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I was a Mrazek over Howard guy the entire time, in the end, I didn't care which one got traded (preferred Howard) just whichever one brought us the best return. I admit, I was deeply disappointed and WRONG about Mrazek being our future All-Star, Stanley Cup Goalie. Once you get past the Denial, Anger and acceptance of being wrong, you can admit it! Plus, that gives you a bit of gloat time when you are right about a thing or two! The last step is moving forward! After Jimmy is gone, who do we moved forward with? Perhaps this is best discussed in the other thread!

It is SO encouraging to see the kids taking this team over! Add Dahlin (or any of the top 10 this season) PLUS three more late round 1st picks, and we'll be on our way! PLUS be an attractive team for JT! SUPER HYPE! (visually as well!)

I could be in the minority on this, but I'm perfectly fine with the numbers he's put up this season. One reason: the two wrist injuries he's had to come back from, like you mentioned. Another reason, which I've talked about before: we drafted him with the understanding that he's sort of a power play specialist -- i.e. not a pure scorer (Mantha) or a dynamic two-way center (Larkin), i.e. not necessarily someone we should be expecting to put up ridiculous numbers at this time or at any point in the future. (And, indeed, this is why I and others were unhappy with the decision to take him at 9th overall.) Kind of like Franzen, who people had pegged as an unremarkable 3C when we drafted him and who didn't become a true scorer at the NHL level until his third or fourth season. I suspect Rasmussen could be one of those players whose production (or lack thereof) very much depends on the talent level of the team he's playing for and the specific players he's playing with. We're arguably seeing that with Hicketts right now -- disappointing AHL season (at least from a production standpoint), but he's putting up points as a Red Wing and making our team better and helping us win games. Granted, the Wings aren't stacked with really high-end talent, but I think there's a fit there between player and team that would be beneficial for both parties, starting next season. He still has to earn it in camp, though. Totally agree.

Yep, Howard has got to go next. Hopefully during the trade deadline next year. Argued for him over Mrazek the last year or so. But far as I'm concerned he's officially got the word "Trade asset" written all over his face.

