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The guy has been on teams with virtually no shot to win his entire career. You never know what putting him on a great team in a veteran-heavy locker room would do to a guy. If he doesn't try and still puts up .75-1 ppg, then imagine what he might be able to do with good linemates and with the proper motivation. It'd be a risk for sure. But is it more of one then going into the season WITHOUT that top six forward that everyone pretty much agrees that we need, hoping that we can get one midseason or at the deadline? After all, we wouldn't have to give up anything more than money for Yashin. If it gets to the deadline, we're going to get bent over to get that top 6 forward, unless you can think of another Bertuzzi, who we could get cheap. Unless they're thinking of trying to land Forsberg midseason, if/when he's ready to play again, they're going to have to give up a lot to get a top six forward out of another team. Look at what those guys were going for at the deadline.... Even signing Yashin, we'd still have more than enough room to pick up a player at the deadline, if we so desired. What's the point of carrying 6-8 million bucks into the season? You're not going to blow all that at the deadline, and if someone gets hurt, you get cap relief as it is. They might as well have just overpaid for someone like Comrie then, who was willing to take a one year deal. This ain't like the NFL where we can make that money work for us in the future..... -Tim

Yeah, why would we want him? He didn't play for us a decade ago... Our organization doesn't seem to understand that the reason there aren't any top 6 forwards for us is because no top six forward wants to play for a 1 year/$2.5 million contract. Because they can make more than that, since they're a top six forward. -Tim

It was later in the day. Michigan was playing Penn State in football (20-0!), and we watched it in the parking lot while we were tailgating. That one was a 3:30 start, so I'm guessing the Cold War was 7 or 7:30. Great time all around, except for getting Pio'ed. -Tim

I really hate listening to interviews with Holland. He never says anything beyond "GM speak" and half the time I feel like he's either talking down to the audience or just flat out lying. I understand the need for the GM to not give everything away, but when you listen to him and then listen to Joe Dumars, it's amazing how candid--and how much better of an interview--the latter is. I'm guessing he used the word "term" 600 times during the interview. -Tim

Comerica would be interesting, but it's real grass so the ice would screw it up. Unless they resod it during the offseason, which I'm not sure if that's customary or not. I also don't know how good of a view you'd have from a lot of the seats. Ford Field needs to host a game at some point. I can't imagine that the NCAA granted them the Frozen Four without the agreement that they'll give it a run-through at some point to make sure the ice isn't going to suck for their biggest games of the year. But it's inside, so the novelty would only be that the crowd would be huge--not that the game was outside. I probably wouldn't drive back to Michigan for a Wings game inside Ford Field. But an outdoor one? You bet your ass I would. Michigan Stadium makes sense. It probably wouldn't screw up the FieldTurf, they'd have no trouble breaking the attendance record. It's not NEARLY as far from Detroit as East Lansing is, and there's the potential to have it double up with a Michigan/MSU game (though I'm not sure how they ice would be with 2 games being played on it). It's too bad there's no NHL team in Wisconsin. I'd love to see there be another game at Lambeau Field. -Tim

If/when it happens (even if it's just Michigan or the Wings) I'm there. The Cold War was an absolute blast, even though I froze my balls off. -Tim

Wings/Leafs, Michigan/MSU doubleheader at the Big House, anyone? I know Michigan was talking with the Wings a few years ago about both teams having a game. Not sure if those discussions continued.... -Tim

If they sign Lindros, then it's a definite sign (IMO) that the Wings are starting to let Yzerman have significant input into personnel moves. He's always been in favor of us landing #88...I want to say that he even lobbied the Wings to trade Fedorov for him back in the day (If I have that right, it was in "Hockey Gods"). If the price is right, it wouldn't shock me a bit. But if Yashin would take a couple of million, I would take him in a heartbeat. Datsyuk would love another Russian on his line, and Yashin would love playing with a bonafide star instead of playing with like Oleg Kvasha. -Tim

That greedy MFing son of a bit.....oh wait. -Tim

Did he steal your girlfriend or something? -Tim

As much as I love Al, giving up something to acquire him would be kind of pointless unless they really don't think Howard is the guy. If they don't think Howard is the guy though, then they absolutely should go for it. Al's as physically talented as any goalie I've seen. I don't doubt that he's going to have a very nice career. Personally, I like both of em...so I'd probably hold off on giving up anything to get him. I would, however, make every effort to get Howard up here for 10-15 starts this year. Something like: Hasek: 52 Osgood: 20 Howard: 10 It would be pretty helpful to know what we've got in Howard--or at least have a better idea--with all 3 of our goalies being free agents after next year (assuming Hasek signs a one-year deal). -Tim

