I'm excited for today AND for tomorrow!

[daniel1 32]

I'm so pumped about the game tonight and after snooping on the s***tsburgh's forums for a bit I can't help but think that their window of opportunity is "closing, closing, closed" after this year. On the other hand the Wings seem poised to continue their winning ways well into the foreseeable future.

With the Pengoons list of impending UFA's after this season and their other top players with expiring deals next season I don't see them being able to keep their group together beyond this season. I'm not sure what's waiting for them in the minors but they won't have the luxury of a top pick in the draft this year due to their regular season success (for a change) and last I checked Haakan Andersson wasn't in their organization so good luck at the draft Pens.

The Wings on the other hand should only get better next year; we won't be losing any core players and there is a legitimate reason to expect that prospects such as Quincey, Ericcson, Meech and Kindl could make our Defense even better than it is this year. Up front we should expect to see more development in the regular season from Filppula, Hudler, Kopecky, Helm and Franzen. I'm not sure if Z and Dats can GET any better, but I don't expect them to get worse that's for sure.

In goal I think Ozzie has shown the world he can be a number 1 and we have him locked up for a great price too. Howard can be allowed to develop as the backup and we can see if there's a chance he can be a true number one in the future.

Our prospects look real good to come in and challenge each other for spots and honestly I can't see us losing anyone after this year except Drake, Chelios, Lilja and possibly McCarty if Babs wants to keep Downey instead. Our "key" acquisition this year will probably be to re-sign Stuart who has really solidified the second D pairing with Kronner. I'm hoping for a 3yr/3.25mil deal for him till Ericcson/Kindl/Pyett are ready for full time duty.

I'm not counting on big years next season from Abdelkader, Emmerton or Mursak with the big club as I see them labelled for another year of development in the minors but it wouldn't surprise me if one of these three or a guy like Leino comes in and wins a spot either. I'm going to post my "ideal" lineup for next year just for fun and I have high hopes that if we win the Cup tonight that we have a great chance to repeat next season too.

Dats-Z-Homer

Franzen-Filpulla-Cleary

Samuelsson-Draper-Kopecky

Maltby-Helm-Hudler

Downey or Mac

(call-ups: Abdelkader, Leino, Mursak, Axelsson, Emmerton)

Lids/Rafi

Kronner/Stuart

Lebda/Quincey

Meech

(call-ups: Ericcson, Kindl, Pyett, Smith)

Osgood and Howard

(gets a look: Daniel Larrson)

Honestly, I don't know whether I'm more excited about them winning it all this year or about how good things look for next year, lol. I'm definitely re-upping my Center Ice package this summer for next season to see how good these guys can be with a little infusion of youth and size that should be coming in. Babs has a lot of tools to work with next season and I'm a big believer that he's the perfect guy for the job. I wonder if this year's draft will yield any Zetterbergs or Franzens? With Hakaan and company doing the scouting there is always a very good chance of at least one late round steal for us. What a great time to be a Wings fan....