StevieY9802

Yeah everyone keeps comparing it to last year. This team was STACKED last year, well above what most teams are. They still have very good top 2 lines and now will actually have to deal with a 3rd line that isn't Filppula, Hudler and Samuelson. Thats a 2nd line on most teams. They gave up 61 more goals last year than 08 so if they can get fix the goals against the lost on offense won't sting as much. I also expect cleary to have a better regular season. He only scored 14 goals last year. He scored 9 in the playoffs alone. People need to relax. These are probably the same people who 4 years ago were in here saying the Blue Jackets and Blues were gonna be better than the Wings the first year out of the lockout. I wish I could find who those people were so I could mock them.

Yeah and I posted that at 8:50 am before it was 100% official.

THANK YOU! They are NOT in any kind of crisis mode. Everyone is acting like the season starts tomorrow and they can't sign anyone else. We've got 2 months till camp starts thats a long time to find some help. Holland will take his time and find what fits. People here keep blaming Holland like he should have magically known Hudler was gonna sign with the KHL and all of that. People here would go and sign 3 guys right now because of emotion. Holland wont. Sorry to people who think they know more and would be better than Ken Holland. If thats true why are you, and I, sitting in front of our computers while he has 4 Cups and the last 4 years when he's gotten the most crap from fans in here, the Wings have finished 1st, 2nd, 1st and 3rd respectively. I think he knows what he's doing.

What was Hudler's money this year? I haven't read anything that said for sure what the Wings were offering they were all guesses so how do you know Sammy would have taken whatever that was. I don't think Sammy is worth what he got from the Canucks and I am sure the Wings wouldn't have given him that so why would he stay? And why would Holland have traded Hudler rights? Now you are just getting crazy. This guy is leaving the NHL. And don't say Holland shouldn't have assumed he was gonna be able to sign him. A RFA who you had been talking to and filed for arbitration. That sounds like a guy who you have a good shot at keeping around. If Holland shouldn't have thought he was sticking around and should have traded his rights then every GM should trae their RFA's. I think this came up real quick. Where would have been the clue to trade him?

The not getting comensation for Hossa rights I give you. But what was he supossed to do about Sammy and Hudler. Sammy got 2.5mil X three years, Wings weren't gonna do that. And Hudler jumped ship to play overseas tax free how do you stop him and get anything in return?

Wings also won a cup with better team D. Regular season 08: 179 GA. Regular season 09: 240 GA. Even if Samuelson and Hudler stayed they couldn't make it through another year of that kind of D. It's not just on D, or not just in goal. It's the entire team defensively needs to be better. I'm not jumping ship yet thinking they are done.

I sure hope they are tougher to play against. I HATED last regular season. how many times did they blow leads whether to win or lose. The Pitt game in November and the Calgary game, I think it was in March, were the two best examples. They had those games won in the 3rd and blew big leads. I hope losing all these guys, and how they played last year, toughens this team up. They need it.

He's right on with the Sammy deal, Wings couldn't give him that. And thats an interesting insight into Hudler not being happy. I could see all of that for sure.

yeah I think this is more about Hudler wanting more money and getting a heck of a deal. I don't fault him for taking it and I don't fault Holland, yet, for not getting him signed.

They wouldnt' have been able to keep Hossa. Hudler wasn't in the plans if Hossa stayed so him leaving now wouldn't have effected that. I think it's premature. We don't know what exactly the deal is yet from the Russian league or what the Wings offer was.

Yeah I don't understand all the panic. Yeah it sucks these guys have left but this team is still very good. Zetterberg(selke finalist in 08 plus the conn smyth), Datsyuk(last 2 selkes and a hart nominee), Franzen, Cleary and Filppula along with Helm, Leino and Draper. Not a bad team. If you can find a couple cheap free agents or you bring up a young guy you are a very good team. yeah they lose offense for sure but there is still plenty there. And the people throwing Holland under the bus christ chill out. Every year I hear the same things about him and yet the 4 years after the lockout the worst they finished in the whole league was 3rd and the worst playoff was in 06, since then they have gotten to at least the 3rd round and yet people think he's doing nothing because these guys have left. I would love to hear how he stops any of them from leaving. This isn't NHL 09 here. Holland will the fill the holes in the roster somehow and will take his time and see what fits and at what price. It's not as easy as some people in here think.

Do you hang out with Ken Holland every day and check who he's talked to and what was said? Guys are leaving for more money than the Wings could afford or were willing to pay, and Hudler's tax free, and all of a sudden he's off doing nothing. Give me a break. Damn people are spoiled.

I agree with you for the most part but I still think they put Abby in GR still. Wings have 5 centers already and they will want him getting more playing time in GR. I think they sign a couple low end free agents and save the rest of the deadline. That's still IF Hudler takes the deal. I thought Dats was gone and he came back. I'll wait till Hudler or Kenny say he WILL NOT be back.

They do but I still go back to my point, the Wings have a long term offer on the table, so I look at that as 3-5 years probably, so thats probably at a number they can live with NOW and a few years down the line. Will him being gone a year make them give him more money? I don't think so.

yeah I didn't think about that, you are right. But I still don't think that's what he's doing, staying there until money frees up next year. I think it's just about money. Wings have a long term offer on the table and I don't think one year in Russia is gonna make them give Jiri more money.

But if its a 2 year deal, like mlive is saying, and not one year, like tsn is saying, your theory doesn't work. Would be no reason to wait 2 years.

I think you mean Mike Brown. Something tells me Dougie isn't playing anymore. I agree with what you are saying though.

the mlive article was just posted above so that makes more sense. Khan saying it's worth more than what TSN is reporting.

What kind of shakeup? They have a good core group with Hank, Pavel, Fil, Cleary and Franzen up front with Helm and Leino coming up and Abby soon to be. That's a good group to build around.

Why is everyone acting like he's gone? He's not gone yet! He is still talking to the Wings. This is a backup plan. Doesn't seem like a good one but that's another argument.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=284076

I "hated" Sakic when he scored on us, which was quite a bit. But always thought this guy was a total class act. He was to the Avs/Nordiques what Stevie was to the Wings. I had total respect for him and it went to a new level in 01 when he didn't even lift the Cup over his head just took it and handed it right to Ray Bourque. I got chills watching that. Have a great retirement Joe, you've earned it.

That's what I was gonna say. Juicy? Far from it.

The plus side if he leaves now, you an start looking at whats available and not wait until the arbitration hearing to start making decisions. I hope he doesn't leave but I trust Holland to still put a good team on the ice. I mean they have enough talent to just plug in players. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Cleary, Franzen, Filppula and then have Leino, Helm, Draper, Holmstrom playing their roles.

If it's a safely contract that makes me feel a little better.