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I already agreed with selling at the deadline. But that's not what I mentioned above. I talked about maximizing our lineup with correct roster decisions and you said that "wouldn't be in our best interest". Which seems to suggest that you think we SHOULDN'T ice the best lineup possible. Which is equivalent to losing on purpose. And I don't agree with that strategy. I also don't think our team, as constructed, "will never win any PO games". I think our lineup is WAY better than our coaching. We're bigger, faster, and more talented than we've been in a few years. We're not a great team, but we're not as bad as we look. Our coaching, however, is awful. And it's becoming increasingly clear that we've got locker room issues as well.

Soph slump. The league has seen him, scouted him, knows his strengths and weaknesses, and game plans for him. Now he has to mkae the adjustments. Up until the last 2-3 games he hasn't been playing C at all. he has been on the wing. The last part about Larkin is/was how good can he become offensively? That was the question when he was drafted. Everyone knew he had speed and played a 200ft game. Can he become more than a 25g 50 point guy? He had 25 goals last year and is on pace for 22 this year. Can he take the next step and get to 30 goals and 75+ points? This is his second pro season so no need to panic by anyone. Mantha is a year ahead physically and mentally in his 3rd pro year. Both should be very good to great for a long time.

I ran it through Bing Translate (which is more accurate) and the section on the possibility of a trade translates to: "You've arrived at the um, bad results can result in the fact that you will replace the Club? "It's possible, if we do not fight your way into the playoffs, so here it is the big things and changes. Some teams will want to certainly foster before play-off. It is always about business. Maybe General Manager gets a good offer for me and it will be on the exchange of thinking. I thought about it many times, especially after last season, after which I was not happy in Detroit. Promised me that will change everything, but it's hard. I am unsatisfied with my performance. " Still says he thought about it, but it comes off a bit differently to me. "thought about it" could mean the possibility of being traded. Who knows if a couple important words are imprecise in translation. I wish we could track down a slovak or get some english coverage on the article to confirm what it says.

Any player should be available at the right price, but no team is going to overpay for Larkin, Mantha or Athanasiou at the deadline. Players that teams usually overpay for are pending UFA's and sometimes players with a year remaining. For that reason, I would be shopping Vanek, Smith, Green and Ott. Any other player we could trade would have to be a "hockey trade", and I'm not trading low on any of the kids. That's why I wouldn't trade any of Larkin, Mantha, Athanasiou, Jurco, Sproul, Ouellet, or Mrazek. Players I would be willing to trade low on are Howard and Ericsson. Other players I'd shop for the right price are Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan and Marchenko. If we can get some decent picks / prospects for Vanek and Green, and offload a couple other big contracts we absolutely should. My fear though is that Holland holds on to everyone, or even worse again, decides to buy...

If Tatar wants out, he'll be moved. You can't take a Google translated interview as proof of that. He could be simply saying he would not be surprised to be traded and will see what happens at the trade deadline. These translations should never ever be taken as 100% accurate. A lot gets lost in translation, as different languages work completely different from one another.

More hyperbole. No doubt he failed with Suter, but the Wings have landed top UFA's almost every year. Now if you want to argue the results of those signings, that is a different story. But if we are talking their ability to land players they want, they have. Weak UFA classes and poor results from the players signed have been their problem.

If what we are doing now is the opposite of tanking, then give me "tanking". Never liked that term anyway. But it is what it is. I am all for moving out as much salary as we can and picking up more picks and prospects. If that is tanking then so be it. This team as currently constructed will never win any PO games/series.

There actually (still) is unsubstantiated rumors floating around about Trouba landing in Detroit still. Something about this signing being a placeholder until next season. Just ramblings, however one can hope. Talk about changing the outlook of a team if that came true.

Lidstrom should have won at least 2 or 3 more Norris trophies. It's too hard to compare players from different eras. I've always thought Shore Harvey Orr and Lidstrom are the 4 best ever in whatever order you put them in. Sent from my LGLS676 using Tapatalk

It's very hard to judge this without bias. Ask anyone over 50 and they'll laugh and wonder why the question is even being asked. There are more than a few that would place Orr as the best player of all time, not just the best defenseman. I am too young to have ever seen Orr play live, but the highlights tell a pretty good story. Other than that, going simply by stats and awards, its tough to argue. Orr has won the Norris is every year he was eligible other than his rookie year in which he won the Calder. I don't count his last 3 seasons as he only played 36 combined games over those seasons. So, after winning the Calder, he went on to win the Norris 8 straight years before having to retire. Combine that with 3 Hart trophies, 2 Art Ross trophies and 2 Conn Smythes. The only argument perhaps is whether his shortened career opens the door. I wonder what Don Cherry would say if you asked him

I certainly agree with this. I would dare to write almost all NHL teams agree - very few would trade Trouba for a top 5 pick. Certainly not in this draft. Those prime defenders are worth more than their weight in gold (right now) and once picked will most likely never leave the organization as long as the org. is profitable. As said situation with Trouba just displayed a few months ago.

