What now Kenny?

I think it's safe to say this summer has not gone according to plan for my Red Wings.  They struck out on their big 2 free agency targets (Parise and Suter).  They had been setting things up for over a year to make some big signings this summer and it didn't work.  They were apparently interested in trading for Rick Nash, who would be a great fit, but it would have been almost impossible for Columbus to resort to dealing with Detroit (figured they would take less from New York or Philly but still thought they would get more than what they did).  The Wings also made trade offers for Shea Weber but, again, the Preds likely had no interest in dealing with the Wings as well.  So, next in line was Bobby Ryan, Shane Doan or Alex Semin as the next best forward options.  With Semin signing in Carolina and Doan likely to stay in Phoenix, they are left with Bobby Ryan and I am guessing the asking price will be sky-high now that he is the last big fish still swimming around out there - if he even is out there (unless Howson's awful Nash trade lowered the bar a little bit).  I think Detroit can get 69+ points (Parise's total from last season) out of Ryan for less in trade assets than what Parise required.  Suter and Weber were the big misses for sure though.  The Wings D is definitely in need of a top 2 d-man and the only guy that I like that may be available right now is Keith Yandle.

The Wings have made a few moves though and here is my take on what they've done so far:
- Darren Helm.  Good deal re-signing him for the next 4 years.  Helm is one of the fastest players in the league and, despite his size, one of the better hitters on the team.  Great 3rd line center.
- Jordin Tootoo.  Don't like it at all.  Too much money and too many years.  I can understand the need for some grit in the bottom 6, but he would have been my last choice.  Wonder how long it takes before he does something stupid that costs the team... or before Bertuzzi knocks him out in practice.
- Mikael Sammuelsson.  Meh.  Didn't really mind when he left.  Don't really mind that he's back. Cheaper replacement for Hudler I suppose.
- Jonas Gustavsson.  I can only hope that he is another decent player that was ruined by the Leafs and their brutal handling of young players.  The Wings seem to have a knack for rejuvenating lost players, but I'm not holding my breath on this one.
- Kyle Quincey.  Re-signed for 2 yrs, $7.5 mil.  I must be missing something here.  Wings drafted him and ended up putting him on waivers.  He's been in the league for 5 years and changed teams just as many times.  Detroit traded it's 1st round pick to get him at the last trade deadline and he didn't play well after he came over.  Now he gets this deal?  What am I missing or is the options for D-men that slim?

Not a very glowing take on the Wings summer moves.  At this point the Wings are a worse team than last year and that was a team that went pretty quietly in the 1st round.  Kenny Holland is a great GM so he should get the benefit of the doubt here, but it's puzzling and worrisome for Wings fans so far.

On to something more positive... after I watched my daughter go tubing on the lake for the first time I was reminded that proudness is an underrated feeling.

I got to watch a Jays game from one of the hotel rooms in the outfield at the Skydome and it was really cool.  Having a fridge right beside you with your own beer (that doesn't cost $12 each!) in it, a TV to watch the replays and listen to Jerry Howarth call the game (for some reason they use Howarth instead of Buck Martinez for the audio) as well as your own washroom is a great way to experience a ball game. I am definitely going to do that again some day.


Pretty cool video of 100 rock riffs in 1 continuous take:

I like my BlackBerry Torch but every time there is a little glitch (and with the continuous Titanic-like news coming from RIM and their delay of the BB10) I wonder if I should just get an iPhone and stop avoiding the inevitable.

The Raps made Steve Nash a 3 year, $36 million dollar offer.  Although it would have been nice to see him play for T.O., and as much as I dislike Kobe, I would rather see him win a championship.  My guess is Nash's old pal Colangelo made the offer to drive up the price for Nash to help him get better coin from the contenders that were making offers.


Another sure sign you're getting older - enjoying cutting the grass.

I mentioned Godsmack's cover album in my last post and here are 10 more cover songs you should check out if you haven't already:
1. Dear Mr Fantasy (Traffic) - Big Sugar
2. Band on the Run (Paul McCartney) - Foo Fighters
3. Daytripper (The Beatles) - Jimi Hendrix
4. No Quarter (Led Zeppelin) - Tool
5. Have a Cigar (Pink Floyd) - Primus or Foo Fighters
6. Children of the Grave (Black Sabbath) - White Zombie
7. Voodoo Child [Slight Return] (Jimi Hendrix) - Stevie Ray Vaughan
8. Paint it Black (Rolling Stones) - Gob
9. Good Times Bad Times (Led Zeppelin) - Godsmack
10. Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder) - Red Hot Chili Peppers

I wish I had never heard Lebron James speak.  I love watching him play (incredible performance in the playoffs) but the complete shitshow he put on when he left Cleveland ("taking my talents to South Beach", "We're gonna win not one championship, not two, not three...", etc) doesn't go away when I think about him.  Is jack-assedness a word?

Anyone else get a kick out of these pompous fancy-boy types who think drinking a different kind of beer all the time makes them look sophisticated?

I don't think I could cut it at being a truck driver, but I really enjoy driving by myself and spending some quality time with my iPod.

Roger Clemens found not guilty.  Well done Congress, well done.  Insert slow, sarcastic clap here.

I like Eric Karlson and the Ottawa Senators so I hope that shiny new deal they gave him for the next 7 years doesn't blow up in their face.


Stick it in your ear: Daniella by The John Butler Trio

If you like that tune then watch this cool live performance of Funky Tonight...

The Raps had a presser to introduce new acquisitions Landry Fields and Kyle Lowry (hold the fireworks, I know). Good teams don't introduce role players like this, they just sign them and worry about the actual star players.


I recently moved and as our old house began to empty out it started to look the same as the first year or so we lived there when we didn't have enough furniture or anything on the walls. Apparently you can accumulate a lot of stuff after 9 years and 3 kids.

I had an opportunity to meet Drew Doughty at a corporate function and declined.  That kind of thing does nothing for me and I would just feel bad for Doughty (who seems like a cool guy) knowing he doesn't want to be there at all.

Summer Olympics?  No thanks.

Cheers!
Bonesminded