StevieY9802

But like me and others have said if he didn't go and give $4mil to Bert he could have matched. And again you have to overpay for RFA's. If you were a GM out there and wanted to sign Filppula would you sign him to an offer sheet for 2-2.5 because thats what "he's worth" or would you overpay to get him now thinking he would be worth it down the road. The Wings would match it in a second if someone signed him for 2.5mil and scratch their heads at why they would do that. I'm not saying I like it but RFA's are in play and to get them you have to overpay.

He may like him but it will be hard to keep him up here and not lose some of the other young guys. Holland said they will carry 8 D and 13 forwards so Lids, Rafalski, Kronner, Stuart, Lilja and Chelios, he's not retiring, are sure things so that leaves 2 spots for Meech, Lebda, Quincey and Ericsson. You would have to trade or waive 2 of those 4 which I don't think they want to do. And Ericsson wouldn't play much being anywhere from #6-8, I would rather him be in GR and play good minutes and trade, or waive if you have to, Meech or Lebda. Even though I think Quincey might be out for some reason.

Why would Ericsson be gone? They can send him to the minors without putting him on waivers. Meech could become a forward but I don't know if they will wait around and have him be the 13th forward this year and thats the only way you keep Quincey and him, unless Lebda gets traded.

If Lowe didn't do it someone else would have eventually. And only an idiot would pay that much for Penner? Penner got pretty much the same per year as Burke gave Bertuzzi so Burke was the idiot first going and bringing in his boy Bert. And Penner had a slightly better year and has more upside than Bert does right now. If Penner wasn't worth 4.3mil to score 47 points Bert wasn't worth 4mil to score 40pts. If Burke doesn't sign Bert he has the money to match if he felt the need and if he didn't match it he would have the money to keep McDonald when Neidermeyer came back. And I remember Burke saying something like I don't mind the offer sheet but it's the salary. Well if it was what Penner was "worth" Penner probably doesn't sign it and if he does Burker can match it so when you go after RFA's you have to overspend. While I don't really like what Lowe did it was all within his rights to do so and all Burke does is look like a cry baby right now.

I knew they would probably wait until camp. It just makes sense. My guess is it will be between Meech and Quincey and maybe Lebda but I doubt it. But let them compete for it. I think Quincey has more upside than Meech but it's hard to really tell when they barely play. It's a nice problem to have.

Yeah I think they'll be a lot better this year. They do need a center and have to find a way to get one. Nash has no good setup man. Will they make the playoffs? I dunno. The Coyotes are improved and so are the Oilers and Hawks so getting into the playoffs will be tough.

You go out there like 4 times a year maybe a little more depending on how the Minny and Avs trips work. 2 West Coast trips and two Western Canada trips. Thats a lot of travel compared to the East. Ozzie has even said so. He's like you fly home that night and are in your own bed by not long after midnight on some trips. Thats why I wish the Wings were in the East. Look at the travel the Wings went through in the playoffs in 07 compared to the other conference final loser the Sabres. The Sabres went to the Island then the Rangers and then just up to the Sens.

I'm sure he meant long term, which they don't and thats why he signed only a one year deal. No one thought Hossa would take a one year deal when he's getting offered 6-8 years elsewhere for the same if not more money. As for the comment about Hossa not showing up in the playoffs, he showed up this past year as a rental for another team. I'm not worried about it. Why would the guys question his committment? He could have got more money in Edmonton but wanted a Cup. His committment will be strong since he wants to win now.

Filppula is expendable this year? Maybe but Hossa isn't there past this year. Thats why I want him signed is for the future. They will keep him unless he signs an offer sheet with someone else.

From TSN's site: "BIG ATTITUDE IN BIG D" That is so true. Sucks we have to see his dumb butt 4 times now. I really can't stand how cocky that loser is. And $4mil? Gimme a break.

They have 4mil to sign him and one more forward maybe. Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Franzen-Filppula-Hossa Cleary-Draper-Samuleson Hudler-Kopecky-Maltby Lidstrom - Rafalski Kronwall - Stuart Lebda - Lilja Meech - Chelios Ozzie Conklin That leaves 1 spot left for either Helm, Mac or Downey. And Helms already signed so they are in a good position I think.

