Majsheppard

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2012/06/red_wings_coach_mike_babcock_h.html Ruh-roh.... talking like he is a top six right away doesn't inspire me with confidence for us to find a legit starter.

A huge player with great strength and reach. Has a cannon of a shot. Works hard. Surprisingly mobile for a player of his great stature. Very raw. Project. (EP 2012) Yeah, I think this is a good pick when you see the words Works hard, mobile, great stature, Very Raw, and Project with a Red Wing. See you in six years Bodin. Also, Great name. My overall impression of the draft on D-Day is that I think we for the most part left our past draft strategy behind, which would scare me if I didn't think we were fully stocked. I keep wondering how we can keep all these players around, so some variety in strategy is nice. Our first pick in the second round was about as good as our fourth rounder in Teemu, which scares me. I think the goalie was a good safe pick. I like the size though I wonder if it will overcome the skill of our smaller prospects. I am interested to see them play so I can figure out where they fit in the future. I don't think we did great, but I do think we did okay. Even with Quincey added to this draft, it feels weak. Though I suspect Bodin will be a solid player for us.

I really cannot say to the extent what our draft is of yet... I just know if we don't outdo the Penguins I am going to be pissed. Get ready to be disappointed.

Wow... NBC sucks.

Detroit doesn't want to get rid of their old players. They tend to still contribute and play for less money while being leaders. Would you have wanted to trade Lidstrom and Yzerman?

I think Carolina was really dumb to trade for Staal. They could have waited it out and gotten much better.

I think this increases the likelihood of a trade tonight. With Brunner and Eaves in the fold... the progression of Emmerton, and the extra pieces that are around... I could see some moves. Also, How awesome would a Helm, Brunner, Mursak line be??? Fast as hell with a ton of skill that is almost second line, but not quite there. Would make for an excellent third scoring line.

Does anyone want me to try and do the draft like last year? I don't know if there would be any interest with the Wings having no pick...

You have no idea how much I needed some good news right now. It went from Lidstrom retiring to losing my grandmother to a ticket from the cops. I need more things like this to bring this summer back from the brink of ruinous, or the year for that matter. I hope this kid reaches his full potential and helps us usher in a new era of young superstars. I don't think a lockout is likely.

I have a question about the rules that I cannot lock down. The Wild owner just let it leak out that he will not be outbid for Parise... while he was still under contract and the Devils have exclusive negotiating rights. Holland said it himself during an NHL Live interview, that he can't name names before July 1st or it would be tampering. Now we know the Lions lost a draft pick recently when former KC coach Cunningham said he would like to get a player that was undercontract with the Chiefs. I can only assume the same system is in place for all of the sporting leagues. Now, why hasn't there been any talk about hitting the Wild with a penalty over this? If the Devils were trying to sign Parise for a hypothetical amount- such as 7 Million- and he was asking for 8 hypothetically, then it is possible by July first they negotiate to somewhere in the middle... such as 7.5. Saying this can allow the agent of Zach to say, he just said they won't be outbid. Not only are we going to get 8 there, we are going to get 9 million there, 8 was the hometown discount for you. We demand 8. Now the Devils are stuck paying 8 or letting Zach walk and get at least 8 from the Wild. See how that should be cheating? The general feeling seems to be that since the source was a friend who had dinner with him... At least that is what George Malik thinks. I think that is a weak defense. Why doesn't Holland just go out with a Ashar Khan for dinner and give him a list of names and say this is off the record WINK. Then he could write a story and Holland could deny it and say I wouldn't do that because it would be cheating? You know why he doesn't do it, because he is classy. I just want to know, what are the rules and what should happen? Also, why aren't we more upset about this. I think we should point this out, because it would piss us off if it happened to us. It also could inhibit our ability to get him if we choose to bid for his services. The link to the source is below. The Skinny.

Thank you? I do know what hearsay is, and I just am saying that there are cases where the only person investigated are done by the recounting of another person towards nothing more than "I heard him yell at him that he was going to kill him." Doesn't mean the person killed someone, just means you should most likely check where the accused was and if they have motive, an alibi, and if there is any actual proof anywhere. I don't see how anyone can argue against that. Why not just see if there is some way he can verify that the comments on radio were from a dinner that actually happened. There clearly is a motive to leaking through a friend to get that word out, so it just makes sense to check on an alibi or if there is any proof. Really, is a couple of phone calls to see if they went to dinner together too much to ask? I might sound crazy, but I just think that there are so many times that things happen that are clearly wrong... and people just roll over and take it. I am sick of it, and no one ever wants to fight back. Honestly, how crummy has things been getting in other aspects of life when people just say... what are you going to do?

