barabbas16

I agree with everything that has been said. Lidstrom is a special player. He is and has been one of the very best, if not THE very best defenseman ever. There clearly is evidence that he does belong in that group. And I do not think that anyone would be able to legitimately argue if this were to occur. All of that said, I don't believe this will happen either. The reason that I think this is that Nicklas Lidstrom was not born in Canada, as we can all see that the entirety of the players who have received that distinct honor were. I think that the HHOF will keep this exclusive club exclusively Canadian. I will, however, be extremely pleased if I am surprised by their decision and they choose to waive the waiting period for him.

70%. But, it would make sense that the people who are ready to crucify Hudler after one subpar season would think that the Leino signing for Buffalo is a good deal after one good season. Hudler: $2.875 million per for two seasons after a season of 57 points Leino: $4.5 million per for six seasons after a season of 53 points Yeah, though, that Hudler contract is an albatross that is totally going to be the downfall of the team. The guy showed good progression prior to the whole KHL thing (2006-07 15G 10A, 2007-08 13G 29A, 2008-09 23G 34A). Give him a chance to get back on track this coming year. Let's try not to be so fickle.

Mmm. Well, good news then because next season Hudler will be paid like about 64% of a frigging Ville Leino.

Yeah, I get it.... and I think saying '20 goals' or '50-60 points' as you said, would be a better bar to set. I guess the KHL thing didn't really bother me as much as it did some others. Anyway, I'm trying to look at it more positively. Let's face it, Hudler is probably going to be on this roster next season. There IS reason to believe that he could return to 07-08 form this coming year and score your 20 goals and 50-60 points. As I said, no KHL adjustment period, etc. If he does that, then great - everyone will be happy to be surpised (since it seems that everyone is of the mind that he will go downhill from last year instead of up, considering all of the negative Hudler talk). If he doesn't... well, it's only for one more year at the $2.875 million. Was I disappointed in his play last year? Definitely. But, this switching back and forth from NHL to KHL is a relatively new deal. I feel like that was a huge part of the reason for his dropoff. He wasn't any smaller or weaker in 07-08 when everyone was happy with his production. I believe that he deserves the chance to rebound to that form this season, and that he deserves our support in attempting to do so.

Really? Around 40 points is where you're setting the bar for tongue biting? I would say be prepared to bite your tongue, then. That's a bit of a exaggeration. Everyone was all disappointed with last season and he scored 37 points. I would say that qualifies as 'around 40 points' - and everyone seems to be in agreement that it was less than expected. This year he won't be dealing with the KHL transition, etc....plus, no Draper or Modano so he may not sit as many games. If he had played a few more games last year, he would have hit 40. He hit 40 in 07-08, not to mention the 57 in 08-09. I understand the disappointment with the output vs. the $ for Hudler, but let's be realistic.

I do not understand why Ed Jovonovski's name seems to continually get mentioned as some kind of a solution before Ian White.

I'm with you. I was trying to (in my scenario) add some grit and scoring up front. I liked both Eaves and Miller, but I wanted to fill those spots with some more well rounded guys. Unfortunately, the grit/scoring potential combination sort of seems to end after those two guys. I don't like overpaying for anyone, though. I don't think Detroit is in a position where they need to do that (at least, not at forward).

You're very convincing. If that ends up being the case, I guess I would go with someone else in that spot for less.... J. Jokinen maybe..... or maybe roll the dice that Connolly can stay healthy or that Vrbata can play decent hockey outside of Phoenix.

Hmm... I guess I didn't think of Laich as quite THAT good of an addition. It seems like an overpayment, but I'm guessing it's just because of the market.

What is Laich going to get? 4.5? Not sure I would want him for that much....

Wow. Sorry.

Ok... 7/1 is taking too long to get here and I'm tired of waiting, so here goes.... Henrik Zetterberg ($6,083,333)/Pavel Datsyuk ($6,700,000)/Tomas Holmstrom ($1,875,000) Johan Franzen ($3,954,545)/Brooks Laich ($3,500,000)/Dan Cleary ($2,800,000) Scottie Upshall ($3,000,000)/Valtteri Filppula ($3,000,000)/Todd Bertuzzi ($1,937,500) Jiri Hudler ($2,875,000)/Darren Helm ($912,500)/Justin Abdelkader ($787,500) Jan Mursak ($550,000) Nick Lidstrom ($6,200,000)/Brad Stuart ($3,750,000) Niklas Kronwall ($3,000,000)/James Wisniewki ($4,500,000) Ian White ($3,500,000)/Andreas Lilja ($750,000) Jakub Kindl ($833,333) Jim Howard ($2,250,000) Osgood/Conklin ($750,000) Total - $63,558,711 I like adding White and Wisniewski for the right-handed shots on the power play. Not sure if Lilja will humbly return, but I always liked the guy as a solid 3rd pairing defensive defenseman. I just don't trust Kindl yet to pencil him into the 6th D-man spot... so he'll have to earn it by proving he adds more to the team than Lilja. I wanted to put Richards in there, but I just don't see it happening. I like Laich and Upshall, though, and I think this is a tough, balanced squad.

Let us hope that tomorrow the Wings do not share the same fate that the Capitals had today.

Best Actor goes to Joe Divelski

I don't hate the Canucks. I would definitely say I dislike the Penguins, Blackhawks, Avalanche, Sharks, and Ducks... maybe some others as well if I thought about it. That said, I don't really like the Canucks either. To me right now they are just another San Jose... a team that has proven themselves to be a good regular season team, but nothing else. I am not enamoured with the Sedins and it annoyed me that Henrik Sedin won the Hart when I didn't feel like he deserved it. I do like Kesler, though....and, probably opposite the general thoughts here, I still like Samuelsson. I can't say that I have personally noticed an irregular amount of hatred towards Vancouver.

