The Production Line – TP:60

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2012 Free Agents — Up Front

Continuing the post from a few days ago, it’s time to explore the free agents-to-be within the forward ranks. Joining the two goalies and seven defensemen are seven forwards who need a contract for next season — and two draft picks whose rights will be expiring sooner rather than later. Grab another beer. There are […]

2012 Free Agents — G’s and D’s

With the season behind us, it’s time to look toward the off-season. All contracts expire on July 1st, and the following players don’t yet have deals for next season. Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) will become outright free agents on the 1st, free to sign with any team they like. Restricted Free Agents (RFA) may sign […]

Building the New Dynasty

UPDATE: The reason Jiri Hudler and Tomas Holmstrom aren’t listed anywhere below is because they’re both unrestricted free agents, meaning that they’re no longer Red Wings unless they’re re-signed. Homer might retire (and if he doesn’t, he should have), and Jiri Hudler may chase dollars elsewhere. They don’t have trade value because they’ll be free […]

To Everything: Turn, Turn, Turn

I try not to be an alarmist. I’ve written this post three separate times. It started off impassioned and blame-ridden. It became resigned and demoralizing. And I decided that none of that was going to do any good right now. It’s important to note right off of the top that I love this team more […]

Some t-shirt-related news — including our nickname winner

First things things, thanks to @TheNorm41 for sharing the following photo, which features the magnificent new Ponggate shirts as mentioned in the Detroit Free Press this morning. Score: Next, we’ve been alerted by the printer that the first batch of Todd Bertuzzi Ping Pong Sheriff shirts have been shipped. If you placed your order of […]

New T-Shirts!

Come and get ’em! Celebrate our ping pong sheriff Todd Bertuzzi’s refusal to let the opponent touch his paddles (giggity). Two designs… they may not be available permanently… it all depends on interest, but take your pick: THE FIRST! A simple, classic shirt to commemorate the best story to come from this year’s playoffs. THE […]

Congratulations to the Nickname Finalists

Below are the eight finalists for The Production Line’s 2011-12 Nickname Submission Contest. The top vote-getter of the following will receive a t-shirt of their choosing from TPL’s Store. Like all of the semi-final rounds, voting will commence on our Facebook Page, so head over there and give a +1 to the nickname you think […]

Gameday

Boom. Bears repeating once more: congratulations to @Ayronatthewings and her crew on the unbelievable pre-game show. It was the talk of the town during Game 3 — even gaining mentions by the NBC crew as “the best in the business.” If you didn’t have a chance to see it live, or online yesterday, please enjoy […]

Best thing you’ll read all day

From Red Wings TV producer @Will_Posthumus comes a story that will ABSOLUTELY spawn a TPL t-shirt (send your ideas to us ASAP): Today, Predators players were using the ping pong tables in the hallway outside of the locker rooms. Todd Bertuzzi saw this and then… — Will Posthumus (@Will_Posthumus) April 17, 2012 …told them if […]

Here come the Aces

On Friday night, the Grand Rapids Griffins lost to the Chicago Wolves and their playoff hopes officially ended. They were mathematically eliminated with two games remaining in the AHL season. And while that sucks, it also means that a handful of reinforcements will be arriving in Detroit to serve as Black Aces for the remainder […]