red wings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jeff 0]

The Wings will still be a solid club, with defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, Mathieu Schneider and 2004-05 AHL top defender Niklas Kronwall and forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Robert Lang in the fold.As usual the chase for the cup will go through Hockeytown

[WestcoastCanuck 0]

You forgot Kris Draper.*Edit: Woops, you didn't.I guess I should add something substantial then. I think a lot of the Wings success will ride on if Lang can duplicate his 2003-04 season.

[ajs510 122]

You forgot Kris Draper.*Edit: Woops, you didn't.I guess I should add something substantial then. I think a lot of the Wings success will ride on if Lang can duplicate his 2003-04 season.

Not to mention Legace living up to his hype as the best non-starting goalie in the league. Unless Cujo comes back, that is...

[HangukMiguk 8]

Not to mention Legace living up to his hype as the best non-starting goalie in the league. Unless Cujo comes back, that is...

I was not a believer in Legace until 03-04 when he put that team on his shoulders with Hasek and Cujo out. And in all truth, I would now rather see him play over Cujo now, and never thought I would ever say that.You also fail to mention the importance of an enforcer such as McCarty.

[strategy 4]

The Wings are good, but I wonder how long they're going to be able to keep it together with the cap. I don't even want to think about what kind of contracts Zetterberg and Datsyuk will get in the next ten years.

[HangukMiguk 8]

The Wings are good, but I wonder how long they're going to be able to keep it together with the cap.

Remember, this is a team who in 01-02 took a pay cut just to get Brett Hull. Remember how that paid off. They've done it once, and for the sake of another chance at the cup, they would do it again.

[strategy 4]

Remember, this is a team who in 01-02 took a pay cut just to get Brett Hull. Remember how that paid off. They've done it once, and for the sake of another chance at the cup, they would do it again.

I'm a Blues fan, would you please stop mentioning Hull already? I realize that they've done it in years past, but the players are already taking a pretty big pay cut and the Wings were pretty far over the cap anyway, no? The GM isn't gonna walk into the locker room and say, "Guys, I can't keep all of you unless you'll accept $10 as salary this season."

[HangukMiguk 8]

I'm a Blues fan, would you please stop mentioning Hull already?

sorry about that, at least the blues part anyway (sw)i guess you're equally as upset at the fact that he's in phoenix.anyway, i couldn't quote the exact salaries, but i could guarantee you that zetterberg is well under the cap, and datsyuk probably isn't too far ahead of him, those are bridges to burn when they get there. and rest assured when it comes time to renegotiate, yzerman, chelios, and shanahan will all have hung up their pads, which will free them up for some younger prospects, who will be in zetterberg and datsyuk's position, and netting those two a healthy cut of the money, if zetterberg stays. I don't necessarily see him staying, he's good, but expendable. Datsyuk I see staying, and would likely be a prospect to replace Yzerman as captain.

[WestcoastCanuck 0]

I'm a Blues fan, would you please stop mentioning Hull already?

sorry about that, at least the blues part anyway (sw)i guess you're equally as upset at the fact that he's in phoenix.anyway, i couldn't quote the exact salaries, but i could guarantee you that zetterberg is well under the cap, and datsyuk probably isn't too far ahead of him, those are bridges to burn when they get there. and rest assured when it comes time to renegotiate, yzerman, chelios, and shanahan will all have hung up their pads, which will free them up for some younger prospects, who will be in zetterberg and datsyuk's position, and netting those two a healthy cut of the money, if zetterberg stays. I don't necessarily see him staying, he's good, but expendable. Datsyuk I see staying, and would likely be a prospect to replace Yzerman as captain.

You sort of alluded to it, but is Zetterberg really that good? I hear a lot of hype about him, but it seems to be mainly because he plays in Detroit and is actually young. I know Datsyuk is a talented offencive player, but from what I have seen of Zetterberg he seems like a glorified Sedin twin (effective NHL player, but very unproven). Feel free to tell me I am wrong.

[HangukMiguk 8]

I'm a Blues fan, would you please stop mentioning Hull already?

sorry about that, at least the blues part anyway (sw)i guess you're equally as upset at the fact that he's in phoenix.anyway, i couldn't quote the exact salaries, but i could guarantee you that zetterberg is well under the cap, and datsyuk probably isn't too far ahead of him, those are bridges to burn when they get there. and rest assured when it comes time to renegotiate, yzerman, chelios, and shanahan will all have hung up their pads, which will free them up for some younger prospects, who will be in zetterberg and datsyuk's position, and netting those two a healthy cut of the money, if zetterberg stays. I don't necessarily see him staying, he's good, but expendable. Datsyuk I see staying, and would likely be a prospect to replace Yzerman as captain.

You sort of alluded to it, but is Zetterberg really that good? I hear a lot of hype about him, but it seems to be mainly because he plays in Detroit and is actually young. I know Datsyuk is a talented offencive player, but from what I have seen of Zetterberg he seems like a glorified Sedin twin (effective NHL player, but very unproven). Feel free to tell me I am wrong.

He is good, but capped salary good? I believe not. You're pretty close on the link on Sedin. Trust me, if Detroit keeps him after his current deal expires, I don't think he will get the same royal treatment Datsyuk will.