Sportsnet March Rankings 1. Rasmus Dahlin, D, 6-foot-2, 181 pounds (Frolunda, SHL): Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman and now Dahlin. Are you ready for the next franchise-changing defenceman from Sweden? 2. Filip Zadina, RW, 6-foot-1, 196 pounds (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL): The Mooseheads’ import factory strikes again and sends a high-end sniper to the top of the NHL draft. 3. Andrei Svechnikov, RW, 6-foot-2, 186 pounds (Barrie Colts, OHL): Led all scorers at the Five Nations tournament and has put up points at a torrid pace with the Barrie Colts since the world juniors (38 in 22 games). 4. Brady Tkachuk, LW, 6-foot-3, 196 pounds (Boston University, NCAA): Better than older brother Matthew? 5. Adam Boqvist, D, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds (Almtuna IS, Allsvenskan): A fantastic skater and playmaker who isn’t afraid to shoot. If you don’t end up with Dahlin, getting Boqvist is more than just a consolation prize. 6. Noah Dobson, D, 6-foot-3, 180 pounds (Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL): The secret is out, this righthand shot blueliner is legit. 7. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, 6-foot-1, 205 pounds (USNTDP): Eight points at the Five Nations (tied with tourney leader Svechnikov) and a solid spot on the U.S U18 top line, Wahlstrom continues to produce big in his draft year. 8. Evan Bouchard, D, 6-foot-2, 193 pounds (London Knights, OHL): Despite his Knights trading away most of their vets, Bouchard has continued to excel in all areas. February’s defenceman of the month in the OHL is also a natural leader. 9. Quinn Hughes, D, 5-foot-10, 174 pounds (U of Michigan, NCAA): One of the most creative players in the draft. An outstanding skater who can create even in the most challenging situations. 10. Isac Lundestrom, C, 6-foot, 185 pounds (Lulea, SHL): As one scout told me “he’s the Swedish Patrice Bergeron.” A lofty compliment, but the comparisons are there. 11. Barrett Hayton, C, 6-foot-1, 191 pounds (Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds, OHL): Extremely focussed and hard-working, Hayton is the “all-in” guy every team loves to have. Nursing a small injury and the ‘Hounds are being careful with him. 12. Joel Farabee, LW, 6-feet, 164 pounds (USNTDP): Hard-working, skilled playmaker who is magical with the puck on his stick. 13. Bode Wilde, D, 6-foot-3, 195 pounds (USNTDP): Offensive defenceman who plays physical. Leads all USNTDP blueliners with 32 points. Hard wrist and slap shot from the point. 14. Joe Veleno, C, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds (Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL): Has excelled since the trade from Saint John to Drummondville where he’s being coached by the excellent Dominique Ducharme. 15. Grigori Denisenko, LW, 5-foot-11, 176 pounds (Yaroslavl Jr.): Great passer who also boasts a good shot. Played on the top line with Andrei Svechnikov and Alexander Khovanov for Russia at the Five Nations tourney. 16. Ty Smith, D, 5-foot-11, 176 pounds (Spokane Chiefs, WHL): Speed and smarts, those are the calling cards of the first overall pick in the 2015 WHL draft. 17. Rasmus Kupari, C, 6-foot-1, 183 pounds (Hermes, Mestis Finland): Not the biggest guy on the ice by any stretch, but can create and finish. And does it all with great bursts of speed. 18. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, 6-foot-2, 190 pounds (Assat, Finnish Liiga): Physically he has everything you want – skill, speed, size and he keeps improving. 19. Jet Woo, D, 5-foot-11, 205 pounds (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL): Has more than a bit of ‘old school’ in his game and isn’t afraid to throw the body around. 20. Rasmus Sandin, D, 5-foot-11, 190 pounds (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL): Even with the Conor Timmins (COL) injury the ‘Hounds have not skipped a beat on the blue line mainly due to Sandin’s work. Plays tough minutes in all situations. 21. Jared McIsaac, D, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL): Good skater with offensive instincts and has just enough bite in his game to keep players honest. 22. Serron Noel, RW, 6-foot-5, 201 pounds (Oshawa Generals, OHL): Skilled yet raw power forward who keeps getting better and better. 23. Ryan McLeod, C, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds (Mississauga Steelheads, OHL): A slippery and skilled centre, McLeod has high-end vision. As one OHL GM told me “where his brother Michael (NJ) smashes down the front door to score, Ryan sneaks in through the side.” 24. Alexander Khovanov, C, 5-foot-11, 179 pounds (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL): Great puck distributor with excellent vision. 25. Jacob Olofsson, C, 6-foot-1, 192 pounds (Timra, Allsvenskan): A reliable two-way centre who almost made the Swedish WJC team. Plays a lot with Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlen. 26. Ryan Merkley, D, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds (Guelph Storm, OHL): Has top 5 skill without a doubt and can complete plays other blueliners only dream about, but other areas of his game have scouts concerned. 27. Benoit Olivier-Groulx, C, 6-foot-1, 192 pounds (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL): No surprise he’s a coach’s dream as a player since his father Benoit is one of the best CHL bench bosses of this generation. 28. Dominik Bokk, LW, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds (Vaxjo, SHL): Another great hockey story for Germany in 2018. 29. Akil Thomas, C, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds (Niagara IceDogs, OHL): Huge ceiling here that Thomas is only now starting to scratch. 30. K’Andre Miller, D, 6-foot-3, 206 pounds (USNTDP): Was outstanding and probably the top U.S defenceman at the U18 Five Nations. Great skating blueliner who isn’t shy about joining the rush. 31. Mattias Samuelsson, D, 6-foot-4, 217 pounds (USNTDP): Big, strong, and safe defenceman. Son of former NHLer Kjell Samuelsson. With this updated list, if we DON'T get #1, but still top 5, I don't think it matters Zadina, Svech, Tkachuk, Dobson, Boqvist, I think this is about a legit top 10 draft we've had in a long time! I think we'd be golden with any of them if we fall down the list! Then with VEG's pick (if its in the late 20's) I go with K'Andre Miller. If it's more near lates teens, I go with Serron Noel. We'll also have top HIGH 2nds that we could snag some actual late 1st round talent! Only Ken Holland could screw this up, lets hope he doesn't!

