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What a tragic story. As hard to read as that was, thanks for sharing. Here’s to hoping everyone involved in profiting off of preventing people from getting clean gets caught and locked up for a long time. I have so much respect for Ken for using this story to try to help as many people as possible; it can’t be an easy thing to talk about.

Friendly reminder that LGW is a politics-free zone! Keep the discussion hockey-focused, please. Plenty of places elsewhere on the internet to discuss any possible political aspects of this tragedy.

I think way too much of what happens this offseason is going to depend on the draft lottery. If we get one of the top 2 picks, we'll have to make room for one of Dahlin or Svechnikov. Anyone else would likely be a year away from making the team anyway. I would assume the "2-5 young players" are Svechnikov and Hicketts guaranteed to start the season in Detroit, Rasmussen will be given every opportunity to make the team, Cholowski will have an outside chance, but will likely start the season in Grand Rapids, and Hronek and Turgeon will get a(nother) look at some point next season. I see Svechnikov as Tatar's replacement, and Hicketts as Ouellet's replacement. I'm hoping we move Nielsen (doubtful) and insert Rasmussen into the 3rd line center slot. Cholowski should probably play a full season in Grand Rapids before getting the call. Hronek should be up by the trade deadline, when we hopefully trade one of Ericsson or Daley, or in Kronwall's place if he spends any time on IR. Turgeon should also be up by the deadline, when we hopefully trade one of Helm or Glendening. I don't think Athanasiou will be moved this summer, but it wouldn't really surprise me if he were. I'm okay with it, as long as it's for a good return (young, high end defenseman). Nyquist should be moved at next year's deadline, and if he has a bounce back season (I think he will), he'll net a very good return. I'm okay with Witkowski serving as the extra forward / defenseman, and I'd be open to bringing Booth back again in the same role. We need 2-3 guys sitting in the press box every night, and I'd much prefer it be these guys than a Svechnikov, Turgeon, Hicketts or Hronek. Abdelkader and DeKeyser aren't going anywhere. I wouldn't care too much if we traded Jensen, but I like him as a bottom pairing defenseman. I think he's more valuable to the team, even as a 6th/7th defenseman than he would be in any trade. It will be interesting to see what happens with Green as well. Part of me wants to bring him back short term to help the kids and give us another trade chip, but I'm also worried the surgery could affect his game, and prevent any potential return. It's going to be a very interesting offseason. I just can't wait for the draft lottery on the 28th...

Looks like it reached 8 million around 9 hours ago according to the hockey reddit. The amount of support in/for the hockey community is incredible.

Makes me wonder who he is going to get rid of then. Because there ain't no room for 4-5 NEW young players. 2 will fit for sure, but damn, it would be nice to make room for and see 4-5 new youngsters! Draft Dahlin, dump some scrubs, sign JT, sign Karlsson next season! Game on!

Aside from Dahlin, I don't think any of those other high end prospect dmen will be ready for the NHL next season. Hronek and Cholowski are both probably at least a year away. Kronwall will probably be retired and Ouellet will probably be gone by the end of next season. So there should be room for them then. Daley is off the books the year after that to make room for another kid. Hicketts is really the only one i could see on the roster next year. He's NHL ready at this point, although in a reduced role. If Green is signed though, I don't see how there's room for him.

http://whl.ca/article/americans-rasmussen-named-whl-on-the-run-player-of-the-week Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Tri-City Americans captain Michael Rasmussen has been named the WHL On the Run Player of the Week for the week ending April 8, 2018. Rasmussen, who was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the first round, ninth overall, of the 2017 NHL Draft, registered seven points (4G-3A) and a plus-five rating in two games as the Americans took a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Round Two series against the Victoria Royals in the 2018 WHL Playoffs. In the series-opening game Friday, Rasmussen had a goal and three points as his team won by a 7-0 result. The Surrey, B.C. product scored the opening goal of the game, having it stand up as the game-winner. He also picked up a primary assist on the insurance goal and a power play assist later in the game. He led a sweep of the three stars of the game and was also named the first star of the night across the WHL. A night later, Rasmussen recorded the first hat trick of his WHL Playoffs career in a 4-1 win for the Americans. Rasmussen scored the first, second, and fourth goals for the Americans, once again picking up the game-winning goal. He also had a primary assist on Morgan Geekie’s third period goal to factor into all four of the Americans’ goals. Rasmussen once again earned first star honours of the game and across the WHL for the evening. Overall, Rasmussen finished with five points (3G-2A) at even strength and two points (1G-1A) on the power play. The first two games have been a continuation of Rasmussen’s successful voyage into the 2018 WHL Playoffs. Through six games this post-season, the 6-foot-6, 221-pound forward has 19 points (9G-10A), featuring four power-play goals and a pair of game-winning goals. --- Michael Rasmussen exists to make me look stupid. I am ok with this.

I think you're missing the point. Ericsson and Daley play the hard minutes. We don't have any defenceman who are anywhere near ready to take on those responsibilities. You don't just throw prospects into the deep end and hope they swim. That's how you ruin a prospect's confidence and development.

He isn't a terrible player, nor does he have a terrible contract. I just thought it was a terrible fit for a team that has more than enough long term, NMC contracts attached to players that aren't producing at much higher than replacement... with little shot at winning.

IMO- I didn't really view Dats departure as being on negative terms. He said for years he wanted to return home to Russia to raise his kids and live out the rest of his life. In my book, that's fair of him to do. Does it tarnish is legacy within the Wings organization and fan base, highly likely. However, I think what he did was on the up-and-up and transparent.

My bad. Completely missed that... Well, yes I agree. Holland has done a great job over the past couple years. He's saying all the right things, hopefully he puts those words into action. Continue the youth movement.

Glad I'm not the first to mention this. Should Holland have started the rebuild sooner instead of holding on to the playoff streak? Sure, I won't disagree with anyone who wants to argue that point. However, all of you who see Hollands name and automatically scream about the sky falling, cannot claim these last 2 seasons of rebuilding haven't been wildly successful on his part. Tatar = 1st, 2nd, 3rd (fantastic haul for a middle 6 forward) Mrazek = 3rd, 3rd (great haul for a backup goalie that could be in Europe next year) Sheahan = 3rd (sucks we couldn't get more, but his value was at an all time low and we needed the cap for AA) Ott = 6th (fair) Vanek = 3rd (fair) Smith = 2nd, 3rd (highway robbery with Smith in the minors screwing up NYR's books) Jurco = 3rd (fantastic haul for an AHL/NHL tweener) Datsyuk = 2nd (between a rock n a hard place, traded out Chychrun for Cholo and got the cap space, fair) Kindl = 6th (thrilled just to get anything) I'm not at all mad about a single trade he's done since the rebuild started. And the Mrazek, Tatar, and Smith trades have me particularly happy. For a man who's never had to rebuild before he's doing grade A quality work so far. If you need every roster player to be traded in order to be happy, I think you're being a bit unrealistic with your expectations. Where I do draw issue, and where I think most of this boards frustrations truly lie, is with Blashill coming back. The whole "fresh voice" thing hasn't worked at all. Young players who had bright futures under Babs almost immediately regressed, and he's getting subpar performances from our vets as well (though aging plays a role with some). If we should damn anyone right now it's Blash, and if you wanna put Holland on blast, blast him for keeping Blash, otherwise Holland has been fantastic the last 2 seasons.

No to Pens No to Leafs I can live with most others and it has been fun asking my Hawks friends who do they play in the playoffs. When they reply well you sucked too I reply we expected to. What's your excuse?