Homer's struggles, Conklin wants to stay

[Grim 5]

Howard is worthless. Is there a backup out there better/cheaper than Conks that can give us 35+ starts??

[Mike 0]

So the fact that Howard has 1 win in 9 tries and a GAA over 3 in the NHL is some great talent to worry about losing? He's had 4 seasons in GR- time to crap or get off the can, as they say.

Howard is worthless. Is there a backup out there better/cheaper than Conks that can give us 35+ starts??

Agreed. If Kenny can fit Conks in under the cap then you take him and trade Howard. I'm sure there is some team out there that is willing to take him. I was never impressed by him and I think he started to play worse in GR as time went on.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

keep Conklin,

trade Homer and Howard.

Ahhhh Homer isn't going anywhere.

[Guest mindfly]

Why could not conklin take the same contract, 750k that is?

[gcom007 1,465]

Unreal about Rafalski's injuries. Can't believe he was playing...

I'd like to have Conklin back. He's a great backup guy to have around. I'm thinking Osgood will have a much stronger regular season next year. With these guys splitting games and Osgood on his, we'll win the Presidents Trophy for certain and the more he hangs around, the better I feel about him playing if needed in the playoffs.

I do not trust Howard. I don't think I ever will. Conklin's a good fit for this team if he's cool with hanging in the backup-plus role which he seems to be.

I'm fine with Hudler peacing out at this point and giving Leino a shot. I think he could do about as much offensively as Hudler has and hopefully do so more consistently. Hudler's just got too many hot and cold streaks for my taste. Good guy, good player, but it won't be awful to see him go either at this point.

Holmstrom needs to decide if he can be effective for 100+ games a season. He seems to be struggling with injuries more and more every year which is no surprise give his role. If he just can't do it any more, he might as well hang them up to make cap space for someone else. I love the guy and all, but every season it just seems to be getting worse while his effectiveness goes down as well.

[Guest mindfly]

Howard should be gone I mean... they have Larsson (who is better than howard already, lets face it) they got mccollum who could be an NHL starter in the future and they have a wildcard in Jordan Pearce who could either be a real nice surprise or nothing.

[gcom007 1,465]

Howard is worthless. Is there a backup out there better/cheaper than Conks that can give us 35+ starts??

Even if there is, why change now? Conks did everything we asked of him this year very well. If he'll play for the same contract, it'd be silly to search elsewhere. Loyalty means something to and this guy proved himself over and over and seemed like a classy, zero-drama guy heading into the playoffs with Osgood as starter despite his regular season. Again, why bother looking elsewhere if he'll play on the cheap?

Bye bye Howard.

[dat's sick 1,002]

We're lucky Leino even put up with playing one year in the AHL. With any other team he'd already have a full NHL season under his belt.

Abdelkader is a victim of the Wings being stacked down the middle, there just isn't room for another Centerman. Let him play big minutes in the minors, developing his skills, practicing at playing the wing etc.

He'll get his chances to play during the year I'm sure, but Leino is the one that should be full-time on the team.

[RainingBlood 8]

resign conklin!!!! let hossa go thats what 7 mil to throw around?

Abdelkader over Leino any day of the week

4th line next year - Neil - Darth Kader - Laperriere no one will get out alive!!!

thank god ur not gm cause that 4th line is slower than a snails ass

[Hockeytown12 0]

I really think that Abs should stay in GR for one more year. He is close but I think one more year would serve him well. Use him as a call up in case of injury.

[Red Crazy 201]

I would like to see Conklin stay. Ozzie needs a strong backup that can carry some of the load and I just don't think Howard is the man for the job. Conklin proved that he can come in a win a few games when Ozzie struggles. That being said, the money would have to be right on Conks.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Conklin was great last year, so I don't see why they would get rid of him.

[tdinc 45]

Leino WTF? he was a ghost who showed nothing.

Abby > Leino

[Hockeytown12 0]

Leino WTF? he was a ghost who showed nothing.

Abby > Leino

Abs had 2 goals, let's not get carried away. Leino is better defensively on the puck and has shown in the regular season that he is more than ready to play in the NHL full time. I wouldn't put too much into Leino's playoff performance. After all, he's still young and pretty much was thrown into the fire. I like Abs, but he is a year away.

Abs

2 G 1 A 3 Pts +2 10 GP

Leino

0 G 2 A 2 Pts +2 7 GP

Edited June 15, 2009 by Hockeytown12

[ChelisChick 174]

Agreed. If Kenny can fit Conks in under the cap then you take him and trade Howard. I'm sure there is some team out there that is willing to take him. I was never impressed by him and I think he started to play worse in GR as time went on.

I was wondering if I was the only person who felt this way. Howard scares me in net, just like another person said. Ty is much steadier in net, and has a very good relationship with Ozzie. I want to keep him.

