BeeRYCE

Why? All his highlight reel goals were deserving... It's not like they're overrated.

The first meeting vs Chicago, meeting vs Pittsburgh, and the Winter Classic would all be amongst the top 5 here for me.

Very simple... Boston uses the jerseys they used in the Orr/Esposito era... Philly uses the jerseys they used in the Clarke/Parent era.

Agreed, aside from the fact that they both can do better if they tried... I'm talking elite NHL forward status (if they tried).

I hope to finally see Kindl in the NHL at some point this season.

I heard commentators on TSN say Helm IS eligible... (But it might have been from a certain Pierre McGuire.)

No word of a lie, I'd risk Afinogenov... I think as a second liner on this team and on this system, we can get him to his 06/07 ways. If you don't notice, which I'm sure you guys do, we don't necessarily use the dump and chase method (like most teams do), at least with our first two lines... We use the "carry in, drop pass method" if you will when coming into the zone. We use it with Datsyuk mostly, and sometimes Zetterberg. Afinogenov can carry it into the zone in that sense and he would have the snipers to feed it to, not to say he passes much, but he can... and will learn to very well with the system the Wings got going. Hell, let him bring it to the net and let Franzen and/or Holmstrom get dirty goals off his missed opportunities. I think Maxim would fit in well, and with the Wings... His past two seasons will be non-existant. TAKE THE RISK, the dude has skill.

Awesome, another player that I always loved and now have to hate...

Zetterberg, Franzen, and Datsyuk (playmaker yes, but an above average goal scorer as well). If another all out playmaker comes along, it won't hurt.

You are tripping heavily if you think Lecavalier and Nash won't make the team.

There will be ignorant idiots booing Hossa when he comes to town, hopefully not to the point where it's really noticeable... But fans will be trying to enhance some undeserving boos everytime he touchest that puck.

SOOOOOOO sick that Cleary is added to this.. If he makes it, huge joy... But major stretch... The invite is big enough though, good luck. With that said, I'll bold the ones who I think will make the team based on 12 forwards, 7 defense, and 3 goalies. This is who I think WILL make it, not who I would pick. Who I would pick personally would look a bit different... Goaltenders (5) Martin Brodeur (Montreal, Que./New Jersey, NHL) Marc-André Fleury (Sorel, Que./Pittsburgh, NHL) Roberto Luongo (Montreal, Que./Vancouver, NHL) Steve Mason (Oakville, Ont./Columbus, NHL) Cam Ward (Sherwood Park, Alta./Carolina, NHL) Defencemen (16) François Beauchemin (Sorel, Que./Anaheim, NHL) Jay Bouwmeester (Edmonton, Alta./Calgary, NHL) Dan Boyle (Ottawa, Ont./San Jose, NHL) Brent Burns (Ajax, Ont./Minnesota, NHL) Drew Doughty (London, Ont./Los Angeles, NHL) Mike Green (Calgary, Alta./Washington, NHL) Dan Hamhuis (Smithers, B.C./Nashville, NHL) Duncan Keith (Penticton, B.C./Chicago, NHL) Scott Niedermayer (Cranbrook, B.C./Anaheim, NHL) Dion Phaneuf (Edmonton, Alta./Calgary, NHL) Chris Pronger (Dryden, Ont./Philadelphia, NHL) Robyn Regehr (Rosthern, Sask./Calgary, NHL) Stéphane Robidas (Sherbrooke, Que./Dallas, NHL) Brent Seabrook (Tsawwassen, B.C./Chicago, NHL) Marc Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./N.Y. Rangers, NHL) Shea Weber (Sicamous, B.C./Nashville, NHL) Forwards (25) Jeff Carter (London, Ont./Philadelphia, NHL) Dan Cleary (Carboneau, N.L./Detroit, NHL) Sidney Crosby (Cole Harbour, N.S./Pittsburgh, NHL) Shane Doan (Halkirk, Alta./Phoenix, NHL) Simon Gagné (Ste-Foy, Que./Philadelphia, NHL) Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, Sask./Anaheim, NHL) Dany Heatley (Calgary, Alta./Ottawa, NHL) Jarome Iginla (St. Albert, Alta./Calgary, NHL) Vincent Lecavalier (Île-Bizard, Que./Tampa Bay, NHL) Milan Lucic (Vancouver, B.C./Boston, NHL) Patrick Marleau (Aneroid, Sask./San Jose, NHL) Andy McDonald (Strathroy, Ont./St. Louis, NHL) Brenden Morrow (Carlyle, Sask./Dallas, NHL) Rick Nash (Brampton, Ont./Columbus, NHL) Corey Perry (Peterborough, Ont./Anaheim, NHL) Michael Richards (Kenora, Ont./Philadelphia, NHL) Derek Roy (Rockland, Ont./Buffalo, NHL) Joe Sakic (Burnaby, B.C./Colorado, NHL) Patrick Sharp (Thunder Bay, Ont./Chicago, NHL) Ryan Smyth (Banff, Alta./Colorado, NHL) Martin St-Louis (Laval, Que./Tampa Bay, NHL) Eric Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./Carolina, NHL) Jordan Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./Pittsburgh, NHL) Joe Thornton (St. Thomas, Ont./San Jose, NHL) Jonathan Toews (Winnipeg, Man./Chicago, NHL) Still BIG PROPS to Cleary... If he makes it, I'll be estatic. If Lucic makes it I'll be jumping too.

