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I've been singing AlJo's praises for a while...IMHO he's becoming our version of former NHL'er Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Seems like the Wings brass likes Ben with ASP. I do think having the veteran there to mentor the young gun is the right call. But I also don't think those two guys should be playing in any high-leverage situations. Enter Albert Johansson with his absolutely stellar play lately. It's starting to be clear to me that whichever defenseman we trade for is going to become Albert's regular partner. I've seen Logan Stanley's name out there, Braden Schneider too. I'd love either of those guys with Albert on a more shutdown-type pair, and leave the sheltered minutes for Ben and ASP. I can't say I hate it. Edvinsson-Seider (Two-way, 25 mins a night) Johansson-Schneider/Stanley/Other (shutdown/hard minutes, 18-20 mins a night) Chiarot-ASP (offensive zone starts, PK/PP duties, and low leverage situations, 15(ish) mins a night) Bernard-Docker (press box most nights)

TO NYR: 1st + 2nd + Mazur + Buium TO DET: Panarin + Rempe Dcat - Larks - Raymond Panarin - Copp - Kane Finnie - JTC - Appleton JVR - Ras - Rempe Send Kasper and Soderblom down to be the Griffins TDL acquisitions. Back up for playoffs as black aces Copp also has experience with the Breadman at NYR. Rempe for playoff rough housing

Lucas is a play driver and EP40 is a passenger. To his credit, he puts himself in position to score if his wingers get him the puck. RayRay has such good vision and awareness.

I believe he’s certainly deserved it. This season, he has truly established himself as a solid bottom four player. $3.8 million compensation isn’t a bad deal for that role. The positive aspect is that, at this moment, I do not observe any No-Movement Clause/No-Trade Clause attached to his contract...but I assume details might not all have been released yet. Who will be the next player signed/acquired?

I hope you're right... especially about Hughes I think Trocheck would be the guy since the ask won't be nearly as severe as the haul Thomas would require. I would rather have Thomas, but beggars...

No way, we're trading for a center. NOBODY feels good about Copp as a 2C on a playoff team. I think we're going to land either Thomas or Trocheck (and probably a depth defenseman too). Then we'll make a big swing in free agency next year to land Quinn Hughes, who is from Michigan and expressed a desire to play here. Our top six forwards and top four defenders would be lethal Kasper-Larkin-Raymond Dcat-Thomas/Trocheck-Finnie Hughes-Seider Edvinsson-ASP

I may be in the minority, but there's never been a better "buy low" time than now for EP40. When I say buy low, it could still mean a 1st, grade A prospect, NHL player, and possibly a lower pick. Also, for the D, Ya, I am being overly optimistic, but I believe Detroit can use a LHD and RHD. Hamilton and OEL fit that bill for now and a couple years down the road. This will make Chiarot LD3 and shelter ASP on the RD3 spot. AlJo and JBD would be odd men out in the press box, but they can rotate in now and then. Also, both OEL and Dougie could also be flipped on one of the following TDL's if need be.

Pretty sure Mrs. Panarin wanted LA and nothing but.

I always knew we were never in on the Panarin thing, it never made sense. We already have a bunch of guys that profile like him offensively. We need a center and I can't help but think we're all-in on Robert Thomas and a low cost 2nd/3rd pair tweener for the right side of the defense.

When the Wings inevitably trade for a new 2C I think they should seriously consider demoting Kane to the 3rd line at even strength. He's still really valuable as a leader and on the powerplay, but he's not especially good at even strength. I like the way Kasper helps elevate Larkin and Raymond by doing the dirty work, and I'd love to see Finnie provide the same thing to a new 2nd line. Debrincat and Finnie with Thomas/Kadri/Pettersson/Trocheck would be a bear to deal with. let Kane and Copp play with JVR on the 3rd line.

My dad and I were talking about the team a few days ago and he made the same comparison between Aljo and Hjalmarssom. I hadn’t thought of it but you’re spot on.

I've been waiting to post, but most of the dust has settled now. Drew Petzing - New OC. Spent 3 years on a terrible Cardinals team, and did terribly. However, he's young, best friends with former OC Ben Johnson, and his style fits us, just like Ben Johnson did. Basic: he's a heavy run guy, favoring multiple, even triple, TE packages. Old school MCDC style football. Rumored to be wanted by his best friend Ben Johnson, so unsurprisingly the Lions made him an offer he couldn't refuse the moment the bears season ended Further: we also managed to nab Kafka from the Giants. A college phenom, who also struggled with a struggling giants roster. He's a pass concept guy who should have gotten an OC job elsewhere, but chose us in an assistant role... My assumption is Petzing will run the offense in a heavy run scheme, but allow Kafka to call passing plays. And if Petzing fudges up at all, Kafka can step into play calling, so Dan doesn't have to, like last years morton disaster... Looking at the roster: Lions are $5 mil over the cap. Goffs $69 mil payout will certainly be restructured down to something like $50 mil. So that solves that. Perssonel wise, we have to continue rebuilding what brought us to the forefront: our bread n butter: the Oline. Losing Zeitler and Ragnow was huge, and thinking rookies could replace them was the first serious misstep I've seen brad and Dan make. Rumor has it we are aiming to select Alabama's left tackle early, and Georgia tech's QB late for a backup role. All picks in between SHOULD be additional Olinemen OR linebackers or DBs. I will be insanely furious if we spend any draft capital on a skill position again like last year.

Breadman Not only does he have chemistry with Kane and Dcat, but he can also serve to mentor the young Buchnelikov, who should be joining the roster next year. And then Kenny can say shid like "butcher muffins it to the breadman" and Mic can respond "WAMO he had the goalie out on Drury Lane"

Thomas would be a great addition - however I'm certain the Blues have no reason to move him considering he's young and has 5 more seasons under a nice contract...I'm thinking EP40 still has that potential to regain that 80 plus pts touch with a new zip code and even though that contract is an albatross we have the cap space and hopefully by taking it all it'll reduce the cost to get him.

Gimme Robert Thomas and Justin Faulk for Compher, 1st, 2nd, Augustine, and Carter Bear.

With the Rangers announcing they are retooling heading into the TDL, this appears to be the big piece they will move. Drury literally says some of your beloved rangers are going to be gone as we aim for picks and cap space. And Panarin is their only core piece set to become UFA. And he makes sense for us because of the Kane/Debrincat connection from their time in Chicago together. And what a way to put a cherry on top of a year, a year in which we retired a Russian players number, then by acquiring a premium Russian forward.

No thanks on Panarin. He's only good on the powerplay and we're already good there. He'd be small and weak on the wing, just like half our top six already is. I think we need a center more than we need a smaller, playmaking, winger. I'd rather have Trocheck or Zibanejad than Panarin.

Chad Smith chumming it up there too!

As a kid in metro Detroit in the 90s the coolest thing you could own was a Fedorov jersey. Equipping that gave your character like +75 charisma with other child NPCs. I found a Lidstrom jersey in my loot box. So I will always be bitter towards Fedorov and how much cooler his jersey made you then lamewad Lidstroms did.

One time me n a buddy were walking in downtown Grand Rapids early in the morning. There's a guy like an entire block away from us. Friend: I think that's Dan Clearly Me: that's not Dan Clearly Friend: HEY CLEARY! *Man turns and looks at us* (It's clearly Dan Clearly) *Awkward pause* Friend: ...FUCQ YOU! *Man turns away and continues walking* Profound