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I haven't said it yet* and here we sit 0-2-0, so... LET'S GO WINGS!!! WE WILL WIN!!! *Results may vary. Void where prohibited. No habla espanol.

Again, it does matter but not for the reason you think it does. Back then unrestricted free agency was essentially a slew of stars, and a team like Detroit could pretty much sign anyone they wanted to replace a departed player because there was no cap and they could pretty much outbid anyone. Best example of this is when LaPointe left, Holland signed Hull and Robitaille. A player like Abby leaves and you have 30 teams with almost equal chances (due to the cap) all trying to sign a very small group of above average players (ie. Nielson, Okposo, Backes etc.) Much much much higher probability of replacing LaPointe in 2002 then replacing Abby in 2016.

Regardless of what happens as far as trades go, the 1st round pick cannot be traded. Period. If help is to be brought in via trade, it has to be from roster players and prospects. The first rounder has to be absolutely untouchable, as it is not far fetched for that to become a top 10 pick this time around.

Are you high lol? He's the only bright spot on this team right now. And I truly believe he's Vezina material.

I for one we will get this one. It'll be ugly and messy but somehow they'll sneak a win in. I recall winning sneakily, almost luckily against Ottawa the last couple of games. This one should be similar to that.

He's also been humiliated and deemed the "Bobby Ryan" of the Wild and having a lot of critics saying he floats and doesn't care to play at a high level each game, only shows up when he wants to, etc. He's playing like a guy with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, after being bought out I think he's hungry to prove everyone wrong and legitimately think he was insulted and wants to throw it in Minnesota's face. Nothing says to a player "you're worthless to us" more than being bought out. He definitely isn't that.

Vezina goalies lose games too. Sometimes they let in bad goals, get lit up, and look bad. Fair point, but there's always the option of lottery protection. Also, being that Fowler and Trouba are still pretty young, it's not like it'd be some big hit to our future.

Mantha scored in each of GR's first two games. Just saying.

Need to get Larkin going and the defense to show up! I think they'll find a way to win this one. LGRW!

show them the standings and let's see if this team has any heart on them

You're on a roll of misinterpretations today aren't ya? F. Michael's original post said "A fair number of teams around the league today, and in years past have gotten away with a 'average' netminder, but with a solid defense." To which you responded "How's that working for the Jets?" To which I responded "Ask Crawford" F. Michael's point stands (although there's many more variables). Maybe Crawford isn't as good as an example as say Fleury or Niemi. Chicago has an average goalies, maybe above average but had a solid defense in front of then - they've won 3 cups. I'll change that comment to "Ask Niemi" No, Trouba isn't Keith. Point is, having a strong defense will go a long way on both defense and offense. Do we give up Mrazek for that? I'm not sure. Probably not.

The season is young, but I did say i felt Vanek was going to surprise a lot of folks. No way of knowing for sure, but I had high hopes for him. So far, so good! I'll take the 41 goal pace! In the crappy start, he has been a light. Nielsen also, what's he have 2 points in the two games?

First of all, your issue stems from Abdelkader scoring around 20 goals and 40 points and being offered 4 million + for long term. Last year you predicted that he wouldn't hit that mark. He did. Now you're predicting he won't hit it this year, so we'll see. Next Abdelkader can not only score 20 goals and 40 points but he lead the team in hits, he kills penalties (best penalty killer last year on team as far as goals against per penalty killing minutes I believe), he can play net front during PP, he can fight (if you're into that), he can play a shutdown role on any line whether its top line or 4th line (he did last year against Tyler Johnson for game 3 in the playoffs). Bottom line, he's versatile. Compare that to Nyquist who scores about the same rate of points as Abby, earns around the same salary, CAN'T kill penalties, CAN'T play on a shutdown role, CAN'T throw hits, CAN'T fight. Jurco also can't do any of the things I just listed about Abby except maybe has the skill to put up points. Who the hell would want a guy who can only "Decently" put up like 40 points over a guy who can put up 40 points AND do everything I just listed? And no it's not like asking a doctor to be an electrician, it's more like asking a Resident doctor in training having to administer emergency medications on a patient in the ER without the help of Attending Doctors. Jurco has to create his own resume, no one is going to walk him through it. That's the card that's been dealt to him. If Jurco had those versatile skills like Abby did, he probably would have gotten a top 6 spot because we need big bodies players who can play that type of role since we lack in that department. You're acting like Abby was handed the top 6 position out of nowhere. He was put on that top line just to be a piano mover. NOBODY expected him to score much or contribute anything else besides contributing in puck battles. He ended up being able to do that and everything else, including score points. He exceeded the expectations of coaches and management.

