Todd Varga

Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.

I hear what your saying. I know the Wings have suffered some losses- some BIG losses- but analysts and fans have been saying for the past few seasons that "This is the year the Wings are going to stumble" and it never happens. I agree with the difference between the Wings last year and this year at this point, but when it comes to the Red Wings, I will always take the approach of "I'll believe it when I see it." The offseason isn't over yet, and the Wings can still make some improvements. The Detroit Red Wings have been the best run professional sports franchise in sports over the last two decades, and I still think they will contend. We shall see friend.

Agreed sir. Michael Russo (beat writer for the Wild) threw out the stat last week : with Koivu the Wild were on pace to accumulate 94 points on the season, without him they were on pace for 47. It's Night and day without him.

This team will be really fun to watch next year (so excited ) but they are going to have to stay healthy. It has been a real problem for them over the past few years. They need to keep bodies on the ice.

Also I'm planning on writing about the Niklas Backstrom trade possibilities either next week, or the week after. Figured you'd like that.

Haha. I had him starting on my fantasy team as well. It was announced today that he is playing on Thursday. I'm with you on shutting him down. I really don't see the upside, especially if the shoulder is not 100%. No matter who the Wild sign this offseason, Mikko is going to be the main cog in this machine, and he needs to be at his best.

Justin Falk also looks to be close to returning. Falk has played really well this year, and I think that defensive style will be helped even more when he returns.

ranted when he comes back, somebody goes out, with the likely man being newly aquired Steven Kampfer, who has been playing very well in his time with the Wild.

Ha! No kidding. Hopefully we will see them both in Tampa. Go Gophers!

That's kind of how I feel everytime they hit the ice these days. My thought on Foster and Veilleux for the were that they were a salary dump coming back the other way. I don't see either of them being in Minnesota next year (though Veilleux has actually played well). If they can find a team that is desperate enough for a goalie (Washington,Tampa Bay, Columbus to name a few), I think they would consider moving Backstrom- especially if it allowed them to be prominent players for both Parise and Shea Weber. To that point I really think that this is Matt Hackett's shot. I think the guy is capable of being an NHL goalie, and now he has the opportunity to prove it.

We'll see what happens this summer. It's gonna be interesting for sure.

Thanks for the Welcome. Gillies was not fitting with the Wild line up. He was not producing points, and was having a good energy shift maybe once every 3 games. He was very inconsistent, and could create decent scoring chances but would not come close to finishing them off. Being only 22, I think the Wild really wanted to get him through waivers to the Aeros so he could further develop, but that obviously did not work. At the end of the day, he was taking up a roster spot, and being unproductive on a team that is pushing to make the playoffs. He admitted to Tom Reid after the waiver claim that he had gave up on being a success in Minnesota, and was not trying as hard as he did at the beginning of the year, which probably expedited his departure. The Wild probably could have gotten a pick for Gillies, but I think they really wanted to put him in Houston, and not give away another high draft pick.