WingNut722

He's solid but unspectacular. Tends to fly under the radar a lot, so he doesn't get a lot of attention. Haven't heard of him making a lot of spectacular plays, but then again, I never hear of him screwing up royally either.

wha..wha....WHAT????

Without a doubt...a serious powerhouse team if ever there was one. Not one real flaw at all that a team might have been able to capitalize on reliably.

I can't seem to find my crystal ball right now, so as I peer into the empty scotch bottle i see............. 1. Nathan Horton, RW - Vancouver 2. Valterri Flippula, C/W - Columbus 3. David Clarkson, RW - Philadelphia 4. Mike Ribero, C - Washington 5. Stephen Weiss, C - Ottawa 6. Mike Smith, G - Phoenix +1 7. Patrick Elias, LW - New Jersey +1 8. Pascal Dupuis, LW - Detroit 9. Jarome Iginla, RW - Pittsburgh 10. Brian Bickell, LW - Chicago +1 11. Derek Roy, C - St. Louis +1 12. Daniel Briere, C - New Jersey 13. Nicklas Backstrom, G Minnesota 14. Ron Hainsey, D - Toronto 15. Damien Brunner, RW - Detroit

@SpikeDDS Can't agree more. See also the other topic we were discussing of whether Hossa should be picked up if the 'Hawks buy him out. Gives you a peek inside last summer where both Parise and Suter signed with Minnesota. Michigan is close enough to Minnesota (particularly for Suter who lives in Wisconsin, of all places). Had the Wings made the same offer or better for them, they'd be in a Wings sweater right now.

@hf101 As a condition of employment, all Red WIngs' front office staff must spend at least one season shoveling octopi off the ice. It's a probationary period to see if the candidate will be a good fit within the organization.

I doubt very much that Hossa would be a good prospect. Should he be bought out by Chicago, there would be a whole host of teams wanting to throw all kinds of money his way. Teams looking to lock up a long term scorer, however, Hossa has made it very clear in the past that he's looking for hardware. Don't bet that he signs someplace like Columbus or Carolina. I can see playoff perennials like the Sharks eyeing him closely, looking to augment the next generation after the Thornton and Marleau start easing out. I can also see a team like Vancouver or maybe Washington bringing him on as an expensive rental to make a big push for a Cup. I do not see Detroit in the running at all.

Ahh...the fringe benefits of Pavel Datsyuk!!!

@SpikeDDS Good points. However, I think the tipping point for Bickell is his flexibility. Bickell has shown he can play in several different situations with the Hawks. This is something Detroit relies upon heavily. A player that can perform well on special teams as well as in 5-on-5 situations is more highly prized in Detroit. Hossa can rack up points very well. He's done it his entire career, but I just don't think he has the flexibility that the Red Wings have come to demand of their top players. The other thing to consider is his grit. He's not shy about roughing people up, and he's really good at it. We already have Abdelkader and Tootoo (and to a lesser extent, Ericsson) in that role. I wouldn't go so far as to call Bickell a "goon", but I think he mixes it up better than any of the others. If the Red Wings pick up Brian Bickell, consider Jordin Tootoo's days numbered. That scenario also presents the Red Wings with what is likely their best option for their buyout. I think Tootoo has two years' contract left, so it's a few extra dollars that can be transferred to woo Bickell our way.

While it cannot be official until July 5 per the CBA, it appears that Pavel Datsyuk is dispelling the rumors and working on a 3-year extension to his contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Looks like the magician will be adding a few more performances. http://www.freep.com/article/20130618/SPORTS05/306180033/Pavel-Datsyuk-Red-Wings-extension

@SpikeDDS Bickell would be a key signing, without a doubt. Matter of fact, if he were the only acquisition in this offseason, then I think the Red Wings could call it a huge success. @OccamsRazor is right about Bertuzzi. I have heard nothing about his health lately, and if he was cleared to play in the playoffs this year, he certainly wasn't used (I think he was out once). He's entering the last year of his contract and I think he's considering hanging them up. The only issue is, does he want to get a decent season in first. I certainly wouldn't blame him. You can't end a long career like his by sitting in the locker room for two whole seasons with a nagging, non-specific back issue. That's no way to punctuate your entire life I recall @yave1964 asking me another thread whether the Blackhawks would consider using their buyout to relieve themselves of Marian Hossa. I think this thread is a good place to pick up that discussion again. If this is the case, who would you choose? Bickell or Hossa? (I say Bickell)

@OccamsRazor I doubt very much that the Wings will let Brunner get away. He had a hell of a rookie season this year and to let him test the free agent market when good young forwards are in demand would be reckless. I suspect, knowing Ken Holland, that they'll offer him a decent raise and a 2-3 year contract. Enough to make him stay, but not enough to break the bank if he turns out to be a lemon.

@hf101 I agree that Filppula is gone and so is Ian White. As for a buyout, I don't know that Kyle Quincy or Carlo Colaiacovo would be the targets. Both of the stepped up their game quite well late in the season and in the playoffs. Colaiacovo has only one year left on his contract so there's no point in letting him go. Quincy has the better chance (out of the two), but with Defenseman at a premium this season, the risk might be too great for the reward. I'd certainly rather have Quincy than Brian Lashoff at this point. Lashoff still needs some development, but can certainly step in for injuries at any point.

