Andy Pred 48

Ok guys and gals, in response to all the half wits who couldn't see this post was a tongue in cheek essay, I'll clear a few things up of the sarcastic post. I thought you guys over the pond had a good sense of humour, I mean, you still got Bush as president right? Anyway, yes our current slump is down mainly to large amount of injuries. But it also shows up the lack of forward talent we have at our disposal. Prime example is Hartigan, gets the call up once Ellis is gone and then plays less time than Downey. quote from Babcock, "we like his skills he brings with him". Well giving him less than 3 mins isn't going to help his cause to show them is it Babs. There is a lack of faith on Babs part, he has seen all of his call up pool in pre- season games so he should know what they can do before they get the call up to Detroit. By flogging Pav and Z with extra mins isn't going to help in the long run, especially if we are looking at having a deep run this year. Ritola was last to get released from camp, and by all accounts leads the Griffs in +- this year, yet he never gets a mention. Not NHL ready is the reason from the front office usually, so we leave it at that. With the reference to draft picks, well as someone said in response to the orginal topic,' its a crap shoot'. So why does everyone go ape when we look to trade a player and possably give away a 1st round pick in the deal? Doesn't add up, as we get most of our better players lower down, why worry about our higher picks? You can't have it both ways guys, either they are important or not. So the idea of reversing the drafting system doesn't really matter does it? Either way it seems odd that the system is still in use in the cap era. The overiding fact that worries me and probably most Wings fans is this, one day Lids Cheli and Raffi will be gone and won't be coming back, and the thought of our Wings falling into mid table obscurity is a real possability. With the so called parity of the league becoming more eveident over the next few years our low round drafting success had better keep going, because we sure ain't going to have any asset's to trade for talent in the next few years or so. It's not a case of we won't have them, just we won't be able to lose them. So making our team better is going to become harder and harder each year. Lets hope we unearth another Dats or Z up front or another Vlad at the back as wer'e going to need to for the future. Not for the next couple of years but 5yrs down the line is when it will start to take hold.

Another late round steal anyone?

Could Mac have the same impact as Joey did back in 97? I think he will play some games before the playoffs so Babs can see where he is at. I'd have him and Downey on the roster, with Franzen as their C on the 4th line.

with Erie out of the playoffs, maybe the Griffs will give Zac a call in the next week or so?

Apart from the obivious bulge in the netting, surley the refs and linos heard the puck smash into the plexi before it came back into play??????? No! nor did I, bit of a fu##ing clue there I would have thought. Still hopefully all our bulls##t calls will be out of the way come playoff time.

got my NASN channel today, first live Wings game this season, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss!!! hope I'm a lucky omen for the boys, tight game but the Wings to win the odd goal. (hudler gwg)

Maybe when the Hawks are next in town Rex could goad Kane into a fight and we could watch midget championship title bout

just go out and offer the Slovak leagues top scorer a short contract for the playoffs. Zigmund Palffy is now the scoring leader of the Slovakian Extraligue with 65 points (27goals 38asists) in 43 games. Still only 35, maybe worth a risk if he wanted to come back. He never did play on a top side whilst over here.

lets get real here guys; lilja Meech Ericsson Lebda Quincey Stafford Not 1 of these guys is a top pairing, all are playing above themselves. This ice time there getting now will benefit the team in the long run.

looks like Jan is starting to pick it up with his new team. 5 helpers over the 2 weekend games.

Maybe the Wings can get him traded to a contender as I would love to see what this kid could do on a more talented team.

Well its chances like this that players like Stafford dream about, so I hope he grabs it with both hands and has a solid game. sidenote; Ericsson played over 22 mins last night, more than Quincey and Meech. Down mostly to Cheli leaving the game early, but it will be interesting to see who gets what ice time tonight. I think big #52 could be staying in the line up longer than we think. Think Babs really likes the look of him.

I think that Andrew McKim had it before Shanny.

I see neither iced against the Wolves, I heard there was a problem with Krys attitude but wasn't sure if Brad was suspended or not. Any one got any info on either of them?

