to contain. Throw in his shifty moves and you've got trouble for any defender out there.