I think, we should go to the contract cap no matter what, but if we don't hit the salary cap I am okay. I just hope we add more players than we need and let them battle it out for who will be the team going forward. If the top UFA's arent here, then get more fresh blood. Just never count on someone being UFA next year. Suter and Parise might still not hit the open market, so if they are there you should treat them as the only option if you want to make that sort of splash. I often think it would be better not to get either of them if X player is available... but that isn't a wise decision as who knows what will be available.

Yeah, but there would be other factors in my opinion. Such as if the player fits well in the locker room or if one is likely to be more cap friendly. Sometimes if the player is projected to put up 20% more points in the same position and role... and they want 70% more money, I would pass. I really don't know what a long term deal with Kane would llook like versus a long term with Gustav. I just assume if they had the same role Kane would get you more goals.

Darren Dreger said something on twitter I thought was just plain stupid. Said he took a paycut to go to a club that is a great fit... It hurts my head because he makes it sound like he was taking a paycut to leave Detroit to go somewhere where his playing is improved or his chance to win is worth a paycut. I took the 4% paycut and 3 years as bad pay and term for someone who deserved a raise, but was stuck because everyone knew to be with his family he HAD to sign in San Jose. I am really disappointed in the Sharks for negotiating him down. If anything they should give him a raise and put in the contract that 60% of the raise must be given to the wife to do whatever they want. I am happy he will be in a home again with his wife. I just dislike them putting the screws to him. I assumed he was in line for a raise in Detroit, and I expected the same from the Sharks.

Spectors Hockey made a good point, Kane has no leverage to force a trade except a holdout or bailing to the KHL. They could risk it and take the RFA compensation or hope he comes back and the second year experience is much better.

Now that the rumor says he wants out, I would love to get him. I just again wonder that someone who might be in our division would trade him to us. Plus the cost. Just watch out, because he might be Holland's target over Parise. It is possible. Not because he thinks it Kane is better than Parise, just that it might be more manageable to get him. I wouldn't sign him but a manageable trade would be okay.

You are an optimist to the extreme. I don't hope against your assessment, but I just don't see all of that happening. It would be great. If you believe the rumor, his agent demands that he plays in the NHL this year... I don't think the Wings will accept that as it is against their MO. If they want to move Quincey and Kindl, let Smith, Schultz, and Suter play in place of Lids, Stuart, and Quincey... I would be okay with it.. but it doesn't seem like the Wings to go with far less experience.

This is how the world continues to get worse. Just keep letting people get away with whatever they want. It confounds me how much people are defeated about things that can be fixed. You know every single rape case is hearsay. Might as well not try with those. You know what, every police investigation starts with hearsay. Hey, this guy has a motive let us go ask that person questions and look for hard evidence to build a case around. You know what, even though there is a credible source to follow, it is hearsay and we might as well not look into it. No big deal. These are rules, if you make them you should enforce them. Sure it is hearsay, maybe it is false and maybe they can't ever prove it. I don't see why you would not try. It doesn't hurt anything to look into it. In the very least if it was a lie and you look into it, we can ignore Nanne for the rest of time. The only thing that lets some people get away with whatever they want is the indifference of man. Keep being indifferent, it just makes you look weak and pitiful. Make all the posts you want about not bothering, I would wonder what you would say to that if you were the victim of some bending of rules. If a coworker took credit for your work, or you got blamed for something and no one bothered to look into it because it would just be word vs. word. You really want a world that works that way?!?!?

Launch an investigation. End of story. Ask them under oath.

Also, he said it on radio and is a credible source, an investigation has to happen.

