NeverForgetMac25

I also don't think its as cut-and-dry as replacing Lidstrom with Kovalchuk and having a 38-year old Osgood manning the net. IMO, no way Kenny uses the cap space that Lids will leave on goaltending or offense. I can see him spending maybe an additional million on the goaltending position, but the rest of that goes right to bringing in the top Dman (or Dmen) to help ease the blow of losing Lids. Kenny's model seems simple, yet extremely effective in this cap world: Build the best defense possible, supplement it with a solid offense (this year it happens to be great) and bring it together with a capable goaltender. This is the formula that has kept the Wings successful in the Cap era. I just can't see Holland deviating from it. Now...as you and NN said, this is all dependent on when Lids retires because I'm also not 100% convinced he's done after next year. The problem though is that their defense will have been severely depleted. Matt, I know you know the value of Lidstrom, and I just don't believe that replacing him with Luongo is enough. Sure, Lidstrom is only on the ice for 25 minutes a night and Luongo can account for 60, but when the team defense as a whole is massively reduced since almost all of Lidstrom's money would likely be used on bringing in Lou you can expect a fair amount of pressure on the backend that wasn't there before. I just truly believe it would be much more cost effective to sign a top-tiered defenseman, add another million to your goaltending and let it rip than it would be to sacrifice defensive quality in hopes that goaltending can/will make up for it. The Wings have added elite FA goaltenders in the past only to see their numbers drop due to a reduced workload. Why are we so sure this won't happen to Lou?

No worries. BTW, I would be very willing to bet if Z was offered that contract he would've taken it. The only thing that would've likely kept him from signing that deal would be his feelings of perhaps he should take a hit to keep the team competitive. I'm fairly confident that's why Lidstrom, Holmstrom and Stevie have been talking to Z. Basically, its a conversation that starts with, "We've all taken hits, now its your turn. Not to mention you're setting the standard as the likely next captain".

The Wings' brass did not offer that contract. Z publicly stated that he never received that offer and therefore never turned it down.

And how's Dats' contract looking right now? He was signed for 7 years and that's looking like a perfect length. This statement isn't accurate in the least.

Then expect to pay a lot more than $7 million per.

You mean during his contract year? Lilja is signed on through the 09/10 season.

Now what sense would that make? IIRC, Stuart's NTC either expires the last year of his contract or he has the option to waive it (as any NTC player does).

Not to mention that Stuart has a NTC built into his contract.

I wouldn't mind seeing him moved if it simply meant we could hang onto Franzen and have some flexibility.

While I don't necessarily think this will happen, I wouldn't mind it in the least. It creates cap space, and I just don't see Filppula developing into the type of player his contract demands. It wasn't a horrible signing by Kenny IMHO, but I don't think it was a great one either.

Not if they have a NTC, atleast not without their saying "ok".

Where's that sharp knife I left out? :nonono:

No rush....this was a hell'ish weekend for picks.

2-2-2? Do you mean the team with the better record would get Games 2 & 3 at home, Games 4 & 5 would be on the road and then Games 6 & 7 would be at home? That further penalizes the the lower seed by taking away one of their 3 home games. If you're talking 2-2-1-1 after the initial neutral sight game, I would be against that as well. Under that scenario you penalize the top seed by stealing one of their home games which they earned throughout the regular season. Now, you've got a completely balanced SCF, which somewhat trivializes the accomplishment of being the higher seed.

Friday: New Jersey @ Columbus Anaheim @ Pittsburgh Toronto @ Atlanta Philadelphia @ Florida NY Rangers @ Chicago Edmonton @ Colorado Saturday: Los Angeles @ Dallas Carolina @ Buffalo Montreal @ Ottawa New Jersey @ NY Islanders Boston @ Washington Florida @ Tampa Bay Atlanta @ Nashville Chicago @ St Louis Anaheim @ Minnesota Phoenix @ Calgary Detroit @ San Jose Sunday: NY Rangers @ Pittsburgh Columbus @ Vancouver Calgary @ Colorado Phoenix @ Edmonton

No doubt. Take a look at some of the lower-tiered teams' rosters and you'll be further in shock at what the Wings are able to fit under the cap. It's great to be a Wings fan, and I completely understand why fans (including media) of other teams hate us and always look for the slightest losing skid to call for the Wings demise. It doesn't matter how classy the organization is or how well-run the team is, people don't like seeing this calibre of a team last this long (I.E. Think how people felt about the Patriots before this year, and their streak wasn't half of what the Wings current one is).

Given the *current* salary cap, offering a 1 or 2 year deal equaling Pavel's contract is an icy kick in the nuts to Zetterberg.

'Blood on the Ice' does a copy-and-paste of 'P.Marlowe's' picks, and uses them for his own. Classic!

No doubt there was probably some bitterness or animosity between the two given past negotiations, but while Illitch and Co. (all the way down the Wings brass' ranks) tend to be family oriented, Holland *also* has the burden/responsibility of having to keep his head on his shoulders for what's best for the team.

Great story, but I'm certainly glad you didn't say to Conklin that you were "feeling a shutout." That's a no-no on game day for not only most hockey players, but assuredly an NHL goaltender. Congrats and best of luck on April 11th. Let LGW know either way whether you win or not.

Holland never gave Feds the boot...he gave him a better offer than what Anaheim did. Feds just left for reasons that people speculate.

TBH, you couldn't go wrong with Boston, NYC, Toronto or Montreal.

Given the level of play he displayed last year and the fair market value, he earned every bit of that contract. He's a solid deal at $1.25 million.

I agree. As much as I appreciate what Cheli has done over the course of his career as a Wing he's really taken a step back from even what his salary is. Before, he made those $1 million deals look great, but ever since the tail end of last season he hasn't played up to his meager contract and $750,000 seems like massive overpayment for his level of play so far this year. I really hope he gets in a groove because you can never have enough experience and depth heading into the playoffs and his number just may be called upon. That being said, I think its time for Holland to let him go after this season.

Jacqui, what did your sign say?