Learn2LuvIt

Was Stevie sent down to GR at this point?

And my son who is currently 5...but showing tons of promise

Umm...this Wings team right now, I don't think there is any case to be made that Vanek was a forward we didn't need. This team needs upgrades up-and-down the roster if we plan on competing at the highest level. I'm liking where the direction of the roster is headed (especially in the past month), but we still have a long way to go.

I don't care...these are not shots at me...I'm not saying these things.

A few on some other non-LGW forums, and I heard a local sports radio guy comment that the money was "a little rich" considering some of his struggles last year. I love the deal from a team perspective though. We got a great deal on him. Let's keep him happy, give him a little rope, let him play, and let him go full on BEAST mode. If he does have a few bumps in the road this year, and I hear any chatter about him going down to GR for any reason, I'm sending that person a box of bee's.

I have the opinion that the short term deal was more a move by he and his agent to ultimately hit the free agent market quicker (2 years), with a much higher payout. IMO-Mantha and his internal team know/believe how much of a stud he is, and his potential for the next 7-12 years. They realize how young he still is, and that he still has some growing pains and development to fully adjust to the NHL game. Hence the slump he fell into last year. This slump I believe also pulled the offer $$ down on this current contract signing. But again, they fully believe he'll be an offensive FORCE and highly coveted in the league very soon (especially considering his size). This was a smart move by he and his agent. Get great money (some believe he got too much $ on this deal) for a short term deal, and hit the market in two years where his value, by their hopes and speculation, will have skyrocketed. Smart. I'm not a big believer in pro athletes with very shrewd agents, doing things for good will and kudos. Everything has dollar signs $$ behind it.

Are you Samuelsson's mom?? (kidding). Easy.... not making fun with spite, just a comment in which i was drawing a comparison. Hard shot and overrated/overpaid. And...It wasn't cliche, it was pretty true based on what most in the media around here were talking about at the time. BTW...when reflecting on your own team's past successes....aren't all goals in the playoffs pretty big?? I thought you might insert a video of Boyd Devereaux and his important goals from the 2002 playoffs as a justification. Those bring back fond memories as well.

Yes, I remember. But looking at his entire body of work and compensation...way overrated. I remember (but don't have on hand so I can't provide the proof) his shoot vs. goal ratio was horrendous. I even remember Ken Kal talking about it on numerous occasions. He'd consistently, night-ater-night take these 30 foot wrist shots from the side boards that most goalies swallowed up. Great shooter, that's why we kept him on the team (and then went and reacquired him)...way overrated.

Mikael Samuelsson 2.0

Whatever . You all are missing out. I just met a guy through the "spam" who, for certain political reasons, needs someone in the United States to help him stash his wealth of over 5 $billion dollars. He's giving me half of his fortune as soon as he verifies my Social Security# and bank account info which I just emailed him. You guys are a bunch of suckers. Now I'm a billionaire. I win. You lose. Can't decide on a mega yacht or a private island as my first expenditure. Maybe both.

Stats tell the only story that matters

But doesn't the fact that he plays for Michigan automatically make him eligible for the Red Wings "Hometown Hero", over-hype player package and supreme loyalty for the next seven years??

In Vegas they're (specifically Ken Boehlke) calling Tatar the 13th best forward on the team at this point in time.

"But it's turquoise""

There is a 36 year old Accountant/Goalie in Chicago with current NHL experience and a winning record that will play for the league minimum.