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He went from being a highly skilled goal scorer to playing safe dump it in never take a chance defense only hockey. Do you really believe the coaches aren't telling him to do that?

Jurco was brought in and told to completely change his game because Babcock had a hard on for someone with size. If he had been brought up and allowed to use his skills and let his defense progress as he matured he'd be a lot better off than he is now.

Everyday I come here and don't see a trade pinned to the top I get more and more sick to my stomach.

So this was the line up in opening night Justin Abdelkader - Henrik Zetterberg - Dylan Larkin Tomas Tatar - Brad Richards - Gustav Nyquist Johan Franzen - Riley Sheahan - Teemu Pulkkinen Drew Miller - Luke Glendening - Landon Ferraro Had Datsyuk been healthy, Larkin could have easily taken Pulkk's or Ferraro's spot, I think he could have easily been in the top 6 as well, bumping either Tats or Nyq to the 3rd line. And for him to make the top line in his debut he definitely impressed the coaches in training camp and there would, most definitely, be a spot for him for opening night, Loved the fact that he scored and got an assist and showed why he deserved to be in that top line.

Well, considering Larkin was ahead of Nyquist, Tatar, Richards, Franzen, and Sheahan from day one (Helm was out the first handful of games) it's not too hard to imagine that he could have displaced one of them. Most likely one of Sheahan or Helm getting bumped to a checking line, with Ferraro or Andersson being waived (as they eventually were anyway). But that's pretty pointless speculation. Yeah, maybe Larkin wasn't so good that he would have gotten a roster spot in any possible situation, but he most definitely did earn his spot. Many of the reasons you give for suggesting that Larkin was given some special opportunity could also apply to AA/Mantha this year. Could apply to pretty much any team any year. There's always someone who leaves, or is on the way out, and injuries happen. From the estimates given, it seems probable that Pulk won't be ready right away. Z is still aging. Vanek's only on a one-year deal. But more to the point, there is always a spot available for a good enough player. If we had Ovechkin instead of Mantha there wouldn't be any question. If AA comes to camp and looks dominant, scores 8g and 14p in 5 pre-season games, generates HQ scoring chances every shift, is engaged and effective defensively...he'll make the team, even if it means waiving someone we don't really want to lose. Now, if he looks just "good" in a handful of mostly meaningless games, no, we probably won't risk losing someone. Wouldn't be worth it, given that injuries are inevitable and he'll get his shot sooner or later.

Pretty elaborate speculation

I said this before. Larkin didn't force his way into the roster. We had an injured first line centerman who had been wanting to leave for Russia for two years. Larkin made the roster because we needed someone to fill a top 6 center role sooner rather than later. Larkin will be on center opening night this season for that very reason. If they hadn't brought him up last year then we would have had zero centers aside from a washed up Zetterberg. We only now signed Nielsen but last summer we didn't know we were going to have him. AA and Mantha have it even harder than Larkin did because there's literally no spots available for them on the roster. Larkin not only had a spot open but he also killed it in camp. It's like a two step scenario the way I look at it. First step is do well. Second step is "is there an open spot?" Mantha only makes it if there's injuries imo. Even if he kills it in camp, I just don't see him making it opening night. AA possibly the same situation, even though AA should be in by his better performance than most players on the roster last year. Some people here and on twitter are delusional and think that all it takes is for Mantha and AA to do really well in camp and they should get a spot "if they didn't make it that means they weren't good enough". That's not what it comes down to. As of now we have no spots so it doesn't matter how well these kids do. The other point I wanted to make was Ott and Miller aren't the spots AA and Mantha would be fighting for. Guys like Bertuzzi and Callahan would probably be gunning for those guys spots. AA and Mantha are top 9 players. And who did we re-sign for top 9 long term...

No lol. There's definitely players in the system that can do what Helm does. It's just that they don't get the opportunity and Blashill is too afraid to give them the chance. AA > Helm mark it. He's already a better producer than Helm is and played far less games and VERY limited ice time. He kills penalties (had a nice short handed goal), he's fast, has hands, plays with lesser linemates. Give AA the chance and he would probably do better than Helm. Helm is what? 29 years old? and still producing at a low rate while AA is 22 and already his production rate has surpassed Helm.

Let's put it this way. What's your expectations for Helm and Vanek this year? If AA and Mantha played the entire season in Detroit, what would your expectations for them be? If the answers are similar, they should have gone with the kids. Your team this year would be about the same, and it would benefit them more ling term. Ditto for Bertuzzi vs. Miller or Ott.

Are you kidding? Sakic was basically Steve Yzermans hockey doppelganger. Saying Sakic is overrated is saying Yzerman was. The fact that Brett Hull physically grabbed and sat Avery down and told him hes not allowed to talk to "Mr Sakic" shows the level of respect that guy earned. Through the whole rivalry Sakic was the only guy you couldnt hate. Pure class. As for Roy leaving