imisssergei

Where I come from 'Pocket Rocket' isn't a positive nickname.....

Ha, I was hoping someone would make a reference!

I see that line of thinking, but what does Toronto really have to offer? The Leafs don't exactly have any stud prospects they could move, and on the NHL roster the only position they have anything to offer up is on D, which Boston is pretty set at. But at the same time Boston does want to dump some cap space, I could see a possible Kaberle/Kubina + picks for Kessel and a roster player. I've read rumors that the B's want to move Savard, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Savard moved instead of Kessel.

Patrick Kane showed a pretty good backhand in the playoffs.

No, this is a different situation. Boston has had ample time to makes something work. Boston needs to make a move in order to sign anyone. Who knows, maybe Boston wants someone to pull the trigger so they can get some picks.

A few things here. Sounds more to me like Hudler is excited about playing more minutes and having a larger role on the team. Let's face it, Hudler just wasn't good enough to justify a placement on Detroit's top 6. He was a good fit on the 3rd line, and 2nd pp unit. He has the talent to be better, but he never fully matured.

In light of Williams coming back, I say you get a 29 with 'Turnoverwaitingtohappen'. Or is that too long?

Antoine Vermette is stupid fast, he can cause so much havoc with his speed alone it's crazy. He would be awesome, and would probably be someone the Wings could afford. He's Max Afinogenov with defensive ability.

My first thought was, "Where's Potvin?" I can't believe he didn't make the list.

Really? Hossa Hudler Holmstrom Kopecky McCarty Maltby Samuelsson If by better than average you mean 50%+ none of these guys fit the mold. Yes, most of them aren't with the Wings anymore, but stats are stats.

I tend to lean toward enjoying them. He's young, living his dream, and loving every minute of it. Why not show it? Too often hockey fans tend to not wanting to see it. Hockey needs a more marketable star. Crosby is just to plain.

I've found that most companies are all about the same flex difference between levels. Meaning the difference between Easton 85 and 100 is about the same as the RBK regular and mid. The best sticks I've ever used are the Easton Stealth's, they are beasts.

I'm not forgetting anything Fedorov did. I honestly believe that he is the most talented player to ever lace up a pair of skates. The only problem that he had was motivation. Yes, Sergei at 75% was still better than most. But too often we saw the 50% or less Sergei. I'm not bitching, or taking a stab at him. It is what it is. I still wish he was on the team, and I hope he will finish his career as a Wing. There is simply no denying that Pavel is better one on one than Sergei. Fedorov never really undressed guys the way Pavel does. With Sergei it was more just beat the guy, usually with speed and his patented shoulder dip move. You never know where Pavel is going, or what he is going to do with the puck. However talented Sergei was/is, he didn't use the talents to their full potential. I still feel we never saw a 110% effort out of Fedorov for a full season. That's what really separates and elevates Pavel. He is solid every single night. And I think you are way off base to say that Pavel isn't a the offensive or defensive player you say Fedorov was. Any argument you make for Sergei could be flipped to one for Pavel, save Fedorov's ability to play as a defenseman. Really, a stat guy like yourself pulling out the era card eh? Pavel Bure could have scored 100 goals a year playing in the 50's. That's a straw man argument. Sergei was always a scoring threat. But to say he was the best in that era just isn't true. He never won the Art Ross. In fact, from 81-01 if you weren't named Gretzky, Lemieux, or Jagr, you didn't win the Art Ross. On the defensive side, Fedorov won 2 Selke's, to Pavel's one. It's safe to say that for the last 3 seasons Pavel has been talked about winning the award, and for the foreseeable future will continue to be right near the top of that list. He should end his career with a few Selke's. It's six in one hand...

All I'm saying is that anytime Canada doesn't win, it's an upset. You just can't say that about Russia. Canada's biggest obstacle is not getting the most talented team, but the right team. If it were about sheer talent, Canada would win very year, hands down. Vinny Crosby Thornton Iginla Nash Savard Getzlaf Carter Marleau Roy Cammalleri St. Louis Brad Richards Mike Richards Luongo Marty Fleury Giguere Come on. That's without putting any effort in thinking about it.

Exactly... With the way the game is called, Lebda can't get a stick or elbow up to protect himself without taking a penalty. Ozzie can't run interference, or play the puck. On a sidenote, I would like to know why Lebda stretched out the way he did. Doesn't make much sense to me. Hug the glass and let Clutterbuck absorb the recoil.

