Are the Red Wings a lock to win the Cup in 2009 after the Hossa signing?

Question

Hate to break it to you. But the PENS ain't going to the finals. But who ever said anything can happen between now and then is correct.

Answer 1

we will see. but thats just another name to add to the already Dominant wings.

Answer 2

The 09 Red Wings have a better chance of repeating than any team since the 98 Red Wings were able to do it.  This team only lost Hasek to retirement (and maybe Drake).  They got Stuart signed up for four more years, solidifying a dominant defense corps.   Now with Hossa added to the mix, how can you not like their chances?  Even if Hossa had a season ending injury, the Red Wings still have the same team that won it all this season.

Answer 3

the best way i can answer that is only time can tell but it is a possibility

Answer 4

if you say anything can happen between now and then, doesnt that mean the pens can make it to the finals?

YEAH.

Answer 5

They were in a very good position without Hossa, and now with Hossa, on paper they look unstoppable...But you never know, chemistry can always be an issue.

Answer 6

It doesn't matter.  This is NOT a Cup or bust deal.  Nor is this a make or break the team deal, like say a free agent #1 goalie signing.  The Pens trading Christensen, Armstrong, Esposito, and a draft pick for Dupuis and Hossa was.  I'm sorry but I think this was a HORRIBLE deal for the Pens to make.  They gave up a LOT for Pascal Dupuis.  The only way this was a successful deal was if they won the Cup.  They got a LOT farther than I predicted, but I grossly underestimated the crappiness of the Eastern Conference.

Hossa will just add another offensive threat to the Wings, and even if he has the worst year of his career, this is a deal that will not hurt the Wings.  I just can't think of how this could end up bad for the Wings.

I kept saying the Wings would sign Mats Sundin to a deal just like this, because this is the type of deal that fits a guy like Sundin better than Hossa.  However, it was a given that the Wings were going to make a deal like this because of the cap space they had for next season.

I figured it would be either Sundin (short term, big bucks), Rolston (3-4 year, 4-5 mil per), or Tucker (2-3 year, 2 mil per).  I knew Hossa was on the top of the Wings wish list, but I really didn't think Hossa would have gone for the 1 year deal.  It's VERY risky for him, almost no risk for the Wings.

Answer 7

Lock? Never is anyone...but it helps...and Yes the Pens are screwed...minus Malone, Ruutu, Hossa...let's see how Sidney handles "his team" now

Answer 8

In a hockey a million things can happen... The red wings are by far to be the best team in the league again, but there are some other stacked teams who can get it together and take them out...

Answer 9

Nothing is ever a lock. Doesn't matter if it is Football, Hockey, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, or any other sport.

Detroit Tigers... loaded this year and can't do anything.

New York Yankees... when was the last time they did anything.

New England Patriots lost in the Super Bowl when they were "18-0".

So nothing is never a lock in sports.

Injuries, chemistry, momentum play very important keys in all sports alone.

The Red Wings are surely the favorite, but anything can happen.

Answer 10

no team is ever a lock, but i must say, there chances are pretty good right now

Answer 11

I would have to say they are the fav, but not a lock.  Hossa could get a season ending injury in training camp for all we know.

Answer 12

no. nothing is a lock.

we've had 3 early exits over the past several years. Ducks, Flames, Oilers. 2003, 2004, 2006

remember those?

add - dw_ryan...

i'm sorry that my response caused you to feel insecure enough to insult me. that's ok. i get that from a lot of new wings fans. ("new" being a relative term). if a GM/coach is not willing to identify problem areas and make corrections, then they will never improve. I think Holland has done a masterful job. all i'm saying is that President's Trophies and off season acquisitions don't guarantee anything. and all this off season hype is ... well ... just that. the more you guys hype it up, the more the hockey world scorns Detroit and uses this word "underachiever". shoot, when we lost in the WCF in 07, we were "underachievers". we've had very similar off seasons, where Holland has brought in some great players. but we've also had some big disappointments. You fans who jump to HUGE conclusions are actually humorous. you're the same type who then blame the refs for losing in the playoffs. when asked "why?", typical wings fans like yourself (who have been spoiled on making the playoffs 17 years in a row, and also some are distracted by Piston and Tiger actions), you guys can't call out what the breakdown was in our strategy(s). but instead you struggle to come up w/ a lame reason and it usually is blaming someone else. rather than "we didn't check enough". or "we weren't aggressive enough". or "hasek caves into pressure". or "we try to get the highlight goal and pass too much". or whatever.

but i'm used to it. other teams would have KILLED to have the teams that we've had over the past 15 years. that raw potential. granted, (and you're right about this), 4 cups is 4 cups (in 11 years). that's awesome. and i'm not down on the wings. i'm glad to see them win. and i think they have a better shot than most next year ... BASED ON WHAT WE SEE NOW. but they still have to play 82 + 4 or more games.

