Andy Pred 48

Sergei Samsonov, LW (MTL) Samsonov's salary (and horrible season) could prevent a deal from happening, however the Habs are trying to package him for a top-level player. Salary: $3,525,000 | Age: 28

I think that eva unit zero is trying to make the point about Jiri's scoring ratio compared to other guys. Probably the per second method is a bit too much with a fine comb. Maybe if you used his scoring ratio/shoots compared to other guys on the roster it'll put the point across better. ie Draper has 9 goals from 106 shots. Lang has 13 from 104. Samuelsson has 11 from 144. Williams 9 from 97 Zetterberg 22 from his 185 attempt's. With Hudler's strike rate of 16.7% his return from the same shot's; Draps. 18 goals. Lang. 17 goals. Sammy. 24 goals. Willy. 16 goals. Hank. 31 goals. maybe we do have the sniper we all want in our midst, I just hope he's in a Wing's uniform when he get's decent TOI and puts the numbers up. Huds,Flip and Grigs is a line I really would like to see on next years roster.

Well we did have McGrattan at the 2001 prospect camp and let him go so we can't say we didn't have a chance !!

Panthers winger Nathan Horton is apparently unhappy with the team and wants out of Florida, according to the Palm Beach Post. Horton, 21, is set to become a restricted free agent this summer and the Post claims the Panthers could face problems re-signing him. Kenny follow this one up mate...............

Think they'll keep him in Toledo for a while to get his game going. Looks like he has responded well to being sent down and this will be a big plus for the Storm as well as himself. He's putting a few points up and has multi point games too. Hopefully this will be just what he needed not sure if GR will call him back or let his confidence grow and keep him in Toledo. So far he has 6+9 from 9 games and is a +4. 5 of his goals have come on the pp thou.

Quick early comparison's Lebda 2000-01 Notre Dame NCAA 39 7 19 26 109 2001-02 Notre Dame NCAA 34 6 8 14 54 2002-03 Notre Dame NCAA 40 7 14 21 48 2003-04 Notre Dame NCAA 39 6 18 24 42 Pyett 2003-04 Regina Pats WHL 2 0 1 1 0 2004-05 Regina Pats WHL 67 5 19 24 67 2005-06 Regina Pats WHL 71 10 35 45 89 2006-07 Regina Pats WHL 50 10 35 45 60 This kid could be a real bonus.

Currently sits 3rd overall for Defencemen in the WHL. Has 7 points in his last 3 games and has 45 points in 50 games which was his total tally for last season. Looks like he still needs to improve in his own end as he is a -5 overall but he's still only 18 so plenty of time yet.

Yeah it sure is a pity, at least some of the fans know the are watching a future star playing for them. He had the last laugh thou by assisting on the game tying goal and the OT winner. I bet they all jeered then?

I hope its not Hudler we offer up with a !st RP for him. Can't see Flopper staying more than the rest of the season or a year at most and if we gave up Jiri for the sake of just 4 months from Forsberg then that would be a major error on Hollands part. I think that move would come back to haunt us, because Philly would give Hudler the mins and his output will make the Wings cry in their beers. But who else would/could we give up?

rumours abound that the Flyers are looking to off load the young D Pitkanen for some veteran leadership on their blueline. If this is the case I think we should make a play for him, this may take us offering Schneider but in the long term I feel that the Wings would benefit by it. We have some good blueliners coming thru the minors but Pitkanen is a first line D and I'm not sure if any of our guys are ready for this role next year, as he would be. I know he is having a bad year, but so are all Flyers!! Also we could test the water and see if they are willing to offload Fedoruk/Eager as part of the deal. Not sure what it would cost us but if you don't ask........ Schneider Lilja/ Norton Meech...........Pitkanen Eager/Fedoruk .......?

just adding to the story, both Hussey and Ellis returned to GR but the Griffs sent Mcgrath back to the Storm and kept Tardif up where he had a 1+1 game with the gwg and a star rating. Mcgrath had 2+1 back in Toledo so looks like he is getting some scoring back as well. Maybe we made the right call with this Coyote0106 eh?

I see he got called back as both Ellis and Hussey joined Langfeld on the Wings roster. Was interesting that camp invite Tardif got the call from GR's as well not sure he was signed by Wings but think they are keeping a eye on him.

