egroen

If someone is averaging more than 2 to 3 points a game, I would not be as concerned about his defense. Let's be a bit more realistic here and compare Datsyuk to the superstars of today, not guys like Gretzky or Howe - who are on a completely different level from Datsyuk. Sheesh, and I get lamabasted for saying Datsyuk is better than Crosby right now.

Too true. But their offensive weapons have really dwindled since we lost to them in the playoffs. No McDonald, Kunitz or Penner and Selanne is more of a power play specialist now. More so than ever, the Wings can sick Lidstrom on Getzlaf... and our offense will have a much easier time without Moen and Pahlsson out there.

Since the Ducks traded away Moen and Pahlsson, the two guys who disrupted the Wings more than anyone in '07, I am not as worried about Anaheim. I would welcome Anaheim, because there is almost no chance the Wings would underestimate tham and I have a feeling would go out and play with a vengeance. They are basically a one-line team now, and Detroit eats one-line teams up for breakfast.

I love the ads the Blackhawks have run this season, and I hate their fans. I would not mind at all a re-kindled rivalry with Chicago, and I love beating the crap out of that team. Go Wings!

I had hoped we would have seen something from Meech by now, and while he might be slightly better offensively than Lebda, I think Lebda is still better defensively. That said, I would prefer Lilja, Chelios and Ericsson ahead of both of them on the depth chart. I also prefer to see Stuart and Kronwall split up.

Thanks for that! I don't know about anyone else, but it helps make me feel better

I would have expected to see this post on April 1st. This could be worse, and shorter lived, than Melrose coaching this year.

I want Chelios on the team next year, no question about it. I would rather lose Meech or Lebda or both, in order to make room for Eriksson next year.

Osgood made up for some softies with some outstanding play in the 3rd period. Keep it going!

Considering we are talking about someone who refers to himself in the third person and proudly proclaims Lidstrom is a terrible captain and Datsyuk (as well as the rest of the team) has no heart, I think we are easily outside the realm of even the high school debate club.

Iginla isn't even that good of a captain -- he's only been in 3 fights this year. Prust, Nystrom and Roy - all with at least three times as many fights - would all make much better captains for the Flames.

I honestly do not understand why you would even root for or support a team you can not stand. Lidstrom is an awful captain -- Datsyuk has no heart -- I would expect such asinine utterances from a troll in from the Penguins board before he is banned.

From distant observation it does look like Datsyuk is more comfortable defering to Zetterberg, so if that is how their dynamic works best, I am all for it. I'm hoping Micah follows Burke over to Toronto...

Interesting observations -- I played on some club water polo teams in college, and let me tell you, women are nasty. If you "wrong" them they are out for your blood, and in between quarters all the women would talk about who they were going to "get" from the other team, and especially the girl-on-girl violence could get out of hand. My additional theory to yours, is that most women today are not brought up in contact sports like guys are. Guys learn penalties, rough play and even the occassional fight is part of the game, at an early age. They can be in the thick of it, but leave it behind once it is over. Women are not exposed to that element as much, and when they are thrust into it later in life, it is personal. Real personal. Of course that might change if more girls grow up playing contact sports and learn to handle it within the context of the sport and game. Or can they? I have found, in general, women in the work place hold onto disputes and altercations longer than men as well. They just do not seem to be able to "move on" as easily from trespasses as men seem to be able to.

I don't want Filppula to stay simply because he signed first. If there is a way to fit one of Hossa/Franzen and Hudler in if Filppula is traded I am all for it. Especialy if those guys are willing to sign for a nice hometown discount (which Filppula did not). Reward those who are willing to sign for less. I would prefer to keep Filppula on the team, without a doubt - I just do not think his postential is that of Franzen or Hudler.

I am in no hurry to see Chelios off this team. I would still rather lose Lebda or Meech instead of Chelios for next year.

Seems like those are assists... The one I keep noticing is Datsyuk's takeaways. He has been credited with far fewer takeaways this year, and I have not noticed a decline in them at all. I regularily count at least 2 to 3 clean takeaways by him a game, and sometimes as many as 7 - yet the official stats have him credited with slightly over one a game. It's a huge discrepency.

At least they are staying consistent in the NHL -- dangerous head shots still are not as bad as sophmoric comments to the media.

Jiri had all the tools, and was just starting to put it together his last year -- It does not seem like much of a stretch of the imagination to see him in Norris contention. Apparently he is still the best skater and stickhandler when he is on the ice with the prospects at camp.

I can't stand Crosby simply because of the way he handled the All Star Game debacle, and how he rubbed it in our noses that he was there despite being genuinely injured... unlike certain other players who were just resting. I was more amused by his attention, whining and donkey punching tendancies before that.

Hossa, Zetterberg, Datsyuk and even Hudler can all create scoring chances for themselves. While Franzen is better at creating chances for himself than say, Holmstrom, he still needs most of his goals served on a platter for him. Franzen needs to play with a legitimate first tier playmaker or he is not going to be scoring. He is not an "ok" passer, he is a pretty bad passer, at least on this team. With the proper linemates he can be a goal-scoring machine though, and that is special. I am still dieing to see Franzen, Hudler and Hossa on one line -- I feel like that line could score goals in buckets.

That would be the dream scenario - now how about the nightmare scenario? Nashville VS. New Jersey? Columbus VS. Carolina?

Ha! Though Tootoo is a badass for taking his lunch standing. I feel so alone being one of the few Wings fans to actually like this guy...

If I were a general manager, I would not be sweating the doom and gloom of a salary cap decrease in two years. 1) Ticket sales in the NHL are still healthy, and even up this year, despite the economy. 2) The TV contract can not get any worse than what it currently is, and will most likely get better. 3) Even if revenues do fall substancially, the Players' Union and Owners can vote to bypass the CBA and artificially put the salary cap wherever they want -- for instance, if it went to $50m, 75% of NHL teams would be screwed, and I have a feeling they would elect to keep the cap constant in that case. 4) Red wings specifically have a key UFA that year - Lidstrom, who might take a significant salary cut. Maltby and Holmstrom are also UFAs that year.

I expected a signing by now -- and am wondering if the delay is because of the Wings goaltending. How confident can Holland be right now with Osgood, Conklin and Howard? Ideally, we would have Osgood and Howard in net next year, and retain as many free agents as possible - but Holland has to be rethinking that, in light of Osgood's and Howard's less than stellar play this year. Perhaps the Wings end up losing a lot more forwards, but end up snagging a goalie?