Anomalously

Nine times (a Wing has scored the most goals), not since '65. Howe did it five times. A member of the Oilers, Kings, or Penguins has won the Art Ross 23 of the last 28 seasons. Add Montreal and Boston and it's 33 of 39 seasons. So what? If you don't play for the Oil, Kings, Pens, Habs, or Bruins you can't win the trophy? What does Gretzky, Orr, and Lefleur winning the Art Ross have to do with Z winning it?

It'd be interesting to see how many scored more with less time. Probably a very select group.

Spread out scoring hurts Z and helps Lecavalier? Lecavalier was playing with St. Louis last season, it's not like he's getting better linemates. Meanwhile, Tampa lost an offensive defenseman. The D starts the play, Lidstrom and Rafalski are way better at starting a play -- hell, Stuart and Kronwall are more capable than anybody Tampa is bringing.

A four-minute penalty is a double minor.

Did you not see the part where I said, "Fact is, we don't know what happens"? And the next post that said "hint: the media reports weren't credible"? Here, let me spell it out for you: I'm linking the fact that it was written that the players hated Babcock, and it was written the players hated Therrien. The Babcock thing has been debunked, no? The players who didn't like Therrien re-signed in Pittsburgh. It was never substantiated either. Dude, read what I say, and then consider the context of my remarks. It helps.

I was hoping he'd retire. That would make Lidstrom the likely captain of Team Sweden in 2010.

Gary Roberts re-signed while Therrien was coach. He liked his coach enough to sign for two years. And he and Laraque were the two (offensive) healthy scratches in the Finals. They didn't have enough money for Malone, since they wanted to sign Hossa. And Hossa didn't sign. Conklin knew the Pens' $5m/year, 24-year-old (next year) goaltender was going to play -- a lot, barring injury. Look at the situation in Detroit; if he beats an inconsistent AHL goaltender in training camp, he might have a chance for 25 games. No, he didn't play Crosby as much as others thought he should, specifically on the penalty kill. But their penalty kill wasn't the problem -- and was, in fact, excellent. Staal, Malone, Talbot, Ruutu, etc. did a number on their opponents on the PK. If he would have put Crosby on the ice for a PK, broken up the chemistry those forwards had generated over the first 100 games, he would have been criticized for that, too, if the Wings would have started lighting Crosby and his pals up. As for keeping Roberts benched, they went 12-2 on their way to the Finals. No team is going to change what won the last game. Maltby was kept on the bench for McCarty -- why? Because the Wings were winning. You can argue he did it late (should have done it after losing the first game), but it was a close game until the end. Therrien is an ok coach. I don't think he's the guy I'm getting my team to go all the way with. I don't see him as a great tactician, I don't see him as a great motivator, and I don't see him as a guy with a great deal of dignity. He's is stubborn. But he did take his team from 58 points to 102, and he did coach his team to the Finals. That's generally the point where you re-sign a guy. If not, people outside of your organization wonder what else is wrong with your organization. It wouldn't strike me as a great recruiting technique.

blah blah blah blah -- hint: the media reports weren't credible.

I was trying to say that it's awesome when they do it on the way in -- and isn't when they do it on the way out. It's hilarious that Hossa, at 300 goals, will be the top goal scorer. Wasn't all that long ago when we had 3 guys with double, and another with almost a hundred more.

All the players hated Babcock, too, and he got a three-year extension. (according to media reports) Fact is, we don't know what happens. Crosby is signed for the duration of Therrien's contract (which doesn't actually start for another year, he's on board for 4 years) -- think if he didn't like Michel that he'd be there for very long?

Same thing happened with Fedorov. Wasn't as cool when he scored #400 with the Ducks. Strange that these things happen riiight before a milestone.

He's so requesting a trade to Detroit in a couple of years.

They are workout buddies in the offseason. Well-documented that Tomas talked up the Wings.

He scored 20 points in 4 consecutive playoffs (95, 96, 97, 98) and 19 in 2002. If you look at the production those years, if you look at talent, Fedorov probably wins it (Yzerman wasn't a slouch either). Fedorov was always a playoff performer, always played when it mattered. norrisnick -- to say we wouldn't get out of the first round in 2002 without Yzerman is silly. The reason [as I see it] Detroit had troubles in the first round was because the Wings locked up the President's Trophy in March and didn't need to have that drive down the stretch. That team was talented enough to win, just as the team this year was talented enough to win without Yzerman. In 97, 98, we probably needed Yzerman, Fedorov, and Lidstrom to win those. Last, betterREDthandead, it is hard to argue that Datsyuk's contributions in 2002 make him so much worthy to be above Draper's "long-term contribution" but Z can't make the list. Z has consistently been better in the playoffs (2 fewer points in 20 fewer games), just as good defensively, with pretty much equitable PPG in the regular season. I'd like to hear your rationale.

Pittsburgh, great. Beyond that, should be Toronto/Boston/Montreal, though. It's already been said, but I may as well echo it.

I want to clarify... if we're going by players that have played in the last 15 years, then your list is probably near-definitive (although arguments for Lidstrom at #1 can still be made)... but the way I take the question, who has been the best over the past 15 years? In that case, the list is still great, but Lidstrom ought to be the clear #1 (unless you put another category for sentimentality or tenacity). 715 in 757 for Yzerman... (after his prime, 3 Cups, 1 Gold) 767 in 1088 for Lidstrom... (6 Norris Trophies, 4 Cups, 1 Gold) For me, it's case closed. Lidstrom's prime has been completely in sync with this team's success.

More versatile, younger, bigger, better skater. Not knocking Holmstrom (who is more of an asset on the powerplay), but Homer doesn't kill penalties. You are right that Homer makes his money. By the end of his contract we'll need to move on. He's already 35, he only has so many roles, and there'll be younger guys who should be able to take his ice time by then. I do hope he retires a Wing. For now, he has chemistry with some of our most important offensive threats, and at his price, that's critical depth.

http://www.redwingscentral.com/prospects/ Nowhere except LGW?

Also said that D deals were being made in September. With interested parties now, Ottawa probably isn't waiting until Detroit decides if Ericsson, et al. are ready.

Not going to happen either.

Not going to happen. As a sidenote, this is another gem that was in the Penguins' system. The return -- Laraque -- is now gone.

He said the Wings were getting younger. That the nucleus of the team was Zetterberg, Datsyuk, not Shanahan, Yzerman.

Crosby Ovechkin Datsyuk Zetterberg Iginla Malkin Lecavalier Getzlaf Hossa Kovalchuk

This was the deal they needed to make. They'll be a two-time (consecutive) playoff team in April. Doubt they'll be playing in May, though.

How does a Cup winner trend up? I'll take it though!