StevieY9802

This is wear I agree with you. Think about 2002 when tickets were still high but people were going. Why? Where else were you going to go? Pistons were down in the second round, which was the farthest they had been since 1991, the Lions don't play in the spring and the Tigers were already out of it. This year the Pistons went to round 3 for the 5th straight year and the Tigers were coming off a trip to the WS and the Wings over the previous few years hadn't done much in terms of playoff success. You're sports fans, not just hockey fans, will look at prices and say I would rather pay to see the Tigers than the Wings. For the price of one ticket to the WCF you could take 9 people to a Tigers game. If the prices were less people it might be different. And like it was mentioned, regular season tix aren't too bad it's the price much later in the playoffs that get crazy. I understand the ticket prices will go up because the demand goes up, but the demand with 2 other good teams playing at the same time, just isn't what it used to be. I don't understand how people afford cheaper Tigers tickets, let alone other sports. I mean $15-20 are your ok seats upstairs at Copa and if you got all 81 home games? 2 tickets for half the home games at $15 is $1230.

I was talking about moving to Detroit. You can't be serious about that. Getting center ice.. I was just making a point that it is expensive which it is. Some people don't want to spend it. Thats all. I wasn't saying anything switching off NBC would hurt them. I was saying that it wouldn't hurt to go over to ESPN. I was making the point that you were. Switching off NBC wouldn't hurt because it would only hurt the people who didn't have cable, which is a small amount of people so it wouldn't matter.

Center Ice isn't cheap and move to Detroit? Come on be serious. But the NHL wouldn't be going from Vs. to ESPN its more like NBC to ESPN. The Vs. games wouldn't be going anywhere. So from that article not much would be changing. Just going from broadcast tv to ESPN2. So the only people losing out on a deal like this, if the article has it right, would be people without cable tv at all because they would be losing the NBC games.

They did interupt game 5 of the Sens/Sabres series for the pre-race. I don't know if they did it around here the only reason I know is because they talked about it on PTI and other places. And when did ESPN 2 interupt a playoff game for horse walking out of their stalls onto a track? or for anything at all? I am honestly asking that question because I don't remember that happening. Since I have watched, or when I did watch, espn for hockey from the 01-02 season through the 03-04 season I don't remember them interupting a playoff game for something like that. And I know for a fact they never have for a conference final game. I agree with the people who said part of the problem was the teams in it. Thats just the truth.(sorry Ducks and Sens fans) Same reason for the NBA. Everyone thought LeBron would be a better draw then the Pistons/Spurs but I guess it wasnt. Average sports fans are fickle. They want the big market teams in it every year but if the same team wins it 2 years or more in a row then all of a sudden its boring. The NHL will never be what the NBA, NFL or MLB in tv ratings. You can't compare them. But the ratings can for sure be better.

So if NBC dropped it there would be no network games at all? It would just be ESPN2 and VS? That kinda sucks but at the same time it can't get much worse. But Vs. needs to be getting on more tv's before ESPN would be pushing them the way they do TNT for basketball. As apposed to nbc who cut off game 5 of the ECF to show the pre-race for the Kentucky Derby? Thats what they would be losing by going to ESPN2.

Thats how I feel. I think he will still end up being a good player and he could have been here. Anything near his season back in 03? no not at all. And as for Bert not getting involved much in some of the physical stuff I want to see him after a summer of healing and a full season. then I can judge him on that. And di they over pay? Totaly. You have Penner to sign and you go sign Bert to 4mil? Did they need him? no. I think Schneider was a good move because of Scott Neidermeyer(sp?) possibly retiring, even though they over paid for him too. But Burke who used to be so much about careful planning and not overspending on guys did it twice with Penner up this year and Getlaf and Perry next year? They could lose one or both of those guys if they match Penner. I think Bert played ok here considering he barely played in the regular season. And the Wings did the right thing by not giving him 2 years at 4mil with the guys coming up next year.

Exactly. With all the guys coming up for free agency you have to look to the futue. The cap makes you plan ahead more than you had to in the past.