I beg to differ on the need to protect our 1st round pick. Just for the sake of the conversation, would I trade our 1st in 2017 for Trouba? Maybe. Trouba was the 9th pick in the 1st a few years ago. Lets compare him with another projected top 10 pick in next years draft: Cullen Foote. Both are RHed Dmen that are around 6-3/200 and considered good all around prospects. Which would you rather have? Who helps us more for the 2017/18 season? Foote will be 18 at that point and Trouba is 22. That is the difference and that is all. Yes it is possible that we get 4 more years out of Foote-being younger and all, but he has also never played a pro game and could be a bust-it does happen. The point in all of that was, in the right deal yes we can and should deal our 1st round pick.

Giving up a 1st for Fowler would be insane regardless. Even with Trouba, lottery protection would be a must. Imagine giving up the first, for it to turn out to be a top 5 pick. That absolutely would hurt. The Leafs were in a spot where they had a few really good prospects, but nothing to build a team around. I feel like where the Leafs were when they had that huge collapse not long ago is where this team is headed now. Which I am honestly totally fine with if it means one or two top 5 picks, to be honest. I'm not convinced this team needs a full blown rebuild. I believe they are simply just drafting a couple high-end players away from fully turning it all around. A lot of pieces in the system now can give them all the depth they need for many years. But we still need folks to build the team around besides just Larkin and Mrazek. Very tough to land players like that in the draft as a fringe playoff team.

There's quite a bit of irony here. You're named after the character who was always offended because Homer wouldn't remember/use his real name.

I'm not convinced that over the long haul of a season the negative possession won't result in substantial goals against, especially if their ice time starts sneaking up relative to the rest of the team. Remains to be seen, but certainly negative possession isn't good regardless of how many goals are scored against. At the very least it's substantial time each game in which we're not likely to score either. I'm not really that interested in railing against these guys to be honest. My biggest argument is that I believe we can ice a better lineup and aren't currently doing it. As I said in another thread, based on everyone's play so far I'd do the following for the 3rd and 4th lines: Z-AA-Mantha Glendening-Helm-Sheahan You could shelter the 3rd line, especially until Zetterberg is up to speed, and the fourth line I proposed is one that I wouldn't mind seeing play more minutes than your typical bottom line.

Had Detroit drafted Chychrun we wouldnt have seen him until 2020 anyways. Even then might have been too early for Holland. Probably 50/50 chance hes lost on waivers because its a mans league after all.

I agree goaltending is solid, Howard needs moved to much cap sitting there. Man holland has some baaaaad contracts.

Ott, Miller, and Glendening DO hurt us. They're terrible players. Watch how often they get trapped in the defensive zone. Their corsi against is abysmal. I'd MUCH rather have two cheap kids sitting on the bench, and the fourth line populated with guys who can actually get the puck out of the d-zone.

Clownski? Grow up Frank. Name calling and putting down an 18 year old kid for what? Cause you want to throw a hissy fit. Boohoo we didn't choose who you want. Get over it.

I think there are positives. Mrazek was pretty good. Could have been a 6-9 goal game easily with a shabby netminder.

Ott > Miller Signing players for PK value only is foolish. Many players can play PK.

I understand your point, but Lapointe isn't really a good example. You have even said it yourself, pre-cap and post-cap are two different worlds. In the pre-cap era good to elite players hit unrestricted free agency all time time, so losing someone was never really a big deal as it was easy to sign someone to replace them. Now a days its different. you lose Abby, you can just go out and sign a Hull and Robitaille to replace him. Availability wise, and cap wise you would run into issues in 2016. I personally don't have an issue with the Abby contract, sure I wish it was 5 years and not 7 years, but I think he brings a lot to the table that other guys don't on this roster. A gritty leader who can score over 20 goals, and 40 points. Its the contracts surrounding him that are the problem.