[strategy 4]

I'm a Blues fan, would you please stop mentioning Hull already?

sorry about that, at least the blues part anyway (sw)i guess you're equally as upset at the fact that he's in phoenix.anyway, i couldn't quote the exact salaries, but i could guarantee you that zetterberg is well under the cap, and datsyuk probably isn't too far ahead of him, those are bridges to burn when they get there. and rest assured when it comes time to renegotiate, yzerman, chelios, and shanahan will all have hung up their pads, which will free them up for some younger prospects, who will be in zetterberg and datsyuk's position, and netting those two a healthy cut of the money, if zetterberg stays. I don't necessarily see him staying, he's good, but expendable. Datsyuk I see staying, and would likely be a prospect to replace Yzerman as captain.

By "close to the cap" I meant the Wings as a whole. I don't know if they have the $39M number yet, but they're going to have to get rid of a bit of talent to keep Zetterberg and Datsyuk when they both land their big contracts... and believe me, they will be HUGE contracts. I remember watching Datsyuk vs Pronger 1 on 1 on like the second or 3rd game the big guy was back from his injury... Datsyuk completely embarassed both Prongs and Osgood.I agree that there's a lot of older guys getting ready to retire in Detroit, but they have so much talent built up from good drafting over the years. I am pretty sure they'll have to trade a big name to stay under the cap in the coming years. I don't think releasing Hatcher was enough, but I could be wrong.

[na3r0k 0]

Go wings, did they get rid of hatcher though, wasnt really a fan of his, not to mention his injuries, but the nhl is definately moving away from the big slow defense style of play. It's all about quickness and speed now it seems.

[HangukMiguk 8]

Go wings, did they get rid of hatcher though, wasnt really a fan of his, not to mention his injuries, but the nhl is definately moving away from the big slow defense style of play.  It's all about quickness and speed now it seems.

yeah, hatcher was one of the one's who went to phildelphia i believe.i think we'll end up seeing less offensive defenseman, with the ice being cut in half by the loss of the center line. longer passes, it'll look a lot more line basketball than hockey.all except we do still have offsides, that'll keep it balanced.

[kwinger42 0]

Let's not forget that Zetterberg and Datsyuk aren't even under contract yet! Dats is asking for $5 mil.+ right now, and in the capped NHL he's not going to get that much in Detroit. I think Zetterberg is only asking 2.5, but his name isn't on a dotted line for us there yet either. Datsyuk supposedly has a "substantial" offer from his team in Russia. The Wings are currently at about $26.5 mil. with several RFA's yet to sign. And let's not forget that the cap is tied to revenues and projections say it could drop by $3 mil. for next season, so spending to the limit now may be a tricky gambit. Not to mention saving a little room for next year's crop of UFA's. I wouldn't mind Marty Turco as a Red Wing. I loved watching him at U of M and here in Kalamazoo.

[Guest XXEddie]

RED WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[strategy 4]

Let's not forget that Zetterberg and Datsyuk aren't even under contract yet! Dats is asking for $5 mil.+ right now, and in the capped NHL he's not going to get that much in Detroit. I think Zetterberg is only asking 2.5, but his name isn't on a dotted line for us there yet either. Datsyuk supposedly has a "substantial" offer from his team in Russia. The Wings are currently at about $26.5 mil. with several RFA's yet to sign. And let's not forget that the cap is tied to revenues and projections say it could drop by $3 mil. for next season, so spending to the limit now may be a tricky gambit. Not to mention saving a little room for next year's crop of UFA's. I wouldn't mind Marty Turco as a Red Wing. I loved watching him at U of M and here in Kalamazoo.

I don't think Dallas will let Turco go unless something drastic happens. Dallas fans love him and it's hard to argue with his results.

[Kloddhopper 0]

Wings bringing Osgood back for 900K. Agree that Datsuyk will require biggest block of the remaining cap space - if they can get him to sign and come back for 3.5 per until Shanny, Yzerman and Chellios all retire it would be a definate good step for the Wings.

[Merlopj 0]

Ozzie's back! (yikes!)and on a personal note from Hockey town to XXEddie:Get a clue and give it up you obvious Avs fan. Your town isnt' even on the hockey radar unless people mention the Detroit Red Wings in the same sentence. Kinda sad to have to justify your entire hockey existence by being the lil beyatch of a storied Original 6 team. Oh yeah, and one of the greatest days of my life was when we bid au-rev-Roy to that chicken head Patrick in the 02 WC finals. ps - Forsberg is where now?

[strategy 4]

Wings bringing Osgood back for 900K.  Agree that Datsuyk will require biggest block of the remaining cap space - if they can get him to sign and come back for 3.5 per until Shanny, Yzerman and Chellios all retire it would be a definate good step for the Wings.

My god. The Blues might have a chance this year!

[Guest XXEddie]

Ozzie's back! (yikes!)and on a personal note from Hockey town to XXEddie:Get a clue and give it up you obvious Avs fan.   Your town isnt' even on the hockey radar unless people mention the Detroit Red Wings in the same sentence.   Kinda sad to have to justify your entire hockey existence by being the lil beyatch of a storied Original 6 team.    Oh yeah, and one of the greatest days of my life was when we bid au-rev-Roy to that chicken head Patrick in the 02 WC finals.    ps - Forsberg is where now?

in philly, your pointbtw; we won 9 str8 divisional titles-I believe we are on the hockey map

[HangukMiguk 8]

Wings bringing Osgood back for 900K. Agree that Datsuyk will require biggest block of the remaining cap space - if they can get him to sign and come back for 3.5 per until Shanny, Yzerman and Chellios all retire it would be a definate good step for the Wings.

My god. The Blues might have a chance this year!

I concur, I'm not an Osgood fan anymore. He could do everything and then some Regular season, but come the post and he chokes.Better be warming up Legace for the Cups.