StevieY9802

Me too. Even though I put Eaves on the right but that doesn't matter. And since holland said there might still be one more person added depending on a number of different situations they could rotate in for Malts. It's very possible Eaves moves up too depending on how he does and how Williams does. While I would have liked someone else I'm really gonna be routing for Williams to have the year he had in 06 or really even last years numbers in Atl./CBJ will be ok. I've said it 100 times now this team just needs to be better defensively and with the goaltending. That will help so much. You can't give up 240 goals again. I can't imagine what this team could have done last season if they gave up less goals. Then just some guys having better years and the addition of some of these guys should replace enough offense.

Lidstrom no way he's already said he wants to keep playing. As someone else said unless he a serious injury he'll be back. Holmstrom? Maybe. The way he plays the game I just don't think he can go much further at his age. So again I think it's very possible. Maltby? Yes, or if he plays it won't be here. I mean he already makes only like $850k so is he gonna take the league minimum to stay? In that case the Wings can get one of the kids up here. So he's gone one way or another I think. Draper? No I don't think so. Might as well play out one more year unless he just feels he can't do it. He's not the speedster he was but he's still a good skater and a great faceoff guy and leader. Someone said a mentor for Helm and they are right on. He's got one more year on his contract so I think after 10-11 he'll be gone. He won' be bought out. The savings would be so little and the slightly lowered cap hit would be over 2 years instead of one which wouldn't be worth it.

I agree but keeping the team in Phoenix is beating the Coyotes in the wallet. $200mil in losses since 01 I think is what I read? Not saying they should go to Hamilton but I don't think this team should stay in Phoenix. They need to go somewhere else.

He got 2/3 of whatever was remaining on his contract. And you are right on with the rest. Since he's getting millions from TB I would hope he would sign for cheap on a one year deal.

If they signed Prospal this would be my guess on lines. Hank - Pavel - Homer or Cleary, probably Homer. Franzen - Fil - Prospal Leino - Helm - Cleary or Homer Maltby - Draper - Eaves I know a lot of people are down on Homer here now but he will produce on the top line. I don't see him producing much on the 3rd.

That's kinda lke the logo they had before the 95-96 season. One logo on either side of the red line. Here's a video from 95 finals. look at about 2:51.

He's probably the best player still available who the Wings MIGHT be able to afford. So if it's for a good price I'll take him. Definately over Williams.

Forsberg hasn't played more than 60 games since 02-03. I understand your point but it's a little different.

Now I'm not defending Williams here or saying they should sign him but when has he really had a chance to prove what he can do in the playoffs? He played in 02 but not like he was getting regular minutes and only played like 9 games And in 06 they were out pretty quick and outside of Hank no one showed up. I don't see him as being a good playoff performer but just saying he hasn't gotten too much of a chance to prove himself. But he is still one of my last options. you are right on Comrie, Zherdev and Tanguay. But I don't get the hate on Sykora. Yeah he got benched but I've read him and Bylsma didn't get along. Outside of that he's never scored less than 20 goals in any of his full seasons in the NHL. IF he were to take less to come here for one year I would take a chance on him. Prospal is still my #1 choice out of everyone who is left though probably based purely on offensive talent.

You think Forsberg would be healthy for 82 games? HA

I thought the Wings were tied with the Leafs. The Leafs have 11, while the city of TO has 13, and the Wings have 11 now. As for the Habs I don't think anyone will ever catch them. With 30 teams and the closest two teams are 13 behind I just don't see it. I would think Montreal would win one before Det or TO won 13 more.

yes BUT I think they set it up this way so that if they buy them out the cap hit is so small it wouldn't matter even though you have to spread it out over twice the length of the remaining years.

It said he had not been offered a contract which is different. I would think teams would have at least called to check in on what he wants.

To your first paragraph my understanding is Bettman wanted it that way so that teams couldn't look ahead an say we will more cap room in two years probably so lets make this players new contract worth less that year so we have more room. He wanted a flat number across the board and the average is the way to do that. To your second part about why would teams do this? They figure it's worth it because of how much less he's counting against the cap early for one. Almost 3mil less. And second they can buy him out for only what is owed to him not what he's counting against the cap. If Hossa doesn't retire he will be bought out imo. He could be bought out at age 38 with only 3.5mil left on his contract. So he gets 2.3mil and the Hawks take a cap hit of under 300k for the 8 years following it. I don't think he will play past 39 whether he retires or the Hawks buy him out. That's what the league as a problem with. But I've said it a lot now it's their fault. There is nothing you can do about it now. You just have to wait until the next CBA.

you might be waiting depending on what you think is big. There will be one more signing I'm sure but I'm not sure who or what type of player. I do think it'll be sooner rather than later. Would love Prospal but I doubt it. Sykora might be 2nd on my list if they are looking offensive side. It's getting to have that summer 05 feel whent he Wings were picking up the cast aways. Worked that year and if that's what they are going to have to do this summer I'll hope it works out as well as that season did. No one here thought #1 overall was happening. A lot of people here were saying no playoffs.

The Sabres are the reason I don't see a team going to Hamilton. Hamilton could support it, Toronto would be ok and so would Detroit. And if it would force a team to leave Buffalo I don't think that's fair. The team draws well there even if people are coming over from Canada.

While I don't want NYI moving to the KS, they had their NHL team and it failed so why should we move back? I'm sure someone wil chime in and say a team went back to Denver. Yeah but there is still hockey in CO. I still want the Wings in the East. Not for the team but for myself. It's tough for me to stay up for the late games and those games would be cut in half at least. Most road games done by 9:30 or so? While I would miss playing the Ducks, Avs and Hawks this team, and the Blue Jackets, belong in the East.

Meech (or Lebda) won't get traded until Lilja is back and playing. I think Holland has all but said this and that's why he hasn't traded a defenseman yet. If Lilja is put on LTIR Meech will be the #7 dman. And I would think Lebda would get traded because I think he has more value since he actually plays.

If the price is right, which it could be with him getting bought out, it's a good deal.

People on this site would have spent money on July 9th after Hudler was leaving for guys that are still available as well. Sorry this guy is all kinds of talent but he has gotten slammed for his work ethic. I forget if it was CBC or VS that was kicking him around for how much he didn't work during the Caps series for his whopping 0 pts in 7 games.

But they still need at least one forward, if they want Abdelkader in GR, then they need 2. They only have 10 right now not including Abby. Plus they still need to replace some of the offense they lost. I'm not one that says they need to repalce 82 goals, cause I think their D and goaltending will be and has to be better but they need to get some offense still. I understand where you are coming from but it's not spending money just to spend it. It's to finish out their roster and let the other young kids develope in GR.

Why would Boston do this? They have like $1mil in cap space so how does taking on $3mil in Fil for an unsigned restricted free agent help them?

Hope for real this time. Too bad he could never win a Cup.

No one will be left though. If somehow that did happen, a young kid had a great camp, then the Wings could waive signed players if needed. But my guess is they would just let the kids play down in GR to get more playing time. The kids would probably be 3rd or 4th line players here.

If he could stay healthy, and not take dumb penalties or at least not a lot of them, he would be great on a 1 year deal. But my hopes are that they stay away from him. It doesn't sound like he would come here anyways. Sounds like he wants to stay east for the travel.