Booster313

Thanks EZ!

Disclaimer: I am not Eklund, and this will probably be my one and only endeavor into the "scoop" business but I found this information interesting and I figured that if nothing else it will spark some conversations. I met someone today by chance that has been with the Detroit Red Wings for 26 years and has 3 championship rings to prove it, with a fourth on the way! (He was wearing his 1998) His job within the organization affords him the chance to talk to Mike Babcock on a daily basis and Scotty Bowman three to four times a week. The reason I mention these facts is so you can make your own judgement as to the accuracy of the rumors. I will number the rumors...some are really no big deal, others are more interesting. 1.We first talked about Scotty Bowman and he shared with me that Scotty had 3 interviews for the Toronto Maple Leafs position. The reason he didn't take position is because at his age (75) Scotty doesn't believe that he has the time nor the energy to turn around the organization and that one of the main problems is they are owned by a canadian teachers union and there are too many cooks spoiling the soup. 2. I asked him about Fedorov and the trade deadline and if the Red Wings really had the bad blood we as fans assume they do towards Sergi. He said that Fedorov is a really nice guy and that the reason the Red Wings ultimately decided not to bring him in at the trade deadline is because of his unconsistancy and the asking price. The main concern with signing Fedorov will always be which Sergi is going to show up, but he said that he doesn't think it's out of the question that we'll see him in Detroit someday, although he suspects Washington is a pretty good fit as well. 3. Finally I asked if the Wings had any interest in Sundin and he said that of course if Sundin wanted to come play for the Wings and the price was right they would take him but he thinks it's unlikely that Sundin will leave Toronto with Ron Wilson coming in to coach this year, he offered that the name he has heard kicked around the most this summer is Hossa. Apparently the Red Wings really wanted to aquire him at the deadline and the one key thing that continues to fuel the speculation is that apparently after game six when the players were shaking hands Hossa said to "a Red Wings player" that he would really like to come play with him. That's is...no real big scoops here but it was enough to get me excited for the day to share it with everyone. My 2 cents: I would love to see Hossa a Red Wing, but I think that it will be hard for the Wings to compete with the deal that the Pens offered him and saying you want to play somewhere, and actually passing up that kind of money to do it are two different things...It will be fun to see what happens!

True...and true. I too hope that D-Mac can find his agressive form. I think that's what the two-way contract is about this season. The final reason that Mac edges out Downey is however is Mac sells tickets. Downey doesn't...at least not yet.

Downey- 0 goals and 3 assists in 56 games, and even 0 +/-. McCarty- 0 goals and 1 assist in 3 games, plus 2 +/-. That would but Downey on pace for 4.5 points a season if he played all 82 games. McCarty by contrast would be on pace for 27 points. McCarty>Downey

The tickets go on sale this month. You can google the site and book your hotel early! Their are a few cheap places then everything sky rockets. Make sure you eat at the apache trout grill on Saturday night as the Wings usually visit plus the food is great and then get some drinks at Bootleggers/Dillingers as on any given night you will see at least a few of the guys.

So is Hossa going to wear 18 or 81 or a different number entirely? He is one of those players you give your number up for but given how long Malts has worn his number in the D and judging by the kind of person I think Marian is based on the contract he just signed I think he'll happly switch his number up.

K hows this, the Wings are all but guaranteed to win the cup. What could stop them??? Major injury, goaltending meltdown, or the simply the hockey gods. Other than that the NHL might want to get the spelling of all the names on the Wings roster going into training camp. It will save time next June.

Thanks guys...Now I will have to call my source and tell him he was right!

Lidstom is the bar by which the rest of our roster is set. He is the captain of our team, he is THE BEST defensman in the league, he's a six time Norris winner, a four time Stanley Cup winner, a Conn Smyth winner, an Olympic Gold Medalist, a future HHOFer and a career Red Wing. The message is thank you for coming Mr. Hossa but you nor anyone else is more valuable to our team than Lidstrom is. Lidstom sets the example for the rest of the players.

I just want to go on record saying I broke this story on June 18th!!! f*** Eklund!!! WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!! Insider Information

What's it called?

It's possible we could afford Bertuzzi and Fedorov...I'm just not sure what the fair market value is going to be on Feds. But with Bert if he really wants to come her he can afford to even for the limited salay. Remember the ducks will be paying him 1.3million for the next 2 years, so if we give him a 1.7million dollar contract for the next 2 years it's like 3million and what I would say is a fair "I wanna win" discount. I would say Fedorov is worth no more than 2-2.5million. So I am pretty sure we can afford them. The question is do you want to take a roster spot for them. I think Fed's would fill in nicely for Sammy on the second line and the PP Unit and Bert would be a ok replacement for Drake...with the potential to earn more ice time.

Huh?!

link to story???

I wouldn't mind seeing him for the right price....but there are other free agents I would much rather have. That being said at least my friend Justin would be able to wear his Bert Jersey again.

He also said his hand wouldn't be forced into any deals that it would have to be the right deal. Just because his plan is to sign a veteran goalie doesn't mean he will. As for fedorov...he was just an example of what I consider the second tier free agents. I don't think he'll be coming here either. But never say never.

I think you will see one top tier free agent siging: Hossa Sundin Rolston etc... or two lower tier signings: Bertuzzi Fedorov Stuart etc... Add a veteran goalie if the opportunity arises otherwise we might save some cash for the deadline as insurance. For what it's worth I'd like to take a run a Redden and then add an affordable forward like Bert or possibly Sundin for one year rather than try to get Hossa or Rolston tied up for a couple years.

I don't doubt that Hossa said it, I just am not sure he really meant it. Why would a Wings player lie about Hossa? or why would the source lie about the Wings player? There was really nothing to gain either way...oh well as I said, take it for what it's worth.

No we're saying that if your in the east and your name isn't the Pens...you don't have a high percentage shot at the cup. Every team has a chance every year but when you are leaving to win a cup you probably want to pick a highly favored team. The Wings, The Sharks, The Stars, The Ducks (although not if Neidermeyer retires again), The Pens (depending on how their roster shapes out) and finally as the X-factor team the Flames. If I were betting those are the teams I would consider putting my money on.

Such is the price of being on top, remember emulation is the most sincere form of flattery. What country is next...more from Finland? Germany? Back to Russia or the Czech?

Great news....I think he gets a 3 to 4 year deal with and avg of around 2.5 Million per season. Dan Cleary just got 2.8 per year so I suspect something similar. P.S. Thanks for the translation!

Agreed...unless he is willing to play here for 5 or 6 million a season and as much as I love the Red Wings I don't think I would turn down the 7million and the chance to play with Sid the Kid. It's not like it's the LA Kings or Florida Panthers offering him the money.

FACT: The earliest know record of ice skates were a primative pair found in Sweden at the bottom of a lake believed to be over 3000 years old. THEORY: These were actually Nik Lidstroms first skates given to him by Jesus himself.

I Love it!!!! LMAO P.S. Nice Avatar pic!

That's kind of a good point...but I would still argue that it was a bad situation for him that year.