Wings should NOT make a deadline deal.

[redwinger4747 6]

This years Red Wings are the most complete team since the 02 Cup year. We do NOT need to make a deadline deal. Making a deal just for the sake of making one is stupid. We don't need a 2nd line scorer, we don't need a power forward, we don't need a top 6 defenseman, we don't need ANYTHING. Our team is great, we should stand pat, The Ducks did and look what happened. Don't fix something that isn't broken!

Go Wings, NO DEAL!

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

And if two key defensive players go down after the deadline like last year, then what?

There's a reason teams make deals, its to ensure they have the most sound roster on the ice. Bringing in a couple guys to ensure that players contribute and as injury insurance is never a bad idea unless they're a locker room cancer.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Find a way to guarantee me that everyone on the current roster will stay healthy and then I'll hear you out.

[Guest Jeremy88]

Find a way to guarantee me that everyone on the current roster will stay healthy and then I'll hear you out.

Find a way to guarantee that anyone brought in before the deadline will stay healthy

[Matt 1,049]

Sorry, but when you've got $5-million in cap space and a chance to bolster a very solid lineup with depth prior to the deadline -- you do it.

To let that $5-million go to waste would be an injustice.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Find a way to guarantee that anyone brought in before the deadline will stay healthy

You just further proved my point. You can't guarantee anyone will stay healthy, and to waste $5 million in Cap space because you think we have everything is stupid. You'll end up being one injury away from catastrophe (ala Schneider).

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

There's absolutely no reason to not add to your lineup in case the unmentionable happens.

[tony 3]

i dont care if we get a chance to bring in sundin for a small price then that has to be done no questions asked

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Playoffs and Regular season are 2 different things. As good as we are, were gonna get run over by the tougher teams. With 5 million in space and some injurie prone players, they will make deals. They wont shake up the team, but deals will be made.

Edited December 28, 2007 by Detroit # 1 Fan

[Matt 1,049]

... As good as we are, were gonna get run over by the tougher teams...

I think that's an exaggeration. Some players (most notably Hudler, IMO) will be knocked around a bit but I would think that the playoff run last year would've dispelled any notions that this team would be practice dummies for opposing teams in terms of physical play.

That said, it wouldn't hurt at all to add a few bigger bodies to the lineup.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

Sorry, but when you've got $5-million in cap space and a chance to bolster a very solid lineup with depth prior to the deadline -- you do it.

To let that $5-million go to waste would be an injustice.

Very good said matt

[Dabura 12,232]

If you've been a Wings fan for more than one season, you know the regular season means nothing. Or, more specifically, that dominating the league in the regular season doesn't necessarily translate to dominating in the postseason. The 62-win team is the perfect example.

There's always room for improvement. There certainly is with this team, which remains short on scoring depth, a top-4 stay-at-home defenseman, size, muscle, and snarl.

Besides, like Matt said, there's no reason not to take advantage of that space.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

This years Red Wings are the most complete team since the 02 Cup year. We do NOT need to make a deadline deal. Making a deal just for the sake of making one is stupid. We don't need a 2nd line scorer, we don't need a power forward, we don't need a top 6 defenseman, we don't need ANYTHING. Our team is great, we should stand pat, The Ducks did and look what happened. Don't fix something that isn't broken!

Go Wings, NO DEAL!

Based on your reasoning, we should have won the cup every year since 02, because we had the best team in the league each year going into the playoffs. Also, don't forget that some other top team could sign a big player, which might give the Wings incentive to sign one of their own.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I think that's an exaggeration. Some players (most notably Hudler, IMO) will be knocked around a bit but I would think that the playoff run last year would've dispelled any notions that this team would be practice dummies for opposing teams in terms of physical play.

That said, it wouldn't hurt at all to add a few bigger bodies to the lineup.

Yeah, there are guys on the roster that wont take a beating. But teams know we're not the toughest, or the biggest, and sometimes that's an advantage (Calgary, San Jose) and others not so good (Anaheim).

But I agree, a couple more big bodies couldnt hurt.

[thedisappearer 291]

I can understand about wanting injury insurance and depth... got it. But to say we'd be "wasting" $5mil in cap space is erroneous. WE aren't saving a thing, Mr Illitch is. And it's not "savings", it's just not more spending. You have to look at what the return on the investment is- spending $2mil on a guy who might not even play in the playoffs... that might be a hard sell, especially when the Tigers payroll just skyrocketed with the additions of Willis and Cabrera. Mr I has always been willing to spend the money, but it's his money. We are not wasting a thing.

[Dabura 12,232]

We are not wasting a thing.

Truism.

Guys, the Wings should and will make at least one deal before the postseason. Deal with it.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

IF $5 million dollars brings me an inch closer to a Cup, spend it.

With the options that will be available to the Wings in March, they should do some serious courting. They are the best team in the NHL and players on non-plyoff teams will want to come here. If we can get a Fedorov, Blake, Satan, or Jovo.

[Grittzkey 1]

Could we survive without making a deal? Sure. We have a great team.

