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Just the sort of low risk / high reward situation I like. We are risking little in payroll if things do not work out -- so then we would have to grab a free agent or make a trade. Ok, we've definitely done that before. But that is a hell of a lot better than doing it right now. I am very comfortable with Osgood -- not so much with Howard -- but with Osgood, Howard has time to mature.

Fischer was everything this team needs right now -- a big body, hit hard, skated fast, booming shot, sound defensively and was not afraid to drop the gloves. Yeah, that just is awful there are Red Wings fans that hope he could get a handle on the problem and come back at some point. Everyone should listen to someone who "knows someone who was in the room at the time" over what Fischer himself has been quoted as saying. I am sure there was a point in time "in the room" where Yzerman was told he would never be able to play again or Grigorenko was told he would never skate again. Get over yourself.

Wow, such vitriol. Your post reeks of gloating over a Red Wing never being able to play again. What is so wrong with fans hoping a great player will get better and play again? Whether Fischer is ever able to play again or not, I enjoy reading updates on him, just as I enjoy reading about Constantinov still. They were great players that meant a lot to me and still do.

Didn't Chelios move to a composite last year and rant and rave about how great they were? I like and respect old school as much as anyone, but I do not think there are too many players today using composite sticks out of ignorance, when the wooden sticks are supposedly so much better. These are professional athletes... I have a feeling they know their game well enough to know which stick is better for them. Apparently, for most of them, composite sticks are superior.

It is really disappointing for me to see a team like the Lightning have to be dismantled right after winning the Cup. I hate how in the NFL virtually any team has a chance to win the Super Bowl each year. Dynasties are fun to be a part of, whether you are rooting for them, or rooting for them to fall. I think they should allow a luxury tax, so at the very least a team would be allowed to keep it's core together for a few years, after having success. Seeing teams broken apart just makes me sad Where would you point to for evidence? It seems like whenever a particular sport was at it's zenith of popularity, there are always 2,3 or 4 dynasties or great teams going at it. Not twenty teams, equally skilled, each with a good chance of winning.

I didn't say that. "Just as well" -- You really think that? I didn't say that. Great post, though!

Originally Zetterberg was better in the defensive end than Datsyuk, but I do not think you can make that claim anymore. Datsyuk is a constant danger out there. Anyways, I would trade Zetterberg for Lecavalier b/c Datsyuk+Lecavalier is a better combo than Zetterberg+Lecavalier. Regardless of "who is better", I just think Datsyuk, more of a pure setup man, would complement Lecavalier better.

Avery is out to get a reaction -- so what should he say? Should he keep it PC and PG and perhaps make fun of their haircut? Maybe a couple fart jokes? I don't know, I agree it is classless and I would be upset if a Red Wings player was doing so... but if your intention is to agitate and seriously get a professional player's mind off his game, you have to take a no-holds-barred attitude. It obviously works. He's playing within the rules as they are and taking advantage of them. It's smart and if he can insult a better player enough to get him off the ice for 5 minutes, he helps his team win. Can you imagine the insults barked on the field of pro football and basketball games, where the penalties for fighting are even more severe? That said, I just hope the Red Wings never resort to such antics, as I like to think they are "better than that". But I imagine Maltby has said some things on the ice that would offend just about all of us.

I did not like Avery when he was on the Wings -- He took more penalties than he drew. That has since changed, and I have a lot more respect for his game.

And where the hell is Drew, anyways?

- If you had to replace one Russian Five player for Pavel Datsyuk to play on that line, who would it be? Kozlov -- not Larionov b/c those two work magic together. - If Chris Chelios retired before he went to Detroit, would he still be deserving of the HOF (You know that's where he'll be)? Of course. - Is Sergei Fedorov a definite top 5 for all time TWO WAY PLAYER? Perhaps top 5, top 10 for sure. - Number 9 is probably the most legendary number in NHL history, therefore who is more responsible for this, Maurice Richard or Gordie Howe? Howe - If... sorry... WHEN the Wings win the cup in '08, who should Lidstrom hand it to first? Chelios - Henrik Zetterberg is on pace for 137 points, how close will he be from actually accomplishing this feat? 106 points I bet. - If Igor Larionov and Pavel Datsyuk played together, who would be the goal scorer and who would be the playmaker? Larionov had a nice wrist shot, and they tried and tried to get him to shoot more. They've had more like w/ Pavel taking shots though. - Zetterberg re-signing with Detroit when he becomes UFA is highly likely... How much will he sign for? $6.9 mil - Rafalski or Schneider? Rafalski - Out of every player on the Red Wings roster, which one is likely to troll LGW from time to time? Osgood.

