Andy Pred 48

The Wings future 2nd D pairing are Qunicey & Kindl.

Since Brett has gone back to GR he has played 4 p/o games and is a -3 rating with just 1 helper. I hope he can up his production and get the points he has in him, the Griffs need his offensive output. On the other hand Jiri and Don have been on fire so I hope this continues, will also give the Wings management something to think about, if they keep it up.

I hear that Logan Pyett has had a good camp so far. He's been paired with Qunicey on the top D line, maybe we have a low pick diamond in our midst.

Don't worry mate I'm with you on this one, I pointed it out earlier about Dats better defensive play but hey what do I know, i'm just a limey right. The big question is we seem to be looking for this 40+ goalscorer and some of us are willing to give up one of the elite playmakers to get him. Doesn't add up to me, say the deal goes thru as a straight swap, Marleau gets us 30 goals, yippee.. oh wait a minute, we haven't got a player who was setting up 60 goals. Seems a fair deal, except we could be 20-30 goals down on last season anyway which is where we were at before we traded for him. End deal is, more ice time for Marleau = better personal stats but a - team stat. Answer; we keep Datsyuk and bring up one of our youngsters to chip in. We keep cap space salary for the trade at the deadline before the p/o start. This way 1 or maybe 2 of our younger guys have got 30-40 odd games behind them with hopefully a few points in the bag and a taste of what its all about. And if at the end of next year Dats is playing hardball with his contract, let him go and my boy Filppulla will be ready to take over.

That kinda throws your choice of Flash Hollett out the window then? So what is the qualifacation to this poll? Played for The Wings over 10 years, made over 500 apps? Won more than 2 rings?

You have to go a long way to argue it not being Nik, but I also believe we have had one of the greatest D men the world has ever seen, we didn't have him in his prime but Viacheslav Fetisov has to go down as one of the all time greats. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned him before.

Your all right on the draft issue's, we drafted Dan McGillis and gave up on him!. Looks like people and coaches opinion's don't always agree. Ever heard of a late bloomer, not saying that Tardiff will make it but maybe the Wings coaching staff may have some headache's with the prospect's camp. Pyett and Qunicey are doing well and Pyett was our last pick in the draft this year, so you never know I mean Lebda wasn't even a draft pick and people are saying he should be on the Wing roster at start of the season. Lets hope we unearth a gem and also save some kitty for the playoff push.

Dats NHL Totals 284 81 160 241 77 +48 play offs 42 3 12 15 4 -1 Pats NHL Totals 640 187 226 413 219 -5 play offs 62 28 17 45 30 +1. Pavel over Pat during regular season and playoffs?? The stats don't really prove that Marleau is a better playoff performer than Datsyuk. Sure he has higher numbers than Pavel but he is only a +1 rating over the 62 games, so while he's helped out on 45 goals, the opposition has scored 44 while he's on the ice, thats a 0.71% per game. But Dats is a -1 I hear you say, yes he is but over the 42 games he has been on the ice when we have let in 16 its only a 0.38% per game. So while Dats offensive output seems to drop in the p/o's he's still pretty solid in his own end. So like i have said don't pay to much attention to some of the stats out there, while I don't disagree with having Marleau on our roster, I wouldn't at the expense of Pavel. At the end of the day you can make figure's do what you want them to do, it can prove for or against whichever way you use them. One thing that does seperate the 2 at the moment is that Dats has a ring, lets hope he can add to it whilst wearing the Winged wheel.

So we think Hudler isn't big enough but Perezhogin at 5'9" 168lb is ok? I'm lost with the logic on this one, are we saying that he'll be going to GR's or he'd be ok for the big team. Only a rumour I know but come on guys this ain't gunna happen. Hang on a minute, on the NHL.com he's listed as 6' 205lb but 5'9" 168lb on international database? can someone clarify this for me please as it is a big difference. Another interesting point is that Perezhogin was a linemate of Grigorenko at a international competition in Sweden back in 2003. Maybe this is forward planning by the coaching staff

Filppula will be the next Zetts!

Could get some talent from the prospects camp, a few guys there could be a good addition to the Griffs this year.

Murray would be another C for the Griffs anyway I suppose. His stats for the AHL; Played 212 G 26 A 31 Pts 57 PIM's 508.

I think Lebda is going to be on the Wings roster. Also I feel that with another strong camp as he had last season, Filppula will be wearing the Wingedwheel too.

I wouldn't be surprised if Filppula goes to the Wings either. He was the guy they called back to have another look at last year, so if he has a strong camp I think he'll be off to.

THN outlook on Markov; Danny Markov: Still feisty after all these years. Remember Vladimir ‘The Impaler’ Konstantinov? Markov is the poor man’s version. Yes, we do still remember Vlady and miss him too.