I would pick Nestrasil up off waivers ** sarcasm ** . Oh I remember when Holland put this guy on waivers and everyone was up in arms. He's just not that good.

I agree with Green, Vanek, Smith Howard, and of course E (will never happen though), but you don't want to trade every vet away as that can lead to issues with the development of the kids (see Oilers pre McDavid). Even the Leafs who do seem to be headed in the right direction kept Komorov, Kadri, JVR, Bozak and Polak (re-acquired him). If we keep Z, one of Tats/Nyquist, Abby, Helm, and Kronwall I think that gives the kids some much needed leadership in the room. Depending on who is available when we pick I like your trade idea. Trading for a guy like Trouba or Hamilton essentially gives us a 1A d-man. Going through the draft for a d-man is like playing the lottery, so many first rounders become busts. Depending on how bad we finish, our first rounder will have value.

Dont worry. This team is going to be bad for quite a few more years so chances of a good draft class are good.

I love the " lets trade the whole team " philosophy. Like that ever happens. In a perfect world we could move one of the those contracts on the back end. Preferably Ericcson's contract. Move one of the goalie contracts( not likely) . That frees up 8-9 million right there. If someone is willing to completely over spend for Green it has to be done. Deal has to be right. Green is only 31 and up until he was injured this year was clearly our best d man and had his swagger back. Nielsen isn't going anywhere. Vanek for a 1st rounder or two 2nd rounders? Are you serious. Vanek might fetch a 3rd rounder. Why would you give away Howard? His injury killed a lot of his trade value but he's arguably was our best player up until he got hurt. We do still have to ice a hockey team. This team is moving into a new barn, there is no chance this team is going to play with an AHL roster next year. It's not happening.

Nice dodge. I've NEVER said that about any of the people you mentioned. You're really good at completely avoiding what other people say and turning it into something you can debate. I said AA has elite skill. His skating is DEFINITELY elite, and has scoring rate has been elite so far as well. Again, if you're skeptical based on the sample size then I understand and share your concerns about him keeping it up (I've said this a number of times already). But you seem to be doubling down on A) AA isn't an elite player (which I've never said), and B) that other people have been wrong about other players (which is irrelevant). But again, I suspect that's not the point. Obviously being snarky on the internet, regardless of what other people are saying, is your end game here.

Anyways, as far as Tatar, a package of him and Nyquist would get us some good picks IMO. They're underproducing but so is the entire team overall. And people would associate that with Blashill, not the players.

I'd be pissed if we took anything other than a center or a defenseman in the draft. We've got wingers in spades. Especially if the organization insists on continuing to use AA and Larkin as wingers.

I don't believe in tanking. Losing on purpose is for losers. I'd rather we ice the best lineup, and go where that takes us. I'm not opposed to selling at the deadline in preparation for a big draft, but I've never advocated tanking and I don't think it's the way to go now. If we miss the playoffs Blash will likely be out anyway.

That would not be in our best interest. If we are not a PO team then we wnat the highest possible draft pick. Not to mention that if we "Finish strong" then Blashill might return.

I'm actually happy that we've finally got a top six that seems to be able to score. The Tatar-Z-Mantha and AA-Neilsen-Vanek lines are scoring. Abby and Helm should help fill out the bottom six (if Blashill doesn't do something stupid). If we can get Green and Smith back and ice the BEST possible defense, we might be able to go on a late run. May not be enough to make the playoffs, but I'm optimistic we'll look better down the stretch with just a few returning players.

What?? Why should Tatar not be traded and Nyquist should? Both played 40 games and have 18 points each. They're both equally having terrible seasons in their total point productions. It's more embarassing for Tatar because he's on the top line with Zetterberg and Mantha who are the two best right now and they're both outshining him, even carrying him on some plays. Nyquist plays on a third line... if anything I say Tatar should be the one traded. Clearly from this interview he doesn't want to be in Detroit. Well if that's the case then fans don't want him either. Get out if you don't like it here Tatar. But putting all that aside, I'd probably trade both.

Mantha is now tied for the team lead in goals and plus/minus, fourth in points, second in points per game, and first in goals per game. The first three of those stats are especially impressive considering he's only played half the season (but then made slightly less impressive when part of his team lead also has to do with other players performing way below expectation)

Swap Larkin and Tatar and we might have a respectable top 6 and two scoring lines..

My New Year's resolution is to score more often than Riley Sheahan.