@ Mr. Pib, your original argument was very well done. This team is not as far of as roy (and many others) think. That said, yes, they are definitely correct w/regard to our top two centers being soft puffballs. I don't know what kind of deal is, or may be out there now or further into the summer. Also, if Rivet's gonna be ready for the season that's great. I can't for the life of me believe that the injury he's had for the better part of two years hasn't affected his point shot. He has a good one historically folks. Now, the surgery won't cure his terrible skating last season, but mark my words he will be good at PP point. He's played point on PP from MTL to SJ. That's right, before SJ traded for Boyle, Rivet was their PP1 qb. I also refuse to believe that with the given space, they won't at least TRY to swing something for a center.

@ Roger Hill, you had my attention until you said something along the lines of Ruff gets rid of people he shouldn't. Ruff has no say in that. That's all your precious Darcy and Larry (joint decisions). Furthermore, Lindy Ruff coached a goalie dominated team ('97-'99), and a top-3 scoring team in the entire NHL ('05-'07). His coaching got them to four conference finals in his tenure here, with two vastly different styles of play. Lindy is as far from a problem in this organization as ANYONE.

This contract is absolutely absurd. The bigger problem is now what?... Does the league wait another two weeks for more movement? I'm glad this deal has been revoked. If it weren't, then the big markets would be able to do this all the time. What exactly would be the point of a cap?? Big ups to Bettman.

And Vanek. Forgot about 26 being in the 1st round. That proves my point even more. That's 1 in 10 years who's gone on to be an excellent player.

@ omg, my bad I did miss the whoever else part. In that case, do not get rid of Kennedy. Darcy won't do it but throw picks in instead. The way I've always felt about drafts is this; if you're not in the top say 10, then you have a 1 in 4 shot at a pick developing into a really good player. Even really good players don't make all-star teams. I will never know why Darcy is, and has always been so damned conservative with the picks. Look at the draft history since say 2000. Of all the 1st rounders, who has stuck?? Stafford's still here representing the only 1st round forward. WOW. Awesome. Myers, Ennis, and Adam are very promising young talents no doubt. However, that's what five draft picks that are still here if you throw in Kaleta? Picks are the best trade leverage there is, and Darcy never uses them meaningfully. That is really my biggest problem w/Darcy. Even more so than his misplaced loyalty. I personally don't mind his conservatism w/regard to free agency. Not using picks to get someone who can help immediately, as well as the future via trade? It make zero sense.

@ omg, I'm with you on Bergeron, Lee, and maybe even Guerin (if you can get him on the cheap). That said, dude 21, and 44??? For a top pairing D?? Not in this lifetime.

@ cannibal, and T goggins. I'm actually very excited that my 2 year old w/down has an appointment w/her neurologist tomorrow to get her off her anti-convulsives. There are, however some ignorant people here who just don't get it and never will.

Agreed. I'll take Lee over him in a second.

Myers is an even bigger body. Just to clarify.

It's just that I watched Pronger tip in like 2 PPG while being planted in front of Brodeur. I don't get it. He's an even bigger body.

@ Jeff, I agree about Myers. I think he's gonna be terrific on the PP next year after a whole off-season of work. That said, why in god's name don't they stick him right in front of the net?? I watched PHI do it w/Pronger a bunch in the playoffs and it worked really well. Then have Bergeron fire shots from the point.

Maybe now he convinces his brother to end his retirement and run our PP....

Initial reaction was eww. Now, however, I'm comin' around. Very John Madden-like. Good point that we finally have a champion here. Good point about this setting up a Stafford move. Eh, not pumped but could've done worse.

YYYYYEESSSSSS!!!! Rob Niedermeyer. The cup is ours!!

Marc-Andre Bergeron. Partnered w/Myers??? No. Effective pp qb?? Absoulutely. On the cheap. 3rd pairing, although I don't totally understand the nightmarish reputation he has in his own end. -4 career isn't woeful. He also went against Ovechkin, Backstrom, Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Richards, Briere, and Carter in the playoffs. That may have a little to do with his -12 in the postseason. I don't care about his size, his point shot is worth a look and we don't give any players/prospects/picks to Burkie and the leafs.

I know. I love razor, I really do, but come on. 35%??

And we rule the government!!! Uh-oh lock-up your guns!!!

I agree marty would have been better, but this could allow us to bring in good young forwards; or it will be no different from the last two years. Say what you will about Lalime (he deserves a lot of it), this team was awful in front of him. Really the only game that was 100% his fault last year was the one in ANA. At some point you have to trust your youth. If not for Myers we MAY have missed the playoffs w/a Vezina winning goalie. Without Ennis, We probably get swept vs. BOS.

8-5-2....sorry about the math....yikes.

@ Lou, Miller time is only 30. All the upper-echelon netminders play into their late 30's if not early 40's. He's gonna be re-signed at top dollar again in '13 or '14. He's coming off a well deserved 1st Vezina. Not saying he's Dom in his prime, but I definitely see multiple Vezinas. Enroth, if proves well as a young, quality backup, then there WILL be a good to great market for a good trade. Not this year, but what if he goes out and has 15 starts and looks like this: 8-5-4 .905-.910 and 2.7-2.9?? He's young. Some G.M. will make a deal for that kid. If he fizzles, so what?? He's dirt cheap and we just had a guy who's teammates trusted him so little, they made him look like he should be in the KHL.

The greatest fight EVER! over two minutes of mayhem. This guy was the lone reason I started using the red wings in my first hockey video game. Though I ended up being an Yzerman guy, Probert was not just a Tony Twist neanderthal, he had decent game too. R.I.P. Mr Probert.

@ Mr Excitement, hey when's the next klan....I mean tea party rally??? Hockey blogs are no place for stupid political trash.

Here's my question; why is Darcy thinking Zherdev, when there's another scoring wing out there who scored 28 times in the NHL last year, opposed to 13 in the KHL???? He'll also be cheaper.

@ Jeff, thanks for the info. If that's the case, then don't touch that kid.

No Zherdev....PLEEEEAASSE Darcy. Especially at that price. I would go 2 years; 2-2.5 in year one, then 4.5 mil club option for year two. He wants 4+ per year, then prove you're worth it.