stevie for president

It'll probably be something boring like Brunsy. But, if I had a vote, it'd be for Toblerone. And when he snipes one, Ken and Mick can say, "Toblerone's shot is as sweet as chocolate." I'll show myself out.

That reasoning makes a couple assumptions though. Would the same amount of players be getting these maxed out star contracts? I don't see Jordan Staal getting the money and term Carolina gave him under these proposed conditions. Also, this is assuming these star players stay star players and get more than one max contract. Gomez is taking $7.5mil out of Montreal's cap for 2 seasons when he's not worth it. Same goes for Dipietro, Brian Campbell, and a few other players. But, if the star players do get a disproportionate amount of cap space, I still don't see the issue. I understand how important role players are, and I know Detroit in particular loves guys like Helm, McCarty, and Maltby, but for the most part these types of players don't sell merchandise or tickets. I have no statistics to back this up, but I'd guess the Crosby's and Ovechkin's of the world bring in a large percent of the revenue and so they should make a large percent of the salary cap.

Also this... " The NHL is not asking for any rollback in current contracts, suggesting that the adjustment could be made through changes in contracting practices, increases in league-wide revenue and contributions to player escrow." Link: http://www.rgj.com/usatoday/article/57385074?odyssey=mod%7cnewswell%7cimg%7cSports%7cp So the Red Wings could potentially be in a great position to absorb some salary dumps, depending on what these adjustments are. As it stands now, they would be a little more than $800k under a $58mil cap.

Tootoo may be a ******, but now he's OUR ******! Tootoo-Abdelkader-Bertuzzi/Cleary sounds like a 4th line we can all enjoy. Energy line that checks and can pitch in a few goals.

I thought the NHL made lifelong, front-loaded contracts illegal after the Kovalchuk debacle?

I still can't believe we booed this guy when he played for Columbus and Anaheim. He might be the most talented Red Wing of all time.

I feel like this is a "The grass is always greener on the other side," type situation. In that time frame, the Wings were better than the Rangers in every season except this one. Datsyuk-Zetterberg were Red Wing draft picks, Richards-Gaborik were not NYR draft picks. Red Wings wait until their prospects are "over-ripe," Rangers don't. The Rangers draft picks were given the opportunity to make the big club with a big role, and they seized it and look to have panned out. The Red Wings prospects for the most part haven't been given that opportunity, so the jury's still out. Not trying to take away from the Rangers, but these aren't really 2 comparable situations. Also, some of these young guys need to keep improving. How many times have we seen players surprise everyone one year and disappear the next, or look like a top 6 forward in the playoffs and then go back to normal the following regular season?

I'd taker Suter+Semin over Parise, personally. Semin might be able to get signed for 3-4 mil if his agent is doesn't price him out of the NHL (which might be the case based on some articles I've read). Nyquist-Datsyuk-Franzen Filppula-Zetterberg-Semin If Franzen and Semin bring their A game, that is a very scary top 6. You also have the luxury of Cleary who hopefully will be better after his surgery and Bertuzzi in your 7-12 spots in case some of those guys feel like taking some night off or if Nyquist isn't NHL-ready. Then you could have: Lidstrom-Ericsson Kronwall-Suter White-Quincey That is one scary top 6 with Kindl and Smith ready to move in for guys who aren't producing or who need a rest. I made those pairs because I thought Lidstrom-Ericsson were very solid at the end of the season and Suter would fit nicely in Stuart's spot. I actually think the Wings in 2012-2013 would be better if they got Semin+Parise because you don't need Suter if Lidstrom doesn't retire, but you don't see guys like Suter become UFAs too often anymore so that signing is really more of a long term move that also makes your D amazing in the short-term. You're best off long-term with Suter+Semin this year, UFA forward next year.

Kenny's plans? Accumulate more cap space! precious precious cap space.

Is it just coincidental that the only game the wings won, and really the only game where they played like they wanted to win, was the game where Bertuzzi fought Weber? Or how about this, Since 2007, we lost to a bigger Ducks team, two bigger Sharks teams, and a bigger Predators team. In 2008 and 2009 we had grinders and hell raisers and those were the cup run years.

Last year, TB beat PIT after going down 3-1, Chicago won 3 straight after going down 3-0 to the Canucks, the Wings won 3 straight after going down 3-0 to the Sharks. In 2010 Montreal beat Washington after going down 3-1, and Philly beat Boston 4 straight after going down 3-0, In 2009, Washington beat the Rangers after falling 3-1 in the series. Bottom line, hockey is a funny sport and these things happen more and more each year. It's not over until one team wins 4 games.

We should've traded him to Anaheim at the beginning of the season when Bobby Ryan was on the block. There's no sense losing such a valuable player for nothing.

Trade, next season is his contract year. If I'm the pens, I'd listen to some trade offers since they can't afford to resign him in 2013, at least not in my mind.