I think he will finally get the recognition he deserves -- And win the Selke.

Sorry, that's just not smart. Do you even watch him out there? You are getting a top 4 defender (easily top 4 on any NHL team and top 2 penalty killer -- and he'd warrant PP time on most as well) for close to league minimum. Never mind his intangibles -- competitive drive, heart and desire for the game. Outstanding work ethic, leadership and willingness to work with other/younger players. Unless he has a stroke this season and loses control of the right side of his body, the Red Wings would be foolish to get rid of a proven commodity for a "what if". Chelios could easily warrant $2 million on the open market. That FA depth sigining you have there will easily cost twice as much and be half the player of Chelios.

As long as Draper keeps taking faceoffs - He was one of the top guys in the NHL last year in faceoff %.

I have to agree with NorrisNick -- Hudler has consistently been undervalued: "Too small and too slow to compete at the Swedish Elite, AHL, NHL, etc. level" -- And every single year he has vastly exceeded expectations. Vastly. This is not a flash in the pan player, he has consistently produced, and produced big. How long can you ignore that? I hope that finally gets through Babcock's canadian skull this year.

I would try and trade Horton, Penner and one of your goalies for *one* decent starting goalie... you need it! The top 3 are off limits to you, but maybe you can grab a Hasek, Vokoun or Nabakov -- Throw in Datyuk if you have to... There is a surplus in quality centers.

Unless goalies somehow are worth little points in your league, you need to value them higher.

I think you will regret not taking a goalie earlier -- hopefully someone like Giguere will have an awful first month and you can trade one of your stud forwards for a disgruntled goalie owner. Goalies are huge points, it's a mistake to devalue them.

I've heard "tank" and "wrecking ball" as terms to describe him. Isn't he like 220 lbs? That's more mass than a lot of 6'4 guys. Cleary is starting to get that "brick sh!thouse" body, and we all saw what he can do to even a guy like Phaneuff.

Anyone care to post their draft order??? I would prefer a live draft but am sure my league would not be doing it, so setting up my draft order is such a pain in the rear. I am actualy thinking of setting up Kippursoff, Luongo and Brodeur as my #1, #2, and #3 draft choices -- Even if I get all three, top-end goalies command a high prce and 80+ point scorers are a dime a dozen. I'm even thinking of trying to draft the elite defensemen before forwards this year.

If I were Burke looking at Niedermayer coming back I would be shopping Schneider for a forward. Replacing Niedermayer so quickly may come back to bite him in the ass.

I recall them being direct comparisons to Malkin (I was literally salivating) -- and for a period anyways, his numbers were better than Malkin and up there with Ovechkin. I am still very excited though. I picture him as a more talented, faster Cleary... and Cleary is no deflated wheel.

That comparison (to Malkin) was said a lot before his accident -- but I have not heard it once since then.

I would love Rolston -- plays hard every single game and you can put him in any forward position. I think he is going to be easily looking for that $4M contract range though.

1. Wil Kronwall reach #1/#2 Dman status within his current contract (next 5 years)? When Lidstron retires, I think Holland will give him a shot at it... with a free agent in mind if Kronwall is not up for it. I think he will earn it. 2. Will Grigorenko prove to be a capable top 6 forward this season? Gosh, I hope so... I have been looking forward to him coming for so long now. I say no to this year -- I'll give him a year cushion to get used to North American hockey. 3. Will Hudler score 20+ goals this season? Yes. Easily -- as long as Babcock gives him the playing time. 4. Will Filppula have a 45pt season? I think he is going to have to -- it looks like his playing time will increase dramatically this year as a result of losing our entire second line. Good, he has earned it., 5. Will Lilja get in more than 5 fights? No. 6. Will Rafalski have a career offensive year? Career? No. Close to it? Yes. 7. Who will be the alternate captains when Zetterberg gets the C? If they stick around and work out: Cleary, Rafalski. 8. Does Cleary turn out to be a one hit wonder, or does he repeat with another 20+ goal showing? I continue to like what I see, and his past problems seem to be more of a mental and work ethic problem than skill problem. Seems to have his head on straighter now than when he struggled in the past. 9. What one forward, that is an 08 UFA as of now, would you like to see the Wings get at the deadline? I want to see any of our young guys step and earn it os we do not need one. Barring that, I would want Fedorov back, but you asked for an UFA as of now, so I would say Forsberg. 10. Of the players whose contracts expire in either 08 or 09, which ONE top 6 winger and ONE top 4 Dman (both in the 3M-5M range) and which ONE bottom six player (less than 2M) would you like to see the Red Wings sign? Not sure when their contrcts expire, but I would love to see Smyth here, Phaneuf for defense followed by Laraque.