The deal is 4.3mil per is the cap number. The Oilers will have to give up a first, second and third rounder to get him.

Ouch Too late on talking him out of it. He's signed sealed and just not shipped. Its all up to Burkie now. I still don't know if 4.3 mil is too much for a 45 point scorer.

I'm sure its what his asking price is. He thinks hes worth more than what some teams are offering. It'll change thet later into August we get. His price will come down.

I like that except would like to see the Wings in the east instead of CBJ but what ya gonna do?

Thats my case all the time. And it's nice that people have turned out to try and keep them in Nashville but how come they didn't show up the last 2 years when this team has been fighting the Wings for the central and lead the central for quite a while during this past season? It just seems that they are showing up with the threat of losing their team. What happens after this next season if the team ends up staying? Will their passion to attend remain or go back to what it was the last two years?

Yeah I agree. Columbus was worth a shot. and I don't think you can pass judgement on them yet since they haven't been good, and thats not the citys fault. Theres college hockey in Ohio with Miami, BG and OSU. So I still want to see the team get better to see how the market is. Nashville and Atlanta I questioned when they did it. Just cause the areas are growing doesn't mean hockey will survive there. Hockey is a tough sports to sell in this country lets face it. People look at it in the same light as soccer because of the low scoring. I don't think they are even close in excitment level but thats me. I guess I'm not the average american.

People wouldn't be complaining as much but they still would. They would be complaining about how the team has lost the size but couldn't be using the lack of an enforcer as the wings reason for losing. Exactly. The Wings would love to have someone like I have said a few times already, like back in the first cup years of the 90's, a Shanny or more so a McCarty, Lapoitne or Kocur. Those guys could drop their gloves when needed and stick up for their teammated but would play within the system and not be liability on the ice during the playoffs. A figher does nothing. Moen and May weren't out getting in fights during the playoffs. It's a lot easier said then done to find those types of players. We can say whatever we want in here but you want to go tell Holland where to look for these guys? No one knows what teams hes talked to or what players. Him and Babcock know a lot more about what they need and how to get it then anyone in here.

I agree about the Lions. If all 4 teams were equally good the Lion would be #1. They sell out games now and they haven't had an above .500 season since 2000-01. And last year was amazing with the Tigers. I went to Chicago to watch them play the Cubs in mid-June and the Tigers crowd was louder than the Cubs crowd. And then watching the playoffs was amazing. If I had to rank them if they were all equal I would says Lions Tigers Wings Pistons And Wings and Pistons are probably even at that point in popularity, imo.

Thats what I was trying to say before. Neil is a good example of the type of player that would be nice to have but they are hard to find. They can be physical, fight if needed and can still play in the system. Like Mac and Marty 10 years ago. Brad Norton is the type of player the wings didn't need. People who want someone who fights thinks hes good because thats all he does. Just because he can fight the wings should sign him up? Something tells me that Babcock and Holland know more than any of us in here about what the teams needs. and since Norton never played and Langfeld got more time that could show you something. A guy like Norton won't play come playoff time. Fighting doesn't happen in the playoffs so how would he help then? Nice to have those guys during the season but they have a nice job, if they are dressed, in the playoffs of holding the bench door during line changes. Like Yzerfan1999 said someone who can still play in the system and do the physical stuff is what would be great but you can't just find these guys.

Thats just it. If its on their network they will show more highlights of games. Will they show as much of the nhl as they do the other sports even if it were to get back on espn? no. and thats expected. the nba, nfl and mlb are more popular in the US so I understand taht but they would still have it on more than they do now. The NHL will never be more popular than the other 3 major sports but I would like it to grow more in the states than it is right now.

I think Gary Thorne and Steve Levy are better than the guy who does a lot of the games. The guy who did most of the Sharks series for them and is the Caps play by play guy. hes awful. he trys to sound so dramatic when a team scores and his voice just isn't good for that. I bet they have him cause the Caps are on comcast in DC. As for them being on ESPN I would love it I just don't know if it will happen. Bettman is pretty dumb and hard headed.

