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There's no way you choose Okposo and Backes over Stamkos. We have more than enough depth throughout the entire lineup. You know what we lack? Elite level talent. There is only one elite level player that will hit free agency, quite possibly the best player (taking into account age) that has ever hit free agency, including pre-salary cap... You don't pass that up for two depth players... If Stamkos signs elsewhere, then we look at other options, but you don't pass on a player of his calibre... for depth...

Since 2008 KH is trying to find Drake 2.0 and here is a reason why

Boom. I would like the s*** out of this if I could. As things currently stand, we have zero proven elite-level players on the roster. This has been a growing issue for the past few years. A lack of top-level talent has an effect on your whole lineup. Suddenly a Nyquist or Tatar is asked to win matchups against the best players in the league. Everyone has to play out of their depth. What you get is a team that, while perhaps defensively sound, can't score for beans.

KH better get Belle Tire on the phone I found this Stamkos Contract Calculator in TSN. And Detroit is the best option for net salary. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/stamkos oh and also this: "Made up Tweet: Stamkos met the Belle Tire Man and Little Caesar himself, serenaded by Eminem." per @GeorgeMalik

This is how I pictured them pitching Stamkos an offer.

Maclean just reittered how tight Stamkos and Martin are and thinks they may end up in the same place...hmmmm....

Devils looking for some scoring and put defenseman Damon Severson in play. Jump all over this Kenny!

To those who want to save money: for what? There's nothing as good as Stamkos coming down the pipe. Not getting him just guarantees we continue to float aimlessly with nothing but depth players.

TSN has "odds" as to who will get Stamkos. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/insider-trading-oilers-meet-with-lucic-red-wings-to-pursue-stamkos%7E900844 They have them listed as: TB - 3-1 Detroit - 3-1 Buffalo - 4-1 Toronto - 9-2 Montreal - 13-2 Vancouver - 9-1 Boston - 10-1 Of course take this with a grain of salt, but its still nice to see us as the favourites.

from what I remember more times then not we have been put out of the playoffs by teams that start playing us more physical and we don't really have an answer to it.

Martin is a strong skater. I have no idea where are you going with this. Even KH admitted that he needs bigger and tougher players... I guess in your ideal world, KH will bring Flip and Hudler back and call it a day. We have fashion models and not hockey players... Lucic, Martin are hockey players.

Better at what? Hitting? Nobody. We've got nobody who hits as good as Martin. But pretty much all of our bottom end guys are better players than Martin. Did you know that Martin doesn't kill penalties? Really, he's supposed to be the "ideal" bottom end winger and he doesn't even kill penalties for his own team. .02 short handed minutes per game for Martin this year. You know who does? Clutterbuck. And he scores WAY more than Martin too. If everybody were going nuts for a guy like Clutterbuck I'd agree with them. But not Martin. He's not even the best fourth line winger on his own team. Say what you want about Miller (and I don't even want the guy on the team) but at least he does one thing reasonably well that helps teams win games. He kills penalties reliably. Martin does nothing but chase the puck around and hit guys. Whoopdie do! You know who else used to do that? Jordin Tootoo, and what a stud he was for the Red Wings.

Who is this randy you speak of and were do we need to go to get him?

They also had the right guys blow up at the right time. They had a 22-year-old goaltender play out of his mind, and their "third" line was an absolute monster. The core of their team is made up of elite talent, too - can't say the same of the Red Wings. The previous 4-5 years, teams who won the cup had a balance of size and skill (maybe not the '15 Blackhawks, so much). I don't think anyone's looking to field a team of Matt Martins. At least, that's not what I'm pushing for.

Is he being paid with Canadian currency or Canadian Tire Money?

That would be ludicrous.... I mean, 2 million is even pushing it.

Per Bob Duff of the Windsor Star (who also writes for HockeyBuzz) - http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Bob-Duff/Wings-hold-strong-interest-in-UFA-Matt-Martin/216/77857 *scratches out projected fourth line* It's just a report, and I'm not sure how much Duff really knows about the situation, but that's not what you pay a guy like Martin. If that's the market for him, it's waaay too rich for my blood.

http://mynhltraderumors.com/nhl-rumors-milan-lucic-edmonton-oilers-demers-avs-flames/2016/06/28/ Flames looking to add another goalie...maybe Howard isn't out of the trade picture yet!

And he's one hit away from being Franzen 2.0.

Have you looked at the FA lists the next couple of years though? No guarantees a big top2 D-man hits the market, considering we have two big holes: #1 center and #1D, shouldn't we at least fill one of those needs logically? Plus, Stammer at 10/11 per year won't hamper us going forward if Howard and Ericsson come off the cap next summer.

The guy is a natural center. He has had 50 goal seasons playing center. The Wings don't have a legit top 6 center. His one time blood clot issue is all but assured to no longer be an issue. Doctors themselves have said as much. He is literally this team's biggest need right now. A #1 center. A sniper. In the prime of his career for the next 5-6 years. He is EXACTLY the guy you give a ling term high cap hit to. If there is one free agent you throw the damn bank at, it's Steven Stamkos.

It's all about buoyancy.

I'm on the same page. Nielsen might be the next best option on the market, but what's the point? Perhaps if the Wings were in a better position, it would make more sense. Not that I'm already writing the team off for next season, but I don't think they're a Frans Nielsen away from contending. Given the current state of the team, why commit 5.5M and 3-4 years to a 32-year-old when you'll have younger players pushing him within two years? Larkin and Athanasiou have served as centers in their career, although not in Detroit. KH has stated he envisions Larkin slotting in at center, but Athanasiou is up in the air (unless he's commented on him as well). It might be a "baptism by fire" situation, but I'd try them out there (if one struggles, try the other) before signing another players over the age of 30 to a contract with term. I understand that you generally want to insulate guys in these situations - let them start out as the third-line center and work their way up the depth chart. I think that could have worked with Pavel on this team with one year left on his contract, but now they'll have to offer term to someone else. If that someone else isn't part of the core moving forward, it kind of feels like a lateral move (at best) to me.