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My point is that JVR will be left unprotected, not Nolan Patrick. Count on it. But either way, Nolan Patrick sucks. He wasn't really all that good when he was drafted, and he's injured constantly now. There's nothing he could do for us that Joe Veleno or Michael Rasmussen couldn't do as well or better. Secondly, people have to get past this "if we get better we're not going to get a top pick" mentality. If we keep bottoming out every year we're going either A) waste the careers of good young players, or B) begin to lose good players to trade requests/free agency. Sucking every year just to get top prospects is a terrible idea and doesn't seem to have helped Buffalo or Edmonton either. And the reason why is because they have a culture of losing and apathy that can't be changed just by drafting an Eichel or McDavid. I'd MUCH rather draft in the 10-15 range for the next couple years and hope to land a Martin Necas instead of losing year after year in hopes of landing a Jack Hughes.

Its more about him adjusting to NA hockey and being closer to Detroit. If he meets expectations in the AHL he can make the jump to NHL in the middle of the season. Can't do that if he stays in Sweden.

I think Raymond has the best shot to wow in the preseason and make the opening roster, depending on his gym results over the summer. Still kind of a big 'if' though. If not, one more year in the SHL or even a year in the AHL would do him wonders. Berggren I think will see time in the AHL first to acclimate. I don't think he has anything left to prove in Sweden. McIsaac needs a healthy full season in the AHL at minimum. Johansson is another who'd straight up have to win a job in camp, though I think that is even less likely than with Raymond. Odds are he'll still need some time to round out his game and not become another Cholowski.

I'd generally agree with the above. Though I'd add a couple things. Vrana basically had all of Detroit's best offensive chances last night. He hit one post himself, set up Filppula for another that also hit a post, and finally he set up the goal Filppula scored by drawing in the defender and getting the pass through.

I wasn't really paying attention closely enough for any real analysis, but... Panik did seem to show a few moments of intensity, but on the whole did not accomplish much. Not sure how much of that is just him being the player he is at this stage, vs often managing to do the wrong thing with a new team/ new system. Hoping the latter is at least part of it, and he becomes a little more effective. Vrana does float a little occasionally, and is unlikely to be contending for any Selke trophies, but not unusually so for an offense first kind of player. It's pretty clear the guy can skate and shoot, but it was nice to see that he can make good smart passes. A little bit of creativity and offensive zone IQ is certainly good to see on this roster. Not sure he will be able to 'drive' a line, but I expect he will produce on the nights that the team around him is not in 100% dumpster fire mode like last night. I'll leave it to someone else to detail all the flaws in their games, lol.

GDT title is seeming even more appropriate as of a minute ago...

PREMIUM © Photo: Dan Hickling Heeeeeyyyyyyy! What'd you call me?

I remember the old ways

Mantha: 10 pts in 24 games, 34 pt pace, $5.7 cap hit Athanasiou: 7 pts in 12 games, 48 pt pace, $1.2 cap hit Oh no