joshy207

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so snotty. This year's draft doesn't sound like it's very deep, so I would imagine Detroit--picking 27th--will go with the best available player no matter the position, even if it's a goalie. I agree with you that the free agency route will be better for filling a spot in Grand Rapids and whichever team replaces Toledo as the Wings' 2nd farm team. I also agree that Howard is not ready for NHL duty, and putting him in a backup role would be even worse than starting him regularly. He won't get any better on the bench, he needs to play full-time in the A.

Funny thing about Fedorov... I remember when Detroit first signed him, the only video clip shown onf him was from the Goodwill Games, and it was of him beating the s*** out of someone...

Well, in the late 80s, Bob Probert was the 2nd most-popular Red WIng... maybe even the MOST popular!

The league won't end up like it did before the lockout; the salary cap is a set percentage of league revenues. So if the league's financial intake begins to fall, so will the cap. The reason they're discussing raising the cap is because the league is bringing in more money. Either way, it's still a set percentage.

Uh, wrong. Right now, Jimmy Howard is the ONLY goalie in the Wings' system. Stefan Liv signed with a Swedish team and will most likely play over there next year; Logan Koopmans is contemplating retirement; and Daniel Larsson isn't signed yet. Drafting another goalie would be smart, as would signing a minor-league free agent goalie. Some people are forgetting, having more than one prospect goalie is a GOOD thing. You never know which guys are going to develop and which ones aren't. Look at the Tigers and their pitching... they've been able to stockpile young pitchers in their system, and it's working out great for them.

Wow, I can't believe I just read this whole thread. Some people live in a red dream world. Just because someone says "we didn't deserve to win" or "got beat by a better/tougher/whatever team" doesn't mean they are not a fan. It just means they understand reality.

I don't think an owner is allowed to be involved with more than one team, but I may be mistaken. I can't remember if that's an NHL rule or if it was from another sport... I would think Pittsburgh would move to the West if the Predators go to Hamilton. But the sale first has to be approved by the Board, then the move would have to be approved, and if Hamilton is in either Toronto's or Buffalo's territorial rights area, they would have to agree to a move and be compensated. There's a lot of things that would have to happen, and it might all take more than a year, so Nashville's around for now. Ideally, I'd like to see the league abandon the East/West format and mix up the divisions so all teams have pretty equal travel.

No, that wasn't 15 years ago... those girls would have been like 3 and 1. There were two sisters from Oregon or Washington, somewhere out west, that were flown in to sing the anthem for playoff games in the late 80s. They were the same age as my brother and I, so they'd be like 31 and 29 now. They were cute, too... can't remember their name...

I'm not all for Maltby's re-signing. At some point, Holland (and/or Ilitch) needs to start letting go of the glory days. At least they didn't overpay for him this time, but 3 years is at least 1, probably 2 too many. The younger players would benefit from a few extra minutes' icetime and they do have other guys who can kill penalties. I don't know, I guess I just don't see the point of keeping so many guys around year after year after year after year after year after year after year.

The sale has to be approved by the owners first.

Avery can play some and can fight some, yes, but he's a little guy. He won't be able to handle the bigger, tougher fighters in the league. But Avery's mouth and attitude are why he's been with 3 teams in 4 years... the players here couldn't handle him, he got himself kicked off LA's team (but they let him back on)... and he's always drawing fire from somewhere because of what he does and says. ZDH, I couldn't have said it better... and SWF, you make some valid points too. The guy would have to be able to play.

I'm in favor of having a deterrent on the team. It should be someone who can actually play and can handle the league's bigger fighters... we haven't had a heavyweight here since Probert... Kocur's second tenure here wasn't as a full-time fighter, his knuckles couldn't handle that. I've said it before, but look at the treatment Yzerman got in the 2002 playoffs, especially from Vancouver. They hammered him every chance they got, no matter how long it had been since he touched the puck. Then they'd stand over him and knock him down when he was trying to get back up. Why? Because nobody would stand up to them. It's a wonder Yzerman was able to even play in the playoffs, but how he got through that series is between him, the trainers, and God. We can talk about retaliating against cheap hits like Pronger on Holmstrom, but if you put a real ass-beater on the bench, most of those hits won't happen in the first place.

Always good to see a local boy do well!

Shanahan? No.

I didn't read the whole thread, so sorry if this is redundant... By pretty much all accounts, Howard isn't ready. Let him dominate the AHL first, like Buffalo did with Miller. They didn't rush him along, they let him basically overdevelop in the "A". Howard needs to either win the Calder Cup or at least make the final, lead or be close in major statistical categories, and be able to play well in the NHL if/when he's called up for short stints. There's no need to bring Howard up full-time next year. If he's not ready, you run the risk of ruining his confidence and never having him pan out. Better to sit on him for a while and make sure he's ready.

Lots of NHLers smoke. Why, I have no idea... but they do.

Me too, I'll be watching. Should be a great series!

I agree with Barrie's statement that the Wings are on the right road to becoming a "playoff team" again. They haven't been for a number of years now, but they're sporting a good mix of experience, youth, toughness and skill, and they're more able to change their style of play and find ways to win.

Yeah, Lidstrom should know how to block a shot. Never, never, NEVER with your stick. Always with the body. If you're not going to get your body in the way, get out of the way and let the goalie see the shot! He should have known better... Get 'em in games 6 and 7!

I'm with Legionnaire. Get rid of East and West. You could either make random conferences, or as a buddy of mine suggested, North and South conferences. Travel would be equalized for all teams. Problem solved.

Basically it's so the Junior teams don't lose too many players. There are always some NHL-drafted players who aren't truly ready for the NHL at 18 or even 19 and see fourth-line duty or press box time, but dominate their junior leagues when they are returned there. It might hurt those few guys a little bit, but the rule is for the greater good of the game.

Oh God, they'd be better off with Alan Eagleson!

******* OLYMPIA ROOM.

If "if" was a fifth, we'd be all f***ed up!!!

I partly agree, but Lewis was put in a bad position from Day 1. After Bowman retired, the Wings either should have hired someone from outside the organization or should have gutted the team and given Lewis a fresh start if he was going to be their man. Babcock has helped make this team tougher and more accountable. Lewis, on the other hand, is a very good "teaching" coach and would be best suited to a young roster, whether it's in the NHL, AHL, major junior or the NCAA. He would need a hard-ass for an assistant though.