F.Michael

Agreed... now that I think about it, he probably belongs on my 2nd tier below Konopka... just out of the FA's available, I like his game (when he's healthy)... I guess I should have been clearer that he wasn't any type of an enforcer, since that is what this thread is...

Up until a few short years ago he was coveted by a good number of teams for what he brought; big body, good hands, a very solid 2-way forward...With the injuries he's not where he was, but for the league minimum I wouldn't mind him getting a chance on the Red Wings.

Bet it involves Wheeler.

Modin? I didn't know this guy fights.

He doesn't, but he does go into the corners to dig out loose pucks.

Problems with Modin is his age (35 soon to be 36), and tendency to get injured (has missed the majority of the past 3 seasons)...I personally would rather the $$$ spent on someone else.

LInk even with the indecent exposure and this slash i think it is time they put him in...thoughts?

I'd take 1 Dino over 10 Hudlers any day of the week; he's exactly what this team needs....I'll never forget that night in the old Chicago Stadium when the Red Wings battled the Blackhawks.

C'mon finally get Dino in there

Couldn't agree more - however with some of his behavior (clubbing Richardson over the head, and indecent exposure) has left a bad taste in the mouths of the HOF induction committee.

That's where the debate gets sketchy... I will argue until I'm blue in the face that a PURE enforcer is useless in today's game - but a role player that can protect his teammates AND is a mid-heavyweight, or straight heavyweight, which can still be defensively responsible, forecheck AND give you 8-10 SOLID, mistake free minutes a night, that doesn't take bad penalties is invaluable and is BADLY needed by EVERY team...

most of the mentioned players in other threads fill this need, however, a Boogard type player in today's league, doesn't serve much purpose and basically wastes a roster spot...

IMHO the Wings could use 2, or 3 of theose guys; 1, or 2 of them on the forward lines, and 1 on D.

just wondering if anyone would take a chance on Cheechoo there saying he is going to sign somewhere from 1-2mill

Talk about going from the penthouse to the outhouse...Wow.

Have you not heard about what *actually* happened to his finances?

Fedorov Sues Ex-Business Partner for $43 million in Losses

Yeah - I remember reading about that last year...There was another clown whom bilked quite a few current/former NHL'ers outta alot of $$$ (he was claiming to be an developer with a grand idea of a resort in the Cancun area), and spent it on a bash which involved dancers/prostitutes/drugs/etc and his invites were mostly ex-MLB'ers such as class acts like Roger Clemens  

I think it has more to do with the fact that you specify 'gritty North American' as opposed to simply 'gritty'. It suggests that if there were two equally gritty players, one being Euro and the other NA, you would prefer the NA, based solely on nationality. Your stereotyping of Euros also lends to that.

If you're going to make generalizations, you have to live with the consequences. In this case, it means people assuming you have an anti-Euro bias.

And there is a world of difference in those two statements. The second implies the slang form of 'hater', rather than literal 'hate'.

And McIlrath will never be Pronger. Not even close. He'd be lucky if he could get close to Chara level.

Hell - even "Chara level" would be damn good...From what little I've read about this years draft - McIlrath is said to be somewhere between Derian Hatcher, and Chris Pronger...Anywho - the Red Wings could def use a guy with his size, and snarl on the blueline.

The more I think about the possibility of signing Eric Nystrom and re-upping Lilja, the more I love this roster and the more I do NOT want to see Maltby brought back - we're already tapped out on roster spots and pretty close to the cap under this scenario... so unless they sign him with the knowledge that they are going to waive him and send him to GR (which I can't see him being ok with, because then if any team claims them, he has to go play there, or retire, whereas, if he chooses to sign somewhere else, at least he'll be able to choose the team somewhat *cough* TB *cough*) - it makes absolutely NO sense...

Tell me this doesn't look like a damn solid and complete roster?
**NOTE - Lines are arbitrary for formatting purposes**
Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Johan Franzen ($3.955m)
Jiri Hudler ($2.875m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m)
Todd Bertuzzi ($1.938m) / Justin Abdelkader ($0.920m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m)
Eric Nystrom ($0.800m) / Darren Helm ($0.640m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.550m)
Kris Draper ($1.583m) / Mattias Ritola ($0.517m)

Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m)
Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m)
Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) / Andreas Lilja ($1.000m)
Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)

Jimmy Howard ($0.717m) / Chris Osgood ($1.417m)

ROSTER: 23; CAP:$58.8m; PAYROLL: $58.102m; CAP ROOM: $0.698m BONUSES: $0.000m

NM.

Habs get Lars Eller & Ian Schultz.

Seriously - who are these 2 guys?...I've never heard of them.

Yikes almost 2 mil a year?

I don't like this signing.So much for getting younger....

I agree with ya that we could've used that $$$ towards some younger more physical guys via UFA - however if there's 1 thing Holland is guilty of it's his loyalty/going with players he knows.

On the bright side Bert was looking good the 2nd half of the season, and had decent numbers in the playoffs...Hopefully this will continue.

True. There isn't huge difference between an 18 year old and a 23 year old guy. Thats more then enough time for him to be a prick, burn his bridges and decide to go somewhere else.

If we're takign a Russian I would take Tarasenko over this guy. (but I wouldn't go Russian in the first round at all)

With the transfer agreements in a mess I agree - it would be risky to take a kid not knowing if he'll be "allowed" to play on this side of the pond.

I hear you can never go wrong with drafting a kid from Canada...Rumour has it they love the sport

Anyone who threatens Bettman is a friend of mine

He seems like a good canidate for an assistant coaching job instead of a front office job, but what do I know.