Really sucks for Howard that that bad 4th goal he gave up was the game winner.

The Wings may have a knack for finding gems in late rounds of the draft. But as far as I'm concerned, their recent history with the 19th overall pick is piss poor. I'm sorry, but I think the jury is in on Jakub Kindl and the verdict is not good.

Who is this offensively inept hockey team that I am watching this weekend? Pathetic. Heads should be hung in shame.

SOMEBODY put the fricking puck on goal! Seriously, no saves necessary Steve. Thanks for keeping us in the game Joey, we'll now let you down in return. End of story.

They didn't deserve any points for that game....just like the last game. And, that's what they'll get until they stop putting out piss poor efforts like this - nothing.

I see what you are saying and I really see that whole side of the argument. The only problem I have with your post where you said 'He'll have very little impact this season.' You don't know that. Look at last year. The Wings needed Miller last year due to infuries and he stepped up. Who's to say they won't need him to do that again this yar and they know he can cuz he already did it. I think that it IS sensible to sacrifice a guy who MAY be a potential piece of the future (or may not) when you have no other option with him and he hasn't blown you away despite chances to do so for a guy who CAN make a difference depth-wise and as a 4th liner/PK guy and has proven that he can last season.... when you look at winning this year as the top priority, as I think it should be.

While I think that the 'Wings are too old' story has been proven to be... old, and not a valid point (since it has been said for... I don't know, at least 10 years now it seems like). ... The Wings aren't young. The time is now. They want to win. It comes down to two guys. They kept the guy who is most likely to help them win. Now. That guy is Drew Miller. Not saying Ritola is awful or anything like that. Maybe he'll turn out great. I'm just saying, tough decisions come up. Sometimes you're the odd man out, not necessarily because you're definitely the poorer option, but because you're definitely the poorer option for a certain situation (this season). Drew Miller was the right call.

There are definitely overreactions on both sides here. I definitely feel that the officiating has played a significant part in both games thus far in the series. As far as the WINGS LOSING the games, OBVIOUSLY there are some things that could or should have been done differently to affect the outcome of the game. Sure. That is the case with any loss, and probably with most wins. There are always plays the you could have done better and neither of these games is an exception to that. However, in addressing the SHARKS WINNING the games? I definitely feel that the Sharks have been handed every opportunity to win both games by the officials. I feel that, without the chances that were handed to the Sharks OR if the Wings were handed the same chances, the outcome would have been different. I am SURE that the large discrepancy in penalty calls thus far in the series is not even close to the discrepancy of ACTUAL penalties committed in the series. Specifically, (although these are not the sole issues that I have had with the officials) I do not feel that the Sharks should have rightfully had EITHER of the 1:00+ 5-on-3s that they were given in games 1 and 2, respectively. AND, those 5-on-3s directly affected the scoreboard. So, no... I do not feel that San Jose has earned anything at this point. With that said.... things don't always go your way and the Wings still have to just deal with it... because there is absolutely NOTHING to do about it. The series is NOT over and I fully believe that Detroit could have won both of these games despite what I feel was biased officiating. So, it goes without saying that they are fully capable of winning a fair contest.

Get over it. Everybody - seriously, this is ridiculous. I'm a U.S. citizen, but I have family in Canada so I don't take part in bashing the country. All of the points that Don Cherry were making could be 100% valid as far as I know, but it doesn't matter. The way I see it, the NHL and hockey wouldn't be what it is without either country. BUT, Don Cherry saying all that stuff just makes him come off like a sore loser - and that's exactly what the rest of you sound like. Your country lost - get over it. 'Yeah well, Stamkos blah blah blah' - you lost. 'Yeah well, U.S. players play in Canada blah blah' - you lost. None of that matters. Canada beats the U.S. in hockey overall - hands down. Everybody knows that. But Don Cherry or any of you had any class, you would just congratulate the winner and stop making excuses for losing. The simple fact that you are getting so fired up about it only gives the impression that the dominance that you are spewing about isn't quite what your words say. It gives the impression that there is, in fact, an argument here. I think the main point the original poster was making is that Don Cherry is annoying as hell. I'm pretty sure that's what all U.S. (or anyone not from Canada) hockey fan thinks. The reason for that is because he IS annoying as hell. Don Cherry's answer for EVERYTHING is CANADA is GREAT and if something bad happens, it was because come non-Canadian player had the puck. Something good happens 'OOOOOOO CANADA!!!!' - something bad happens 'should have had more Canada.' It is freaking annoying as hell. He may be a 'stand up guy' and help out and all and that's great..... really. But, the guy is so obnoxious on my TV - I honestly do not understand how even you Canadian fans can not completely groan with disdain everytime he shows up on your screen. Put the Canada vs. U.S. aside - it seems like it spouts up at every freaking opportunity.

I think the original bad call was just a mistake/incompetence. Then, he got the call from toronto saying he was wrong and it went in. THEN, I think he was too proud to admit he was wrong and so he gave the 'intent to blow' B.S...... which was obviously a lie since there is no way he had intent to blow the whistle before the puck went in. The only other possible explanation is that he is WAY more incompetent than I give him credit for and he thought it was frozen under Auld when May had the puck on his stick not even in the crease. On a related note, do referees receive any punishment for blantantly incorrect calls such as this?....monetary?...do they lose their jobs if they do this with any consistency?....should there be something like this in place?