Learn2LuvIt

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

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.

I'd love to see Vegas win the cup and put Canada in total TILT.

That's a nice luxury to have since they are owned by primarily by R&B Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. Most private owners or ownership groups might beg to differ on the amount of $$ being paid for an over abundance of front office staff.

You can't really prepare for this unless you take the approach that you're willing to always pay more and always willing to match promotions with the team attempting to poaching your talent. It's common in most every business and a side effect of success.

What??!!! Ahhhh come on!!!! I was waiting on the Kronwall 2 year contract extension next year!!! Where is your freakin loyalty Wings????

I never stated he should go up in the rafters. My initial point was that IF you don't believe he should go up in the rafters due to him leaving a year early to go be back to his home country to be with his family after he'd given 14 years of his life to this organization and fans, I just think that's weak reasoning. Life happens, he gave you 14 years of his life living in a strange place 5,200 miles away from his true home. I look more arguments and reasoning based on stats and/or contribution. BTW...there technically was no breach of contract on his behalf. Every player has a right within their agreement to walk away with or without penalty (depending on the agreement). I've seen a current day NHL contract. If there wasn't these provisions, Dats could be sued with the demand that he pay back every dollar that was paid to him over the entire agreement.

Fair point. I just don't see this as a total D#ck move as he wanted to return to his home country for family reasons, and he never tried to hide that fact as a secret. I guess I have some compassion for a guy that gave 14 years of his life to the Wings, to leave and return home to his native country to be with his children. As a parent, I can totally relate. Yes, he broke his contract with one year left to go, I get it. It's not like he was breaking the contract to play more golf in Palm Springs. I won't hate on him for this. He gave us too many great years of his life and played a SIGNIFICANT role in us winning two Stanley Cups. When it comes to Wings player resentment, there is a lot more low hanging fruit than Pav.

IMO- I didn't really view Dats departure as being on negative terms. He said for years he wanted to return home to Russia to raise his kids and live out the rest of his life. In my book, that's fair of him to do. Does it tarnish is legacy within the Wings organization and fan base, highly likely. However, I think what he did was on the up-and-up and transparent.

Wings are horrible! How could they go and win this game?? I mean taking shots on the actual net from less than 40 feet? Scoring goals? Good defense? Are you kidding me?? This team needs to get their act together. Very disappointing.

There's a difference between being a bad hockey team and downright embarrassing. With our current D corps, if we don't resign him next year, the Wings could be flat out embarrassing. Like dumpster fire bad.

Glad to hear you're feeling better. I can make your re-acclimation back to the Wings much easier with a two word summary: Piss Poor

You may be right. But, our ownership has had a lot of bad signings, and non role models, just as the Cavs. BTW...Role models you say?? Riley Sheahan had a DUI (dressed in a Barney outfit to boot), Tootoo had severe alcohol problems. Todd Bertuzzi was an NHL outcast for ending another players career with a total bush league sucker punch and we signed him (people even in Detroit initially protested the signing), Probert and Darren McCarty with highly publicized Drug and Alcohol problems (I love these guys but it's the truth)?? I don't think the Wings are in business to produce/staff their roster with role models and nor do I expect them to be, but we've had our fair share of players with questions around their character that ownership willingly signed to play for us. You allude to us not having any sort of problem that the Cavs had with bad signings. "Don't make dumb decisions to start with". We've totally made some just flat out bad signings...exhibit A is Stephen Weiss. Brad Richards? Mike Commodore? Darien Hatcher? Cujo? Ray Whitney? Uwe Krupp? Our ownership and management has had their share of horrible signings and dumb decisions from the start.. My point was/is, would different ownership be more shrewd than Chris Illitch and therefore have a more success product year-in and year-out. Would we be in a better position if we would have committed to a rebuild years ago, rather than trying to piece together teams that were built to keep a historic playoff streak alive? We point a lot to our GM, and our coach, and after seeing what the Cavs did yesterday, just throwing out the question of our ownership being a part of our problem.

The Cleveland Cavaliers just did yesterday what the Wings should have done 5 years ago. Traded six players (and in the process free'd up a lot of money, got rid of player's who were good but not going to win them a Championship, got rid of locker room distractions/drama, created roster space, got draft picks, at the very least they cleared room to add a big time superstar, etc.). What happened yesterday with the Cavs clearly had to come from, or at least be approved by Dan Gilbert. Maybe we should be wanting different ownership that is less loyal, and knows when to throw in the towel and prepare for the future? Ownership that understands the concept that all professional teams(minus the Patriots) need rebuild periods and that putting together teams that have what it takes to win Championships is often cyclical.

IMO - Marchand falls in the the same type of player that was Kirk Maltby. Malts would have been suspended a lot more if he played in today's NHL. And gosh, I loved me some Malts. He was such an understated, valuable piece, to our run of Cups.

Do you think we could make a case to Bettman that with the new arena, we are really an expansion team in a new market, and therefore the Wings want to have an expansion draft to replace our entire team (coaches and management included)?? Just thinking of how to extinguish this dumpster fire.

Last nights game: Wow, that escalated quickly I don't even know where to start. Game was over half way through the 1st. Bad, ugly, bad, horrible.

I kinda liked what he brought to the game last night. Don't know about his long-term upside though. Seems like not very much. However though, I kept thinking last night....Is this kid Brett Lebda in disguise? Basically the same player from a position and size perspective.

Totally agree. Previously I watched him play, and thought that he was another Griff here for the short term...looked like he was playing over his head. Lately, he looks like a confident NHL player who is making great plays, making the players around him better, seeing the ice nicely, calm and collected/no panic, etc. Helm and some of our other players who are a bit older/more experience had better get their act together. Some of our young guys are playing like they are here to stay and possibly taking jobs away from others. Love it.

Last night for the Wings was a cluster F of bad passing, bad spacing, and good goal tending. In all reality, we should have lost by 7 goals. I love this teams engine/speed, but the cute no-look drop passes, the rink wide passes, the passing attempts to gain zone entry, etc... are garbage!! This team is showing so much potential which gets me super pumped. However, their offensive deficiencies at this point seem to be self-inflicted. Gaining the offensive zone in the 3rd last night seemed impossible as the Stars were lining up a the blue line and intercepting pass after pass. When we finally "caught on" to what they were doing, we'd have someone carry the puck into the zone there was little if no puck support and resulted in a weak/easily stopped wrist shot. Very frustrating to watch.