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Jack Adams orchestrated the feud between Lindsay and pretty much the entire Red Wings team (and fan base) by planting false quotes and a fake contract with an inflated salary from Lindsay in the local press - basically making him look like a spoiled, ungrateful prima-donna. Howe, and the rest of the Wings believed Adams, and Lindsay was unceremoniously shipped off to last place Chicago. At one point Howe wanted to return to the NHL with his kids and Lindsay, as the GM, wouldn't sign them. Howe later admitted he was "wrong" about the NHLPA, but the feud was re-ignited with the release of the movie "Net Worth" in 1995 where Lindsay is portrayed as a pioneer and Howe, as sort of a dumb galoot, actively working against the union amongst other players on behalf of Jack Admas -- all true, but Gordie did not appreciate it much. They are civil in public together, but still are not too fond of each other.

Osgood will flat-out not make it because of an incredible prime where he was winning awards and dominating the league. He could get in, however, simply because of a long and winning career. Mike Gartner and Glenn Anderson never led the league in anything and never won any individual trophies (in fact, Osgood beats them there with a 2nd Team All Star and the Pearsons) but they are there for stringing together a ton of good years together - just like Osgood has - and having great careers - just like Osgood has. Osgood is a consistently good goalie who is money in the playoffs - and was fortunate enough to spend most of his years on a good team and win some Cups as a starter. That could be enough right there. There are few goalies with better playoff stats.

Dick move by Burke? Sure seems like it.

Thanks. He'll probably be claimed before the Red Wings have a chance at him then... and the Wings might still pass it up because of the $1.7m price tag.

And why he should be the Masterton Trophy winner every year until he finally retires.

Decent points, but I wouldn't go that far... Chelios will be underrated by the younger crowd for quite a while because they associate him with the player he is now, but he'll ultimately be remembered as a top 10 defensemen of all-time, the greatest American born player ever and easily amongst the strongest of defenders in their own zone, but still make a hell of a difference offensively. Not like Orr though.

Exactly, Red Wings fans do not need to feel guilty of looking like "Whiney cry-babies" for stating facts. This takes nothing away from Pittsburgh who played well above their means, came through clutch and took advantage of every opportunity thrown their way. And they needed it; the Red Wings were easily the better team in 2009 and if the Penguins did not take advantage of every single stroke of fortune dealt their way it would have been their 2nd straight loss in the Finals. But the fact is the Penguins won and that is what will be remembered... except a few old stodgey bastards amongst us, who will pipe in at every oportunity, and that is definitely within our rights.

Pardon me? Did you think he was Mr. Smith teaching at the Mormon Tabernacle? I'm sorry, but most kids will learn a lot more from a teacher whom actually engages them in their interests outside of the boring subject at times. Or are you a teacher who sticks 'dutifully to the curriculum' each and every year and slowly developing bitterness because teachers like the OP are the ones getting all the great letters from ex-students? Give me a break - a good teacher can find a common thread with his students (hockey) and can actually develop a repoire with them... as much as he might truly hate the Penguins.

That sequence was beautiful, efficient and absolutely brutal. Samurai?

I thought he was bought out? ... too lazy to look it up right now.

I think he is iffy now -- and would like to see more from him. As it is, he wouldn't be the worst in there, but 3 Cups and at least another solid regular season would make him look a lot better. He is the 5th best goalie of his generation, behind Hasek, Roy, Brodeur and Belfour -- all of whom are guaranteed Hall of Famers, three first-ballots. I just think he might be another Ciccarelli if we don't see more from him. And before anyone pipes in with "Do Hasek and Belfour have as many Cups as a starter????" Of course, Osgood is a winner and clutch, but do any of you really doubt those goalies would have any less success in Detroit?

Many here wanted the Wings to draft Latendresse with their first round pick that year (#19 Kindl) and then were utterly outraged when Abdelkader was taken instead of him in the 2nd. Latendresse has obviously accomplished more to date, but we'll need a few years to really make the comparison.

LOL!

I'd be willing to sell him my letsgowings.com account for $5 million -- instant forum cred!

This is Chicago's "watershed" year, with Kane, Toews and Keith all earning pennies. Much like last year was for the Red Wings. However, if you thought this off-season was bad for the Wings... holy crap are there going to be some pissed off Hawks' fans next summer. That team is going to be gutted worse than William Wallace.

My eyes tell me Hudler was usually the offensive catalyst on his line -- and that includes when he plays with Filppula. The stats back me up on this: http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/200809play...0.php#esoffwith Hudler's most common linemates, at even strength, were Filppula (447 min), Samuelsson (290 min) and Cleary (167 min) or Kopeky (161 min). Every single one of them scored more with Hudler than they did away from him. In fact, going down the list, almost every single forward on the Wings scored at a much higher clip playing WITH hudler than when they played away from him. -- These numbers are all at even strength, keep in mind. Hudler flat-out made whomever he was playing with productive. Whether he was on the 4th line, or even with his limited minutes with Hossa, Datsyu and Zetterberg. At even strength. Almost the exact opposite is true with Filppula -- most players were more productive AWAY from Filppula than they were with him -- the lone exception to that is Hudler himelf. http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/200809play...5.php#esoffwith Hudler and Filppula make great linemates -- which makes sense. Filppula is strong defensively, has speed and can carry the puck into the offensive zone, where then Hudler can make things happen. Their strengths and weaknesses fit together like a jig-saw puzzle. Interestingly enough, goals against Filppula + Hudler is extremely low as well. The high clips at which Datsyuk, Hossa and Zetterberg all scored with Hudler also strongly indicates that he would do very well on top lines.

Scotty was fired by the Sabers after he failed to put together much over 8 years as the GM. Devellano was responsible for most of those moves at the time, though Scotty was all for trading Yzerman to ottawa From 94 to 97 it was managed by more of a "brain trust" between Devellano, Bowman, Holland and Nill. Did you know Devellano has 7 Stanley Cup rings???

i wouldn't be too worried about a Bowman as GM -- Scotty was far from even a "good" GM.

I always get nostalgic reading about the prospect camp, because Malik can not help but comment on how Jiri Fischer literally blows away every prospect in skating and skills.

With certificate, $300 is a good price (though it might be tough to get that right now... times and all). Frame it nicely and you can get upwards of $500 for it -- I have one in my basement as well

I would simply refer to whatever plan Holland had in place if Hossa ended up signing ... obviously a pipe dream anyways - Boston will sign him. Kobasew might be traded...

Well, you really would not have to trade Holmstrom -- Flip's $3m + a defenseman (like Holland was planning on trading anyways) + $1.6m in cap space That'll about it cover it... assuming he would get as high as $5m (which is stretching it).

I would trade Filppula (and Holmstrom) in an instant for a chance at Kessell -- but the compensation for an RFA of his stature is just too much. I still think Sykora is the worst of all the suggestions brought up so far.

After -- it came about mainly because of Radulov.

I really hope the "separate them" experiment is done and buried.