egroen

The only way Lilja is traded is if he requests it - and that is only if he is clearly outplayed in training camp and is not in the top 6. Samuelsson is too much of a good value at his salary and Babcock just seems to love him. Trading Hudler would be a pretty dumb move at his current salary as well. Both these guys are pretty important to the second power play unit, as well. One of Meech/Lebda/Quincey will be traded or lost through waivers -- in the most likely event.

Yup. I will be most disappointed if we end up losing players like Meech or Quincey for nothing (through waivers). Both those guys, in addition to Lebda, can fetch something in a trade.

He's never lacked for linemates, and there is a good chance he will not be playing with Zetterberg or Datsyuk most of the time, so in fact, his linemates in Detroit will be worse than what he has had in the past. The big difference will be defense -- he will have better checking support from the other forwards, and he will have defensemen more capable of joining in as well as sending the outlet pass fast and accurate. Hossa is not going to shock and amaze anyone (that has watched him play before) by being on this Detroit team. Fortunately, he could not suprise me and put up close to a hundred points... it's just that some here seem to think Hossa, on the Wings, is all of a sudden going to put up 120+ points and win a Selke. He is not as good as Datsyuk and Zetterberg defensively. Not even close. He is as good or slightly better than Filppula defensively. Anyways, if Filppula does not capitalize on this, this year, I hope he is traded at the end of the season so we can keep some other cogs.

I'm not too thrilled about the signing. Guarantees Franzen will ask for quite a bit more, Hudler for around the same and Samuelsson for slightly less. Tells me Hudler is gone, and I think he is a much better player than Filppula (on a team where two-way forwards are a dime a dozen). If there is not another large cap jump Hossa or Franzen will be gone as well. I am probably just bitter about what this means for Hudler, as he is one of my favorite players, and in the end this will probably be a very good deal, just because management has a pretty damn good track record lately, but I just do not see that much offensive potential from Filppula.

He has done some good and solved some problems with hockey, but many of those problems were his own creations in the first place. To lose a 1 1/2 seasons during his tenure is simply unacceptable. Ultimately, he just isn't a hockey guy.

If Mac can get into game shape, he definitely has more upside than Downey... but if what we saw from him in the playoffs is it (slow and bad penalties), they are about even. Downey is better than Mac in fighting and that is it... Mac, if he gets in better shape, is the "Drake replacement" every one was clamoring for. Can deliver the big hit, back it up and chip in an opportune goal from time to time. Though Drake is a better PKer, for sure... but we have plenty of those.

This had been eating me up... and I am glad this injustice was finally rectified. Personally, I think the league should offer a public apology to Neidermayer and on national TV (let's get it out of the backrooms!), Bettman should kiss Burke's dimpled ass.

I need an excuse to start drinking more beer again. I find myself most interested in who is going to get those "open" spots? Will Howard make a case for himself? Quincey; Meech; Lebda; Ericsson? Leino; Helm; Abdelkader; Haydar? Who wants those spots most?

I took a girlfriend golfing once (she had never played)... she got a hole-in-one. Disgusting.

Put everyone on the team through the Kocur training course Fischer took.

Lilja is listed at 6'3 -- and I am betting he is 6'2 something. If you are 6'4 you would be huge for a hockey player. Player size has done nothing but increase over the years, until I think the average is right now just shy of 6'1 and 200 pounds... but I really think you can subtract and incha from just about everyone's height. I have met a number of hockey players... they are definitely not as tall as they are supposed to be.

Put Downey on the first line and play him 30 minutes a night and we could be seeing 40 pts from him this season. But will Holland and Babcock play a 40 pt player who fights and sticks up for his teamates? Of course they won't.

And hockey players will be in movies, as well... are you trying to tell me acting and being a spokesperson are not real jobs??? Forsooth?

He meant before Cleary came to Detroit... he was drafted top ten as a top prospect and miserably failed to live up to 'those' expectations. Almost a Daigle type who thought he could get by on talent alone. Got married, tried out for Detroit and his game has improved tons since then.

Atlanta may be the worst run organization there is; yes, even worse than the Leafs. I believe their farm team is owned and managed seperately, so they literally do not work together and have no plan or cohesive structure for development. The AHL team wants to keep its players and not send them to the Thrashers.

It would be interesting if Holland allowed it to go to arbitration and went with the one-year option. That way, he literally can weigh these key UFAs & RFAs and who fits at what price and who goes: Zetterberg - obviously staying Hossa - if we do not lose too many other players and the cap looks to increase, would be worth it Franzen - Big question mark as to where his value is after another full season Filppula - Could be the one to go, as he is sorta a "Hossa Light" Hudler - Will he cost more or less than Filppula after a year? Samuelsson - If he is still willing to play for less than $1.5 million you still strongly consider him Kopecky - Will still be cheap, but could be relaced with Helm, Abdekader, etc...

It would do really well against other "All-State" teams but would get killed by some "All-Province" teams

Atlanta is definitely not on my "must see" list, but I spent some time looking it up and he has played a lot with Savard and S. Kozlov -- no Zetterberg or Datsyuk, but easily better than our current second line. It also made news whenever Wadell split Hossa up from Kovalchuk (and Todd White), to spread out the scoring. He definitely has not had the benefit of playing with a blue line like ours, however. He should do well, but I don't see him putting up an Art Ross season either.

I don't like to stick my neck out there too often on public message boards, but I am willing to take a stand on this one; I am serious when I say... "Hammershield" absolutely sounds pretty badass.

I loved the spunk we saw out of Datsyuk in the playoffs, but I have to admit I am not looking forward to when we see Tampa this year and Roberts again...

I don't think he ultimately will, but if Hossa skates the vast majority of his time playing with Franzen and Filppula, how is that any upgrade to what he was playing with in Atlanta? Kovalchuk and Kozlov are no slouches. I don't think he is going to shock us, he is a pretty known commodity at this point, a very good one, but he is no Ovechkin if that is what you think he may show us this year. And since I argued this with a lot of Penguins fans a few months ago, I'll try and remain consistent... Hossa would not be the third-best defensive forward on the Wings (behind the Euro Twins). Draper and Cleary are better, but Hossa is right there with Franzen and ahead of Filppula, Samuelsson and Maltby, but not by a ton.

If money was not an object, of course. However, what if Hossa is demanding a long term contract of around $7 million and Franzen is looking for slightly less than $4 million per year? With Zetterberg at around $7 1/2 million after next year the team will have $42 million signed. Add $2 million for Filppula to come to $44 million. You now have at least $12 million to sign our UFAs and RFAs: Hossa ($7+ million) Franzen ($4 million if he has a great season) ----------------------------------------- You could keep these two probably Which means you let go: Hudler ($2 million is what he will probably be looking for) Samuelsson (probably close to $2 million as well) Kopecky ($1 million or slightly under) Those three guys would need to be replaced with prospects or league minimum players... unless the cap takes a very large jump. I dunno.... but it will be very interesting what Holland ends up doing. IMO, if you hold onto Hossa, it becomes more important to retain Hudler than Filppula.

Heh... I would love to rate him that low, but I can't do it and still take myself seriously. How do you manage it?

I admittedly hate the Ducks, but I have a hard time seeing them make the playoffs this year. Even if Teemu comes back, their goal-scoring might be even worse this year.

My Team Michigan, current version: Not bad, but I don't think it would make the playoffs.