It's not you, it's us.

There's been a lot of discussion this summer about the defensive logjam the Wings had going into training camp this season - with the resignings of Andreas Lilja and Brad Stuart as well as Chris Chelios, once again there wasn't a lot of wiggle room for the kids (even with Chelios out the team is only around $450,000 under the cap) - most of whom aren't really kids anymore and are ready for their own legitimate chance to perform in the NHL. The summer closed out with the defensive roster looking like this:

Obviously not going anywhere: Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Brad Stuart, Chris Chelios.

Maybe going somewhere: Andreas Lilja, Brett Lebda, Derek Meech, Kyle Quincey, Jonathan Ericsson.

However, Mike Babcock determined that the start of the season would see Lilja/Lebda as the third defensive pairing, as it was during the Stanley Cup Finals this past season and this afternoon Ericsson was sent to Grand Rapids as he can still freely move between teams without being subject to waivers, making the likelihood of his being traded nearly nothing. The moves left the final spot a battle between Meech and Quincey, and it appears that Meech has won as the team is trying to shop Quincey around.

The club likes the 23-year-old Quincey's size (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and the physical element he brings, but believes Derek Meech, a better skater and puck-handler, has a bigger upside.

Meech, who also can play forward in a pinch, has outplayed Quincey in training camp and the preseason. The Red Wings likely are seeking a mid- to late-round draft pick for Quincey, who can't be assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL) without clearing waivers.

It has seemed a little bit inevitable since the start of the summer, but I personally was holding out hope that perhaps it wouldn't come to this. Having lived in Kalamazoo for the past four years, I caught a lot of Griffins games and Quincey quickly became one of my favorites. However, aside from a chance during the Cup Semi-finals agains the Ducks in 06-07, Quincey never really got a chance to break into the big leagues - the Wings are just too deep a team with too much talent to make it easy. During that run, all that was asked of Quincey was that he not mess up - a feat that he accomplished admirably. His attempts to join the team last season were stymied by an injury and the first part of his season with Grand Rapids was mediocre, but he bounced back after another short stint with the Wings to end the season on a high note.

In the end, Derek Meech may be the better fit for the Wings' puck possession style of play - but Kyle Quincey shouldn't be overlooked. He's proven himself to be an NHL-ready stay at home defenseman and even studied this summer under fellow Wing Aaron Downey to improve his enforcer-type skill set in attempt to fit himself into a niche and help the team.

I had the chance to meet Quincey at a signing at Gibraltar Trade Center recently - of the three signers (Quincey, Jimmy Howard, and Brett Lebda), Quincey's ticket cost the least, and when I stepped up to purchase one the lady behind the desk told me she'd sold less of his than the others by far. Quincey, however, was gracious - he signed my glossy and even took a few moments to chat. I told him I'd followed him in Grand Rapids and hoped to get to see more of him with the big club this year and he replied that he really hoped he'd be sticking around and would get a chance to do just that. Throughout the whole event his name was misspelled 'Quincy' everywhere it appeared - poor kid. (And incredible failure on the part of the staff - really? How authentic do you think a certificate that "Kyle Quincy" signed your item is?)

I'll be sad to see him go - I've always seen him to have a valuable skill set and a lot of dedication. But perhaps, not unlike the way Kerri at Some Like it Blue suggest about the Rangers and Petr Prucha, it's time for he and the Wings to part, in the hope that he can flourish somewhere where he has a better chance - and not to knock the Wings or their fans, only to lament the circumstances - to flourish. It can't be easy on a star-studded team that never seems to lose anybody, and there are likely many teams in the league that would take on a big, young, tough, fairly responsible defenseman with the sort of personality Quincey possesses.

Therefore if you go, Kyle - and it looks like you will - know that someone here in Detroit really did appreciate you and will miss you. All the best wherever you end up, hopefully somewhere that's a good fit - and thanks for not being too creeped out when I spent a good chunk of Griffins warm up time with my camera focused on you.

Probably not the best apology for being gone so long, but...

There are just too many things I could say to even try.

In other news, after a week of computer and internet issues (wherein mine of both simultaneously died), I am back once again, hopefully for a substantial amount of time this time. We'll see about that.

Once again I missed the Wings game thanks to a Western game, but I hear we finally took down Manny Legace. Good for us. I mean it, really, we're approaching the time in the season where my spiteful desire to see Manny trash us each and every one of the eight ridiculous times we play each other just so Ken Holland has to wallow in a little bit of shame over What He Did is being trumped by the realization that our President's Trophy is going to go to Buffalo, Anaheim, or Nashville, at this rate. And I'm just not okay with that.

It's Trade Rumor Time!

Speaking of Manny, jury is still out on the Blues end of things, but he is apparently being considered a potential deadline trade candidate. I'm not sure I see how this is smart for the Blues considering he's definitely playing the better game since Sanford's come back, but it's interesting nonetheless. I heard a (completely unbased and mostly ridiculous sounding) rumor about the him and the Senators earlier today, though, and threw up in my mouth a little. Even if I do like Vermette.

The Wings are apparently shopping Jiri Hudler (boo!) and Jason Williams (yay!)....for something. The words "Top 6 Forward" have been floating around, but I mostly think Ken Holland just wants to ship off all his promising rookies so we can continue to have the oldest team in the league and he can live under his little delusions that Hasek and Chelios will Live Forever. Other unsolved mysteries include just why we are so determined to keep Kronwall around.

Come on, could you seriously trade this face? (...no I do not mean Lang's, specal as it may be.)

The Bruins just gave away Is Puffy (by which I mean Milan Jurcina for the, well, everyone else in the world who isn't in on that specific dumb inside joke) and are looking to get rid of Stuart, who was rumored to be maybe headed the way of Edmonton, but Lowe said he wasn't about to shop someone like Torres or Lupul and a prospect (the name Jacques was dropped) for him. They're apparently also looking at Pitkanen and Rob Blake, but I haven't heard anything substantial. And you know, I don't really care who they pick up - as long as it's a D man who can play some hard minutes and save us from Smid's lack of experience and MAB's lack of....common sense and amazing abilities to make Ales Hemsky cry? (Okay, maybe I do care who they pick up).

Flames have grabbed up Conroy - on a line with Iginla again, that might spell bad news for the Northwest division. Let me reiterate my prayers about Edmonton and defense.

Oh and the Leafs have given a nice big "fuck you" to anyone who thought they had a chance at Sundin. Go Leafs Go!

In other trade news, by the deadline I'm fairly certain every team in the league will have entertained the idea of Peter Forsberg, if only to give me a headache from reading so much about it.

There's more (oh is there ever) but I can only slog through so much, so instead I will point you in the direction of Spector's Trade Rumours. Always good for killing time and occasionally just as good for perpetuating the desire to kill yourself.