McCarty offered contract

[puckhog419 0]

wasnt dmac filing for bankruptcy last season or the season before.

i would love to see him back here bc he is one of those guys who will push and push until he has given everything. and thats not something that is put on a scorecard but it is a big motivator for a team

...anyone know what happened to Fedorov? If anything?

nothing yet, he is still on the market.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Why is everyone mad? They both got offered contracts, they'll both play. Kenny Holland is the man.

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

Fighting ability = zero contribution to the team. This isn't mutant league hockey (sega genesis reference) where the loser of the fight gets an extra penalty. It's irrelevant besides the sake of entertainment purposes. I'll take the better hockey player over the better fighter, regardless if they are both trying to fill the enforcer position.

Zero Contribution?

It might not be the equivalent to scoring a goal. But when you have guys on your team that play with that type of edge. Other plays will think twice about roughing up your star players because there are consequences behind there actions..

Steve Downie for instance, Is SuperGoon08 pretty much..

Against Toronto he gooned it up, Cheapshotted Jason Blake, and Toronto players did nothing about.

Against Pittsburgh he had no chance to goon it up, Because BGL made it clear it wont be tolerated.

For the 10-12 point's that an average 4th liner might get during the regular season, I'd rather bring the enforcer in who will get the 4-5 Points. and do there best to keep our Key players safe..

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Why is everyone mad? They both got offered contracts, they'll both play. Kenny Holland is the man.

Hey you'll get no gripes from me. I like both guys. I realize the importance of having an enforcer or somebody who answers to other people like Downey does. I'm just humored by many people throwing McCarty to the curb. We all get that he's not the McCarty of old (or young). He's not going to do anything too glamorous anymore. But sans one game against Dallas where he had a bajillion penalties, he played fairly well in the playoffs, given the current part of his career/getting back in shape. And if coaches picked McCarty over Downey for one of those last forward spots/1st reserve spots for the playoffs, they might think he is still useful after all.

[Guest Four]

Yes, it does.

It wouldn't have been the same had McCarty gone after Laperierre after his hit on Lidstrom, and ended up getting his ass handed to him (I'm not saying that's what would've happened). Whereas Lappy turtled as Downey put the beat down on him.

If fighting is part of their role, and it definitely is, then it matters who is better.

I love that video

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Hey you'll get no gripes from me. I like both guys. I realize the importance of having an enforcer or somebody who answers to other people like Downey does. I'm just humored by many people throwing McCarty to the curb. We all get that he's not the McCarty of old (or young). He's not going to do anything too glamorous anymore. But sans one game against Dallas where he had a bajillion penalties, he played fairly well in the playoffs, given the current part of his career/getting back in shape. And if coaches picked McCarty over Downey for one of those last forward spots/1st reserve spots for the playoffs, they might think he is still useful after all.

I think with a summer of training, and a full training camp, we'll see a whole new Darren McCarty. Hec ame in cold, with not a ton of training, and played fine. Downey will be even more motivated to play games to see if he can get his name on the cup again. Tomas Kopecky better be careful, I dont think he will have a spot after training camp. Downey and McCarty are hard workers, and will give everything to earn there spot.

[Booster313 138]

What is it with this thread? People calling each other idiots, a guy crticiszing Holland's decision to carry too many defensemen and another guy that wants to project Downey and Mac's scoring of 1 or 2 goals over an entire season.

1. Stop with the name calling. This is the internet for God's sake, nobody is going to cry over being called names by somebody setting at home typing.

2. Holland knows a hell of a lot more about this than you. If not, read up on the Hossa contract.

3. You can't project 1 or 2 goals over a season. Statistics and Probability 101.

I take offense to you grouping me with name callers and Holland bashers. I didn't use profanity or call anyone and idiot to try to get my point across and I am not pretending to know more than a GM who consistantly builds winners I simply offered my opinion as to why I think D-Mac is the better choice over Downey. I like them both but if I am making a choice I choose D-mac. Feel free to disagree with my or my methods for trying to add credibility to my decision but don't group me with eveyone else please.

[Booster313 138]

...anyone know what happened to Fedorov? If anything?

I was kind of hoping for a comeback round here in Detroit for good old Sergi but with the aqusition of Hossa that doesn't seem likely. I presume he will resign in Washington as he was a good fit but who knows maybe Russia will come calling with a giant contract and he'll go back and play their to finish his career. Either way what he did for the Wings was great and he is without a doubt a first ballot HHOFer.

[MabusIncarnate 5,359]

Zero Contribution?

