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IF management have decided that Howard is the goalie they're going forward with, and they want to move on from Mrazek, I'm all for trading him rather than losing him for nothing. If we retain half his salary, I think we'd be able to do better than a 3rd round pick though. If we can get a 2nd, go for it I guess. Trade Green to Toronto for their 1st round pick. Trade Mrazek ($2M retained) to Arizona for Minnesota's 2nd round pick. Trade Ouellet and Pittsburgh's 3rd round pick to Montreal for Michael McCarron. Trade Nyquist and Saarijarvi to Nashville for Dante Fabbro. We'd go into next year's draft with two 1st round picks, three 2nd round picks, a 3rd, 4th, two 6ths and a 7th. I know, I know, never going to happen, but that's the sort of trade deadline I'd like to see...

Re-Read what I wrote, I didn't say anything about insurance (ie. in case there is an injury). What i said, is if a team that is a contender loses their starting goalie come trade deadline time, with Jimmy being on an expiring contract I could see them getting a 2nd or more. I stand by that. Other teams don't have irrational hate towards Jimmy that you do. Imagine a year from now a team like LA loses Quick. Do you really think they are going to go with Darcy Kuemper? Or if the Leafs lose Andersson, that they would go with Curtis McElhinney? Of course not, and there are not going to be many starting goaltenders on expiring contracts available. I admit that this is not likely, but I never insinuated that. Also, you know I was talking next year right? I dont think that about this year.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/2018.html Larkin's leading our forwards in icetime. Mantha's 2nd among winger's just behind Nyquist (by :15) and 4th behind Lark, Gus, Z. He's had some rough stretches this year (the past few games included) so I think it's understandable that he's not up with Lakrin for icetime (also, he doesn't PK like Larkin does). I think these are fine. AA Should be getting more time, but he has been pretty underwhelming so far this year. A lot that could be credited to him missing training camp and coming in cold. Hopefully his icetime increases as he gets his game together. Mrazek should have gotten a few more games, but he hasn't made much of a case for himself when he's been in. I feel like the organization has already made a decision that he's not part of our future since they exposed him and reportedly tried to trade him in the offseason. I disagreed with those decisions, but if Howie is the way we're going for the next few years, then he should be the one playing the majority. And I don't see a conspiracy against youth here. Blash named Mrazek the #1 pretty early into his career and before he had really earned it. But I guess I somewhat agree with the spirit of the article and I hope we'll see callups from Bertuzzi and others soon (and less Wit - sorry fight lovers).

We coddle each other Cady.

That's even more concerning... Management aren't going anywhere, and if they don't realize this team is in desperate need to add some elite talent (top of the draft), we're in for a long, painful decade of Red Wings hockey. I've never been a proponent to tanking, but when it's clear the team is on the down slide, the best thing for the organization is to trade off assets to better the future. Especially this season being such a top heavy draft and deep first round. I don't think we should trade off half the team like some do, but I would be listening to offers on anyone outside of Larkin and Mantha.

Which only strengthens the argument that he just isn't good and there is no bias against him. IF Mrazek was any good that would give them 2 reasons to give him more starts. 1: Mrazek gives them a better chance to win (and make the playoffs) 2: It raises his stock/trade value. He isn't starting because: 1: Howard gives them a better chance to win (and make the playoffs) 2: It would lower his trade value if other teams saw bad Mrazek is playing. Does anyone still think that they're deliberately playing Howard over Mrazek in order to lose games and keep Mrazek's stock low?

I took the 3rd bold as a continuation of the narratives, not a reality separate from it. I misunderstood the assignment. Sorry Teach. If we had a Matthews caliber player, we would be closer to Toronto, yes. And if we had a Matthews caliber player, we would certainly have a brighter future, yes. Those are both hypothetical realities? (is that an oxymoron?) But the "perception" of this team by outsiders would not change, even with Matthews. People would just say that "they're a team on the decline with a stud to rebuild with" unless other changes are made as well: trading away high salary veterans, new coach, new GM, etc. Then "perception" would change. This is all just my 2 cents tho, and it's entirely possible I'm still doing it wrong.

And full circle back to Ben Stiller

Do it.

Well it depends on what your perception of Mrazek is. IF you believe he has elite potential, being only 25 years old you keep him. IF you feel he is what he is, then you trade him for a second in a heart beat. (this is what I would do) Agreed Jimmy won't get a 2nd now, but a year from now when he is on an expiring contract IF a contender loses their goalie, I think you could get that and more. That's a big IF though.

I guess supply/demand is always a factor, so I can see that. IF we have given up on him, and get offered a 2nd, I say take it.

Actually I think Leftwinger is close. Goalies weren't as much in demand at the time of the expansion draft. The fact that teams are even considering Mrazek now implies that that's changed. Craig Custance was saying that he thought Mrazek could fetch a 3rd round pick even at full salary and James O'Brien a 2nd round pick if the Wings pick up part of the salary. There are actually 6 teams who might be interested right now. http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2017/12/14/which-teams-should-trade-for-red-wings-petr-mrazek/ If he can get a 2nd, you have to think that even the most stubborn Mrazek supporters would like that.

The forwards aren't that different outside of their one stud... I think Larkin is better than anyone on that team (besides Matthews). Mantha and Athanasiou are close to Nylander and Marner. Kadri and Van Riemsdyk are much better than Nyquist and Tatar. Hyman and Komarov are similar to Abdelkader and Helm. Marleau is similar to Zetterberg. Bozak to Nielsen. Brown to Frk. Martin to Glendening. And Moore to Booth. The defense isn't really close. We have Green, but he likely won't be a Wing much longer. They have two guys in Rielly and Gardiner that we don't have anything close to. To answer the question though, if we added a Matthews to this team, I think we would be a playoff contender, and potentially a Cup contender within a few years, IF we could get something figured out with the defense. The Leafs were doing a good job rebuilding before they landed Matthews, but he's clearly what put them over the top and into future contenders. If we could get lucky and land a stud like Dahlin in next year's draft, I think we could have the same quick turnaround. The pieces are there, we just need that one (or two) elite player(s).

Fixed that. He lost his starting job because he played bad, not because Blashill doesn't like him or there's some secret anti-Eastern European conspiracy or something. The fact that he was the #1 goalie for awhile and was given a contract matching that position is irrelevant. You don't play a player because of his contract, unless you're not committed to winning (or at least making it look like you're committed) if that player is crapping the bed on a regular basis. If his poor play is the result of his sulking, then he has no business being in the NHL anyway, and if he thinks that some other team is going to hand him a #1 job after his play going back almost 2 full years, he's insane. His only 2 options going forward are accept a backup job and try to beat out the #1 goalie for his new team or go running back to Europe.

I miss this guy. Where’s he been lately? Been worried. Thought he may of died from alcohol poisoning watching this season unfold. But he’s ok. Good good.

End of 2nd. Wings lead 2-1. I'd settle for Rasmus Dahlin or Adam Boqvist.

If a trade frees up cap space and a roster spot I'm good with trading half this roster away. If you get rid of Mrazek please don't stop there.

And ironic since USSR was notorious for using steroids.