russianswede919293

Keep in mind the difference in the league maximum between Nick's last contract and whatever this contract is as well. He is much further under the league max than he had been with the last contract. Thus comparatively it is more of a pay cut to what he could make on the open market that the last one was as well...

Rafalski...that is the costly contract... Lidstrom is the best defenseman on the team...the best player on the team...and one of the best defenseman in the NHL...If its slightly under 6 million than he isnt een the highest paid defenseman on the team... Lidstrom could h ave gotten MORE money than last year if he went UFA. Coming back at 6 million is still a pay cut.

Agreed with the difference. Yzerman was not a top player on the team anymore in his last season. Lidstrom is still the best on the team and one of the best in the league. 5 was the lowest I thought possible. I was expecting around 6

Why are people disappointed at 6 million...that is 1.5 million dollar pay cut for a guy that is still one of the best defenseman in the NHL... I said people putting him at 5 mill were going too low all season in the "Projected Cap Hits" Happy to have him back.

What a terrible SCF that teaches you defense doesn't mean s***...there will be over 8 goals scored in every game...

Best of luck Stevie. Knew it was coming. I need to get a Lightning Jersey Now.

I don't know if I dislike Patrick Kane or Chris Pronger more. Both are D-Bags off the ice...but at least Kane isn't one on the ice. Don't really care for either team. Just hope it is entertaining.

Dan Larsson had only played 2 seasons in Grand Rapids. http://theahl.com/stats/player.php?id=2479 2 years without playing an NHL game is not a big thing. He would have been 1st in line with injuries next year, but wouldn't have been up full time untile he was 26...sound familiar to another Red Wings goalie (Howard) No big thing. Can't blame him for leaving, but wish he had stayed.

SJS/CHI: 4-2 PHI/MTL: 3-4

I cheer for the Montreal Canadiens (since my whole family is Habs fans) and the San Jose Sharks (since I have nothing but respect for Todd McLellan)

It was a good season with many positives to take out of a year that had a lot of rebuilding and a lot of injuries. Happy Hudler coming back will help. Congrats to the Sharks - hope they win the cup now. If this is it Nick Lidstrom I thank you for one hell of a ride.

Don't underestimate the power of Hall Gill - The shots on Halak are not from good shooting angles... That said Luongo is no elite goaltender in my book.

Franzen is going to win it tonight again!!! Then we will win at the Joe and come back for Game 7 to make history.

I Believe Johan Franzen will score enough goals in the next 4 games for us to win!!!

Mule is kicking it hard tonight!!!

Get Well Soon Matt!

I have had a feeling this would be his last season since training camp. I hope I'm wrong...

I will continue to watch the playoffs. Just not as religiously. I will become more okay with missing games.

Howie was stupendous yesterday...why would Babs pull him out???

I think you have a very valid point. The Phoenix series was so physical and the Refs IMO mostly did let them play. Guys were running people hard into the boards. That is not the way this one is being called. The slightest hint of infraction is going to the box. Detroit still thinks they are playing Phoenix...Match their muscle hit them hard, our talent wins out because they don't have any The Sharks have a lot of talent, and Detroit is playing like they still think its the Phoenix series. That being said. Nabokov and Setogucci both put on a clinic at the diving pool. Early on the Sharks seem to have realized it was a whistle fest and IMO have been essentially baiting the refs into making calls by a few guys over-embelishing the results of hits. Detroit however needs to realize that this is how the series is being called and adjust accordingly. They need to get more back to a game of talent and less to a game of grinding...The Sharks are not the Coyotes.

I agree that McLellan doesn't seem the type. Just pissed that the Sharks are diving all over the ice. However Howie also flopped over dramatically to get the call on thornton. The refs need to put the whistles away. Everyone is embelishing everything to get the PP.

This is getting ridiculous. The sharks need a new skating coach if these guys are legitimately falling over on these. Call a damn dive already. They are folding their legs up. McLellan is now known as Coach Bombay: "Take the fall...Act hurt.."

It was a dive by Howard...But Nabokov dove on Abdelkader too so you still have a valid point.

Manny Legace is that you???

Lids really knows how to crank it up come playoff time... Nabokov dives...San Jose PP... Howard dives...Detroit gets jack s***.