NeverForgetMac25

That could be, but I'll have to do some digging. TBH, I can't imagine something like this wouldn't be taken into affect though simply because every player that was contracted and making over 20% of their teams cap heading into the 05/06 season had to trim their salaries to fit the new CBA. I can't imagine that it wouldn't apply to the other end of the spectrum.

I'm not thrilled about Mac facing this Penguins team either, but who would you rather have? Certainly Downey isn't going to be much, if any upgrade. Your next options are rookies that haven't even sniffed a game in these NHL playoffs, let alone Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals. I'll take my chances with Mac if that's the case, and just forewarn him to take it easy out there. Short shifts, defensive responsibility.

QFT....and to add on to that I think the max a rookie can make including all potential bonuses being offered and met is $1.7 mil.

Aside from 2 of those quotes that I've published, the Wings are absolutely not being too hard on themselves. Most of the news coming out talks about how the Wings aren't going to change too much and are feeling loose and confident. Edit: (Kelsey) Grammar

As long as Homer can play tomorrow night and there are no other injuries up front, Mac won't see the ice the rest of the year.

I can't remember which venue it was, but IIRC Santa Claus came out during a stoppage in play and the crowd boo'ed him.

Actually, I was referring to the Culpepper incident. I hadn't heard of the Portis occurrence.

Slightly OT here, but that article sums up why I love Babcock and how much confidence I have in him leading this team. Thanks for posting.

^ While I understand that you can find jackasses in every professional sporting event, Philly does have the reputation of being one of the worst. Don't get me wrong, I understand that it does happen as I've been on the receiving end of it in Chicago for Wings/Hawks games, but a greater amount of the Philly fan base as compared to others' is why this reputation exists.

To me, its not even Flyers fans....its Philadelphia sports fans. They are in their own world. Some of the garbage I hear that goes on during Eagles games to opposing players families just trying to watch their loved one play is beyond asinine.

Gimme a break. I know its a business first, but don't make it sound like the league exploits its players. I would think it has to do with keeping things even. If the Pens had to stay in Detroit the entire time (even though they got to stay one day less due to the layoff), so does Detroit in Pittsburgh.

Kopecky would absolute play for Babcock before an unproven Wheeler got the nod, and the way Helm has played this playoff year I wouldn't be shocked to see Babs give him a look. Not to mention your not even taking into account other *proven* FA's. This Red Wings organization doesn't give players roster spots, they have to be earned. Ask Hudler.

Just warming up the arena for when the league expands to 32.

Which is exactly what he'll do if he were to sign with the Wings.

IMO, no he doesn't. Here's how I see the lines going down in the event Homer can't play tomorrow night: Dats-Z-Cleary Sammy-Filppula-Franzen Maltby-Draper-Drake Hudler-Helm-Mac/Downey (most likely Mac due to being more in game shape at this point) Keep in mind that the Wings are playing on the road giving Pittsburgh the last change opportunity. If you put all you eggs in one basket the Pens will simply throw Staal's shutdown line against them.

Sidenote: Shanahan's type of play is the exact opposite of the direction Babcock has taken this team. While I love Shanny and appreciate everything he's done, I don't want him back. Someone said it best in an old thread: Losing Shanny to FA was like you wanting to break up with your girlfriend, but feeling too guilty to do it. When your girlfriend ends breaking up with you, you act sad but know deep down that your happy and dodged a bullet. The Wings did just that with Shanny leaving. Edit: (Kelsey) Grammar

Where, in the GDT?

I found Kukla's article more interesting.

Who are you calling out with that post? Either way, the extra padding Homer wears on his back hopefuly protected him some if it is a back injury.

I think you misunderstood him. He also made sure to say that the main reason their play wasn't up to par was because they were misplayed by the coaching staff. As for the first PP unit, the Wings started the 2nd unit pretty much on every PP they got in order to create a mismatch for the 1st unit. I'm not 100% sure he was reffering to ZDH on that one.

Not true. He played great the first half of game 1 and all of Game 3. He's been mediocre the rest of the time. If you feel a couple of the goals the Wings got weren't atleast somewhat soft, then you didn't watch the games.

:rotflmao: Gotta love the playoff injury reports!

He wears extra padding on his back simply for that reason. He may be sore, but I'm hoping a day of rest will do him some good. Sometimes those types of injuries feel worse the next day, and infinitely better the day after. By the time Saturday rolls around (and given that its not too serious), he should be good to go. Edit: (Kelsey) Grammar

Before I rid myself of this thread, why not rip on Homer for not scoring on the wide-open net? Combined that with Sammy's goal and all of a sudden its 3-3. Before anyone comes back with the "puck was rolling arguments" Homer needs to square his stick up in that situation and aim for the center of the net, which he didn't really do. Now doesn't that sound ridiculous? About as much (to me) as Lilja not clearing the zone equating to a lucky goalie bank-shot goal that 999 times out of 1,000 isn't going to happen given the than millions of other factors that can take place within the timespan of this play. Is an even better scoring chance than the one that was created on the Penguins 3rd goal not as (if not more) important than the Lilja play?