Krayzie_Bone 58 Report post Posted August 21, 2010 If he wasn't so greedy he could have been a wing by now, what was he thinking? He had a very severe concussion and head ache and he expects any team's to offer him 1.5M? Get Real Lilja. lol greedy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted August 21, 2010 lol greedy LULZ 1 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CopenhagenWing 38 Report post Posted August 21, 2010 I can't believe the people on here trying to send Ericcson down etc to make room for Lilja. If Lilja really wanted to be back he would've taken 500K less then he wanted just like guys in the past have. I mean if Yzerman takes a discount here then I'm pretty sure Lilja can too. Very different scenarios. You don't think a guy who's been making up to 8 million a year has a bit more financial leeway to take a discount than a guy who topped out at less than a quarter of that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted August 21, 2010 Very different scenarios. You don't think a guy who's been making up to 8 million a year has a bit more financial leeway to take a discount than a guy who topped out at less than a quarter of that. Yeah, 500k is a bigger deal to someone making 1-2 million than to someone make 7-8. I imagine a lot of those health costs came out of his pocket. I'm not sure what the Wings pay for with their players, but I know there's some quite expensive stuff that pro sports teams don't pay for. Add in not only the risk they take when playing, but being away from their families, paying moving costs all the time when they switch teams, health bills, paying for houses, and that 500k disappears fast for someone making 1-2 million. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingfan1991 221 Report post Posted August 21, 2010 OK someone educate me as to why people refer to Lilja as "pain train"? I cannot figure it out, is it a compliment, or a diss? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjm502 165 Report post Posted August 21, 2010 Yeah, 500k is a bigger deal to someone making 1-2 million than to someone make 7-8. I imagine a lot of those health costs came out of his pocket. I'm not sure what the Wings pay for with their players, but I know there's some quite expensive stuff that pro sports teams don't pay for. Add in not only the risk they take when playing, but being away from their families, paying moving costs all the time when they switch teams, health bills, paying for houses, and that 500k disappears fast for someone making 1-2 million. Give me a break. The average American 25 or over makes $32,140 a year. Lilja shouldn't have been greedy. With all the costs you listed he could still have lived the life of a king. Pro sports athletes are so money hungry is isn't even funny. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NotTooAbby 71 Report post Posted August 21, 2010 OK someone educate me as to why people refer to Lilja as "pain train"? I cannot figure it out, is it a compliment, or a diss? Be careful what you say about LIlja and a Pain Train reference...I got about -6 for insinuating that the nickname was laughable. I also went on to explain how i feel Lilja is overrated on the Wings but not in the NHL, as evidence by his no contract offer. Im assuming its because he's a "hitter" (not my words)....the only thing he hit was the ice when he tried to kill a penalty. My thoughts: Pain Train is derived from him getting his ass beat so bad in a fight, that he had a concussion/head aches for over a year, and thus he was always in pain, that felt like a freight train. Pain Train.......or was the train actually what the last blow to his head felt like. Either one im sure. 2 cjm502 and Cheveldae32 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cheveldae32 32 Report post Posted August 21, 2010 Be careful what you say about LIlja and a Pain Train reference...I got about -6 for insinuating that the nickname was laughable. I also went on to explain how i feel Lilja is overrated on the Wings but not in the NHL, as evidence by his no contract offer. Im assuming its because he's a "hitter" (not my words)....the only thing he hit was the ice when he tried to kill a penalty. My thoughts: Pain Train is derived from him getting his ass beat so bad in a fight, that he had a concussion/head aches for over a year, and thus he was always in pain, that felt like a freight train. Pain Train.......or was the train actually what the last blow to his head felt like. Either one im sure. I can't remember the last time he caused another player pain so yes I agree with NotTooAbby when he said the name is a shot at him. 1 NotTooAbby reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Feldmarschall 9 Report post Posted August 21, 2010 The name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that he was essentially our toughest player for a while but was an absolute pusscake compared to most teams' proper tough guys. 1 Cheveldae32 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WizardOfOz30 1,886 Report post Posted August 22, 2010 Give me a break. The average American 25 or over makes $32,140 a year. Lilja shouldn't have been greedy. With all the costs you listed he could still have lived the life of a king. Pro sports athletes are so money hungry is isn't even funny. Lilja is not greedy, like someone said he could have paid for a lot of his medical expenses out of his own pocket and that comes at a pretty high cost. I know for certain that he does not live in luxury, he didn't have some huge mansion and drive extravagant cars, but I'm sure he is paying to maintain two households, one here and one in Sweden. You shouldn't make assumptions based on the fact that he made $1 million a season. Everyone lives differently and with very different amounts of income. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted August 22, 2010 (edited) Too bad there was not enough cap space if he bit the bullet and signed for league minimum and the Wings were able to shed Meech + Ritola. Having Lilja and Salei Edited August 22, 2010 by Rivalred Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SweWings 45 Report post Posted August 22, 2010 I thought the reason he wanted to leave the Wings wasn't just the paycheck but maybe a chance to get more minutes? 3 Original-Six, Hockeymom1960 and Jesusberg reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WizardOfOz30 1,886 Report post Posted August 22, 2010 I thought the reason he wanted to leave the Wings wasn't just the paycheck but maybe a chance to get more minutes? Yes he was hoping he could go somewhere to be in the top 4 for a bigger role. But money seems to be the focus here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted August 22, 2010 The injury definitely changed the way he played the game after he came back. Post-injury Lilja was not as physical (hitting/fighting - which I can understand due to the nature of the injury). That alone dropped his net worth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted August 22, 2010 After finding out that his agent is Todd Diamond, it's not such a stretch to say that Lilja's next stop could be the KHL, if he's willing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
russianswede919293 95 Report post Posted September 3, 2010 http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2010/09/andreas_lilja_skates_with_form.html Sounds like Lilja is regretting his decision to not sign the Wings initial offer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted September 3, 2010 I understand the frustration obviously, but I wouldn't feel too much regret if I was him. Greed is natural in all of us, it's just a matter of how much we think is unrealistic. I don't blame Lilja for wanting more of an opportunity/more money, I don't think it was too much of a stretch to ask what he was asking for in $1.5 million a year. Wings mgmt. did what they had to do in the business sense. I understand not offering Lilja more money. Hopefully Lilja can find an opp. somewhere. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stolberg Report post Posted September 3, 2010 Maybe he'll be a desperation signing for a bottom feeder team or something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted September 4, 2010 Take the Draper route and sign for $1 Lilly!! esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crispychris 45 Report post Posted September 4, 2010 I just can't see him as a top 4 guy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Pred 48 337 Report post Posted September 4, 2010 could the wings offer him a 2 way deal? can never have enough depth...........thou i think the Griffs have 8 D already. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted September 4, 2010 I understand the frustration obviously, but I wouldn't feel too much regret if I was him. Greed is natural in all of us, it's just a matter of how much we think is unrealistic. I don't blame Lilja for wanting more of an opportunity/more money, I don't think it was too much of a stretch to ask what he was asking for in $1.5 million a year. Wings mgmt. did what they had to do in the business sense. I understand not offering Lilja more money. Hopefully Lilja can find an opp. somewhere. When you have been away for a year with a very serious concussion it's absurd to ask for such a contract, lebda may be a worse player but atleast he was healthy... 1 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted September 4, 2010 When you have been away for a year with a very serious concussion it's absurd to ask for such a contract, lebda may be a worse player but atleast he was healthy... Lebda also got kind of lucky that his former college coach is now the assistant gm in Toronto. Lils may not be as connected. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted September 4, 2010 I like Lilja and all, but I don't feel sorry for him one bit. He made his bed. It's his own fault for not realizing that salaries are going to be affected in the NuNHL. I don't even play and I knew that players were gonna have to settle for less to be on a contending team. Especially a player like Lilja. He's a fool imo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted September 4, 2010 You guys keep pressing on salary... he wanted a bigger role and more ice time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites