Echolalia

Do what you can to keep them from making it a 3 point game. We have faith in you.

Thank God we still have half the season to play. I can't believe our luck, though.

Whoa slow down bucko, I agree with you that he's worth more than 1M. You may recall I've been throwing out numbers between 1.5 and 2M for him. My argument is that he is not a consistent 30 goal scorer. I also don't consider 2 seasons out of 12 as the grounds to consider someone a consistent 29 goal scorer either. I don't buy the "he was on pace" nonsense. If he didn't do it, then he didn't do it. Physicality is a big part of his game and injuries are to be expected. It doesn't matter if a player is on pace for a 100 goal season if they never play more than 20 games. Also, comparing him to Ryan Smyth isn't realistic either, because Smyth has more than one facet to his game. Sure he's awesome at tipping and playing right in front of the crease, but he also knows how to play hockey on other parts of the ice, something that Homer avoids for his team's sake. Smyth's salary is a testament to that. He's also grossly overpaid, which is another no-no when making comparisons to defend how much someone should or should not make. Again, Homer will most likely end up between 1.5 to 1.75M.

I wouldn't be so quick to call Homer a consistent 30-goal scorer when he's only actually scored 30 goals once in his entire career.

Updated. Jimmy has the 7th best save percentage and 6th best GAA in the league right now. Not bad at all.

I don't expect Holland to give him any more than 2M, considering his role with the team, his history of injuries, his age, and the demanding toll that his role takes on his body. Also, where are you getting this 30 goals business from?

I don't know, over 170 man games lost says a lot when a team has only played 41 games. Granted, there were definitely a number a games, injured or not, where I was banging my head against the TV because it looked like those who were healthy forgot how to play. In any event, we're only 3 points out of a playoff spot which all things considered is nothing short of amazing. The boys have started to realize this year isn't about coasting to a top seed but actually giving 100% every night, which gives me much hope when our core returns.

There was talk couple years ago about issuing a mandatory 15% tip statewide. When people mentioned that they don't tip that proposal was the first thing that popped into my mind.

Miller Brew: Its the post right above the mine.

I don't know about Homer getting a pay raise. Yeah, he's leading our team in goals this year, but this is equally due to a number of scorers being injured and under-performing as it is his own skill. Additionally, Homer's only real role on the team is to stand in front of the opposition's net and wreak havoc. Fortunately this does result in a number of goals, but that's all he is really responsible for. If this guy even stick-handles in the neutral zone Mickey Redmond starts cracking jokes about earning overtime. Let's face it: Homer is 36 years old, and getting paid 2.25M not to play defense, set up goals, penalty kill, cause penalties, grind, enforce, cause turnovers, skate fast, hang onto the puck for more than a second, or any other role that is associated with hockey, but just to park his ass in front of some goalie's face and tip in shots and rebounds. He has averaged around 40 points per year since 2000 and he's on pace to continue that streak right now. Additionally, Holland also needs to keep in mind that Homer has become more injury prone and he's getting older. That doesn't equate to a pay raise, or even a flat salary over two contracts, because everyone is predicting his value to depreciate as time goes on, regardless of what kind of year he has right now. Having said that, 40 points is definitely something, especially when half of them consist of power play goals. 1M is still too low for this guy. I imagine he'll re-sign somewhere in the ballpark of 1.5-1.75M.

Does anyone know their average home attendance this season, or where I could find something like that?

This is the first year in around two decades that the team has had to face real adversity in the regular season. It also doesn't hurt that half of our "tired" team from extensive playing in the past is out injured long-term. All this spells energy and hunger come playoffs as far as I'm concerned, and if they can ride it appropriately as well as play the stellar defense that they've learned is essential, then they're winning the Cup.

I don't think Abby will be staying up. Also, Bertuzzi seems to have great difficulty establishing chemistry with other players, so I'd be hesitant to break up him Dats and Homer. They're finally looking good out there. I expect Babs to roll with something similar to this, although God knows it will change up on a regular basis: Bertuzzi Dats Homer Franzen Zetterberg Williams Cleary Filpulla Leino Draper Helm Eaves

Then it was easily possible (and probable) that there were more Wings' fans in attendance at the game tonight than Coyotes' fans. It certainly appeared so. I believe they sold out tonight, fwiw. by the way thanks for the help

You don't know what that's going to do to his ego...

fixed my statement, hopefully its to your approval

shoot nm then

That's how Ozzie's been treated his whole career. Somehow I'm not any more worried about a rusty Osgood in net compared to one who's played the past 10 games.

Thank God Howard won, so now the "Howard can beat +.500 teams, but has a much more difficult time doing so, and as a result wins are fewer and farther between than if Osgood was in net" argument can start to crumble. Here's hoping he keeps up the good work.

6M for semin??

What's the word on Cleary? There have been some rumors that today is his day.

Roenick made a career of talking.

At least we have Miller

I knew there was something I was excited about today! Also, this marks the last of a horrible 2009. Here's hoping 2010 is much like 2008

The have around 21M to fill 9(ish) spots on the roster.