WhiteLightning91

I fail to see how that's an issue. If I remember correctly, the last IIHF agreement was you must sign European prospects within 2 years of when they were drafted. If we're talking about a blue-chip European prospect, then it wouldn't matter whether there was an agreement. You would surely sign them within 2 years.

Actually, since there is no longer an IIHF agreement in place right now, teams hold onto the rights of European prospects indefinitely.

Except Samuelsson has reached his potential, where as Fleischmann hasn't yet. I'm not sour grapes over the trade. Like I said, he was another undersized, offensive-minded, perimeter playing Euro. Something that we had plenty of at the time.

Trade Filppula, Stuart (yes, I'm aware of the NTC, but this is hypothetical), and Lebda for picks and prospects since we cannot afford to take on more salary. Re-sign Hossa, Hudler, Leino, Kopecky, and Downey (he can be kept in GR, even though I would love to see him in Detroit full-time). Let Samuelsson, McCarty, Chelios, and Conklin go. Still, this really cuts it close. Good luck Kenny! Holmstrom - Datsyuk - Hossa Hudler - Zetterberg - Franzen Leino - Helm - Cleary Kopecky - Draper - Maltby Lidstrom - Rafalski Kronwall - Ericsson Meech - Lilja Osgood Howard FORWARDS Pavel Datsyuk $6,700,000 Marian Hossa $6,300,000 Henrik Zetterberg $6,083,333 Johan Franzen $3,954,545 Daniel Cleary $2,800,000 Jiri Hudler $2,500,000 Tomas Holmstrom $2,250,000 Kris Draper $1,583,333 Ville Leino $1,000,000 Kirk Maltby $883,333 Tomas Kopecky $800,000 Darren Helm $599,444 DEFENSEMEN Nicklas Lidstrom $7,450,000 Brian Rafalski $6,000,000 Niklas Kronwall $3,000,000 Andreas Lilja $1,250,000 Jonathan Ericsson $900,000 Derek Meech $483,333 GOALTENDERS Chris Osgood $1,416,666 Jimmy Howard $716,666 TOTALS ROSTER SIZE 20 SALARY CAP $56,700,000 PAYROLL $56,670,653 CAP ROOM $29,347

The only player I can think of that you missed is Tomas Fleischmann, who was part of the Robert Lang trade. He was a solid player but a redundant type of prospect so we could afford to trade him. I think he will have a solid career since his numbers have only gone up since he first played in the Show and the Capitals' system is perfect for his style of play.

SJS/ANA 4-2 DET/CLB 4-1 VAN/STL 4-2 CHI/CAL 4-3 BOS/MTL 4-0 WSH/NYR 4-1 NJD/CAR 4-3 PIT/PHI 4-3 WC Champion: Detroit Red Wings EC Champion: Boston Bruins SC Champion: Detroit Red Wings

Montreal went 8-0 vs. the Bruins last season and the B's still took them to 7 games in the first round. Anything can happen, it's a different ball (hockey) game.

Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom Franzen - Filppula - Hossa Hudler - Helm - Samuelsson Cleary - Draper - Maltby (Kopecky/Leino) Lidstrom - Rafalski Kronwall - Stuart Ericsson - Chelios (Lilja) Osgood Conklin

nasty

How in the hell is Yzerman's double OT goal against the Blue's in the 1996 playoffs not on there??? That may be the most memorable Yzerman goal I can think of.

My biggest pet peeve with Versus is how they never replay penalties...Considering they are the official station of the league, one can only imagine they are instructed to not replay questionable calls that would show what a joke the officiating in this league is. Also, the interviewing they do between periods and during stoppages is absolutely horrendous. The people they have interviewing the players have never seen a game of hockey in their life and ask the most mundane and cliche questions.

Al Strachan had an interesting take on this very subject on Hotstove over the weekend. To sum up, he pretty much said that the richer teams in the league that have been taking care of all these small market teams through the process of revenue sharing would not agree to all those same small market picking up these great young stars from Phoenix when the richer teams are the ones who have been keeping these failing teams afloat for years.

^^^Include me in that group. I couldn't stand NBC's coverage. So much blabbering about absolutely nothing. CBC actually was calling the game.

I'm all in favor of Washington vs. Boston My two favorite teams, after the Wings of course, featuring the games most exciting player, Alexander the Great. I would say hold it in Boston over DC though.

Totally random, but holy cow at the amount of hits Ovechkin has for being #2 in scoring. Only Milan Lucic, Dustin Brown, and Brooks Orpik have more in the league. It's official, Ovechkin is the most dynamic player in the league PERIOD.

Filppula and a draft pick doesn't work. Thats only $3M in salary off the books and $4M added to the books. With the Red Wings in trouble with the cap, they would have to throw another roster player in the trade to offset the $4M cap hit they would be undertaking.

I fail to see how Holland can sign Hudler for any less than what Cleary or Filppula are making...I am a huge fan of Huds and will be uber pissed if he is lossed this offseason.

Beauty!

Can someone throw up the line combination's from tonight's game? Didn't catch them during the game.

It is articles like these that remind me of the greatest response in the history of man... "Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

???

Holmstrom - Datsyuk - Hossa Franzen - Zetterberg - Hudler Cleary - Filppula - Samuelsson Maltby - Draper - Kopecky McCarty Lidstrom - Rafalski Kronwall - Stuart Lilja - Lebda Meech Osgood Conklin Howard

The link does not work for me.

Lilja is our leading hitter, leading shot blocker and plays an important part on the PK, which will be even more crucial to the team this season since Chelios' role is supposedly going to be reduced this year. Trading him makes less sense than trading one of Lebda or Meech who are both offensive-minded, smallish defenseman. I would say trade both Lebda and Meech so we have enough cap space to bring up Downey or Mac whenever needed. We can also use Ericsson as the first-call up from GR due to injuries that way.

I'm pretty sure Franzen was mostly playing on Filppula's wing so I don't understand why he is mentioned instead of Val. That has to be a mistake on the writer's part.