Finnish Wing

Armstrong has fooled himself into thinking he's big s***.  There's no way we'd get him for a reasonable price.

I thought only Europeans were supposed to do that.

That's probably from the contract that he had with Florida (was it) before being dealt to Calgary then NYR.

I could be wrong, or maybe there was a stop in Phoenix as well.

He left Florida as a free agent. And he was over a ppg guy back then. Phoenix game him that contract, I think.

For the rumours saying he's useless and going to KHL... I think there's still use for a 50-60 point 2nd line center in many teams, if he comes for 2.5-3.5m.

Those lines are pretty good. I'd have Helm on the 3rd line and Abby centering the 4th though, since Helm is easily the better hockey player right now. Can't wait for the new season to begin, it feels like it's been forever since I watched a Wings game.

Abdelkader has better offensive potential than Helm, let's not waste it on the 4th line.

No, Filppula is on the second line.


hoho

Hey cmon, I'm Finnish and even I think Hudler has more offensive potential at the NHL level than Filppula.

Abby is better offensively than Helm. At least has more offensive potential than him.

Even though I kinda would like to see Hulder in the 2nd instead of Bert I see what Babcock is thinking there. Every line now has a playmaker, a shooter and a net presence. Of course those bottom lines are more defensively but still. Shooters: Zetterberg, Franzen, Hudler, Eaves. Playmakers: Datsyuk, Filppula, Abdelkader, Helm. Net presences: Holmstrom, Bertuzzi, Cleary, Miller/Draper/Ritola.

As I said, that 4th line especially is probably more everyone doing everything. I was thinking Franzen more as a power forward, but maybe Babcock sees him as a sniper. This could work, I'm telling you.

edit: Also seems that Ilari Filppula doesn't have any realistic chance of competing for the extra forward spot.

Well I kinda expected the city thing being a major factor, but I didn't think that it would be enough just by itself. Need to wait a couple days so that the Euro fans vote as well, should see a bit more of the other options.

Okay. So I've been wondering this question quite a long time myself already. I'm Finnish myself and I know there also many many other fans who have no actual connection to Detroit itself. I can admit right away, that I don't "feel" for the city either, because I've even been in USA. The reason why I probably started being a Red Wings fan in 1999 was partly due it's success and partly due what players the team had. I by no means consider myself being at the same level with the hardcore fans who actually born as Red Wings fan.

Big reason for why I started kinda thinking what's being a fan is all about is my favourite team here in Finland, Tampereen Ilves. I've been an Ilves-fan since I was born. I don't live in Tampere, but all my family is from there and I've always had a strong connection to the place.

Despite being the most successful club in the history of Finnish hockey (kinda like Montreal over there), the recent years have been disappointing in many ways. It seems like the identity of the club is missing. Players change too much every year, and seems like many players come here just to earn the money. Some lead members of the organization (club board, the owner, GM etc.) became "bigger" than the actual club - Ilves. It seemed like these people didn't respect the history of the club anymore. Last year was terrible and the team finished last in the league. Many staff members got fired and most players changed again.

Because the the team seems to have no identity anymore, players and staff keeps changing and in terms of recent success it's the worst in the league fans have started wondering why are they still fans of the club. Seems like the only thing there is left is the logo - Ilves and it's history. I couln't imagine myself not being an Ilves-fan even though all these things happening. Maybe if the team moved to another city etc. it would be too much to take.

Now, I decided to do a little poll about this regarding our Red Wings. There are basically five different reasons I could come up with for someone stop cheering for the team. Please let me know, if you know a major reason which isn't listed over there and we'll work it out. I hope you could say which four reasons for example would be enough for you, because obviously we can't see it from there. AND I also hope you be honest. Because I know there are for example bunch of fans who haven't even been to Detroit ever.

"Whatever talk between the Flyers/ Nabokov that transpired appear to be over. Asking price on new deal was way too rich for Philly's blood"

via Nick Kypreos on twitter

But they don't lose the 7th pick then, am I right? I thought the deal went through only if they were manage to sign him.

People passed on Pavs because they had no idea who the hell he was, and if they did he was an extremely small Russian who was playing in the RSL.

Yeah. Wasn't the story that Hakan was actually going to scout Kalinin and he saw this Datsyuk kid there (kinda like the Zetterberg-story). Then he did another trip. Then on the third trip there was some other NHL scout with him in the plane, but the trip was canceled due a storm. This made him certain that he was in fact the only NHL scout to ever see Datsyuk play. And that's why they could pass on him for so late.

Stay toon for the next epic Detroit Red Wings scouting story...

To all the apparent "booze and hockey don't mix" fans:

Gee, look how terrible Patrick Kane is when he gets drunk and beats cab drivers....  Surely his skill has taken a hit eh?  Yeah... exactly.  This is a prime example that just because you drink, doesn't mean you slide in the draft.  Sheahan slid down in the draft because he was amazing in juniors and his offense took a hit because he was a youngster on a new team with older players and competitors, and being taught to play defense first.  Oh and everything he was used to doing had changed when he went to UND, no family, making new friends, tough ass academics, etc...

He'll be a top 6 forward on this team in the future, if i'm wrong i'll kill, skin, cook, and eat the damn crow.

Patrick Kane is a prime example of having elite talent and being in the NHL even when he probably hasn't worked as hard for it as many other guys.

Great deal like the one with Hamhuis.

Because none of us have drank under age in high school or anything. They always turn out to be bad people  

Well, I don't think you can really compare a bunch of average LGW fans to a guy who's goal is to become a pro-athlete and play in the NHL.

Although the amount of NHL players who drink or have drinked a lot at the high school age is much bigger than most people would think. Not saying it's a good thing, but sometimes you have talent and you can "afford" the drinking. Some players have less talent and they need to work even harder.

You do realize that being picked for the Wing's means waiting on average at least an extra few years to be in the NHL compared to most other franchises, right?

It's mindfly. He doesn't realize anything. He just keeps shouting stupid things that come to his mind.

I don't get what Kenny is doing with his defense.  Sure, Kronwall hits, Stuart does a little, but 5 out of 6 d-men are softies, with captain nick leading the way.  Tinordi is right there, this guy is gonna be a monster in 4 years, Sheahan is gonna have trouble cracking the lineup because of the of jam at center for the next decade.  Oh well, we will see if Tinordi becomes a star and if Sheahan even makes the club in 4 to 5 years. Then there is another fubar draft I can hate Holland for...

Weren't you supposed to go sleeping?

I've got every pick correct in my mock draft right now.