krsmith17

Love it and completely agree with everything you said, except like Z Winged Dangler said we definitely need to hang on to Jurco. He is going to be an unbelievable player for the Wings in a few years from now. I've watched almost every Griffins playoff game in these playoffs and he has really stood out. Anyone see his game winner lastnight? He comes through center ice with a full head of steam and splits two defenders and snaps a shot short side for the win. Beautiful goal.

yup. is boston really tight on money? because it looks like he isnt going anywhere.

 

They have $6.6M to spend on 6 players, so yes I would consider them tight on money.

Other teams that are tight against the cap that may have to use their amnesty buyouts include...

 

Philadelphia - $3.3M over the cap / 2 players over the 23 man roster.

Vancouver - $0.9M over the cap / 5 players under the 23 man roster.

Chicago - $2.0M under the cap / 2 players under the 23 man roster.

Tampa Bay - $3.3M under the cap / 6 players under the 23 man roster.

Boston - $6.6M under the cap / 6 players under the 23 man roster.

Carolina - $7.6M under the cap / 6 players under the 23 man roster.

Pittsburgh - $7.8M under the cap / 5 players under the 23 man roster.

San Jose - $8.6M under the cap / 8 players under the 23 man roster.

Minnesota - $9.1M under the cap / 6 players under the 23 man roster.

Los Angeles - $10.9M under the cap / 8 players under the 23 man roster.

 

The Flyers, Canucks and Lightning are the only 3 teams that I would consider definites to use their amnesty buyout as they don't have any other choice. There are also another half dozen teams very likely to use theirs aswell, most likely the Bruins, Hurricanes, Sharks and Kings.

Come on man, give the guy a break.. He spelled Brad right...

Well said Axe. The people ragging on Smith are clueless. Every Red Wings fan is aware of Smitty's mistakes and we have all found ourselves cringe when he has the puck in the defensive zone with Toews, Kane, Hossa, etc. zoning in on him. But like The Axe said, these are some of the best players in the world, and you expect a rookie to flawlessly exit the zone every time. Yes, he has made his fair share of mistakes and he might make another one in his career... The point is there is so much potential and upside to his game and there is so much experience to be gained, especially in this game 7. To say he should be benched for Ian f*cking White is absurd, and to say that he should be traded is laughable... beyond ridiculous...

 

Also, as matt198913 said, these same people are going to be the first to jump on Dekeyser (or whoever else...) when he struggles next season. The bottom line is, some people just love to b*tch and complain, but they're what makes the world go around, so keep it up fellas, without people like you, there would be none of these great debates.

I can't help but cringe when reading some of these comments... Filppula hasn't had a very productive year point wise but to say he isn't worth the money to resign him is flat out ridiculous. He doesn't always put up points but he is a very valuable player on both sides of the puck, whether he is pick-pocketing an opponent or spending valuable time in the offensive zone wearing down the other team. To say Val isn't hard on the puck is crazy, I would have agreed with this statement two years ago but the past year and a half he has been a force in all three zones and extremely hard to strip off the puck.

 

He is worth anywhere between the $4 - 4.25 mil he WILL receive. Just ask any other team that would love to have a dependible guy like Val on their team, almost every GM in the league would love for him to become available to throw upwards of $5 mil easy his way. He is the type of player every coach loves to have on their team, the guy you know plays hard every shift and backchecks on every play. The points will come, I'm very confident in that, just like the entire Red Wing brass. Filppula WILL be resigned so accept it and move on. Just like all the Ericsson haters on here just one year ago you will eat your words. Count on it.

 

There is so much negativity on here, I can't help but laugh at times... We are now going into the second round of the Playoffs (thanks to Filppula's game winner) to play against the Blackhawks. It's sad that so many "fans" (and I use that word loosely) counted us out of even making the playoffs halfway through the season. Sad...

 

Go Wings!!

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi

Filppula - Franzen - Samuelsson

Nyquist - Andersson - Brunner

Cleary - Abdelkader - Eaves

 

= W X 2

ironic that the common consensus on LGRW.COM would be that datsyuk is better then ovechkin... seems like the homerism is overpowering the logic.
..............................................................
i just dont think a poll of hfboards or nhl would show people unanimously agreeing that datsyuk is better then ovie.

I agree with you that a lot of us Wings fans are going to be a little bias, and pick our main man Pavel.... But I don't think the stats that you are throwing at us are the only one's that matter... Sure, goals and assists are damn important but that's not what Datsyuk is all about, he brings so much more to the table in my opinion....

