Andy Pred 48

But the cap was put in place to stop this happening, so why have a 2 pronged attack on those teams who do the better housekeeping and produce a better on ice product with the same budget as all the other teams? No this wasn't to get Detroit top picks all the time, or are you saying that the Wings are going to be in the elite branch anyway with the cap as it is? I just think the cap needs to compensate the draft system some how. Maybe throw all the teams in a hat and pick them out one by one, thats a fairer way as any I guess.

PREDICTION: by the 2010-12 season Datsyuk will be getting point totally similar to Robert Lang. sweet. Why the knock on Lang? He's playing on the 2nd line and he gets 50+ points a year and is a + rating. Many teams would love to have a 2nd line C with those stats. Players come and go and in 5 years time our roster will have changed alot. The org see Dats Hank and Kronvall as the future to build round. If we are coughing at Dats contract why not question what Nic Jnr got, 5 years at 3m a year. The guy has still to prove himself, if he's seen as Lids long term replacement the 3 goal return from his 115 games so far dosen't warrant the contract he got. Lebda got a 4yr deal at 650k a year and he's the guy who's been more of an asset so far. Well I would hope by the year 2012, Dats won't be the #1line centre and we will have another top talent doing that for us, while he runs the show on the 2nd! Just think, who was Datsyuk 5 years ago, a rookie just finding his feet in the big league. There will be another player come along and be the go to guy he's probably playing in the minors right now! At the end of the day, we the fans don't agree the contract's the monies are mind blowing to the ordinary Joe but its the state of play and if we had let him walk and not found a replacement good enough would we be calling Kenny? You can't please everyone all the time and it's the time thing that is going to prove if this deal was good or bad. If we have another cup or 2 by the end of Dats contract then I will say it's worth it.

The Avs loss to the Oil is gunna cost them, Flames are 5-2 v the oil this year winning all 3 home ties so far. The Avs will be facing a Preds team on Sat who'll be out in injury control mode, so they will knock the Preds off but the Flames will have too much for the Oil the same night and waltz into the Pepsi Centre Sunday night knowing that they'll be getting at least another 4 games this year!!

laugh all they like, theres a few GM's having to look at other option's now Pav is off the UFA list. Most other teams would welcome him onto their roster for sure so its sour grapes mostly. I think that Dats is going to silence a few of his critics come this playoff

I take it #23 is playing as no one has been recalled from GR except Liv to back up Oz. Oh yeah, more Sammy on the PP

Its a pity he went, I really wanted him to hit the 500 goal mark in the Winged wheel. He would have been there if he had stayed, but finds he is still 39 short of that mark. Oh well I'm sure he has his reason's and he will probably deep down regret he ever left, thats life and we all move on, here's to the next one.

Das Bobby Lang, er eine faul arsch hockey spieler ! Deutsch

just one think that is disturbing me at present. Babs trades Willy the PP point specialist!!, and we now have his stand in Sammy the soft shot! I know due to injuries to our D corps that it is probably forced upon Babs but surely there is other guys who could play the point on our PP. This may be Sammy's saving grace from him sitting in the pressbox come the dance next week, although on present form it should be him. Lets just look at what he has done since his return; Didn't take long did it, well 13 games in and he has ammassed 37shots with the return of 1+4 and a -6 rating. He sure as hell didn't keep the singing. So during the same period, the kids have been steady with Flip having 14 shots for 2+3 and a +3 return whilst the most likely candidate for press box duties, Rex ,has 30 shots with a 5+4 and +7rating. Sometimes life ain't fair and i think, but hope i'm wrong, that young Huds is gunna be feeling that way come next week. With scoring chances being at a premium in the playoffs, I'd take the 1 in 6 guy over the 1 in 37 anytime. I wonder how Babs see's it.

If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order: 1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage). 2. The greater number of games won. 3. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs. If two clubs are tied, and have not played an equal number of home games against each other, points earned in the first game played in the city that had the extra game shall not be included. If more than two clubs are tied, the higher percentage of available points earned in games among those clubs, and not including any "odd" games, shall be used to determine the standing. 4. The greater differential between goals for and against for the entire regular season.