Don't forget that this actually opens up a roster space for any incoming 'rental' player we may pick up before Tues. The front office have a plan in place, this will be a small piece of it, mark my words. If Ellis was asked about by any future trading partner then he wouldn't have been put on waivers. The Wings were hoping he would get picked up. Have faith guys, all will become clearer soon.

With all the speculation going on the Wings have been linked to most of the big guns out there, yet our front desk has stated that they won't give up the future in dealing for a rental. Sundin has supposedly said he would waive his ntc if the Wings came knocking, yet would he sign a long term contract with the Wings? He has just turned 37 and I would think that the Leafs would want at least Fil or Huds plus some to get him. Both of them are just 24 with a long NHL future ahead of them. Will we be willing to lose any of them to get him? Hossa is 29 and would be a better choice if signed to a 2-3 year deal. But his current $7m contract would mean us moving alot to get him, let alone the players and picks the Thrasher would want for him. Jokinen is in the same catergory as Hossa, 29 and carry a hefty contract with the Panthers. I just don't see the Wings even attempting to sign any of these guys in reality, we would be better to keep our roster guys and try and get in 2nd tier players. Satan could be had at a more affordable price, his current $4.5m contract is up at season end, so he could be had at a more reasonable price in future. Prospol is younger and comes cheaper than Satan. I guess the Wings maybe going after him and not giving up to much. The D is going to make for interesting viewing. Heaven forbid that Lids is out long term but maybe the Wings are hoping he will have a rest and re-coup for a little longer than 3 weeks, this'll give Babs a good look at Meech Quincey and Ericsson see where that at beforing making a pitch for someone before next tuesday. I believe if any one comes in on the D then someone off the current roster will have to make way. One of the 3 rookies being more than likely but I can't see it being Ericsson, too much going for him alround. So come next Weds I see us having 3 additions to the roster and 2 leaving. Prospal, Jackman and McCarty(2way) with Meech and Ellis going.

I must say that when Rafi went down I would have thought that either Ericsson or Kindl would have got the call over Quincey. After all Kyle is a stay at home guy, where as Rafi is our second offensive D man so I would have thought that the Griffs more offensive prospect's would have got the call. I know that Quincey did well at the end of last year and in all honesty I would have sooner had him here from the start than Meech, but in my view I can't wait to get Ericsson in a Wings jersey and thought that Babs would have asked for him as he seem's to be sweet on the big Swede. I still think it was a show of what the Wings will offer the Jax in a trade, either Meech or Quincey could be dealt in any poss deal with the Jax. Whereas both Kindl and Ericsson have been stated as off limits in trade talk.

This is just some showcasing stunt by the Wings. The Jax have some players that the Wings are interested in and there giving the Jax a look at who they are willing to offer in a trade. Makes sense all round really. Jan Hejda and Feds will cost us some prospects you know.

Not sure if it has been posted yet but another look at the NO Goal.

The Caps only really have AO as there get to guy, he plays all the PP mins and some. Unless he has a dramatic fall off or heaven forbid got injured I can't see any one catching him. I hope Z and Dats can get into the top 5 and one of them hit the 100 point mark but I think that is a tuff call for them. Still its good to see a pair of wings in the top 10 for scoring.

Because the ref called it strait away and made the call, in his mind there was no question there was interference on Giggy. Still thats life. Maybe next time we get the iffy calls go our way.

What's fu##ing annoying is the inconsistent calling. Other refs have let goals like that count, I can handle the loss but when the guys get ripped by the officals and not the opposing team it really sucks. Still, hopefully we get them in the 1st round and knock the lucky ba##ards out fair and square.

What a crock of s*** call, Giggy ran into Hommer

Some sources via TSN are stating that Jagr's time could be up in the Big Apple and that the likes of Detroit could be the change of scenery to re-ignite the 36 yr old superstar. Not sure we could afford him or for that matter whet he would cost us in a trade. Be worth watching if he does come up any more in other trade debates.

One player not on there as he isn't an offical prospect is the big Swede we had in camp. Patrik Magnusson has been steady on a poor team in the WHL and has now been made Captain of the Prince George Cougars. His size is what interested the Wings most at 6'8" and 250lb the 19 yr old is still filling out. Might be worth just keeping an eye on him and what the Wings will do. So far he has scored 7+7 in 53 games.