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Well since we're continuing to beat this to death... (sounds like my cup of tea actually) Yes there are people who would rather had him stay the year and not sign ANY UFA and have a 2nd line center within such as Larkin after his two years of experience. And on top of that kept the high pick. Chychrun is chychrun, it didn't matter how high you are on him (I'm not), he could still be used a currency in a trade. The article posted by the OP highlights these details. (And I quoted it btw) Now my opinion is no, I don't blame Holland. Holland tried to manage the situation as best as he could for this team.

Yes, it is because the guys you've mentioned have not yet signed a contract with the Red Wings. Teams have two years after drafting a player to sign them to a contract. If a player does not receive a contract in that time, they are eligible to re-enter the draft (if younger than 20 years old). If the player is 20 or older, he becomes a free-agent and is free to sign with any team. That's how we snagged Russo from the Islanders a couple years ago.

Welcome to the big show, Mr. Russo. We need you to be Drew Doughty. No pressure.

First of all, I acknowledge my obvious bias, haha If Pav left after this year he would have left us in a worse position. It always happens when good players leave, no matter what the reason. Rafalski leaving absolutely left us in a worse position - we couldn't replace him until Green. I don't think the fact that Pav left a year early left us in any worse position than if he left at the time that his contract was supposed to end. To me, I think you can only really argue that he screwed us if you think he'd make us a playoff team. Even that's debateable for those who argue that missing will help longterm. If you think the Pav contract trade made us miss out in a jem in Chychyrun then maybe he screwed us. But that trade wasn't essential - we could have eaten the caphit for a year and played Larkin in Pav's spot. So, if you're one who drools over Chychyrun, you could argue Holland's decision is what is to blame. I don't think you can blame Pav for subsequent reactions that weren't necessary or without choice. If Pav left after this year, instead of Nielson, we'd probably sign a different replacement center. This year's crop could be Thornton, Mike Fischer, Hanzal, Boyle. Of those, only Thornton has more pts than Nielsen, but at 37, I don't think we'd go that way. I don't like the Nielsen deal, but nobody can act like the alternative is Pav staying and no bad deal - The likely alternative is 1 more year of Pav and a similar UFA ( also over-payed as UFAs usually are) a year later. Trying to pick up a replacement UFA would have probably been even worse in this expansion year where Vegas can throw money at all the high demand guys and talk to them early.

I'm looking forward to see Hicketts, but maybe it's better that we don't rush him. Russo is ready. I doubt McIlrath ever plays a game with Detroit...

At this point Miller should not be playing another game, and Kronwall should rest for the remainder of the year. Hopefully Russo takes Kronwall's spot. We need to play the kids. Just saw he was hurt....damn! Kid can't catch a break. I was really hoping he could use the next couple months to prove he is a top 6 D-man, or potentially top 4.

Ive never actually heard much about Lidstrom's captaincy. I've heard things from players that "he was quiet, led by example" in player interviews. Lidstrom is always talked about his on ice ability as a defender not about his leadership But I have heard players definitely rave about Yzerman's captaincy though. Often players would talk about his 2002 playoffs run or how much respect they had from him or his tenacity. When players talk about Yzerman they seem to talk about his leadership guaranteed , that's just seems like the standard. And I've heard players rave about Zetterberg about how he "carries the team on his back" , his "will". Datsyuk himself said in an interview when Lidstrom retired that Zetterberg is the best choice. (I'll have to find the link). In the HBO 24:7 series I remember Cleary said how Zeterberg was "hands down the best captain in the NHL". Hell Zetterberg's own teammates nominated him for the King Clancy Memorial trophy... "One nominee from each club is selected by vote of his fellow players. Voters from the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and NHL Broadcasters’ Association then selected Zetterberg from among the 30 club nominees to win this year’s award." I've also heard Redmond rave about Yzerman for decades and Zetterberg a LOT. And you know Redmond travels with these players everywhere during games.

