Looks like the Red Wings & the Sharks battling off the ice, Robert

[Grim 5]

Just a calf injury, he should be 100% by playoffs.

why? so he can be a healthy scratch??

[Carman 387]

why? so he can be a healthy scratch??

Hey if you want to enter the playoffs with Kopecky-Draper-Maltby, that's your prerogative. Don't try and senselessly insult my opinion that I believe Neil would benefit our team in a positive way.

[Vladifan 680]

Must get Neil. Must not let Sharks get Neil.

There often seems to be a direct correlation between the look on Babcock's face and what you write.

[LeftWinger 5,153]

Good idea sign a guy about to retire for the same as getting a guy who still has another 10 or so seasons left and is a better physical player willing to enforce.

Yeah cause we all know that whoever Holland gets at the deadline is going to be able to re-sign here along with Hossa, Franzern, Hudler, Sammy, Leino & Kopecky! EIther one would be a rental.

[motorcitykid 42]

Trade Flip, a prospect and our 3rd round pick for neil. Get it done, this might just the piece we're missing this year.

Now THIS post made my day. Hilarious. [Too bad he's serious.]

[Slave 31]

i hope we get roberts and satan, and satan gets 37 goals in the playoffs as we win the cup again, then after the season he will resign with pittsburgh again and suck.

[Grim 5]

Hey if you want to enter the playoffs with Kopecky-Draper-Maltby, that's your prerogative.

Wings needs help, not injured 4th line baggage.

[shadow47 1]

Trade Flip, a prospect and our 3rd round pick for neil. Get it done, this might just the piece we're missing this year.

Filppula AND a prospect AND a draft pick? Fil straight up would be too much, Neil is dead weight. Why are people so disillusioned with Fil this year, he's a young player? The last thing the Wings need is anyone from Ottawa with the exception of maybe Alfredsson.

[anthonyn66 89]

i hope we get roberts and satan, and satan gets 37 goals in the playoffs as we win the cup again, then after the season he will resign with pittsburgh again and suck.

Are you kidding? Roberts has a cap hit of 2.4 mil, Satan has a cap hit of 3.5 mil.

Both suck for their salary. Roberts will probably die of old age before the playoffs.

[motorcitykid 42]

Yeah cause we all know that whoever Holland gets at the deadline is going to be able to re-sign here along with Hossa, Franzern, Hudler, Sammy, Leino & Kopecky! EIther one would be a rental.

Ahhh, some sanity. Thank you.

Yeh it's Kenny's style to grab a guy because another team's about to grab him. I guess the dude you responded to also missed out on Kenny looking at a addition for depth as a rental.

And no thanks to overpaying Chris Neil $2+ mill a season.

Filppula AND a prospect AND a draft pick? Fil straight up would be too much, Neil is dead weight. Why are people so disillusioned with Fil this year, he's a young player? The last thing the Wings need is anyone from Ottawa with the exception of maybe Alfredsson.

Edited March 4, 2009 by motorcitykid

[Carman 387]

Wings needs help, not injured 4th line baggage.

... Because careers are ended by Calf injuries. Please, Neil would help this team. What this team doesn't need are 35+ year old declining "grinders" that can't play defensively to save their lives.

I'm not for giving away roster players for Neil though. Just making that clear. I also don't think we need to make that move to be successful, I just don't see a particular downside in giving it a shot. It's not like he is going to cost an arm and a leg like Bertuzzi.

[sureWhyNot 19]

why? so he can be a healthy scratch??

Wow, kind of unfair of ya seeing as though Neil has proven himself in this league, and in the playoffs with Ottawa. The guy is better then I think you may give him credit for, and is definitely good enough to play on our 4th line.

Question though for everyone. This is way off subject, but I was just watching some youtube videos and what not and got to thinking: What Red Wings would you want on the ice for a line brawl? They did this a while back over at HF forums and I meant to bring it up then but never got around to it.

Anyways here are my 5:

Cleary (I know he doesn't really fight but the times he has, against Newbury & Pronger, he did alright given the circumstances.)

Downey (Obviously.)

Kopecky (Confused as too why he never fights. He had a couple tilts with the Griffins, and I remember thinking that he wasn't half bad when it came to the knucles. He also did alright against Burrish last year against Chicago or was it Sharp?)

