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Abel to Yzerman

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If It Hurts In Denver It’s Gotta Be Good

by IwoCPO on 01/29/07 at 06:13 AM ET
Comments (1)

Back at the end of December, we discussed the very real possibility that the divisional race could be decided in the subsequent 30 days.

Bubba plays thirteen times.  8 of those games are against St. Louis, Chicago and Columbus.  Now, granted, that’s not the cakewalk it was last year...except St. Louis, which may be even worse.  Three games against legitimate playoff teams: Anaheim, Calgary, Detroit.  You could easily expect a 20 point month from Bubba, particularly with a healthy Vokoun.

The Wings?  A five-game West Coast swing through LA, Anaheim, San Jose, Denver and Phoenix.  Montreal at home, Bubba at home, ‘dique at home.  14 games and asking for 20 points might be greedy.

Due to a wildly inconsistent month from our boys, and a maddeningly strong one for Bubba...that nasty prediction has come to fruition.  Nashville’s had a 20 point month (at least, one game left with the Dive) and the Wings can hope for no better than 17, pending tomorrow’s game against the NYI. 

7 points down and David Puddy’s 8-ball tells me we’re headed for a first rounder against The Team We Don’t Speak Of.  Yes, children, that would be San Jose.  An ugly scenario at best.  Oh, you can hope the Sharks win the Pacific and delay that pleasant matchup.  Because that would leave us with a healthy Anaheim.  Whew.  A reprieve.

But there is light. It is bright and it is shiny, and it beckons us with optimism and drama, as you’ll see.  Have no fear. 

First...yes, I took a vacation over the American Idol break.  I avoided hockey, even yesterday’s game.  I returned this morning to find an interesting thread from yesterday at the Empire HQ.  The topic?  A potential Wing acquisition of one Peter Forsberg.

Paul does a good job of bringing us the disparate opinions of Deep Diggers St. James and Khan(!), but the family hijinks don’t get really nutty until you throw sobbing Dive apologist Adrian Dater into the mix.

It would be right up there with seeing Baltimore Colts great Johnny Unitas in a San Diego Chargers jersey, or famed Bruins legend Bobby Orr in a Chicago Blackhawks uniform. Peter Forsberg in a Detroit Red Wings sweater would look odd, all right. To Avalanche fans, it would be downright ugly, probably unbearable.

But there are some in NHL insider circles who believe it might just happen.

“I think Detroit is the front-runner to get Forsberg,” said NBC and TSN of Canada hockey analyst Pierre Mc- Guire. “I think (Detroit general manager) Kenny Holland is going to offer a player and a first-round pick for him.”

Do you see? Do you?  Can you imagine the angst?  Oh, oh...it’s almost too much to bear.  Do I despise Forsberg?  Of course I do.  But, I do giggle at the mere thought of the pain the 7 Dive fans left in Denver would suffer through if this were to occur. 

Now, before we get too excited at the prospect we must resist this temptation.  We must.  We must consider hockey before fading animosities.  Would a deal for Floppa be an astute maneuver for our boy wonder, Kenny?  A 3/4 healthy Floppa? A playoff-only Floppa?  Back to Khan(!).

There have been no trade talks between the teams. That might change in the next few weeks. But, as of now, it appears that Forsberg’s chances of winding up in Detroit are slim.

“There’s been one inquiry, a long time ago, only to say that if he were healthy we’d like to hear from Paul at the deadline, if he’s going to move him,’’ a team source said. “Can’t say we’re the front-runners. We have no interest if he’s not real healthy.’’

And from Khan(!) to Spector.

I’m going with Khan, who regularly covers the Red Wings, than McGuire on this one. Sure, one shouldn’t rule out the possibility, but Wings GM Ken Holland would want assurances that Forsberg will be capable of playing well and in most of the remaining regular season games and playoffs. If Holland has any doubts about Forsberg’s foot, he won’t trade for him.

Well, that seems like the logical point of view...which Spector is known and respected for.  And, because I like him, I won’t begin a discussion of Khan(!)’s credibility or lack thereof.

But I will explore another stance based on Lyle’s last statement regarding Holland and doubts about Forsberg’s health.  If McGuire’s prediction of a “player and a first-rounder” is anywhere near truth, I think Holland may be willing to chance it.  Naturally, there has to be a better than average chance that Stamp Boy can handle the rigors of the playoffs...more than six games of them, anyway. 

But if that chance exists, can you honestly tell me Kenneth wouldn’t deal Jiri Hudler and a first-rounder?  Does that not harken back to the days of free-wheeling dealing that Kenny enjoyed with unlimited cash at his disposal?

Me?  Oh, you know where I stand on this.  I’m your reactionary guy.  I’m the guy who gives little thought to far-term consequences, and I’m the guy who has no problem blasting Kenny if he pulls the trigger and it all goes to crap...even after I’ve advocated the trade.

Which I am, I mean I do...errr, do the deal Kenny.  For hockey, for Cups, for glorious parades in warm summer sunshine?  Yes.

But more because it’s just another way to shaft the Dive.  And that, my friends, is really what it’s all about.  It’s the true core of that which A2Y was founded upon...shafting the Dive and all who support her.

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Comments

As much as the “Forsberg to Detroit” rumors are interesting and the thought of getting the Avs would be fun, I don’t see it happening.  He is not 100% healthy and I can’t see that being a good thing for the Wings.  If he is able to find a skate to fit his ankle, then maybe we have a deal.  I don’t know.  I think Peter is one strong hit away from packing it in for the rest of the season.  Of course, since there is no hitting in the league any more,maybe he will be o.k.

Posted by hockeychic on 01/29/07 at 10:53 AM ET

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