In the next 5 years the defense should be nice and balanced we just need to draft a #1 in the next 3 years. No pressure Kenny

tanking at its best

I'd like to see our forward group get bigger overall, but our fundamental problem is more a talent problem than it is a size problem. I mean, sure, if we're trying to choose between two kids who are equally talented and equally good skaters but one is 5'10 and one is 6'3, maybe you go with the bigger one. (Maybe.) But, bottom line: we simply need more high-end talent. We're in the hole that we're in because we lack gamebreaking talent. Size -- for forwards, at least -- should be a secondary or tertiary concern. And even if size is a primary concern, it's not like Mantha, Larkin, Athanasiou, Svechnikov are "small and easily thrown around."

Ok after giving it more thought, it must be because these guys have not signed a pro contract. But what I want to know is if a team does not sign a draft pick to a pro contract, when is the prospect free to sign elsewhere? I have no idea how this part works.

19 games left and we are 3rd from last (although we have some games in hand on some teams). Sadly I hope we tank and get either Patrick, Vilardi, Hirschier, or Liljegren.

Pavs heart wasn't in it anymore and let's be honest he wasn't close to his former self most of the season. Love Pavs awesome player and from what I've read an even better person . He gave the Wings everything he had for over a decade and never complained altough everyone could see that just hanging on would hurt the Wings in the longrun. His decision didn#t cost the Wings Chychrun (if the Wings wanted Chychrun), Holland trading away the pick in order to sign Nielsen did. Everyone who didn't wear ross colored glasses could see this situation coming. Maybe if Pasha would still be on the team the Wings would have a few points more but nowhere would they be could enough to contend for a playoff spot. This is a team that has many many holes not even an aging magician would have been able to fix that.

Oh I dont think he is the answer either, agreed it would be a salary cap move.

Yes, not because I think he's the answer, but like mentioned above, you'd be opening up a good amount of cap, plus two roster spots and years on a contract. I'd take flip at $5M for 1 year to get rid of both of their contracts.

You don't have to doubt it. Holland said on 97.1 that mcilrath was acquired to be in GR. He said that he will be evaluated the rest of the season in GR. He probably won't even get re-signed. I'm think Holland just acquired him to use as a player to leave unprotected in the hopes maybe he won't lose another young D. But someone here is going to be very mad that The New Dylan didn't get the call...

...and he's a pretty good center.

Why mock my post? Do you not know the contract info regarding the 3 players? Or are you being sarcastic for no reason? My comment was more so as a joke, but in all seriousness, if Philly offered you Filppula (1 more year 5mil) for E (3 more years at 4.25mil) and Howard (2 more years at 5.3) you really think it would be a stupid move to accept? I really fail to see your logic here Dickie? If your grand plan is to dump salary, this trade clears E and Howard in essentially one more year.

I'd trade Howard and E for him lol.

I like it. I want to see what Robbie can do in the majors. Our defense flat out sucks and we are not making the playoffs. I say give him plenty of games, let's see where he's at.

IF Sheahan were to be protected, I see it being Z, Nielsen, AA, Mantha, Nyquist and Abby with Helm and Tatar being exposed, personally I would expose Abby and Tatar in that group (if I had to protect Sheahan), but I wouldnt protect Sheahan. A trade needs to be coming. A team like TO would be perfect as they dont have a lot of guys they need to protect as most of their best players are exempt.

Lol didn't even see you were talking about Nielsen, I was responding to the thread overall Yeah I agree, it's better to have a consistent lesser player than a superior player for not even half the season.

Ooo.. bad argument. Generalizing dick moves made by people doesn't justify the said move made by Datsyuk. All it does is clump him into the dick move category along with the rest. I don't think anyone appreciates people leaving in the middle of their contract obligations in any field of work. And more often than not those people are banned from being re-hired. Just a bad way to end things.

The thing for me, is next year at the deadline I could see Green getting us a first round pick, and at this point as much as I like XO and Sproul, I think a 1st rounder > XO or Sproul.