Coming off of a great 3-0 deficit in round 2 of the playoffs only to fall one game short, the Red Wings will still have an excellent core in place but some changes will need to be made to stay at the top of the food chain.

Here is a link with the salaries and contract lengths:

http://www.nhlnumbers.com/teams/DET?year=2011

My Take:

Forwards-

Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, and Fillppula are our core forwards.

Cleary, Abdukader, Helm, Bertuzzi and Holmstrom (if he doesn't retire) should all be kept.

Draper and Modano will likely (and should) retire.

Eaves and Miller are end of the bench players and should only be brought back if we can't find anything better.

Hudler should be traded. He's soft, sucks, and just annoys the hell out of me with his uninspired play.

Defense-

I hope that Lidstrom comes back. The guy can still play at a very high level.

Kronwall, Rafalski, and Stuart are all under contract. I wish that we could trade Rafalski as he was almost invisible in the playoffs and his play had been poor of late. He never was great in the defensive end and as his offense wains, he becomes a liability. He has been in steady decline since the Olympics. Stuart is solid. I would trade him but don't mind if he stays.

Eriksson should be brought back at the right price as he has steadily improved. Kindl should be given more PT.

Salei should be cut loose. He didn't impress me one bit and looked very shaky at times.

Goaltending-

Howard is the man and our starting goalie for the next two years.

Osgood is done and should retire. he's not very good anymore and can't stay healthy. Give a youngster a chance.

MacDonald needs no be re-signed. He was a very solid back-up and barring some young stud in the minors, is the best we have.

Your opinions???

First of all, thanks for getting this going.

I agree with a lot of what you have here. Hopefully Eaves and Miller can grow a bit more. Hulder can be hot/cold so I understand that one, but I'm a bit torn. You bring up a good point with Rafalski but I disagree with you about Salei. I thought he played well for the most part and came up with some very good plays. Honestly even with Rafalski, if Lidstrom comes back and Kronwall can keep playing the way he did this spring, I'm all right with our blue liners.

The forward question for me is more about what we need in my opinion than just individual players. Beyond our untouchables, Zetterberg and Datsyuk and our pretty damn close to untouchable; Franzen, Helm, Flip (maybe even Cleary) I think we need to add a couple of wingers. I think we need big, strong, young (if possible) snipers. Guys who can check and score goals. Maybe not 50 goal scorers but dangerous guys around the net and tough in corners. Who? No idea.

Looks like Rafalski is going to retire. That means a cool $6 mil to go shopping. If we trade Hudler and Lidstrom comes back at a hometown discount (a run for the cup in his last season), we could really do something next season.

This is too good a thread to derail with my bitching and complaining.

Carry on.

Fucking senile bastard.

Nucks in town.

Not sure if that's good or bad, but I'm going to watch a little.

PROMOTE THE NHL FORUM!

The Wings rarely fail to disappoint us at the end of the year.

Unless they play San Jose.

This is the first game, afaict, that I could watch this year and I'm not even going to watch them. They'll fuck it up in the playoffs anyway.

They're getting pummeled, but it's a great sports night otherwise.

We'll see these fucks again in June. Fucks.

And fuck it up then too.

Ok, I'll stop now.

go wings

7-1, holy cow.

Your assessment, DE?

The first two periods were the typical shit that kill the Wings, unnecessary penalties and mistakes in the defensive zone. That's the first three goals right there (the Wings had been playing well too). The third period was inexcusable. The late second period goal sucked, but you have a break between periods to re-group. Quitting like that is pathetic.

WINGS LOSE AGAIN! 5 in a row.

Is it time to hit "the panic button"?"

Is Babcock on "the hot seat"?

SICK OF THIS!

not really

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT IT ENDS, BABY!! Flamers in town. I don't know if they're any good or not.

Beat the punk ass Penguins in their Igloo.

Franzen now leads the lig in game-winning goals.


Mr. Big Shot.

So remember when everyone wanted to get rid of Jimmy Howard? Glad the Wings didn't?

is there a way I can watch the Red Wings for cheap or free??? pleeease

This site's always been good for me. http://www.firstrowsports.tv/

^ Yep, pretty much the greatest site on the innernet. Besides WTFDetroit.

Thought you'd be a Blue Jackets fan, though, Doc.

<---- Still doesn't know anything about hockey. Trying to change that.

Who's going to watch dis Wings/Canfucks game with me?

Still souring over the ALCS, you guys. Dallasss can suck it.

5-3 Wings, the 3rd just got started.

Let's get it started in here!
Let's get it started in here!

LMAO, Black Eyed Peas reference you guys.

Stuart just got his ass beat.

He did. And though he didn't get sucker punched or blindsided, he was taken by surprise and barely given a chance to drop. Hitchcock probably sent that fucker to get Stuart after that check. Dude's a great coach but a fucking dick and hates the Wings.

20 years ago doing that bullshit against the Wings meant you got to talk to Probie or Kocur.

