Why Not

It is getting to the point where I am surprised when the Wings win. Tonight's game certainly wasn't a surprise. Blowing a lead like they did wasn't a surprise. We've seen this same shit game after game after game. It will be very interesting to see just exactly who will still be with this team after this season--you have to wonder if they are getting too comfortable and just don't care anymore. I would love to know what is going on in Holland's head these days. Hell, HE might just decide he's had enough at the end of this season. Don't know if I actually would blame him if he left.

Next...

The Sporting News named the Wings as the team of the decade, Babcock as coach of the decade, Holland as NHL executive of the decade, and Lidstrom as player of the decade. Stay tuned to Pittsburgh being touted as the team to watch for the next decade--don't forget The Boy is going to be player of the next. Hell, THN has almost said it already. In the 28 September issue, the comment in their projected standings is this:

"PITTSBURGH PENGUINS--Next step is franchise evolution from Stanley Cup champion to dynasty team."

GAG!!! They win one Cup and are already on the way to dynasty status? And it still is being debated whether the Wings are a dynasty--after all of their success. Sometimes I really hate Canadians.

Little Gary HAS To Be Thrilled

I can imagine Little Gary sitting behind a very large desk--well, considering what a very small man he is, it wouldn't have to be THAT big--rubbing his hands together and cackling like the Wicked Witch of the West. Since 1 July, he has seen five of the Wings leave and the Hudler situation just made everything a bit more uncomfortable. Losing five players should have been the prize for Red Wing haters, but the league decided it wasn't enough. Despite the Wings NOT arguing Hudler's decision to go to Russia to play, the NHL has stepped in and said he's not allowed to do so--that he is still under contract to the Wings and he can't leave. And so the situation just gets worse for the Wings.

First, if Hudler is forced to come back to Detroit, just how effective of a player will he be? He WANTED to leave and the team he was going to was giving him BIG bucks to play for them. Now, we're talking about $2 mil more per year TAX FREE to play in Russia. THAT is quite an incentive, for sure. And something NO ONE wants to have taken away from them. Would he be able to put aside his disappointment and play as well as he is able if he is forced to stay in Detroit? And would he be satisfied with his role on the team? He said that playing in Russia would increase his on-ice minutes--something ALL players crave--and that he would have a leadership role on the team--something that wouldn't happen on the Wings. NOT a good situation for the team, at all.

And now, with this whole league-contesting-Hudler's-Russian-contract deal going on, Holand's hands are tied when it comes to adding anyone to the team. Without knowing if he has to work in Hudler's salary, Holland can't sign anyone because he has no idea how much money he has to work with. The Wings were willing to let Hudler go, so why should the league make a big deal out of it? (Yeah, yeah, there is the whole bit about future players, etc, etc, etc. Whatever.) It seems as if this is just one more thing that the conspiracy theorists can point to when they talk about the hate Bettman and the league have for the Wings.

For the amount that the Wings would probably have to pay Hudler--in the $3 mil per year area, I would imagine--I say "Let him go!" Filppula is getting $3 mil a year and Cleary is getting $2.8 mil--and Hudler is NOT worth as much as either one of them. Too much money for too little talent. And despite VF's and Cleary's not-as-good-as-hoped season last year, I think both will step it up a lot with Hossa being gone. They both will add minutes and be expected to do better. Hudler is not needed--especially a Hudler that doesn't want to be on the team.

Much Going On

No one will be able to watch hockey this season without a program, that's for sure. With all of the players being moved, it will be hard to know exactly WHAT team is playing.

The Grand Rapids guys will be a big part of the Wings this year--which we all were pretty sure was going to happen, anyway. It is time for Helm and Leino and Ericsson to move up. Last year they could have been in Detroit, but the salary cap prevented that. It will be a much younger team than we've seen in a while, but good nonetheless.

Now with the probable move to Russia by Hudler, it looks like there will be a need for even more new faces on the team. Holland is going to sign someone, cause it doesn't look like there will be enough guys in GR ready to move up. With the exception of Abdelkator, I'm not sure who is next in line. Especially with the way the Wings like to give prospects the time to grow in the AHL. Interesting.

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So, Sakic is retiring. The only player that I could actually like on the Avalanche. He was as classy as a player could be--a good guy. Too bad he played for Colorado.

