NomadFromKazoo

And if the ticket prices were higher, the attendance would be even lower

Lidstrom could definitely win, but he's going to need O stats in addition to D dominance and we're going to have to win at least the Western Conference if not the President's trophy. If that happens, then they'd love to pick him. But he's not going to win for just dominating D anymore no matter how good he is.

That's the problem, not the availability of talent, the availability of viable sites. They can't compete and they're driving the Cap down because they don't generate the revenue to compete.

To be honest, that's a terrible comparison. You're comparing a 6 million dollar cap hit today to a 6 million dollar cap hit a decade from now...

No, there are too many teams, not too few. They should shut down about a half dozen.

I realize your first language is French and connotations are the hardest part of translating languages. But what I said didn't imply that you're not a fan. It just meant that fans of other teams would not like the signing because it was a good signing for us. I was actually implying the people telling you that were not Wings fans, not that you weren't.

And what makes you want to listen to these people on this particular topic? It's a bad signing...if you're a fan of another team.

I agree. Total opposite of last year when we were screwed by Gary Bettman and exhausted with a short summer coming.

The question was will he get in. I voted no because there is zero percent chance that he will. But he totally deserves to be in the hall. The people calling him a "role" player are way underselling what he accomplished. He altered game plans for years of every team we faced. He affected who they had on the ice and how they played us. That totally rises to the level of HOF. But again the question was "will" he and there is no doubt to that the answer is no.

I have a hard time supporting him. He was so promising as a kid, but every time we handed him the job he flamed out. He gave up so many soft goals past the blue line other teams started shooting it regularly, and sadly it worked too much for them to stop. His best playoffs seemed to be when nothing was expected of him. I just don't see it as a HOF career. I like him and I'll be happy if he gets in because he's a good guy and a good Wing, but even if he does I won't think he really deserved to be in the HOF.

This was my thought too. The way we bring our players along by the time they get to the NHL full time they are ready. There's no reason he should regress.

On Bettman needing to go, I agree 100%. But I'm in favor of the CBA being a joke. That totally helps us. You seriously want a real Cap? We'd be hosed.

OK, let's make it simpler. When you go to a Red Wing message board and read pretty typical banter bashing the leader of our bitter rivals, and I'll say this part slow so you can follow, my question to you is: What...were...you...expecting...to...see...on....a...hockey...message...board? Everything said about Forsburg was pretty tame frankly for a junior high school locker room. Nothing about his being personally detestable, no threats or death wishes. Yet you decided it was "hate" speech. I mean seriously, what's up with that? You can't be serious

Gosh, a Red Wing message board taking shots at the leader of our hated rivals, it's just "hate" and completely uncalled for. When you saw "Let's Go Wings," you thought this was a book club? Or intellectual discussion of the theory of hockey with current practitioners of the art to demonstrate the various nuances of the discussion? To actually support a team and take shots at our rivals? Absurd. Where does that come from?

OK, Cool. Your initial reaction was pretty extreme You may like Forsburg and if you actually live in Sweden maybe you weren't fully aware of how bitter the Avs rivalry was. They were a classless, dirty team and Forsberg was their leader. And while he may not have been dirty or technically dived, the guy sure pushed the limit of a constant inability to stay on his feet prima donna. If you don't like hearing that even if your first response was an overstatement rather then an overreaction, you're not going to like Av threads. It's a hockey forum, they are bitter rivals. You can tell us you don't feel that way, but don't tell us we can't. Just my view.

Good point. And true, Hasek, Hull and Robetille didn't come quietly. But I think the biggest thing of this off-season is that we were exhausted and injured last year and with a longer off season and injury healing time getting our own team back is our biggest move. Also on the 4th to eighth, keep in mind for anyone to pick the Hawks ahead of us automatically drops us to at least 4th so it may not quite be as quiet as you think.

I know you said "one of" the best. And it's been a good one. But man, 2001 was the it offseason In reading on, I see I'm not the first to mention this.

Ouch!

Exactly, he's only coached 7 seasons. There have been so many great athletes across all the sports who clearly have HOF talent and aren't in because they didn't do it long enough. And I did say he's on the way there, he just needs to do it longer.

You said you were good with him because he was from Sweden, but if you're actually that extremely sensitive about it, I'd avoid all Av related threads. I'm just saying...

I understand that. Same reason a lot of us Michigan natives don't hate Madono. Though Foresburg while not doing anything to make me hold anything against him was an annoying player even if he wasn't a dirty one so I don't personally like him as a player. But I get how a Wings fan a decade removed from the heat of the rivalry not from Sweden could respect him and say so. But what I don't get is how anyone (and you are not doing this) could come on a Wings board and argue we can't rag on the best player on our long time most bitter rival who were a dirty team or we "hate" him. They have the right to do that, but it's pretty moronic.

OK, he's not a player. But I don't see it as derailing as he's still coaching in the NHL. But I'd have to say no because to me a lock means he's already earned it. I don't think Babcock has earned it yet. But he definitely could get there.

Yes, but would you get a Modano hat?

Who "hates" him? You got a point, I don't remember him diving...