Kp-Wings

That's exactly what I wonder. Every time a need for size is mentioned, it always turns into some asinine reference to Brad Norton. Nils Ekman would be going three shads of grey the wrong way. A small, swedish forward is the last thing this team needs. The fact that he is also coming off probably one of the worst seasons in his career (34 games with Pittsburgh, 6 goals, 9 assists for 15 total points) while being a healthy scratch for nearly every game down the stretch is also a major turnoff. There are better options then Ekman. Pass.

I was thinking the same thing myself. Like the Wings re-signing Hasek for cheap (and the hell rid of those damn Raycroft rumors!), and signing Arron Asham to a new contract. Pull the trigger Kenny!!!!!!!!1

Thank God he's not coming here. The Islanders continue to drop the ball by signing these guys to overly large contracts. While it isn't as bad as some (Daniel Briere), you cannot possibly convince me Fedotenko is worth 3 million a season. Of course, Lang makes 4 million a season, but Chicago is just plain stupid.

Too bad he never got to play in a Red Wing uniform.

No ******* way. I'd rather sign Roman Cechmanek out of the German Leagues then even consider Raycroft. Of course, he is better then Cloutier!

2 fights? Come on now Reem. I don't Kronwall has the personality to fight people. In fact, he smiles so much in interviews that it starts to sicken me after a while.

Duck and cover people!

But if they all did it the same year, just imagine what the free agent pool will be like when their contracts all expire at once! Hey, I'm looking at the glass half full, ok?

Brendan Witt? He's a free agent?

Oh Christ. You've got to be kidding me. I don't mind a trade proposal or two, but I do mind these completely idiotic ones that don't have a snowball's chance in hell of happening, even if you're dealing with Mike Milbury. Ruutu scored 17 goals and 21 goals for 38 total points on a horrible Chicago team. He has also played 168 NHL career games scoring 42 goals and 45 assists for 87 total points. On top of that, he's only 24 years old, and has a boatload of potential. And you think we can get him for a 4th round pick? Are you f-ing kidding me? Even the most simple minded GM wouldn't possibly be dumb enough to make a trade like that. If you want Ruutu on this team, expect to give up a decent prospect or two like Cory Emmerton or Brendan Smith, and a package of draft picks, ranging in the 1st round to 2nd round. And by decent prosepcts, I do mean decent prospects. None of this Hudler or Meech bulls***, since that won't land anything of decent value, contrary to what some people here think. Anything below what I mentioned won't cut it. Ruutu is a good player. Chicago isn't just going to ship him off for garbage, even if they are a horribly managed team.

I do like the signing. Ference is a kind of guy that I'd like to see on the Wings. Another good thing about this is I hope it's a sign of things to come for Holland. Him signing a gritty Canadian kind of took me by surprise, so I hope he's getting smart and realizing that is what this team needs. Now if he could only go out and sign Arron Asham and Jason Weimer, and send Hudler packing, everything would be all set for next season.

Those guys I mentioned are all fighters (who don't suck either, since they can score also). There will only be a rivalry if there are fights, and the Wings don't have anyone on this current team, besides one-hit wonder Lilja and Brad Ference (who might not even make it anyways) that will drop the gloves. The guys I mentioned will fill that need, and maybe then there will be a rivalry.

I thought the same thing. Probably half the board did too. Ozzie has said he wants to be a starting goalie again, which leaves me to think he might leave when he's a free agent again. I have no problem with him as a backup. Ozzie as a starter though? Not too big on the idea. Mainly because he hasn't done it in quite a while now. The Adam Berkhoel signing doesn't make me think anything is up, since he's primaraly an AHL goalie or #3 NHL goalie. Now, if the Wings had gone out and signed someone like Jocelyn Thibault or Patrick Lalime, who are both former starters and now reliable veteren backups, then I might think something is up with Ozzie. Guys like I mentioned aren't starting goalies anymore, but are solid backups. If they were signed, then I might think Ozzie is on his way out. Nevertheless, I don't see him going anywhere. He's under contract as it is, and the Wings should (hopefully) get Hasek under contract and go with the same tandem as last season.

Asham is way better then Samulesson. I keep hopeing Samulesson breaks his face or something, or gets traded for pucks. Asham is also more valuable then Kopecky and Hudler. Kopecky, like Lou said, has done nothing to deserve an automatic spot. I want Hudler off this team too. We dont' need a small forward. Asham is big, and he fights. And I know you'll appreciate this Heaton: He's not a no talent goon either. 11 goals for a checking line forward is pretty damn good in my opinion. Definitly. If the Wings are ever going to get respect from other teams, other fans, and the media, they can start by getting some North Americans on the team. Sorry, but people like to poke fun at pre-dominitly European teams, and I'm really getting tired of hearing about it all the time. Good idea. Just what the Wings don't need. Another soft, scoring forward.

Kozlov is the only thing I've heard right now. I'm sure exactly what the Stars cap situation is right now. Most of the big names are gone already though, with the exception of a couple of names, like Sheldon Souray or Mike Comrie. The Stars might still make a splash. We'll see what happens.