You pointed out many stats where Ovechkin was dominant over Datsyuk but there are also many where Datsyuk is dominant over Ovechkin... here is just one stat that I'd like to throw out there... Takeaways / Giveaways

Pavel Datsyuk

2006-07 (107 / 86 = +21)
2007-08 (144 / 68 = +76)
2008-09 (89 / 50 = +39)
2009-10 (132 / 73 = +59)
2010-11 (71 / 38 = +33)

Total Past 5 years = +228

Alex Ovechkin

2006-07 (67 / 95 = -28)
2007-08 (68 / 93 = -25)
2008-09 (60 / 107 = -47)
2009-10 (66 / 76 = -10)
2010-11 (48 / 59 = -11)

Total Past 5 years = -121

Something else that needs to be taken in account is the fact that Pavel can and does play in ALL situations... Datsyuk plays even strength, power-play, penalty kill, and the last minute of every game when his team is up OR down a goal, whereas Ovechkin plays even strength, power-play and when his team is down a goal (basically just in offensive situations)

Ovechkin is a much more of an explosive offensive threat but Datsuk is much, much better over 200 feet of the ice and I'd take a player like Pav over Ovi any day...

He has said it was helpful that Schneider put in the good word that got him a tryout. Nowhere has he said anything in public about Schneider and Chelios inspiring him to work hard. What got Schneider to put in a good word for Cleary was the fact that the latter did work hard. And even if you do actually have friends who know him, and even if he does attribute some of his success to Chelios and Schneider, they're not in the locker room anymore.

What I'm trying to say is that your use of Cleary as an example isn't nearly as valid as you're putting it out to be. Too, even amongst players who have turned their careers around in their late 20s, Cleary is something of an extreme example.

To change the subject (and I refer to your words toward me earlier in this thread), you'll probably have a more enjoyable experience here if you discontinue your habit of losing your temper when others disagree with you.

No, you're right they are not in the locker room anymore but there are still some great role models in the Red Wings locker room that can mold this kid into an unbelievable player, both on and off the ice, Cleary being one of them. I think the reason for his arrogant attitude is due to the fact that pretty much everywhere he has played throughout his career he has been top of his team in skill level, I think watching guys like Datsyuk and Zetterberg day in and day out would change that pretty quickly.

Either way you want to look at it, you cannot deny this guys skill level, and like I've said time after time, I see absolutely no harm what so ever in signing him to a one year contract at under 2mil... Anyway if you disagree, fair enough, let's just agree to disagree, but there is no way you can say that signing him would not work out, because no one knows that for sure until it actually happened...

As for me "losing my temper"... I'm not losing my temper, I just can't stand when people try to present their opinions as fact. You tend to think what you say is the end all be all, and that irritates the hell out of me...

A lot of people on here tend to attack other people for their opinion or ideas and it's ridiculous... probably the worst forum I've seen online for that sh!t...

That's a few great articles Red Wings Addict, I haven't read them in years, but it doesn't change the fact that Cleary credits much of his success today to guys like Chelios and Schneider...
I'm not saying that's the only reason he made the team but he has said it has a huge part to do with it...

Anyway, bottom line is none of you guys know what would happen if a guy like Zherdev played here, I just don't see the problem with signing a guy with his skill set to a one year contract. If it works out he would be a HUGE addition, if he doesn't, we're out 1.5-2 mil for one season...........

By the way, don't even try a comparison between Zherdev and Hudler they are completely different.... And if there is one person here that wouldn't give up Hudler at 2.875 and take on Zherdev at 1.8..... you're insane.... lay down the crack....

Cleary's attitude changed before he tried out for the team. He attributes this to meeting his wife. The fact that he was on the verge of having no work in the NHL no doubt also played a part. He made the team because he worked hard and was willing to grind to the limit. His turnaround had little to do with joining the team.

LOL Crymson you are such a f*ckin clown... you think you know everything about everything and you definitely don't... I think it's pretty sad actually... you state every one of your opinions as fact, just because you say something doesn't make it true...

Let me tell ya somethin, your statement above is purely speculation just like everything else you are saying about Zherdev. However, what I said about Cleary and all the problems he had before he came to Detroit, and how he credits Chelios and a couple other guys on the team to turning his life around is fact. I live a half hour from his parents place (where he grew up) and my cousin is good buddies with him, grew up with him, through school, right through minor hockey, and still trains with him every summer. I've met Cleary several times and no, he didn't personally tell me all his personal sh!t but he's after telling my cousin many times, so what you're trying to say about him changing before he joined the team and it having nothing to do with the team is way off base. Stop trying to act like you know everything, and unless you have the facts shut the f*ck up...

