Wingsfan72

Who is Carlo Colaiacovo???

 

Well, I could be wrong but I believe Colaiacovo is an old, old wooden ship used in the Civil War era.

Any Sammy haters want to make a bet, tbh? If Sammy scores 1 goal in the first 3 games that he plays after returning, I get to choose your avatar for a week. If he doesn't, you choose mine. (all pg friendly of course)

I will take that bet!! it's a friwndly enough wager

Lol, count me in too.  I am not so much a "Sammy hater" I'm just over his getting injured all the time crap. I in fact used to be one of the few in his corner...the first time he was with the Wings.  Those days have passed I am afraid.

One average, not losing - but not always winning, season and this is what becomes of Wing's fans.  Nice 

I don't understand how "the diamond has lost it's shine" other than the leverage that was playing with Nick Lidstrom is now gone.

Lets take a look at some of the factors here:

We'll start with the offseason that no one will shut up about

• Parise wanted to play in his home state, the only other team he would have signed with was NJ, as he said.
• Suter had Detroit in the top two on his list of places to sign, but we lost out to a HUGE contract and the fact that he could play in his wife's home state and with his friend Parise.
• Shultz said from the beginning he wanted to play in Canada....for those of you who don't know Detroit is in the US.

These are the three names (and maybe Semin) that ignited this whole "Detroit is not a desirable team anymore" crap.  So, with this logic, had Holland signed one/two of these people would Detroit still be a fading star?  If the Wings don't sign at least one big FA every offseason, they're over the hill and nobody wants to play there?  Ok.  

It's funny nobody addresses the fact that Brunner decided to sign with us because, you know, he didn't have to....

Now lets look at these current trades with Pittsburgh:

• First off let me say, Pitt is a desirable place to play solely because of Crosby.  Had they not won the lottery all those years ago the Pens would be signing a different tune.  To say Shero is better than Holland is a little harsh and sounds like sour grapes from NHL 13 players.  I mean, how hard is it to pick top 5 in the draft in 3 consecutive years, one of which you are literally given arguably the best hockey player of this era?  

• Morrow was a great pickup, the ideal rental player.  In my opinion, out of all of the players the Pens got, he is the only one I think the Wings should have pursued, considering the asking prices of these players.  So that's 1 point for Shero, I guess. 

• Murray is a solid depth defenseman, good pick up- but not what the Wings need.  Also I think two 2nd rounders was kind of steep, but thats just me.

• Now for Iginla:  He made a list of teams that had the best chance of winning a cup, I don't understand how Detroit not being on that list makes this an undesirable place to play.  The simple truth is Pens have a better chance at winning the cup than we do.  Maybe that's whats pissing people off so badly, it makes me mad, but it's true.  But the fact that the Pens have a better chance at winning the cup doesn't make me lose faith in this team or our GM.  The asking price for Iginla was too high, especially with the risk of him not resigning.

There are a lot of factors that play in to our relatively unsuccessful season so far (and I say relatively as compared to us normally being a top three team in the league).  First and foremost, our biggest hit was losing LIds.  He left a huge hole in our D and Kenny had to get what he could in the FA market to try to help fill it.  It is completely unfair for anyone to expect Holland to find a semi-LIdstrom in the same summer the man retired.  Then there was the lockout, and the subsequent loss of a preseason where our new players could have gotten used to the Wings system.  Several of our guys didn't play during the lockout and that showed, they needed several games to get back in to game shape.  And finally, now that we're kind of getting things rolling and players are somewhat finding their groove, WE CAN'T STAY HEALTHY!  I think, considering all of those factors, especially the injuries, we are doing quite well for ourselves.  It could be a lot worse.  

I honestly did not realize until this season how many fair-weather fans the Wings have, and this makes me sad.  I am sorry that we are not going to win the Presidents trophy this year, and we're likely not going to win the cup.  Unfortunately reality dictates that you cant win everything every year .  The pens are looking pretty good now, and I am sure they could always use a few more bandwagon fans so...theres the door.  Myself, I will stay a loser Wings fan

Well....this is awkward...

I am nervous he'll sign with EDM as well, but I've gotta say I can't understand the logic.  I'm from MI, grew up a die-hard Wings fan, I would not even let the other 29 teams waste their frequent flyer miles.  Hell, I'd take bottom pairing minutes if that is where I needed to start.  I thought for sure just to be able to wear the Winged wheel would enough leverage.

 I really hope it doesn't come down to him not signing because he won't get top 2 minutes, especially considering he's never played a game of professional hockey before.

