egroen

Chelios is only 6 years removed from narrowly losing out on the Norris to Lidstrom. In the '07 playoffs he was called upon big-time and came through huge. He is one of the top-ten defensemen of all time and is in better shape than many NHLers half his age, and has just as much, if not more competitie drive to win. He had an injury at the end of last season and did not look so hot afterwards. I think it is ok to give him the benefit of the doubt here and let him prove himself this season.

Right now Lilja is the #5 or #6. Wouldn't you agree? I would like to see him traded but a lot has to happen for it to unfold that way -- 1) He has to be outplayed by at least 2 of Lebda/Meech/Chelios/Quincey 2) Holland has to be willing to "sign & trade", which he does not have a history of doing, and we are talking about someone who gave a hefty hometown discount as well EDIT: Or the theory Holland was up front with him re: the whole Stuart thing. That would be awfully conveniant, but why then would Lilja give such a nice discount?

That and they think Sopel is one of the best bottom pairing defenceman in the NHL. I kinda like Chicago's team but I really can not stand their fans.

It's pretty obvious Chicago needs to dump salary so they are probably getting low-balled. I would laugh if they lose a Lang or Khabibulin to waivers or had to buy them out. Why should LA offer anything for Bulin when they would have close to first dibs on him through waivers?

And if under it could be Lebda.... Meech, Lebda and Quincey do not have top 4 potential, IMO... at least with the Wings. I was actually disappointed with the Lilja signing, because at the time I figured it meant we had him for sure for the next two years for sure, especially when he signed at such a bargain price. When has Holland ever done a sign & trade? Especially when the player gave a nice hefty, hometown discount. You can not argue that we do not have Lilja for at least half of his fair market value. I dunno - it will be interesting what he does. It may literally come down to who plays best in camp, and if Lilja has played himself off the team, Holland will tell him he will be the #7 or 8 and offer to trade him to a team where he would get much more playing time... that would be a stroke of good fortune and make it easy. But if Lilja is still a top 6 or even 5? The Filppula signing made all this a lot more difficult. (and do not *sigh* at me mister, I knew my numbers were right and you proved it so... )

Done to death... but Lidstrom is arguably in there for top 5 defensemen of all time. Yzerman is not close to that caliber all time.

Winning a Cup does wonders in these rankings... I still do not think Z and D are better than Lidstrom.

I think they realized being a perrenial "borderline playoff team" was getting them nowhere. Hey, bombing a few seasons helped Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington and many other teams...

I really have a hard time seeing Holland pull the ol' "sign & trade" -- unless Lilja really gets outplayed in camp I am still betting he stays.

What are the odds Hossa gets mugged his first day? First week? I kid... I kid.

Hopefully "slightly less" is league minimum???

I know "room" is implied, but going over the numbers, it seems to me there is still cap room this year to only lose/trade one defenceman.

Here's a question re: Lecavalier -- What if he was bought out towards the end of his contract? I may be wrong, but I believe under the current CBA (which will probably change by then) the team would only have to pay out 2/3 of his remaining salary and the resulting cap hit would be 1/3, spread out over twice the remaining years of his contract. Loyalty aside, this contract seems to make it very appealing and easy to buy him out.

You'll have to show me why it would have to be, for instance, Lebda *AND* Samuelsson, because I do not see it. Lilja is a steal at $1.25 million for two years, there is no question about it, especially in a world where Jeff Finger makes $3.5 million. I'm not going to cry if Lilja is traded, but I think it makes a lot of sense to keep him and have a feeling I'll prove to be right.

Amen... every Chicago fan knows it was nothing but a paper cup the Wings won this year. Good... and luckily Shero agrees with you because there are 4 players on this Wings team I would take in front of Malkin.

He's much more cerebral of a goalie than I remember him being... I just can not believe the stroke of luck behind the Wings getting him so cheaply, and best yet, he loves them for it. I am not too worried, and Conklin is the perfect backup.

Samy and Lilja would have a lot of trade value - for the same reason I do not want to see them traded - they bring a lot for dirt cheap. Dirt cheap. Lebda and Meech are redundant on the Wings, could still bring value from the right team needing the new NHL buzzword "puck moving defenceman", so I hope one of them goes.

I'm hoping Hudler will fit into the "Hull role" -- he has the wrister to be an effective sniper but only feistier and a better playmaker. Hossa has been overrated around here a bit by some - those who insisted he would put up 100+ points with Filppula as his center (who would be a significant downgrade for Hossa, despite the teams he has been on). I think Filppula is much better suited to a third line with this Wings team.

McCabe is a good #2, great #3 and bad #1. Toronto is tanking, look at these freakin' lines: Kulemin-Antropov-Ponikarovsky Blake-Grabovsky-Hagman Tlustly-Stajan-Steen Kubina - Kaberle Finger - Van Ryn Coliaicovo - Stralman Frogren It's a big list of nobodies (for the most part)... and of course Toskala.

This is true - Lindsay was talking union. Kelly was traded because he dared to mention to a reporter that the broken ankle he was forced to play on may have been a reason they had not made the playoffs the previous year. Jack Adams immediately traded him.

Strange to retire the number of someone you ran out of town... has to be a bit bittersweet for both sides.

Man, Tampa is craaaazy.....

You are right... there is no way Hudler is going to be cherry-picking like a Bure out there. Here's one thing that excites and yet worries me: If Hudler and Franzen play a lot of time on the second line with Zetterberg, I would assume they have great numbers this year. Which may end up meaning the Wings can't afford them since it happens to be their contract years.

Chelios would be claimed if he went through waivers, there is no doubt in my mind about it.

I'm thrilled to finally see Babcock acknowledge Hudler should be on the second line. He is a better scorer and playmaker than Filppula, and partnered with two excellent defensive players (Zetterberg and Franzen) he can really focus on offense.