GoWings1905

Or Kyle Quincey.

Good post and I completely agree. If the Wings are serious about signing Niskanen long-term and they get him, then it makes sense to move some of the surplus defense prospects. With Niskanen, Smith, DeKeyser, and ideally Ericsson all around going forward, there is just not enough space in Detroit for what appears to be four potential NHL quality d-men in Grand Rapids. If they opt for the stopgap veteran move (Boyle, Gilbert) then it's less necessary to trade any of the young guys. Personally, the only player I hope the Wings absolutely hang on to is Sproul. His skill set is so unique and something the organization has been lacking for years.

Wiz also stated the Wings don't pay free agents market value, so there was likely very little chance of him signing in Detroit. Comparing Wiz and E isn't fair either, as they are two completely different players. E is the Wings best defensive d-man on a team that is a wreck in their own zone. That's quite valuable in itself.

I would personally prefer one or the other (Iginla being first), but Alfie isn't going to play anywhere but Detroit. I read somewhere earlier that the Wings could go after Iginla on July 1st should he not re-sign with Boston and then offer Alfie a contract further down the line contingent on his health. I am not a huge fan of having both because to me that means Jurco is certainly going to Grand Rapids. The Wings just won't walk away from Alfie though even if they do somehow sign Iginla.

Iginla, for me. Younger, had a strong season in Boston and I think could still do some damage on Datsyuk's wing. That's why I think the Wings should, if nothing else, hold off on signing Alfie until free agency begins and they can assess other possible options. Alfie isn't going to play anywhere else.

If the Norris actually meant what it was supposed to, Ryan Suter should have won easily this season. It's a shame what the voters have turned the award into -- there's hardly any merit involved in the winners or nominees.

0 games played.

I agree. I think Alfie can help the Wings, but it probably wouldn't have hurt to explore other younger options instead either. As others have mentioned already, Holland is usually overly content with the status quo. The Wings are stale and have been for awhile now. The only thing that has changed that at all were the kids and they only got an opportunity because of injuries. I don't believe the Wings need to clean house entirely, but they could afford to alter their approach some considering the team hasn't been out of the second round in four years now.

I don't quite understand the comparison. Every Wings fan in the world would take Alfie over those two players you mentioned. Emmerton is no longer with the organization and Andersson will probably struggle to make the team. I think where most people are upset with Alfie re-signing is the Red Wings could have pursued younger options for a top-six winger through free agency. Alfie was productive, but he tailed off in the second half and had injury concerns. Plus he will be 42 years old in December. I don't despise Alfie coming back, but I can absolutely understand the opposition to this move.

I have mixed feelings about this. Alfie was the only free agent I really had interest in the Red Wings retaining. He was pretty good overall last season, but seemed to slow down quite a bit (or was playing hurt) after the Olympics. That being said, I thought it might be a more suitable move for the Red Wings to explore other younger options through free agency. I guess depending on Alfie's contract and other plans, they could still have the flexibility to add another top-six winger. If Alfie stays healthy, he should be a solid contributor again for the Wings. Always risky though banking on a 41-year-old to keep up with the pace of an NHL season.

That's just penny-pinching for the hell of it. The Red Wings always spend at or near the cap, but somehow they have this utter reluctance to promote any prospects unless necessary in order to save money in the future. They have no issue handing out multi-year deals to declining veterans. Yet the front office is overly concerned about the contract status of players in the minors that could help the Red Wings more by being on the team since they aren't winning much lately anyways. If you have a Stanley Cup contender, then I get overripe prospects and seasoning because you presumably have veterans or more experienced players still fulfilling their roles. The Wings gave a contract to Gustavsson that will cost them around a million dollars more in cap space than just promoting the better goalie in Mrazek would. Probably rather insignificant in the grand scheme money wise, but it's an ongoing flaw within the organization. We saw it with Cleary over Nyquist, Mrazek this season and possibly Jurco going back down too. I'm not a fan of "send them down because you can" when it starts putting inferior players on the roster of an already mediocre team.