It might not be the equivalent to scoring a goal. But when you have guys on your team that play with that type of edge. Other plays will think twice about roughing up your star players because there are consequences behind there actions..

Steve Downie for instance, Is SuperGoon08 pretty much..

Against Toronto he gooned it up, Cheapshotted Jason Blake, and Toronto players did nothing about.

Against Pittsburgh he had no chance to goon it up, Because BGL made it clear it wont be tolerated.

For the 10-12 point's that an average 4th liner might get during the regular season, I'd rather bring the enforcer in who will get the 4-5 Points. and do there best to keep our Key players safe..

Alright, a few good points. But check it out, regardless if the fight is one in regards to momentum, any fight, even if your guy gets beat is going to rile up the home crowd. Everyone loves a fight. Bootland NEVER won a fight, but does that mean we still didn't enjoy watching him try? It still gave a boost to the crowd when he did, and he was spoken about very frequently on the boards here just because of how often he dropped the gloves. People wanted him to have a slot on the team as much as they do Downey right now. I understand fully the aspect about protecting one of your star players, but dropping the gloves to begin with already sends a message. I'm a little biased towards seeing more of Darren as i've watched him play hockey since his rookie season, and i'd love to see him net 10-15 goals for us this season. Will it happen? Probably not, but as much as i've seen Darren play compared to Downey, It's hard to not call DMac the better player. Maybe if Downey played in the playoffs i'd be singing a different tune, but that isn't the case. Not saying he didn't earn his spot, but how you play in the playoffs is more important than how you play in the regular season, and Darren has proven to me to be a solid contender.

I think MikeG2008's wannabe thug butthole is sore and he's really a disgruntled Penguins fan who's still crying in a corner about Hossa coming to the better team. Seems like he became a member right about the time of the finals... coincidence? I think not... If not a pens fan, then he's been a loyal wings fan for about three weeks now. Way to go buddy!

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

Ill agree that Mac is the better player

Who is MikeG2008?

[Valas19 50]

Ill agree that Mac is the better player

Who is MikeG2008?

Judging by the hostility of talking smack about McCarty, I'd probably say this is Mac posting as his LGW alias.

[uk_redwing 495]

Judging by the hostility of talking smack about McCarty, I'd probably say this is Mac posting as his LGW alias.

In that case...Mac sucks. Hudler is more physical. *other generic anti-player comment*

[Vladifan 680]

My theme here is LET GO OF THE FRICKING PAST PEOPLE. DMac was a legend, a hero, but those days are LOOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGG gone. He really didn't do much out there in the playoffs and most of the time looked like a liability with his slowness. I know he needs a job to pay off his debts, but that's not my problem (as a fan of the game).

Are we sure he is spending the summer working on his conditioning or is he at a casino or bar celebrating the Cup or trying to get his rock band back together? Never trust a gambler or a drunk or a drug addict. If they are all three... well there you go.

I've read quite a few of your posts and they all lead me to believe that you don't get out much, do you. I'm thinking you don't read much either and I'm also guessing the kind of tv you watch is mind-numbing, at best.

You talk about human beings in your posts as if they're worth all the degradation you can throw their way. You talk about Mac like he's a piece of garbage, ready to be tossed. You show no perspective about what he's meant to the team and fans. You talk about his addiction problems the same way. He can't succeed. No way he can turn his life around. He can't be trusted. He's trash. Toss him.

What do you think they have 12-step programs for? What is in you that you must assume he's gonna go back out? That he WILL fail, period? Who made you God, judge and jury? Sure as hell not me.

The Wings, Holland, and Ililtch love and trust him. Sideways and rotating, hotshot.

[MabusIncarnate 5,359]

MikeG2008 Is the brilliant young man offering enlighting input with such memorable posts as "Shut the F**K up" and "You are a f***ing idiot" earlier in this thread.

[Valas19 50]

MikeG2008 Is the brilliant young man offering enlighting input with such memorable posts as "Shut the F**K up" and "You are a f***ing idiot" earlier in this thread.

LOL! Ahhh..this wins the post of the day!

[BlueMonk 102]

I guess I'm that dumbs***.

It is relevant. No it didn't make the injury go away, but it absolutely meant something to the team. Their captain just got rocked, and someone made him pay for it. Can you really not see that?

Does no one remember the Wings players themselves saying how it makes a difference when someone has your back out there? Like when Mac put the beat down on Lemeiux. Did it help the injury? was it a deterrent? no. But it absolutely brought that team together.

Fights like that one are not a deterrent, but they absolutely affect team chemistry.

(pay special note in the video clip to all the Wings players standing and banging their sticks against the board).

All excellent points.

