You guys have been the premier team in the league for well over a decade. Which is amazing considering the movement and turnover in modern sports. It appears that father time has finally caught up to you guys. So, what happens now?

You guys have been the premier team in the league for well over a decade. Which is amazing considering the movement and turnover in modern sports. It appears that father time has finally caught up to you guys. So, what happens now?
- bruinsbeer69

I honestly thought it would happen long ago. But Lidstrom hanging on as an elite Dman has done wonders for them. With him gone they're nowhere near the same team.

I honestly thought it would happen long ago. But Lidstrom hanging on as an elite Dman has done wonders for them. With him gone they're nowhere near the same team.
- prock

He's still a top 5 defenseman in this league

He's still a top 5 defenseman in this league
- bruinsbeer69

And when he's gone, I think they'll struggle immediately. If he had retired at a normal age a few years ago, they're nowhere near the same team. He's 42 next week. To be playing like he is at his age is pretty much a miracle.

And when he's gone, I think they'll struggle immediately. If he had retired at a normal age a few years ago, they're nowhere near the same team. He's 42 next week. To be playing like he is at his age is pretty much a miracle.
- prock

I think they make a bold move when he goes(and I think he's coming back next year)

They know a premier defenseman is key to their system, so I think they go all in on a Doughty, Weber, Yandle type player

I think they make a bold move when he goes(and I think he's coming back next year)

They know a premier defenseman is key to their system, so I think they go all in on a Doughty, Weber, Yandle type player
- bruinsbeer69

That would definitely be pretty crazy. But first of all, does one of those guys adequately replace him? Second, how far do they have to gut their team to get one?

That would definitely be pretty crazy. But first of all, does one of those guys adequately replace him? Second, how far do they have to gut their team to get one?
- prock

They've been the pemier team in the NHL for a while now. They find diamonds in the rough through the draft and groom them (Zetterberg/Datsyuk). They will occasionally dip into free agency to fill a need (Hossa/Rafalski) They have no ties to a specific goalie to get them far (Ozzy, Vernon, Hasek)

I think they make a move for Ryan Miller in the offseason in net, and go for Parise up front.

They've been the pemier team in the NHL for a while now. They find diamonds in the rough through the draft and groom them (Zetterberg/Datsyuk). They will occasionally dip into free agency to fill a need (Hossa/Rafalski) They have no ties to a specific goalie to get them far (Ozzy, Vernon, Hasek)

I think they make a move for Ryan Miller in the offseason in net, and go for Parise up front.
- bruinsbeer69

That doesn't really address my questions though.

I'd also point out, these guys drafted by them were over ten years ago now.

That doesn't really address my questions though.

I'd also point out, these guys drafted by them were over ten years ago now.
- prock

I'd have to look at their cap situation, and not being a big fan of theirs, I really don't know what's in their pipeline for future talent.

I'd have to look at their cap situation, and not being a big fan of theirs, I really don't know what's in their pipeline for future talent.
- bruinsbeer69

There isn't much. Guys like tomas tatar may have had their moments, but nothing spectacular.

I'm not a huge fan as a franchise either. There is no doubt they've been the best franchise over the past 15 years, but I think they lucked onto it a lot more than people think. They got the best dman in history in a late round, and had they not, they might not have ONE cup since. I also think people ignore the other things they've done well to make them so successful.

That said, I do recognize they've been the best. I just think they get blown up more than they deserve.

I'm more a fan of the Bruins. They play the game the way it should be played. Hardnosed, but not dirty, like the flyers. And not like soccer players, like the someone who is attracted to the opposite sex canucks. Cam neely is one of my favourites alltime.

There isn't much. Guys like tomas tatar may have had their moments, but nothing spectacular.

I'm not a huge fan as a franchise either. There is no doubt they've been the best franchise over the past 15 years, but I think they lucked onto it a lot more than people think. They got the best dman in history in a late round, and had they not, they might not have ONE cup since. I also think people ignore the other things they've done well to make them so successful.

