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Nah. I think people are reading too much into this situation. AA's an RFA with roughly one NHL season under his belt. He's cost-controlled. His only leverage is "KHL tho." Holland is refusing to play ball and that's good. If Holland does play ball and he does give AA a couple million dollars more than he'd like to, then he's setting a dangerous precedent -- specifically, that he can be bullied by 23-year-old NHL rookies. Overpaying older players is one thing, but overpaying older players plus failing to keep unproven 23-year-old RFAs under heel is a recipe for organizational ruin, in terms of cap management and the general no-bull**** culture within the locker room and within the organization. The Wings, as an organization, want younger players to be "team players." All organizations want this, but the Wings are especially big on it. The understanding is that the extra-long tour of duty in the AHL and the modest two- or three-year bridge deal are, in a way, loyalty tests. Put your head down, don't make a fuss, take the public shaming from Blashill and Devellano in stride, and when it's time for your big deal, you'll be handsomely rewarded. You'll be a Wing for life and will want for nothing. This is how the Wings roll, for better or for worse.

You mean there is a strong correlation between Red Wings success and activity on a Red Wings forum? Whooda thunk it?!

Mandates like that come from ownership, not management. You can bring in whoever you want, but if ownership dont change their mindset, it doesn't matter. Not trying to defend Holland as does make bad moves, but why would Holland care about the bottom line if ownership doesn't. I think people WANT the issue to be Holland. If this mind set is created that everything is Holland's fault, then firing him would fix it right. If everything is Ilitch's fault, that is hard to stomach because that is not changing.

Good....I didnt want Vanek this year given our roster.

Personally I do not want to see a tear down, but I would like to see some vets go.

You're right, good points. I'll agree to that.

My basement flooded on Tuesday....damn you Holland!!!

If I remember right he had some serious health issues that made him miss a lot of hockey. I think he missed a full season for having a blood clot in his shoulder back around 2012. By the time he got his game back it was too late.

lol, I read "oxycodone". to each his own, I guess...

He was talking about his apple-tinis. Heavy on the apple, light on the tini.

Nice

I wouldn't be so worried about the Tatar signing (though I still think he's overpaid) if we had moved Nyquist and signed AA.

Yea that last pairing is basically two pylons with hockey sticks attached. At least Hicketts can get up and down the ice. If I was running things I'd go with Daley-Green DK-Jensen XO-Sproul/McIlrath/Russo Its not much better tho.

@kickazz @Euro_Twins Bill's bait has been set...question is....do you bite?