scotzman

I mean, picking up Avery for under $2Million a year is not a bad deal... the guy did really flourish in NY and was a fan favorite. I really wonder if the only reason the Dallas players hated him was the Phaneuf incident... I know that there were other things, but he really rubbed all those guys the wrong way. Maybe it hit closer to home because Modano is married to a former punch board of sorts (Willa Ford).

Really... who would you say is better? Who would you rather have? Who anticipates and is more defensively sound? Either way, Osgood is not good right now...

Pretty much had his best years there too... I hope all the anger management therapy has worked

Even the way Lids is playing right now, he is still the best D-man in the league. Ozzy is the worst (statistically, besides wins) in the league.

I know everybody hates these threads, but let's be honest here... You could have 6 Lidstroms in the lineup playing DEF, but if your Goalie can't stop the puck you're f*cked. Ozzy has been BAD. Conks is the better tender right now... We're screwed without better tending... end of story. All you delusional people who think otherwise are, well, delusional. As an aside, while I might not post here everyday, I just thought this was a place for Wings fans to get together and talk about the Wings. Obviously some don't agree... speaking of topics I've heard a million times, seems we've had this talk about the superiority of some people on here a million times too. If you don't like the thread, move along.

Stranger things have happened... I'll never put anything past Kenny.

I think you gotta' take Hossa... of course that means he wants to stay and take a lot less money than he would get on the open market. It comes down to whether he wants to make big money and play in Edmonton or take less and play for a Cup contender. If they sign Hossa first and I was Franzen, I would figure out a way to make it work with the Wings. Kenny has shown he can get creative with the numbers. Same said for Hudler... Why wouldn't you want to stay in Hockeytown with Z, Dats, Lids and Hossa on the roster? Seems like a no brainer to me.

Kronwall is brutal right now... he had at least 4 giveaway passes that I can remember last night. Chelios, Lebda and Lilja looked all stars compared to him last night. Cheli seemed to have one of his better games so far this year. No need to panic, but they better snap out of this soon... they can't just turn it on in April. Babs needs to kick some ass soon. Damn cap!

I like Hossa and if they can fit him in that would be great, but there are not a lot of guys that would produce the way Huds does with the limited minutes he gets. I would really like to keep him... Franzen seems like the odd man out to me. On top of all that, they need to bring up guys like Helm, Leino and Abdelkader next year... plus Ericsson!

Please scratch Kopecky and see if it makes him hungry to be in the line up... he is a dog!

You beat me to it... RIP Chiasson

Probably one of the best shows ever!!! I instantly started laughing when I saw the pic!!

:thumbup: I agree. Downey may not be the answer, but he gave us something we haven't had many times this season... ENERGY! No matter what all the soft super skilled hockey lovers think, we need ENERGY. It's not even about fighting, it's about getting the crowd into it... taking the other team out of there game... silencing the crowd on the road. Did anyone notice the way the team responded after just one shift of hitting and the energy the 4th line brought? If you didn't see it, you know nothing about hockey.

What about Chris Neil? Ottawa is out of it completely and he is UFA after this year... I'm looking mainly in the East. Guerin might be a possibility too, but I don't know that he adds a lot of grit or energy. Roberts would be a good one... what about Laperiere (also a UFA)?

I am in favor of the huge blowout game... last night was pretty close to being one. The Stars dominated us (as did O'Hallaran). They played the way we played last year in the playoffs. Ozzy is not awful, but our D just hasn't played like the Cup winners of last year. All that said, Ozzy has to step up too. Even though Downey wasn't a huge factor, did anyone notice the huge injection of momentum that came after that nice 4th line shift where there were hits all over the ice? That is something we are really lacking this year. Kronner has not made the big hits this year. Drake is not here to add that energy and we need it. They look flat 3 out of 5 games... that is a problem. They need a wake up call. I also think that have to seriously consider shipping Flip at the deadline for a hard nosed energy guy. That would also free up some cap space for Franzen/Huds and maybe even Hossa.

Crosby = horrible ambassador for the NHL. Until this league decides to recognize their best players and hire a real marketing team it will always be an afterthought. We're getting to ticky-tack about "the rule." Originally the rule was stated as: If a player misses the ASG they must miss the game prior or the game after the ASG. Until Cindy called Bettman and asked what he could do to get out of it, there was no exception that said you could show up for pictures and autographs and you were all set. That's all there is to it. Cindy is untouchable... Bottom line, who cares, the Wings are winners.

Jim Kelley's article on fighting... ...forward thinking GM's huh? Amazingly, it sounds like Kenny leans toward no fighting or being ejected from the game for fighting.

Seems like that is what the "forward thinkers" would like to see... I'm all for cleaning up "goonery" (which I don't think happens that often anyway), but protecting skilled players will always be a necessity in my opinion. Too bad Kenny doesn't agree.

:thumbup: Exactly... if the NHL would just be true to it's roots and market what is great about the game more people would watch it and the base would be even more loyal. I'm not into gimmicks or finding ways to attract new fans through bigger nets, no fighting, etc. but taking the great game that it is and showcasing the players will eventually lure in new fans. Honestly, now that I live in Ohio, I am converting my friends here to the NHL. The best thing is when they go to a game, but I have just exposed them to the Wings games and slowly but surely they ask questions and are really starting to enjoy it. A friend of mine emailed me yesterday and said he has been addicted lately... last year during the Cup Finals I got him to watch a few games and answered his questions (what's the blue line, what's offsides, what is icing, what's a powerplay, etc.) and now he's hooked. Maybe Gary the Rat should have his marketing department pay some of us to start a grassroots campaign and show our friends what hockey is all about... it's so crazy it just might work.

They also watch NASCAR for the crashes, MMA for the brutal submissions and knockouts and the NFL for the huge hits. Can you explain to me how two guys fighting on skates is something that this demographic would not find entertaining? The truth is, people who want fighting out of hockey also want violence out of sports completely. You will never reach these people. The only way the NHL gains more fans is by marketing the game better. The end. The game is fine... show people what is great about it and they will love it.

Add me to that list... they are really hell bent on more scoring huh? Maybe they could work on marketing the game better and gettting back on ESPN.

Exactly!! That was the problem with 91... you never knew which 91 you would get. Even when he dogged it, he was a great player, but when he decided to turn it on, he was unstoppable. Dats brings it every night. I would rather have a guy like him that I can count on every night to give everything he's got. Sergei will always leave me wondering, "what if?"

Lived in Detroit for 35 years and now I live out of state, but would love to take a few road trips to see the Wings especially on West Coast swings... are there clubs or groups that travel to the Wings road games and sit together? I did a couple Google searches and have not found what I am looking for... Anyone have any knowledge on this one?

You nailed it... The Captain will always be my favorite sports hero. I hope he can find a way to stick with the Wings for a very long time.

That is more what I am looking for... thanks! The Redmond Tours are not really what I was looking for. I would like to go on an extended trip and hang with other Wings fans on the road and sit with them during the game, plus hang in some new cool places. Would love to go to Vancouver along with some of the Cali and maybe Phoenix.