NeverForgetMac25

Modo seemed really fired up about being in Motown. The presser was short but you could tell he's really ready to get the season under way. Hey, why don't I just eat some hay? I could make things out of clay or lay by the bay? I just may! Whadda ya say?

On top of that, Mo just said he needed some time to get over the sting of Joe not offering him a contract, but the moment Detroit contacted him it lit a fire under him. So much for the "has no passion" comments.

Kenny says somebody's not gonna make it, but he'll let preseason decide. NOTE: He says "somebody", not multiple people. I think that means the Maltby offer is off the table or he'll be in GR if he's a part of the franchise at all.

Mo just left the door open for additional seasons. Says it all depends on his body and if he feels as rejuvenated as he does now. Nothing we didn't already know, but nice to hear nonetheless.

Far cleaner stream: http://redwings.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=616&id=74385

Working, but not the cleanest of streams.

I understand you're all about youth, but can you explain to me why $1.25 with the potential to be $1.75 million if *all bonuses are met* is awful? It really isn't....in fact, it's far from it.

QFT

I'll never forget that quote! I laughed so hard for so long and every now and then when it comes to my mind I still crack up.

Well if your expectations are unrealistic, guess what....you're gonna be disappointed. Based on his price tag, Modano will blow *realistic* expectations out of the water. Grab some popcorn, that third line is gonna entertain all season long!

If Miller and Meech are both moved, I've got a Remaining Cap Space number of $1,847,500. That means Kenny could spend roughly $1,347,500 on a Dman now (and still have his $500k injury reserve) or wait until the deadline and bring in a guy making around $4.5 million. Just some food for thought.

His previous salary level made him due for a 10% raise. He was due a minimum of $660,000, but a two-year deal at $912,5000 is beyond fair for Detroit. It's not worth splitting hairs over $62.5k. Are you sure you weren't thinking of Abby? He cap hit last year was $850,000.

$912,500 Cap hit is a solid price for a single year, but it becomes even sweeter next year.

Or Rafalski will step up playing alongside an inferior Dman like he did in the Winter Olympics. I'm not excusing some of the mental gaffs he's had the past couple seasons, but there's a reason he was paid $6 million per to come here, and there's also a reason he doesn't look nearly as good out there...it because he's paired with one of the best defensemen of all time.

I fail to see why they would. It wasn't Modo's decision to leave, it was Nieuwendyk's. If the fans want to "boo" the fact that he's not on the team anymore, it makes no sense to direct them at Mike.

I have a feeling its the "you don't know what you've got 'till its gone" syndrome here. Couple that with the devastating amount of injuries the Wings had last year and you've got a recipe for Mike to be excited to have him back. If Modo does in fact sign, and they're able to sign a 3rd pairing anchor on defense either now or at the deadline, this team has as good a shot as any to do serious damage in the postseason. What pigment is that?

In one guy you're talking about nothing better than a career 3rd-line grinder and in the other you're talking about the all-time leading American scorer. Malts is a dime-a-dozen player on the bottom of this Detroit roster and Madano will provide a punch on the third line Malts couldn't dream of doing in his prime. Again, completely different situation given the two players are completely different types of talent. I understand the reasoning here, but the loyalty factor keeps guys in Detroit as long as Kenny possibly can. However it does run out at some point and more so when numbers are tight. It happened to Cheli, it looks like it'll happen to Malts, and he won't be the last person it happens to. WTH are you talking about? Talk about putting words in my mouth. Did I ever say it was ok to "toss" Maltby" aside? Did I ever say Modano getting "tossed" aside in Dallas was a no no? Never once did I make any such claim. Clearly you have a problem with Maltby not being on this team for a personal reason and for what he supposedly did for the team last year. Hell, I'm uber-impressed with him for doing that, but its not Modano's fault if there's no room for Maltby. If you wanna be pissed about the loyalty factor, throw it where *you feel* its being mishandled....Kenny & Co.

Are you seriously comparing Modano to Maltby? Modano currently has 10-times the offensive talent Malts ever had and he can shore up a third line that will terrify every other team in the NHL. Maltby flat-out can't crack Detroit's roster. The very definition of Apples and Oranges.

I understand these sentiments completely. I've been terrified by the thought of that bottom pairing for the last few months, but now that numbers are in there's really no reason Modano's signing will keep Kenny and Co. from bringing in what they need for the bottom pairing. If Miller and Meech are moved, Kenny can realistically add a Dman costing $1.375 million and still have $500k for the injury bug.

Not necessarily. Using $900,000 for both Helm and Abs, $1.25 for Modano and $1 million for a Veteran Dman puts the Wings $275,377 over the cap. If Kenny moves Miller and Meech, that gives the Wings $874,623 worth of cap space with a 22-Man roster of 13 forwards, 7 Dmen and 2 goalies signed.

Malts' time for free love is over. Same as Cheli's was last offseason. As for defense, I completely agree that a stable, veteran Dman is *essential* for the bottom pairing, but Modano's signing won't eliminate the chance of bringing in a $1 million guy, which is all they really need. on top of that, Modo gives the Wings so much depth up front it'll be sick.

I think people were irrationally upset about losing Leino though. The guy did absolutely nothing during his time in Detroit, and was beyond shaky the remainder of the regular season in Philly. He went mental in the playoffs, but who's to say he'll continue that trend. The only thing I'm certain about is he never would've done that in Detroit, because the Wings don't play the kind of game that would allow Leino to have the type of postseason he did. To me, that's all that matters.

Great comparison. An almost 35-year old veteran vs. a rookie campaign. Sidenote: Kenny and Co. haven't even come close to banking their future on Jimmy.

Perhaps not, but its nothing to write home about *when it comes to playoff goaltending* either.