stevkrause

The KHL is gonna throw a huge offer at him.I wouldn't be surprised if he left the NHL.Paul Martin is a UFA,isn't he?I haven't really heard much about him as far as if he's gonna hit free agency or re-sign with the Devils.

The KHL just had it's largest team fold and is about to fold as a whole league... no way they can afford him now, some NHL team will give him 9 a year and 9 a year living in the US > 12 a year in Russia anyway...

Kovalchuk will make the league max in LA.  He's like Hossa.  A playoff choke.  Although he has only been in the playoffs twice so maybe he should be cut a bit of slack.

6 pts in 5 games... I'd hardly call that a choke...

...So if Lids retires could we fit Kovs in next year? would we want to? Dats~Kovalchuk...wait is he an RFA or UFA?

UFA, but we can't afford him UNLESS Nick retires... no way possible...

with that said, I never want to see the day come where Nick retires, but if it HAS to come, Kovy would be a nice consolation prize...

He was defenitly our MVP of the season. I dont care what the NHL votes he won in my book.

I know the playoffs aren't suppose to affect the voting, but I think the voting is always affected by it... I think it will all depend on this first round, if Buffalo can come back and win their series (not likely), I think Myers wins it, if not, regardless of other outcomes, Jimmy wins it...

in my opinion, he deserves it regardless, that's just what I think WILL happen...

I love AO for the most part, but that was pretty classless...

with that said... it made me laugh... I'm a horrible human being... I know.

I'd be willing to bet those numbers would be even higher if the NHL was on ESPN.

I bet it be even higher than that if the games were all broadcast on NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox, simultaneously, thus taking over all major over the air networks at once...

I never thought I'd say this, but...

I love you Rob Blake.

Obviously, I don't see every post in every thread - but has anyone given thought to the fact that this time might just be gassed?

I think this actually is an issue... but these are also professional athletes in TREMENDOUS shape... they can take the toll...

Lids is probably the only one who this could be a legit concern...

Agreed... except about the "he never should have had his number retired in the first place".

I've read about Larry Aurie quite a bit - and the best way I can describe him is a heart and soul player and leader, who gave 110% effort each and every night, on both ends of the ice.

Think of Kris Draper - and what he has meant to the team, only much better offensively.
If Draper had won the Rocket Richard, led the team in points in the playoffs and finished Top 4 in points in the league twice -- you better believe a lot of folks would believe he deserved to go up to the rafters.  Heck, many think he deserves it already.

When a young Gordie Howe joined the Red Wings, Jack Adams was often asked if he would be the "next Larry Aurie".

He actually was a player/coach in 1937.  Injured for the playoffs, but was behind the bench.

"Free Iran?"

"I'll take it!"

::dials phone::

"Saudi Arabia, I have something you may want, muahahaha"


sorry... every time I see your signature I feel the need to make that slightly modified Family Guy reference...

That's sort of where I'm at with it.  

E has some offensive skills, but with as much as he's struggled this year, I'd be a little reluctant to put him in a high pressure situation like on the point.  

And he has a cannon, but his windup isn't suited to the NHL speed of the game like Nick's is.  I'm betting it's a cannon when he has all day to wind up.  But he's gonna have to shorten it up to get the shot off and get it through guys.  

Might be worth trying having Ericsson out there, but like I said, with as much as he struggled, I'd want him to be able to keep his game simple.

Maybe just try him out if we get a 5 on 3? Less lanes to shoot through and less chance of a break the other way and it gets the big boys a chance to rest...

Alright, so the first thing was fixed - Abs in for Williams... now onto the second topic - Who will man the point on the 2nd PP unit?

Now, don't get me wrong, I think Stuart has been great and was very good on the powerplay when he worked it earlier this year with the injuries and wouldn't be disappointed to see him back there, but it makes more sense to have Ericsson on the PP for this reason -

As we saw in the mini-slump Stuart had earlier this year, he is best when right around 18-21 minutes a night, anything more and he starts to do too much and make mental mistakes, he works VERY well on the PK (last game was bad for everyone) and should play big minutes 5 on 5, with that said, spread it out a little and do this:

PP1 -
Lidstrom-Rafalski
PP2 -
Ericsson-Kronwall

PK1-
Stuart-Kronwall
PK2-
Lidstrom-Lilja

Ericsson has a CANON of a shot and has good offensive instincts and can handle the puck well... why not set him up for those one timers and give it a shot?

It just seems like an attempt to boost post totals and is an otherwise useless thread topic... I could see if it were a combo thread...

GDT + 2000 posts for a Wings win... that might make some sense, but even then, I don't like them.

We've been doing it for some years now. I think it started 2004 if not at 2002 but I know it's been a while now.

If that were the case, then if anything, it works even less... that's 1 year of success out of 6-8 years of doing these threads...

I'm almost positive we did it in 08 o.o

if we did, I stand corrected, but I was pretty sure it didn't start until last year...

Draper was a non-factor and played barely ANY minutes and the Coyotes literally man-handled us ALL game - Abs led the team in hits while he was here and can actually score...

My idea -
3rd line A(3rd):
Cleary-Miller-Eaves

3rd line B(4th):
Abdelkader-Helm-May

Let the 3rd line try to exploit their 3rd line and actually try to get a couple goals... put the 4th line out there with one message - ENERGY and drive anything and everything in the other sweater THROUGH THE BOARDS... maybe even send May out there with one task and one task only, run Jovo ANY CHANCE YOU GET - he can be coaxed to drop the gloves when frustrated and we get him off the ice for 5 minutes in exchange for May...

in my mind, Abs and May is an upgrade from Draper and Williams at this point with what we need in this series and what they bring to the table...

This time of the year, my superstition is cranked up to major levels... with that said:

We did in in 09 and look at that result.

These threads are bad juju.

I wouldn't be upset, but I would like to see the Dave and Mickey team re-united for a game on NBC as a one time thing, that'd be kinda cool... with that said, Ken Daniels is as good as they get, so any national broadcast pales in comparison to what we get throughout the year on FSN anyway...

what about Chicago... salary cap doesn't matter to them...