Lilja (poor Andreas. While Webber smacked him around he has shown he can hold his own against legitimate fighters in the league like Boll and Sheldon "I'll cut you with my wrist guard" Souray. Again, he ain't an ass kicker but look who were picking from)

Erickson & if he's not in the lineup -- then Stuart (Erickson is willing to throw when absolutely neccessary, and he does so pretty well. Stuart has been around the block in the NHL, and at least with him I wouldn't be afraid for his health as I would if say Lebda, Meech or Kronwall were out there when things erupted.)

I don't know, what do you guys think? This is completely off topic, pointless & hypothetical-- but what the hell, let the hair down and have some fun!

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

Trade Flip, a prospect and our 3rd round pick for neil. Get it done, this might just the piece we're missing this year.

Keep the Prospect.....trade Flip

Seeing as how is was avail for a 2nd rounder to begin with...San Jose won't move a roster player and we can afford Flip going the other way..Makes room for Leino and without his salary Maybe Hudler too

[Rikadyn 16]

Let me give you a hint. He's tall, he's skinny, and he really SUCKS!

That player I speak of probably wouldn't be enough, but I'd throw in some other compensation to seal the deal.

Lang hasn't been on the team for awhile...

[Pasha13 0]

Kopecky (Confused as too why he never fights. He had a couple tilts with the Griffins, and I remember thinking that he wasn't half bad when it came to the knucles. He also did alright against Burrish last year against Chicago or was it Sharp?)

I really don't like to get off topic, but I remember that...it was Sharp, and yeah...he tried to tuck down away from the overhands and got an uppercut...and his eyebrow exploded. It was nice.

AND...I think we're overpaying Filp (it's like $3.5M or somewhere near it)...his skating is excellent, but his finishing is garbage-can...no killer instinct around the net. I don't know if it's Niel we need, but we need someone who can CLEAR the front of the net (too many teams take advantage of the Wings' softness), and if needed, beat some ass. I'd prefer it's a depth defenseman, though. If somethin happens to one of our top 6, Meech CANNOT fill in, and Chelios looked slow mentally dull in the playoffs last year. Either way, I think if we stand a chance of getting someone that would make an impact, the only sensible trade bait is Filp, due to our cap situation.

Edited March 4, 2009 by Pasha13

[Grim 5]

why don't you Neil-slappies speak bluntly... you want him to take Kopecky's spot. good luck.... Kopecky=Sammie 07-08 (ie the guy who could do no wrong in Babcock's eyes).

[Mark B 0]

Must get Neil. Must not let Sharks get Neil.

Agreed!!!that wouldn't be good if they get him.Lets hope Holland can pull this off...

[Dabura 12,232]

Keeping Neil off the Sharks' roster is reason enough to sign him.

[Mors 201]

Well, unless there's a miracle this looks like an end to the hope of a tougher Wings' team going into the playoffs:

"If the Red Wings are looking to add a physical fourth-line forward, several are available, including Ottawa's Chris Neil. But Holland said he hadn't even spoken to Senators GM Bryan Murray as of Tuesday night.

Even if the Red Wings cleared enough cap space for Neil, they would be reluctant to part with a second-round draft pick -- the reported asking price -- for a fourth-line player."

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...be_inactiv.html

[SuperNovaXll 124]

Im not a big fan of Roberts...but I would feel pretty bad for the guy if this is how it ends for him. I dont think he deserves that...

Anyway, I do think Neil would be a pretty good fit here. We could use someone like that.

[Mark B 0]

Their saying their is a deal on the table for neil,& its either the sharks or pit.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Why the f*** would we want Roberts? he's like 100 years old...Neil on the other hand, as stated, would be a benefit to the team play-wise, and a benefit to the team if it means preventing the Sharks from getting him.

Maybe Chelios needs a bridge partner?

[Dominator2005 558]

Wouldn't mind Jamal Mayers...

[Guest MrSandMan]

Ken Danials said last night that Holland has not even talked with Chris Neil or his team. He said this is just some crazy rumor started in Toronto and is a bunch of mullarky. Don't believe it.

Holland will be making NO moves today.

[Mors 201]

Ken Danials said last night that Holland has not even talked with Chris Neil or his team. He said this is just some crazy rumor started in Toronto and is a bunch of mullarky. Don't believe it.

Holland will be making NO moves today.

Well, that sucks...so much for replacing Drake.