After the cutoff from the original post, I only added that I was a bit shocked to see Valterri Filppula being allowed to look for work elsewhere. Although I do have to admit @yave1964 has been saying it all season. Toward that end I would like to see a younger, more aggressive forward come up. This would give Nyquist a "semi-permanent" spot while we await the prognosis on Darren Helm. Even Tomas Tatar is ready to see some more NHL time. I would hate to see a kid that talented spend his better years in Grand Rapids. As for FIlppula, I imagine he could grab a good slot in a younger market as a more experienced play-maker. That brings clubs like Edmonton and NYI to the forefront. They certainly have the cap space, and could use the lessons he would bring from spending so much time in Detroit.

@jammer2 I don't think they'd give up on Filppula so easily. With some of the other forwards better trade material (like Eaves), and some of the younger guys who can still benefit from time in the minors (Andersson), I think Filppula will be offered a one- or two-year contract with the proviso that he step it up. Others are certainly waiting, but FIlppula has been a solid and dedicated member of this team. Holland sees that and appreciates it. They won't give up on him so easily.

@yave1964 Well put. It was a great game to watch. Both teams played well, but the Hawks were just able to find their chances more often. No dirty or soft goals, no even the one that was waived off. I would have preferred a different outcome but I had a great time watching that game last night. They can be proud of what they accomplished this year.

@SpikeDDS If you can get the Detroit Red Wings to read my post....well, then I need to make sure I spell everything correctly!!! Winning in Chicago is not too unfamiliar to them, though it will be tough. They did play well in Game 4 and a performance like that would be welcome. But as it stands, I'm hoping for a performance like Game 2, where they handed Chicago a 4-1 loss in their barn. It's a whole different atmosphere and the joint will be jumpin'. I think you summed it up perfectly, though. The game will be won or lost in the first 10 minutes. Unfortunately, the Red Wings don't always come out swinging in important games. The good news is that, if victorious, we have the Kings waiting for us, instead of those pesky Sharks. The Wings have a much better opportunity against LAK than SJS. The other fun fact I figured out this postseason... The Red Wings move to the Eastern Conference next season. This removes the tremendous travel burden from their shoulders but also takes them away from their all-time rival Chicago Blackhawks. How interesting is it that this post-season alone has put the Red Wings through a 7-Game series travelling back and forth to southern California, a 7-game series against Chicago, and potentially, another long series back to California? Right before they move to the East, the run up the maximum amount of travel miles as well as the maximum number of games against the 'Hawks. Just sayin'...

@SpikeDDS @yave1964 @mojo1917 @flyercanuck Agreed an all counts, Gentlemen. There's only one chance and that is to push hard. Get pucks in deep and hard. The biggest problem they had (that I saw) was puck control. Particularly through the neutral zone. This has been a perennial problem for the Red Wings and now it needs to be alleviated quickly. Everyone needs to play like it's their last game of their CAREERS.

Hmmm...I have two ways to answer that. The "quintessential" fan in me says absolutely yes. Without a doubt. If the rumors about Pavel Datsyuk leaving for Russia after next season are true, then Hossa would be a very capable substitute. However, the "sentimental" fan in me says maybe not. Hossa was here for a year and made no attempt to hide the fact that he was only there for hardware. I kinda feel that a player should be on the team due to a deep and healthy respect for the team, and not just use it as a springboard to a better chance at winning a Cup.

@Polaris922 So what did you end up doing? Vomiting? Hating ourselves? Or was it......something?

@yave1964 Ian White is gone. Eaves is trade bait, but I can't ever see Holland parting ways with Cleary, Filppula, or Miller. If you're still looking for a Top 4 defense, maybe you should reevaluate the need. The Red Wings have been outstanding on defense lately, which of course goes to the full effort the entire team has been giving. I agree with a sniper/power forward. Those kind of players are out there, and the Wings certainly have the money to get one or two of them. But if they get a Top 4 defender, who do you move? Kindl? Send Brendan Smith or Danny DeKeyeser (back) to Grand Rapids? Colaiacovo is proving himself this past week, and still has a year left on his contract. I think if the Wings can pack a bit more scoring depth into their lines, their need for an increased blueline will be that much less. I still have my eye on Franzen though...$4MM a year until 2020? Sounds comfy..... And I'll take a beer please. Something tall, cold, and Canadian.

@yave1964 Sounds like we may be looking at a potential epidemic here!

@ruxpin Nice!

@yave1964 Told ya!!

@jammer2 It's pretty thrilling to see these guys play they way they have been. Living up to their potential. Despite the less-than-stellar regular season, they can be proud of a first-rate performance in the Playoffs. Toews may be ailing from something, but I know the Wings have made sure to keep him tightly checked. Still, he's an elite player, and elite players should still manage to break free a time or two. He's had a few good looks, and he's certainly getting his chances. I think he had 7 shots last night, including one crossbar. Things just aren't going for him right now. It is good to see Colaiacovo back in good form. He spent the better part of the season on the bench for one reason or another, but let's not forget that he's a pretty good puck-moving blueliner, which is why the Wings picked him up the first place. He'll be around next year as he's on a 2-year contract, but depending on how well DeKeyser develops, he may be let go at the end of it. For the record, I never though Babcock's job was in jeopardy. He's been so successful with Detroit to date that there's no way Kenny Holland would dump him after one lousy season. He's at least earned that much respect with the organization. @ruxpin LA would be a tough opponent, but I sure would rather face them than San Jose. Eitherway, they're back to travelling long distance and playing late games. However, if they make it through that, then I think they'll be just tenacious enough to take the wind out of Pittsburgh's sales. I mean, hell, they came that far...