Shoreline

The players are guilty of being greedy in their own right, but I can't be more upset with them than I am with the league.

This league got what it wanted with the cap and player reduction of salaries, saving owners and the league liability of writing out and signing contracts they can't maintain. Now things have come full circle.. once again. I gave the league the benefit of the doubt in the first lockout I was involved in, in the mid 90s, and again following the loss of a full season last decade, but that's all gone now.

The fact that the PA and NHL haven't met for s*** over the last year or so, then haven't really met in the last two weeks before this, shows me they aren't serious. The fact that the league yesterday set a press conference to be held to announce the lockout later this week/weekend well ahead of this meeting with the PA shows how much pointless window dressing facade garbage this meeting is, and that neither side are serious about getting this done for the one forgotten aspect of this lockout hurt the most by this -- the fans and those employed by the league. The league isn't concerned about fans at all, and for that, I lack concern for the NHL and when they finally decide to bring back their league from this bulls***. In all likelihood, I won't watch the NHL for a long time, if ever again, and certainly won't be spending a penny of my own money buying merchandise. There's no sense of being a fan of a league that so frequently, along with it's players association, gives us the finger.

This likely lockout is also by the same odds a long goodbye from the forums as my disgust with the NHL has my interest virtually zero, which is why I haven't discussed hockey much at all over the last several months. I still hold out hoping some miracle will happen, but both the league and PA already have a pre-emptive intent on going through with the lockout so here's my pre-emptive post walking out on the NHL and related forums.

Yes, we have spoiled fans. That comes with the territory of winning. All I want is for Holland to take a chance and sign Semin. He needs to re-energize the fan base with a big name signing. There is no excuse to have WAY over $10+ million in cap space and not do anything with it. We all know your gonna wait till the trade deadline to see what can be had but then you don't pull the trigger. There is no one that will trade a top 4 D-man to Detroit without risking the future of the franchise. So take a risk on Semin to bolster up the offense and see if we can outscore teams instead of playing defense and losing like we have been since 2010.

For a team that plays so defensively I kinda think that 7th and 2nd in the last few years respectively in the league in goals/gpg is hardly that defensive-oriented.

And why must cap space be emptied out? What's the justification? Also, what's the rush? It's early July.. having space now gives the Wings an advantage in signing someone the organisation thinks is worth that cost. Not having space means the team is forced to bend over in a trade. Some people really aren't thinking clearly. Your vision is blowing away tact for instant gratification. Go enjoy your summer, take a vacation, go to the beach.. waiting around day after day for the Wings to throw cap space away on pie in the sky gambles is going to leave you disappointed it looks like.

I'm disappointed with what's gone on this offseason and the lack of replacements for Lids and Stu, but I'm embarrassed as a Wings fan for these Holland bashers who want the Wings to be like the Rangers, giving fans instant gratification of russian roulette major signings, releases, and roster implosions and explosions obviously without any results. So many spoiled fans. I think I'll be patient and see what unfolds. The Red Wings are hardly a disappointment franchise so.. far from reason to be up in arms.

While Lids is retired, Suter is no Lids and wanted too much money. Like Parise i'm glad he signed elsewhere.

Also, 13 years is bulls***.

I'm down with Doan, he can wear #91.

esteef

+1

A couple thoughts:

- It's been known for a while that Stu wanted to go back to California, he also played quite a few years with the Sharks.

- Lids' retiring was the perfect opportunity for him to jump ship.. not sure the direction KH is taking the team.

- I still believe him when he says it's for family related reasons, why wouldn't it be?

- .. and lastly he's not leaving on bad terms whatsoever.

He had a great tenure with the Wings, was a class act, and I wish him well. Don't see why a few posters here have such an ex-girlfriend attitude about him leaving, but whatever. The Wings sure have one hell of a gaping defence though.

This summer is going to be very interesting as to what Kenny does.

It's pretty sad when losers won't leave you alone, but I can't feel too bad because Darren put himself in the type of environment that gets him attention of this fashion. Even for non-celebrities people are aware that they should be fairly cautious who they hang around and what environment they put themselves in to avoid these very circumstances. Celebrities and NHL players are some of the most well prepped people in the world to deal with elements of ill-repute, Darren just "rebelled" (as they put it) so I mean, surprise surprise, when you hang around with the wrong people you find yourself in over your head in s***.

I just hope Darren learned his lesson and makes staying away from these type of people a permanent choice.

Just throwing in a quote from the article:


He had so access to so many doctors that it certainly would be difficult to keep track of all the meds he was on.  Still, all these doctors should recognize a drug-seeking patient when they see one.  

RIP Boogaard

Doctors can't really be expected to police every individual's life for them.

Sorry Boogaard had to pay such a high price, but was a big boy, he made stupid choices, hopefully as a positive lesson others can learn from that before they make conscious choices to abuse drugs of any kind, including prescription meds.

I'll give it a shot that he runs for some kind of Political Office.  as a member of the Teabag friendly GOP.  Anyone care to digress with me on what he might actually do?

Spend time with family? Dig a hole in the ground and hide from Obama? Making Facebook videos for ad revenue in a mankini putting butter or Nair all over himself and shakerboarding some website address?

As strange and sudden as I find this, it's also his right to take time off as it would be for the Bruins to send Timmay down to Providence or cut him citing his Drew Carey likeness.

1. Aaron Downey
2. Robert Lang
3. Dominik Hasek
4. Roberto Luongo

My logic is undeniable.

This is more than the end of an era.  This is the end of......everything.  I'm kinda at a loss for words for what this represents.

End of a bandwagon too perhaps.. thank the f*** christ if so.

He's done pretty well so far at recovering from turning on the waterworks.

It'll probably be Filppula. He's got it all.

Or the Wings will bring back Lilja and give him the C.

You heard it here first!

Here's my uneducated guess.

I imagine Kenny and Lids had a discussion like this.

Kenny: Hey Nick, I've been looking at our payroll and I'm confident that we can retain all of our FA this year. I think this is an wonderful opportunity to for our veterans to continue the path that they are on. I will "save" our money for the trade deadline and "go all out" and see what happens. I really like where our team is at right now.

Liddy: Oh great! I have wonderful news as well! Kenny call in the reports and set the press conference for tomorrow afternoon.

Kenny: Oh this is great news you'll be staying another year!?

Liddy: f*** no, If****** quit.

Kenny's dream summer acquisitions will stat with the fall of Lidstrom retiring and continue without signing anyone of importance or players that are over the age of 35.

Kenny's schtick of signing Euro nobodies and other teams castoffs is getting old.  I would like to see him focus on getting established NHL players for once.

No thanks.

I view it like this, the Devils swept the Wings in the 95 Cup Finals, I shall always vie for the team playing against them in the playoffs (particularly if it's the Finals) to win. Go Kings.

Even if the Devils win, the fact that the Blues, Preds, and Penguins got annihilated in such a brutal yet entertaining fashion, still makes these playoffs kinda ok despite the Wings getting run over.