We dont need a trade but it sure wouldnt hurt if we did. I think Babs now knows that Huddles and Flipper are a key part to this team And are a huge part of our future. So they are not options to fish away.

My Wants Are As Follows:

1. 4th Line Agitator

2. Depth D-Man

1. We could always Use another Agitator come playoff time. Sharks,Ducks,Flames all play a tough game, last year we proved we could handle it, but we need to prove we can also dish it out.

2. I like Meech, But he isnt our answer as a depth d-man, he really needs more PT to develop into a 5-6 D-man same with Quincey for that matter. If we cant add someone I wouldnt mind giving Brad Ference and Kyle Quincey a chance later in the season.

think that's an exaggeration. Some players (most notably Hudler, IMO) will be knocked around a bit but I would think that the playoff run last year would've dispelled any notions that this team would be practice dummies for opposing teams in terms of physical play.

That said, it wouldn't hurt at all to add a few bigger bodies to the lineup.

Pfft Hudler is a bad ass. Someone checks him, he cross checks them in there head.. You dont worry about Big Hudz.. He fights his own battles.

Edited December 28, 2007 by Grittzkey

[ProfessorLidstrom5 0]

This years Red Wings are the most complete team since the 02 Cup year. We do NOT need to make a deadline deal. Making a deal just for the sake of making one is stupid. We don't need a 2nd line scorer, we don't need a power forward, we don't need a top 6 defenseman, we don't need ANYTHING. Our team is great, we should stand pat, The Ducks did and look what happened. Don't fix something that isn't broken!

Go Wings, NO DEAL!

You are aware that we are only halfway into the season right?? There is still a lot to be played before the trade deadline even. Anything could happen from now until Feb. 28th.

[Guest jaytan]

Are you kidding me? This team isn't tough enough to battle through the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup. We need to tweak the roster a bit. In addition to that, there's not enough scoring depth for a Cup run. I'll shave every hair off my body if the Wings win the Cup this year with their current roster.

Edited December 28, 2007 by jaytan

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Sorry, but when you've got $5-million in cap space and a chance to bolster a very solid lineup with depth prior to the deadline -- you do it.

To let that $5-million go to waste would be an injustice.

Exactly.

Especially considering Mr. I has some very deep pockets. It's not like an extra 5 mill is going to break the bank.

[LIDDYGIBBY5 1]

Lets face it, this team isn't young. Older players are more prone to injuries and fatigue. Kronwall hasn't played a full season yet, the injury bug has already done some biting. I wouldn't mind seeing a second line type player, a tough guy with a little scoring touch, or some depth on D. (Or all three) When a team thinks that they have everything that they need, that is when they start to believe what everyone is saying about them and they think that they don't have to try hard because they are supposed to win. I wouldn't go out and make a trade just because, but I also wouldn't sit back and wait for someone to come calling either.

[Matt 1,049]

But to say we'd be "wasting" $5mil in cap space is erroneous. WE aren't saving a thing, Mr Illitch is. And it's not "savings", it's just not more spending. You have to look at what the return on the investment is- spending $2mil on a guy who might not even play in the playoffs... that might be a hard sell, especially when the Tigers payroll just skyrocketed with the additions of Willis and Cabrera. Mr I has always been willing to spend the money, but it's his money. We are not wasting a thing.

That's semantics. Stop taking the "we" in the literal sense when you know exactly what people are insinuating.

"spending $2mil on a guy who might not even play in the playoffs..." -- is everyone suddenly gun-shy after the trades for Bertuzzi and Calder?

Whenever you deal for someone there's some level of risk involved. If you're afraid to take calculated risk then you shouldn't be an NHL GM.

The Wings, despite what the latest opins in the media say, need a top six forward, preferably a winger with size that can score. (You know, what's on *everyone's* wish list.) And they'd certainly be better served to add a depth defenseman less we repeat the unfortunate circumstances of last year's run.

To me, it comes down to the fact that if one of Datsyuk/Zetterberg are out during any stretch in the playoffs opposing defenses will just key off on the healthy one... And for all of the dazzling play of the Wings' second line right now with Samuelsson and Hudler, they'll get pounded in the post-season.

They need another legitmate scoring threat to keep defenses honest. They have the cap space to do that -- whether or not they want to part with the assets (or have them) to make a deal like that happen is another story.

[Matt 1,049]

It's not like an extra 5 mill is going to break the bank.

And it's not like the Wings weren't willing to spend a large chunk of it during the off-season, either -- it was just a matter of finding the right player to plug into the lineup. They didn't want to put a square peg into a round hole and that line of thinking has left them with enough cap space now to trade for an elite-level scoring forward if they choose to do so.

The added bonus on all of this is I don't think management expected to have the season they are up to this point nor for the younger players to blow through early-season growing pains so spectacularly by mid-December.

The fact this club has $4-5m to spend to improve on this team is the icing on the cake.

[Copenhagen848 58]

I still think the Wings need a big power forward. A desperate, big, physical team will knock the Wings around come playoff time. Unfortunately, I think guys like Hudler and Flip are going to get smacked around like red-headed step children.

As mentioned, the post season is a totally different ball of wax.