Leaderboard

I actually don’t mind this quote from Holland: To me, Holland is looking for as much depth as possible, and is certainly OK with Jurco playing 20 + minutes a night and hopefully dominating in GRs at least to start the season. It’s a hard philosophy to argue unless the Wings come stumbling out of the gate and start the season 2-8 or something. http://kuklaskorner.com/tmr/comments/it-looks-like-one-more-year-for-daniel-alfredsson

Well the old way was just getting him hurt so why not try a different training trick? Or we can see it as he is healthy and that's a good thing(trying to be positive)

I have no problem with us signing Daniel Alfredsson. I don't think we would've made the playoffs without him last year. I think he ran out of gas for awhile after the Olympics, but Kronwall wasn't firing on all cylinders either and he's a good deal younger. It was a long run for the Swedes. If the rest of the team can stay healthier and we can give him some calculated rest now and again this year, and with no Olympics to further muddle things up, I think Alfie stands to have a more impressive year this year, and I say that as someone who thought highly of his contribution last season. He was still an effective player most of the time, he put up points, and provided strong leadership when our big leaders went down. While it would've been a different story had Dats and Z not been injured, the fact of the matter remains that even at his older age, even given his own injury issues that hampered him throughout the season, even given that he missed 14 games, and even given that he had an extended cold-streak when he was running on empty after the Olympics, he still ended up being our points leader last year while going on to become a locker room leader in the second half that all those kids that exploded pointed to again and again for stepping up when Dats and Z went down. If we're going to be signing older players, Alfie is the kind we should be signing. When people talk about wanting Ken Holland to stop signing older scrubs, I generally am very much in agreement. But the thing is, Alfredsson never has been and never will be an old scrub. Signing him should never be compared to signing someone like Cleary. It's genuinely irritating to me that anyone would even try to suggest that we're dealing with the same type of player and circumstance here when by any objective measure there's clearly a night and day difference. Alfie isn't as effective as he was ten years ago, most obviously, but he is still an effective player who contributes on the scoresheet and leads, all while providing the kind of veteran presence that you absolutely do want to have around on a team that's getting younger. Just because Holland made a mistake in signing Dan Cleary again doesn't mean he should make another mistake and not sign Alfie if Alfie decides that he can play. Again, I have no problem with Alfie coming back, and while I'm certainly not holding my breath, I hope that somehow this ragtag team can pull off a miracle for him. He's a class act and nothing would make me happier next season than seeing him win his first Cup so he can go out on top. Never lose hope, right?

When Hakan Andersson says after this years draft that “hopefully we were able to get a centre to play with Mantha” I file that under: - things I believe to not be bulls*** hype - things said by a super-scout about a prospect, with a level of reverence never used on Jarnkrok. When I read Fischer’s quotes on Jarnkrok I think of the passionate way in which he spoke of Sproul in this video (starting at the 50 second mark). When he says “Sproul can shoot the puck better, harder, under pressure, than 90% of the players in the NHL” (2:45) I want to believe him, but part of me knows that there’s probably some over-zealousness in play. I imagine him looking and sounding the same way when talking about Jarnkrok: But whatevs. Maybe I’m over-analysing. I just find it hard to accept that Holland would knowingly trade “the next Zetterberg” for David Legwand but then say that Tatar, Jurco, Nyquist, and Sheahan are basically untouchable.

Yeah, I'm not sure about this Fischer comment. His job is to oversee the development of all the organization's prospects. Not sell them to anyone. They've already been drafted. Who would he be selling them to? Fans?

I like Alfie but this team as it stands today is a fringe playoff team and we might as well play the young guys and give them a look at this point.

Booooooring. Tomas Tatar could do that drunk.

Bingo. I think some people forget that Jurco is only 21. The kid showed flashes of brilliance, but also looked lost in the shuffle at times. It's not a fair comparison, but when you look at Gus or Tatar then look at Jurco, they're well ahead of him right now. They weren't ready at that stage in their careers, and I truly believe going back down to GR helped both of those guys tremendously (though, I am among the group that thought they should have started as regulars last season). This team will face injuries, and there's a very real chance that Jurco will find himself in the line-up throughout the season. It's easy to compare this situation to last season's, when Nyquist was more than ready, but I don't believe Jurco is now where Nyquist was last season. Starting the season in the AHL is not going to hinder his overall development, IMO. If anything, I think it's going to put a chip on his shoulder and make him want it even more. Tatar had several issues starting the season - and even getting call-ups before last season. Many (including myself) thought he was in Babcock's dog house, and being treated unfairly. Signing his 3-year deal just showed that the kids can play, and when they prove it, they will be rewarded.

I find it crazy that some people still actually believe that the best thing for the team and for the player (Jurco) is for him to play with the big club to start next season. It is not. Jurco would benefit in so many ways from playing another year down in the minors. He is still a kid, and could use another partial to full season down with the Griffs, getting top line minutes, top power play time, working out the kinks in his game, because believe it or not there definitely still are some kinks in his game. Even if we weren't going to re-sign Alfie for whatever reason, I would still want Jurco down in Grand Rapids to at least start the season. Signed, Jurco's biggest fan.

Girls, please! I know its been a long boring summer for you both, but just hang in there, you'll finally be starting Junior High in less than one month!

