Sign Abdelkader (now please)

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

OK, ok... so it's only been one game. I dont know if it was just me, but I thought he was one of the Red Wings top 3 players on the ice tonight. He brings those playoff intangibles that 90% of our team doesnt have (grinding ability, hitting). Not only can he do these things, the kid has a nack for the net which I can assure you after watching years of him here at Michigan State.

I was skeptical at first to see if he could hang with the big boys, but now that I saw his debut there is no reason why I wouldn't have him take the spot of Downey/Mac/Hartigan/Kopecky and maybe even Hudler at this point.

What are your thoughts?

[seeinred 1,488]

/signed

He looked sooo good tonight.

[Superman54 91]

what a kid! Sign him now!!!

[Majsheppard 203]

Oh he will be signed. The kid has charecter and wants to play, we need bodies.

I am thinking by lunch tomarrow he will be inked.

Especally with a possible season ending injury to Kopecky.

[Yemack 1]

Holland and his agent should be locked in a room and stay there until they come up with a contract.

[Yemack 1]

double post

Edited April 4, 2008 by Yemack

[Vincanni 1]

I wouldn't call him one of our top three contributers tonight but I am definitely a fan. I loved him as a Spartan and I feel he has adapted rather well thus far. He is exactly the type of player we could use in the playoffs, I can not agree with this any more especially with Kopecky possibly missing some time with his injury tonight, not too mention I think his play has surpassed anything Kopecky's done for us so far. However it still is just one game so I can not be too quick to judge.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

he looked great tonight, but he wont be handed a spot over hudler....hes gonna have to work hard to stay in the lineup

[timsummers 0]

Oh he will be signed. The kid has charecter and wants to play, we need bodies.

I am thinking by lunch tomarrow he will be inked.

Especally with a possible season ending injury to Kopecky.

i must have missed it? what happened to kopecky?

[CenterIce 83]

i must have missed it? what happened to kopecky?

He tweaked his knee late in the game. No word yet on how severe.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

He looked impressive, get him inked.

[Gizmo 21]

i must have missed it? what happened to kopecky?

Looked like he blew a knee... Could barely walk down the tunnel under his own power with trainer in hot pursuit. Never returned.

[Nero 20]

I want to see more. I would not be comfortable seeing him get signed to a long, expensive contract, and have him turn out to be a liability later. He's only played a single NHL game.

[savaking72 0]

Abdelkader has so much energy. I loved watching him play. He is a gritty player, and we need gritty players. He is pretty good size also. I loved how strong he was on the puck. Heck, he almost had two goals tonight. I would sign him tonight...not waste a minute.

[Yak19 303]

agreed goes to the net like nobody's business hope to see more from him

[Superman54 91]

Looked like he blew a knee... Could barely walk down the tunnel under his own power with trainer in hot pursuit. Never returned.

can't make it sound any more dramatic then that

[superstarsingh 23]

He'll be signed alright. Woo! We will need him too as Kopy and Malts are both going to be out.

[HkyTwn 5]

I'd like to see a lot more of him. It was hard seeing him there at first since I instinctively hate him because he's from Michigan State and scored an...interesting....goal against my team, but as long as he's in a Wings jersey and not a MSU jersey, I can get over it. He played great!

[Booster313 138]

I want to see more. I would not be comfortable seeing him get signed to a long, expensive contract, and have him turn out to be a liability later. He's only played a single NHL game.

The most he can make as a rookie is 850k so it wouldn't be that expensive. And I think the years would be 2 or 3 depending on how old he is. You could tack on some bonuses but it would still be a reasonable contract and more than likely a two-way contract so we can send him down if necessary.

Edited April 4, 2008 by Booster313

[DeuxEx 0]

Personally I think he fits the team better than Hartigan does and he certaintly looked better than Darren has.

[Mors 201]

I was definitely impressed after one game, he's a big guy who can skate well which seems to be something the Wings have lacked for awhile

[Lidstromrules16 7]

he came out of no where too. I think Holland should definently sign him

[Konnan511 1,736]

I want to see more. I would not be comfortable seeing him get signed to a long, expensive contract, and have him turn out to be a liability later. He's only played a single NHL game.

He would be signed to a rookie contract of no more than 3 years at the league minimum. where'd you get the long expensive contract from?

[Yak19 303]

He brings what you expect "youth" for a hockey club should.

He should be in before Hartigan no more to say there, as for putting him ahead of McCarty playoffs are a different story, Mac knows what needs to be done in the post season but with our recent injuries hopefully we see both of them.

[hckypete96 3]

are we seriously going to put an unproven college kid in the playoffs? I mean, I liked what I saw, but I def think he needs more work in the minors. Are our Griffins forwards THAT bad that we would pull a kid out of college and sign him on the spot, then let him play as a regular in the playoffs?