calfan

That's part 2 of what I was thinking in response to the comment. Part 2 was Dats and Zets were picked up well below the 4th round - no worries there mate.

I think its because her family's there. But in any case, you're Brad Stuart and you have a choice of where to live, Detroit or SoCal. I think SoCal wins everytime, esp if you can hook up with the Sharks or Ducks.

I don't - the Avs certainly didn't get much better. They got a horse with a bad leg and a pylon. They still aren't making the playoffs. As well, the Wings just need to get healthy again. Other than the call for more grit (which is a team problem that can't be fixed by adding 1 or 2 players), what exactly is wrong with the Wings that being healthy wouldn't fix? This team healthy had the best record in hockey and was beating everyone in sight. Ya, things suck at the moment, but is there any indication that the guys down now aren't coming back?

I was kidding about Stuart. I think he could work out well on the Wings and he certainly wasn't a liability for the Flames last year. The problem with Stuart for Flames fans is they remember him as a member of the Calgary Hitmen when he was in junior. He seemed like a much better defenseman back then. Of course its easier to shine when you're an NHL calibre player but you aren't playing against a team full of NHL calibre players. I think the Wings got the best dman available to them.

Ya - it was a weak call, esp when they let the trip go on Phaneuf just as time ran out in the third. The PP that led to the tying goal was also a weak call. But that's hockey. Wild had a goal disallowed against the Flames in the prior game which would have tied the game up. Over 82 games ya gotta think it all evens out.

Rip Holland all you like - I still happen to think the guy's the best or one of the best GM's in the league. You'll never know what he tried to swing for trades, and not just at the deadline, but all year long. The fact is, some of the best trades are the ones you never make. Look at all the big rentals last year - did any work? No. You have to ask what the hell Pittsburg was thinking with what they gave up for Hossa - a noted playoff bust. Maybe they believe they can sign him to a deal. Maybe they robbed the bank simply to ensure he didn't go to a conference rival. Before yesterday, Montreal was starting to get some serious consideration as the force in the east. Maybe the price was worth it to keep them from getting Hossa too. Darryl Sutter said he could have made several BAD trades yesterday - he chose not to. He also said that in his opinion you don't/can't make moves at the trade deadline to improve your team. History would seem to support that opinion. Why sell your future for a current year run? There are so many variables to winning a Cup that are outside of a team's control. What if Lidstrom and Hank go down in the first round of the playoffs? What if you take the Ducks to OT in the seventh game and a flutterball flies over Ozzie into the net because he was down and couldn't get back up (see Flames vs Kings, 1990). I don't believe one player can make a difference. Certainly not any player that a team is willing to trade. The best you can do at this time of year is patch a hole or add some depth. Brad Stuart is that patch and the price was right.

Sorry Winger, but did it occur to you that perhaps the Wings don't want Fedorov at any price? As I heard this morning about that trade - "what, he still plays in the NHL?". He's over and done and wouldn't help and might hurt the dressing room. This site is so much Feds this and Feds that. It's been years since he was an impact player. At least your GM has the brains to realize it. As for Stuart. Good pickup by the Wings. He was a key to how far the Flames went last year... oh, wait, what? (Actually, with the injuries on D, I think this was a good move at low cost)

Matt - my only problem is that from one time to the next the site never remembers me. It's like the Adam Sandler movie, 50 First Dates. I access the site and it goes "who are u?"

Natch

Apparently they are about to ship Prospal to the Flyers according to TSN

Kinda like DMac eh?

Kopecky instigated the whole thing with Phaneuf in the first place. He tried to throw the first hit and Phaneuf bounced him. Phaneuf then hit him off balance sliding backwards. Could he have avoided him, probably. Should he have gotten some sort of penalty, I have no problem with that. Was it a dirty hit with intent to injure, don't think so. Kopecky went all drama queen trying to draw a penalty and then played his next shift. Kinda like Claude Lemieux back in the day with all of his faked injuries. Kinda bizarre that y'all get so upset when someone hits a Wings player hard, but you're ok with responding by being dirty rather than playing hard. You want to get Phaneuf, hit him back. Lots of players have been decked by Dion and then gone looking to hit him back just as hard - legally. He fights - fight him if you want. But if your boys can't play tough, perhaps they shouldn't play. Tie Domi is, was and always will be a joke. He didn't limit his cheap shots to guys like Ulfie either. He threw an elbow into the face of Scott Neidermeyer one time after the whistle for no reason. Is that really how you want hockey to be played?

