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Right? I can't wait to rid this team of the useless Nyquist - Zetterberg - Franzen - Kronwall - Ericsson, so we can make room for Elfstrom - Holmstrom - Berggren - Malmstrom - Lindstrom...

Thank you for bringing this up. And it's exactly my point. AA's style isn't a bad one and he certainly shouldn't be criticized for his strengths (aka him using his speed and vision for breakaways and looking for outlet passes off the bench). The Babcockian style of "defense first" is all but one style of coaching. Blashill has adopted that style, although Blashill prefers his defensemen jumping in on the forecheck (something Babcock was against). Sure AA can improve one certain parts of his game much like Larkin, Mantha, and youngsters in general can. But people using the whole "oh all he does is score on breakaways blah blah" argument sounds pretty stupid. Scoring on breakways is a good thing and a good skill, not a bad one.

I'm not concerned at all about him dropping in the draft. It literally happens every single year to at least one player. And like each one of those players that are passed on and end up going much later than projected, he'll make several teams regret passing on him as well. He should have been a top half of the first pick in my opinion, and of the opinion of many draft analysts. We got an absolute steal. I'd even argue Veleno at 30 was a bigger steal than Zadina at 6. Veleno thinks the game at an elite level, which is in my opinion, the most important attribute of a top end center. He also has elite speed and very good stick handling. The only glaring weakness in his game is his shot, and I'm fine with that. The best centers in the league are always better puck distributors than shooters anyway, and Veleno is very good in that area of the game. Put him on a line with a couple wingers that can finish, such as Rasmussen and whoever, and I think he'll look great in the 2C slot behind Larkin. Speaking of Larkin, remember all the naysayers when Larkin was drafted? He was projected to be a good middle six, two-way center, and compared to Helm with a little better finishing ability. Now Veleno is being projected to be a good middle six, two-way center and being compared to Lars Eller. Coincidentally, I've heard the Veleno to Larkin comparison a few times as well, and I see that as a very apt comparison. Even Tyler Wright had this to say about him... "We had him extremely high on our board. We were targeting centers, and while I don't like to make comparisons, he skates like Dylan Larkin and he plays the game like Dylan Larkin." I love this pick, and I truly believe he's going to prove a lot of people wrong and develop into a very good 2C.

Source? That is MASSIVE overpayment. No way the Hawks give up that package, and no way the Canes get anything close to that asking price... Nyquist and 2019 2nd round pick (NYI). I doubt that is close either, but I wouldn't give up much more than that.

Just hope in the group of new fresh Swedes there is someone that can grow an epic beard like Z...

I agree wholeheartedly as a former swim lesson instructor and lifeguard. And as you say, even the best swimmers shouldn’t swim alone. The Emery tragedy was felt locally as he was loved in this area when he tended the goal for the B-Sens.

I pity you fools. That's the only Mr. T I follow. Now go respect your mother. There is no other.

I dont think AA has passed Nyquist on the depth chart yet. Although that could change in the first week if AA brings it I think. Whos better? Idk theyre both better at different things. I think Nyquist is more the style of player the Red Wings like in their system thou. Regardless, i think AA v Goose is the real s***ty comparison being made here. Not sure what ur on about, I haven't used AA "not being elite" against him.

I quoted you the coaches opinion. You've given me speculation and ass talking; which you seem to be a pro at (not surprised since you voted for guy that does the same). And I've also mentioned in my post that the kids in general are young and need to improve. But all you've done is talk AA down. Objectively, AA's minutes went up and he's gotten a contract some people here thing is overpayment. Subjectively you're extrapolating your ass into nonsense. And I'm pointing out that your hate for AA is far fetched. Additionally, if AA was "good enough" up into Jan 5 and all of a sudden things went down hill which caused him to get benched in February, that still doesn't negate the fact that he was getting praised for his first half season performance by Blashill. You on the other hand are coming up with a narrative the he simply hasn't improved, is stubborn and refuses to be coached. The direct quote from Blashill in January says otherwise. So unless you have a quote from someone in the organization that explicitly says "AA refuses to be coached" then you're talking out your ass. Constantly. Like more than Trump does. Maybe even more than Bush and his WMD nonsense in Iraq.

