J-Swift

Would this be leaving Big Snake out in the cold? It's not like I personally would mind at all, but some of the posters here took quite a liking to Robin.

Well, I guess the mindset of a hockey fan has to change with the new CBA. I think the league will wind up more like the NFL, with teams rising up and down in the standings from year to year. Those who gamble for immediate success will almost certainly be met with a major dropoff in team performance in the future. As for Filppula, my concern for him is the fact that we may have another good point-getting centre with solid two-way abilities (like Zetterberg) coming out of Europe, and by forcing him into the lineup, we are sorta' stunting his development. Personally, I feel Valtteri can probably start this season in the NHL, and play quite well and contribute to the team. But I think he could be even better if he got some time in the AHL to build up confidence and an understading to the game on this side of the Atlantic. With his solid camp, though, I realize it would be hard to cut him, considering the kind of heart and competitiveness he seems to have. Certainly, more emphasis on the draft is likely to come in the next couple of years, as it's an easy way for teams to grab cheap talent. Let's hope the days of the Wings throwing away their top picks are over.

I wouldn't exactly call myself patient when it comes to the Wings. My mindset is primarily on this season, while ensuring that solid prospects are being developed in GR.

Twenty-nine other teams beat the Wings. Really? Every other team constantly beats the reigning President's trophy winners, and quite easily the best team over the past ten years? Besides that akward comment, the obvious thing wrong with Detroit is not age (they were, by a fair margin, the oldest team in the league when they won the Cup in '02); Detroit's problem is grit. I noticed you are comparing Babcock's Ducks to the Wings. Yes, you're right; Anaheim does not sign many elderly, veteran forwards. And what do they have to show for it? One Cinderella playoff run in which they rode a hot goalie, and a follow-up year in which they failed to so much as qualify for the playoffs. Don't get me wrong, I'm as excited about Filppula as everyone else is, but despite what Zetterberg and Datsyuk have done, I'm not a big fan of taking a prospect straight out of a European league and sticking him into the NHL, while allowing them no time to develop a feel for the North American game. That strategy didn't exactly work wonders for Jiri Hudler. I would've been happy to start Fillppula in the AHL and have him as the top call-up for Detroit. However, with Datsyuk looking more and more like he will stay in Russia, I realize that Valtteri is likely to get his first real taste of North American hockey with the Wings. This is something I'm not impressed with.

Yeah, sorry about that. I just tend to think of all teams in the Northwest division to be on the "West Coast".

And you are? Dude, what's with the flaming all of a sudden? Gee, sorry we had a difference of opinion. Think about it, if Dats re-signs, why would we possibly want to rush two of our better prospects into the NHL? Hudler is obviously not fully adjusted to the North American game, and despite the prospects camp, we don't exactly know what Filpulla is capable of. I would not force Filpulla into the league as a winger, when he is clearly a good, all-round play-making centre. That's a total waste of abilities, and I was already upset enough when they placed Zetterberg on the wing. Sorry I don't feel every decent prospect in the system should be forced onto the team when that position could be filled by a cheap veteran. Rushing prospects is something the Toronto Maple Leafs do, and I do not want the Wings to become the next Toronto Maple Leafs.

Personally, I have no interest in shipping Datsyuk to someone else within the division. That could really backfire, plus there's nobody I really like on the Preds in return for Pavel. I would not mind, however, sending Dats to the West Coast in exchange for someone like Ryan Smyth.

Actually, it's been mainly me saying I'd like to take a pass on Big Snake. Most of the guys here really want to sign him (with the exception of BigMac). Well, after a strong camp, I'm willing to take a chance on Snake, at least in GR. I'm happy that more first nations' players are making it into the league. Let's just hope, however, that Big Snake does not turn into the next Jordan Tootoo. That would be just plain awful.

Yeah, I've been collecting hockey cards for maybe five years now. My personal favorite brand is Upper Deck SP Authentic. The 2004-2005 set came out a couple months ago.

