FireCaptain

Please oh please can the lockout end so that we can get back to hockey so that I don't have to hear about Jordin Tootoo's bear hunting desires?

On average, they are paid 16 times. Bi-monthly checks from the month in which the season starts to the month in which it ends - typically October to April (8 months). The players have missed their first check so far, but a little relief is coming later this month when they receive the escrow rebate from last year. After that, no checks in sight. I read all this within the last couple days.. can't remember where or I would cite it.

Agreed. Only one.

I don't know that the signing is true. Even that article quotes Strickland. No new info.

Never a Cup clincher, but I have been at two series clinchers.. One where I go to sing Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey GOOOOOOODBYE to a bunch of teed off Pred fans at the Gaylord Entertainment Center (or was it Sommet Center at that point?) and then last year where I stood and watched the sellout crowd at the Bridgestone Arena finally get to see their team defeat their arch-nemesis Wings to move on to the next round. That second one made for a loooooong drive home. (Nashville to Memphis is about 200 miles... seems WAY longer after a loss) I have, however, been at the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 back to back President's Cup clinching games. It was fun watching the Memphis Riverkings win the CHL's trophy two years in a row.

Neat.

Blurb: Detroit Firehouse Detroit had a 2 alarm at Webb and Byron. 2nd alarm companies picking up. Also a fire on the roof of Hockey Town Cafe. Companies picking up. They also had two dwellings at Tiremen and Ironton. That was up to 20 companies tied up at the same time. Leaving the city poorly covered. Pictures: http://doubledeucefi...89625&k=smzwM2V

I was at that game. It's seared into my brain.

I was going through my stuff on the counter this morning and came across the program from the Preds v. Wings elimination game. Enjoy a couple Tootoo tidbits, or Toobits, if you will.

http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/topic/72877-has-the-detroit-diamond-lost-its-shine/

THAT. IS. AWESOME. Thank you, internets!

I could see a team with trouble selling tickets signing him for the "Come see Hasek!" factor.

Worse than that, going from 57 to 46 is a 19.3% paycut.

Sabres already said, "Thanks but no thanks, Dom!"

As maligned as I was for starting the other thread in question - clearly it's a topic worth examining.

Jesus f'ing christ that better not be referring to me.. For f's sake I've got the logo, Al the Octo and the Cup tattooed on my left calf - I bleed red and white.. My love for the Wings is NEVER in doubt.. However, I am allowed to pose questions and discuss the future as a fan, am I not?

Seriously? It's called 'saying all the right things'. Would you get signed to a team and say, "Hell no, I don't want to go there and take their money."? No one would be foolish enough to bite the hand that is feeding them... well, Rick Nash (or any other player demanding a trade) might.. haha And AGAIN, this issue is LARGER than Parise/Suter and really doesn't even pertain to the them as they had other reasons for not choosing Detroit. However, all things being equal, there's a strong possibility that the Detroit of old would have been able to overcome the 4 hour driving distance from Madison to Detroit vs. Madison to Minneapolis. If people are open-minded enough to step back and look, a trend is starting to develop within the last few years.

AGAIN, look at the larger concept and NOT the Parise/Suter deal. I know they wanted to play together close to home.

Who WOULDN'T want to be overpaid? I certainly would. Therein lies part of my original post - are the days of the 'Detroit Discount' over with? Has Motown lost its swagger? Can Detroit continue to compete for players when they refuse to overpay them even though they know somebody will? That was part of my original question and yet everyone keeps getting lost in Holland bashing and Parise/Suter. This is a larger concept than just those 2 free agents.

To further my hypothesis, let's remember last year. Wiz chose the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Wings because he didn't want to be underpaid (based on what he felt the market would pay him). That's another strike against the 'Detroit Discount'. I think the diamond is changing to a lump of coal. "For me, knowing Detroit's history they don't really pay the market value for a defenseman or any player,'' Wisniewski said on NHL Live. "So I didn't think that was going to be a fit for myself.

I've seen articles that say both, so who knows (although it does now look like it was 13 years).. You and I are in agreement though, that the difference is negligible. I guess it went from 12 to 13 years when it went up from $80M to $90M. http://www.canada.com/sports/Wings+ante+lure+Ryan+Suter/6881835/story.html http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/story/2012-07-03/Red-Wings-up-offer-for-Ryan-Suter/56008136/1 http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/7/2/3133925/ryan-suter-predators-red-wings-90-million-contract http://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-red-wings/2012/6/14/3087964/ryan-suter-red-wings-rumors

In reality, my post had little to do with the actual Suter and Parise and more with the concept of them. As a free agent, what would attract people to Detroit? The glamour seems to be gone. However, I should have realized that people are too butt-hurt over those two choosing the Wild to be able to think rationally and have an intellectual discussion about such an abstract concept. $90M for 12 years and $98M for 13 years are ALMOST AN IDENTICAL CAP HIT. $7.5M/yr. vs. $7.538M/yr. Would you still consider it a handcuff if Suter were a Wing for a mere $38,000/yr less? Never did I say anything about being a second tier franchise. Just because the competition has increased their level through 'parity' does not mean that the Wings have necessarily lowered theirs. However, if there are multiple teams than can be considered legitimate playoff contenders, simply going to Detroit "for a shot at winning" doesn't have the same draw. Nice personal attack. When you can't, or won't, discuss an issue, feel free to attack another person's fan-ness. My point in the original post was to see what other fans think Detroit can do to possibly change the perception (if there is one) about committing to the Wings. A city in disarray and a team that continually derided as too old and past their prime. If I were given the choice between two major cities and nearly identical contracts, I'd look at it in a 'numbers' sense as well.. You'll pay 3% more in personal income taxes in Minnesota (Suddenly, your extra $8Mil is $2.94Mil less). Also, the cost of living is 28% higher in Minneapolis - http://www.bestplace...&city2=52743000 Given factors like that, the dollars make more sense for Detroit. I realize that Suter/Parise wanted to play together and that is a mitigating factor that you can't place a value on. I just want to discuss the changing dynamics behind the concept.

Yes.

I know. It was a joke.

Wings fans are too hard to please.. For months now, it's been "Sign a Predator! Sign a Predator!" Now the Wings sign one and everyone's pissed off... haha