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Pronger extended his time in Philly by another seven years. And the Flyers continue to get themselves back into the Broadstreet Bullies way of thinking--if they ever were out of it. Their season might be mighty interesting, considering they signed Emery, too. I'm still waiting to see what this team can do against Pitts--I'm hoping for some bloodshed, actually.

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Just some of the interesting things going on: Anaheim signed Saku Koivu. The Islanders are hoping that Tavares will lead them out of the cellar. The Blackhawks signed all of their RFA's, so they will stay out of trouble over the 'oops, the mail was slow' 'mistake' that was made over the qualifying offers not getting to the players as per the rules. Surprise! {dripping sarcasm in that} And life goes on in the NHL. Isn't it October yet?

On Further Thought

Quite the day and so much to think about. Next season will be interesting, to say the least.

I didn't think that Hossa would re-sign with the Wings--and I was perfectly okay with that. My one regret is that I would have liked to have seen Hossa and Filppula on the same line for all of last season. I think those two could have developed a chemistry that would have been unbelievable. But, Babcock is so insistent on separating Datsyuk and Zetterberg--it is a blind spot with the man. Oh, well, that is something that didn't and won't happen, so I must move on. And I was okay with all of this--until Hossa signed with Chicago. I still find it hard to absorb that news. This really takes away most of the 'good luck, been nice knowing you' feelings that I had for him.

Even though the Wings have lost three players--so far--they aren't that much different from the team that won the Cup on '08. I know that in an intellectual way. But, in my heart I am not too confident about next season. I'm sure I will feel differently about a month in, but until then I will do a lot of worrying. The depth is there and it was apparent during the playoffs that the guys from Grand Rapids ARE ready to make the jump, but still I worry. With Conklin gone, I worry about the goal tending. He really helped save the team while Ozzie was having his problems--I wish he would have stayed. Kopecky leaving doesn't bother me at all--if nothing else, I think Abdelkator could replace him. But it won't matter that much if he stays in GR for another year.

Now we just sit and wait to see how many more will leave--and IF Holland signs anyone new. At least, there should be some salary relief with Hossa leaving. I'm hoping that the wheeling and dealing that Bettman has done over the years to cause the Wings to fall, isn't finally going to become a reality.

I wonder if I actually could live with myself if I ever became an optimist?

News Is Coming Out

Ansar Khan at mlive.com quoted Ken Holland today as saying it isn't looking real good for Hossa to be back in Detroit next season. The Wings want a cap hit of $4 million and Hossa's agent is looking for a number around $6 million. NOT going to happen in Detroit. Also, the Wings are NOT going to offer a contract to Ty Conklin. Tomas Kopecky is going to try to see if another club wants him and Samuelsson probably will be offered a deal, especially if Hossa falls through. However, Sammy might see what he could get elsewhere. Qualifying offers have been made to Hudler and Leino, so they're safe.

It is getting really hard to imagine Hossa re-signing in Detroit. And if (when?) he goes, I don't know that I will feel terrible about it. He came for a reason and never said he was staying for the long haul--even though he HAS said he would like to stay, it always felt a little like a short-term experiment. I say good luck, it's been nice knowing you, and no hard feelings. Hossa's leaving will give a lot of exciting options for the Wings.

I don't know if Samuelsson and Kopecky leaving will be that terrible, either. For their sakes, I hope they find other teams where they can fit in and adapt. Too many times we see players who don't play well with other teams, but shine brightly with the Wings--and I hope they get good fits. Neither was a star with the Wings, but it always--well, almost always (*cough* Bertuzzi *cough*)--is sad to see a player leave.

I really, REALLY hate to see Ty Conklin leave. He is such a cutie (yes, that's me being female) and he really stepped up and saved the team when Ozzie was having problems. I was hoping that the Wings would finally cut their ties to Howard, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. I certainly hope this isn't going to be a mistake. But, then, Holland doesn't make many mistakes, so I have to trust that he knows what he is doing.

It Was Good Knowing Ya

Ken Holland officially said bye-bye to Chris Chelios today--he will not be playing for the Wings next season. But, Cheli has not said he will retire. Actually, he has said that he wants to still play somewhere in 09-10. Chelios has a lot to give to a team, but as a coach/mentor and not as a player. I certainly hope he retires before he completely embarrasses himself. NO ONE wants to admit to getting older--especially those of us of-a-certain-age--but nature just lets our bodies do what 20-year-olds can do only so long. We should go out with a bit of dignity. We have friends that I wish would realize this.