Anomalously

Datsyuk has a deal with RBK, too. They have Crosby, too, so he plays second fiddle to some extent. Crosby does use a different stick (Sherwood), so Datsyuk was the main promoter of the O-stick.

If Kopecky were riding the bench last year, he wouldn't have so highly recommended the Wings to his workout buddy. We wouldn't have Hossa. Cup + Hossa > Asham. I'd rather read about our lack of grit than our lack of secondary scoring. Asham is, however, a solid signing for the Philadelphia Flyers.

"If I were GM..." ..... Washington needs to re-sign Fedorov. That's it, and they will make the playoffs.

What are you doing? Don't put Z on a line with Hossa and Franzen until he's signed a long-term contract!

Playoff totals. Just saying.

His faceoff percentage has been horrible. Was 4 for 14 one year. As in, for the entire 82 games. I bet he'll be the third man in (Z, D, Franzen, Fil all taking draws before him, the only exception would be maybe if he were on a line with Homer). [EDIT: It's funny: it sounds like I'm critiquing his game by saying he was horrible at the dot. He just won't be used here, ever, but I figured I'd answer the question.]

Did you watch hockey before Crosby was drafted? Malone scored 20 goals before Crosby was 18.

Sportsnet.ca says Holland and Hossa agreed on $8, but told Hossa he had to ask Lidstrom first. Hossa said, "What's Lidstrom make?" and subsequently signed at that number.

That's what I said 6/7/08. Hossa's paycut is $7.4M. Malkin gets $8.7. Staal hasn't re-signed yet (has 364 days to do so). Orpik gets $3.75. Malone gets $4.5 (but front loaded, and forever). Not bad for complete guesses, right?

Looks like Rolston might be headed to the Devils, 4 at $5 per.

Larionov in '98, the rest are right ('98). Don't know who the other forward was though. Lidstrom-Chelios was the D pairing for 2002.

BlueMonk, maybe it was harder for him decide when he was leaving on top... nobody competitive likes to leave the loser.

I said that was the defense in two years, as in, not 08-09, not 09-10 -- you said we're going to have Lidstrom under contract "for atleast the 09-10 season," which is exactly what I said. I also said there's a possibility that Lidstrom could play on ("pull a Chelios," playing past 40), so it's not like I set date certain. And you may think the Wings are going to pick up an awesome defenseman when he retires, but at what cost? Assuming Lecavalier re-signs for the way long-term, the Lightning have 5 players signed for 10-11 (Lecavalier, Boyle, St. Louis, Helenius, Quick). I wasn't predicting doom for the Wings -- I said nobody is right now. I was making these points: that we were spoiled with Lidstrom -- our defensive depth looks way better than it is because Lidstrom is the guy playing half of the game, rather than Rafalski or Kronwall. And that this signing doesn't tie the hands of the Lightning, which had been asserted, because I feel Lecavalier is worth it, based on his consistently high level of play, quality of minutes, lack of injuries, etc. We will have a large amount of cash open up when Lidstrom retires, but there won't be a Lidstrom on the market -- he'll have retired. There might be a number one defenseman, but Campbell is looking for $8M now. A top-flight defenseman in two years could cost $9 or $10M.

Opie, you can predict doom but a hard-working clear no. 1 pick can't be projected as a star? You're like disregarding the guy has real skills. My bet is Stamkos makes the NHL and makes a substantial impact -- no, not Crosby, Ovechkin, but I think it's reasonable to say he could have a Sam Gagne, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane type year. Beyond that, having Lecavalier/St. Louis and Prospal/Stamkos means there are two scoring lines. Lecavalier-St. Louis-Prospal-Stamkos, provided Stamkos lives up to Kane, is as talented as, say, Z-Dats-Franzen-Fil, provided Franzen doesn't score 82 in 82. In two years, when that latter combination costs us $20.5M, and we lose Lidstrom to retirement, we'll look an awful lot like Tampa, whose top 4 forwards might even cost less, and we won't have the luxury of having the best defender in the league anymore. Raf-Lilja Kronwall-Ericsson Meech-Quincey That's our defense in two years, assuming Lidstrom doesn't pull a Chelios. We have a lot of depth now, but we won't have Lids forever. Nobody here is predicting doom, but it's a lot easier from the top rather than the bottom. Tampa is just about to sign a top 5 forward in this league for less than what Crosby and Ovechkin are making. It's a solid move... I can't honestly predict the moves over the course of the next 2-3 years for the Wings and the Lightning, but I don't think you can say this handcuffs them to a point of mediocrity given their excellent drafting position and current personnel. -- Also, to those who say the only difference is Z's defensive prowess, Vinny is stronger, bigger, more physical, better goal scorer. They're both top 5. There isn't a huge difference, this is like comparing Eric Lindros and Sergei Fedorov in 93-95. You wouldn't -- besides saying that they were both top 5.

Just a quick thought... Holland keeps talking about having $13M to spend, worried about next year, focused on one-year deals. Likes his core. I think we've all debunked this myth that somehow we couldn't somehow swing another guy, even after Fil, Franzen and Z get paid. I think Holland is thinking long-term goaltending solution with the money that's obviously there but isn't getting spent long-term (yet).

Lucky guy. I mean, sure, they sucked this year, but I'm sure it'd be fun to coach their powerplay...

From all of us, another great season for the Wings, and another year as one of the top sports fansites on the web -- thank you, Matt, for your continued dedication to the site. I think it adds a great dimension to be able to interact with so many other Wings fans -- especially for the great deal of us who are out of the Detroit metro.

Yzerfan -- was going to say the same thing. Holmstrom is the #1 Wings candidate, Cleary and Kronwall probably #2. Not Zetterberg, not Lidstrom.

Scoring lines 1a, 1b and 2 sure hurt us in 2002. Oh wait...

There went a lot of his trade value until he signs. The Penguins might have cap space if he does decide to return.

Also want to add on another topic: Stuart was a rental. Rental players can be had every deadline. And they're usually fairly cheap. Not saying we could get that player, but they're usually commodities to be had. It's a gamble, but we did have that significant hole in our D all season last go-around with quite a bit of success. We were first overall when Stuart got here. It's not like we have to have this guy all year long.

I didn't see any Maple Leafs games this year, so this is what I'm going by: 32 goals, 46 assists, 78 points, 74 games. +17 on a team that was -29 overall (GA minus GF) and -4 (even strength). Still plays 20 minutes/game.

And I gave him the same amount of change, even though Filppula isn't Zetterberg. Zetterberg led the Swedish Elite League in scoring -- during the lockout when there was a great deal of talent in Sweden -- before he got his money.

Seriously? After two seasons of 40 points, Zetterberg gets a 4-year, $10.4M contract. After 17 and 36, Fil gets 5 for $15M or 5 for $17M? He's good, but... But come on... just because we have money doesn't mean we have to spend it. Sign Val for four years at $10M/year.

Why would you do that? Then you'd be blue in the face and, IMO, wrong. Malone does everything Cleary does... adds a spark, plays the PK, plays the second PP, goes to the net hard, etc. But he's 6-4 224 (Dan is 6-0 211), a year younger, fought nine more times than Clears, and has put up at least 16 goals every season he's been in the league -- Crosby/Malkin on the team or not [scored 22 without either of them his rookie season]. Nothing about how good he is in the video, but it is a spectacular don't-give-up play. And that's the kind of player he is.