I was down at the Dome tonite for the game. I thought it was dull dull dull. I don't think the Flames played very hard and I didn't think the Wings looked any better. So much for the negs. On the plus side, there was so much of this game to feel good about if you're a Wings fan. The other plus side is you would have to say it was a good road game by the Wings. They seem to go along, even or down a goal most of the game putting the opposition to sleep and then explode for 2 to win. Kipper prevented that tonite, but still a good road game. Ozzie looked slow and hurt for a substantial part of the second period, yet he kept making the saves. The ref even grabbed one of the Wing dmen and went and talked to Ozzie to see how he was doing. Howard was up and getting ready, but then the dman went to the bench and Howard put his golf hat back on. Maybe he wasn't hurt or anything, but I liked the fight in him. And quite frankly through the first 30 min, if not for Ozzie the Flames win in a blowout. That far down the depth chart on d and despite some hiccups, they did well. Reminded me of how far down the depth charts the Flames were in the 04 playoffs when the guy who was 8th on the chart was playing 18-20 minutes and the 10th guy on the charts was the 6th dman on the bench. The Flames radio guys were giving a lot of props to the Wings mgmt. Interesting comment on Meech and how far down he was drafted, but on this team he can play because he fits in well with the style of the Wings. Translation - on another team this guy probably never gets out of the minors because no other team plays the game like the Wings. The d did keep the Wings from building the pressure as much as usual and they didn't work as well with the fwds in the defensive end, but not glaringly bad by any means. Most importantly, although a lot of the Wings shots were from outside and that's been a constant pick for me against the fwds, I liked the way even guys like Dats and Zets are more inclined to fight for the puck along the boards than they used to. I also liked how the Wings were driving to the net trying to get a piece of Kipper, even late after whistles. As a Flames fan, its annoying and I want their asses kicked. But as a student of the game, it says to me this team has more fight in it than other years and might be able to get in the trenches and win dirty in the playoffs. So it may be scored as a loss, but there were lots of positives. Except Downey. The guy can't skate. He goes after Hale, loses his balance, Hale steps into him and knocks him silly.

I'll probably be wrong, but I don't see the Wings getting an aging star, or any star for that matter. The Wings have a team right now that can compete for the Cup for the next several years. They don't need to empty the piggy bank to get an expensive rental because 2008 is not their last best shot at a Cup. The team isn't about to be disassembled to stay under the cap or to rebuild or anything like that. More likely is a scenario that sees them get some role players. Some tinkering around to match up with the core players on the team. They'll get a younger guy or two with speed and some desire. Forget Federov, Blake, Hossa, Sundin et al. I just don't see the need when they bring no guarantees with them.

Is there unofficial nacho cheese? What about an autographed jersey signed in permanent felt pen? Will the sigs stay if you wash it?

I would have Iginla higher up on the list. He's won the Rocket twice this decade, he's currently third in goals and I think he's like second to Jagr in goals scored since 2000.

Exactly. If I'm a GM trading with Detroit, I want your prospects or one of your roster players with some time left on his contract. I don't want your draft picks. You're scouting is the best in the league. If I take draft picks, I have to make use of my own scouting (for TO that's a death sentence). If I take prospects, I've made use of yours. Also, why the panic about Cleary being a UFA. He's not the single best guy available with his credentials so he's unlikely to get stupid money thrown at him. His history with other teams hasn't been near as good as with Detroit and teams will discount his time with the Wings because, well, its the Wings, how can you not look good on that team. So if Cleary isn't getting stupid money from somewhere and if the Wings really want him, why would he not sign back with the Wings. It's his best possible chance to win a Cup.

Neither would I. Players are moved to make both teams better in the eyes of the GM. Sometimes they are looking to get better in the short term and sometimes better in the long term. Sometimes they trade because they can't afford to lose an asset to UFA, sometimes they trade because of depth (too much or lack thereof). Once the trade is done, the second guessing can begin. I don't think Jarret Stoll will ever be a leading offensive threat on any team. But I think he is a second to third line player that would be a good fit on any team and a particularly good asset to the Wings based on my perceptions of what the Wings are missing to be a Cup winner (and its not much). Edmonton will want a roster player or a prospect and some picks for Stoll. They'll want someone with speed and they'll want someone who's physical.

By that logic, isn't anyone who is available in the trade market someone's leftovers? If they are available, they don't fit into the team's plans for the future. Also, by that logic, St. Louis never picks up Brett Hull from Calgary. He was in the Flames doghouse and wasn't going to get out any time soon. Edmonton needs more from Stoll than what they are getting this year. That's not necessarily to say he hasn't delivered, but they need more points production. Perhaps in Detroit where scoring isn't such an issue he's better able to just be Jarret Stoll. Hard working, excellent on face-offs, fast, tough, team player. You're right, why would the Wings want that.

And so the trade deadline deals begin. Good move for the Sens. Did they get Commie's bathrobe too?