Personally, I feel it's a little early to be dumping Jiri Hudler. He's only 21, and although he lacks size and isn't exactly the fastest, he has some awfully good skillls. If Datsyuk re-signs, or the Wings find a second line winger via the free agent market or a trade, I feel that both Filppula and Hudler should start the season in the AHL.

I was under the impression Joey Harrington was going to be number one no matter what happened. Even if Garcia was healthy and was the better quaterback, I still feel Mariucci would've started Joey for most, if not all, of the games this season. For better or worse, it appears as if the Lions have truly committed themselves to Joey.

I second that, he's my pick for the dirtiest player in the league. Tucker is a diver, a cheapshot-artist, and a whiner; no wonder he fits in with the Leafs.

While I haven't actually seen him play, he's well worth the risk IMO. Hopefully his off-ice problems can be cured with age and veteran leadership. A punk is just what we need to develope, Maltby won't be around forever. But keep in mind I would like Avery back, which will explain this and probably make people angry. Well, I'm not too keen on this Big Snake, but if he is at least able to keep up with the big boys, he deserves a shot. Otherwise, I'm thinking the Wings look elsewhere; although we do need an enforcer, he's got to have at least some skill to play for Detroit. Yes, I feel that off-ice problems can be corrected at such a young age, but I'm still a little cautious about his attitude. Well, for what it's worth, I liked Avery and I wasn't too happy when he was traded away. At times he was a bit of a punk, but he had some real energy that the Wings could've have used in past post-seasons. I do, however, enjoy having Schneider on the team, so the trade was not too much of a blow I felt. Even still, I felt somebody else could've accompanied Kuznetsov to LA.

Although a young enforcer is really kinda something this team needs, I'm not a big fan of Big Snake; as I said before, I've seen him play. Seems like a bit of a punk to me; face washing and shoving opposing players after the whistle. He was in the penalty box more than once when I saw him, and it wasn't just for fighting. Big Snake is a player noted for off-ice problems, and unless he shows he can compete with at least the rest of the NHL's prospects, I really don't want him on this team.

Well, although Shanny and Chelios are not the same players as they used to be, they at least contribute. Steve Thomas had 22 points in 44 games last season and is a solid forechecker, but honestly, how many 40-year olds does this team need? I would, however, not be upset if Stumpy was merely a tryout in training camp. You can kinda' forget about a two-way contract, though, veterans like him do not get demoted to the AHL, they retire before that happens.

I saw Big Snake play against the Windsor Spitfires last season, and to me he looked like just a big agitator. Seems to have discipline problems.

I think you meant best goaltender.

Maybe the Wings are trying to take things too fast. To me, it didn't seem like another year before going pro would've hurt Jimmy.

Well, if the Wings refuse to go out and get some grit via the free agent market, they might as well try to develop it from within the system.

Yeah, if Antropov wasn't a first round draft pick, he would be spending his time in the AHL. I've never expected much out of him.

He's just another highly-touted Leafs prospect that isn't likely to live up to expectations. The Toronto Maple Leafs are not good at drafting or developing players, and I do not want to trade one of Detroit's best young players in Zetterberg for a Leaf prospect who'll likely take an extended period of time in the AHL to develop. Apparently, Alexander Steen is coming out of Sweden, and has both offensive and two-way potential, which is something we already know we have in Zetterberg. If Steen is the centre-piece in this deal for the Wings, I'll pass thank you.

That's right. The Leafs do not own the rights to Bryan Marchment.

Wow, I didn't see that coming. Especially after Hossa signed that big deal.

If this trade happened, I would lose all faith in Ken Holland. Zetterberg is the one I want to hold onto, I think he can turn into a solid, two-way centre in the future.

If Datsyuk is going, which is what is probably going to happen, I see no way Detroit will give up Zetterberg. Steen is just another Leafs prospect that will take years to crack the lineup.