Zymz

This sounds to me like an "out" for both the Wings and Hudler. Neither side wants Hudler to play anywhere else in the League, but the recognition is there that Hudler can't be signed for any deserved amount of money (you have to believe that for the Wings to fit Hudler under the cap, they'd have to go so low that the NHLPA would be screaming about salary implications, even IF Hudler would take the deal...) So Hudler plays in the KHL until a reasonable deal can be worked out (probably summer 2010, when the Wings get cap flexibility back), re-signs with the Wings to a long-term deal, and everybody's happy... Yes the Wings lose a solid PP specialist for a season - but better he goes to Russia then say, the Blackhawks.

Hmm... down the middle - Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Filppula, Draper... Will the Red Wings even have to play defence? They'll always have the puck!

Everything I've seen and read so far makes me think Hossa *wanted* to be a Red Wing, offer or no. I don't think this signing is only to win a Cup, but to try and make this work out for the rest of his career. How awesome is that? It's quite conceivable that a year from now, Hossa might still turn down bigger offers from elsewhere just to stay with the Wings...

Hossa signing with the Wings for less money just to win a Cup would be the single dumbest career move he could ever make. The guy is 29 yrs old and will never be worth more than he is now. He's got about 10 yrs (barring injury) left to win a Cup, so why wouldn't he sign with an up-and-comer, turn them into a contender AND make the big bucks, all while having only a slightly less chance at winning it all. I would love nothing more than Hossa to be a Wing (he's always been one of my favs), but it just makes no sense. You also have to take the NHLPA into account - which is probably why Sundin is hesitant to sign for cheap - they're going to pressure the stars hard to take the biggest contracts out there.

Funny thing about Orpik... They all talk about the legendary "4 hit" shift in the SCF, but if I remember correctly, all those hits came because Orpik was consistently beat to the puck, and it took him 4 tries to separate it from the Wings. Not to mention at least 2 or 3 of those hits were in the corner and against the boards, where it's much easier to line a player up. Orpik was solid at times, and he's a hell of a warrior, but he's no 3M dollar man...

Prospal would be a great fit on the Wings. He's a solid two-way player that can play on just about any line and chip in 20-30 goals. He's shown that he can be a playoff-type guy, too; he can score the ugly goals as well as the pretty ones. That he's underpaid (in my opinion, anyway) makes him even more attractive to the Wings. Contrary to what a lot of people have been posting, he does NOT need great players around him to get his goals - he's been on several second- and even third-line stints throughout his career. He'd also bring badly need help to the second pp unit. And he's not so old or expensive that the team couldn't keep him around for a couple years while the young'uns develop into more solid players (Flip, Hudler, and Kopecky just aren't quite there yet.) All in all, an upper-middle prospect like Emerson and a pick (maybe two) would be a fair price for Prospal.

The three goalies for WC All-Stars: Nabokov, San Jose -can't deny his brilliance this year, playing all of San Jose's 41 games (winning 23) and still posting near all-star numbers (2.01 GAA/.917 sv%) Leclair, Columbus -playing lights-out (in a goalie-friendly system, i know, but who else do you take, Rick Nash?) with a gaudy 1.97 GAA/.928 sv% Bryzgalov, Phoenix -no coincidence Phoenix started winning when this dude showed up, and I think that speaks for itself. 2.15 GAA/.930 sv% helps too I'd love to see Ozzie make the game (he definitely DOES deserve it) but with the Wings having 3 starters and Rafalski being a good shot (not many healthy standout D-men in the West this year) I just don't see it happening...

Unless there's a deal offered that Kenny just can't refuse, I don't see him making a big splash this year in trades. The team's coming together and playing well, the demand for prospects and picks is insane, and the return on investment just isn't there. Sellers are gonna ask for the farm for 3 month rentals, and buyers are gonna mortgage their future for marginal improvements. Barring injuries (in which case Kenny might be forced to pull a trade), the current team is what we'll see in the playoffs, with maybe a minor tweak or two.

A little off-topic here, but I don't think there's been as promising a group of young stars (1-3 yrs in the league) as the current crop since the early 90s - maybe even better - as evidenced by some of the favorites people have been posting. First and foremost, you got Crosby and Ovechkin, whom it's hard to believe are in only their 3rd years, along with Phaneuf and Vanek. There are some up-and-coming young goalies (though they tend to be older): Lundqvist, Fleury, Backstrom. Then there's the rookies and sophomores: Malkin, Toews, Kane, Statsny, Kopitar, Andrew Cogliano, David Perron, the Johnsons (Erik and Jack), Sam Gagner, Phil Kessel, Mark and Jordan Staal, and God knows whom else I've missed (these were just off the top of my head.) Great time to be a hockey fan!

Spezza Gaborik Hossa Luongo Lecavalier

Maybe if he played with Joe Thornton...

That's exactly Hudler's game. His goal last night is a perfect example of what Hudler's role will be on this team. He snuck into an opening on the backside of the play for an easy redirect.

