egroen

Right now: Lilja > Lebda > Meech > Quincey > Ericksson Potential: Ericksson > Meech > Quincey > Lebda > Lilja Ericksson made a lot of boneheaded plays out there last night (yes, even more than Lilja); he's not ready. Next year, provided what I am seeing out of Meech right now is not a abberation, I would be happy seeing Meech and Quincey taking over more for Lebda and Lilja. Give Ericksson one more year in the AHL - He needs it!

Because Kronwall is never physical? Or Fischer and Konstantinov before him? You're right, a physical defenseman is impossible with a puck-carrying team.

I am so torn on Lilja -- I actually caught myself once last night saying, "Lilja looks pretty good out there", but by the end of the game I wanted to kill him. In my opinion, he is an ok third pairing defencemen and not worth more than a cent above $1 million a year. Not a cent. If he demands more, I would be more than happy to see him walk (then try and demand more from other teams and eventually go to Sweden, ala Markov who forgot what the Detroit system and Lidstrom do for defencemen stats). I was incredibly impressed with Meech! Where the heck did that come from? He was all over the place and I think he will be better than Lebda. Maybe it was just one game, but man! Quincey, I am happy with as a third pair next year. Ericksson --> I see lots of potential. But he needs more time in the AHL, at least another year. He had lots of idiotic plays out there last night -- Even more than Lilja; they just didn't cost us the game like Lilja's did.

Right... because no one has overpaid for anyone this year -- especially a defenseman. Sorry. It was a mistake to hold on to $5 million for the trade deadline. We should have filled up at the beginning of the year (maybe a $1 million cushion) figuring our prospects and draft picks do not warrant a heft price on the trade market. Hindsight is 20/20 but I hope Kenny does not do it again. To have permission to spend up to the cap and *not* do so is a dreadful mistake.

Here's what really pisses me off --> We could have had Markov at the beginning of the season with all that cap space we have. Instead, we pick up Stuart (not an improvement) for only a quarter of the season and *lose* 2nd and 4th round picks.

Pretty obvious we had no chance at Hossa -- But seems like Fedorov or Propsal could have been had. I give us a C --> Addressed 50% of our needs with out giving up too much. Not bad; Not good.

Sign Fedorov and Hossa in the off-season.

As long as Hossa does not go to Anaheim or San Jose....

Interesting -- Bergeron has been skating.

Feds would not sign their contract extension -- difference of $500k stated. Hope Detroit goes for him in the off-season.

Sergei traded for a third round prospect??? I have to think they just did not want to trade in their division.

Holland will be a seller at the deadline

Burke -- "No" does not feel the need to reply to other Western Conference teams acquisitions. May add a depth guy, but has his team in place. "No chance" on Hossa, Jokinen.

Burke on TSN right now -- Audio problems.

Fedorov to the Capitals. Official.

Another deal that will make it tough to sign Cleary.

It's up to him -- he can get that money, on a crappy team.

Someone needs to help my memory -- I know Chelios was on the '84 team, but didn't he try out for the '80 team or was he something like a year too young? Just can not remember right now.

To think the Wings are a lock to go out in the first is utterly ridiculous. "Lack of scoring"??? Isn't this the same team that leads the NHL in goals as well as point differential? There is not a playoff contender that is not worried about "secondary scoring" right now -- hello, salary cap. Any team or fan base in the NHL would trade instantly to have the playoff success the Wings have had over the past ten years. I just want to shut up those critics so bad with yet another cup!

Concerning the Facebook scandal of '08, this is a post over at HFboards: The whole thing is just weird.

Well, that depends -- Remember, while Hossa has no say in what team he is traded to, he does have a say in what team he *signs* for. There are probably very few teams who are in a position to go after Hossa (playoff bound and can afford it), fewer teams that Atlanta actually want to trade with (probably prefer it be a Western Conference team, and they need good, young assets) and finally, if they want more than a prospect and a pick for a rental --> It has to be a "winning" team that Hossa would want to sign long term with. So that means we are probably looking at San Jose, Detroit and possibly Dallas to meet all those parameters. How high can the price be jacked when only three teams are in any serious contention? Otherwise, they are pretty much guaranteed to lose him to free agency -- for nothing. I would take Filppula over nothing any day. I would take Filppula over Marleau as well.

He'd be a bit foolish to trade for Marleau at this point... especially given the salary hit.

Authentic Red Wings jerseys are ok to machine wash, right? I am embarrassed to say I have not washed this thing once! The jerseys I played in were nowhere near as nice, so I am a bit hesitant.

This is the move I think will be smartest for the Red Wings -- Will not have to sacrifice much future to get him. Knows Red Wings system. Perfect replacement for Samuelsson on the 2nd PP point. Possibilty he will sign here as a free agent w/ a home-town discount. Best case scenario - Solid two-way forward and legitimate scoring threat from the second line. Performs well in the playoffs like he has every single time he has been in them. Worst case scenario - Is injured or plays more of a defensive role. I can live with that. Perfect "high payoff / low risk" acquisition that Holland smartly seems to go after.

Yup. there is no way we are getting a premium player like Hossa, Sundin or Jokinen...our assets for trading are just not comparable. Tthe right move is to add depth for the playoffs. Fedorov and Stuart will do just about right there. Now, it will be very interesting to see if Holland can make a case for Hossa in Detroit as a free agent. I doubt it though, it breaks apart his economic model (of not being too front-end heavy).