egroen

Andersson has commented in interviews that he is not so hot at judging goalies.

So has Rafalski.

That would be pretty funny/awsome actually I'd actually love to have a Detroit Vipers #9 jersey!

Yeah, Fetisov rules - always just loved the guy.

I can't remember how much, but he was definitely asking for too much money (like $4m per season, at a time when the cap was much lower). Apparently every GM in the league realized what he did not: You look a LOT better than you are, playing with Nicklas Lidstrom. Though yes, he is exactly the type of defenseman I would love to see on the team right now.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2009...e-nhl-hnic.html I hate the idea. And by the way, Beliveau never won a single Lady Byng. I would love to change the Mark Messier Leadership Awrd, however. If they are really going to change them, here are some of my suggestions: Calder - The Sidney Art Ross - The Crosby Hart - The Sidney Crosby Richard - The Ovechkin Selke - The Sid Norris - The Ybsorc Stanley Cup - The Bettman

There was no Conn Smythe before 1965, but we can pretty safely assume Sawchuk would have 2 and Plante would have 1.

Harts are extremely difficult for a goalie to win, but Plante has one and Hasek has two - which is huge. I do not think it is necessarily the be-all-end-all, however. If Brodeur did win a Hart - then yes, that alone would catapult him into the Top 5, maybe even Top 3. Though I do not ignore that Brodeur has been in the Top 5 in Hart voting numerous times. But for instance, Roy has 3 Vezinas to Brodeur's 4 and neither have a Hart. Are 3 Conn Smythes (to 0) enough to overcome the difference of 1 Vezina. I think easily. Regarding the Vezinas -- remember that until the 1982 season the Vezina was the equivalent to the modern-day Jennings award, and automatically went to the goalie with the lowest GAA. Looking at First Team All-Star selections, we can see the following: Plante = 3 Sawchuk = 3 Dryden = 5 Durnan = 6 Hall = 7

It will be interesting to see if Brodeur's records last 30+ years like Sawchuk's have. Regarding the whole face mask thing -- it was actually a Bobby Hull slapshot to the face in 1963 that got him wearing a mask. Understandable

I think there is no question he is a Top 10 goaltender of all-time, he might get into the Top 5 (though I do not think he is there yet) but I see little shot of him getting within sniffing distance of the best ever talks. So many of the Brodeur arguments center around wins, games played, shut outs - in both the regular season and post-season. Obviously the 'team' plays a large role in these impressive accumulations, but rightfully Brodeur's constitution and even luck (finding himself on a good team, and in a good system for so many years) is a 'plus' in his column -- I just do not think it is enough to overcome the areas where he is clearly bested in. Harts, Vezinas, All-Star Team selections, SV%, Conn Smythes - he gets killed in these areas - and I think 'team' plays a lesser role, as a whole, than wins. He's never led the league in SV% (he's been 3rd twice), which I believe is the single most important stat to look at when evaluating an individual goalie's performance (no one stat is of course perfect). He has even only led the league once in GAA, despite New Jersey's defensive system. Brodeur gets huge points for a great career and consistent performance, but he lacks the peak and prime of what I consider the truly greats -- guys like Hasek, Plante, Roy, and Sawchuk. Depending on how you measure peak vs. career (I rate them pretty equally, with probably a little extra weight on prime), Brodeur is going to come up different for different people - but if he finds himself as #1 on any list, chances are you will see players like Ron Francis ahead of the likes of someone like Peter Forsberg -- which just seems 'wrong' to me. Lidstrom has even more wins (regular and post-season), games played and less games missed to injury than almost anyone -- but that is not enough to boost him into the realm of Bobby Orr.

Arguments propping Brodeur up as the greatest goalie of all-time work very well for Osgood being a Top 10 goalie of all-time.

In fact, you might even say to do so would be ungentlemanly.

I wouldn't mind a Gretzky Trophy for most assists, and I think an Orr Trophy for defenseman with the most points has been long overdue - I think it will help keep players like Green out of Norris contention.

I really don't understand the big deal over this - he was a third-liner for Detroit, ultimately - it's not like he was the captain. Players leave Detroit via free agency all the time, and I did not see half as much venom directed at players like Schneider for going to the f'n Ducks of all places. Hudler could have opened himself up to offer sheets, and he didn't. He could be playing in Columbus right now... instead he is in another league and ensured he was signed to a reasonable amount when he comes. Sucked losing him, but at least he isn't playing for one of our division rivals or the Penguins. And if he comes back, Detroit has exclusive rights to him. Sure, I'm not going to be petitioning for him to be the next captain of the team, but we've certainly all cheered for far worse in a Red Wing's uniform. Kopecky leaving Detroit for Chicago is treated like a godsend around here... what about that valuable development he owed the organization for?

A goal-scoring winger and a big defensive defenseman.

Grand Rapids is probably the only market that could support it -- then you could move the Griffins to Kalamazoo, which would rule.

He does not fit in well with the hulking, low-skilled behemoths Detroit usually ices. I really think people forget that he is being paid Lidstrom money to play in the KHL. I personally blame the KHL (for making such a ridiculous offer) and the NHL (for not adequetely protecting its talent), as I think 90% of Eastern Europeans would happily jump continents for 3X the money.

I hate the stupid cap at times -- so here you have a primo market's fan-base watching Detroit ice a $35m team, when the owner would be happy to spend more, but the current cap rules prevent that.

I think Hudler was refreshingly honest about his reasons for going over -- closer to home; he's young and can come back; chance at more minutes; had already won a Stanley Cup; and a sh!t-ton of more money (tax free). Can't fault him, as it would take a unique 25 year-old to turn down that much money to play closer to home for a couple years... definitely would welcome him back with open arms about right now. If the NHL was in russia, you'd see a lot of North American hockey players doing the same thing.

Once all the injuries started piling on Hossa tried doing everything himself which turned him into nothing but a glorified puck hog. It was infuriating to watch, as he was the #1 player who should have been stepping up.

Agreed. Kane acts like Ryan Getzlaf looks, "brah!"

Tough to get your finger on it with how tight-lipped the org is about injuries - but when it came out that Hossa needed surgery, didn't Holland clarify the injury actually dated back to before the regular season and they elected to not operate at the time. He had a great reg season but awful playoffs - sure, the injury probably got worse over that time, but then he should not have been on the first line if that was the case. Hossa's playoff were a collosal disappointment, especially for someone making $7 1/2 million.

Yeah, given Kane's recent history it is incomprehensible how someone might think him an ass.

Thing is - the trade has to be initiated by Campbell. Why would he want to leave a promising team like Chicago? .. especially to go to most likely a bottom-dweller that has cap space?