Echolalia

I guess the Wings noticed a positive effect of having vets like McCarty and Downey mentoring the Griffins and want to keep the streak going?

That's just crazy enough to work

Again, wonderful outdoor hockey weather. The person below me is Danny=Badass

THIS IS NOT WHAT I THOUGHT!!! Any free agents that allow two-five extra weeks rest dissuade them from a team that has made it to the finals twice in a row, as well as won the Cup four times since 97', and is still a strong Cup contender don't deserve to play for the Wings.

I don't mind it simply because there's so much outside stuff to do to pass the time, ie camping, fishing, hiking, outdoor hockey (we're all hot guys btw), swimming, etc etc. The person below me wishes the water cooler was more active and diverse

Travelocity really emphasizes the change in distance over a change in time, and still makes it sound sexy. All expedia has is a similar structure to echolalia, and do I really want to hear the same old stuff over and over from my travel agent? Travelocity by three points. Math or science (and don't give me crap about math being the queen of all sciences)

I'm in a great mood: work is going well, tonight I'm playing hockey in wonderful weather, I'm fresh off of two camping trips with a third at the end of the month, and I just sent in my rebate to make my new LG touch a $4 investment. Also: I knew it! about the third nipple The person below me likes showing off their battle scars.

yes the person below me has a third nipple

Santa's santa or satan

I was comparing our potential roster this year with that of two years ago when the Wings won the Cup. Dats Zetterberg Homer Franzen Filppulla Cleary Sammeulson Hudler Draper Maltby Drake Kopecky Lidstrom Rafalski Kronwall Lilja Lebda Chelios (Stuart aquired at deadline) Hasek/Osgood vs Dats Zetterberg Homer Franzen Filppulla Cleary Hudler Leino Helm Maltby Draper Abdelkader Lidstrom Rafalski Kronwall Stuart Ericsson Lebda/Lilja Osgood/Howard Of course this is all speculation based on our cap space and who is available, Holland quotes, etc, but all in all I'm looking at it as replacing Sammy with Leino, Drake with Helm, Kopecky with Abdelkader, Lebda/Lilja and Chelios with Ericsson and Stuart, and Hasek with Howard (although I think it's more accurate to say Hasek with Osgood, and Osgood with Howard). If there are any deviations with this projected lineup in reality, it will most likely include a low-wage 12th forward grinder in replace of Abdelkader. And of course all our player are two years older, which is beneficial for some (Franzen, Hudler), not so much for others (Lidstrom, Homer). In any event, if I were to pick a team to take us to the Cup, I feel a bit more optimistic with this year's lineup than 2008's. Granted the 2008 lineup had a bit more nhl experience than this year's which could definitely pan out to be significant in the long haul of 82+ games, but in terms of pure skill I think I'm leaning towards a Leino-Helm-Abby-Ericsson-Stuart-Howard combo over a Sammy-Drake-Kopecky-Lebda-Lilja-Hasek. Thoughts? And what would you prefer?

Whoop sorry about that. I was more typing down names as they came to me and not so much focusing on position, but yes, I agree on all accounts

They sure seem hungry and impatient for some success. Too bad they don't have a goalie

I'm a bit apprehensive with the idea of having up to four rookies on our team next year, but we don't have much space to work with so it might be our best option.

Awesome, although I was hoping for a 3 year deal.

Ericsson has about as promising a future as anyone in the league right now, imo. He needs to take advantage of the few years he has of playing with Lids and pick up a thing or two, but a top-two dman isn't out of the question. From what I've heard, Kindl seems to have plateaued in GR. Can anyone advocate for his play?

With Howard playing for the Wings next year, who will be playing alongside Larsson for the Griffins? McCollum?

Don't freak out just yet. This is just a smart financial move by Hudler (and all financially responsible RFA's btw) on the event that Holland doesn't offer him anything that he likes. They still have a while to negotiate a deal, and Hudler knows the financial crunch as well as the reputation that the Wings have. Also: no other teams can throw an offer at him

I think you may be overanalyzing a bit. The extra goals are consistent with what Hossa provided for us (Hossa scored 40 goals), which doesn't really emphasize a change in team style form defense-oriented to offense-oriented. Also remember that Osgood had a weak regular season last year, especially compared to the Hasek/Osgood tandem from two years ago. Our defense was a bit weaker last year, but I accredit that to not being hungry enough, or too sloppy, and not necessarily a more offensive based strategy.

Who exactly is going to dethrone us? San Jose is probably in the worst cap situation imaginable and is likely going to self destruct before October; Chicago, while talented, still lacks the experience, depth, and skill that the Wings have. Columbus and LA are in the same boat. Anaheim lost its best defensman and one of the primary reasons why they made it as far as they did. While we did lose Hossa, Kopecky, Conklin, and Sammy, the only one really detrimental to us is Conkin, as Howard still seems to have a shaky foundation. The Wings are offensively gifted and deep enough to get by without Hossa and the detriments that signing him would have brough. Kopecky and Sammy were the LGW whipping twins. I'm pegging the Wings as the favorites to win the Cup, despite likely media cock-sucking for Chicago and Pittsburgh.

Its not that bad. Only 30 more days for the absolute latest time period.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one

I'm not sold on Quick just yet. I do think he has potential and will get better, but the Kings need someone now, not in a couple years

People are jumping the gun.

Everything that has happened we already expected to happen or wanted. Why is everyone freaking out? Even the Hossa-to-Wings optimists knew he wouldn't be signing here as of Sunday, Holland announced over the weekend he wouldn't offer Conklin a contract, and nobody here likes Kopecky and is always saying they can't wait until he isn't a Wing anymore. Granted, it does kind of suck that they're all still in the division, but the Wings have to look out for themselves, and they're doing exactly that right now.

I love Sully but his injury history scares me, and I don't see him leaving the Preds.