Why? none of them make over 1mil and Kyle is a RFA. One of them will be gone either way but probably not until the opener. Let Meech and Quincey fight for it and see who should stay and who should go.

Yeah if it happens it sucks but I'll take draft picks. They are very helpful in the post-lockout world. And he would need to get 3.5+ I would think for the Wings not be able to match it so they would get a decent amount of picks. Anyone have the breakdown for what salaries get how many picks?

Wings have $4mil in cap space now.

Filppula is really the only guy that it could hurt if he signs an offer sheet or thinks he's worth more. Ericsson and Howard still need to be signed but will be cheap and will probably be in the minors so it won't hurt them. Why would he want to leave other than big money. Val would be centering two of the hottest players in the playoffs last year.

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Franzen-Filppula-Hossa Cleary-Draper-Samuleson Hudler-Kopecky/Helm-Maltby Not too bad. Awesome day! I'm not gonna sit here and say repeat, I mean look at the Wings teams in 03 and 04 they were stacked. But I am psyched!

no they could sign him today if they wanted. The contract wouldn't kick in until the 09-10 season.

no need to talk any more. hossa for one year!

Its true TSN HAS IT!!! holy crap!!! Hell yeah Kenny Holland!!

I hope he doesn't do the Forsberg thing. Peter at least had the injury as an excuse to sit out a while, Mats doesnt. I would look at it as Mats waiting to see who was doing well and then go to the best team. I don't like that at all. And "I don't want to be a rental" sure wouldn't be true then because that would be exactly what he would be.

This has been a boring day so far hasn't it? Give me something. Hossa, Sundin anyone. Not really to the Wings, just want some action.

This is his best chance to win the Cup out of the teams being rumored. The Habs might be up there too but was last year a flash in the pan for them? cause they weren't supposed to be #1 in the East. And I question the goaltending because Price is so young. The Canucks will they really be contending? The Wings, Ducks, Sharks and Stars will still be great teams. The Coyotes are improved as are the Oilers, Flames and Hawks. I would love to get him but I'm thinking it's Bert or maybe Shanny.

I didn't say that he would sign Z or Mule OR Filppula. I just said that it would be hard to sign all of them if they signed Hossa since they don't have many expiring contracts between now and next summer. Signing those 3, plus Hudler and Kopecky and Ericsson and Howard I guess too even though the last 3 won't take up much cap space, puts them around 52-55mil for 09-10. Signing Hossa puts them near 60mil. Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall and Stuart won't get touched to make cap room for Hossa, Lebda and Lilja wouldn't free up much space so getting rid of them by next year wouldn't really help. And you say bring in cheaper guys than Draper, Holmstrom, Maltby and Sammy but Sammy's contract is up next summer anyways. Without him they are still at 38mil. Maltby makes under a million so not much cheaper than that around anymore and are you really gonna trade or cut Draper or Holmstrom just to help make a little room for Hossa? That is my point and that's why I don't think Hossa will be here. And yes Holland does have a plan laid out looking ahead. "I'm interested in a player on a one-year deal, or a soft (low salary) two- or three-year deal,'' Holland said. "We can't be paying in the (four- or five-million-range) for a long-term deal because we'd be in trouble in '09.'' And that is why he is the best GM in the league and not like some of the idiots out there we saw yesterday. Maguire and Pang saying Finger is making more money than Nik Kronwall. Wow.

Then where do they find the room? Tell me I would love to hear it. And you're right there are no decisions laid out by Ken Holland for the future. I have never heard him say "We've got a good cap situation this year but it's 09-10 where it's a little tighter because Zetterberg and Franzen will have new contracts." Thats not a direct quote but pretty close. How do the Wings pull it off? How do they not plan ahead with stuff like this? Lets say they sign Hossa for 6.5mil, just making up a number. Tell me how they get Filppula, Hank and Franzen signed and under the cap for 09-10? And don't give me the crap that the cap could go up because right now you don't know what it would even if it did go up.

I wasn't saying let Hank walk I was just saying Hank because the guy I was replying too said they wouldn't let Hank walk so I wasn't even conisdering him was my point.