chrisdetroit

Maybe but let's look at some numbers. This year the cap is about $56 Mil. Let's assume that it goes up 6-7mil like it did this year. That means we are looking at a cap of $62 mil. For 09-10 we have a current cap hit of about $38 mil but we have to sign Hossa, Franzen, Z, Sammy, Kopetsky, Howard and Ty Conklin. I assume Cheli, McCarty and Flip fit under this year's cap as does Howard or Conklin. Leave $2mil for Kopy and Sammy assuming that they are still here. That leaves $60 -38 mil = 22mil. Give Mule 5 mil because of his 40 goals. That leaves 17 mil for Z and Hossa. 8.5 each. This could work. Am I being too optimistic?

Yes, but even they admit that they are no match for the Wings... So unless somebody knocks of the Wings, their will be no cup in Pittsburgh.

No, this quote from M-Live did My guess is Filppula doesn't sign an offer sheet and works out a deal with the Wings in the $2 million range. He likes it here, likes being surrounded by talented players. Like so many of his teammates, I suspect he would sacrifice some money to stay here.

Talk about rose colored glasses... The Wings smoked them in the finals. This great Pittsburgh offensive team scored only 10 goals in 6 games (1.67 GAA). The final combined score after the first 2 games was 7-0, after 4 games it was 11-4. Game 5 they won in triple overtime and game 6 we won 3-2. Total for 6 games 17-10. Yea, they were only 2 games from winning the cup. And the Wings were only 2 games from a sweep. The Wings lost those 2 games by 1 goal each. This series was not even close.

Ok, everybody knows that we are now the team to beat but look at our competition: San Jose got weaker when they lost Campbell and tried to plug the gap with Boyle and Old Man Blake. Plus, they have a new rookie coach. I don't see them as a big threat. Lots of talent but I can't see Todd turning around the underachievers in his first year Dallas added Brunstrum and our old buddy Avery. They could be a threat if headcase Turco ever gets his act together. Aneheim got back Nieds and dumped Bert. They also added Bergeron. 28th in the league in scoring last year and they did nothing to improve it. If Selanne doesn't play, don't look for them to contend. Chicago - our nemesis picked up Huet and Brian Campbell. They have a way to go but they could be the next Pittsburgh Others - Colorado, Minny, Vancouver, Nashville... not top teams In the East...well it's the east; Rangers, Pens got weaker. Last place lightning got better, not much change elsewhere.

Noooooooooo please make them stop

Thank you. I might add, this also applies to Feds, Bert, Lapointe and a host of other glitterati

Huh? What about that Stanley Cup in 2002 during which he had 6 shutouts. And Ozzie is one of the top 5 in the league? Come on, try and be a little bit objective here.

Ducks defense is very good but only in the first pairing. After Nieds and dickhead, the drop off is pretty dramatic. Kronwall as our #3 is better than whomever their #3 is - does anybody even know who the Ducks #3 is.....That's my point

You forgot coaching. Certainly top 5 at least.

What is it with this thread? People calling each other idiots, a guy crticiszing Holland's decision to carry too many defensemen and another guy that wants to project Downey and Mac's scoring of 1 or 2 goals over an entire season. 1. Stop with the name calling. This is the internet for God's sake, nobody is going to cry over being called names by somebody setting at home typing. 2. Holland knows a hell of a lot more about this than you. If not, read up on the Hossa contract. 3. You can't project 1 or 2 goals over a season. Statistics and Probability 101.

5Mil a year is a good deal for Fleury? Are you serious. He's a pretty good goalie but come on. The issue with goalies is aslways consistancy and to date he has not shown any. Remember Khabibulin? Cam Ward? Theodore? Chris Mason? After 3 or 4 years like the one he just had, he might be a good deal for 5 years but after 1 good year - no way.

Yea, cause we need more because???????

Why in the f*** would you want a first and 3rd rounder instead on Flip. With Flip you know that you are getting a very talented young play that has shown great potential both offensively and defensively. With 2 draft picks, it's unlikely that you will get somebody with more potential that Flip and with draft picks, the best that you can get is potential. I think that Flip has an agreement with Kenny that he will not accept any offer sheets. He ALSO wants to stay in Detroit and play alongside Hossa or Dats.

The wings outscored the Pens 17-10 in 6 games. That's 1.67 goals/game for a team that came into the finals as supposedly an offensive juggeranaut. There were 4 games that were decided by 1 goal. We won 2 of them and they won 2 of them (1 in triple overtime) and oh yea, their were 2 shutouts by Detroit 4-0 and 3-0. If this idiot thinks that this was a close series, he is deluding himself. The Pens got their asses kicked and then many of their free agents bailed out - Malone, Roberts, Conklin and Hossa. Most importantly, they were seriously outcoached. Even with Hossa, they were not going to beat the Wings. I doubt if they would make the finals and without Hossa, we won't be seeing Pittsburgh play for the cup next year....

uh....2002 Stanley Cup 6 shutouts

Yea because everybody knows D-men have to be physical to be any good. Just ask the people that vote for the Norris every year....

I agree 100%. Grier would be a great guy to have on the Wings

That was in the past. The game has changed. Move on man....

Laraque? You're kidding right? The guy is slow and has no skill. We already have Downey. 1 low skill guy is more than enough

He's 38 and has not scored much in the last 3 seasons. Explain this potential thing to me again.... His scoring has been going down hill and that's suddenly going to change at the age of 38. It's time to let go of the dream.

Feds hasn't scored 20 goals OR had a positive +/- since 2003. I think that that is pretty much the definition of washed up. 4 straight non-productive seasons.

No thanks on Feds or Bert -both are washed up Naslund - maybe. He has been up and down his entire career and is now 34. Obvously Rolston would be a better fit.

And overpaying for them to boot

I can't see anybody going from a team like Minnesota where they sell out every game and usually are in the playoffs to Tampa. Tampa was the worst team in the league and had pretty anemic attendance. Not alot of interest in hockey in Tampa compared to Minny. If he goes there it will be a pretty good indicator of where his priorities are. And if that's the case, we don't want him anyway. So what will it be - deal or no deal