Unless the Wings go out and sign Arron Asham and Jason Weimer next season, while also giving Brad Ference a roster spot, there will be no rivalry with Anaheim. Sorry.

As it is, Ference does have NHL expierence, and has been a regular for a few teams in his career. It's not like this is a Josh Langfeld signing or anything, since Ference has some good potential still. He was a top 10 draft pick back in 1997. So obviously, the scouts saw something in him. I have a feeling he still has that potential, and if given a proper opportunity here, he could do well. Berkhoel could very well play the role of Joey MacDonald this season. Or, he'll be Howards backup in GR. Overall, it's not a bad signing. Neither signing is bad, so I really people are acting a little weird about what's going on. Holland went out and signed a physical defenseman who still has potential, and a backup goalie for GR or the new #3 goalie here in Detroit. If neither work out, they'll be in GR. It's a simple as that. I don't see what the problem is.

I'm not saying the team should be all fighters. But, as far as scorers go, I'd rather have someone else over Hudler. I know that there isn't much out there though, so it probably won't happen.

Thank you Matt. His complaining was really getting annoying.

Then he'll go to the AHL then. That's more then likely the case for Berkhoel.

I always like your line of thinking. Ference is a very cheap alternative signing if Holland can't find a replacement for Markov (who is pretty much gone). There are guys like Andy Sutton, but their all extremely expensive though. I like the Ference signing. Babcock likes big players, and Ference 6'3, 218 pounds. He could work out here. Good job by whoever pointed out the situation with Hasek in the need to have 3 goalies. Berkhoel only has 9 NHL games of expierence, but he's a perfectly capable #3 goalie whenever there are back-to-back games. Given the fact that Osgood was injured so much last year makes it good too, since then you have yourself a new backup, if need be.

I feel the same way. I might have to start swinging a spiked death club at Holland if he even dare consider such a thing. Mine isn't a knock on Filppula either, since as you can see from my sig, I like him. But I do not like Kozlov or Whitney. Kozlov is the exact opposite of what the Wings need. Whitney blew ass the first time he was here. Granted, that was a much different team then, but I need every excuse possible.

I do agree with that notion. This team is really way to European based. Not that I'm anti-Euro or anything, but the Wings will never get any respect from around the league if they sign 10 Swedes every offseason. Guys like Samulesson are so useless and uneeded on this team. Please, I wish the Wings would get someone else instead of him. It doesn't have to be a North American either, though that's prefered. If you want to go European, then at least fill his spot with a gritty European like Ville Niemenen or Evgeny Artyukin. These guys like Samulesson though are just wasting space. The Wings really do need more North American players though. Again, it's not an anti-Euro thing, but you can't win without a few true Canadian or American leaders on the team. The Wings don't have many of those currently, which is really what they need.

Finally. Someone sees what's really going on here. All of the Bertuzzi lovers think this is Holland's fault. You know, I'm not afraid to make Holland a whipping boy, but it's just stupid to fault him for Bertuzzi leaving. Bertuzzi was nothing but a greedy ass loser in this situation. He didn't do dick here to even earn himself 3 million a season. Save for one game against Calgary, and one game against Anaheim, he was about as productive as Bill Guerin in these playoffs.

Aaron Miller is very injury prone, and age is taking it's toll on his play. Janne Niinimaa has been on the decline for years now. He had an awful season in Montreal last year, and hasn't been a solid player since his days in Edmonton. He's likely headed back to Finland. Vishnevski is a good choice. He's a very good open ice hitter. He could be a good replacement for Markov, who's probably gone as it is. Sopel is expensive, and now that the Wings signed Rafalski, isn't needed here. Ossi Vannanen I don't know that much about. Can't say either way. Lindros is a vegetable. He hasn't been a decent point producer in nearly 5 years, and he's been really bad his last 3 years especially. He's done. Barnaby is almost blind in one eye. He is going to retire. Martin Gelinas is a good thought. He's a good leader, has good size, and can put up decent points. I also remember what a Wing killer he was back in that 2004 series against Calgary. He might fit well here. Asham is the guy I really want here. I would just love to see him in a Red Wing uniform. He's got good size, can hit, fight, and put up decent points, as he scored 11 goals last season with the Islanders. If he played on a line with Filppula, he has the potential to be a 20 goal scorer. Yashin sucks. You know, we just got rid of Lang, and everyone (even the Lang haters) all think this guy would be a good fit here. I don't get it! He's even lazier and less motivated then Lang ever was! Not to mention he's still looking for 3 million a season. He'd be doing everyone a favor if he just went back to Russia already. I never liked Guerin. Something about him just rubs me the wrong way. If he can come cheap enough, like for 2 million a season, then maybe it's a decision worth considering. 36 goals is pretty good, though his play in the playoffs is something to be desired. Again, I'd take him for around 2 million. Otherwise, no. Peca is a center, and the Wings have enough centers as it is. His injury last season is also a concern with me, since he hasn't played since December. Not a terrible list you made. Some of those guys, like Asham, Gelinas, Vishnevski, and maybe even Guerin or Peca would all be a nice fit here. The others I'll pass on though.