Hank

That's usually the status quo. Because most of these kids won't even be close to NHL ready until 4 years from now, who knows what you're current roster looks like. Just because you're deep on defense in 2008 doesn't mean you shouldn't draft a dman now. Who's to say that by 2012 your defense core is banged up, retired, or lost to free agency. Meanwhile, a stud in the 2008 draft that you could have had is now playing for a rival. I'm sure the Wings will continue to follow that line of thinking. But like I mentioned in my other post, I've got a serious hockey-crush on Jordan Eberle. I think he's the real deal.

I want the Wings to nab Jordan Eberle so bad I could spit. The kid is a dynamic offensive center who can score at will while still threading the needle when it's there. He reminds me so much of Thereon Fluery (minus the alcoholism) only a bit taller (5'10" - probably exaggerated) and stockier. The Wings defensive cupboard is nearly overflowing but I don't think that will stop them from picking up a rearguard. Saying that, I think they're going to go after Anton Gustafsson. He's basically a perfect fit for this team; Swedish, two-way, great puck skills. Jake Allen's another kid they might go after. TSN has him projected as Marty Turco and he looked great at the under 18's. But I'm still hoping for Eberle. And I'd love to grab Jared Staal if he's still around in the second round.

Not if you're Rick Nash or Sidney Crosby. Would the coach or owner of those two players really want to see them break their hand in a fight? Especially if they have players on the team to handle that sort of thing? Rick Nash admitted that after he fought Jim Vandermeer late in the season, GM Scot Howsen, gave him an earful. Ericsson isn't in their class, but I don't think a kid with his apparent talent will need to drop the gloves all the time. Pronger gets in a handful of fights a year so it's not out of line to think that Ericsson could have just as few.

Unfortunately, Redden's turned into poop lately. I don't know if he can regain what he had. But you're right in the premise that this highly offensive team got owned by a strong defensive one. However, I'm sure Lemieux has something to do with this. He wants offense and he wants this star attraction (Crosby) to have the best winger available. Staal or Malkin will be moved eventually if Hossa signs this deal.

Boo Hoo! Then 5'8" skaters should be given stilts? You're complaining about fairness, but yet you think it's fair that one goalie can wear pants that are 90% of his leg length while another is only allowed 80% of his? If you can't hack it in the NHL without having twice the size of gear (relative to body size) as what a larger goalie wears then see ya later. There is no room for cheating and that's basically what you're saying should be allowed for smaller goalies. By your standard, it should be okay for skinny baseball players to use steriods because they'll never be a large as naturally bigger men. Give me the best, NATURAL athelets in the sport. Not midgets that have to cheat or work with a different standard to compete. What's next? Allowing slower skaters to wear rocket skates?

Actually it was 20,000. I'll try to find a link.

I thought someone here had a photo of Hasek stretching. It might have been in their signature. It really showed how skinny he was. Does anyone know where I can find that? Thanks!

Yeah, I'll be surprised if this happens. Stuart seems to love it on the left-coast so who knows if he sticks around for less than $4M. And I'm sure his agent is still whispering in his ear how he was a 3rd pick overall and would be the #1 or #2 guy on many other NHL teams. My hope is that Stuart realizes that he's a much better #4 on Detroit than a #2 in Atlanta. I'm sure Holland will have no problems locking him up longterm (3-5 years) so there should be some comfort to him knowing that he'll remain in a great hockey market, making a fantastic living, on a great team for the remainder of his prime years. Lets hope.

Something the Ducks never could. How many people did they get out for their celebration? Oh that's right, 15,000. What a great hockey market!!! There were more people in our parade than what the Ducks drew! LOL!

Do I hear a bid for Phoenix as well? P.S. Certain sources have said that with revenue sharing, these teams complaining about the floor need to shut-up. They're compensated well and if they're struggling they're probably in a horrible market. Seeing that the 'Yotes only generated $450,000 last year in tickets sales I'd say they're the first to go...and shut-up about the salary floor. P.S.S. Opie, you make some very valid points. Unfortunately, the owners see a $200-250M expansion fee and all they can think of is $$$. They don't care what it would do or not do for the league. Their greed basically got us into the dead-puck era when the league became so watered down, defensive traps and clutching & grabbing were needed to compete on a nightly basis.

Perfect! Thanks!

I love Yzerman but I'd have to say that when Nick retires he'll probably be consider greater than Yzerman. Possibly even Howe. What he's done is incredible. 6 Norris Trophy's (if he doesn't win this year, it's a crime), 4 Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe. He's routinely been recognized as the greatest hockey player on the planet. But here's my argument for Yzerman. During his prime, he didn't have half the team that Lidstrom does. Stevie was turning 20 goal scorers like Gallant into 40+ scorers. He routinely put up 100+ points and 50+ goals despite having a supporting cast that was laughed at most nights. If you put that same, prime Yzerman, on the Detroit team over the past 5 years, who know's what he could have accomplished. Imagine him with Datsyuk on his left-wing? Or running a PP with Lidstrom, Rafalski, Zetterberg and Homer? In the end Lidstrom will probably still take the nod, but I still don't think Yzerman got as much credit as he deserved when he was younger. He never had a Kurri to pass to in his best years. Imagine if he did? 180 points in the late 80's wouldn't have been out of the question.

