Ram

I mean, I completely understand that the fanbase can be discontent with the way this offseason has gone and the fact that the DRW are simply not as reliable as they used to be being a locked elite team.

But come on now, that's the way the NHL has gone since the lockout, and frankly, that's sports in general. I have to agree with the old bit that we are spoiled as DRW fans these past two decades. With salary caps, long term contracts, and the sport even changing in itself, it's just extremely difficult to keep a first place team on the ice year after year. I am just as unhappy to say this is the roster the squad has moving forward, but it is what it is. We're talking about Kenny Holland and the Detroit Red Wings here. He's not going to just pull the trigger on some drawn up deal that took a few minutes to think up. He is going to do what is best for the organization in the long run and do what he can in the short run. He has proven that. He has fudged up as of late, sure. But the cards are stacked against you right now. You can't win them all.

Parody has taught us you don't need a dream team to win in all. The Wings aren't set up to win the President's Trophy next year. They will roll with what they got and if they have a terrible year, so be it. Maybe a wake call and finishing 12th in the Conference will be a wake up call to everyone in this town to cherish what we have had these past twenty years.

Cheers. LGW

Eklund is a nut. His batting average is like .050, if that, but it's like if he gets one thing right, it's like he hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the 9th inning in Game 7 of the World Series.

No thanks on Kovy.

A little bias, because Helmer's my favorite guy on the squad, but I do think this is worth the signing. He has only gotten better, and unless becomes injury prone, I don't see why he will continue to do so over the next few years. Maybe not huge numbers, but the guy busts his ass every night, does he not? Teams benefit from players like that.  :thumb up:

Edit: Reply is #43 !!! It's meant to be!!!  

Last repeat champion: Still the Wings!

Getting extremely tired of the "1" at the top banner of the website without at least a "2" next to it.

Datsyuk quote from last year (during Sharks series): "What locker room you come to? What'd you expect? Never give up."

It could happen, right? Let's go Wings. Starts tonight. Nothing to lose.

Mike, thanks again for always doing an awesome GDT. Doesn't go unnoticed all year.

Got some single seats with my friends for today's game. Excited just to be there. Hoping for an awesome atmosphere.

Jimmy comes up big, Shea gets booed like hell, Pavel and Hank amaze us again.

Dingers - 5
Preds - Not enough.

Let's go Wings. Let's go boys.

Let's go Wings. Get it done boys. Win it for Helmer.
Gonna be at work so 97.1 in the earbuds will have to do!

DRW - 4 (Gustav hat trick, Hank EN)       
Preds - Less than 4.

Envisioning this happening to Weber (Karma)   :

Let's go Wings. Let's go boys.

Wings need to make a run for Helmer. Hard working guy all season. Here's to a full recovery! We'll miss you Darren!

I am in for $4.00 for each Pavel Datsyuk point.

Edit: Got some more people on board.  

I certainly remember the stories claiming he was "reconsidering" the possibility of moving to Sweden. He has done that for as long as he has been earning the larger contracts. Every contract year I have heard stories about this.

Pretty sure Nick only wanted to come back if he knew within himself he was able to perform at a level that was up to his expectations (as he exemplified last year). The guy is extremely hard on himself, I guarantee you he could play for a while still, but if he doesn't think he's good enough, he's gonna retire.

In any job, professional athlete included, money is going to play a major role in dictating how you make your decisions. Thanks for the update.

And I still think it's human nature to want to go back home after retiring, wherever you may be from. IMO.

Does anyone around here know why Brad's family cannot relocate to Detroit? I keep reading about this and it always just says "personal reasons."

What on earth could be holding them in San Jose and totally unable to move anywhere?

Less his tenure with the Bruins and Wings, he's always been a West Coast guy. It's completely understandable for him to want to move back there (where he has played before), especially towards the end of his career and his kids growing up, etc. etc. Do you find it unreasonable for his entire family to move around with him wherever he goes, as a professional athlete? I'm pretty positive that the vast majority of Stevie's family still live here, should they move to Florida now that he will be there for a while?

pittsburgh?  you mean the team that's played all year without their best forward?

if the wings lost datsyuk for the year, they would struggle to make the playoffs.

I think that he was referring to the top two guys being out for Chicago, as is not the case for Pitt.

Geno is just as good as Crosby, if not better, IMO.

I hate using the term "easy series" during the playoffs.

But yeah, I can't wait for the playoffs.

Great find. Can't wait for the playoffs. Pavel Datsyuk's favorite player growing up was Pavel Datsyuk.