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FYI this is Holland's last contract year. He should technically be getting an extension this summer. If he doesn't it could potentially mean this is the one and only year they are giving him a chance. So to all the Holland haters, relax, he might not be around forever as you may presume. Maybe Chris Illitch is pulling a PR stunt and not much for panic. Maybe not giving Holland an extension could end up being an indirect way of saying "you've got a year to show us something". I would wait to see till the end of the summer.

Cholowski is a good example of one of his experiments. He even openly said he knew he would be a project that will take a few years. Most GMs would have taken Chychrun, or at least Max Jones, who was still available even after Holland dropped to #20 after the Datsyuk trade. He could screw up a pick even if he had the 1st overall in the McDavid/Eichel draft year.

If you're comparing how the 2 franchises handle firings, L.A. missed the playoffs 2 years ago and didn't fire GM and owner. But anyways, a team like L.A. who is armed with the assets from missing the playoff 6 years in a row should be judged differently the Wings. A closer comparison would be The Devils' handling of Lou Lamoriello after their long playoff streak ended. He got 3 years of not making the playoffs before he moved to a different position and another GM took over. If we don't turn things around in a couple of years, I expect something similar.

Hollands strategy for the next season :

So Frank, how is your tanking strategy working for Buffao, Arizona, Colorado, Carolina, Florida? You really seem to believe that tanking guarantees success, maybe those rose colored glasses you always talk about are looking back at you in the mirror.

Godmotherf***ingsonofabitchbastards***assdamnit, no. Stop. Just stop. For the sake of all humanity, stop. I don't actually believe in god, but since this is the kind of s*** that would bring down all sorts of fire-&-brimstone-y wrath, I have to hedge my bets and beg you to stop. "typical Holland experimental pick" is not a thing. Stop trying to make it one. Cholowski was not an experiment. He was the highest rated defenseman available. Even if he was, one pick is not "typical" in any sense of the word. And also 15 other GMs also passed on Chychrun. Stop acting like he's hockeyjesus. Petterson, for what it's worth, is the 2nd ranked EU skater. 12th on Craig's list, 5th by Hockeyprospect, 16th by ISS, 9th by Future Considerations, 7th by McKeen's. Hardly an experiment even if they do take him. (Which is probably unlikely since he's a winger we don't need. Button just saw someone compare him to Zetterberg, and said "hey, Wings!, Swedish!" even though the Wings haven't drafted a Swede in the 1st round since Kronwall.) So just stop. There are legitimate things to criticize and intelligent ways to be critical. Please stop trying to bring on Armageddon.

you're Damn Right!

From what I understand there are a ton of players who are about the same level and how you rank them is based more on what you like in a player than any real difference in potential. The 3rd guy taken could be the best one of that group or the 12th guy taken could. Saying you'll never watch again if they take X player is going a tad over board. Sent from my LGLS676 using Tapatalk

Good to see Chris has no idea what's going on. In what sense is Ken Holland an excellent gm? He hasn't made any remarkable moves, he's sticking with a coach who can't seem to figure it out (while there are some very good coaches up for grabs out there right now). We haven't even efficiently declined into mediocrity, assets have been wasted on numerous occasions. Disheartening to hear that Chris is content maintaining the status quo, being below average.

Maybe after back to back bottom 10 finishes management will get that Holland isn't the answer anymore. The Kings miss the playoffs after two cups in 5 years and clean out Lombardi and Sutter, we make the playoffs on the last day of the season for three years in a row then bottom out and no changes are planned. Funny how things work.

I'm not suggesting any of that, I'm not even a big fan of the kid, I'm trying to figure out why you're selling him so far short. This season... Trouba averaged 20.5 minutes a night even strength. 3 minutes of PK. 1.5 of PP. (same amount of PP works as Myers btw) ---- 45 pts Hamilton averaged 16.25 minutes of even strength. 1 minute of PK. 2.25 of PP. ---- 50 pts Trouba plays way heavier/tougher minutes and was only on pace for 5 pts less, yet you act like he has something to prove, whereas Hamilton is bonafide legit.

No they don't get #3 no matter what.. at least not in the first round. If say 4, 5, & 6 win the lotto spots, they'd pick 6th in the first round but 3rd in every other round. I'm pretty sure the order resets every other round anyway. So, just another example, the wings will pick 7th round 2 and later no matter what happens with the expansion draft. Someone please correct me if that's wrong but I'm pretty sure that's how it works. Honestly, there's been so much shuffling and so many different opinions/so many players raising and falling quickly, ya never know. If we pick 7-10 and he's there though, that's who I'd expect and assuming all the top centers are off the board, I'd be happy with liljegren in the 7-10 range. I'm also a little biased toward offensive d-men though.

Franchise 1: 2 cups in 5 years Franchise 2: zero cups, basically first round exit bound One fires their coach and GM and the other one is happy with status quo, go figure. Oh well if Chris doesn't bring in in Stevie next year it will be clear that he doesn't have the same drive for excellence like his dad did.

Lindy Ruff is available.

My wife just shared this video with me, surprised that it hasn't been posted here yet.

Hamilton 20: Pace 31 pts 21: Pace 32 pts 22: Pace 47 pts 23: Pace 43 pts 24: Pace 50 pts Trouba 20: Pace 36 pts 21: Pace 28 pts 22: Pace 21 pts 23: Pace 45 pts Hamilton broke out at 22, Trouba is breaking out at 23. Hamilton has a more consistent track record so far, but that's about his only advantage besides slightly more points this season. Hamilton has averages 2+ minutes of powerplay time a game since he entered the league. Trouba averages about 1 minute 30 over his career. Trouba is also relied upon heavily for penalty killing, whereas Hamilton is hardly used at all on the PK. Trouba's also logging way more 5 on 5 time.

I'm fine with waiting until he's a UFA - especially since his local ties point to us having a good chance. And I wouldn't give the high assets that some are talking about. I just think pointing to him playing roughly 60 games ignores his actual story when judging what he's proven. It's not a reason to stay away from him due to the explanations. And It doesn't represent a trend that you would expect to continue (unless you think he's going to have a contract dispute every year).

He was on pace for 45 pts and plays 25 minutes a night consistently. What more does he need to do to prove himself in your eyes? That's pretty impressive for a 28 year old, let alone a 23 year old, in my book.

What's unimpressive about his scoring? He was on pace for 45 pts this season. More than Doughty, Weber, McDonagh, Subban, Suter, Giordano, OEL. And he's younger than all those guys and logging bigger minutes per game than the majority of them.

Going back to my original point of the grass is always greener, your just helping me make my point Frank. LA's "garbage" is an "upgrade" for us, our "garbage" would be an "upgrade" for other teams. It's the nature of sports.Holland is let go, fans of other teams would say the same thing as what you are saying right now about Lombardi. I hope what this shows people (though I know it won't) is that in today's NHL parity is ridiculous and every team will go through ups and down's more then ever. Even a GM/coach that are perceived as some of the best in the league are turned on by their fan base/ownership. A team can go from being a cup winner to not making the playoffs (LA) in a season, and a team can go from being at the bottom of the standing (Columbus) to being a contender in one season.

I am not sure but I believe Holland will trade their first round pick for Jarome Iginla because "he is an elite thinker and is ultra competitive."

Let's Go Jackets! FIRE! **BOOOM** Ok, if it means ending the Penguins' season, I'll happily listen to that damn cannon.

Yeah PETA can suck it. If I buy a dead cephalopod, I can eat it, throw it on the ice, or dress it up and have a tea party with 9 tea cups. What happens between a man and his octopus is his own business.