Drake_Marcus

Um, so you'd rather he had wasted a s***-ton of picks to get those great pick-ups Atlanta, Nashville, and the Islanders made? He knew he couldn't sign these guys to the kind of longterm contracts they want with next year's signings ahead. Doesn't anyone remember how insane rental prices were?!?! Atlanta sold the farm for nothing. The Sharks got Guerin who played like s***. I'm glad Kenny didn't get stupid this UFA season OR at the trade deadline. With the exception that they're both big, gritty forwards that have a sniper's cannon and know how to finish, yeah I guess you're right. I mean one does play wing and the other centre. Oh and one of them used to fight before coming to Detroit. So yeah, there's a world of difference. Really too much to be able to compare them in passing.

Most people just read the negative posts and assume Feds must be really down hill given that and his age. Few people actually check the stats to see that he's still nearly a point-per-game player. I wish we had enough top six talent that 06-07 Feds couldn't break the squad. Honestly- who actually believes he's going to be making more then 3 mill after this season? Or that we don't need a ~50pt player who plays mind-numbingly good D, fantastic PP and PK and all three forward positions? Rolston's a player in Shanahan's mold, no question. And exactly the kind of player the Wings need. Unfortunately he's also the exact kind of player 29 other teams want. He'd get a s***-ton of offers.

Quoted for truth. If we lose Markov someone Lillypads better step it up physically! And as to the eye rolling about lilly's physicality. He lead the playoffs in hits.

My issue with it is they play the same games over the course of the day. One classic game from the nineties and one recent game, both playoff games. They have more then enough archived footage not to repeat games. Plus most people who have the network would have PVR (Canadian TiVo)

Cleary in his playoff form this year would be a top-six on any team. He made the Wings really hard to play against. Remember how much Calgary hated him? How they took stupid penalties because he got under their skin... On top of that he was a constant scoring threat.

That would be the wings one and only chance Not many teams will be trading the #1 draft pick that year.

Still, on the wings the average height and weight is 5'10 163lbs.

Not really. That's the whole reason why teams lock up their talented RFA players. You're an idiot if you just assume no one would take a shot at them. Those are the risks with RFA negotiations under the new bargining agreement- something every GM is aware of. Holland would have been a moron to leave Z unsigned through until the end of July with the current atmosphere in this league. I'd be pissed if I were a Ducks fan, but as a Wings fan it just looks like karma to me. Like everyone said- he should have nailed down his RFAs before raiding other clubs' rosters. This stuff is why Holland said from the start his priority was to keep his own club together before offering money to UFAs.

1. Danimal hits a rut in the ice and goes skull first into the boards. 2. Cheli gets a shorthanded goal, thus ruining the chances for "old useless man" jokes for 2-3 minutes of that game commentary. {just kidding guys and gals- I love Chris as much as you do!} 3. Pronger goes in elbows first on Holmer then passes the penalty off on his linemate while we all sit on our couch praying Holmer is ok. 4. Bernie the rally bird almost dies at the hands of grumpy old Hasek. My vote is for #1. That fall just plain looked career-ending. And when they took the stretcher out on the ice the blood drained from my face.

That's what I'm saying. I'm surprised so many people picked 3 over 1. Holmer was clearly still moving and seemed to have a concussion at worst. Cleary looked like he could have broken his neck.

Feds needs to have his number in the rafters. I'd be there with a tear in my eye for that. Typically "homerism" and nostalgia aren't considered interchangeable.

Sounds like a good kid. I like the idea that he plays the physical game well. And we'll need a new grindline centre soon enough!

Definitely. It's fun to dream though!

I agree that Z is underpaid. But not that it's a bad comparison. Z's contract was based on his initial performance in the NHL, not his potential. Players rarely get a potential based pay scheme from non-desperate clubs. Z didn't rock out a 80pt season his second year so he didn't get 5 mill a year on his contract. Seems fair to me from a business perspective. They expect Z to be huge, he's shown it last season. Accordingly he'll be getting a nice fat pay raise. Production leads to $$. Potential leads to interest. Game changing potential or shear desperation can change that last part of course. For example, had Crosby became an RFA franchises would have mortgaged their futures to lure him to their club. Of course it'd be a sweet ass investment given how awesome the kid is, but he'd still have garnered insanely high offers.

Indeed. Exactly. I mean come on- no one works on B.C Hockey Hall of Fame weekend.

There's enough red in this league. Let's try some different colours here people. And by "let's" I mean "everyone except the Wings".

Meh. I can see why Burke is pissed. Edmonton's inflated offers will have an effect on the market. But in all honestly it's not Edmonton who should be given a dress down for ******* the market but rather Philly and, to an extent, the NYR. Philly's early summer pick-ups absolutely turned the market on their head. Would any of us believed a year ago, or even at the end of the playoffs, how much Markov would be asking for? Or how much any of the FA's got? Really? You don't think a ten time increase in salary based on a 45 pt season isn't inflation?!? Promise or no, that second year player is being offered almost twice what Z makes, and Z has infinite promise.

I really don't think they can afford to have a Defense-last Dman, especially as their "key player". Souray is an ok addition to any club's power play. He's a piss poor 5-on-5 addition and not close to being worth what they paid for him.

That's pretty optimistic. He's looking like the foundation of our future grindline, which is a very important role to play on this team considering that all the grit is focused on a single line. He played well in the playoffs, but he didn't look like Cleary out there (ie. he was nice and physical but not a constant scoring threat game in and game out like Cleary was this post-season). I see Mule as a player more in the mold of Draper and Maltby. Of course he'll need some work to get to the level they were at in their prime (or even the level they are at now), but if we have another career shutdown specialist with great workethic, leadership and the ability to produce timely goals- well s***, I'm a happy camper when it comes to Franzen. Putting him on the first line is pretty iffy though. I'd rather see him on the second line with Z and Cleary. If he picks up half Z's defensive awareness and combines it with that famous Cleary hussle and workethic it'll mold him into the perfect player for our future grindline needs. I love his potential but don't really see him as a 20+ goal player. (please prove me wrong Mule!) Sammy's role is to be a conduit for Dats and Z to score through. To be honest, my real vitriol towards Sammy comes from the fact that he's given huge minutes with these guys (minutes better spent on promising young players like Filppula and Hudler) but doesn't seem to be a work in progress. He's just a 3rd/4th line player who is enhanced by the play of two incredible centres. That's all well in good, but not optimal. We need players who can allow Z and Dats to actually play to their full potential. I hope you're right! I think Grigs is the type of player who would really benefit from a strong rookie season. Let his confidence soar and watch this play elevate. If he gets the typical Red Wing rookie treatment he'll likely get discouraged and play poorer. He needs to feel like he's 100% past the accident and living up to his potential. I agree on Kindl. Quincey is apparently a cool headed player who's likely to be a solid 2nd or 3rd pairing Dman. But the real minutes should be invested in players poised to be top two Dmen.

Hell yeah. And I can see why the fans of those other teams are pissed too. But in the end, I think everyone knows Lowe owes Oilers fans for the Smyth fiasco. Let him tighten the screws on Burke. Maybe he'll get a decent player this offseason and not be remembered for a kneejerk aquisition of a subpar blueliner with a cannon of a shot.

Well to be honest it was a cheap gimmick. Of all the things that make Howe great, playing that one shift isn't one of them. The fact that he played it at all is really just a testimate to the immense respect paid to him by the entire hockey world. That scenario would be laughable for almost anyone other then Old Elbows.

I think you underestimate their new captain.

Great read. Thanks for the info. Two big surprises in who impressed the most at camp.