Mrazek needs to play against NHL competition. There's only so much getting ripe a prospect can do in terms of development, even if the option is available to spend another year in Grand Rapids. 20-25 games will serve Mrazek better than another season against lesser talent, which he clearly has already proven to have mastered playing against. Besides, any starts given to the backup could be huge in the standings if the Red Wings are indeed a borderline playoff team again. Throw out the contract situations and in terms of having the better goalie on the roster, I want Mrazek over Gustavsson. Mrazek is superior in net, cheaper and is in all probability going to be healthier than Gustavsson should he be called upon if Howard is injured. What's the sense in having an injury-riddled backup goalie around who isn't very reliable or consistent? Worrying about maybe needing a third goalie isn't much of an argument IMO. If it comes to that, most (if not all NHL teams) are going to be in trouble. I'm not saying this move ruins the entire off-season; it just doesn't seem like a necessary decision when you have a more capable player already within the organization. I don't understand wasting cap space on Gustavsson when Mrazek is a better goalie. The Red Wings obsession with seasoning players in the minors just because they can is excessive and annoying, especially when the big club isn't winning.

Like his shutout in the Wings only win of the series?

I really dislike Seinfeld. Have never found it the least bit funny, nor entertaining. A show about nothing (which I know is the idea) and that's about how much appeal it has to me.

The Tigers ace is unquestionably Anibal Sanchez. Since his arrival in July 2012, he has a better ERA and FIP than both Scherzer and Verlander. Thankfully Max turned down what would have been an awful contract going forward for the Tigers and unfortunately Verlander appears to be massively overpaid already with his decline. Sanchez is extremely overlooked because of the other big names in the rotation, but nobody is more reliable to turn in a quality start.

Probably played somewhat of a role. So does that mean his first half numbers were also directly related to the team in front of him too? If Monster had shown more consistency throughout his career, I would be more inclined to believe your argument. He just hasn't been very good outside some brief stretches, when he is even healthy enough to play. Besides, Andersson was the #1 center for all of about three games before Legwand was acquired.

Shouldn't we chant Holland sucks instead? Cleary is just doing what he loves. Holland is the one enabling that unfortunate opportunity to occur.

Good. I'm perfectly fine with letting every free agent walk, with the possible exception of Alfie. Even then, I think the Wings could afford to explore other options.

Can't wait for the "free Jurco!" movement to gain steam quickly when Cleary makes the team over Jurco in September. I don't even want to believe this is truly realistic, but after last season with Nyquist...

Or ever in the past four years of the playoffs.

This post brought to you by the year 2007. In all seriousness, I felt the same way about Cleary too years ago but he isn't a remotely effective NHL player any longer. I wish Franzen had Cleary's heart. Beyond that, Cleary gave everything he had and finally just broke down physically. Take a job within the organization that doesn't involve playing hockey.

I still like Eaves more than Miller, but unfortunately injuries derailed any real shot Eaves had at sticking with the Red Wings. I hope he finds a job somewhere in the NHL.

Don't like it at all. Mrazek doesn't need another year in Grand Rapids with nothing to prove. Monster is too much of a risk as a backup and quite frankly, he wasn't good the second half of the season either.

Of course Holland has an idea going into July 1st. You stated he isn't interested in NHL players though, which is either speculation or a major leap of exaggeration. Without debating the merits of the actual signings, Holland is always active through free agency. Trades are another story, but show me an instance where Holland has only been interested in undrafted players. He can take flyers on those guys (and why not?) and still pursue other players come July 1st, which by all indications is the plan.I don't see Thornton being an option, nor do I think he should be one for the Wings. However, I am extremely confident Holland will sign at least one NHL quality d-man in the near future. I guess I'm just not following the assumption Holland is standing pat this summer.

It's not July 1st yet. How can Holland even have interest in NHL players?