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One of the tenants that LGW lives and dies upon: "Let's endlessly dissect the unknown."

Fleury, Raanta, Grubauer. Our goalies are safe.

I'm gonna laugh so hard if Vegas ends up taking Kronwall or Ericsson.

>5M cap relief >>> Howard At least Mrazek is not injury prone. KH is retarded

Side deal or not, this shows again that Ken Holland is out of touch. There was absolutely no reason to protect Jimmy Howard. None, zero. I've been skeptical in believing Kenny could turn over a new leaf and approach things differently, and here we are.

Me too. I really think Holland 's plan has always been to ride the Howard/Mrazek tandem for as long as he can. See: his previous history with goalies. Has he really, though? He's been looking for offers and maybe listening to offers, but I'm unsure as to how hard he's actually been trying to trade a goalie. If he was trying to trade a goalie, I'm sure he could have traded a goalie by now.

See Buffalo: Even though they are actively shopping Evander Kane, they still protected him because they know he has some value. The guy is toxic and they still understand that he's got value. Pure speculation, but maybe Ken Holland is done with Mrazek... BUT EVEN THEN... know his value and move him when it's right. You don't even chance losing this guy in the expansion draft when you could trade him for something more. I don't get it at all.

I think Mrazek is more valuable than any of our other unprotected players, and it's not even close. Next closest may be Ouellet, and I can only hope they take him at this point. I think Mrazek would be a HUGE loss to this organization. As for the second part, put yourself in McPhee's shoes. If you thought there was a possibility that a GM was planning on exposing a certain player, and he called you up and asked you, what do you think of this player? Would you tell him, you'd definitely like to have him? Or would you play it cool in hopes that you could get him? There are GM's wheeling and dealing to keep specific players. If Ken Holland sits back and allows McPhee to take Mrazek, he truly is an idiot...

I can see us losing Mrazek for nothing and have Howard get hurt for a long stretch in probaly the 15th game of the season. Then they'll be stuck with Coreau in net with an unknown back-up. Probably lock in the best odds to get the first pick next year

He said he wouldn't make a deal to protect additional players.. not that he wouldn't make a deal for Vegas to pick a specific player. Hopefully that's the case.

Well, the Canadiens weren't going to trade within the div...oh. Well, it's not like we have several third-round pi...oh. Well, it's not like we need all the help we can get on def...oh.

Well, the absence of trades like this is a problem with Holland. Beaulieu and players like him won't save us immediately but he would have been huge upgrade over the likes of Oulette, Sproul, Jensen of whoever we going to play in top 4 this season. And we have like zillion 3rd round picks this year. Multiple trades like this may make a team gradually better.... we are instead looking/waiting for some magic, where someone is going to give us franchise D for nothing.

I don't really like any of this, respectfully. As Dickie said, it's very well predicted that Fleury will be in Vegas, he has already waived his no movement clause for what I feel like is anticipation of the inevitable. I think Laine has as good of a chance of being dealt that Ovechkin had in his young years, absolutely untouchable. He's the future, and the kind of player a team like Winnipeg needs to go forward and build the franchise around. Blake Wheeler would be another Nielsen situation on this team, I don't think a lot of people were familiar with Nielsen before he came here and how good of a player he really is. Problem is, he's aging and declining, the team around him isn't as talented, and it becomes harder to produce on an offensively impotent team and it reflected in his numbers. I think Wheeler would be a similar situation. And honestly, Sheahan can go for all I care after last season. I think I watched 70 regular season games last season and besides the very last game, I saw nothing out of him that I wouldn't mind losing.

"the organization" is sucking wind if you haven't noticed...maybe "the organization" shouldn't be so arrogant, get off the pedestal, stop worrying about the "Red Wings culture," and get with the post-cap era like all the other teams. Kenny is running a veteran loyalty program...he is not working hard enough at fielding a competitive team...He should have been fired 4 years ago.

Is it? If you look at GAA last year, out of the 44 goalies that qualified Mrazek ranked #42, Fleury #41. If you look at Save %, Mrazek rankes #42, Fleury #33.

After thinking this through, here are the possible realities of Mrazek being exposed 1) Most of us are just wrong. Holland tried to trade Mrazek and there was simply zero interest out there. The guy is coming off a horrible season, he is not a cheap cap hit, and he has attitude problems. Holland does not want to waive Coreau, and correctly believes that a tandem of Howard/Coreau puts them in the best position next year. 2) Side Deal. Holland said he wouldnt do a side deal to protect a player, maybe he has a deal in place for LV to take a player. So for example, the agreement is that is LV takes E in the draft which is the only way to move E to them with his NTC, then Holland has agreed to trade Mrazek to them for cheap afterwards. Or maybe a side deal that has nothing to do with Mrazek. This way you keep your vet in Howard happy, and send Mrazek a message. 3) Holland is simply out of touch. Holland did not properly assess the market on Mrazek, and wants to go with Jimmy as he feels that gives him the best chance in making the playoffs next year. LV is taking advantage of this, and we are about to be fleeced. 4) Holland has no intention in losing Mrazek. Maybe LV has already let Holland know who they are taking (ie. Sheahan or XO) and this is Holland's way of sending Mrazek a message. My guess is the answer is either 1 or 3.

I will definitely has mean things to say if those "Whatevz" decisions end up being something along the lines of: "we're in 'win now' mode"

Holland has been trying to trade a goalie for over a year Mrazek had some hype around the league after we almost beat Tampa in the playoffs but that hype has died. 4M for a small backup goalie that is questionable to ever be a #1 goalie. These kinds of goalie prospects exist on every team in the NHL and they aren't overpaid already approaching UFA status

Exactly. Makes me think there has to be a deal in place.

The only person on our list worth taking is petr! And just cause Holland couldn't swing a trade for him doesn't mean McPhee can't. If our goalies are safe why take the chance and just let Howard be unprotected cause there's less of a chance he taken over petr.

This exactly, I think there's a very, very slim chance Mrazek is taken after the season he had and these three available for the taking. My bet goes on Sheahan being the player we lose, and that doesn't really hurt my feelings too much.

Mrazek struggled all season. There is no way Vegas takes him with some of the other goalies available. So I don't think it matters who we protected at goalie. Both were gonna be on the roster come training camp. Glad they kept green. He should net us a first at the deadline. Please take Helm Vegas!

Now I guess it is possible that Holland already has a plan in place... Maybe McPhee has already accepted the offer of pick and / or prospect to take Ericsson, making his protection list irrelevant... He decided to protect Howard "out of loyalty", when it really doesn't matter which goalie he protected because they're both safe... Maybe... Let's hope this is the case...

This.

I don't hate your first part, but if we are not contending for the next couple years anyways why waste a 2nd rounder to get rid of two contracts that will be gone in 2 and 3 years respectfully? Now, if that move is needed for another move to come (ie. acquiring a player like Trouba) I am 100% good with it. I would LOVE Laine, but there is no chance at that. My only issue with Wheeler is that he is 30, so by the time we are contenders he will likely be a washed up player.