egroen

Oops... but I am pretty sure none of it would have counted towards the cap while he was down.

Edit: Better explanation above... When Cujo was sent down to the AHL, he cleared waivers but was still earning $8 million because he had a one-way contract... but it did not count against the cap during those games. When a player is in the minors, that time period does not count against the cap at all. Last year, Detroit sent Ellis down to the AHL... LA picked him up through the waiver wire. They had a "high pick" in the waiver wire, because of their low standings the previous season. If Mac or Downey sign two-way contracts, they will make a portion of their salary while they play in the AHL, and any team can grab them each time they are sent down or up. Most likely they would not be claimed, however... not exactly hot commodities right now.

Atlanta really does suck. What a piss-poor organization from top to bottom.

1 year @ $2.2 million -- a free agent who was actually not overpaid! That's a good price for Williams, he's risky b/c of injuries, but if you surround him with talent he can put up the points to make that look like a bargain. Plus, he could fetch a pick for them at the trade deadline

Crosby, especially in his first two years, earned himself a reputation league-wide as being a whiner and a diver. Yes, he gets a lot more attention than virtually every other player and because of this people will look for things to "hate" about him, but that reputation was not completely undeserved. Even Penguins fans, defending him, will say he is much "better" about it and this past year where he lead the Penguins to the SCFs there was very little of it. But against the Red Wings he was jawing at Zetterberg after the game, and while that shows he is a very competitive person, something you want in a leader, I have a hard time seeing Yzerman, Lidstrom or Zetterberg doing it. Wings fans hate(d) the Avalanche with a passion, but you will be hard-pressed to find anyone who disrespects Sakic as a leader... that ilk, was/is above a lot of Crosby's actions. At least in Detroit, that is the type of leadership we appreciate (like Toews seems inclined to be). There are plenty of other markets that appreciate the fiery, almost agitating captains like Iginla, Hatcher, Morrow etc. Crosby is a kid, and seems to be maturing, and while it is unfair to compare him to Yzerman -- he is no Yzerman, at least as a leader so far. But for the most part, he is a great person to be the "face" of the NHL -- especially when you consider the faces and superstars of the other pro sports. I just wish the NHL could have more than one "superstar".

Forsberg has a much higher PPG, but he has been in the league for less and sits out most of the season nowadays. While Forsberg is no slouch defensively, and has received many Selke votes, Fedorov is definitely superior defensively. As great as Fedorov has been in the playoffs, however, Forsberg has been better: Forsberg: 151gp 64g 107a 171pts Fedorov: 169gp 51g 117a 168pts Forsberg is a very clutch player and his playoff and international play is amongst the best. I used to be literally scared every single time he touched the puck when he was playing against the Wings. I think Fedorov is better, but not nearly as much as you think...

He was not allowed to play overseas during the lockout.

From Malik's blog: *Sigh* I do miss Fischer.

He did say Lilja is an "insurance policy", but never implied Lilja would be traded.

Holmstrom and Drake. Everyone else got at least a 5th place vote... that is pretty incredible. Not sure who voted Hudler as #5 though I think it was NN that commented Hudler tied Fedorov and Draper in Selke voting this year!

Yeah, Detroit is obsessed with sports... not any where near the size of New York, LA and Chicago yet still easily supports 4 major sport teams.

Heh, Shore was no angel. Bailey was in critical care and had two brain surgeries for a couple weeks so he certainly was not apoligized to after the game, and Shore never apologized after the game or implied he meant to hurt Bailey, and in fact, stated it was accidental. The All-Star game and the Player's Union both came about as a direct result of Shore's less than honorable actions as a player and later an owner. Bailey is the honorable one, not Shore. Bertuzzi has apologized... do you not recall the public crying scene? He has lost more than a million dollars from the incident, lost all his endorsements, was suspended, could not play overseas during the lockout, served probation, is still being sued by Moore and Moore's parents... who are suing almost everyone under the ceiling of the arena. Steve Moore is definitely no Ace Bailey, and Bertuzzi is not as reprehensible as Eddie Shore.

Oh, and definitely the Blues. Get their asses handed to them every time, and then it always becomes... "Ok, when will the Blues start trying to injure some Red Wings?" Just, a dirty, bitter team. I wish Kocur had left the bench and followed the chair he had thrown that one game.

I actually like the Predators, but can't stand Nashville. I'd love to see the team moved to _______ (you name it). Seems like they get nothing but bum luck, yet still play really tough... easily the Wings' biggest challenge in the playoffs this year.

Anaheim is just fun to hate for the entire league. Burke is a clown. If your stick exchange makes the highlight reel in the Stanley Cup Finals, I am going to hate you and your team for a very long time, Sidney, no offense. I despised Toronto when they were good and I despise them now. The Lions of the NHL where an awful product is consistently rewarded with sellouts... though at least Lions fans are not even close to as conceited as the fans in the "Hockey Mecca". Listen to a Toronto fan and you would think their 13 Cups have all happened in the past twenty years.

The Steve Moore thing was a tragic freak accident, and I think Bertuzzi has paid enough for it. He is definitely a shadow of his former self but Calgary got a good deal on him and it might work out for both. Different times: Eddie Shore did almost the same exact thing to Ace Bailey in 1933 (hit from behind leading to a fractured skull when he his head hit the ice), Bailey actually went into convulsions on the ice and almost died; his career was ended. A year later, both men met at center ice and shook hands before a game. I always think of that every time I hear of Moore sueing everyone who was in the building that day.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/ George Malik's blog of the prospect training camp has been some great reading this off-season. Great interviews with prospects, Jim Nill and just a neat look at the organization. Bookmark it, if you have not already...

Duck Guy, Are you ready to renounce Anaheim yet in favor of the Wings? You know you want to!

Of course he is... From 1996 to the lockout in 2004 Forsberg's name was always in the conversation about who the league's best player was. As good as Fedorov was in the playoffs, Forsberg was better. Twice he led the playoffs in points in years where his team didn't even reach the final.

If Osgood wins another Cup as a starter, quietly breaks a few more of Sawchuk's records and gets top 5 for Vezina voting, does a case still have to be built for him?

I forget how young Fischer was, and how old Ericsson is right now. I always watched Fischer and caught myself thinging, "What if it all came together?" -- and it was finally starting to. I get that same "What if it all came together?" with Ericsson. But you are right, he is definitely behind Fischer in development.

At least Uwe Krupp won one with the Wings! (kinda)

A three-sided coin between Lidstrom, Yzerman and Hasek... IMO.

Dino is not the best person to compare him to because of the era Dino played in. Despite his high numbers, he was never top 5 in points, never a post-season All-Star, never won a Cup, was a very dirty player involved in one of the nastiest stick-swinging incidents ever, and was an ******* away from the rink to boot. Even in goal scoring, he only finished the season once 4th in goals, once 5th in goals and in 16 other years was never in the top ten. I am not necessarily against Dino making it into the HHOF, but Fedorov's accomplishements and accolades far, far, far surpass Ciccerelli's.

Fedorov's peak was so high, and he was consistently "good" for enough years for me to consider him a lock for the HHOF and definitely a top 100 player of all time. 120 points, winning the Hart, Pearson and the Selke in one year is one of the best individual seasons ever as well as 3 consecutive 20+ point playoff performances.