I don't doubt that they'll have the room for Smyth if the cap does in fact go up to $51 million. What I don't think would be smart, however, would be to sign a high priced forward to a long term contract, with Zetterberg due for a $5 million raise in 2 years. You'd have waaaay too much of the cap tied up Datsyuk, Z, Smyth/Drury, and Lidstrom if he's still around. Plus that would leave no money to go get a goalie if Howard flops. I like Smyth. Really, I do. But his game is so similar to Holmstrom, he'd be a luxury, not a necessity. And for twice the price of Homer, I don't like him all that much. If they want to sign a high priced forward, I'd rather it be on a guy like Drury. I think it's hysterical that Kronwall is the 3rd highest paid player on the team right now. And by the time free agency is over, he's still in the top 6. -Tim

If you'd like a guy like Bertuzzi, I wouldn't question it. Depending on his salary. $3 million per PLUS an extra second round pick wouldn't work for me, but if Holland really thinks he can be a 65-80 point guy again, then I'm all for it. Apart from him, I'm not sure if there are any other "big" forwards out there that we wouldn't have to break the bank for. I just like the idea of Kozlov back in a Wings jersey. I think he'd look great playing with Datsyuk--and I think Datsyuk would love having a Russian on his line. As for Zetterberg, it was a brilliant signing by Holland. It was obvious that Z was going to be a star. I'm just not sure how his agent allowed him to sign a contract like that (Particularly when you consider that Kronwall's agent was able to get the Wings to pony up $3 million per for absolutely no reason). Was there anyone in our fanbase that didn't think that Zetterberg for that price was a great signing for the Red Wings when it happened? -Tim

It's what I've been saying since the start of the offseason. This team can't realistically add a high-priced forward for any length of time since they've got to account for Zetterberg getting a $5 million raise or so in a couple of years (Thank God he has the worst agent ever by the way....how on earth did we lock him up for so long at that salary???) If Lidstrom leaves, that frees up some room, but then you've GOT to pump some money into the blueline. Just get a guy like Kozlov, sign Hasek and Schneider and let's take another run at it. We'll have cap room to make another move at the deadline and then it's yippee ki yay mother f***ers! -Tim

So giving up his body and his time with the family isn't enough? He's also expected to be one of the only ones on the team (I'd put Chelios in that category as well) to take MUCH less money than he's worth? If everyone on the team has to sacrifice, why does Dom have to "sacrifice" financially--when he's always sacrificing in the other categories as well? Datsyuk got almost a $3 million raise from last year. Holmstrom's getting an extra million or so next year. If Schneider comes back, he'll be getting an extra million or two. Kronwall got a $2 million+ raise, FOR DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Lidstrom is making the max. Why don't any of them have to sacrifice financially as well? And by the way, none of them are as important to the team as Hasek. Especially for the money they're making....we could find another marquee forward to do what Datsyuk does, given that we'd have $6.7 million freed up. We could find another s***ty defenseman for $3 million (actually we could probably even find one that doesn't blow). Now try finding a top 5 goalie for $2.5 million. It actually won't count against the cap if he's hurt.....well, it will, but we'll be allowed to go over the cap by that much. Like there's no risk in signing Datsyuk (no one knew how he'd do in the playoffs when they signed him....and he still sucked on the road a lot of the time) or Kronwall (general mediocrity, injuries). Kronwall may not have a chronic groin problem, but he's not exactly the model of perfect health. ANY player in the NHL is one more away from a season ending injury. Dom has a higher risk than a lot of em, but they're also being pretty smart about how they handle him. There's no guarantee that he'll play well next year? C'mon. He posted better numbers last year than he did in 2001-02 when we won the Cup. (.12 better in GAA, just .002 worse in save percentage, 8 shutouts vs. 5 in 02, just 3 less wins despite playing 9 less games). The year before that he had a .925 save percentage. He'll lose it eventually, but I'll take past history on this one. He doesn't show any sign of slowing down. And I love how the anti-Hasek people haven't posted a single viable alternative to him. Want to know why? Because there ISN'T one. And yet, we expect him to play like a Vezina candidate, but make the money of a backup. But everyone else on the team can make what the market will bare. Hasek's greedy though. Gimmee a ******* break. -Tim

