Anomalously

Niedermayer was signed. Selanne was a UFA.

Still have the Little Caesars in the fridge from the last win. Think I might have to get another pie for tomorrow's game.

Hull is co-GM of the Stars. Doubt he'll be doing it anymore.

Impossible to say because there are no playoff schedules yet. All Wings playoff games were on Versus last year, many of them on the shared CBC feed.

It's not a ruling. It's legislation that doesn't necessarily get passed. Your kids don't have a chance to make the pros because they're a physical presence and will drop the gloves. These are big boys, these are kids that in a lot of cases are going to get drafted.

Link to the first one: http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=48929

Also could have been in reference to Yzerman: his reference to making a commitment to one team for a long time. He signed for 8 years at a young age, was ready to make that kind of commitment when he pretty much knows the league is on his shoulders, that he could go to a larger market (or a market in Canada), which is probably what he wanted to begin with. He's been great to Pittsburgh, though.

That would be true if the limit weren't gone after the trade deadline. Teams don't have limits. Ever hear of someone on waivers during the playoffs? That's because they don't exist. As an addition to this discussion generally, if you want to see how confident Babcock is with his defensemen: Against Edmonton: Lilja: 24:38 (2:13 in OT) Quincey: 18:27 (:34 in OT) Meech: 27:19 (2:48 in OT) Lebda: 27:41 (2:39 in OT) Stafford: 5:01 (0 in 3rd or OT) Ericsson: 19:16 (1:46 in OT) I think this is a very meaningful statistic, especially now, because it shows how much confidence Babcock has in his 5-11th defenders. When the game is on the line, Meech and Lebda got the most time (if it were any normal game, all of this time would have went to Lidstrom, Kronner, Cheli, Rafalski). When it wasn't, they still logged the most time. Lilja ran behind both of them. That tells me that Stuart replaces Lilja's size, Meech replaces Lilja's minutes.

I will say this... the Penguins look like they traded a lot, but it is in fact less. Christensen is a powerplay specialist -- an average one, good shot. With Sykora, Hossa, Malkin, Crosby, that's expendable. In the playoffs, any upside to his ability in SOs -- gone. Colby Armstrong is overrated. GordieSid&Ted, if you think the Wings need a streaky grinder, well, you're wrong. Colby has balls one day and then it disappears for a month. A very long month. He's good for a lockerroom, but he's there for what he does on the ice. He laid out Fedoruk (I believe), and believe me -- I was at the home games -- he did nothing physical, was completely timid, avoided contact, for a very, very long time. Overrated. Angelo Esposito. Could be great, could be Cleary. We'll see. And a 1st.

Shanahan was here before Holland was GM. And he came in after the first Cup (and arguably didn't do THAT much between the two years). But generally, I agree, I think Kenny's a good GM. You're just bad at conveying it.

Come join the discussion at LGW.com's live chat: http://www.letsgowings.com/chat/

Supposedly video. With the same audio.

Starting at 10AM, NHL.com will be streaming the same show.

If you're not solely crediting the move to the Wings' success, care to give me a breakdown? Maybe 98% the team we had, 2% Bert/Calder? I think it's clear irony has nothing to do with results. You'd better alert Ilitch if size of a GM's 'sack' on deadline day is an accurate measure of success, though.

No wonder we've had a rash of injuries and a losing streak. Thanks, bro.

Better get Hossa, Holik, Blake, Fedorov, Foote, and Stuart on the plane now... Western Canada ought to be a long flight from Atlanta, Columbus, and L.A. Jon: well -- you know -- Hossa IS in Montreal right now...

I think it's Franzen and Filppula that they're talking about. Hudler and Lebda would be the likeliest to get booted via trade, and I also think there's a chance Kronwall could go, too. But that would have to be a huge move, and looking at our defensive depth, it'd mean we'd need to net another defenseman for our run (and worry about signing another or developing Ericsson for the future). Hudler, Kronwall, and a first is a competitive package that leaves us with a glaring depth problem. I think we'll probably make a small splash, though. Two roster guys. I'd be disappointed with it (I always love a big acquisition at the deadline), and I don't think we need it [clarification: don't think we need just a roster guy -- stay put or make a real impact is my doctrine]. I hate the thought of giving up prospects or picks for someone who isn't a difference maker.

Me too. Whoops.

Washed up players like Murphs and Chelios? Guys that helped us win Cups?

Uh, how would Hossa be a rental? The assumption with him is that we'd re-sign. He'd be too costly not to -- it'd be a stipulation of the trade.

Speculation? To me, I don't see how you're so concerned. Why would a team that is failing want someone who has underperformed everywhere but Detroit? Why would they want a player who might not even sign with them when their season is done in a few weeks? And last, if Cleary isn't signing here and now, why would he want to go sign with team that's not going to the playoffs when he's currently on the best team in the league? It wouldn't make sense for the teams the Wings are trading with to take Cleary. I think you're safe.

Brilliant.

Classy.

Dany Heatley is a franchise player. Marian Hossa is a franchise player. Joe Thornton is another. Teemu Selanne was also traded. Alex Tanguay had multiple near-80-point seasons when he was traded. Kristian Huselius is a good player, had made it and got traded.. Brad Boyes, a 30-goal scorer this year (some 48 games out), was traded last season. Mats Sundin, Eric Lindros, Wayne Gretzky -- all traded. And goaltenders, including the great Patrick Roy, the revered Terry Sawchuk, the Vezina-defending Dominik Hasek -- look, it's possible for good players to be on the trading block. Yzerman was considered to be on the trading block to Ottawa. Heatley needed a change of scenery. Ottawa couldn't afford Hossa. Boston's team was struggling when they traded Big Joe. Teemu Selanne's trade was the product of a cash-strapped Jets franchise. I guess the Avs thought Leipold would be a good fit in their system. Huselius was having a below-expectation season. Brad Boyes got dealt at the deadline. Etc., etc. What makes ridicule the end result of this kind of inquiry, I think, is the fact that the Red Wings haven't in recent years been dealing their stars. It's in the culture of this Detroit franchise -- keep the stars happy, be loyal to them, fill out the rest of the roster with gritty third-liners and effective penalty killers. Try to trade for players that complete the team -- Murphs, Fetisov, Shanny, Cheli. Is 'should we trade Z?' one of those tough questions Ken is asking himself? Likely not, I would think not -- I would think that would shake up what makes the team successful. It strays very far away from the Wings' winning formula. It even strays from why a lot of those other players -- Selanne, Gretzky, Hossa for financial solvency, for instance, that other teams have found it necessary to trade one of their greatest assets. The Wings aren't that team. We, as fans, in this decade and last, we're fortunate and even lucky. Now -- can we afford some other team's star (while keeping the core we have intact)? That's a much more likely scenario.

I think that's part of what makes an effective 4th liner. When we loved Maltby, everyone [else] hated him.