CenterIce

I know Pasha and Malkin are friends...in fact, one idolizes the other (I'll let you figure out which is which).

Datsyuk is friends with Ovechkin and Bryzgalov, too.

So I had no idea Val was good friends with the Finnish Flash till I heard about it today. Does anyone know any other players on other teams that the wings are friends with? Past and present wings. I've heard Tuzzi is friends with Jovocop recently too

Selanne came to Filppula's Cup party in Finland.

I am never one to throw trade scenarios out there, but with our backup situation, I thought I would throw this out there.  What would you think about picking up Giguere and Quincey from Colorado?

Winnipeg is surely pissed.

Winnipeg was one of the four teams that voted against realignment.

I love the woo sound.

http://espn.go.com/b...mccabe-and-more

Kronwall and the Red Wings

Contract talks are well under way between the Red Wings and star blueliner Niklas Kronwall, who is eligible to become UFA on July 1. Both camps spoke this week. My colleague at TSN, Darren Dreger, also reports the Kronwall camp is looking for a long-term, front-loaded deal similar to what Christian Ehrhoff signed with Buffalo.

http://sports.yahoo....urn=nhl-wp12767

http://www.theoaklan...wmode=fullstory

Remember he also did this:



So, he just needs to play smart.

Just saw it today.

He lives just outside of Windsor.  He would be with his family.  He would live at home.

What about the road trips?  It sounds like he wanted to see his kids more.  Not going to be able to see them, while you are on the road.

Chicago did this recently too I believe.

That is one of the reasons Tallon is the Florida GM now, instead of still being in Chicago.

They don't need to, actually. A team can legally operate under the floor.

Actually, they do.  Can be fined, lose draft picks, or lose contracts, if they don't.

Let's say for the sake of argument that Jiri Hudler had scored 50-60 pts. (instead of 37 pts) and was the same -7 on defense.  This would bring him in line with what everyone really thinks that he'll turn out to be.  Does that make any difference in the San Jose series?  Does it stop them from dominating possession and endlessly cycling the puck?  Do we go on to win that one, beat Vancouver, and play Boston for the Cup?  Does he somehow match up better against quality forwards?  Does our goals against go down?

Now replace Hudler with Wolski, Zherdev, Tim Connolly, etc.?  Do we win with any of these guys?  Against the good teams?

If not, maybe the problem isn't that we don't score enough.  What do you all think?

Detroit was 2nd in goals per game and 23rd in goals against per game, this season.  Yes, the team defense is what needs to improve.

By the way.  Those numbers change to 4th and 5th; respectively, in the playoffs.

Brendan Smith

Darren McCarty