How many people gave him a chance of making it through last year unscathed? I think it's pretty clear that the Wings have him on a good workout regimen that Hasek is willing to follow. Who else would you rather spend that money on? David Aebischer? C'mon. With Hasek, this team is a Cup contender. Without Hasek, they aren't because there's no one on the market that could give us what Dom does for an equal price (or for even double the price). Schneider has millions. Bertuzzi has millions, even if he might be giving some of that to Steve Moore. Markov's got a lot of money in the bank. Come to think of it, so does Lidstrom. Datsyuk could've taken $6.2 million with the understanding that that extra $500,000 go toward improving the team. Kronwall could've realized that he sucks and not taken a salary HIGHER THAN HENRIK ZETTERBERG'S. When you're a #1 goalie in the NHL, and were probably in the Top 5 of all goalies last year...and when you had the team essentially one goal away from another Stanley Cup, you've earned $2.5 million if that's what you want. There are plenty of crappy goalies making more than that (Gerber - $3.7 million is an example....Jose Theodore would be another). $2.5 milliion is a NOTHING for a goalie that can allow your team to contend for the championship. It'd be nice if he'd take less. But it absolutely blows my ******* mind that anyone can say that he's greedy when he'd still be making 50% OR LESS than what he should be making for what he gives this team. For Crissakes, he'd be making less than Kronwall. -Tim

Our defense will be thinner and our offense will still be lacking that one player because Dominik Hasek is making $2.5 million? You yourself said you'd be willing to sign him for $1.5. So you're telling me that $1 million made the difference between us having a Cup-caliber defense and not having one? Or not getting that "one player" on offense? Even if that $2.5 million figure is true, Hasek is still playing for HALF (or less) of what he probably should be making for what he brings to the table. That's not greed. This is the same guy that gave back money because he was injured. This is the same guy who basically made it so we had to give up next to nothing to acquire him in the first place. If we don't have any cash at the deadline (which doesn't seem to be the case anyway, as Holland has already said he's going to save $2 million or so for that very reason) it won't be because Hasek is greedy. It'll be because we signed Maltby to a stupid contract, we signed Kronwall to a ridiculously stupid contract, Philly drove the price up on every free agent out there, and we caved to Datsyuk's agent twice (in signing him to a 2 year deal after the lockout and letting him become a FA that soon, as well as paying him a huge sum of money now that I'm still not convinced he's worth). I'd argue that even at $2.5 million Hasek is still one of the biggest bargains in the league (not counting the guys on their rookie deals of course...obviously Crosby should be making the max). There's no goalie that can give us what he does for close to that price--and there's definitely no one like that on the market. And BTW, if you let Hasek go this season isn't going to come down to a deal at the deadline. Because we won't be in the mix. It's not "a mistake" to pay a guy half of what he SHOULD be making, any way you slice it. I mean, you do realize that $2.5 million is what Markov made last year right? Hasek's worth a helluva lot more than that....Like I said, it'd be nice if he'd take less money, but it'd also be nice if Kronwall wasn't stealing $3 million, and if Schneider wasn't looking for $5 million or so, and Datsyuk wasn't taking $6.7, and Lidstrom (who ALSO has plenty of money and whose career is winding down) wasn't making the max. But it's not the way it is.... And Hasek's the one who would still be making nothing close to the amount that he should be.... -Tim

Who do you want in net that gives you CLOSE to what Hasek does for anywhere near the price? Hell, if you'd be willing to let him walk because of a $2.5 million salary demand, who do you want to spend that $1.8 million or so on (since you've gotta pay Howard to be the backup now) that would offset the fact that you just downgraded our goalie from Dominik fricken Hasek to Chris Osgood? And if he gets the million in possible bonus money--meaning we've probably made the WCF or SCF, which would in turn mean Dom is probably doing a damn fine job--doesn't that also mean that paying the starting goalie $2.5 million was probably a decent idea? $2.5 million is still a BARGAIN for a goalie of Dom's caliber....You'd be lucky to get David Aebischer for that on the free agent market right now. That's like 2/3rds of what Martin fricken Gerber is making...... -Tim

And he'd still be making 50% or less of what his actual value based on performance is. It'd be nice if he'd take less in order to let us field a better team, but you could say the same for Datsyuk and his enormous deal, Kronwall robbing this team blind with his contract extension, etc. Hasek's entitled to get his, and he's still giving Detroit a huge bargain....Even $2.5 million would probably put him in the lowest 25% of starting goalies who aren't on rookie contracts. -Tim

Hey I don't do it that much anymore. Only when he deserves it. I don't usually have the hockey hair going that much..... Heh, it was the thrill of the lifetime, I'll tell ya that! I really needed to be packing for my move, but I couldn't turn down a chance like that... You wouldn't believe how much spring is in those boards. It's no wonder that we work that "Intentionally miss the net and have it bounce out the other side of the goal" play so much. The puck just ROCKETS off them. The only thing that really sucked was that the guy who did my skates the day before did an absolutely god-awful job on them. I've got a picture where the side of my boot is touching the ice because when I pushed off my skate wouldn't dig in and it just kept sliding out. I was pissed when I stepped out on the ice. It's amazing how even though I've played on Olympic sheets before, the ice at the Joe just feels big because of how huge the arena is around you....I was really hoping to score a goal, just so I could say I scored at the JLA, but an assist will have to do! If I get the chance to play again next year, I'd totally drive back from Madison to do it.... -Tim