I thought I was right and that I thought Holland said it in an interview on WDFN. But you had me wondering who, of the two sources we posted, were wrong. I think it would be better for him to be playing down there as well and the same with Quincey, who obviously can. Better to have them playing and developing then just sitting and watching most of the time until someone gets hurt.

From Mlive.com "The Wings have six D under contract in the NHL (Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Chelios, Lilja and Lebda) and will sign restricted free agent Derek Meech, who can't be sent to Grand Rapids without waivers. They also have Kyle Quincey, who can go to GR without waivers." http://blog.mlive.com/redwingsinsider/2007...sek_bertuz.html Fair enough. But the nonresistant thing worked against the Flames for the most part. They took stupid penalty after stupid penalty. Bert stood up and got in a fight in game 5. I would have liked to see a little more but it was probably better to stay away from it since the Flames seemed to go crazy. As for Pronger I don't know if anything will stop him from doing that. He tends to be stupid at the wrong times, for his team. Like I said keeping Bert would have been great because he can be physical and tough and give you offense, but that didn't happen.

Well lets go with last years playoff lines since this years roster isn't set yet. Now these are the lines that were played in the games in Anaheim after Dats and Zetterberg were broken up. Flip - Datyuk - Homer Franzen - Zetterberg - Sammy Cleary - Lang - Bert Calder/Kopecky - Draper - Maltby You probably put them on the Draper - Maltby line but who? No one has given me a name yet. The so called enforcer just doesn't work these days. They play 4 minutes a game when the games count from April-June because you want someone tough but you want someone who can skate. A guy in the mold of Lapointe or McCarty would be great. Someone who can play regular minutes and play physical but isn't a risk out there defensively and can chip in on offense when needed. But it's hard to find those guys. I would love to get Mike Grier like I said. He looked good against the Wings. He was probably the Sharks best player. I don't think an enforcer puts the Wings in the cup finals last season. I think health does. Bert at 100% and a healthy Schneider make a world of difference imo, and Kronner too. And I think the 4th line when Bert was in, and before those 2 were broken up was something like Flip, Franzen and Calder. So take out Calder and put in "enforcer." I just don't know if that puts them over the top. Actually Meech does need to clear waivers.

I never said anything about Kopecky and May had a whole 1 assist in 18 playoff games. Even though I am sure his physical play helped the Ducks but was he really all that intimidating or enforcing in the playoffs? Thats what people in here seem to be looking for. I barely remember him playing.

Thats what a lot of people think around here. Or just Wings fans in general. I had someone say to me that with the talent the wings have they should win the cup every year. Thought that was an ignorant comment. Because thats like saying the rest of the league has no talent. There are 16 other teams who would have loved to been where the Wings, Ducks, Sens and Sabres were. It was a good run and could have been better but I am happy with what they did. They showed me a lot. And I would love to hear some "enforcers" out there that will make a difference. Enforcers don't make a difference come playoff time. Joey Kocur didn't "enforce" anything in 97 and 98 playoff runs. He was a physical aspect but he wasn't out there getting in fights and neither were McCarty or Lapointe. They played physical but would chip in offensively. Mike Grier I think showed me a lot in the series against the wings. Thats the type of player that would be helpful. But these so called enforcers don't play a role.

No it wasn't. It was a few bounces that didn't go there way. And no there is no need for an enforcer. Would Stu Grimson or a player like him done anything? He would have been sitting on the bench come playoff time. Was Brad May, all though he brings slightly more than what a Grimson would, the reason the Ducks won? No. I thought Bert was the type of player the Wings were looking for, someone who could score but could handle his own physically, and I can't blame them for not giving him a longer deal than one year with all the FA's coming up next year. But an enforcer doesn't do much in today's nhl.

I think he'll help them a little bit, because compared to what they had he is. Handzus was good but they didn't have much after that. That being said I agree about the salary. 4mil over 2 years maybe. Not 4mil a year.