Never_Retire_Steve

Ya, I don't think they need a major shake up. Are we quickly forgetting that this team went to the Cup finals 2 years in a row? Yes this team has played very poorly compared to its standards but this is still a good team. I hate to use injuries but you have to consider them and who has been out. The key difference between this years team and the last two years is the depth. When we have had injuries in the past we have had excellent replacement players to fill the roles. This year has not been the case and we have seen that reflected in the play. I agree that some decisions need to be made on the players you mentioned but a major shake up is not the answer, more so a few tweaks.

It's stupid to think that this team will be rebuilt from scratch. We still have Dats/Z/Helm/Franzen/Flip/Kronwall/Ericsson/Howard who are showing that they are the core of this team having said that to completely ignore rebuilding would be foolish. Lidstrom won't be around forever so we do need to consider that because he will leave a huge void.

Makes you shudder to think about what happens to this team when he retires

Unfortunately the guy raises a lot of valid points. I really hope that we get Franzen and Kronwall back to bolster this team because they are big parts to this team. Also, we were so fortunate to see the depth this team had the past 2 years when we went through our injury problems. We are starting to see with the loss of several forwards that this is no longer the case so we need our best players to be our best players and count on having the best 4 lines in hockey anymore.

Meh, we don't really have any reason to trade. This is a good team that has been riddled with injuries and finds ways to lose games rather than win. The one thing that I really hate and I took as a bad thing are the Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Franzen signings. They take up so much cap space and are under such ridiculous contracts that it basically makes them untradeable for a situation where we may have to become sellers. I love those 3 but I think it's always a stupid move to sign 12 year contracts. Look at DiPietro.

Love this team, the only guy who I'm not sure whether I like would be Bergeron. There were just so many good players to choose from. Also to not having the leading point scoring D-man on this team (Mike Green)

Here's my final wish list for the roster, not necessarily who I think will make the team: Nash - Crosby - Iginla Perry - Getzlaf - B. Richards St. Louis - Thornton - Heatley Carter - M. Richards - Marleau Toews, E. Staal Regehr - Pronger Keith - Seabrook Bouwmeester - Weber Boyle Brodeur Luongo Fleury So changes since the last 10 months: Rick Nash -- Wasn't on my original team because I still wasn't sold on him but really I don't think there is a better goal scorer than him on this team so now becomes a first liner IMO Vinny Lecavalier -- Thought he would be a no brainer after first two drafts of this team but the reality of this situation is that this team is so deep down the middle that I don't think he fits well with the roster and needs to be a top 2 line guy but this year their is a better top 6 than him Toews -- Wasn't on my original roster but he is a very good all-round player and can play in almost any situation, apparently he is a good locker room presence and would make a good 13th forward. Savard -- Had him on first roster but after injuries and being a centerman there are way better options than him as a playmaking center for this team E. Staal -- Has had a lot of ups and downs over the last 10 months both performance wise and injury wise so he has tossed on and off my roster. Right now, I'd have him as a 13 or 14th forward as a winger. Gagne -- Was on my original team due to the year he had last year and the olympic experience he had from 2002 but with his performance and terrible injuries that he's had this year, he isn't even on the radar anymore Morrow -- Had him on there for his defensive capabilities but I think there are better players who may sacrifice on the defensive side but have better offensive upside without sacrificing too much defensively Doan -- Similar to Morrow Spezza -- See Savard Cammalleri -- Really think that he would fit well in this team but there are just too many good players to give a guy a spot who has really only had 1 stellar season Niedermayer -- Ok, so I know he's making this team but I just think that for his standards he is having a really bad year and there are a lot better options with youth that should be ahead of him. Pheneuf -- Last two years has been really prone to making defensive mistakes and think that there are a lot beter players on the defensive side of the puck Weber -- Is still very young and at first wasn't sold on him, however, he was unreal last year but hasn't really has as solid season this year as I would've liked but I still think he is a solid 3rd line pairing Boyle -- There's something about this guy that worries me which is why I didn't have him on the team earlier but he has put up some good numbers in the last couple years offensively while still being pretty good defensively Seabrook -- This guy is solid in every aspect of the game, I have a really hard time leaving him off the team even though I'm worried he might get passed up. Green -- Ok, so he is the best offensive defenseman in the league but I think he is so bad defensively that teams like the Russians will tear him apart when he is on the ice. Fleury -- Wasn't on my original team but has proved that he can play in the big games and come up huge when it matters, unfortunately for us Wings fan Price -- Unreal potential but just way too inconsistent, the 3 goalies are a pretty safe bet

