Wings sign (G) Adam Berkhoel, (D) Brad Ference

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Brad Ference is a tough S.O.B. I like this deal. Even if he is going to play in GR. I'm sure he'll be called up a lot. Good stuff.

I have no idea who the goalie is though..

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

Brad Norton would destroy Brad Ference

Unless im missing something and this is a completely new version of Brad Ference...i 100% concur.

not sure about that...

This debate reminds me a little of "who would win in a comic book throwdown, batman or spiderman?"

I maintain that Ference sucks. An addition to Grand Rapids if they need a big doofus.

But who knows, maybe he has "sharpened" his skills in the minor leagues the last few years.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

This debate reminds me a little of "who would win in a comic book throwdown, batman or spiderman?"

I maintain that Ference sucks. An addition to Grand Rapids if they need a big doofus.

But who knows, maybe he has "sharpened" his skills in the minor leagues the last few years.

Spiderman might win a fight on the web, cause of home advantage obviously, but off-line Batman would stomp his ass.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Surely they're both bound for Grand Rapids?

[Guest DetroitIan]

Surely they're both bound for Grand Rapids?

Oh absolutely. But injuries should get them atleast a little NHL experience this upcoming season.

[viking58 0]

what did we trade for these guys? a used puck bag?

[Lou_Siffer 1]

what did we trade for these guys? a used puck bag?

close....Josh Langfeld.

[Guest DetroitIan]

close....Josh Langfeld.

HAHAHA! Exactly. Except only close in the sense that the bag of pucks have a little more value.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

HAHAHA! Exactly. Except only close in the sense that the bag of pucks have a little more value.

Hey wait a sec, he just said a used puck BAG...he never said that used bag would actually contain pucks!

used bag w/ pucks > Langfeld

Edited July 4, 2007 by Lou_Siffer

[Matt 1,049]

Umm... how many times have we seen the NHL muck up? And who really gives a damn anyway?

Care to cite any examples recently where the NHL's official site has posted a roster move in error? Did you realize this same method was how it was uncovered that Brad Isbister had signed with the Canucks this week? Or how fans found out that the Wings had signed Josh Langfeld and Krys Kolanos last season?

If you're going to huff and puff about things, please provide examples or you just come off as a blowhard.

And as for "who really gives a damn?" -- how about people that follow the game a little more in-depth than what just will sit on the NHL roster. If you don't "give a damn" then don't read it and don't post in it.

Berkhoel is a HIDEOUS goalie. His NHL experience has given him a near-4.0 GAA and a sub-.900 Sv%.

I'm not saying this guy is the second coming -- he's clearly earmarked to back up Howard in Grand Rapids -- but the guy played for ATLANTA. Nine games in Atlanta does not a career make.

I also seem to remember some goaltenders in the past, too, that looked really good in the NHL at some point -- one won a Vezina and was out of the league three or so years later and the other, if I remember right, was unbeaten for 18-straight games as a rookie tender for the Penguins before Detroit ended the streak.

Jim Carey and Patrick Lalime, anyone? And where are they now? Lalime's just clawing onto an NHL roster still and Carey retired.

This guy won't be called upon in Detroit at all, but don't sit there and earmark the guy's career from such a small sampling.

I doubt this news is for real. It would be inane. Un-sticky it.

I don't seem to recall at any time deeming you as someone that could declare what should be "stickied" or not -- I suggest you don't start now.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Thank you Matt. His complaining was really getting annoying.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

They may be signings for GR. I have a good feeling about Ference, I hope he has a great , GREAT camp and earns a spot on this team.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

They may be signings for GR. I have a good feeling about Ference, I hope he has a great , GREAT camp and earns a spot on this team.

Same here. Pair him up with Kronner and they will be a beastly force. LOL

[Kp-Wings 3]

As it is, Ference does have NHL expierence, and has been a regular for a few teams in his career. It's not like this is a Josh Langfeld signing or anything, since Ference has some good potential still.

He was a top 10 draft pick back in 1997. So obviously, the scouts saw something in him. I have a feeling he still has that potential, and if given a proper opportunity here, he could do well.

Berkhoel could very well play the role of Joey MacDonald this season. Or, he'll be Howards backup in GR. Overall, it's not a bad signing.