What do you think the chances are of adding Jordan Staal? I could see him being traded, he's a 2nd line player playing on the 3rd line. His cap hit is 4 mil and with crosby and malkin getting raises in 1 and 2 years they likely won't have the cap space for a 4 mil/yr 3rd liner. especially when you consider the work that needs to be done to their defense so they don't allow 20 goals in 3 games again next season. Getting Staal allows you to play Z-D-Bert on the 1st line and Flip-Staal-Franzen on the 2nd line. Staal is a horse so Franzen can float around and do nothing still. Also, Staal instantly makes your PK better.

Hopefully finding a job.

1.) Make that late, huge, game changing save after your team has constant pressure. 2.) Franzen needs to play like the mule, IE hardest worked on the team. After all, thats why stevie gave him that nickname in the first place 3.) 2nd line needs to produce. You don't have a 3rd and 4th line worth a damn and Datsyuk can't do it by himself.

Not the coaches' fault, look what they have to work with. In all honesty our top line has an old, worn down Bertuzzi and a shell of what used to be Franzen. To make matters even worse, Zetterberg has to lift Hudler and Flip on his bad back. Our 3rd and 4th lines are HORRIBLE, some of that due to injuries but also some of that due to not making a trade at the deadline and not signing any free agents. Our defense is an old Lidstrom who isn't playing like Lidstrom (he looks VERY slow out there with his bad ankle and all) and a career journeyman Ian White. Kronwall and Stuart are playing good hockey but Stuart's foot is out the door, and Ericsson-Quincey I thought have been pretty good but I'm probably in the minority there. Our goalie has been below average since his finger injury and there's no backup to throw in to change things up. I hate to sound so pessimistic, but Holland needs to make some SERIOUS changes this off season. Sadly, his post-lockout track record doesn't make me feel like that will happen.

When the higher seed has a 3-1 series lead in the 1st round, they've won 44 and lost 9 for an 83% success rate. So theres a 17% of the wings coming back, based purely off that 1 statistic. Souce: http://www.whowins.com/tables/up31.html

I never thought I'd utter these words but... God, I wish Pronger wasn't injured! Also, I hate to wish injury on anyone, but Crosby is really asking for another concussion. This series really helped remind me why everyone who knows anything about hockey can't stomach the sound of his name or the sight of his face.

So I guess it's a non-issue because Stan Bowman already said they will be buyers, but does anyone else think they should be sellers? I think they are more than 1 or 2 bandaids away from being a cup favorite. If they ship Hossa and/or Sharp, they could get an amazing return of picks and high-end prospects. I feel like they are going down Washington's path.

Completely disagree. I know Kubina is nowhere near their level but trading for Murphy and Chelios seemed to work out. Sometimes a change of scenery is precisely what the doctor ordered. Getting depth is never a bad thing. Kindl could turn into a great defenseman, but the Babcock has said this team has 1, maybe 2 more years at the top and I doubt Kindl will reach his potential by then.

I hate that people try to discredit records because of rule changes. Previous home winning streak in shootout era was 14 I believe (albeit its only been a handful of seasons). We increased that number by 50% and still counting. And if shootouts give that much of an unfair advantage, why has no one else gotten close to the home winning streak record? why has no one been close to 62 wins? If people want to play that card, we should take away all the Habs and Leafs cups from back when they had a monopoly on canadian prospects, or when there were only 6 NHL teams, or when the Stanley Cup was a challenge cup. We should take away all of Gretzky's records because he used a curved stick. The only legit strike against this record is our away record, and if they can finish with 25-28 road wins on the season, which I believe they will, it becomes a non-issue.

This could also be a result of teams adjusting to the new rules. I wouldn't be opposed to clutch and grab coming back though. The concussion problem was a predicted consequence of tampering with the rules, just like lower body injuries will be the new pandemic in about 5 years once hits to the head are taken out of the game. Clutch and grab and the 2 line pass should be put back in the game. I'd rather have a slower game than one where super stars miss significant amounts of time thanks to otherwise avoidable injuries. Actually, I think not having a 2 line pass rule makes the game more boring because now teams ice the puck from their zone and a player on the other side of center tips it into the attacking zone and goes for a change. Put that rule back in, and you either ice it or try to gain the line. Fatigue=mistakes=scoring chances too. Oh, and slowing the game=goons can keep up=more fights=more exciting for fans. And get rid of the instigator rule=more respect=less cheap shots=less sean avery's=utopian NHL. Sorry if i derailed this thread. /rant.

Well you could argue Lidstrom, Yzerman, or Howe. I'm obviously biased in Yzerman's favor, but I would have to go with Gordie Howe on this one. I never got to see him play, but from what I've heard Howe dominated his era much more than Lidstrom or Yzerman dominated theirs. Actually, Yzerman never really truly "dominated," but he was no doubt the key piece in turning the Dead Wings into the force they have been for the past 2 decades. Also, Budd Lynch I believe is on record saying that Gordie Howe is the best hockey player he has ever seen, and the man has been in the business for like 70 years now. At the end of the day though, the order doesn't matter. The fact that we are lucky enough to even have this discussion speaks volumes about how great this team truly is. I mean when Lidstrom, Howe, Yzerman, Fedorov, Lindsay, Sawchuk, and Delvecchio are in the discussion as the best of all-time, you know your team is truly special.

Isn't hitting away a non-broken stick considered interference?