I have seen a lot of discussion about this over the last few days so I thought I would throw in my two cents as to who should be on this team. Lecavalier - Crosby - Iginla Heatley - Thornton - Carter Gagne - Savard - Getzlaf Morrow - M. Richards - Doan Spezza, Cammaleri Niedermayer - Bouwmeester Keith - Phaneuf Boyle - Green Regehr Brodeur Luongo Price This is the team that I think will be on the ice right now if we were selecting the team today. However, there are a lot of guys that can slide in if they start next year hot or if their are any injuries. In goal, if anyone gets injured or if S. Mason starts hot I think you have to go with him. Also, if injuries are bad seasons occur, Turco is always a guy that you can count on in goal as a solid backup. The blue line seems pretty set in stone for me, the only other guy who was a toss up for me was S. Weber in Nashville. Guys like Pronger, Jovanovski are too old and I think that you need a youth movement. Brian Campbell is good but is a worse Mike Green as he has some bad defensive lapses even though he has great offensive potential. Coburn and Seabrook are other guys I considered but it would be good to have the team captain in Niedermayer back there for leadership and experience. Up front there are HUGE question marks for me, the only guys set in stone are Lecavalier, Crosby, Iginla and Thornton. There are a ton of guys that you can put up front. Guys like Kariya and Briere should be there if they are healthy and play up to there potential. You also have St. Louis and E. Staal who have had 100 point seasons and have played on team Canada in the past. Lucic would be a nice guy as an energy line player. Toews is an amazing talent and who knows where he will be next year. For me there are so many question marks up front that this team can only be decided in the fall. What are your guy's thoughts.

This was my team before the season started, I think there will be a couple tweaks before it gets announced

After the playoffs and after the off-season I decided to re-check this team and made the following adjustments to the team before the season started. Lecavalier - Crosby - Iginla Heatley - Toews (Savard) - Carter E. Staal (Gagne) - Thornton - Getzlaf Morrow - M. Richards - Nash (Doan) St. Louis (Spezza), Cammaleri Niedermayer - Bouwmeester Keith - Phaneuf Weber (Boyle) - Seabrook (Green) Regehr Brodeur Luongo Fleury (Price) Anyone else change any of their olympic rosters since last February?

There was some conversation about player projections just as always when coming into the new NHL season. A focal point was of some people's thoughts were....... can AO get 50 goals in 50 games? A lot of people said that is something that won't be done for a while but if there is one guy who can do it, it would be Ovie. Right now he is sitting on 13 goals in 12 games. Thoughts?

"He shoots, he scores!" Honorable mentions: "A Double Dion" "It's all about transition defence" "He needs to do a better job to identify the ice" "What a monster"

Looks like I jinxed him with this thread

Parise

Now I know that this is a very very touchy subject on this board but I thought about this today as Dan Cloutier got injured and Lalime got placed on waivers. There are a few teams out there that need a #1 goaltender. Although I am not a big Osgood fan (Never have been, even when they won cup) he did play very well in the last few games (exception tonight of course). We do have a solid #1 in my opinion in Legace and I think that Howard has a lot of potential. We need someone to replace Fischer on the blueline. However, I do not think that Osgood has much value right now, he needs to get in some games and prove himself before we could get a good trade for him. Any thoughts?

Where's the Franzen love? Before this series I was definitely saying the Mule because of the clutch goals that he scored in the first 3 rounds but after this series I have to say Z with how well he has shut down Crosby. Funny how a guy like Lidstrom isn't even on the radar for this award.

Holy s*** that is a lot of Ilitch's!! P.S. Helm is amazing

You know what, I was thinking about this too and what about giving them Co-MVPs? They are definitely the key to that team as their defense sucks and after those two the offense is s*** other than when they play with one of the superstars. Detroit on the other hand has had so many key plays from everyone that its hard to say that someone has definitely been their MVP. Having said that, Franzen has been our most clutch player and deserves the award from a Detroit perspective.

From when we picked him up at the deadline and the play he had in last year's postseason you must admit he was pretty brutal in the regular season. Having said that, the way he has elevated his play as a legit #1 or #2 guy this postseason in the absence of Lidstrom, Rafalski and Lilja has to be appreciated especially when you have Chelios on your blue line.

Kinda the opposite of what the thread is but it was too funny for me to ignore sharing it. During game 4 my friend (a diehard Wings fan) some of his buddies and myself went to a sports bar and watched the game. We sat next to a table that was very drunk and loud. The Wings scored to basically win them the game and my buddy and I always go apes*** when the Wings score and the rest of the table was cheering as well. After we were done celebrating one of the guys at the table said, "How can you cheer for a bunch of European *******." My diehard friend and I ignored the comment because we've been hearing that type of s*** for the last 15 years but one of the other guys at our table said something I will never forget. "I know, what are they even doing over here. I mean how dare they even let them play in this league, it's not even their continent. Stay over on your own continent, all Europeans should be banned from the NHL." About 5 minutes later Cleary gets stopped by Hiller and the guy cheers. My buddy says to him, "How dare that European goalie stop one of our own hard working Canadian boys. And what kind of name is Teemu anyway. Stupid Europeans"

Game on!! Hawks off the bar early

lol, what is it with the Canes and guys getting their only playoff games in OT???

Scott Walker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That last shift was ridiculous

Is that how many overtimes you want this to go because I do. Ya, I was super nervous when it was 3-3, I was so pumped when that 4th goal went in. Although, I must say two of my greatest memories are Yzerman against the Blues and Statue of Liberty. We won't mention the Leafs point shot in 93 though.