TheXym

What about a second-tier type of honor like I believe Montreal and Toronto have for players?  A ring of honor or something like that.  Players like Fedorov, Osgood, Red Kelly, Black Jack Stewart, Vladimir Konstantinov, Larry Aurie (if they don't re-retire it), maybe Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, John Ogrodnock, Mickey Redmond, etc. could get that recognition.

Well we got Sammy....

Doesn't he have the moves like Jagr?

What happens if Nyquist and Smith both have Calder worthy seasons, Brunner surprises, and Filppula increases his point total?  Will the same people bashing Holland now turn around and call him genius?

The point about the mighty Wings falling back to earth after decades of excellence due to late drafts and significantly increased parity in the league is one we all need to remember.

The Blues had a longer streak of playoff appearances than the current streak of the Wings.  How many Finals appearances and Cups do they have to show for it.  A lot less than the Wings do during theirs.  To sustain the level of franchise he did across the salary cap inception is impressive indeed, since the draft and cap were largely geared to keep a franchise from maintaining such lofty height for so long ("parity").  Furthermore, I wouldn't be surprised if most GM's would up their trade prices for the Wings out of jealously or not wanting to be seen as helping to feed the beast.

With the looming CBA changes, things could radically alter the playing field again.  Part of Holland's plan may be to see what happens with that so he can react accordingly.  Until the wheels come off, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.  In some ways he is like the chess grandmaster who can see seven or eight moves ahead, and can sacrifice short term in what looks like a rout to end the match by springing a well disguised trap that NOBODY saw coming.

Patrick Stewart was EXTREMELY cool when my Dad took me to a sci-fi con when I was a kid, so I'll say Picard.



Tom Clancy or Michael Crichton?

I seem to remember reading that draft picks used for RFA compensation had to be your team's own picks, not picks acquired from other teams in trade, that may be a factor in Holland's thinking, as well as other GM's.  

I see this as Philly going all in to snag a cup with their current young core before they are open to FA themselves.  The current CBA negotiations are also a huge question mark, particularly in light of the first offer from the league and its contract implications moving forward.  As others have said, this is likely the last year for the ridiculously long mega deals so Weber went for the greenbacks.

A sad day indeed.  Richard Gnida is a waste of genetic material.  It's a travesty that someone would be driving on a suspended license for a limo service, and if I recall correctly there were reports of him being under the influence as well.

Vladdy was a sure fire hall of famer had he not been injured in that wreck.  I rocked my white Konstantinov jersey today, and shed a few tears.   My fondest memory was being in Philly for a game and rocking the jersey during a Wings win that featured a monster hit on Lindros by the Vladinator.

The good old days of cloak and dagger to get guys out of the USSR. Was it Klima or federov that we helped defect in the dead of night.....been so long now.....

If I recall correctly it was Fedorov, and he defected during a Goodwill Games.

Awesome

Nah, it's the JUCK F**KING POTT.  

Huge improvement on the original song!  Though I bet the Biebs could grow a better playoff beard

As I said in the game day thread of game 5 when this was first mentioned, it's a very classy act by Trotz.  The guy is a darn good coach, and imho, it's a crime that he doesn't have a Jack Adams trophy yet.  I honestly believe that it was purely him being classy and not trying any gamesmanship.  Kudos to him.

Anyone see Tortz tell Lids "don't go out like this, see you next year."

I missed it due to beard removal, but if he did that, that's a heck of a lot more class than I'd expect from the Nashville franchise.  Kudos to the neckless one.

Posting from the PA music educators' conference and all-state music festival.  I'm going to be watching the game from my hotel tonight and probably getting a noise complaint.  If my student can get first chair in the state on Bass II in the choir, then our boys can rectify the series defecit and blow into the second round with momentum on their side.

Lets Go Wings!  Let's Go Wings!  Let's Go Wings!

All I can say and have said not necessarily on this forum is E should have been playing with Lids a long time ago.  He needs to learn from the best of the best and you definitely see that.

Okay all you fans going to The Joe I want to hear some TODD BERT-TUZZI chants.  He deserves it!

If I recall correctly when E made his initial splash in the playoffs a couple of years back he was paired with Lidstrom as well.

The refs have been less than stellar, the Wings are playing better, and the difference is two fluke goals.  The Wings still aren't clicking on all cylinders yet.  Plenty of time in the third to get this, no need to panic.  Let's Go Wings!

How was that hit on Pavs not a penalty?