Yeah. We all know that if Holland had his way, he’d hang on to ALL of his prospects but leave them in GRs forever. I mean the last significant prospect he traded before Jarnkrok was who? Mathais? It’s common belief around these parts that Poille robbed Holland on the Legwand deal. But you have to ask yourself, while Holland’s made some questionable signings and whiffed on some must-sign UFAs, I can’t remember the last time he lost a trade that involved a top prospect or roster player. Some might argue “yeah, that’s because he never makes ANY trades”. To which I might add, maybe he doesn’t make any trades because GMs all ask for too much and he won’t pull the trigger. Because he’s patient as f*** and because he likes to horde his prospects. He has to. To me this makes more sense than Holland having a Dr Stangelove type breakdown and in a sweaty twitch, pressing some red button that sends Calle to Nashville.

Lapointe sucks, Lilja rules.

I agree with you on that, and that's why I was for the trade. I Know they know better than me. I just don't think we should bash Calle until he really shows his value. In my book he's still a top level prospect until he proves otherwise. And like I said I will be so relived if the otherwise happens.

Lets also remember that Calle had 36 pts in 57 games with GR... with most all those points coming in the later half of games right right before the trade. On a crappier farm team he proceeded to put up 9 pts in 6 games, warranting a call up. On a terrible NSH team he then put up 9 pts in 12 games. (Zberg did not put up those pt %s at 23 or even 22 in Sweden) You can argue that depth was worse so he got more oppurtunity, but linemates were also worse, so that kind of evens out. Everything points to a very good 22 year old C. Again I still liked the trade, but I hope I don't kick myself in 2 or 3 seasons.

Your entitled to you opinion, but don't care pair 11 to the former 11, they're not in the same category. Signing Alfie helps this team (No i don't want to tank)

“He’s probably the best prospect in our organization overall. Whenever he makes the transition overseas, he’s going to be really exciting to watch at the NHL level.” — Red Wings director of player development Jiri Fischer (December 2012) He's been compared to Zetterberg by multiple people within our organization and Zberg is the only player he's ever been compared to by the Red Wings. They've also never pegged him as say, a probable 3rd liner, or probable 2nd liner. From our understanding from the scouts it was always the sky could be the limit with this kid. Now did that change at some point making him expendable? Sure. But I personally doubt it. He was traded just when he was starting to dominate the NA game in GR. I was personally fine with the trade at the time. I wanted to see the streak continue. But now that Leggy is gone and Jarnkrok is gone and the PO's are over, I feel a bit stung by the trade. The Red Wings will be fine without Calle but I'll continue to follow him and his career hoping that he really does dud and the wings knew what they were doing. But everyone who bashes his talent all of the sudden I think are just being homers.

The scary part is Holland knows Alfredsson can't play 82 games, but seems more then willing to sign him. I wish we would move on, but we won't. #11 and #71 in the starting line-up, baby!

Nope. But that's why I'm not a GM Well that and a plethora of other reasons, I suppose...

100 times out of a 100 I would decline to trade Stevie. Even for The Great One. Stevie was our heart and soul, and brought so much more to this team than just points or defensive capabilities. He was my hero growing up, and while I can't say I wouldn't have still been a Wings fan, boy those years would have felt different for me. Would make this trade 100/100.

It won't happen, but I think the Wings should walk away from Alfie. This team is not a championship contender with Alfie back and you are committing money for not only this season, but likely the next one too. All of this for a 42-year-old coming off back issues that isn't likely to play anywhere near most of the games anyways. I like Alfie and thought he was good (before the Olympics) last year. I don't like him for another season given the makeup of this roster. It just isn't a necessary move. Then again, neither was bringing back Cleary, Quincey or Monster, so of course Holland will pull the trigger. Basically I'm absolutely opposed to anything that is going to keep Tomas Jurco in Grand Rapids and Alfie returning is another forward in the numbers game. Play the kids and speed up the transition to becoming relevant again. Signing Alfie for a veteran presence is fine if you are contending. Doesn't make any sense for the Wings now.

Maybe but a 41 year old Gretzky would in no way be as effective as Yzerman was defensively. Gretzky may have matched him in points but the Wings would have given up quite a few more. Wow that comment is baffling. 97 sure Feds was better. 98 Yzerman wins Conn Smythe. 02 Yzerman. Your forgetting one major thing and that was Stevie Y's leadership. Feds was not even close to the leader that Stevie was. Dont forget the Wings were down 0-2 going into Vancouver in the first round before Yzerman rallied the troops. You dont have Yzerman on the team and theres a good chance that hall of fame Wings team is out in the 1st round.

And that was after Shanahan missed a wide open net in the final minute of game 5... only to lose on a Forsberg OT goal that should have been whistled offside. I had trouble sleeping that night thinking we had blown our chance and it was over. The way we came back in game 6 and 7, to this day, it's still my favorite playoff series of all time.

The 7-0 squashing of the Avs in 2002. It was the pinnacle for my love of the organization. I've lived in Colorado since 1995 and often had rivalries with the Av fans. When the Wings murdered the Avs 7-0 it was, in a sense, a victory in the final battle.

Under appreciated... That's easy FEDEROV. Yes he had issues but... Damn the wings would be shot without him.

Oh boy, I'd have to say Homer too, but Drew Miller runs close in the race too.