Echolalia

If our team can avoid another horrible mishap with injuries that plagued the Wings especialluy throughout February and all the way up to the playoffs, I think beating our old record of 62 seems reasonable. Unfortunately, we just won the Cup, so we're the team to play against this year, so we might have to endure more physicality, and with that eventually comes injuries. I say we'll get 61.

Well at least the Leafs still have Finger.

This is bananas.

Today's line I think has more capbilities, however I would prefer Hossa play the second line with Filppulla and Franzen, except maybe in powerplays and last minute situations.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

If its anything above 2.5 I will realistically not do a damn thing, but will be angry at his overpayment, to say the least.

Hahaha I knew something wasn't right when I posted that, but my point still stands. Not including the second Lidstrom, there are 14 players total on that 56M-7.5M roster. We need at least 12 forwards, at least 6 defensmen, and at least two goalies (starter, and backup). That gives us about 7.5M between this moment and the 09-10 season to sign five more players including a backup goalie. Hossa and Zetterberg will have to take unheard of discounts. Actually, looking into the future, we have Rafaski, Kronwall, and Stuart all becoming UFA's in the same season (incidentally two years after Lids becomes a UFA). I'm somewhat worried about what problems that may create, but hopefully Holland will still be with us at that point.

Like I said, normally I would agree with you, but the Wings are just that good. The only possible way they can lose is if they lose to themselves, and out of all the coaches in the nhl, I think Babcock safeguards against that the best. Sure we might face bad bounces, a hot goalie, etc etc, but that won't stop us. Nashville last year won two games entirely on bad bounces, and their goalie was probably the hottest goalie we saw all playoffs. Bad bounces? We are already so experienced in overcoming bad calls its not even funny. The year before Kippursoff was a fricken wall. We're too disciplined to let that get to us. We're too clutch to be buried by a bad bounce. We're too explosive for any goalie to contain us. We're just too good. And I say this is the most objective way I possibly can (because I know this is coming off incredibly homeristic (and now I'm also coming off as someone incredibly bad at inventing new words on the spot), but look at our lineup. Then look at everyone elses. And yeah, there are always injuries, and thats something I am concerned about, but I addressed that in my previous post. The way I'm looking at it is, this year we inherited a Stanley Cup winning team, with about 15 million dollars to make ourselves even better. Given the roster space we had, the money we had, our weaknesses we had, and all the free agents out there, we did singularly THE BEST possible thing with the resources we had. Essentially, given the team we had coming into July 1st, we improved it to its maximum capability. There are no other Hossa's out there. Stuart's among the best defensman available, and for a bit over 3.5M a year, he is THE best out there, especially considering our needs. Ty Conklin(sp?) is a capable backup, and for next to league minimum, hes an absolute steal.

hahaha

Tha'ts too sick for reality. Dats right now for 6.7 is a ridiculous steal. He could claim 8M in another hockey market (probably 12M in Toronto). Unfortunately with Zetterberg and Hossa, we can't pay them for 6 years for what their skill level was back when they were still developing like we did for Dats. Zetterberg I expect to get 7.5M, Hossa I have no friggen hope for, and Franzen's salary depends strongly on this season. I would expect somewhere in the 3-4M range. Anyway, if it turns out that way, we'll be looking at Lids 7.5 Dats 6.7 Cleary 2.5 Zetterberg 7.5 Franzen 3.5 Homer 2.25 Draper 1.65 Maltby .75 Lids 7.45 Rafalski 6.0 Stuart 3.75 Kronwall 3.25 Lilja 1.25 Lebda .85 Osgood 1.45 The total comes to 56.35, which puts us right up to the limit of this years cap, and these are just the players that we have signed through next year plus an estimated salary for Zetterberg and Franzen. All the other free agents between this year and next year are unsigned. If Hossa is going to stay here through next year, Holland will have to pull some serious magic out of his hat.

Welcome to the board. I hope you hate the Wings goaltending situation no matter what, and have crazy dreams about welcoming old Wings players back to Detroit. Otherwise you won't fit in. But don't worry. There's like three of us who haven't fit in for years and we're still here.

I think because Burke just kept the conversations about him and Lowe, whereas Lowe attacked the hockey community of Anaheim (definitely not good for tv ratings). Also, it takes two to argue, so honestly, I don't see anyone really stepping in until Lowe bites back, because honestly, there's no problem if its just one person complaining.

I have never heard of a team so top heavy in my entire life. I thought the Rangers were bad last year, but holy cow. Holy cow.

I know this sounds really Homerist of me, but I believe Kronwall will be the player to dethrone Lidstrom from his Norris streak, and it won't happen this year.

I think that article is silly. So Holland would only sign a player if he benefits the short term and the long term team? "Sorry Hossa. We can't keep you after this year, so we'll pass, but thanks anyway! That 1 year, 7.5M deal would've sent the media into a frenzy!"

I wouldn't say that. Its definitely down from where it was in the 80's, but I can easily see fighting making a comeback. Its only a matter of time before the entire league is predominantly "European" or "soft" or whatever you want to call it, and some outside-the-box GM drafts a 6'4" 250 lb pure enforcer to beat the s*** out of the other "enforcers" in the league, and maybe even other star players. Then everyone will be jumping on the bandwagon simply for real protection. Also, fighting is entertainment. Pure and simple in the smallest common denominator. Its been entertainment for as long as humans have been civilized (ironically enough). If Bettman can't pick up on that (or the majority of GMs in the league to convince him of the $$$ fighting can bring in), then my bet is that the next commissioner will. I mean, ask anyone. Everyone who's seen an 80's fight can tell you thats how a hockey fight is supposed to be. Like I said, its only a matter of time before that makes its way back into the nhl. One way or another, but I'd say slowly, like over the course of 10-20 years.

I can't tell you how many times that thought has come into my head

Thank god Bettman got into this when he did. The fans were beginning to take the heat, and Anaheim already has so few of them.

If Chelios can outplay who we have waiting in Grand Rapids, then yes, I definitely want him back. But if players like Meech and Quincey and whoever else is still waiting to get into the organization can prove they can bring more to the table that Cheli (when you consider his veteranship and lockerroom presence, he has alot), send 'em up and let Chelios go on his way.

With all this universal hatred towards Hossa he's never gonna want to leave Detroit

He should be able to hit that mark without too much of a problem. He put up more points last year, and that was with an injury that sidelined him throughout February, and with Hossa on the team this year (regardless of whether he's a 1st liner or 2nd liner), our offensive numbers as a whole should be higher than last year's, and Lidstrom will definitely see his share of the points.

Awesome. The Sens are my "Team from the East" until the Leafs get their crap together.

Well they're doing a bang up job of hole patching, at least

I thought Jagr was getting 7M (tax free) in Russia, and I wouldn't even spend 2M on Fedorov

I hope so bad to be at this game. I'll only be 45 minutes away. So does anyone have a rough price range for Winter Classic I tickets?