but i'm used to the false sense of optimism in Detroit. and i'm used to the resentment when i say that "the emperor is not wearing any clothes". i'm used to the insults. see, in Detroit, now, it's "cool" to be a wings fan. you've been on Y/A as long as i have, yet NOW you're in the hockey section. Has Baseball, electronics, home theaters, and Pop Rock become boring? where were you last year during the WCF? i smell bandwagon. i've seen your type.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

but thanks for entertaining me w/ your insecure and contradictory response. lol.

see you at the parade next year. ("yeah, i'll meet you at the 9th green at midnight, Happy")

add - ryan, you're almost not worth responding to, but i'll take a chance on your maturity. the "rant" was so long, because you had so many holes in your point, and it was easy to expose them. i'm sorry if it took you awhile to digest it all. you are also a hypocrite, because you generalized me since my "negative" attitude caused you duress, yet you cringe when i returned the favor. further evidence of lack of maturity.

futhermore, when i responded and addressed your uncomfortability w/ my opinion, you retaliate once again. i simply answered your question originally by reminding you of the disappointing years. it's called perspective. and failing to recognize problems in an organization and take responsibility (which Holland has NOT done. he HAS made the right changes, BECAUSE he was not "constantly optimistic". and HAS made them champs over and over) will cause it to fail (see current Penguins).

are you "constantly optimistic" about the Lions? if so, then you are a fool. you can still be a fan of a team, and be critical (talk to Leafs fans. some of the most loyal fans, yet VERY critical. and for good reason.) part of being a good fan of the Lions, for instance, is being REALISTIC enough to point out there faults. did you say that the Lions were a "lock" for the Super Bowl, when they acquired Harrington, Ware, or any of these receivers? shoot, even when we had Barry, we knew that they weren't gonna win the Big Game. they couldn't even get there. you knew better than to predict that (at least i hope you knew better. i'll give you THAT credit). so you're either the crazy guy at Ford Field who tragically and mindlessly roots for the Lions, even when they CLEARLY blew a play or call, OR ... you're a hypocrite. my $$ is on the latter, judging from your reactions.

but when you're spoiled on the successes of the wings, it's easy to overlook negatives and cheer the party line. the wings aren't perfect. yes, they're d**n good, but again, 29 other teams would've KILLED to have the talent they did those other 9 years, and who knows what they might've done w/ it. i'm fine w/ the organization. They sacrificed "constant optimism" for reality and accountability, and made the correct changes. (otherwise, Lewis would still be the coach, and so would CuJo). what bothers me is unrealistic, "teenie - bopper" wings fans, who have been subconsciously spoiled by their successes, and never assign responsibility to their errors. and instead assume that the wings "are a lock to win the Cup" every year. yet, they clearly show that they haven't learned the lessons of 9 of the previous 13 years. yet when i point out certain season of the wings where, in the offseason, we looked GREAT ...  usually the #1 or #2 Top favored teams, yet we exit the playoffs by the 2nd round ... YOU generalize me and play the "Official Red Wing Real Fan Police n**i" and deem me as not a fan. i don't care. but you contradict yourself. shoot, other wings fans on here, said something similar to what i said. and then you go and give us wings fans a black eye by rubbing it into the Pens fans. yeah, you're classy. make Detroit and the wings proud. look around. everyone said that it isn't a lock. you continue to prove your worth.

my original response didn't contain insults or generalizations. but when you respond out of nowhere, yeah, it DOES imply that you are insecure.

hey, you have your opinion, but don't be a hypocrite and judge others when it differs from yours and exposes your inconsistencies. but you have the freedom to do it. it's just not very mature.

i'll bet you that beer, that you'll have yet another response. (however, one that no longer interests me; you've proven your maturity) what will it be this time ... that makes you uncomfortable? is THIS "rant" too long for you to understand? what some simple - minded people call rants, others call "supporting your points" rather than making blanket statements. that's why if you want to get a doctorate degree, for example, you have to have a really long thesis. but to you, it would be a rant. i wouldn't expect you to understand. small words. small words. lol.

thanks for the entertainment.

Answer 13

No who knows what can happen between now and then

Answer 14

I hope they're in the finals with the Penguins again and the Penguins win...just as a big HAHA.

:)

EDIT:

How the h**l do YOU know who's going to the finals?

You don't.[:

Answer 15

No, but they're the favorite. Unlike the ducks, I think they can do it.

Answer 16

Look how good Ottawa has been for the last 5 years and all the star players that they have, yet still they barely made the playoffs.  Anything can happen, and there is no suck thing as a lock.

That said, the Wings are about as close as a lock as you can be.  Look at the success the Wings have had over the last 10 years.  They never miss the playoffs, they have the best scouting, coaching and management.  They sure know how to run a franchise!  I'm sure they'll be awesome, as usual.