Fight For Your Right

Ok, it's been awhile since I posted, but let me say this, GO WINGS!

The Wings find themselves in a position that they have not been in for almost 20 years and are battling to make the playoffs. As a life-long Detroiter and Wings fan I am confident they can get a spot as an eighth or seventh seed and go far in the post-season.

Just hang around long enough, like Crosby camping next to the goal, and you'll see the Wings in full playoff mode. I predict Detroit faces Chicago in the first round and goes the distance in a seven game do-or-die fight. From there we'll just have to see how healthy and hungry they are.

It's been a long season but it's almost time... GO WINGS!

The Mule Down & Out

Wings' Johan Franzen out 4 months

The Detroit Red Wings found out yesterday that forward Johan Franzen will be out at least four months after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Thursday’s 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

This sucks. I was going to draft him early in my Fantasy Hockey league which starts this week.

I'll have to give him a call and see if he needs a meal or anything while he's out.

Go Wings!

Warming Up

I've been away and have started preparing for training camp.
With the return of the NHL season just around the corner, get ready for some more rants.

Go Wings!

Toooooo Baaad Hudler.... Can you say Awkward?

The NHL is contesting Jiri Hudler's contract with Moscow Dynamo of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, believing he is contractually obligated to the Red Wings. The NHL has approached both International Ice Hockey Federation, seeking its intervention.

Because Hudler filed for arbitration on Sunday, the NHL believes he is obligated to remain in the league next season, nullifying the two-year, $10 million deal he signed with Dynamo.

NHL spokesman Frank Brown said in a statement: "We believe that Mr. Hudler remains contractually obligated to the Detroit Red Wings.''

In an e-mail, IIHF communications director Szymon Szemberg said: "The IIHF has been informed by the NHL about the Jiri Hudler case. Upon this, the IIHF has informed the Russian Ice Hockey Federation about the NHL's position and the case is under investigation. As this is a transfer to an IIHF member league the player will be needing an International Transfer Card (ITC), approved by the IIHF, to complete the transfer. Only upon the IIHF's signing the ITC, the transfer would be finalized and approved.''

According to Szemberg, a fully approved ITC is signed by:
a) the player
b) the new IIHF member national association (in this case Russia)
c) the old IIHF member national association (USA Hockey)

When all those signatures are in place the IIHF puts a stamp on the ITC as final approval.

"During the process, USA Hockey would ask the NHL whether they approve the transfer,'' Szemberg said. "If the NHL says no, USA Hockey will most probably not sign and the ITC would be incomplete -- no IIHF approval.''

He added: "If the KHL, through the Russian federation, disputes the NHL's/USA Hockey's refusal to sign, they can take the case to the IIHF and ask the IIHF to intervenve. An investigation would follow.''

Hossa?

Hossa will probably walk, which will mean even more crow for him to eat. His whole "I want the best chance to win a cup thing is more important than money", will blow up in his face, cause he's in the same spot this year as he was last season but now he has a bad playoff behind him to bring his value down. Not good to be Hossa right now, Detroit is the only contender that he can save face with by winning next year, it ain't going to happen in Edmonton or Minnesota wherever else he's rumored to go if he signs somewhere else. He needs to man up & except that he didn't help himself in the bankroll dept. he should have played out of his mind & stepped up to win a cup & his value would be through the roof right now.

It's really rather simple, here is his choices...

1.) Strong chance of winning cup & a 3.5 million paycut down to 4 million a year for 7 or more years & multiple chances at winning the Cup
or
2.) No chance anytime soon to win the cup & still take a pay cut & make about 6 million a year for a long term contract on a team that may have a chance at it in about 3 to 5 years, maybe....

If he's about being a champion then he'll stay with Detroit but if he's about making some money then he'll bolt, either way we will win another cup in the next year or two with or without Hossa, we're just that good.

Regardless what he chooses to do, I think he's a very good player & he had a great season although he choked when it counted most, but I do think he learned something from it & if he stays, he'll be a terror in the playoffs next year but if he splits, he's not gonna get a glimpse of the Cup for many years.

Over & Out

The Red Wings season is over and so is this Blog... for now.

My words are simple & direct to Kenny Holland & somewhat obvious- If Hossa will sign for around 4 million a year, lock him up, if not resign Hudler & Samuelson, after all we finished the big dance without Hossa & with those two guys. Overall I think injuries were the biggest opponent this post season for the Wings, so regardless of which way Holland goes with things as long as we can stay healthy next Cup run, we should be fine.
The only other issue is how the Wings can beat the refs, actually the refs present a problem for all teams, their inconsistency wreaks havoc on these series but such has been the case for some time now.

In closing, it's been fun, it didn't result in the outcome I would have liked, but at least I got to go to an excellent game 7 that the Wings actually won vs. Anaheim. Good Times & until next year.
-Later

Go Tigers!

Game 7 "I'm so excited"

In the words of the pointer sisters "I'm so excited & I just can't hide it" I can't wait till tonight, this is so awesome, nerve-racking but awesome... Game 7 Stanley Cup victory would be so cool for the Wings.

Good Times

Go Wings!!