You want players like Hudler, Kronwall and Datsyuk out there laying huge hits like they did last year? Then have someone who can back them up. Teams are going to be gunning for them during the regular season. It's not like the playoffs, where a dumb retaliation penalty is huge; during the 82 game grind, teams will have nights when they've stopped caring about the score and just want their pound of flesh. The Wings will have a lot of talent the other team's goons can set their sights on.

If the Wings can get Downey (Mac can't fill this role anymore, IMO) to take a two-way contract, I'll be really happy and shut up about this. But they need either Downey or someone else to do this job. I'm talking playing 35 games a year, just a few minutes of ice time per game. The rivalry games against the Western Conference, especially other teams in the Central, will get physical at times.

I'm constantly amazed by how much this part of the game is neglected. People forget so easily. Everyone is pissed when some goon is facewashing Z or taking a run at Lids during the season, but after a successful playoff run, all anyone is looking at is skill again.

BALANCE.

[norrisnick 1]

Then find a player with balance.

[BlueMonk 102]

Don't need to. Scorers score and bangers bang. Just don't load up too much on any one type and it all works out fine.

[norrisnick 1]

I'm not talking about a banger than can score, but a banger that can at the very least skate and defend. Mac was a defensive nightmare in the playoffs. The most notable being where he iced it twice on the same shift, Babcock even took a time out, and they still got scored on because they had been out there for 2 and a half minutes. Find a guy that can get to and win puck battles, make and receive a pass, be able to cover his man defensively and I don't care if he never scores a point. Though if you're a good enough skater and puck mover to be able to play in our defensive system, you're going to score whether you like it or not.

I've been very up front with my stance on fighters. They have to be able to take a meaningful amount of icetime without embarassing themselves or they're more trouble than they're worth.

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

Usualy if your banging.. your scoring IRL PUN :D

Anyway, Bluemonk sums it up, without choosing sides.. that is why Bluemonk is the man.

[Electrophile 3,554]

MikeG2008 Is the brilliant young man offering enlighting input with such memorable posts as "Shut the F**K up" and "You are a f***ing idiot" earlier in this thread.

This also gets my vote for post of the thread.

Frankly, I can't see why there's such virulent anger about this in the first place. It's not your money and as long as it leaves Holland and Co. enough room to groove as far as signing other talent is concerned, and he's not taking playing time away from an established player on the squad, what the hell is all the bitching and fighting about. I don't get it. Some of you are ranting on and on like he's taking ice time away from Nick and millions of dollars off the cap.

And to LivingtheDream:

I'm sorry that you've had such horrible experiences in the past that you can't see through your own anger to find some little space in your coal-black heart to extend a hand to Darren in the hopes that he's seen his worst days and are past them now. People change, and unless Darren has given any of us here reason to believe he's incapable of doing that, we should take him at his word. He fought hard to come back in the first place and regain some esteem within the team, why would he throw all that way over the summer? Makes no sense. I hope no one you know goes through personal issues like that because they sure as s*** won't be able to count on you for any kind of support or guidance.

[Grim 5]

before you guys continue with the hostilities...

anyone yet notice that neither D-Mac or Downie have actually signed?? like seriously, how bad were the offers? Just maybe Kenny tabled token offers which are tantamount to a subtle goodbye? Don't fret wingfans... Kenny will certainly get us someone to play the tough guy/enforcer role.

I just wish KH would resolve the Filpulla issue first... whether it be signing him to play, or signing him for trade.

[Superman54 91]

McCarty owes alot to the wings, so whatever Holland offered him is more then enough. I don't mind the guy being a 13th forward at best, but I do strongly hope he accepts a two way deal, though TBH, Im not sure he as much of a choice.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

McCarty owes alot to the wings, so whatever Holland offered him is more then enough. I don't mind the guy being a 13th forward at best, but I do strongly hope he accepts a two way deal, though TBH, Im not sure he as much of a choice.

In a way, Mac obviously does owe plenty to the Wings for letting him get his career and life back on track to hopefully stay this way, but we also got to understand and respect the decisions he has to make to better the life of himself, not just the Red Wings. There are 29 other NHL teams out there and while I think McCarty bleeds red/white to a large degree, he's got to do what he has to do to improve his life both mentally and financially, and that might include entertaining any potential offers for more money by other franchises in different cities. Not that I expect him to get a whole lot more or any "blockbuster" deals, he has to do what will make him most happy/content.

[elriqo28 2]

Downey was more physical in one warm-up (during the playoff) than McCarty in all games that he played...

you mean Downey was dumb...and McCarty has the brains enough to pick and choose his times now.