Neither signing is bad, so I really people are acting a little weird about what's going on. Holland went out and signed a physical defenseman who still has potential, and a backup goalie for GR or the new #3 goalie here in Detroit. If neither work out, they'll be in GR. It's a simple as that. I don't see what the problem is.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Hold on let me try out a practice post...

What the F**** why did they cut him, its not Fair-ence!

Alright, that'll work i guess..see ya in the preseason.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

As it is, Ference does have NHL expierence, and has been a regular for a few teams in his career. It's not like this is a Josh Langfeld signing or anything, since Ference has some good potential still.

He was a top 10 draft pick back in 1997. So obviously, the scouts saw something in him. I have a feeling he still has that potential, and if given a proper opportunity here, he could do well.

Berkhoel could very well play the role of Joey MacDonald this season. Or, he'll be Howards backup in GR. Overall, it's not a bad signing.

Neither signing is bad, so I really people are acting a little weird about what's going on. Holland went out and signed a physical defenseman who still has potential, and a backup goalie for GR or the new #3 goalie here in Detroit. If neither work out, they'll be in GR. It's a simple as that. I don't see what the problem is.

I have a feeling he'll be the Cleary of this year if he can make the team.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

I have a feeling he'll be the Cleary of this year if he can make the team.

Woah. I was just going to post something very similar to that.

What the F**** why did they cut him, its not Fair-ence!

Ahahaha

You are too good, Jeff.

What do you think of this signing? I figure you'd like him because he's very physical.

[Superman54 91]

KP-Wings by reading your posts you seem very happy abouth this, nothing wrong with that don't get me wrong. I am too excited to get Ference here. As mentioned before I also hope he makes the team!

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Woah. I was just going to post something very similar to that.

Ahahaha

You are too good, Jeff.

What do you think of this signing? I figure you'd like him because he's very physical.

lol thanks. I like signing Ference just to have him around, because i like the idea of getting toughness into the minors and using that player's physicality as a foundation to build off of. You'll never know when you can strike gold and groom him into something complete and valuable. But the chances of ever seeing him are very slim, as much as i want someone physical even i have to realize he'll probably never crack the D barring 3-4 injuries. So that kinda sours it. Its not like a tough winger where at any moment he could be thrown in in place of an insignificant 4th liner, Ference would actually have to beat out quite a few guys on defense to ever get an oppurtunity. Its just not likely we'll ever see him.

[DSM 114]

Can anyone say Depth signings?

Ference will take Norton's spot in GR I've read Meech will get the #7 spot.

I have a feeling Berkhoel won't be the only new goalie for Detroit this summer. He and somebody else will compete for what Joey Mac's job, and the other will backup Howard in GR, with Pier-Olivier Pelletier taking Koopmans job in Toledo.

To answer the question about Koopmans retiring, his developement with the wings has gone no where, because he's been hampered with injuries. He's only played 64 games in the past 3 years, all in the ECHL. If he returns, he'll either be back in the ECHL or he'll backup Howard in GR.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Dont get me wrong though, if he were to actually make the team i'd be really happy. I just cant see it as a possibility at this point.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Dont get me wrong though, if he were to actually make the team i'd be really happy. I just cant see it as a possibility at this point.

Yeah I see what you mean. I got an odd feeling though that we'll see him a bit during the regular season.

[Kp-Wings 3]

KP-Wings by reading your posts you seem very happy abouth this, nothing wrong with that don't get me wrong. I am too excited to get Ference here. As mentioned before I also hope he makes the team!

I do like the signing. Ference is a kind of guy that I'd like to see on the Wings.

Another good thing about this is I hope it's a sign of things to come for Holland. Him signing a gritty Canadian kind of took me by surprise, so I hope he's getting smart and realizing that is what this team needs. Now if he could only go out and sign Arron Asham and Jason Weimer, and send Hudler packing, everything would be all set for next season.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Same here. Pair him up with Kronner and they will be a beastly force. LOL

Too bad Kronwall will be out for half of the season...

Edited July 4, 2007 by Aussie_Wing

[Kp-Wings 3]

To bad Kronwall will be out for half of the season...

Duck and cover people!