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Meh, I just don't see Ericsson with the Wings beyond next season. I really do think Holland's mentality has changed, and he'll be much more focused on getting younger going forward. It's the way of the new NHL and he's going to have to change his ways to keep up. You're also forgetting that we have those three picks, 30, 33 and 36 that we'll likely see at least one defenseman taken. Let's just say we take Samuelsson or Miller with one of those picks. All of sudden they're in the mix 2-3 years from now as well. We also have a 1st and two 2nds next year, and we'll likely have more than that after this year's trade deadline. I think it's very possible that we could have as many as 9 or 10 picks in the first two round of the next two drafts. That's a lot of picks. You'd have to think (hope) at least a couple turn out to be top 6 NHL defensemen. Then you also have the possibility of trades or UFA signings from outside the organization. I think we'll see a massive turnover over the next two seasons. I don't see any of Kronwall, Ericsson, Daley, Green, Ouellet or Jensen with this team beyond next season. If any are still here, I'd say maybe Green is in the final year of a 3 year extension, or Jensen is playing on the bottom pair for peanuts.

Agreed. I think (hope) change is coming. Two years from now we'll still have a need for veteran leadership (there's always a need for veteran leadership), but I dunno why that leadership would have to be provided by any of Green, Kronwall, Daley, Jensen, Ericsson, or even DeKeyser. There are other fish in the sea.

That's exactly the problem I have with what Smith-Pelly is doing. He's taking something that is "ceremonial" and making it political. There is a time and a place for all things. Progress is not made when you choose to use the wrong time and place to push an agenda, no matter how noble or popular it may be. You can't expect to win people over by offending them. You can't create constructive dialogue thru divisive actions. People that already hate Trump will applaud what he is doing and people that support Trump will only hate what he is doing. That's division, not coming together. There is nothing wrong with criticizing the President. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with his policies. But when you choose the wrong opportunities to do so, you are more likely to create more enemies than allies, not just in society as a whole, but among your teammates and fans too. That's not helpful. He certainly shouldn't be forced to go if he doesn't want to, but there is a way to go about it without drawing undue attention. Progress, like time, moves at its own pace, you can't just speed it up to suit your needs. And in many ways, "progress" is only repeating the same mistakes that our ancestors already figured out long ago.

He’s very much not making it just about him. It’s the treatment of fellow citizens that he’s protesting. Whether his position is right or wrong it can’t be stated it’s only about him. These issues are much larger than sports.

Kinda my point. Stop making it about you and your political/social beliefs. Don't make it personal. Can you just put the politics aside and just enjoy the experience with your teammates? You have 364 other days out of the year to hate on the President.. Put aside your differences for one day for the benefit of your team. Is that too much to ask? And disagreeing with what Smith-Pelly is doing doesn't make someone a Trump apologist either. I didn't like when Tim Thomas did it either for the same reason. You can still respect the tradition and your teammates by showing up, that doesn't mean you support Trump or even agree with him if you do. In fact, it makes you look like a grown up who understands the difference between respecting the office and respecting the man, instead of looking like a petulant child who has to throw a public tantrum in order to draw attention to themselves. When will people learn that this kind of behavior does more harm than good?

I don’t think it has anything to do with a political agenda like a lot of Trump apologists like to spin it. It’s more about common decency and having zero respect for the president and don’t want to spend an afternoon with him and I don’t think athletes should feel forced to just because it is such a great ‘honor’. It’s the same dated thinking that athletes should just shut up and play there sport and not act like human beings

Master P is what I wish LaVar Ball was like.

Which accusations? Smith-Pelly's comment about Trump "spewing racism"? I don't think that should -- or, indeed, would -- get in the way of a civil, constructive sitdown. No, really. I think Trump would be perfectly willing to talk with Smith-Pelly, have an actual ongoing dialogue...assuming he attends the ceremony. Again, I disagree that minds are being changed and hearts are being won to the extent that you think they are. If anything, I'd say these gestures/stunts are hurting race relations, exacerbating problems, widening divides. (And, yes, I think we can largely credit Obama for putting us in this position.) But then, admittedly, I'm not an especially "progressive" person politically. I don't believe in the tenets of what people these days are calling "social justice." I believe in being a decent person and doing what you can, within reason, to help those in need. But in today's Social Justice Movements all over the world, I can't help but see Marxist wolves in sheep's clothing, pulling the strings on useful puppets, agitating for ends that really don't have anything to do with justice, equality, progress. I suppose I should probably leave it at that. Sorry for derailing the thread with politics.

If the White House visit wasn’t just ceremonial nonsense then I might agree with you, but it’s hardly an avenue to discuss something of substance like what Kim Kardashian did. So taking a stand gets people talking about it and it absolutely does work, it already has, the issue is being discussed nationally and a spotlight pointed at the problems. Historically this is often how change is initiated.

I think that was sarcasm

via Larry Brooks of the New York Post, This would be amazing. They have two 1sts and two 2nds in this draft. I wonder if we could unload Ouellet or anyone else to them as well... they do currently have the lowest cap hit right now (although they need to re-sign Tavares and only have 8 forwards, 4 defensemen and 1 goalie signed right now). Even better.

On this day 10 years ago (can't believe it's been that long), the Red Wings won their last Stanley Cup. Zetterberg scored the GWG in bizzarre fashion when Fleury sat on the puck. And who can forget the tense last few seconds of the game with that puck sliding across Osgood's crease? Here's to hoping it won't be the last one this century.