Thanks for proving my point. Your quote clearly points out that AA is willing to be coached and realizes consequences. Good job proving yourself wrong. There is no cherry picking. The quote you mentioned is an opinion. I gave you a direct quote of the coach himself. So not only are you talking out of your ass but your using another person's ass to talk out of as well. Amazing. You're too easy.

This is a good analysis actually.

Euro Twins, DUH. It's in the name. Awful. I know Rass has nothing left to learn in Juniors, but at least he would be playing. And I would rather see AA in the top 6 than Helm. 2Z, then AA, then Rass, then Helm down the left side.

So you going to stop s***ting on him and coming up with your own narratives or acknowledge his and his coaches words? There may be criticism, but there is praise and there's also mature acknowledgement on AA's part. Don't really see how that translates to "reluctant to being coached" or whatever narrative you've come up with. Sounds like a young player that has good nights, bad nights and realizes them. Who the f*** is Zandina? Sounds like a little *****.

He's ice time has increased.. Your post again indicates that he's taking more flack than he should. Blash increased his ice time. Holland paid him 3 million per year which people here thought was an overpayment. They want more improvement from him, just like they would want out of anyone young, but based off their actions it seems like they're okay with him while still being cautiously optimistic. Complete speculation and bias. And again, talking out the ass. “I think there was some opportunity presented to him with Mantha’s injury, and he’s earned that ice,” Blashill said after Detroit’s 2-1 overtime win over Ottawa on Wednesday in which Athanasiou scored both goals. Blashill doubled-shifted Athanasiou throughout the game as the team only dressed 11 forwards. The speedster played wing on the second line with Dylan Larkin and Tomas Tatar, and center on the fourth line with Mantha and Martin Frk. He was buzzing the entire night. “I could double other guys up more, but I’ve doubled up Double-A lots because I think he’s played more consistently hard,” said Blashill. “He’s played the type of hockey he has to play to be successful.” His own coach gives him credit. But you can't it seems. https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2018/01/05/are-red-wings-keeping-their-promise-to-athanasiou/ ---- Below are AA's own words after Zetterberg's criticism of the young players. Athanasiou, who lost the puck on Vegas’ fourth and final goal, acknowledged Zetterberg’s message struck home. “Any time you have someone like that speaking out, it’s a bit of a message to make sure you’re ready for the next one,” Athanasiou said. “If there’s one play where you can bear down a bit more, it’s going to make a huge difference.” https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2018/03/09/strong-criticism-hits-home-red-wings-anthony-mantha-andreas-athanasiou/32785007/

I think everyone should do swimming lessons early in life. I did at a young age, and live in the water all summer, whether it's swimming or water sports. I certainly will have my children in lessons at a very young age. In saying that, you can be the best swimmer in the world and still drown. My grandfather was a great swimmer, but jumped in the water one evening (it'll be 20 years in a couple months), hit his head and drowned. I'm assuming something similar happened to Emery... I think everyone should know how to swim, but more importantly, any time you do go for a swim you should have reliable, able swimmers with you. Unfortunately my pop didn't. It's still unknown whether Ray did or not...

https://www.facebook.com/DETROITREDWINGS/videos/10155945963369139/ lol

If I'm Karlsson I'm f*cking Ottawa as hard as I can on this one. As in: I'm doing everything I can to reduce their trade return. As in: I'll only go as a one year rental, then I'm hitting the wind as a UFA. edit: (then I'm signing with Detroit so I can help Zadina "fill Ottawa's net with pucks")

Agreed, I put my daughter into swimming lessons before she could walk and eight years later its turned into a huge passion of hers. Water can just be so unpredictable. I had a friend who drowned in highschool at the mouth of our harbour, he was a good swimmer but got caught a current and it took him right under and was found 3 days later washed up on the beach-by his dad of all people, it was a heartbreaking ordeal.