Earthhuman

From now on... everything should have to be justified financially. <-- Click the smiley. A guy that could score 20 goals in a full season on a team like Chicago is worth of a first rounder, considering that Detroit's #1 pick is in the late 20's.

Later in the draft, it's a crapshoot. You take the best player available and hope he fills out, or practices defense, or learns to shoot, or gets better hockey sense... if he makes it, great, you trade him for what you need or put him on the roster. So good choices throughout.

I wouldn't say that... I would guess that 4 million a year in Florida is equivalent to 2.5 million a year anywhere else. Or at least thats the hope. He may want to win one more before the end of his career. P.S.- Seems to me like Russians decline at age 35, or at least Russian forwards. An irrational fear, but still there for me.

The top 6 winger signing is essential. But then so is Hasek and so is the defenseman, although we may go cheap.

It matters more to some than others. For example you would expect someone to relinquish a #5 to Lidstrom, as he wears it out of respect for Potvin.

You will play on in my xbox franchise forever! 388 goals, 612 assists in 72 games this season, and no sign of slowing down. (ANd in my more realistic franchise, higher difficulty, 61 points in 63 games).

I had to let it go through twice cause it goes pretty fast. Just trying to soak it all in.

Currently experiencing Jimi Hendrix. Fire.

If anyone on this site would have fun in a pool of foam, I suppose it would be you. ; )

Good point. Good point.

It seems to me like everybody is surprised that L.A. didn't make a splash in free agency yet. Yes they missed out on the big stars, but Lombardi has promised a good team and when the market is a C+ at best, they would have ended up overpaying hugely (happened with Briere, Drury, Gomez, Rafalski, Smyth). They have a good future ahead of them if they sign smart. We should be applauding their good sense. I'm sure they will sign the cornerstone piece when the time is right, and the time is definitely NOT. NOTE: I think signing Rafalski was the right move given the situation.

If Kronvall is a top 4 defenseman then so is Lebda. I would prefer Zubrus over options like Sutton. Also: I believe Sydor and Kozlov are picked up at this point. But he was paired with Chelios, and also did not join the rush or move in past the blueline, for the most part. You don't expect guys that were just called up to take any risks.

I agree that keeping hudler is a good move- he can fill in on any line, he can only improve, and we will see if he is good enough for a spot come training camp. If he doesn't want to stay, so be it, it will be better for him if he can find a better roster spot. Isn't Grigorenko signed? I thought he had a two-way contract.

$4 million? I guess that's a good deal as far as this offseason goes.

Can we pick up Hasek AND Bertuzzi do you think? There just isn't enough room IMO.

They still have a pretty good shot at it. Whatever happened to Gomez to NYR?

Yup, 21 primary assists out of 40-something. I can't believe I just counted those up...

I'm predicting 60+ points for Rafalski, I think that's a realistic goal. How is he on defense? I know he PKs (because he has a SHG). And you will be happy to hear that he is a playoff performer- 8 points in 11 games last year.

Not young, no, but subject to the slow, lumbersome NJ development program... which usually turns out great players.

We have about 7 million left, right? And we want a 1 million dollar cushion, so we can still sign Hasek, a forward, and call up a defenseman. Not to mention, Detroits financial future for the next 10 years is probably mapped out.

I'm stunned. I think Rafalski's numbers will naturally inflate when he moves to a team capable of offense... 6 million seems like quite a bit for a #2 defenseman, but then he will be our #1 guy in the next couple of years (or few). This is better than re-signing Schneider, though, and I think it was a good move. If Briere is worth 10 million then Rafalski is worth 8 million, so I'm happy with this.

Was that copied and pasted, too?

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?page=PlayerDeta...mp;service=page He's a kid.

Oh nevermind the lowering the price tag statement... Drury will want something pretty close, but not in the double digits.

Yup, 20% of the salary cap, and it will probably continue to rise. However, there is a limit, I think when the salary cap hits 57% of revenue. So 20% of 57% of revenue will be the ceiling.