Leaderboard

In regards to Callahan, the more I think about it, the more I think we might get out of Tampa. Think about our Datsyuk trade. If we didn't move Datsyuk's contract so what? We woulda been tied down for a season but ultimately we'd be fine after. If Tampa doesn't move Callahan they are serious repercussions. Point is probably gone. Karlsson isn't an option. Meanwhile 3 defensive regulars need to be re-signed. Stakes are much higher here. This will be the first real test of Brisebois. He absolutely must move that contract IMO if not more.... just let old buddy Stevie help you out like he helped Holland with Quincey...

This is why I'm feeling pretty optimistic about the future and it's why I don't feel there's a pressing need to move AA or Mantha at this time. I live for s*** that makes me laugh maniacally and nothing in hockey makes me laugh as maniacally as overwhelming forward depth does. There's a saying that you'll see obsessive Oilers fans throw around online: "Get good players. Keep good players." That's how you build the foundation for a perennial powerhouse. Don't worry too much about perceived positional need until that need has directly led to your defeat in a best-of-seven series. Don't trade Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson. Don't place an arbitrary limit on how many 30-goal scorers you're going to allow yourself to carry. We're getting an elite forward prospect next month. Let's say that player is Dylan Cozens. All of a sudden, with just that one addition, we've got a guy whose floor is a solid 2C and whose ceiling is a better-than-Larkin 1C. All of a sudden, with just that one addition, the idea that Bertuzzi-Larkin-Mantha will be our top line a couple of years from now seems almost quaint. All of a sudden, there's a bit less pressure on every single player in the system to overachieve and become a total stud. There's strength in numbers. This, in theory, is strength in numbers: Athanasiou Bertuzzi Cozens Larkin Mantha Rasmussen Veleno Zadina Now, granted, the salary cap system means that even if we could get this group together on the Wings roster, it probably wouldn't last for more than a season or two. But I say you cross that bridge when you come to it. Maybe something falls into your lap on your way to that point and you end up trading AA for a Brett Pesce. Cool. Do that. I'm just saying I think the default mindset should be "Patience, patience, patience. Hoard, hoard, hoard."

He is not going to sign a bridge deal. That day has come and gone. If he is not traded, he will go to arbitration AGAIN, get a 1 year deal AGAIN and leave as a UFA in 2020. Winnipeg must get something for him. No One is giving up significant pieces for a 1 year guy who wants to play closer to home. To me, that puts Yzerman in the driver's seat, he's getting him one way or another, Winnipeg best take the draft picks.

https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2019/05/nhl-trade-rumor-jacob-trouba-to-detroit.html?m=1 A 2nd and Kuffner. Done deal.

Yzerman is going to trade for Callahan and Trouba this summer. It's just a question of which trade he pulls off first...

He'll be signed here for 1 season to put butts in the seats. All depends on money. Absorb all the cap you can in order to obtain tons of picks. I'd take Callahan and Marleau if it meant getting multiple picks at this draft. 2nds galore! (No 2nd for Tampa, so I'll take that 2020 1st.) Of course have to clear roster spots.

I just think that our cap flexibility would be best utilized on a cap dump, picking up extra assets. I'd personally rather take on one season of a bad contract, than go after any of the available free agents. The only reason I can think that we might need some extra cap space is if we trade for a big name player. And even then, I think we have more than enough cap space after trading for a Callahan, to acquire a player another player via trade.