NeverForgetMac25

I'm most certainly not discrediting how big of a deal it is to be the Captain of an NHL team, more-so it was in regards to his role. While I understand he'd obviously have to focus more on the media side of things being the captain, its not as if the Alternate's didn't do the majority (if not all) of the talking to the refs during game play. Obviously, there's far more to it during the rest of the time with the team and with the media, and that I do agree could be a distraction if you're not mentally tough enough to handle it. He himself seems to admit he couldn't handle both.

Do you really think that had much of any impact on his level of play? I agree that he shouldn't be the Captain, but I have a hard time believing his performance altered based on that title alone.

Thrashers - When they started a team in Atlanta

Technically speaking, they are somewhat "owned by the city." See below:

And its a legitimate concern. While Hakan and Co. scout better than any other group, there doesn't seem to be those one or two guys in the system right now that will carry the load like Stevie did or like Z and D are doing now. I hesitate to throw Shanny in that example (as you did) simply because he was traded for, but your point is very much taken given were in a capped NHL for the foreseeable future. My comment was in regard to the sustained success up to this point. Maintaining that level in the future had no bearing on that comment. At the same time (and even with the law of averages) its just simply so hard to see Kenny and Co. letting this team slip even to mediocrity. They may not be the favorite year-in and year-out, but as long as they have the talented brain-trust they currently do, and guys like Lids and now Z & D take pay-cuts to emphasize the good of the team mentality in Detroit, things are always going to be slightly easier for Detroit than other teams to stay near the top.

That was an awesome quote by Robitaille. I remember watching that interview and I think his exact words were, "In Detroit they don't rebuild, they roload." Perfect way of summarizing the sustained success of Detroit.

Quite a concept it was when the soccer club did it a few years ago, and it sure would be interesting if this sort of ownership took off. Many people don't realize the Green Bay Packers have no owner. The team is owned by shareholders from all over. Granted the team president and CEO is decided by the Board of Directors, who then selects personnel. Not exactly apples to apples, but interesting nonetheless.

I think its just you. I thought the guy flat-out praised Detroit and he even stated he was grasping at straws to find a single weakness.

Meh, it's not as if we haven't been hearing it the past decade.

Not really. He's a solid, serviceable plug...nothing more. Those types of players make too little of an impact on any team they end up with to regret losing them.

The right words cannot be found right now. :nonono: Wow.

I'm not a huge fan of it, but I'm not the one wearing it. The tachometer was awesome! Classic, yet sharp. I remember reading the article about the high school kid that created that design a few years back. I'm surprised they've made it all the way to this level since it seems like such a gimmick.

Trust me, I completely agree they look ridiculous and boneheaded. That being said, this CBA has been such a headache and these long-term contracts are basically a "f*ck you" to it given teams' bargaining power became limited in the first place due to the Cap. Bottom line is if the leagues brass does want a cap, then they need to do better job of catering to teams trying to hang on to their talent in (what the NHL is trying to make into) a watered-down league.

My point is that its beyond obvious what the Devils and Ilya are trying to do. It's been reported numerous times that Kovie wants to finish his career in the KHL and by *still* tailing off this contract to the extent that they do while trying to mask it with two more BS seasons is fairly easy to see through. The NHL would look like even bigger boneheads accepting this one than if they had just accepted the first given the stink that arose from it originally.

TBH, the NHL has "no choice" but to reject this contract. How could they reject the first one and then rationalize the acceptance of this one? It's just as ridiculous as the first, if not more so with the BS tactic they're trying to pull in the final two years.

Anyone STILL want to argue that the Sharks are the epitome of perennial playoff failures? It was Howard's first postseason experience. I wouldn't be so quick to throw him under the bus.

Fair price for both sides. Good on Niemi, taking the one-year deal if he feels he can improve and up his salary the following year.

Never once did I claim that a player should be paid *a new contract* based on their entire career. What I was saying is that Guerin has put up steady numbers his entire career on both good and bad teams. I had to use that argument when EZ stated his numbers were inflated last season because of playing alongside Crosby and Malkin. Probably not completely, but I do think it would bridge the gap. And no, I wasn't trying to save face one bit, nor was I trying to be argumentative. You're correct...there's no difference. Simply put, since we can't auto-assume I was going by his entire career, and even more notably his two most recent seasons before last year while playing on a s***ty NYI team.

Did you just completely ignore what I wrote to make your argument? A perennial scorer with one "bad" season (in which he still put up 46 points) is not enough to say the guy is now garbage and only worth the league minimum. Again, the key word here is "league minimum!"

It doesn't when he's been putting up the types of numbers his entire career on a multitude of teams.

How the hell can you say this? We have absolutely zero way of proving it one way or the other. All we can do is use his stats from a season-and-a-half ago as the most recent sample and go from there. The numbers prove you wrong. Until he signs on with someone else anything else is speculation on your part, but atleast his career numbers and especially the one's leading up to his time with Pittsburgh prove he can still score at a pace better than the league minimum (which BTW, is my one and olny f'ing argument).

Yeah, because Hudler who's currently sitting on our 3rd line is known for his skating prowess, defense and forecheck. Guys like Guerin round out rosters all the time and it gives those teams massive advantages over less skilled bottom line grinders. That's a pretty dumb argument given you "won't" let me base it on any other portion of his career. The fact of the matter is Guerin was playing on s***ty Islanders teams before he went to Pittsburgh, which is the sample I've used for his current level of play not including Pittsburgh since you whined about his career numbers. Given those numbers Guerin is still putting the puck in the net and setting up goals at a pace that no league minimum player is. How convenient for you. Because you think its not subjective or debatable it clearly must not be. That's just stupid. Why don't you wait and see where he ends up (as long as he doesn't retire), see what that GM gives him and then watch his production and then we'll talk. Again, how convenient to take away credit when it strengthens your argument and then give to others for the same thing. The big difference is that Guerin has produced regardless of what team he's ever been on. Does it mean I like him, no...but anyone with half a brain can see the guy can produce, especially for a league minimum salary. Nice way of trying to "win" the debate. Just tell someone not to reply to you....that for sure means you're right.

It seems like most leagues are exploring and/or heading down this route. Baseball has been doing it for a while and I can't imagine the NFL is too far away.

Wow, talk about putting words in someone's mouth. Did I ever claim he was a top-6 guy? Did I ever claim his level of play in his prime was an indicator of how he'll play now? Did I ever claim he could crack the Wings' top-6? *All I said* was that Guerin is not a league-minimum player, even at his current age and no matter what team he's on. To assume he is is ridiculous and shows you're not paying attention around the league. Now before you go off again, check out his numbers the year before last or even the year before that if you want a sample of his offensive ability *at this point in his career.* Instead of being so quick to hit the reply button perhaps you should actually read what was written before going off on your tangent.

Guerin's defense leaves some to be desired but to say he was terrible last year is beyond a stretch. See my post above. The guy can still put the puck in the net...and for a fairly cheap amount now-a-days. Funny how some rip guys like Guerin who are past their prime, yet they can still put the puck in the net and are going to be paid lightly. That's exactly the type of players you see on the Wings roster year-in and year-out since the cap was instituted. Those are the guys that are needed to successfully round out a team and make them deep. Which is exactly why I said any NHL GM would jump at him for the league minimum. Nowhere did I say he was worth $4M, but the league minimum is equally ridiculous.