Aussie_Wing

Yeah, because I refuse to accept that Detroit would be willing to trade Flip and with him all our depth just to re-sign Hossa I must be biased.

The same Babcock that handed Leino 4th line duties in the playoffs getting 5 minutes a night? The same Babcock that played Helm a grand total of 56 seconds during the 3rd period of Game 7? You honestly think this is a man that will have an all rookie 3rd line? Not only that, but a line of washed up veterans on the 4th? Just in the name of re-signing Hossa?

Does it matter if they’re 18, 22 or in Leino’s case, 25? If they have minimal NHL experience, which they all do aside from Helm, Babcock will not throw him in to 3rd line duties as soon as next season. Honestly, do you not know Babcock at all? And that roster, honestly, you would rather that just to keep Hossa? Draper centering the 3rd line? What a backwards move.

Terrific, mature response.

Are you serious? This is what it would look like without Hossa: Pavel Datsyuk ($6.7m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.1m) / Johan Franzen ($4.0m) Daniel Cleary ($2.8m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.0m) / Jiri Hudler ($2.0m) Tomas Holmstrom ($2.2m) / Darren Helm ($0.6m) / Ville Leino ($1.0m) Justin Abdelkader ($0.8m) / Kris Draper ($1.6m) / Kirk Maltby ($0.9m)

So assists, which set up goals, mean nothing? I see, interesting theory that. Hossa scores goals? And yet he had ZERO in the Finals. Franzen had two, as did Flip. I guess Flip really wasn't that bad afterall. Holmstrom, although I would like to see it happen, is going nowhere. Who will get Hossa his goals? He's shown minimal chemistry with anyone other than Filppula.

Signing Hossa= bye to our depth. Our roster would look a little something like this... Daniel Cleary ($2.8m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.1m) / Marian Hossa ($5.0m) Johan Franzen ($4.0m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.7m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($2.2m) Justin Abdelkader ($0.8m) / Darren Helm ($0.6m) / Ville Leino ($1.0m) Kirk Maltby ($0.9m) / Kris Draper ($1.6m) / Darren McCarty ($0.6m) 1. 4th line is horrible 2. Third line features 3 rookies, yeah, like that's going to happen. You can honestly see that happening? Cool...

The guy that led the team in assists in the playoffs and was third in points? Yeah, what an overrated hack. I can't believe we didn't try and get a 7th round pick for him.

I'm starting to wonder whether people actually: A. Watch Detroit to see how much ice-time Filppula receives B. Listens to the way Babcock and Holland rave about him C. Watch Filppula in the playoffs And yet despite this he’s going to be sent packing? Give me a break PLEASE.

I don't know why I even bother coming to this site during the off-season, seriously. 3 people in a row have just agreed to lose all of our depth to re-sign Hossa. Awesome stuff guys, awesome.

Might as well get Robert Lang back.

Cannot be done. Just impossible. Hudler and Samulesson both deserve and will get raises. McCarty is coming back in favour of Downey. Ericsson is an absolute LOCK to play in Detroit, as is Helm. Please don't even think about them playing in Grand Rapids, and you honestly think Ericsson would receive 5 minutes a night in Detroit? Helm 5 minutes? Please, some realism is required.

Ha! So we're going to miss the playoffs without Hossa?

Great read, thanks for posting. Ah the Red Wings, the envy of all other organisations. ")

Maltby is nice and cheap, Holmostrom too expensive so that's why I didn't include him. Doing a realistic roster, there is no way we can re-sign Hossa. On top of that, I think one of Hudler and Samulesson are also gone, hopefully Sammy.

OK here goes, my absolute pipe dream of a roster. Datsyuk (6.7m) / Zetterberg (6.1) / Franzen (4.0) Cleary (2.8) / Filppula (3.0) / Hudler (2.0) Samuelsson (1.5) / Helm (0.6) / Leino (1.0) Ritola (0.5) / Abdelkader (0.8) / Draper (1.6) Kopecky (0.7) Lidstrom (7.5) / Rafalaski (6.0) Stuart (3.8) / Kronwall (3.0) Lilja (1.2) / Ericsson (0.9) Lebda (0.7) Osgood (1.4) / Howard (0.7) ROSTER: 22; PAYROLL: $56.8m; CAP ROOM: 384k

Actually, that is a very good idea. Great character, strong defensively and can occasionally score. I'm all for it.

I know I'm in the minority but I really like Kopecky, think he's a good team player and is a more than handy 4th liner who can occasionally chip in on a scoring line if need be. Although it obviously wouldn't be the end of the world to lose him, it would be really disappointing to see him sign elsewhere. Any predictions on what Holland offered, maybe 500k-750k? Because it must have been pretty low for him to say, "he's hoping to do a lot better than what we offered."

I reckon! I looked at his pictures on getty images and that was the first thing I noticed, he looks so old for his age!

Thrilled with this pick. Great speed, great shooter, excellent leader, can play in all situations, seems like another Helm but with higher upside. And FWIW, I really like Ray Ferraro as an analyst.

I knew we had to pick a Swede, had to! Looks like he's got some pretty decent offensive potential. He's tiny though, especially for a defenceman. But if you can get a Meech/Lebda/Pyett with the 2nd to last pick you've done very well.

Mitchell Callahan... 188 PIM's in 70 games in the WHL last season.

I love this pick, love it!

Yeah to be honest I'm much higher on Nick Jensen, sounds a whole lot better. But there must be some reason we rated Fournier so much higher...

What the heck were Philadelphia thinking? Terrible trade for them.