That said, I do recognize they've been the best. I just think they get blown up more than they deserve.

I'm more a fan of the Bruins. They play the game the way it should be played. Hardnosed, but not dirty, like the flyers. And not like soccer players, like the someone who is attracted to the opposite sex canucks. Cam neely is one of my favourites alltime.
- prock

haha

Aside from Looch and Marchand, we're pretty clean. Even as a Bruins fan, some of the stuff they do pisses me off.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Bruins lose their sh!t after the officiating in this series. Marchand just took on to the head by Chimera who then went the other way and scored, they just missed 7 Caps on the ice, and that slash on Pouliot yesterday with 3 minutes left was laughable

haha

Aside from Looch and Marchand, we're pretty clean. Even as a Bruins fan, some of the stuff they do pisses me off.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Bruins lose their sh!t after the officiating in this series. Marchand just took on to the head by Chimera who then went the other way and scored, they just missed 7 Caps on the ice, and that slash on Pouliot yesterday with 3 minutes left was laughable
- bruinsbeer69

I don't think Lucic is dirty. He hits hard, he fights when needed. He doesn't take cheap shots though, as far as I have seen.
S
Marchand, well, he's borderline. Stuff like tossing the Sedin over, dirty yeah, but I mean, he charged him. Marchand is a rat, yeah, I guess, but he's no matt cooke either.

I don't think Lucic is dirty. He hits hard, he fights when needed. He doesn't take cheap shots though, as far as I have seen.
S
Marchand, well, he's borderline. Stuff like tossing the Sedin over, dirty yeah, but I mean, he charged him. Marchand is a rat, yeah, I guess, but he's no matt cooke either.
- prock

I haven't seen him take cheap shots, but he'll throw punches well after a fight is over sometimes.

babcock said they have a bunch of cap room, and if spent correctly they could be back to contending

if weber, suter or parise sign there they are back to square one

babcock said they have a bunch of cap room, and if spent correctly they could be back to contending

if weber, suter or parise sign there they are back to square one
- nightmare3020

I thought all year all Detroit would have to do is sign Suter and that there defensive problems wouldn't be that bad when Lidstrom retires. But after beating the Wings in 5, why would Suter leave NSH to go to DET?

We've seen what Holland and Babcock could do when they had 3 elite players, lets see what they can now do when they aren't as elite or on their way out.

Brendan Smith is going to be a full time NHLer next year. Guys like Tatar, and Nyquist are only going to get better.

They have some really intriguing prospects in Jarnekrok, Pulkinen, Spourl, Jurco, and Ferraro. Jarnekrok and Pulkinen are going to surprise a lot of people, they have top flight talent, and honestly could be Zetterburg and Datsyuk's succesers. Big shoes to fill, yes, but no one had any clue Dats or Zets would be anywhere near as good as they ended up being.

There is a changing of the guard coming, but I expect Detroit to go hard after Parise and one of Suter and Weber hard to remain competitive.

If there's one team in the league who's fans needn't worry it's Red Wings fans.

Detroit has an excellent pipeline of young talent to draw upon, it's clear they will now rotate stock. Also with the new found cap space it wouldn't surprise me at all if Parise ended up in Detroit.

Brendan Smith is going to be a full time NHLer next year. Guys like Tatar, and Nyquist are only going to get better.

They have some really intriguing prospects in Jarnekrok, Pulkinen, Spourl, Jurco, and Ferraro. Jarnekrok and Pulkinen are going to surprise a lot of people, they have top flight talent, and honestly could be Zetterburg and Datsyuk's succesers. Big shoes to fill, yes, but no one had any clue Dats or Zets would be anywhere near as good as they ended up being.

There is a changing of the guard coming, but I expect Detroit to go hard after Parise and one of Suter and Weber hard to remain competitive.
- mochoson

..yeah pretty much this