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Mike Witkowski?

Keep calm and Witkowski

360 degree aerial panorama I made from a flight Sunday evening

I'm telling you, he's been colluding with the Russians.

I think it will be between Martin and Draper when Holland moves up or out. In saying that, I think it would be a poor decision to hire anyone within the organization to become the next GM. This team needs a new look, new approach, and that starts from the top. I think the best thing for this team would be to go outside the organization to find Holland's replacement. Who? I have no idea...

Zetterberg, Abdelkader, Helm, Nielsen, Ericsson, Kronwall, Dekeyeser, Howard, Mrazek, Franzen, Daley all are on the books for over $3 mil this year. Weiss is still on the books as a buy out, $2.6 mil this year and $1.667 mil for the next three years. Glendening is getting double what he should be. I have a hard time crapping on Holland for any of these. At the time they were signed they were reasonable. Zetterberg: Great deal when he signed it, the retroactive punishment for violating the spirit of the CBA makes this potentially hurt. Franzen: Ditto. Ericsson: Probably would have gotten at least that contract and maybe more on the market. Injuries and an apparent fear of getting hurt again have turned him from a solid player into a waste of space. Kronwall: Was a legit #1 D, although not elite. Very good deal until his knee fell apart. Howard:Was paid like an average starting goalie, which he is. When he's healthy and confident, he's one of the better goalies in the league. Problem is, half the time he's hurt or is fighting the puck and is terrible. Mrazek: Looked like he was on track to be a legit #1, until he as named the #1. Apparent entitled attitude and refusal to listen to coaches about what his weaknesses were combined with the rest of the NHL figuring out said weaknesses led to him being one of the worst goalies in the league last year. Looks like the team has soured on him and it may take a small miracle for him to stay after this year. Weiss: They lost Filpulla, needed a #2 center, and the wrist injury he dealt with the year before was healed. Then he hurt his groin, didn't say anything and made it worse, lost Babcock's confidence, and was a complete disaster. The rest of these deals were terrible from day 1. Daley: In a vacuum it's not a bad deal. Given where the Wings are now, it was dumb. Abdelkader: Took a grinder who had never scored much until he played with Datsyuk and Zetterberg for a year and rewarded him with a 7 year deal a year before he was set to be a free agent when he was starting to get close to the age players like him start slowing down. What could go wrong with that? I said the day he signed it he'd never score 20 goals in a season again, and it looks like I'm going to be right. Helm: "Best 3rd line center in the league" gets moved to a scoring line, does nothing, still gets a 5 year deal for too much money. Could have found someone almost as good for a lot less. Dekeyser: Holland jumped the gun and paid him like was was 100% to continue to improve. Was exposed when he was forced to play against better competition. Glendening: Double the $ and term of what he should get. The ultimate replaceable player who has little talent and gets by on hard work, basically a faster Matt Ellis. Should have spent his career on a series of one and two year deals for near league minimum. Nielsen: Aging center who put up the numbers he did because of who he played with as much as because of what he was. He's only going to continue to decline. Desperation signing, too long, too much money, and at a time when they should have been going with a youth movement. Arguable the worst of the bunch, even looking at the others in hind sight.

Kid Rock for GM. Make the Red Wings Great Again.

It's hard to say because Chychrun was one of the most NHL ready players in that draft, whereas Cholo and Hronek still need more time to develop physically. But Hronek is developing really nice and looks very promising as an offensive D-man/quarterback. Probably most excited about him of all our D prospects. And now Cholo has packed on 25 lbs and everyone says his positioning/stickwork/and ability to read the game are super high level. Of the 3, nobody has busted yet that's for sure.