NeverForgetMac25

It is absolutely not allowed to do something like that. Any/All player salaries must count against the cap.

How convenient...you didn't name a player. I'm eagerly awaiting your infinite wisdom......... Get off your high-horse. I watch more hockey in a week than most people watch all year.

While it most certainly didn't look like Peca swung at the ref, he still broke the rules. He's gotta know no matter how upset you get you just can't touch the ref. He let his emotions get the best of him, but hopefully this stick-swinging allegation gets squashed rather quickly.

I agree on the salary, but I think in order for Z to agree to this Holland is going to have to up the year total in order to balance things off. If Holland gives 7 or even 8 years, Lids-type money becomes more realistic.

I'm sorry, but there is absolutely no chance Z signs for even the top end of what you're suggesting. While I can fully see Holland getting the "go-ahead" from Lids to have Z make more than him, I can also see Z taking a matching long-term (around 7 years) deal to what Lids is currently making ($7.45 million). Total signing: 7 years/$52.15 million.........and that's a steal.

That's given that he doesn't have a career-ending injury. That's why this was such a huge deal, because he's banking on the fact that nothing will happen to him and that his long-term massive offers will still be there next season.

While you two kiddies spar it out, watch for me to blow right by you....as well as Aussie.

Actually, the conversation leading up to the Hossa signing was interesting. Of all thats been released about what transpired some of that info wasn't told before.

Everyone? Where do you come up with that? Isn't interesting how Babcock and Holland can be so blind and not see how terrible Lilja is yet *all* the geniuses on LGW have it figured out. [/sarcasm] Don't even bother. I've posed this question so many times yet still haven't gotten a reply with a single player that offers what Lilja does for his price tag.

I'm out. Atlanta beating Washington to start the season.....WTF.

11/23....ouch. Of course Aussie_Wing takes the early lead.

Hope I wasn't coming off as bashing Flip because I most certainly wasn't. Rather, we all know that Flip isn't the setup man Dats is and sticking Hossa with him makes no sense right now. That was my only point.

Spending practices with Datsyuk most certainly doesn't mean Filppula will ever be half the setup man Datsyuk is.

That's just beyond sad. Glad the league picked them for the show.

No, I'm just not about to go on a mission to convert anyone and everyone to thinking Hockey is the greatest sport on earth. It is to me, but I'm not about to lose sleep over the fact that it isn't the most popular sport in the US. I'm not kidding myself as you suggest, I just don't care about stuff that isn't important. Is the league thriving: absolutely. Is that enough for me: absolutely. I don't *need* it to be the number one sport....just thrive.

Hossa's talent will be wasted playing alongside a defensive forward like Filppula. Both Z and Hudler can set up Franzen in front of the net and Hudler has a great vision. Filppula can't move the puck well enough to keep Franzen near the front of the net or give Hossa the opportunity to get open.

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

You completely missed the point of my question Dab. This has nothing to do with what the media puts on the air or how Bettman supposedly markets the game. My question was in regards to why *fans* need to have the sport of hockey match any of the other Big 3 in popularity, and thus they feel an ass/villain is needed to do that. What I don't understand is why its so important to people for hockey to not only be respected in America as a whole, but to be the most popular sport in the country. Who cares? As long as the league continues to make money and there's an avenue for us all to watch our favorite sport, what difference does it make? Are people really going to feel a sense of accomplishment or that they can now be at peace because hockey is the number rated sport in the country? My point is, people jump on this "Hockey needs to be the most popular sport in America" bandwagon without even questioning why their doing it. My angle is that it just isn't important.

Fans do that, but I don't think the players (and especially Babcock) did that. They just weren't in sync last night.

Filppula doesn't have the hockey sense to be feeding Hossa all season long. There's a reason Filppula doesn't play the PP now.

I'll argue that one.......what about the regular season game against Philly in 06/07. That game was absolutely horrendous!

I think that was the key. They didn't play like the normal *team* machine that they are. It was a lot of individual efforts last night making individual plays. As the lines start to gel together that will quickly go away and the team will fire on all cylinders.

Bottom line is that they didn't play with the discipline that they are accustomed to. That's where the turnovers and mental mistakes (such as Goals number 1 & 3) can come back to bite you. You eliminate those and for all intents and purposes the game is 2-1 Detroit. Either way, it seemed that the lines are still a step away from clicking which is somewhat understandable. I thought HDH looked great out there with Z's line looking good at times but for the most part slightly disjointed. They'll get their chemistry rolling sooner rather than later though. Our third line really needs to put the pressure on the other team. There's really no reason the Sammy-Filppula-Cleary line shouldn't dominate the oppositions third line and they certainly didn't last night. The fourth line looked just fine out there. Aside from a turnover or two from Lebda, I really liked the chemistry of his pairing with Lilja last night. It seemed like those two were very comfortable with eachother and that bodes well for the Wings going forward. Looking forward to seeing Kronwall-Stuart get a little more physical when the opposition is leaving their zone. Kronwall had a guy lined up but couldn't get the speed down to make the big hit. Not a big deal given that it was the first game of the year and he's probably a shade rusty. The timing for he and Stuart again will come sooner rather than later. Ozzie was sharp except for the giveaway.

^ This. Seriously, this guy is just a freak accident waiting to happen. Poor b*stard.