I’m starting to think he should make the team as well. I guess we’ll see how he does the rest of the playoffs and in training camp. He still needs to work his ass off and prove he should be on the roster. I honestly think that he may have played it safe during the regular season with the wrist injury and all. Then once playoffs hit he stepped his game up. Funs over time to dominate.

This is exactly why I don't hate Bettman either. And why he still has a job.

Congratulations kid! So you choose a team with Doughty, Phaneuf, Muzzin, and Martinez ahead of you on the depth chart. Brilliant! Have fun playing on the 3rd pairing.

This could very well be true. Which is why he should only be signed to 1 year deals from here on out! Seriously tho, the Sharks seem to me to be a team that has always had a good locker room. (I realize "dressing room" is the correct term, but I feel weird saying it.) I don't think they would bring in a guy (or keep him) if he was still an attitude problem.

There's a difference between being a "hands off" owner and not caring. Just because the Illitches don't appear to be micromanaging the team, doesn't make them indifferent. I would prefer this approach over a Jerry Jones or a George Steinbrenner or Al Davis. The junior Illitches may be less involved than their father was, but that doesn't mean they aren't. I doubt that anyone with millions of dollars to lose doesn't give a Kardashian butt about their business investments. Besides, if Blashill is fired, Holland would do it. If Holland is fired, Devellano would do it. I doubt the Illitches would even make an appearance for such an announcement. Just be glad we don't have a Melnyk or a Wirtz as owners.

I highly doubt he's traded for a 4th. Maybe a 3rd, definitely a 2nd. I think T.O would have traded for him had they no landed Plekanec. Babs loves him.

That's not evidence. First off, you have no idea what the relationship between Holland and Illitch is. If Holland is carrying out the plan given to him by Illitch, why would Illitch fire him for doing what he was told to do. I have a boss, and sometimes my boss has me do things I don't agree with. If I follow through on a plan that I knew would fail because my boss asked me to, should I be fired because it was a bad plan? Thank about it. I'm not going to sit here and say that this is the case because quite frankly, I dont know what is said behind closed doors, but I am also not the person making definitive statements. You are. Secondly, define accountability? In fandom, it seem accountability is solely defined by being a coach or GM being fired. Maybe Holland was doing his thing, Illitch had a talk with him and Holland changed his approach. There are many more layers to accountability then simply firing someone. My point, is there is nothing to suggest that Illitch doesn't care about the Wings and is solely focused on the Tigers. You want to throw it out there as a theory, cool. To say it as fact, you're wrong because you're guessing. It's not logical to me for an owner of a team to not care about the team he owns. My guts tells me that Illtich (Mike and Chris), Holland, JD etc. all had a game plan of keeping the streak alive. Once that ended, we have pretty much been in re-build mode. Other then Daley, every single move we have made has been a re-build style move.

If KH got offered a 2nd for Glendening, he'd have been traded. Probably also if he'd been offered a 3rd & a 4th. For anything less than that, trading him would have been pointless and counter-productive. He's a 4th liner who is good on faceoffs, defensively responsible, scored 10+ goals and is on pace for a career year. He's also a guy who can look decent on a wing, and even fill in on the 3rd line in a push and not look hopeless. Also his cap hit isn't nearly as bad as people make out. He's also the perfect example of the undrafted unwanted guy made good in the modern game, and as such is no bad thing as a sign-post. Back on topic, it makes more sense to look at Hicketts at NHL than Hronek. Hronek we know will get looks at the NHL level, but we also know he's positionally poor at present. Hicketts for his limitations has been an all situations guy, did well in preseason, and is closer to his ceiling. So it makes more sense to look at him and see what we've got, in order to inform moves this summer. Hronek will like be on GR next year anyway due to his defensive shortcomings, so its less urgent to look at him.

Duh

2 wins in a row.

This team could use 5 more liljas

Dahlin will be the first Dman to go #1 since Ekblad in 2014. Ekblad was the first Damn to go #1 overall since Erik Johnson in 2006. I just want to point out how Dmen rarely dominate enough to go #1 overall, so when they do you should definitely take notice. And this kid is way more hyped than Ekblad or Johnson ever were. Were talking about something similar to McDavid. Maybe not a top 5 best ever player, but definitely good enough to build a franchise around. No way you even consider giving that up for multiple lesser pieces.

Bye bye Dahlin