Jan got back into his grove last night with a 4 point haul and a 1st star rating as the Spirit came away from Sudbury with a 6-5 win. 55 points from 38 games and a +22 rating.

Well it looks like the ball is in his court; 3. Igor Grigorenko, RW, 5-10, 209, Togliatti (RUS). Grigorenko has tremendous hands and is producing in Russia. His foot-speed is a concern, but the Red Wings plan to sign him this summer. "We've talked to him and his agent," said Nill. "He knows it's time for him to get over." Would he be the perfect foil for Flip and Huds?

Maybe a stint in Toledo would help him.

I suppose it's how long we are going to rely on our senior vets then. I'm not saying get rid for rid sake just that if a talent like Pitkanen is available we should seriously see what it takes to get him. The guy is only 23 and he is a very real number 1 pairing guy with the output to back it up. So far his 101 points in 191 games incl post season isn't too shabby and many a forward would like them. Our 2 guys that are the future of our blueline in those states are yet to really convince the majority that they will be Nic's successor. Kronner has 24 in 88 and Lebda who by all accounts is a second pairing at best has 23 in 92 games. My own view is that Kronner is getting 5+ mins more than Lebs but not using it any better than Lebda would. Our successor to Lids is currently playing in Kitchener and he will be a very good player for us I have no doubt. But he will need a year to bed in, more than likely next year, and by the end of that I think Nic will be calling it a day. Getting in someone like Pitkanen will give us the scoring we need on the blueline whilst the likes of Kronner and Lebda continue to grow. After all our D is okay, but we can't afford to stand still and watch other teams catch us in that department. We need to keep it strong and stay ahead. Afterall Cheli is 45 this month, Schneider is 38 this year and Nic hits 37 in April. Add to that the fact that Lilja and Markov are both over 30 as well, and we ain't as young on the blueline as we want to be. Just my views on the matter and I know the old saying if it ain't broke don't fix it come's to mind but having a good service now and then also helps alot too.

Yeah hopefully it will be for Alexeev and Artyukhin instead. Now that would address the size up front issue.

I have been keeping tabs on the twins we had at camp pre-season. Both are having good season's in the stats department with a somewhat role reversal as Tyler is leading the OHL in points this year and outscoring his bro Justin. Tyler is now at Bellville with one of the Wings prospect, Matthias who is also having a good in year in the goalscoring dept. I seem to recall somewhere that the Wings org were going to invite the brothers back next camp, I hope this is the case as I can see them doing well if given the chance, possably with the Griffs next year. They may be a little lightweight at the moment, Tyler has bulked up to 190lb and he has managed to get his rating up to a +8 this year too, whereas Justin has gone from being a + to a -4 so far this year. Any one know if they are getting asked back next year ?

Has Cory broke his leg? He hasn't appeared for Kingston for awhile and one of my mates told me he has broke a bone in his leg. hope he makes a speedy recovery if so, was putting up some good numbers this year.

He also is still leading the Griffs with a +10 rating.

Has just been called up to the AHL by Iowa Stars. Leads the Storm with 25 points in 25 games. Will keep a close watch on his progress.

I thought it was a Smith and Weston, Winchester's a rifle isn't it?

If Mursak puts on a few lb he'll skip GR straight to the Wings anyway in my view. Still I wouldn't want him to put the weight on if it slowed him down thou.

This guy has made huge strides this year and I can see him challenging for a spot in a couple of years, if not next season. He would be the perfect foil for another prospect Kindl who I have no doubt will be in Detroit next season. The future looks bright on the Wings blueline and having guys like Ericsson coming from nowhere makes it even better.

Just a point on Hudler, for a small guy, all his goals so far have come from him driving to the net and picking up the lose puck, not the usual type he was scoring in GR last year. Seem's the coaching staff have got him to do what they require from him and he is reading the script. I do feel that once he starts to see more ice time, his undoubted puck skills will come to the fold. He has shown us a few move's but he has plenty in his locker yet. The line of Huds Flip and Kop's could be very productive down the line as it has all the component's, the playmaking of Flip checking of Kop and sniping from Huds. Jiri will score goals given the ammo as his scoring % show's this year so far. Only Cleary has a better scoring ratio on the team. If Jiri had taken the same amount of shots as Sammy, then he would have 21 goals so far, just a hypothetical idea I know but an interesting one nevertheless.