Shaman

The Kessel trade is what cemented him in the elite GM category... Kessel's first couple years in Toronto he was not a 5.5 million dollar player by any stretch. It also gave Boston a lot of cap flexibility that is priceless in the NHL these days....

And lots of leg room and space to spread out...

02 against the Nucks was pretty great.

The league seems to be softening their position in proposal submitted to players today that includes a smaller decrease in the players' share of revenue Source: http://fb.nbcsports.com/myL

Soon the Oilers will need to start deciding which of their touted prospects will be cut lose. This is one of the few good things about the salary cap, they can have 50 first overalls, but good luck keeping them.

Its hard to compare someone who played in the 80s to someone who played in the 90s, just saying.

Smith wasn't NHL ready until last season, he had maturity and dedication problems until his last year at Wisconsin, and that being the case he would need at least a year at the AHL to make sure those problems were in the past.

Take is number out of circulation. I would be happy to see it officially retired, he was our best player for a lot of years, and a favorite of mine since he first started playing with the Wings, but, I can see why some people wouldn't want it up there.

So, no Doan, no Semin, no Suter, no Parise. Engaging or considering trading within the division where he had no chance to make a deal happen. This offseason so far has been a resounding failure for Holland. Hes so far is basically standing pat, or regressing in areas of concern on this team (namely the top 6, Samuelsson is not better than Hudler, remember, his best season was playing with 2 players that had 200 points). Even if he manages a trade, the way things are going (based upon track record of trades over the last few seasons) he will have to overpay. Holland finally gets a chance to show he can roll with the punches and sustain the team, and he sits on his ass. And to all the slappies who defend Holland, ask yourselves 'How has this team actually improved since last season?' No baseless speculation of everyone overachieving, no unrealistic trades that you can't justify, and no saying 'this team hasn't played one game' because it played 87 games last season and regressed since then.

Because its not a known fact that since Bettman gave ESPN the finger and went to Versus (now NBCsports) that ESPNs budget for hockey coverage became $43.25 in a calendar year.

Last years holes: Grit, back up goalie, sniper and defensive depth. This years holes: Grit, back up goalie, sniper, defensive depth, a #1 D-man, top 6 depth. Seems the team has more holes this year. Grit? Tootoo adds some, but, I would say its a wash with what was lost with Stuart, and even if the Wings are marginally more gritty, its not enough to say its been addressed. Back up goaltending? Are you kidding me? Conklin may have been s*** the last two seasons but Gustavsson's been worse, hopefully the change of scenery will help, but right now his GAA and Save % are both worse than Conklin's. Also this year the Wings are less deep on defense and on top 6 forwards, so they have regressed there. And finally they have no #1 D-man, and arguably no #2 d-man. Kronwall will hopefully continue his good play, but, hes in no way a #1.

Ahem, I said Suter was going where Parise went, not vice versa and as that's exactly what happened, it seems the evidence supports my claim. So Parise is added to the list because at least everything I have seen says that he never realistically considered Detroit as an option for his landing point. And as it seems you agree, that add credence to my point. As for the money, this year the Red Wings have it, more than most, and they had less roster spaces to fill and real easily identifiable holes on that roster, Crymson we both know if Suter/Weber/Parise/etc came to Holland and said 'Hey, I want to play for Detroit, Minny/Philly offered me x amount, if you match ill wear the Winged Wheel' I am sure Holland would have matched. Money is not an excuse this offseason. Finally as for Semin and Doan, I have and idea what they have been offered, do I know all the finite details? No, but, seeing as nothing is secret these days, with a little bit of work, its not hard to at least get a decent idea of whats going on. So long as their are smart phones, idiots with thumbs, and the internet, there will never be that may surprises.

I'd rather see the Wings in dead last place than saddled with his terrible contract.

Why would you need to use a personal attack? I am pointing out there seems to be something going on here affecting these players deciding that Detroit is not where they want to be. Its not the money this year, the money is there, no ifs and or buts, they have enough to sign the player they need to continue to both contend and compete. Once that X factor is found then we can argue whose fault it is, or if its something outside the control of the organization, but until then we are all speculating about whether it is Holland or not. I have a feeling hes not without blame, but I hold the right to withhold complete judgement until we have more information. That being said, unless you are deluded its hard not to see this team has regressed since last year, and some of us aren't in love with that fact. Granted there is Monday morning quarterbacking going here, but, its the offseason and if we can't do that, we have 3-4 months of 'how bout those Tigers?' Add Parise to that list as well. Since it was no secret that Suter was going wherever Parise went, you can add him to that list as well. So we have 4 players there, it seems the Wings have offers on the table for Doan and Semin and until the cards fall I will not say why they did or did not choose Detroit, but it seems Detroit as their destination is not a scale tipper for them anymore.

Still haven't seen an answer to why players seem uninterested in competitive offers from Holland to play on the Wings? That seems to me at least to be a worse sign than Holland just sitting on his laurels. What do the players this offseason who are trying to cash in and be on competitive teams seeing of not seeing in this organization that makes them not want to sign here? Because Suter/Parise/Semin/Doan/Weber if they wanted to play here I am sure could have communicated the offers from other teams and probably gotten it.

Which part? The lack of a #1 or #2 D-man? The lack of a sniper? the aging players like Cleary, Bertuzzi, Samuelsson? The management which thus far this season has not been able to seal the deal on one high profile player? And on top of that seems to have not foreseen the retirement of Lidstrom to do SOMETHING to mitigate it? The doom and gloom is expected, unless this team overachieves next season, they are a bubble team, some of us aren't in love with that idea, sorry. Question: Could Detroit's loyalty be the reason why players do not want to play for the Wings? Is Holland sacrificing some competitive advantage for being loyal to the older players that is dissuading younger players who want money and a Cup more than they want a place to retire?

This is worse than Holland just being late to the party.

Seems like he was a day late and a dollar short, asking after Philly had already all but sealed it.

Which makes us as the question: Why are players not interested in playing with the Wings?

Fire Holland! Seriously though, Oshie is a good player and would love to have someone like him on the Wings.

Because Holland was going to try to sign an RFA? He's made it clear he doesn't sign RFAs, this offseason, and ones before. So him talking to Weber's agent is like an atheist talking to a priest, I'm sure the conversation was interesting, but in the end it didn't change anything.

Tootoo is a dirty player, and does not bring what Drake brought at all. I would rather have not gotten him and gone with someone who has class. Sammy while he played well is now a recurrent injury concern, and its his groin, and if you watched him last season hes lost a step. He also didn't score 47 points, he was on pace for it, but that's not the same as scoring those points. Hes a year older, hes not playing with players of the caliber he was the past few seasons (like 09-10 when he played with the sedins he had 53 pts). So Sammy is a downgrade until proven otherwise.

Guess Holland didn't even try.

That's not an overpayment.

Well that'd be a strawman. His moves have not been prudent at all, as they are in a position currently where their only options are to: A. Overpay in FA or B. Overpay in a trade. These are not the options that are left to the prudent GMs.