Definitely Quincy.

Not saying that's a lie, but the Canadian media has really been hammering this home trying to prove that Bettman hates the thought of more Canadian teams or that he's personally behind stopping Ballsillie. Sometimes they fabricate or stretch the truth. Although, in this case, I think they're probably right. Still, I don't know what Ballsillie has to gain by having his lawyer go on the Fan 590 to say point-blank that Bettman doesn't want him in there. And it's not just Bettman. The owners, as a whole, have a say in the matter too. Ballsillie blackballed himself by not playing by the rules set by the 'Old Boys Club'. It's too bad.

I was more upset about how a lot of the stick fouls weren't called for either team. Since the lockout, this was the first Finals where the officiating looked more of the dead-puck variety. I'm really hoping that this standard doesn't carry into next season. Soon enough, we'll be back to clutching and grabbing, where the games top stars go from scoring 110 points to 90. The NHL needs to stay vigilant and call games the same from preseason matchups to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.

Nothing would surprise me at this point. The Detroit Lions and the Toronto Maple Leafs are the two worst run sports franchises on the entire planet. And if we ever do find intelligent life on another planet, I'm pretty sure they'd take the "Universe" title as well. The Leafs have an endless supply of money and yet all they do is choke on it. They make one horrible decision after another. Before the lockout they could get away with their horrible decisions with their fat wallets. But now that there's a cap, they have really shown their true colors. They couldn't organize a suicide.

Just more mismanagement by the Leafs. Why you put the cart before the horse is beyond me. The GM that takes over for Fletcher will be forced to deal with Wilson whether he likes him or not. And now there's talks of hiring Neiwendyke to be an assistant GM. What an ass-backward organization. No wonder they haven't won a Cup in 41 years. And by the looks of things, it could be another 41 before they do. That's what having hundreds of bosses will do. The best thing that could happen to Leaf Nation is the Teachers Pension selling to one owner.

Ballsillies lawyer was on the Fan 590 in Toronto a few days ago and he said, point-blank, the BOG does not want him in as an owner. No matter what. Ballsillie did this to himself for not playing 'the game' when he wanted to buy the Preds. But the NHL is being very shortsighted here. This is a guy with a huge bankroll and a passion for the sport. Not only that, but Hamilton would sell a heck of a lot better than Nashville or Atlanta which would drive up revenue for everyone.

It certainly doesn't help when you consider how great the ratings have been. My biggest disappointment is seeing how the officiating seemed to degrade to pre-lockout standards. All in all, the entire Final's was played with more interference, that went uncalled, than any other games since the lockout. And that includes both teams. I have no problems with playing rough in front of the net, but too many times I saw a Red Wing or Penguin take out a player who wasn't even close to the puck or near the net. I'm just paranoid we're going to get back to games where waterskiing through the neutral zone occurs more than goals.

Great game and in my opinion, the Pens were compeltely out played and outclassed. 5-on-5, they couldn't do anything against the Wings. And while every analyst went back to kissing Malkin's ass, he was only visible on the PP. The Wings dominated that game and if it weren't for some very suspsect penalties, it could have easily been a shutout victory. I'm a big fan of Crosby's but after the game he again said how he felt both teams had equal scoring chances. He was on the ice, but the big picture I saw was a Wings team that was clearly dominating a young Pittsburgh team. It was fun watching the Pens struggle to even carry the puck through the neutral zone.

I couldn't agree more. I absolutely detest when people complain about officiating, but last night's game was horrible. Prior to Hudlers 'hooking' call, I saw Pascal Dupuis wrap his stick around Datsyuk's waist preventing him from forechecking. This happened right in front of a ref and there was no call. I hate conspiracy theories and I won't buy into one, but last night was pure fodder for people that do. If there was ever a game to use as an example of whether or not the NHL wanted a game 7, last night was it. The Wings only got 3 PP and two of them were off of overly, obvious high-sticks. There were countless other infractions that could have been called and yet weren't.

I would add that the Wings outshot the Pens 42-18, outhit them 35-21 and made Malkin quit the NHL because he realizes that he can't come close to competing at this level.

Phoenix should be the first to go. Atlanta second. Did anyone see the ticket revenue for the Coyotes the last two seasons? $550,000 last season, $450,000 this year. That's a little over $10,000 generated in ticket sales per game. That's absolutely pathetic.

I'm not even kidding. Pittsburgh had no idea how to handle Detroit in those OT's. And as crazy as it sounds, the Wings were getting stronger. If Hudler isn't careless with his stick Detroit would have won very soon afterwards. That is all Pittsburgh has left in the tank. Malkin looks like he absolutely no gas left, Sykora is banged up, Malone can't even breath and Gonchar has a broken back. I'd bet my last dollar the Wings are far more angry about that loss than dejected or deflated. They realize that they didn't play for the first 60 minutes. They will come out flying and they will hammer this tired, overmatched and overwhelmed Penguins team into oblivion. Prediction: Wings 5, Pens 1. And the game isn't even close. All Wings for 60 minutes.

Tiger Woods and his boring ass personality can go F themselves. Hey Tiger, when's the last time you won a Major that you weren't leading through Saturday? That's what I thought. Golf sucks.