Was that reported somewhere that Dom is seeking $3 million? Frankly, Schneider should be seeking more than $4 million after what Philly paid out last week. You'd really rather go with Smyth 6 and Schneider 4 over say: Kozlov 3, Hasek 3, Schneider 4? (That's ignoring that Schneider probably makes more than that and in your scenario you still need a goalie) Even if Hasek does want 3, you'd really be willing to downgrade our goaltending significantly in order to free up $1.5 million in cap room (Since you'd offer 1.5 million)? I just don't see that as making any sense whatsoever.... By the way, I'm really getting a kick out of it that the cap could go up to as high as $52 million and the season before the lockout, only 9 teams had payrolls above that anyway. And after the 25% rollback, just TWO teams would've had payrolls above $52 million. Good thing we lost a season eh? -Tim

Can I just ask the people who say "let's let Hasek go and improve the team elsewhere" exactly how they think that's going to happen? It's not like by letting Hasek go we'd free up 6 or 7 million bucks that we could use on an impact player. It'd basically be that you let Hasek go and re-sign an additional one of your own free agents instead. Also keep in mind that if Hasek leaves, you still have to spend money on a replacement for him, whether it's $650,000 for Howard or the money to sign someone else.... Is the team better off with Hasek and Quincey playing a bigger role or with Osgood as your starter but with Markov as part of the defense corps? It's a no brainer. Markov was pretty good for the most part in the playoffs, but I didn't think he was overly great in the regular season. Also remember that our $3 million man will be back on the blueline. -Tim

Hasek is the only must-sign out of the four. He is the one that makes the difference between this team being a Cup contender and being a borderline playoff team. In all actuality, the guy is worth $5 or 6 million--which obviously we won't pay him because of the injury risk--but it seems silly to draw the line at $2 million if he wants more than that. Who are you going to put in net if he leaves? I'd like to think that after his unselfishness in the past (returning the money when he was injured and whatnot) he would recognize that by taking more money he would be limiting the ability of the team to contend for the Cup. But let's be realistic....we're getting a HUGE discount from what goalies of his caliber make. JSG just signed for what? $6 million a season? Dom played for less than a million base salary last year and he was one of the top goalies in the league. He deserves a raise if he wants one. I don't expect it to be huge, but he wouldn't be out of line even if he's asking for $3 or 4 million. I'd hope that he'll play for less than that, but you can't tell me he wouldn't be worth every penny. I'd be tempted to let Bertuzzi go unless he's playing for peanuts. No one knows how he'll do over a full season (at least Dom made it all the way through with only one minor injury). It doesn't really interest me to have him tie up $3 million of our cap PLUS give up an extra second round selection.... The big hit to our offseason came when Kronwall got hurt again and was pretty ineffective when he was in there. If he was what he should be for the money we're paying him (How did he finagle that contract anyway?) then we wouldn't have to discuss things like "paying Mathieu Schneider $5.25 million a year". As it is, I'm inclined to say that we need Schneids back and we just hope that one of the young d-men (maybe by the end of the year it's Kindl?) can step in in Markov's role. Luckily Quincey looks like he's going to be solid back there.... Does anyone have Dmitri Bykov's phone number? -Tim

I never played when I was younger because I was such a piss-poor skater. Eventually I got jealous of my roommate playing twice a week, so I signed up for the Never/Ever league in Ann Arbor. My first season I did absolutely nothing (0-0--0, 0 PIMs) and we made the championship game, but lost (the officiating was poor enough that the game was stopped so the head of the league could ***** out the refs, and they both got fired after the game). The next season I got new (lighter) skates and I led my team in goals, but we were terrible. Then the next season we got custom jerseys, had custom pucks made up for our home games, and even had a mascot come to our championship game. We ended up winning and it was an absolute blast. I played 1 more season in Ann Arbor and I just started my first season since moving to Madison. 1-0-1 so far! I sliced my hand open on my skate last week...that was sweet. The highlight of my young hockey career though? Playing at Joe Louis in the CCHA Media Game. I had an assist and we won something like 9-2. -Tim

Me too! I'm excited to see Turris, Smith, and that other kid playing for UW this year. Anytime a kid is heavily recruited by the Badgers and Wolverines you know he's probably going to be a player. Rankings don't always mean everything, and if they really liked the kid, why not go for him. They obviously had him ahead of Petricki, Cross, and some of the others available. And St. Mike's has churned out some good players. -Tim