egroen

You don't have to worry about Refalski being traded as he has a no-trade clause. He is a great defenseman, who unfortunately on this team is constantly compared to one of the top 5 defensemen of all time in Lidstrom. Rafalski makes mistakes, but he is more than capable defensively, superb on the power play and capable of logging solid PK time.

I think that is about all the "give" you are capable of, so thank you! Consider also, that even in the twilight of their careers, Fedorov is easily the more valuable player. He is still a force all over the ice, putting up points and earning Selke votes... even still playing defense occasionally. He plays on Washington's power play and penalty kill. Shanahan has turned into a slow, lazy floater just looking for the snipe and is only truly effective on the power play. We would be stringing him up on a regular basis on LGW.com!

Feds has one of the best years ever recorded for a forward, but it is his play in the plaoyffs that really put him over the top. Shanahan's years of consistent good play will not bump him over that (especially if we factor Fedorov's defensive game into the equation).

Dino merely had a LOT of mediocore seasons. Only twice in his entire career was he amongst the top 10 in goal scoring (4th and 5th) and he was only twice in the top 10 in points (6th and 9th). He has never even been a 1st or 2nd Team All Star. Dino merely had the good fortune of playing a lot of games in the highest scoring period of the NHL - he was never considered one of the best players in the league, never mind even at his position.

Let's make apples to apples comparisons: Individual Awards Fedorov: Hart Pearson Selke X2 1 1st Team All Star at Center (competing with Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, Lidros, Messier, Sakic, Forsberg, Francis, Oates, Gilmour and Modano) Shanahan: 2 1st Team All Star at Left Wing (competing with Robitaille, Kariya, Tkachuk, Graves, LeClaire, Elias and Naslund) 1 2nd Team All Star at Left Wing Strong advantage Fedorov. the only advantage Shanahan has is All Star Teams, and I will leave it to you to decide who had better competition). Cups 3 Each Best Season Fedorov 56 goals 64 assists 120 points +49 Hart, Pearson, Selke -- One of the best overall seasons ever. Shanahan 52 goals 50 assists 102 points -9 Fedorov wins this one easily, and his second-best season (107 pts) is still better than Shanahan's best. Regular Season 1217 gp 477 g 684 a 1161 pts 0.95 p/g Fedorov 1492 gp 651 g 690 a 1341 pts 0.90 p/g Shanahan Fedorov beats him in points per game, while also playing a much stronger defensive game (he is still earning Selke votes to this day). Shanahan beats him in goal scoring. Playoffs 169 gp 51 g 117 a 168 pts 0.99 p/g Fedorov 177 gp 59 g 72 a 131 pts 0.74 p/g Shanahan Huge advantage for Fedorov Also consider Fedorov had FOUR post-seasons in a row where he scored 20 points or more. Incredible feat. Shanahan has never score 20 or more points in the playoffs and has only scored more than 10 pts only twice. Shanahan is a better goal scorer than Fedorov, but Fedorov has huge advantages in: Awards, Playoffs, peak and defensive play as well as international play. Clear advantage to Fedorov.

Actually, if you let Franzen walk you can keep Hudler, Fillpula and Samuelsson. In order to keep Franzen one of Filppula or Hudler needs to go. Franzen + Hudler/Filppula *or* Hudler + Filppula + Samuelsson

I think you are safe in adding 2% to the cap for next year, bringing it to $57.83m or an additional $1.13m. I have heard as much as a 5% increase, but 2% seems safe.

It is a fine contract... for a 2nd line center. Especially one who is solid defensively, is young, can put up decent points and steps it up in the playoffs. It could end up being a great contract -- I just don't know if the Wings have the luxury of waiting it out. Plenty of team would love to have Filppula at that amount, and he would get a nice return in a trade.

Did someone just write that a Hart and Pearson winner with two Selkes, 3 Cups, 3 wins at the world championships, some of the best string of playoff performances in the past 20 years, and the highest scoring Russian of all time in the NHL is not going to make it into the Hockey Hall of Fame? Seriously? He has a much stronger case than Shanahan, who will also make it in.