Eva, I respect your attempt at an objective, statistical argument for any given team, but there is at least one big flaw in your method: There is no accounting for strength of schedule. Just as a small example, one could make an argument that the '96 Avs and '97 Flyers teams were significantly better than the '98 Capitals and '02 'Canes, thereby skewing your 'clutch modifier' with closer goal differentials for the '96 and '97 series than the '98 and '02 (not sure if this is actually true, but it's just to illustrate my point.) Perhaps this strength of schedule averages out over an entire regular season/playoff run, but I doubt it. Also, there are numerous smaller things that could be accounted for - such as injuries, payroll, etc. - which would paint a more accurate team vs. team comparison. One last thing: I can't put my finger on exactly why, but it seems the clutch modifier carries more weight than it should (the '98 Wings get a 79% bonus based on one category while the '96 Wings take a 64% hit???) Edit: typo and clarification

The only way Tampa Bay gets rid of Lecavalier is to dump salary and rebuild, and the Wings have nothing to offer TB in that regard. The Lightning would want a top-tier prospect and maybe even a pick or two on top of that, and the team Lecavalier would end up on would have to have big salary-cap room (Lecavalier's got 2 years left at $6.75 mil per, I believe, plus is gonna get a raise.) Trading Datsyuk or Zetterberg for Lecavalier kinda defeats the purpose, dontcha think?

Lets keep thigns in perspective here. In Grigorenko, we have a player who was probably coddled a bit on his Russian teams. He could get by over there on talent alone, and never really learned the value of working hard and earning a spot. Now, he's here in the US - no friends, very little ability to communicate, and he's not really ready. What he needs is a mentor, not an executioner. Someone who can help him adjust to NHL hockey (heck, even AHL hockey is a level higher than REL.) The only guy in the Wings' system that fits the bill is Datsyuk, who's been right where Grigorenko is now. Keep this in mind: Datsyuk was in a similar position when he came over, and had guys like Larionov and Fedorov to help him learn the ropes. If not for the veteran Russians on the team in Datsyuk's early days, he'd likely be back in Russia now. I think some prolonged exposure working with the veteran Europeans on the big club will have a huge impact on Grigorenko, and perhaps when he's more comfortable later this season, he'll be willing to return to the Griffins to get ready for next season. Yes, it sucks that he's taking away roster spots from hard-working, hard-nosed energy guys like Ellis, Downey and Kopecky, but face it, who's the bigger payoff? Players like those three are a dime a dozen, guys with top-notch hands and a penchant for scoring aren't...

Wait....there's hard pads in hockey???

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but lets not forget Rafalski's skating ability. He brings a Fedorov-like ability to move the puck from one end of the ice to the other, adding an extra dimension to the Wings' offensive breakouts. One thing the team struggled with this last year was in carrying the puck out of the zone. Having Rafalski back there helps improve that aspect.

I'd like to know what kinda crack you're smokin, cuz it must be bad... Drury is the best clutch scorer on the FA list, with Smyth not too far behind. Neither will put up 100 point seasons, but each will guarantee you 30+ regular season goals and 10 - 15 playoff goals (assuming they play a full 4 rounds), not to mention their knack for 3rd period goals. Both of these guys are consummate 2-way forwards, and are strong leaders in the mold of Steve Yzerman to boot. Most of us would be in heaven if there was any way the Wings could squeeze either one of those two into the budget, but given the number of teams who have money to spend and feel they're this close to having a playoff team, it ain't happening. If there are any two guys out there worth overpaying, it's Smyth and Drury...

I want off the list, thank you much!!

Instead of the current offsides rule, why not just make it "mini-offsides?" No player can advance the puck from his side of center ice to a player completely within the offensive zone. That would still force teams to advance the puck past center ice 1st, and then play the puck into the zone. The rule would force defenses to fall back into their own zone a little farther (by allowing attacking teams the opportunity to send a player in ahead of the play IF they've gained the red line), defeating the trap, and allowing skill teams to gain the zone more easily. Cherry-picking would still be the same as the current rules allow (2 line passes and such). So essentially, the only change to the game would be less play in the neutral zone and more play in the offensive zones, increasing scoring opportunity. Powerplays become more effective (they won't break down as much for pucks that just trickle over the blue line), thereby emphasizing clean play.

The deal with Lang, despite his size, is is declining hands and speed. The two most important skills for an NHL hockey player are the ability to skate and handle the puck (passing, stickhandling etc.), and Lang's skills in those areas have eroded pretty badly (hence the high # of giveaways). The Wings have plenty of players with better puckhandling and/or skating, so where does that leave Lang? If the Wings *have* to make room to get younger/faster/grittier, as a lot of people are saying, then doesn't it logically follow that the Wings must get rid of the older/slower/softer players? Lang has provided the Wings with some solid, if unexceptional, play, but keeping him around won't improve the Wings any.

Well, he's not big and physical, nor does he have blazing speed, but Hudler's got a great shot and does a good job of getting in a position to score. He wont ever be an all-star franchise player, but he will be a good 2nd line scorer and put up 20-30 goals a year. Not bad, I'd say. I can think of a few guys who made a pretty decent living in such a role.

What's the deal with the Aleksy Morozov infatuation? He's a one dimensional player who's needed a superstar on his line to be useful. Morozov only did well for Pittsburgh when #66 was with him. Other than that, he was a waste of a roster spot. Morozov has the skills, and he does dominate European play, but he can't handle himself when he doesn't have time and space, and the Wings aren't exactly the kind of team that can give him that.