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.

This Will Be Interesting

Now that I have had time to think of the Pronger trade, we just may have to get NHL Center Ice next year. I can't wait to see what happens when Pronger plays his game against Pittsburgh--and when he 'accidentally' hits The Boy in the head. It'll be interesting to see how much Pronger is suspended. Cause there is NO WAY The Boy gets hit by Pronger and there is no discipline handed out.

The First Round Is Done

Detroit traded their first round pick--number 29--to Tampa Bay, so there won't be a player picked till tomorrow at number 32. More Swedish players were picked in the first round this year than ever and the majority of the rest were Canadian. Don't think I will watch tomorrow--if there is live coverage, that is--but I will keep checking for any trades/deals that might happen. I think the next couple of weeks are going to be quite exciting.

Number 2 and Number 3

Tampa Bay chose Victor Hedman number two. (I would LOVE to see him as a Wing. I think he will be a great star in the future.)

Colorado took Matt Duchene as the third overall pick.

First Pick

The New York Islanders just picked John Tavares first in the draft.

Whoa!

TSN is reporting that Chris Pronger has been traded to Philadelphia. Wow.

UPDATE: Joffrey Lupul will be going to Anaheim.

And In Today's News...

Mike Babcock was named coach of the Canadian Olympic team today. And the official announcement was quite anticlimactic, as it has been unofficially talked about for days/weeks. It will be interesting to see how/if the Olympics will impact the Wings this year. The coach, as well as a good percentage of the team, will be involved in the Games. Might be another roller coaster year.