b.shanafan14

The exact reason I've liked Leino from the start. He could have gone anywhere last season and gotten a roster spot right off the bat. The guy came here to play with high-end talent, wowwed the hell out of most people in the preseason, still got to spend a season in GR. Didn't *****, worked hard. Got called up for a handful of games and scored regularly. Punched the clock until season's end. Resigned with the Wings for DIRT cheap, spends his summer working on his weaknesses instead of playing with his strengths, and STILL says he's ready to EARN a roster spot. Guy is a pretty class act. Unlike other flash-in-the-pan stars who want to be guaranteed spots or go home, ala Bruunstrom and Grigorenko.

I'm gonna be sick..... How come whenever I'm successfully repressing that Gary's Penguins won the cup, let alone over my Wings, someone needs to post a topic or sneak a clip of Sidney with the Cup into a Gatorade commercial? Seriously, get out of my head...

I agree, I think Leino is good for AT LEAST 20 goals, given his play when brought up last season. Hopefully he is given some decent top two lines icetime and a chance to prove himself more. I think he could be a ringer if he improves his skating and work in the corners, and it definitely sounds like he is eager to improve. Can't wait!

Considering there is already threads on this very board reporting that the Wings have offered Williams $2.5 for one-year, the chances we sign him for half of that and get Sundin to take similar money AND sign Grier is just hilarious.

WTF!!!! I leave internet for a single weekend and come back to hear we offer JASON WILLIAMS a $2.5 mil contract!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... *deep breath*... OOOOOOOOOOOOO! What about lets also bring back Lang, Bertuzzi, and Calder.... didn't we already trade Williams once because he sucks ass? Why are the Wings replacing Samuelsson with his understudy?

hahaha beat me to it...

I don't blame him for leaving for much more money. I do wish the wings could get some kind of compensation. But at the end of the day, I'd just prefer to get passed it as soon as possible, so Hudler can go and get his money and we can have the roster and cap space that will be left with his departure. I don't think he is exactly to blame for any kind of "stupid scam", there is just too much red tape to do anything between the KHL and NHL. This isn't a Fedorov hold out.

let him go, he can make more money elsewhere and there are no hard feelings. let him do his own thing in the KHL.

I think Kotalik could thrive here for the right price and make a great compliment with Filppula and Franzen on the second line. Afinogenov though is complete inconsistent, soft garbage. The guy has the talent that convinces teams to take a chance on him and often over pay him, but to me, he'll always remind me of Sergei Samsonov, a player who never ceases to find a team based solely on a good year or two and potential. Kotalik Afinogenov

Does anyone know where to find up-to-date rosters and cap numbers, or can they post them for Chicago next season? nhlnumbers and nhlscap are both lagging behind at the moment. The thing about Chicago is they are either purposely risking the rebuilding future of the franchise for a Cup win this season or they were told the salary cap was an old wives tail. Their problems aren't the signing this season, they were the two last season when they paid their #4 defenseman $7mil+ and their back-up goaltender $5mil. The latter is the one that for me kills any chance of a Cup win in their one year window. No matter how great your team is, when your goaltender is anchoring your cap with $5mil hit and he folds like a lawn chair, you're pretty much doomed.

I like Hudler, but I don't see him ever progressing pass to third line on this team. His size is a major issue and he tends to be very streaky. Whenever we've tried him higher than third line, he flounders because he usually relies on the softer match-up. Like I said, I like Hudler a lot, and I think I would prefer him disappearing to the KHL instead of having to play against him, BUT if he bolts to the KHL instead of another NHL team, aren't we out not only Hudlers 20+ goals but also our due compensation if another NHL team had just signed him to an offer sheet?

So happy with this, and got him for dirt cheap, considering his 13GP 5G 4A stat line in the regular season is 31G 25A prorated over 82 games. I don't expect a 30-goal season out of Leino yet, but either way.... Cheapest 20-goal player the league will see this year

please God no...... he is done, definitely not the kind of player that fits here. We already tried that experiment, it failed.

Sammy was a product of the Wings system big time, he'll fail elsewhere. Before the Wings: 268gp 73p 0.27ppg With the Wings: 278gp 159p 0.57ppg He'll struggle big time. Oh well, good luck either way Sammy!

I have no idea what he was talking about, the NHL was in another lock out last season. Can't wait to see hockey again in the fall....

Hjalmarsson is a promising defenseman, Campbell.... not so much. Campbell is a good offensive player and a TERRIBLE defensive player, locking him up for a long term at $7mil+ was the worst move I've seen in a long time. The guy will never even half live up to it, I'd take Kronwall over Campbell any day, and for dirt cheap Keith and Seabrook are a great pair, others have a lot of potential, but potential can swing both ways. And with poor goaltending, the confidence of a young defensive squad doesn't exactly thrive. Between Campbell and Huet, I think Talon was just trying to make a splash for the fanbase, but thats $12mil+ of cap anchor that is going to strangle the life out of the Hawks in years to come. I think the Hossa deal is a great deal for both parties, but people think it may be foolish because the other two useless, immovable salaries have already jeopardized long-term success.

I don't see the Wings signing Versteeg but I dont see Versteeg in Chicago, someone is willing to pay him too much and give up the picks. Versteeg is better than Hudler and has plenty more potential, Hudler isn't gonna get much better than he is right now, and definitely not elsewhere.

Koivu predictable move, they should be fun to watch together. I can't believe the Thrashers didn't have to overpay for Antropov either, $4mil/season over 4 years ain't bad.

I agree with all points but the bolded one. The Wings are cash strapped and Lidstrom, although still a god on the blueline, is nearing the last few years of his career. They are not going to give him a raise or pay him more because he is the captain. Stevie wasn't the highest paid player on the Wings in his last season. What you're thinking of is the tactic, and a smart one at that, that the Wings use to pitch to free agents like Hossa last season, that being: You aren't better than Niklas Lidstrom, you aren't getting paid more. Look for Lidstrom to resign to a one year at a sharp discount, $4-5mil as a gift to the organization. After all, we're dealing with Saint Nick, he'll want to leave with another cup .

Good luck in Chicago, Marian. Hell of a contract, you'll be playing with a contender for the rest of your career, bummer we'll be foes from here on out, but I certainly won't boo you. Your season with the Wings was a gift, and I respect that. Wish it would have ended better for you. I really hope he never gets boo'd at the Joe. We have to show we as a fan-base understand more about the politics of hockey and more than anything, respect a guy who risked it all for a year with the greatest team in hockey. Good luck against all the 28 teams not wearing the Winged-Wheel. Go Wings.

hahaha are the Canadiens TRYING to start riots??!

Capitals have a laughable defense and the Hawks got where they were solely because of Khabibulin. Lets try not to predict SC finalists based solely on the Hossa acquisition. I love Hossa, but do you remember what he added to the Wings in the post-season? Cause I sure don't

THIS... OVER AND OVER. The Cup was ours to lose and we lost it. The cap and the Wings precedent of signing long-term is going to even kill free-agency on the large scale after this season. Look at all the long-term, low-cap deals being thrown around. 2009 Wings blew it in the Finals. Best team we're going to see for a long, LONG time. EDIT: to OP's original question, our depth has taken a big hit, we need to trust in Kenny to stretch our remaining cap space for all its worth. Thank god this is the Detroit Red Wings and not the Pheonix Coyotes, hopefully we'll get someone cheapish.... trust Kenny.

Fedorov more than anyone. Lapointe gets honorable mention. Hossa was great before and will be after. I wish him personal luck and a great professional career with Chicago, just not against the Wings.