Are you saying he hasn't been... this year?

Hossa will be gone. At least one, and probably two, of Samuelsson/Hudler/Franzen/Filppula will be gone. Kopecky could be gone. Helm and Leino have a place on this team next year. I was more worried Leino would leave during the AHL season when it became very apparent there was no room for him on the Red Wings - that he has stuck it out for this long tells me we have a very good shot of resigning him. I think this is more posturing than anything... everyone knows he will not be in the AHL next year. Give this kid a game or two during the playoff run and he's yours, Holland.

If I needed a free agent for one or two years, and I could choose Datsyuk or Fedorov in their respective primes, the choice is Fedorov and it is a no brainer. If I needed a player for ten years as the cornerstone of the team, I pick Datsyuk. Fedorov's prime will far surpass Datsyuk's, but Datsyuk (I believe) will remain an elite player for a longer period of time. My how quickly we all forget that Datsyuk is no saint either. Did we all forget he actually signed a contract with a russian team during contract negotiations with Ken Holland?

I personally do not think Franzen will be back... but if it is even remotely possible to keep both Franzen and Hudler by trading Filppula, you have to do it. That is the only way you can see both those guys back, and I think both of them are more important than Filppula.

Pretty sure it is to discourage GMs from hiring hitmen in order to cover up their signing mistakes...

Unless he can be traded, the Wings can not just 'dump' Osgood. Like Draper, he signed a multi-year contract after the age of 35 so whether he retires, gets sent to the minors or even dies, the Wings are still on the hook for his salary cap.

Just switch it to every "shot on net" he takes and you'll be stone-cold-sober in no time

Hey, he's greek - what do you expect???

I think the Joe could use more organ, honestly. Anyways, I checked my computer at home and all I have are some clips from the first Cup in 97 -- the Cup presentation and the Kid Rock intro (Ain't no party like a Detroit party...).

Thornton is really right up there with Malkin, Crosby and Ovechkin and really gets overlooked a lot (just like Datsyuk, who is also up there) -- I am going to be shocked if the Shark do not make it past the 2nd round this year... they really are a different team this year. Wings can still take them, though.

I think these guys really need the break, and it could not be coming at a better time. Hopefully we see a brand new Red Wings team (especially on defense and goaltending) going into the homestretch. It would be really nice to lock up home-ice advantage. Holmstrom is open game - I have just come to accept that; and my respect for him continues to grow because he has also accepted that. How much longer can he possibly do this? Ciccareli stuck it out for a ong time, if that is any indication. There should not have been any call at all on the Stuart injury, just bum luck.

Radio personalities' jobs are more of a high-wire act than coaches in the NHL. And it is brutal when it's done. Pack your bags that day -- no announcement; no goodbye; nothing. Just a whole new program with no explanation. Very sad - they did have a lot of Wings coverage. I go bonkers hoping to hear about a winning Red Wings playoff game, and all the callers ever call in for is to ***** and moan about the Lions. I am not a Lions fan, never watch the games and yet I know every single thing about that team just because I listen to sports radio, hoping to hear anything about hockey.

I'm not sure I am following your thinking. Hudler is not an RFA yet. When he is, I could easily see him recieve an offer sheet for more than $2.6m if Holland has not signed him yet. How often do 1st or 3rd round picks turn into NHL regulars who are already scoring at close to a point per game clip before the age of 25? It is utterly amazing how some posters on here continue to undervalue Hudler. Maybe Boston will trade us Phil Kessel for a 1st and a 3rd??? Or Krejci for a 2nd??? Get on it Kenny!!!!

I have some on my computer at home -- I'll have to check later this evening.

It is possible... The maximum year-to-year decrease in salary is 50% of the lower of the year 1 or year 2 salary (not the preceding year). Article 50.7 of the CBA: (ii) any decrease in Player Salary and Bonuses from one League Year to another may not exceed 50 percent of the Player Salary and Bonuses of the lower of the first two League Years of the SPC (or, if such amounts are the same, 50 percent of that same amount).

How is Lecavalier's contract legal then? http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=243275&lid...os=topStory_nhl