Fair enough, I didn't put it in the post... because it is in the link. Shame on me for that. I didn't rewrite the article in my post. HOWEVER... I DID suggest Holland do the same thing and used Hasek as proxy illustrating the SAME situation. I guess I figured you would read the source and then infer I read it as well having linked it and citing it as inspiration for my hypothetical. I guess that is asking a lot, and I should be more clear. I don't care if it is hearsay, it has the same effect. The rules say any means, public or private, any medium. Is there anyone who is a lawyer? Let's just subpoena both of them and demand they say under oath if they had dinner together. Then if they lie we can have a perjury trial that lasts a decade. You know, like baseball.

Fair enough, I didn't put it in the post... because it is in the link. Shame on me for that. I didn't rewrite the article in my post. HOWEVER... I DID suggest Holland do the same thing and used Hasek as proxy illustrating the SAME situation. I guess I figured you would read the source and then infer I read it as well having linked it and citing it as inspiration for my hypothetical. I guess that is asking a lot, and I should be more clear. What isn't fair is the comparison with a journalist was made to illustrate what if a journalist made such hearsay. If someone tampers with a journalist they can deny it all the same, and the league would investigate. That is ALL I am asking for... both could deny it and there would be consequences for both.

If the comments reported were actually made by Leipold, then Bettman could decide it's tampering. While we all know the needs and cap space of different teams, and can assume who they'll be interested in, saying you'll match/beat any offer goes a lot farther. Too far, IMO. Main problem is there isn't likely any way to prove he really said it, unless he was dumb enough to mention Parise's name on tape/email/etc. Thank you for the quote. Through any medium. I would say that includes the one the owner said. The letter of the law. YOU SIMPLY CANNOT DISCUSS NAMES TO ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE ORGANIZATION!

Does anyone ever read? I clearly stated that it was second hand. It shouldn't matter, if the person is saying he told me this... then as long as that person is a credible source it is no different than issuing a press release. If I tell a newspaper reporter I intend to sign someone, he writes his story saying the source told him he was going to sign this person. That is the basis of journalism. IF a journalist lies about a source, they lose credibility so it is a bad idea to lie. Based on tampering, saying that to a journalist would be illegal. I am saying how is this any different? If the owner tells a former general manager and a friend and he goes and blabs, he is getting the story out the same as if through a journalist. The only difference is he could lie and therefore the Owner has more deniability... The problem is either way the concept is out there, hence my hypothetical. If the line is one extra lie??? That doesn't make it something besides cheating, it just makes it cheating AND lying. He is a former general manager, I take him at face value and I think the owner should have to prove he didn't say this and prove him a liar. Otherwise it is tampering. IF they aren't going after him, not only should we all be upset. But why don't we start just lying about this stuff with credible sources. Hasek should say that he had dinner with Holland and he said we were really interested in Suter, Parise, Wideman, and Doan and that if he could get those guys he knows we would win a championship. He could also say that if he could get all of them to take a bit less than we could also swing Moen. Just a hypothetical mind you, but that would send a signal to all of those players that maybe I should not resign yet, or use it as leverage to get more money. Hell, I would start saying we were going after RFA players and will pay them 8 million or something, and get them to go overboard. Why not have Hasek say that we will offer Oshie 7 million a season so he ups the bill on the Blues? I just feel like he needs to explain this, especially when the Lions lost a pick for a nobody based upon comments that I have never heard the source of...

I factored that in. Gagne's 3.5 comes off the books, and the cap was projected to be 76 million before they settled on temporary cap of 70.6 I think they have 8.5 to play with the following season and they wouldn't pay quick more than 6... It certainly would make them tight against the cap and cost them players along the way. Long term contracts on superstars seem like the way to go still. You are missing what he was saying completely. He wasn't saying the player has any say on a trade, he was saying the player doesn't have to sign anywhere. I agree with him, I would definitely at this point say in a press release I have no intentions of signing anywhere until after July 1st. Even if he resigns, you are going to get more money if you go to the market. I would respect a player way more if he said that, thus making trading for him so soft you would get less than what Holland got for Stuart, rather than letting your former team rip off someone or signing outside of UFA. My stance remains, never trade for rights. I would do what the owner of the Wild did, (I still don't know how that isn't tampering) I would have Ilitch say out and out, we will not be deterred in our pursuit of the X player. Just make it clear that people who could be UFA, should go to UFA. I just know it would be a double standard situation where the Wild can do it, but the Wings can't. I think anyone who doesn't test UFA after having rights traded is a moron. If they traded for you, you know at least two teams will bid against each other for your services.