My second favourite team just got me liking them more... Good luck in Chi-Town Hoss... We're going to miss ya. He is going to look sweet in a Hawk uni though.

With the signing of Bouwmeester, it is safe to say that they compete right up there with the likes of the Wings for best group of d-men in the league. Phaneuf had an off season, but he is still IMO, one of the league's top d-man and might be back in the running for Norris next season. Obviously the Wings have the best d-man in the league and one of the greatest ever in Lebda (, you know who I meant)... But with that even said do the Flames closely compare? Bouwmeester is a SICK d-man who will be heavily relied on in the 2010 Olympics, as will Dion, hell as will Regher... Scary to think that the Flames may likely have 3 defensemen playing for Canada. So... Lidstrom, Rafalski, Stuart, Kronwall, Lilja, Lebda, (Ericsson, Meech?) and... Bouwmeester, Phaneuf, Regher, Sarich, Giordano, and possibly Aucoin So, pending on maybe another decent defensive signing by the Flames... Is it safe to say there in'ts any team better defensively other than the Wings? I think Bouwmeester and Phaneuf can collectively be the most lethal D combo in the league, and yes arguably more lethal collectively than Raffy and Lids. It's a good debate.

Posts in this thread aren't saying anything about how Regher is defensively. Most forwards in the NHL consider Regher and Lidstrom the toughest to play against one on one.

If this is true and he leaves for rejecting that deal, I really hope he doesn't get booed when he comes back to the D with another team. A world class player like Hossa turning down a long term commitment worth 4 per season (yes I realize he'd make much more in the first 4-5 years of his contract) is understandable. Goodbye to Hossa, and I really enjoyed your presence. Classy guy with a great work ethic and incredible talent... Here's to good years to come.

Here's a little quote from Wikipedia... Now, I started watching hockey in '95/96... This guy's prime was probably before then, so I never really knew him as a player. Can anyone vouch for this describing how punishing he really was? I just came across this Wikipedia article and never knew he was one of the most punishing defensive d-man of all time. EDIT: I added a "d" at the end of his name, and I can't edit it... Can somebody do this before I look like a complete idiot?

Considering his injury, I think we all seriously forgot about him... I know I did. Yes, Morrow is awesome.

Wilson or Tortorella by default I guess.

There are tons, a bunch were named already. One was just drafted and is looked upon as the next big PF... Evander Kane. He's already working on building more muscle to become more effective, but he is still very effective right now in the WHL as a power forwards, and that's where a lot of them come from. Brayden Schenn should be good too.

He's nothing to look at, but yeah Ovie is the hero of Washington and the NHL MVP, he's going to get women... Bad example. A good example might be Mike Ricci who could have himself got boatloads of ladies back in his day... Never the best player, but a millionaire nevertheless. Also, there might not be a player as smooth as Hossa is outside the rink, maybe Zetterberg, but Hossa has the swagger like no other.

Joel Ward is simply a player who cares about the game and cares about improving his work ethic/skill to make the team and himself better daily... Picking him up would not upset me at all, he'd be a true fan favorite. Also, he is #29 on the Preds... But imagine he took another number (due to Conklin staying or whatever reason) and he took #27... It'd be funny to see another Ward #27 on the back of a Wings jersey.

What a beauty he has... Kinda just throwing this out there, you see Sidney Crosby in everyday situations as the NHL portrays him, but you never see him with a girl... Hmm?

I liked Philly too, dammit!

Will WE get him for 6M a year? I don't know, but if somehow it works out, that'd be awesome. In the real world (outside of Detroit)... Hossa is worth at least 7, and he could reach close to 8 if he wanted to. The dude's talented and very effective.