The biggest deal that the Wings have made at the deadline that worked? I'd say it's a toss-up.... In 96-97, the Wings traded for Murphy. At the time, Murphy had 39 points, he only finished with 43 points, one of his worst seasons. Or... In 07-08, the Wings traded for Stuart. Stuart brought a more physical game to Detroit. IMO, neither trade was a real big splash but points out what the Wings like to do and what works. Don't give up a roster player, get someone who fills a hole, fits into your system well, and who has the potential to stay with your club beyond the playoff run. Nothing big will be done. I would be be surprised to see a goaltender and/or dman were brought in. But I wouldn't be surprised if no one was brought in.

No they don't. Canada will always have the deepest talent pool to draw from. That is one of their greatest strengths and weaknesses. Russia brings everyone. Canada has to choose who stays home. Think about it. Out of Crosby, Savard, Thornton, Vinny, Cater, and Getzlaf, there is really only 4 spots available. Realistically speaking, Crosby, Thornton and Vinny are locks if they are willing. So it's really 1 spot from the other 3 guys. Russia won't have the chance to leave talent like that off the team.

Here is how I saw it. Lebda's hit was clean, but penalizable. Clutterbuck's hit was questionable, but legal. Regardless of opinion, I think something bigger is being missed. Mickey pointed it out right away. If Ozzie would have been able to play the puck, that wouldn't have happened. I think the NHL needs to get rid of or modify that rule.

At the height of his career, Sergei was simply amazing. And he did it on a team that was amazing. I don't think we've seen Datsyuk at his height quite yet, but no doubt it will come while playing for an amazing team just as Sergei did. Physcially, I think you have to give it to Fedorov hands down. He is so far above Datsyuk in skating abilities, and shooting. However, Datsyuk is equally ahead of Fedorov in the motivation category, and his one on one abilities. An honest side by side comparison of these two guys would give Fedorov and edge here and there, and the same with Datsyuk. In the end, they are pretty damn close. And I love Sergei. I really do. But he is not head and shoulders above Datsyuk. It might sound like the 'politically correct' answer, but I really think they are on the same level. They just got there in different ways. (That is the Sergei of yesteryear anyhow...)

Oh, thanks for pointing out that Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall and Stuart are immune to any injures or decline in play over the life of their contracts with the Wings. I didn't know that was part of the deal. It's not about the level of their talent. An injury can have the same effect. The highest paid goaltender on the Sens roster is making a cool million, and aren't paying a dman more than $3.5 per. That's Phillips, and while he is underachieving, that's no where near a crippling contract by any means. Stuart is being paid more, and only putting up slightly better numbers except in +/- which you could argue would be worse if he were playing for the Sens. I didn't forget about Franzen, but he won't get Hossa money. The reason the Wings can't sign both is just a simple lack of cap space.

No. But mostly because that trade really doesn't help the Wings too much. I think for the Wings to even think about moving Filpula, Hossa would have to already agreed to a long multi-year extension. Basically guaranteeing that the Wings will ice a top six forward group that is Hank, Pav, and Hossa. All the while somehow still gaining significant cap space for next season. Kenny has a thing for dmen at the deadline. I could see a deal for a dman with an expiring contract, maybe someone like Kuba. On the flip side, if the Wings do this, I have to ask myself if Kenny Holland has paid any attention to how the Sens have handcuffed themselves with their top 3. I know we could all list 100 reason why that should never happen in Detroit. But all it takes is an injury and what you thought was a no-brainer is now looking like a rookie mistake. One semi-serious injury with long term effects and you now have a guy getting paid to put up 1st line all-star numbers, while playing like a 3rd line role player. It's the old addage: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I dunno if this is exactly correct or not, but the way I heard it explained is this. The only difference between IR and LTIR is the length of time the player is out. The listed time tables above are what I was told. However, the team does get cap relief while the said player is out. So, for instance, lets take Brad Stuart's $3.75. That $3.75 is off the books until he comes back. So in a sense the team does save a little cap space, but only until the player comes back. Also, I believe that after being on the LTIR or the IR a player is eligible for up to 2 weeks of conditioning stint in the minors without having to pass through waivers on the way down or back up.

I've always liked how Commodore plays the game. So what if he has a grip with Babs. For every player who loves their coach like Kane did/does Savard, there are probably 30 who have a story similar to that of Commodore's. Big deal. Besides, Commodore has been traded a few times, that says something about a player. Sidenote......is there a pattern here?

I heard on the NHL network something like the LTIR is a minimum of 10 games out. That puts him back middle to late February...eek Don't forget, when the big ticket guy comes back, so does his payroll. The cap relief is only temporary. So as soon as that big ticket guy returns, the cap relief is gone.

I love what he bring to the table, but 12 years is too long with his chronic back problems. $6 per is a fair amount of a discount, but I'd rather see Hossa of 12 years than Hank and his aching back. Such is life.