Edited June 15, 2009 by ChelisChick

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Leino WTF? he was a ghost who showed nothing.

Abby > Leino

He directly contributed to two goals, including one by Abdelkader... He did a good job.

[The Wizard of Oz 0]

let hossa go. we need players like huds and sammi to make up our 3rd and 4th lines more than we need to beef up our top to lines. y have 2 great lines and 2 mediocre lines. i would rather have the four lines that can hold there own.

also i like conklin but he has to know that he will be the backup after ozzy's great play in playoffs. and leino needs to shut up. he will play when coach tell him to

[Hockeytown12 0]

let hossa go. we need players like huds and sammi to make up our 3rd and 4th lines more than we need to beef up our top to lines. y have 2 great lines and 2 mediocre lines. i would rather have the four lines that can hold there own.

also i like conklin but he has to know that he will be the backup after ozzy's great play in playoffs. and leino needs to shut up. he will play when coach tell him to

The coach has already said he has a roster spot and Babs said that he would have a spot in the playoffs, which he did. Leino is ready and he is just telling everyone that he doesn't want to play in the AHL anymore. To me it shows that he is hungry for some NHL action and I for one like it a lot.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

All good except for Leino's attitude. There's no argument whether he's a good player or not, but I hope his disappearing act in the games he played in the playoffs didn't go unnoticed. Now Bab's is just supposed to give him a roster spot over Abdelkader. Okay Ville, I just hope you can back it up.

Leino is 25 years old. He's got years of professional experience at the highest level of Finnish hockey and was the Finnish MVP before coming to the Wings. Other teams surely offered him NHL time if he decided to sign with them last season, but he came here and payed his dues in the AHL for a year.

Let's be fair- he's got the experience and resume to back up not wanting to be a 26 year old AHL prospect.

And again, Abdelkader is a 21 year old coming off his first professional hockey season. He impressed in his time in the playoffs, but so did Helm last year. It's just not the Wings' style to fill their roster with rookies. I'd love to see Abdelkader here next season if he's going to get the minutes and Holland thinks it's the right move. But in the end it can't hurt him to spend next season on the top line in Grand Rapids.

[Carman 387]

We'll see Kader throughout the regular season and playoffs next year probably all playoffs and 20ish games for injuries. He is one of the only ones still with a 2 way contract, no reason not to use it. How soon most of us forget Leino's first games of the year, 9 points in 13 games? No way he should be signed to GR on his contract year. Hudler and Samuelson are probably let go to make some $$$ Helm and Leino fill their spots, Ericsson replacing Lilja(either Lilja is LTIR or out of organization)

Conklin is about as good of a back up as you could get, I was expecting him to want to go somewhere else and get a chance at a #1 so as long as we can get him at a back up salary I'm all for it. Hossa is the big mystery card, personally I would only want him back if he takes a ridiculous 4 millionish deal, as long as we don't sign him for 6+ I don't have an issue. I'm too lazy to go through the salary cap to see if all this is possible(Lilja on LTIR etc.) but the Wing's will be strong

[Hockeytown12 0]

We'll see Kader throughout the regular season and playoffs next year probably all playoffs and 20ish games for injuries. He is one of the only ones still with a 2 way contract, no reason not to use it. How soon most of us forget Leino's first games of the year, 9 points in 13 games? No way he should be signed to GR on his contract year. Hudler and Samuelson are probably let go to make some $$$ Helm and Leino fill their spots, Ericsson replacing Lilja(either Lilja is LTIR or out of organization)

Conklin is about as good of a back up as you could get, I was expecting him to want to go somewhere else and get a chance at a #1 so as long as we can get him at a back up salary I'm all for it. Hossa is the big mystery card, personally I would only want him back if he takes a ridiculous 4 millionish deal, as long as we don't sign him for 6+ I don't have an issue. I'm too lazy to go through the salary cap to see if all this is possible(Lilja on LTIR etc.) but the Wing's will be strong

Any deal for Hossa that has a cap hit of around $4 million per is going to be 10-12 years long, probably closer to 12. You're crazy if you think you are going to get Hossa to take a contract that earns him $4 million per for under 6 years.

[Carman 387]

Any deal for Hossa that has a cap hit of around $4 million per is going to be 10-12 years long, probably closer to 12. You're crazy if you think you are going to get Hossa to take a contract that earns him $4 million per for under 6 years.

Oh yeah, I'm fully expecting a Franzen/Zetterberg type deal if it happens, the '6+' meant millions =P.

[Hockeytown12 0]

Oh yeah, I'm fully expecting a Franzen/Zetterberg type deal if it happens, the '6+' meant millions =P.

I see. My mistake. Sorry about that.