Fingers crossed.

An unproven prospect and a pick (a la Brenden Morrow), then yes.

This explains certain "injuries".....

"Sammy, you want to play?"

"No no, I need to be home so I can count out the money Kenny gave me!"

Detroit Free Press headline:  Mikael Samuelsson sprains wrist stacking hundred-dollar bills from his 3M dollar paycheck. Won't require surgery - out indefinitely.

But in all seriousness, if what Babs says was true Tatar would be on one of the top two lines.  

Other teams don't undervalue their stars like the Red Wings do.

 

We're lucky guys like Datsyuk and Kronwall are willing to play for Detroit at such crappy prices for their skill level and comparative rates.  

I agree, Holland (too) often looks for "bargains" in his signings and contract extensions, but this contract is ridiculous!  In my opinion 7.5 mil should be the MOST a player is paid - in ANY sport!

And I'm talking elite players like Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Stamkos, Weber, Crosby, etc.

It's not like that is an offensive salary to offer a player.   I mean this isn't football or baseball where money is passed around like its nothing - to some of the most undeserving athletes.

IMO this is the kind of crap that messes up a team.  I was pissed when Weber signed that offer sheet from Philly, that was purely for money.  I think that contract is really going to hinder their success in the future.  

To clarify, I am not one of those people who says players shouldn't try to make more money, who wouldn't?  I just think this crap is getting a little out of hand, especially in the world of the salary cap.  And, believe it or not there is such a thing as playing for the love of the game.  I mean if I got paid millions of dollars to play the game I love, I would be pretty ecstatic.  Its not like playing for 6M instead of 8,9,10M is going to negatively affect your life, I mean it's manageable.

Look a Steve Yzerman, one of the greatest players in the game, he made 8 mil two times in his career and 7.5 mil one year (when there was no cap).  Besides that his contract was for 6M, 5M, and lower.  I know its a different time and those numbers mean different things now but my point is that Steve Yzerman was arguably one the most important parts of the Wings success and he wasn't demanding Fedorov money, even though he could have.

I understand this is the real world and people are just trying to get as much as they can monetarily, but there are other real factors to consider like salary cap and the future of your team.  I don't remember who, but weren't there some Wings players that deferred some of their salary to sign Hull and Robitaille?  That's the kind of stuff, in my opinion, that makes a team stronger.

Kenny has it right (sometimes) not dealing out the big bucks for some players.  Do I think he underpays players? Yes.  But I think our elite players (Z,Dats) are paid a very appropriate and reasonable amount of money.  They didn't have to sign the dotted line, but they did, so they could play for the team they love and are a part of.

Eh, I'm done ranting now. 

8.25 MIL?!?!?!?      

What the hell, isn't the cap going DOWN?

I hope Perry doesn't get any ideas from this...

Last year was really Clarkson's first on a top line. before he was used as a checker/goon. Now he is scoring at such a pace, there was a story a week or 2 ago about the devils telling him not to fight anymore. he is on pace for 37 goals based on a 82 game season. With a Datsyuk or Zetterberg feeding him the puck, he could get 45+ goals per season.

But...we're trading Datsyuk for picks I thought...

Last year was really Clarkson's first on a top line. before he was used as a checker/goon. Now he is scoring at such a pace, there was a story a week or 2 ago about the devils telling him not to fight anymore. he is on pace for 37 goals based on a 82 game season. With a Datsyuk or Zetterberg feeding him the puck, he could get 45+ goals per season.

I feel like I've heard this somewhere before....

....I just can't quite put my finger on it...

Tootoo should take Franzens spot on the first line, it is unbearable watching him.

Every time I see Keith Jones: "FLINTSTONE!"

Why would you want to underpay one of the most consistent players on our team?  3.5M is not a bad price.  How much does Fil make again?  I'm hoping for a 3 year deal.

...Sammy makes 3 mil for pete's sake!    

If we get him in the 3 mil range that will be a complete steal if he plays with the same consistency he is now.  It's one thing to complain about overpaying players that don't deserve it, but this guy brings it every game.

Plus, you know Philly is going to offer him 7M if he's still unsigned but the summer. lol

I would love to see a 3 year contract worth 2.5-3 with play off incentives

This.

Who are you to know who was or wasn't running the team at that point? Is that you Mike Illitch?

 

Holmstrom was a great player yes, but I'm not really sure he can be labeled a "star". Same goes for Draper and Maltby.

I think be "star" he mean Homer was the BEST at what he did.  In the world of screening/pissing off goalies, Holmstrom is a god!