10 years ago you got to talk to McCarty.

Now? Another reason they question fighting sometimes. That wasn't a policing the game fight. That was an old-fashioned revenge fight.

17 in a row at home! Let's see the Pistons try to match that. HA.

Your analysis is always greatly appreciated, DE. With football season being over, I'm probably going to have to start watching more hockey.

Getting a life is just not possible.

Who needs a life when the Wings are kicking ass at home and lead the conference?

This with the Blues is going to get even more interesting. Good team and, again, Hitchcock hates the Wings.

So true.

LONG LIVE WING!

DE, what do you think of the NHL All-Star format?

Are they still doing the captain pick their teams thing? I thought it was a fun twist at least. All-star games are so hard to keep interesting IMO because there's never really that much on the line. Baseball tried to address that but I don't know how successful they were.

They should just scrap the All-Star game and petition to have the Winter Olympics every two years. Those are awesome All-Star hockey games.

I've never watched an NHL All Star Game.

They're all right. There can be some pretty plays but with nothing at stake there's no hard checking or intense play.

Better than the Pro Bowl, which I've also never watched, I'm sure.

Tahoe will watch the Pro Bowl.

DE and I are watching the Wings/Flamers game so y'all don't have to.

Can you believe these fucks, DE? We've got a sweet hockey team and they want to watch the PISTONS.

No shit. Well except for that Montreal game. But I've forgotten about that.

Didn't see all the game but it's great to see scoring from lines other than ones Datsyuik plays on, especially on the road. That's going to decide winning in the playoffs or not IMO.

2-0 Wings you guys.

Get your red on.

Hell yeah!

It's great to see them come out like that. Dallas was not ready for that at all.

All Wings. 29-10 advantage in shots on goal.

NO PENALTY?

I'd rather they not sit on the lead in the 3rd. 3-0 would ice the game.

History beckons the Detroit Red Wings!!! OOOOH YEAH!

I'd rather they not sit on the lead in the 3rd. 3-0 would ice the game.

ICED, ICED BABY. LOL!!

3-0 Wings

It's good that they listen to me.

History in the making and we're the only ones that care? Not to mention that no one (and I'm included in the list) posted about next year's amazing Winter Classic game.

GREATEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE

Seriously, this is cool though. The rest of the NHL better hope we don't get home ice through the 'offs.

And the players saluting the fans. Very cool.

I like this Joey McDonald cat. Motha fucka is a goal tendin motha fucka.

We're gonna pwn these Predators, Chris Hanson style.

The Streak is on the line against the NHL's best road team tonight. CAN'T WAIT.

POTENTIAL WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS PREVIEW.

So are you riding a horse in that AV? Must be one big horse...

THE MEGA POWERS EXPLOOOOODE!

"Zach Cardinell" kind of reminds me of Crosby. Fucking punk.

Luongo seems like such a punk.

WTF happened? I step out for not even 3 mins, Wings are up 2-1. Come back and Wings are up 3-2.

OHHHHHHHHHHH HOWARD!!!!!!!!!!
https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQddpZGZ4xeYvDib4x1c9WkSxQe9WDkL o7vVebTYf4alC8VjHTty8b9xM09

o god, fuck.

would hate to see a shootout decide a playoff-esque game.

Unless we win it, of course

Fucking Roberta.

Hockey is too much fun.

Oh, we'll let this sink in. We won't forget.

WE'LL SEE YOU FUCKING PIECES OF SHIT AGAIN.

FUCK SHOOTOUTS.

THEY ARE RUINING THE GAME!!!

Hope the sweater was worth it.

Talk to the Hogg.
http://www.wtfdetroit.com/forums/image.php?u=1005&dateline=1327716322

Shit. It's like kryptonite.

That was a great fucking game! I really like the Quincey pick-up. I think it's great we are still trying to improve our blue line. I thought the Wings played some great playoff hockey. They were checking, pressuring all over the ice, playing the puck down low in the Canuck's zone and working hard on D.

Really, I fell that couple of bad breaks (off a mistake or two) cost the game. The third goal went right off Kronwall's skate. And Bert didn't make a mistake throwing the puck out. He put it so high there was no way (in theory) that a Canuck couldn't get to it to wave off the icing. But Mickey and Murph pointed out what happened; Salo got the refs to blow the icing and, of course, a Sedin would nail that shot.

Not getting the win and not getting 24 sucks. But the race in the West is going to be awesome. Just look at who's behind the Wings in their division (St. Louis, Nashville and Chicago). Home ice is going to be huge. After this game and the San Jose game (and I was even watching the Bruins, Blues game the other night) I think we're going to get great hockey from now until the end of the season.

your completely right, of course.

Checking out the replay of the game. DON'T SPOIL IT!!!

Already know we won.

a 4 o'clocker against the Blackcawks tonight. So cool. Can't wait.

Man, we are the suck right now.

PAVEL IS BACK!