DID YOU KNOW: That the NHL referees and linesmen, just like the players, represent the best of the best? They have to have earned their stripes (small pun intended) at other levels of hockey prior to coming to the NHL. You can't just show up at a try out and be in the NHL. That the NHL invests significant time and money into continual training for the referees? They have training during the offseason and during the year. They meet with NHL officials on a regular basis to review game tapes of their calls - good, bad and the things they should have called. They can even get a call from the NHL office during the intermission during a game to discuss what happened on the ice during the previous period. That being an NHL referee is an incredibly demanding job? These guys get next to nothing for breaks during a game. They have to bust their ass from one side of the ice to the other, all the while avoiding players and that little black thing which moves around at speeds up to and over 100mph. They have to be in the right position all the time while not interfering with the play going on around them. They have to see and interpret the difference between a penalty and a non-penalty happening at any time all around them. That penalty is spelled with an 'a' not an 'e' in the second syllable? That bad calls are in the eyes of the beholder? I was sitting in front of two friends (one an Oilers fan, one a Flames fan) the other night. They disagreed on every call and non-call made the whole game. That a diving call can occur when, in the referee's opinion, a player embellishes a hook, trip, etc.. or when they go down in an attempt to draw a penalty? Most of these guys can skate and yet the guy who can slip between three players and fire a goal with one foot in the air and one hand on his stick is the same guy who can get knocked over by a simple tap in the ankles that wouldn't knock over a two year old skating for the first time. That most players and coaches, while occasionally complaining about one call or another rarely blame the officiating for a loss? "Yes we didn't like that call, but..." is more often what you hear when they are asked. Give it a rest. They want to do and do do a good job. Any big brother interference would be more detrimental to the game than fixing this perceived problem.

You mean you need a "clutch" performer? (couldn't resist). Then you don't need a rental, you need to trade talent for talent. Send Datsyuk or Zetterberg for Vinnie L.

The Wings are near the top of the league in scoring - I don't see that as being a problem. If someone goes down, its easier to bring up a forward and have them contribute than it is to bring up a dman. The Wings need some depth on defense cuz the playoffs can be hard on dmen. Interesting article in the Calgary Herald today suggests the team most in need of Blake is the Ducks and the team least in need of him is the Wings. Says the Wings need depth on d, but the cost of Blake is too much. Wings are in great shape to be a dominant team for a number of years and they don't need and don't want to mortgage the future for a player who won't guarantee them a Cup (reference made to Bert last year. The Ducks on the other hand are screwed. They need to win this year because they will have no choice but to dismantle their team for cap reasons next year. Get a good 5th or 6th dman.

I'm doing well Mac. I've been travelling so much I never know what time zone I'm in. I've been home for a month and a half and just about to start flying back and forth across the country and across the Atlantic for the next couple of weeks. As always, when I get busy I stop visiting. It seems I don't see the old group around here as much, although more so in recent months. If by mid-April you mean the first round - no s*** eh! The Jekyll and Hyde Flames are driving me nuts and it doesn't help when you look at the Western Conference. 7 Points from 2nd to 9th. Its just that one ***** team that can probably coast down the stretch. How about y'all come back to the pack to make it interesting? No, you can't have Iginla. But you can have Juice and Langkow for Homer and Draper. I swear, if the Flames could put the 04 team back together, they'd kick ass. They might need some equivalent replacements because some of the guys aren't what they were in terms of grit and speed, but the current team doesn't intimidate and doesn't have the will to dominate on a consistent basis. The Yotes game was a prime example. Dogs*** for 2 and a half periods, barnburners for 20 minutes. The whole freakin season looks like that.

Precisely - you can make stats say just about anything you want. At the end of the day, the only stat that matters is W or L. The Wings seem to be able to put up the W's better than any other team. Hockey's a team game and you need a bunch of different pieces to fit the puzzle. There's also the intangible impact of players that can never be assessed. Is Player x better because player y is on his team, etc. When you see teams put together like Team Canada its interesting to see who's on the team and who isn't. Stevie doesn't make the 87 Canada Cup because the team was already deep in scoring centremen and he wasn't yet the strong defensive player he was to become. Other guys were better. Other components necessary to win needed to be on the roster. Iginla may score more clutch goals than Hank and so you want him on the ice late in a game with a 1 goal deficit. Hank's a better defensive player and so you want him on the ice opposite Iginla in the same game. But four forward lines of Iginlas or Zetterbergs likely won't win a Cup. You need all the different pieces not all the same pieces. The only excpetion to that rule is you could have 3 full d lines of Lidstrom. He's the best all round dman in the league. The combination of offence and defence is too good.