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AA wasnt even on the same level in PeeWee hockey. Dude is crazy. AA and his agent were drunk on the same kool aid that so many Wings fans were sipping.

...so! Tomorrow it will no longer be the off-season. It's FINALLY here! Let's Go Red Wings! I do beleive our roster is pretty much set, with only one spot up for grabs up front. We have 13 forwards and 7 D on the current roster. Who comes in a takes those spots? I am think Svech has to be in the lead to take the forward spot. I haven't heard anything more about expanded rosters, except for the Taxi Squad, which I will assume will consist of players with waiver eligibility, since players have to clear waivers to be assigned to the taxi squad. I am hoping for a opening night lineup to look similar to this: Bertuzzi - Larkin - Mantha Fabbri - Namestikov - Ryan Svechnikov - Gagner - Zadina Helm - Filppula - Glendening (Erne, Nielsen) ...although I know Neilsen will probably be there in place of someone... Dekeyser - Hronek Nemeth - Stecher Staal - Merrill (Biega) Greiss (Bernier) ...who goes on the Taxi Squad? the rule is minimum 4, maximum 6, with one being a goalie. I know Yzerman said he may go with 2 goalies, but who do you think makes the sqaud? Brome, Rasmussen, Cholowski, Lindstrom, Smith are all good candidates, then do you go with one or two G's? That would eliminate someone from the skaters list, who?

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/30625731/zdeno-chara-announces-boston-bruins-exit-14-seasons-signs-1-year-deal-washington-capitals

Is that accurate? or do they have to clear when moving on or off? Also if, in a normal year, a player was waiver exempt and could be assigned and recalled at will does that same player now have to be exposed on waivers to go to and from the taxi squad? I ask these questions because I have no idea BUT... I'd keep every waiver exempt kid on the roster if they could be sent to the taxi squad without risk and hope in the process the likes of Nielsen, Erne, etc being exposed, when called up, would lead to them being claimed.

I disagree. Weiss was a free agent signing that would have been a great fit if he could've stayed healthy. His unfortunate buyout never put the team in cap jeopardy. A mid first round draft pick is worth giving up for a young 2nd pair d-man, which is what Quincey appeared to be developing into after he left Detroit. That trade was sound in principle. The mistake Holland made was having to give up a valuable asset to re-acquire a player he never should have lost in the first place. The Legwand trade accomplished exactly what it was supposed to. Legwand played well, and the Wings would not have made the playoffs without it. The Cole trade, as you pointed out, was just bad luck. Holland made those trades because he was expected to make the playoffs. You can debate the wisdom of that strategy, but I refuse to fault a GM for making moves to appease upper management and ownership. Its his job to follow the direction of his superiors.

Another reason to play Niederbach with Raymond and Holtz is that he has a 71,5 FO% (4th in the tournament). The US and Sweden looks very similar in style of play and quality of the teams. US got better centermen but Swe has better defense.

I would switch Niederbach and Veleno and Zadina and Mantha. Everything I´ve read or seen so far about Niederbach raises questions why no one picked him earlier. Sure there was his injury, but the talent level is so high, we might get away with two top ten players of this draft class. Cholowski won´t be on the team long enough and McIsaac is a big question mark with his injury history, but there is still Viro and Tuomisto. With the next draft adding 10+ players we should have enough talent to play with.

Always been a nice looking jersey.