About this: Kenny Frigging Holland is a god and it’s time all of us began genuflecting on some sort of regular basis. Now, am I advocating the route suggested by a few others earlier today? No. But I understand those of you willing to succomb to confusion for a brief period based on what Holland’s accomplished the last three years.

Consider this: Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Kronwall, Filppula, Cleary, Rafalski…all locked up long term for a cap hit next season of….

...32.25 million. An average of 4.6 per player. Rafalski and Kronwall: each top ten defensemen. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen: top ten forwards. Fil and Buckets: essential who each play more on the pk than Crosby and Malkin combined. Just FYI on that one.

Oh, and a certain defenseman coming in at a stout 6 foot frigging 5? He’ll be making 900 grand next season.

12 years for Hank. 11 for the Mule. Oh. I’m wondering if deals like that were what Little Gary had in mind when he and his communist little bitch buddies came up with the Cap.

I’m thinking…no. And that makes it even better. Oh can you imagine the angst on both sides of the lockout table? Gary’s unspoken nemesis, the Detroit Red Wings, continue to re-stock and even improve despite his best attempts to deny them a dynasty. And the reps for the players’ association? They’re even more pissed off as Wing after Wing takes far less than market value to stay in one place.

Also irritated? Oh, you’ll see a lot more of this. Opposing fans are not happy, and the blogs are going to be on fire for a few days. Like this from Mike Chen at Fox Sports (and of the Empire). You know Mike, eh? He’s a Sharks guy, in case you weren’t aware.

Forgive me if I’m not jumping aboard the “Ken Holland is a genius,” bandwagon.

Check that — Ken Holland may have made plenty of genius moves in the past, but I’m not agreeing with the “Johan Franzen for 11 years is a genius move,” sentiment.

OK, so most of his moves are pretty sound. I’ll give him that. And getting players at reasonably low cap numbers is an impressive and good thing.

“Reasonably low cap numbers”, Mike? Most of his moves are “pretty sound”? Ahh, the power of understatement.

The headline on Chen’s post at Kukla’s? “Who deserves 11 year contracts?”

Well, here’s who: Zetterberg and Franzen. Why? Because Ken Holland says so and that’s easily, and I mean this is a cakewalk, good enough for me. Any Sharks good for 11 years, Mike? Any of them going to score you 35/year and sign for less than 4 mil/year? Ask your boys that question and come back to me.

You’re going to see a lot more of that, a lot of bloggers claiming the term on this deal is too long, the commitment too great. Guess who’s going to be making those claims? Bloggers who might be a little jealous of the way Mike Ilitch and Kenny Holland have twisted the Cap and Gary’s new rules around to suit them. It’s just too much to fathom that players may want to stay in one town the rest of their careers, to play with guys they like in a system that suits them, for an owner who respects them and their families.

Here’s what I think: there is no one person smarter than Kenny Holland anywhere in the NHL. He’s proven it. Again and again. And if he feels this deal is right for the Wings, then it’s right for me.

Oh, and here’s another gimmick for Chen and the rest…slamming Holland is a “rebel” move, and gets them on the map, a little more conversation. Slam Kenny Holland and you’re a daring pariah. And if Franzen pots fifteen goals this postseason? Then 40 next season and someone points to your criticism? Then all you have to say is that “wait for it…Holland will pay the price. This will hurt the Wings.” Then when it doesn’t, three years down the road? Everyone’s forgotten your daring claims.

Yankees of the NHL? You’re going to read that too. The consistent refrain from the idiot Wing haters. It is truly the best indicator of ignorance. Franzen, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Filppula: all homegrown talent signed for term. Just like Sabathia and A-rod, eh?

Johan Franzen and Hank Zetterberg were the two best forwards in last year’s postseason and they’ve both been re-signed for a decade to stay in Detroit. The third best forward could very well sign for literally a third less than his market value. All three are under thirty, have huge character and are, by all accounts, exceptional teammates. That’s Kenny Holland and that’s the Detroit Red Wings. And it’s why they’ll continue to win, much to the extreme chagrin of the league, their competitors, the MSM and even the bloggers.

Let the league and the hockey world question this move. Let them toss the darts and poke the holes. Us? We’ll just continue to sit back and take great pride and comfort in knowing that when Kenny Holland makes a commitment, it’s the right frigging deal.

And just keep the Cups coming. Answer me this. Even if the Wings don’t win twelve this year? Guess who’s going to be the favorite next October. With or without Hossa, that’s going to be Detroit. And most likely the year after that, too.

Signing anyone to such a long-term deal removes an element of control for GMs, and considering a GM’s job is equally based on the present and the future, it just seems like a foolhardy gambit.

Foolhardy, eh? Kinda like questioning the best GM in all of sports.