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I watched him his entire OHL career here in Saginaw (until he was traded half way through the season last year, which is typical in the OHL), and Wings fans should be excited. I'd argue he's a little tougher version of Abdelkader with a better scoring touch. He was always the first one to jump in & defend his teammates. Was a good captain here. Great pick-up!

I get the feeling he was somebody the brass had their eyes on to draft in the 4th round but San Jose beat them to it. I like it! This quote below that video is great:

Scores? Hits? Plays aggressively instead of getting swatted off the puck? A combination we need! Great sign.

Sure sounds like Stamkos is playing tonight considering the way Cooper is dodging the question right now. Wouldn't that be something if Stamkos comes back and is the game 7 hero and eliminates Sid?

I don't know what everyone's problem with San Jose is. I'm a big fan of this years team Pavelski >>>

Yeah I don't see any reason to be suspicious of his decision to leave either. He's already earned a ton of money, won a ton of awards, has been over here for a decade and a half and is getting older and more worn down, meanwhile his daughter is getting older without him in Russia, and he told us years ago he wants to finish his career off playing back at home in Russia. This is his chance to do that before his body can't keep up. It's also his chance to be with his daughter and watch her finish growing up. And he has nothing left to prove over here.

We will as long as he can do other things besides that. And from what I'm seeing and hearing he can. Blashill is all about having players who can defend their teammates. Much moreso than Babcock was.

Right. Cause we've NEVER had that type of player on the wings

No way. Holland sucks!! Amirite Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ya we get it next year for sure. No 3re round pick for us this year, via the zidlicky trade. Guy was selected in the third round, and we get him with our worse third round pick after he's had two 40+ goal seasons since being drafted. I'd say we win this deal big-time

Hits, fights, goes hard to the front of the net. No, he's not Red Wings material.

https://youtu.be/gVHbMMV9Wlo

Idk I just don't like Tampa for some reason, can't cheer for them.

so pit vs sharks?

I agree, they are a ton of fun to watch and they've never won a cup before.

So they can't get better at faceoffs? Glendening went from putrid to good in one offseason, I'm sure AA and Larkin can be at least adequate with a little work.

vasilevsky better than mrazek? lmao dude please stop

2009-2012 Abby played center on and off. He was a pretty damn good faceoff guy (around 53%). Much better than Sheahan is. Filpula became Zetterberg's linemate on second line sometime between 2010-2012, but primarily in the 2011/12 seasons. I don't think Abby would be a good top 6 centerman. Being is top 6 centerman is nothing like being a bottom 6 centerman. My first choice for centering 3rd line would be Darren Helm followed by Abby. But neither will happen. Ideally next season I'd like to see Larkin/AA get some 1st and 2nd line centering duties. I think Zetterberg is much more useful on the Wing if he's to stay top 6. And I think Abby would be a good winger up there as well. If Z stays first line center then hopefully Larkin gets 2C and AA gets 3C (he could share 3C duties with Sheahan).

Kovy's contract was made when the league was at a high for financial success and before the implication of a hard Salary cap (it was a soft cap). KHL President is now lowering the cap by 50 mill rubles (764,377 USD) each year 2015-2017. There's a reason Radulov is leaving. Add to that the fact that Datsyuk will be 38 while Kovy was in his prime, and I think you'd be wise not take Kovy as a comparable. Datsyuk's already a national hero and a big star in Russia. If he wanted Russian endorsements I'm sure he already has them. I don't see why playing in the KHL would make much of a difference. Anyway, it does take him away from US sports endorsements which are much larger because it's a much bigger market. A new bit of info I found in a Detroit Free Press article, is that Pav also missed out on a 2 million dollars of this past year's salary by not fulfilling his contract. (in the notes at the bottom) http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/05/25/pavel-datsyuk-khl-red-wings/84913168/ So if you think he's going to the KHL for more money, then his contract for next year has to be more than 7.5 million. I don't see any evidence that suggests we mistrust his own explanation of the situation in the Albom article.

the only team id be ok with winning the cup...the blues

This guy totally dispels the myth that Americans are fat, obnoxious, disrespective slobs.

If Stamkos has interest in coming to your team, you open up that chequebook. He is a franchise center in his prime. He would nullify the loss of Datsyuk immediately, as well as be our best player by a long shot. Imagine our pp. This leaves us severely lacking center depth and a top dman. I don't think Yandle is the answer at all. Would love to see Okposo as a Wing though. For me, the dream is Stamkos, Trouba and Okposo. Easier said than done, of course. But if they can get Trouba or another top dman at the draft via trade, it would greatly help attract UFAs come July 1st. But finding a center is far more important than bringing in a guy like Radulov. Even if it is a band-aid solution at center to take some of the pressure off of Larkin and AA for a year or two. Obviously Stammer would give us a permanent one-two punch down the middle with he and Larkin.