:48 in and already down 1-0, lol. SMH

smh

Ovechkin and the Crapitals in town tonight. Sup DE?

Shit I didn't know. But I guess I didn't miss too much. The Wings need to kick the injury bug somehow (either with or without currently injured players) or the playoffs won't be too fun.

Good game, tough ending.

Aw fuck, what happened? I've been falling in and out of sleep tonight

Wings are Columbustin' that ass, you guys. 3-0 and there's still 10+ mins left in the 1st period!

4-0

GET 'EM A BODY BAG!!!

red wings fuck the columbus in the ass. make them humble

6-0...
http://www.thejohnreport.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Booker-T-wut-da-hayell.jpg

Isn't there a mercy rule? Nah, fuck that. NO MERCY.

Strike Hard Strike First No Mercy Sir!

I miss last game's beatdown but I get to see the one going on tonight. Yay.

Holy shit was a save. Rinne should get arrested for stealing.

Did not want to see the Predators get the first one.

Really didn't want to see the Predators get the second one.

Missed it. Fucking Trashville.

We'll be fine, you guys. Keep the faith. Semper Fi.

Panthers @ Wings in 10 mins. Completely forgot the Panthers were an NHL franchise.

Wow, they have fans.

Panthers @ Wings in 10 mins. Completely forgot the Panthers were an NHL franchise.

To be fair, most of the peeps on this board forgot that we have an NHL team too.

JLA is a dump. Haven't been there in over 9 years.

It is a dump and not really safe, but it's a great dump. I'll miss it when the Wings build their eventual new stadium.

Where's Tahoe to complain about that goal Howard let in. It wasn't a bad goal but not a great one either.

Missed it. I also miss Tahoe.

Amazingly, this board still never gets boring to me. Maybe because I get to unleash all of my inner weirdness on here.

Oh, and because I get the feeling that there are some peeps on here that I'd actually "hang" with. And I'm not the hanging type.

WE ARE TIED!

Wow. WOW. The roof would have blown off the Joe there.

Pavel is incredible.

Hahaha, Mickey's pissed.

OT

GET YOUR FUCKING RED ON

SEMPER FI!!!!!!!!

GET YOUR FUCKING RED ON

SEMPER FI!!!!!!!!

Hey!

Wings @ Taint Louis on NBC Sports Plus, aka Versus.

I've missed the first two periods but I'm really looking forward to the 3rd. Seems, looking at the stats, that it's been pretty even.

Yeah, 0-0 in the 3rd now. Don't think you missed anything.

Ugh. You could tell they were at least killing that penalty let alone score the short handed goal. One team didn't stop moving that first minute and it sure wasn't the Wings.

You're absolutely right of course.

Down 2-0 with 9:30 left

Aww sunuvabitch.

This game is over.

I'll watch of course, but this game is over.

Ooo. Maybe this will get interesting.

I DIDN'T HEAR NO BELL

TIE!! I LOVE THIS TEAM! And you, DE.

This game is over.

I have never been happier to be totally, full-of-shit, wrong.

Holy shit that was close.

What a game! What a night! What a month! April! APRIL IN THE D!

DE with the R.J.

It's going to suck to lose this in the shootout.

Costas.

Yeah, that was interesting watching him. I wonder if he's pissed he has to start late.

Super sweet interception there. That would have been a killer way to end it.

Yeah, that was interesting watching him. I wonder if he's pissed he has to start late.

More like Costas Tomorrow. LMAO!!!

So close.

Nobody's putting it in the net.

Up to Bertuzzi.

WHAT A WIN!! WHAT A TEAM!!!

Holy shit! Bert is a shootout badass!

5 for 9 now.

I'm not Matt Damon or anything, but I'm positive that's like 55%.

They showed some balls tonight. It's not like they had let in two bad goals. The Blues were skating them off the ice. That was a ballsy comeback.

Not quite the explosion in the 3rd against San Jose in game 5 (?), but it was impressive nonetheless. Thought they were dead in the water.

Devils @ Wings, let's do this.

DEVILS!!!!!!!!!!!

I bet they think we forgot about '95.

What happened in '95?

Devils are cheating. I can't really explain how, but they are.

Win or lose, at least we root for a team that plays the right way.

New Jersey smells.

The Jets, LMAO.

What happened in '95?

The Devils smoked the Wings and taught the NHL that to win a Stanley Cup you just needed to have superior goaltending and players willing to grab anyone they can at center ice and tackle everyone else in the slot.

de=truth

Oh, I knew that, but had simply forgotten.

Blackhawks/Wings on NBC right now. Emerick sucks.

I missed most of the game. I hope they're healthy enough now. I would have preferred home ice but what can you do?

I like Doc actually. Good voice. Absolute hockey guy. Isn't a Wings hater and doesn't ballwash most teams or players. Pierre McGuirre though is a stupid fucking cunt.

You're right. I got the two mixed up for some reason.

McGuire is a creepy bastard.