Anyone else think that trying to get Legwand in the Winged Wheel would be a good move and a possable franchise player as well. I think he would be a great fit and him being a Wing at heart would add that bit extra to his game. Not sure if he is a RFA or not and what it would cost us to get him, but a new guy in the locker room with fresh outlook maybe a good thing for the organization.

I'm still convienced that any trading will be done with the Ducks. I feel Salei will end up in Motorcity via UFA, but I also see a deal being made for a nm and fwd with them. Giguere and hopefully Fedoruk will be exchanged for Schneider, Liv, and an Fwd that they want. This would be good for both,the Ducks would get a point scoring D to complement SCOTT NIEDERMAYER. They will have a potential backup nm for BRYZGALOV, ILJA (G), who will be there #1 next year. And also a 3rd line depth forward at the least. The Wings then give Kronwall the 2nd line scoring D spot. Pair him with Salei, leaving Lids with Lija, Cheli with Lebda. Should have some cap space for the 7th D or bring up Quincey, put him out now and then with Lids to learn the rops so to speak. Fedoruk will then give the 3rd line or 4th line the bit of grit we are lacking. Giguere gets the chance to kick start his career with Oz taking the back up.

"The Redwings are pleased to announce are new nm.........." Yeh I know how ya feel

Posted 4/7/2006: Miroslav Blatak (D) From HC Zlin to Mora IK Added By: Henrik Lundqvist, Status: Confirmed. Height 184 cm / 6' 0" Weight 83 kg / 182lbs / 13st 0lbs Last seasons stats for HC Zlin; HC Zlin Extraliga (CZE) 05/06 47 8 13 21 +8 34 I understand that the Wings have suggested that Blatak needs to fill out his frame more to be in any condition of a pro career in N/America. Maybe this move may be his last chance, as I feel that he is behind Kindl in the offencesive D stakes.

Hal or Todd?

There's also talk Keenan is interested in Chris Pronger, although the asking price (believed to be Jay Bouwmeester, Nathan Horton and either a pick or prospect) is believed too rich even for Keenan's blood. Will he take Schneider, Williams, Maltby and we'll throw in Lilja(for old times sake)!!?? For Nath & Jay, If so please give Kenny a call and suggest it, as its above his reckoning.

well ya never know unless ya try Lou!! Don't ya think they'll buy that in Disneyland then? Who else can we throw in then?

How about this exchange with the Ducks; Osgood Lilja Maltby& Lang for Giguere Salei & Penner. No, well it be worth a shot.

2002-03 Karlovy Vary HC Czech 46 10 14 24 76 2003-04 Karlovy Vary HC Czech 52 12 13 25 119 2004-05 Karlovy Vary HC Czech 52 11 11 22 127 2005-06 Karlovy Vary HC Czech 51 11 20 31 180, 6'3" 220lb 27yrs. Big gritty forward with top Czech league side, not a soft Euro, looks after his team mates and gets numbers on the board too. Has also represented his national team in various comps

With the Griffs season over in much the same anti climatical way as the Wings ended theirs, the questions will be which of the guys look most likely to make the step up to the Wings next season. Much will depend on which guys the Wings bring in but the main one will be if they go after a #1 netminder. Young prospect Howard didn't have a great series and his stats aren't what you would call encouraging for a prospective #1. A 0.885 save % and a 3.46 GAA. His regular season was better at 0.910 save % and a 2.58 GAA. Maybe Liv will give him the competition he needs to get the best from him. The worrying thing for the Wings was the performance of the Griffs main D prospect's in the playoffs. Lebda finished a team worse -9 with 1 goal and 4 helpers with Quincey next on the list with a -7 and only the 1 assist in the 16 playoff games. On the forward front the 2 main prospect's did finish with the 2 best point tallies, but again both finished with a minus rating. 26 Jiri Hudler 16 6 16 22 -1 20 15 Valtteri Filppula 16 7 9 16 -4 4 The guy who got overlooked last year when others got the call up did have a better play off series than most of his team mates. 27 Darryl Bootland 16 5 7 12 +1 50. It'll be very interesting to see what happens and who has a good camp may be the defining factor for many of the prospects. My money is on the finnish kid Filppula getting on the roster for next year. If Hudler doesn't make it I can see him being offloaded in a trade deal, maybe even before the camp, would be a pity as I would have liked him to have been given a run at it, but you never know. If Bootland gets overlooked again I can see him looking at pasture's new to get his chance in the big league. I can also see the kid Kindl overtaking Quincey in the pecking order on the D too. Well only another 4 1/2 months to wait folks!