Majsheppard

Should have cut Harrison for that! Harrison and Brown are similar but Brown is better, so why cut Brown?

I expect the playoffs. I don't expect much more, but the team is rounded enough to compete for a berth. Nyquist and Tatar are ready to be the top two gunners. Smith should become the guy that feeds them and improves the defense for a change.

I want to just say how sad this made me. Especially for the nearly newborn child of Ruslan. That is awful how that child will never know their parent. I also wish the headline for this thread was about the team tragedy and not the few people that we are supposed to care about. It implies that we wouldn't care about it unless there were former Wings on the plane. That irks me a little. Not to cause a big to do, I just want to remind people that there are 38 families that will suffer in this. As well as one BIG hockey family.

I wouldn't spend money like that to go to any hockey event that doesn't have hockey in it.

I doubt he would go there just for nostalgia at this point in his career. He would like to win at least once... right? I could see him doing Winnipeg at 38+

Good move to clear space... but really did it make them a better team? Not now, and not likely later either. They would actually have to still use the money WISELY. Burke can't do that with a basement dweller.

New rule, if a team dents the cup. They automatically have to forfeit the first game of their next Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

No.

I would agree with you, but they might take a huge step back this year. At 35 near the start of the season, would you want to stay around if this team goes back to being a lottery team? I wouldn't sign anything if I was Doan... so he might be available. At 4.5 and with the chance of him taking less in the final years of his contract, he could be a Holland target.

Hockey Prospectus, their ranking is horrible. It is clear that they with bad methods. Our farm system is really good and getting better, but it isn't the top right now. I have to say LA is still, they have a ton of prospects. The Wings are in the top ten for sure, and these rankings might end up being 5th or so if the guys we drafted stay on target. Have to point out the HockeyBuzz ranking IS the ESPN ranking, and they aren't a good source to go to IMO. The Panthers are ranked high, but they will likely end up downgraded because things don't work out for them that well. Though I think they got a bump because their draft this year was amazing. LA might not be first in these rankings just because they lost their top prospect getting Richards. Hockey's Future is the best list of the group. I think they are the most conservative estimate on us, yet they recognize our strengths and potential.

Even worse, he could look like Lebda out there if he gets called up too soon. He still puts far too much effort into being involved offensively than defensively.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I went to the Mellon center to see the Wings play the Penguins and I have been to the arena in Scottsdale and I must tell you that even though both teams were bottom dwellers at the time. The fans were far better in PHX. There was less than 2k worth of people for the Penguins game, and at least a fourth of them were Wings fans. In PHX the building was near capacity and about half were Wings fans. Just saying that Pit was a horrible experience. Even though they sucked, they fans were still arrogant, rude, and obnoxious. PHX there was none of that. PHX also had a good arena, where Pit did not. Maybe they should look to relocate the Penguins. Or at least give the yotes a couple of surefire first overall picks before closing shop on them. You rigged it for the Pens...

I like that third line if it was more of a fourth line. I would roll four lines and let there be a slower heavy line in Homer Abs and Bert... but also would look to see if there were other options. I love how Homer plays, but he always seems to slow down Pav and Hank, or anyone else for that matter. Bert can't be slowed down by him. (already moves slow) I would start by hooking them up and putting them against less skilled players. That is, the fourth line. Franzen could be a choice too, but I would rather try to make him speed up rather than let him slow down. Lets face it, Helm, Mursak, Eaves... they are too good and too fast to be on the fourth line based on your lines. The problem is the second line has to suffer then. I would keep Zetter and Pav together and put Hudler with them. Make the second Fil, Cleary, and Franzen. That would be the least horrible option in my opinion. Let Anyone on the bottom lines switch with Cleary from time to time, and be prepared to put Hudler down. I would also switch Franzen with Hudler every so often to motivate them both. We still have anchors on our lines though... That problem is unavoidable but we have to deal with it until a trade occurs.

Brunnstrom will only make the team if Emmerton looks like he will never be a Red Wing. Some people think he is a career AHL-er and this move is nothing more than pitting two such players against each other to see if either responds.

No.

per several twitter accounts. A player pushed into retirement because of his contract is becoming more common these days. He certainly could have played a deeper role on a team for a cheaper contract. It also shows you how much value a guy like Draper had to out last someone like Drury who had much more offensive upside.

Injuries might have been. I do know he was bought out... I am suggesting that he most likely didn't want to come back for significantly less. I just have a hard time believing that he wasn't offered a contract by some team in the sub million range. Any playoff team who needed depth would have been wise to offer him a fourth line-esk contract. Therefore I assume he turned down at least one contract like that. He might have revived his career after one year, so I assume he let his recent failure drive him out of the league.

Think about roles though, Hemsky was top six player for the Oilers, while Franzen was bottom six with the Wings. All his points came in a big push near signing that contract. Indicating that he would be a big time scorer. Whether or not that was wise isn't the question, I am simply indicating the thought process. As for your idea of trading Franzen for Hemsky and Brule. I personally wouldn't think that was a bad trade, but I do think it depends on what Franzen you get. I simply put out that I never thought of Hemsky as a great player. I wouldn't make that trade in Fantasy Hockey either... which take that for whatever worth you want. I would take him over Hudler... but you have to pay for him too. Injuries are a concern as well.

I am not trying to stir up trouble here; I do however wish to make an observation. Now that all the skill players are long since signed up. The only up-daters' to this thread are the guys who would like to see the Wings add enforcers... Holding out hope?

Yep. I agree with that statement.

Yeah, just saw a tweet about how the writer just finished it and it is his first cover story. It is about behind the scenes with Datty. It will be worth picking up then!

Another bold prediction. We will regret some of the rule changes Shanahan is attempting when implemented.

Okay, you set it up and I will spend a week with him. I am game for this experiment.

I am going to go in for a game and was wondering what else is there fun to do for me and my girlfriend in the town?