Detroit Red Wings: There's Always Next Year

Did you see it coming?  I know I didn't.  It took me a week or two to get over my anger after the Wings lost the Cup.  But now I feel I can talk about it without throwing a book, fan, or anything else I can get my hands on. 

To be brutally honest, the Wings sucked pretty much that entire series. 

I mean, some of those games were hard to watch, they looked worn down, and didn't have any kind of fire pretty much all  seven games.  Game Five was really the only game they played their game, Wings hockey.  My dad and my brothers came over to watch the game, because for some reason, with their new TV, they still aren't able to get CBS or NBC.  When they got here, I told my dad I had a bad feeling about this. So did he, and it proved true I guess.  I had a horrible feeling they were giving them too much momentum losing Game Six. 

If the Wings would have played like they did in Game Five, I think the series would have been over in five or six games.  But you have to give credit to Pittsburgh for pushing the Wings and making them play a different kind of game, and taking advantage of them being tired, which I think they were. 

But now we're looking at next year. They are still talking to Hossa, and the way those talks go I think may determine their fate next year.  I wouldn't feel too bad about not being able to resign Sammy, but I like Hudler, and hope they can keep him.  I'm not sure who you would trade if they have too, with Chelios gone, and Lilja still messed up in the head, I'm not sure if they can afford to trade a defenseman. But then, who do you get rid of?  It's a good thing I'm not a GM because I have no idea. 

I would think hard about trading Maltby, or letting him go whatever to get rid of his salary. 

When you think about it, they have Leino, Helm and Abdelkader to call up next year, so they should be okay if they get rid of Maltby, theoretically.  I would hate to see him go, but they have essentially one or two players who are younger and faster who play the same game.  It wouldn't kill me either to see Kopecky go, as he didn't play all that well when he was up, and I like Helm and Leino better anyway. 

It will be interesting. They've got one of the best GMs in the business, so I'm not really worried, they always find a way to compete.  I just hope we can get back to the Finals and stick it to those Pittsburgh punks!