Oh, and as for Zherdev not working out on this team... it is once again pure speculation... I'm not saying he would definitely work out play alongside Pav and Hank but I don't see the harm in signing a guy with his talent and potential to a one year contract at under $2mil...

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR

FORWARDS
Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Nikolai Zherdev ($2.250m)
Johan Franzen ($3.954m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Jan Mursak ($0.550m)
Todd Bertuzzi ($1.937m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Jussi Jokinen ($2.600m)
Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / Darren Helm ($0.912m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.900m)
Justin Abdelkader ($0.787m) / Cory Emmerton ($0.533m)

DEFENSEMEN
Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m)
Joni Pitkanen ($4.000m) / James Wisniewski ($4.000m)
Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Steve Montador ($1.800m)
Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)

GOALTENDERS
Jimmy Howard ($2.250m) / Ty Conklin ($0.900m)

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $61,667,044; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $2,332,956

Here come the haters...........

Agreed, plus/minus matters a lot but it's not a stand alone stat.  You need to look at it in conjunction with other stats for it to mean much.

I don't think any stat should be the complete focus on a players skill.... Anyone that know hockey, can watch a game and instantly see the kind of skilled player on the ice without looking at goals, assists, points, +/-, etc.... that all looks nice on paper but the truth is, it doesn't matter one bit, especially when it comes to playing for the Wings. You know when Babcock decides who is playing he goes with the guy working the hardest and playing well every time, not who's leading the team in points or +/-... anyway that's my two cents... see how many people have to comment on this one....

Anyway I'm not going to respond to any of the bulls*** anymore, to be quite honest I can't stand a lot of the people on this that think they know everything about everything to do with hockey, I guess that's why I have always just read articles and forums, and not got involved in the discussions... a lot of bulls*** back and forth... a lot of extremely opinionated people that think their logic is the only logic, if they don't agree with you, you're automatically wrong...

HAHAHAHAHA F*CKIN HILARIOUS....

God Damn Trolls have nothing good to say about any ideas....

--Reply to hockey23--

-Yes Tim Connolly has only played in 70 games one time since the lockout but you failed to mention that he has 250 points in 302 games since the lockout (0.828 points per game). Which isn't bad playing on a team like the Sabres. He was also playing on the top line for the majority of his time in Buffalo and you can argue that his points per game won't be as high playing on our third line but he also won't be playing against top players in the league all the time. He can easily put up 40-50 points, that along with the fact that he's a right-handed centerman that we desperately need I think he's well worth $4.5m.
Let's look at a comparable cap hit on our team shall we... Johan Franzen's cap hit is $500k less ($3,954,545) but his salary for the 2011-12 season is $750k more ($5,250,000)... Seems how you're so fascinated with passed numbers, since the lockout Franzen has played in 395 games and put up 219 points (0.554), (significantly lower than Connolly wouldn't you say?) and yes his point totals are getting higher, but his injuries are becoming more frequent meaning, like Connolly neither are expected to play a full 82 games...

-Honestly, I don't really care who is or isn't a fan of Zherdev, the guy would put up big numbers on a line with Datsyuk and that's all I care about. Can you or anyone honestly say you were a huge fan of Hossa? I doubt it, he's an offensively gifted player like Zherdev and before he came here he lacked on the defensive side of the game like Zherdev. He was put on a line with Datsyuk for the better part of the year and he flourished in his role and began to quickly learn defense playing alongside the best defensive forward in the world...

-I'd love to know how you are so confident we would not be able to sign Wisniewski for $3.75m? Because no players have come here or any other team for discounts at a real chance to win the cup... Not to mention it being his home state, so he was more than like a Wings fan growing up. And remember, I did have $2.8m in left over cap so if he wanted $4-4.25m I say we still go for it, he's a good defenseman with a lot of upside...

-A Babchuk-Ericsson pairing would cause every LGW'er to gouge their eyes out within the first month of the season. Hahaha I'd love to hear the explanation of this one... let me guess... another Ericsson hater... Both are young guys (27 years old) so they're bound to make mistakes, but they both also have a lot of upside... So if it doesn't work out split them up, there are countless ways to pair the 7 defenseman...

Keep complaining about everything fella's, I'd hate to have your negativity... I feel for you, I really do... actually not all that much.....