GoWings1905

Doesn't matter what the kid's name is really. His dad is Henrik frickin Zetterberg and that cool factor trumps everything.

No. I wouldn't even consider it until next summer. 1. The Red Wings are a better team with both Mrazek and Howard than with any pieces they could possibly get for Howard. 2. Howard was a really good goalie until January last season and Mrazek hasn't seen the grind of a full NHL season yet. 3. What's the insurance policy if you trade Howard and Mrazek gets hurt?

I'm going with #1 d-man just because I forgot what seeing one looks like since 2012. (Sorry Kronner and thanks a lot Ryan Suter for making this happen.)

Ideally, you try to keep both Abby and Helm, but both are UFA next summer. Both are going to get raises and it may become a situation with the cap where you do have to decide between one or the other. Simply letting Andersson or Miller walk (which they should anyways) isn't going to clear much room. I hope Helm sticks around, but in that hypothetical situation, I would rather have Abby. There isn't an Abby replacement in the system. You could pretty easily argue that Athanasiou will be Helm or probably better within the next couple years.

I agree with this as well. I think Abby is pretty irreplaceable for the Red Wings right now. They don't have another forward presently or even in the near prospect pool wave that brings what Abby does to the team. Maybe Tyler Bertuzzi if he cuts down on the stupid penalties, but even then, you are banking on a relative uncertainty to fulfill a job that we already know Abby does very well. A year ago, I was fed up with Babs forcing Abby into the top-six. 23 goals, forechecking and doing the dirty work for skilled players speaks for itself, though. There was a noticeable difference in energy during the Tampa Bay series alone from the first two games that Abby missed and then when he returned in Game 3. The Red Wings are not a tough team to play against from a forward perspective and Abby really stirs the drink from a physical standpoint. If it's between Abby and Helm, I'm keeping Abby. I think Sheahan's development at center has made Helm less of a valuable commodity going forward.

Two seasons ago? Howard just put up terrific numbers before he got hurt last January. At worst, Howard will be half of a really solid goalie tandem this season. Let's not forget Mrazek was wildly inconsistent during his regular season starts. Howard is a valuable piece still for this team.

It doesn't help everyone in the Wings media is a lap dog for the organization. When they claim someone is "far apart" on a deal, obviously that reflects more poorly on the player than Holland.

I'm still a huge Jurco supporter. I think he has a ton of upside despite a pretty mediocre looking second season. The Red Wings botched his development last season -- he either needed to play big minutes in Grand Rapids another year or actually be utilized properly in Detroit. Nobody is going to do s*** offensively with Drew Miller and Luke Glendening. Hoping for a nice rebound from Jurco and ideally spending more time with Sheahan as his center going forward.

Sorry, I misunderstood your intent when I replied. Came across more snarky than intended. I don't necessarily dislike Pulkkinen -- I'm just not that sold on his game so far. Maybe he continues to score at the NHL level, but I also contend he has the highest bust potential of the Red Wings on-the-cusp forward prospects. For the record, I don't care if Pulkkinen is one-dimensional. Tatar has carved a pretty nice niche putting the puck in the net. I just question if Pulkkinen is even going to succeed with that one dimension.

Yup, I hate a player that wears the uniform of my favorite team. That was clearly what I was getting at in my post. God forbid anyone has a dissenting opinion about a player on a discussion board.

I'm rooting for him obviously, but I just don't see it translating for Pulkkinen. I personally thought the Wings should have sold high on him while he was tearing up the AHL. I think he's very one dimensional and that one dimension can be taken away by bigger, stronger and faster competition in the NHL.

Who cares if Andersson, Ferraro and Callahan are lost? Almost everyone was begging Andersson to leave anyways, Ferraro is a spare part and Callahan has never played a second in the NHL and would probably clear waivers regardless. Getting Nyquist signed to a reasonable contract is far more important. This summer has been really well done by Holland. Given the lack of quality talent available in free agency, he still made the Red Wings much better for next season without having to sacrifice pieces of the future in the process. I don't think Holland could have done much better.

The Wings just signed Green to do that. DeKeyser is probably going to produce similar numbers offensively to Franson too and he's competent defensively. There's really no room or need for Franson anymore. I wouldn't move Quincey or Smith to get Franson on a bloated deal.

Franson is a right-handed Quincey with a better shot. That's it. Quincey is the more physical player of the two as well. I don't get the obsession.

Q was actually very solid last season. He's easily the most physical of the Wings d-men. Neither Q nor E provides anything offensively, but Quincey was far less turnover prone than Ericsson last season. I like Marchenko, but he isn't better than Quincey right now and he might never be. Jensen is a complete unknown still. I want to give both Smith and Kindl a shot under Blashill, so I'm fine with sending everyone else for another year or at least to start in Grand Rapids.

Not a bad deal for Green because the term is shorter. Definitely addresses a gaping need the Red Wings have lacked for years. Put Green with DeKeyser and that's a somewhat respectable top-four on defense.

The Wings aren't getting Mike Green. History has continuously shown they will get outbid by someone tomorrow. Which is fine because Mike Green isn't worth what he is going to get anyways.

The Wings will pursue Green hard, get outbid again by someone else in free agency (which is fine in this case) and then just continue to fill the roster internally. I really don't expect much of anything come July 1st. With Blashill and the wave of prospects coming, I'm OK with that.

Very interesting. I don't think there is any question that 2002 team was the most talented of the past 16 cup winners. I'm not really surprised the 2008 Wings advanced that far either -- that team put on a clinic in puck possession almost every single game. I still lean to 2008 being my favorite of the four championships just because so many people had the Red Wings dead following the lockout and Stevie Y's retirement. It's somewhat difficult to simulate as well, even just over the span of 16 years. Like for instance, the 2002 Red Wings wouldn't be very well equipped to play in today's NHL. They would get chewed up by the speed element.

I think it was a wise decision you answered that question yourself. There's room for doubt.

I agree with you. The Wings win in 2009 again even with just a healthy Pavel Datsyuk. Malkin went off that series because Pav was hurt and couldn't shut him down while Z was taking care of Crosby. Chicago is definitely impressive, as much as we all hate them as Wings fans. I just hope this is the end of their championships for awhile.

Rightfully so. What did you expect? They are elite players on a team stacked with high draft picks from sucking for years. I don't even know why you are comparing the two besides to weave your anti-Wings rants into the picture.

Everyone thought that about the Pens too after 2009. Not saying the Hawks won't win more because they are clearly the best organization in hockey right now, but there are a lot of factors that go into play going forward.

Even then, it's silly. A couple of top ten picks to late rounders. They might be better players, but the fact Pav and Z at one time were on Toews and Kane's level is remarkable in itself.

What an astute comparison of two guys in their primes to two over 35.