Quincey will be Kindl's side kick in what could be a great 2nd pairing for the Wings for many years.

I think you only have to look at Malts recent ice time to give you an idea of what might happen. He and Draps were th SH kings of the Wings but just lately its Flip out there with Draps on the PK. Cleary and Franzen are also overtaking him in that area and as his points aren't what they were the biggest factor these past 2 years has been his drop in the +- area. If you look at his last 2 years and compare them to the previous 2 its one hellova drop. 2005-07 PL 162 11G 10A 21PTS -19 130PMN 1SHG 2002-04 PL 161 28G 42A 70PTS +41 171PMN 8SHG His role on the team hasn't changed over that period and his partner neither, compare Draper over the same time 2005-07 PL 159 24G 37A 61PTS +9 112PMN 6SHG 2002-04 PL 149 38G 37A 75PTS +28 113PMN 6SHG Judge for yourselfs guys but I would be surprised if he got offered more than a year, enough time for his successor to be ready. The kid in Medicine Hat.

The whole size issue really annoys me, the kid has another 2 years to fill out anyway and plus he's bigger than 6 other players who are on the Wings roster already. He's slated at 6' 0" and 190lb and i suppose their looking at him to fill up to 205-210lb, yes he'll only be 19yr when the new season starts so its back to Kingston unless he has one hellova camp and cracks the roster. Of our other younger prospects only Kindl is going to be 20 at the start of next year and by all accounts he is either GR bound or makes the team. Still good to see us signing some young talent.

Its simple, we are the Senior side so we get Top spot on Grandad rites!

Boy do the boys owe Dom a big 3rd period here, this could easily be all over if not for Hasek, come on guys lets wake up

Don't want to tempt fete here but with 3 games left against the also rans of our division we should lock up the West conf title. With the Sabres having 3 of their remaining 4 games away starting tonight in Pittsburgh we just may get that 3rd straight pressy trophy too. Now that would really stick it up the so called jurno experts!!

Has anyone got a link for the listing of all UFA's players as of this season's end. Cheers.

Yes I would love to get Legwand here, I think he would be great for the Wings and a local boy too.

Many thanks, wanted to check out any native Michigan player's that may be available. Get some local blood on the roster next year, so to speak. Cheers

well we could have all the 8 teams in place by the end of play today. If the Wild can upset the inform Avs and the Flames can topple the surging Nucks we will know which 8 go into the dance. Its still all to do for Colorado thou as they really need to win their last 5 and hope Calgary get no more than 2 points from their last 5. Could be interesting if both of them win tonight as they still have to face each other twice in the regular season. The Avs have made the post season every year since their move down from Quebec, still there is a first time for everything

Todays the D day for the Avs, anything less than a win against the Flames and its the first post season they have missed in their short history down in Colorado. So who ya rooting for guys?

If Lang does go, Filppula gets more ice at centre we get Grigorenko signed up and try and get Morozov over here for more scoring threat on the second line. Just my 2p worth. Lang earns $3.8m and Flip is tied up for next year anyway. Not sure if Grigs will be tied to a rookies entry level contract, £1m say and we could get Morozov for $2.8m then we have 2 players in for the same cost as having Lang, but we just added more grit and scoring(hopefully) Next year we have 16 ufa's on the books, I'm sure we'll cut ties with at least 4 of those which should open up enough monies to give Dats a fair deal and one the Wings are happy with to.

Frolov and Afinogenov were both on that Dynamo team as well so I guess Pav could be off to LA or Buffalo next year too? Better still get them here on Dats line, Max is a RW and Alex is a LW, perfect fit all round with the potential of 100+ goals between them. If only, cap space needed anyone?

Lots of players hate their coaches, they aren't there to be liked but get a job done for the franchise. I remember Shanny once saying that the guys hated Scotty 364 days a year, but on the other day they picked up their rings! I'll settle for the same from Babs and I'm sure the players would to.

Sabres to win all remaining games as do the Wings. Buffs get Flames and we get the Wild in round 1. suits me anyway

Have we won a early start game yet this year?