Shaman

I think other than Z and Dats the mostly likely player to win the Selke on the Wings in the next 5-7 years is Helm.. If he can continue his development of his offensive game, he may even take Flips job.

I would say lack of scoring lost for them against the Sharks. None of the games were games the Wings lost purely because of bad Defense, and a couple of them they would have won with a key goal late.

Romania.

Look at the Moore incident, read articles about it, look at his track record, etc. Sure he wanted to hit him, and sure when he made that hit he wasn't looking to make him feel good, but it wasn't that hit that was the problem, it was the pile on after. Look at Pronger and what he did to Kessler, just as an example, he knew how sharp his skate was, and there is no way anyone can pretend that Pronger didn't know what he did would result in an injury and could easily end with a major injury. The other difference is Bert has shown remorse for hurting Moore, when was the last time Pronger apologized for anything, let alone meant it? Sure the Wings have had their fair share of players that weren't 100% clean in the past, but, never had they had someone who I really believe is so willingly reckless like Pronger is.

Difference is Pronger goes out his way to hurt people.

Nice straw man I have said I would love to have him, but there are better players to be had at 24th

Well if he only has 3 fights last season than hes a liability on the ice for taking penalties because he had 145 penalties minutes last season, more than all of the Wings' top four combined. A good shut down D man usually makes clean plays that stop opposing players from getting scoring chances, a big body takes penalties when hes beaten and cant make a play. Obviously I expect a shut down D man on the wings to be able to make smart plays and not get put into the box, especially if hes as good as you think he is and isnt just bottom pairing fodder. But wait in your OP you said: So it seems you expect him to be a fighter, or at least a guy whose going to go out of his way to make a hit. WAIT! Turns out its 2011 and not 1991, turns out the game has changed and that the D men with good vision and ability to play the puck are now king. Turns out there are new rules, and that the league is cracking down the the "real bruisers". Oh and any player that compares himself to Pronger has no place in the Wings system, but lets review why: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb_fmWpcbag (Attempted Kneeing of Yzerman) (hit on Homer) Do you really want someone who wants to be like him on our team? I hate to break it to you, but the Wings turns out are a classy organization and don't seem to like to have players who are jackasses and play to injury or destroy that classy image (See Avery, Sean).

Again, his skill assessment is that hes ranked in the top 30 NA Skaters, once taken in light of EU skaters he falls into the second round. I believe why Alexander Khokhlachev falls in some mock drafts is the common Russian question: Will he go to the KHL or not. Talent for talent Alexander Khokhlachev is a much better player, at USHL level has .34 pt/g where as Khokhlachev has a 1.134 pt/g in the OHL (the better league). Again the telling stat on why you love this guy so much is his PIM, he has over 300 in 100 gp, so he fights a lot. If you weren't so blinded by your want for a player that fights you might see this kid is severely - in +/- and not very offensive. If the wings are going to go after this type of D man better for them to do it in the 2nd or 3rd round, if they are going to go for a Dman in the first round it should be a first pairing not a knuckle dragger.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=69365 http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=69478 there are two right there showing him not going in the first round.

Morreale's drafts are all jokes, in one of them he doesn't even have Joel Armia drafted in the first round. The WC NHL scout draft was done awhile ago, and as I can attest to with mock drafts from last year a few months changes where players go a lot. (See Pulu, he went from top ten to 4th round). MyNHLDraft.com or whatever it is doesn't seem like a reliable source for rankings, it could be, but again from looking at it, I don't think the person who put it together knows a lot about NHL prospects... If you look at the three featured mock drafts, only one has Mayfield going in the first round, and that one is to the ducks who have a history of going after his style of player. Again as I pointed out earlier hes not going to be ready for when the Wings D corp will need to be replenished and going after a skilled forward has another advantage, the Wings could always trade a couple skilled forward prospects for a defenseman. If hes still available in round two that would be a great pick up for the wings, but with all the forward skill that looks to be available (and if your drafts are right Armia might be one of them) I say the wings would be stupid not to pick up a forward.

I am personally aware of this, but the problem is some arent, and since the draft is made up of both NA Skaters and EU Skaters his 24 ranking is not a valid assessment of where he will be drafted, hes much closer to 45 than 25. So the way you put in in your response made it sound like he was ranked mid 20s in all skaters which is not true and only one of the NHL mock drafts have him going to the Ducks the rest hes not first round.

Wow, way to spin it, hes 24th among NORTH AMERICAN SKATERS.

I am going by scouting reports and the drafts done by companies, not by HF board know it alls. Hes not a first rounder this year. And besides the wings defensive worries arent 3-6 years down the road they are now to 2 years, so this draft will have 0 effect on the defensive problems the wings face, but in that window they do face some issues with their forwards (Zetterberg and Dats both hitting their mid thirties). At best Mayfield would be a fix in 3-4 years so even though you're right that the wings need defensive prospects, they will likely have to look outside the organization to fill those holes.

at 24? no, hes projected currently in the middle of the second round. Now if the wings drafted him in the second round? That would be fine, but no way will the wings would draft him that high. Alexander Khokhlachev, Tomas Jurco, or if he drops Joel Armia would be more realistic first round draft picks.

We need July 1st, end of story.

Reclamation, in the vain of Eaves, Bert, and Cleary. Sign him relatively cheap for a year, if he works out, great, if not cut him. No harm no foul.

No ones going to eat Hudlers contract, let alone give the Wings a pick in return. Any trade for Hudler will include almost a dollar for dollar swap.

I added to it, but it was mostly a joke based upon the idea that Western Conference is the all around better conference (which is true). But again, the Wings in the last 5 years have 1 cup, 2 runs very deep beyond that, and 2 more making it into the second round. Now the problem that the Wings had in the second round that killed them the most was taking stupid penalties late in games. Second to that was that there was very little secondary scoring. How does bringing an enforcer address either of those problems?

The Eastern Conference isn't real hockey. That is all. Edit: The reason why I wouldn't want one of those players can be stated in one stat: Detroit - 81.7% PK. Until the Wings fix their PK there is 0 reason to bring a guy who spends 300 minutes in the box. Drew Miller may not be a great offensive talent, but he gives 100% and brings 20 points, he is very disciplined (only 10 PIM in 66 games), and he does it all cheaply. Why anyone would want to bring in a penalty machine to the Wings who are in the bottom half in PK is beyond me.

I think in the Post lock out NHL and with the instigator penalty carrying an enforcer is not something the Wings need to do in order to be successful and though they keep voting us the worst enfocring team that shouldn't be taken as 'softest team'. I believe that the wings need some grit, but, since the wings will never lead the NHL in fights no matter how gritty the Wings are the pro-enforcer community will always see the Wings as soft.

To continue in this vain: How many of the recent cups (in the last ten years) have come without Hasek on the team? Zero How many cups have the Wings won when they have had a GF-GA differential under +50? Zero How many cups have the Wings won recently without McCarty on the team? Zero How many cups have the Wings won recently without Maltby on the team? Zero How many cups have the Wings won since Pronger moved to the eastern conference? Zero How many cups have the Wings won since the Coyotes started to play good hockey consistently? Zero How many cups have the wings won recently when they have not played exactly 6 games in the first round? Zero Not to teach anyone here any science, but theres an old saying: "Correlation does not imply causation"

New NHL. 'Nough said. Seriously, the way the league is now, you don't really want a player who is going to do much more than that because it will more than likely end in a penalty.

Wait are you implying that players wont sign on the Wings for league min just for the privilege of playing for the wings? I totally understand and I agree, a forward is a secondary concern after filling defensive holes.

Did Holland express any public interest in Hossa before July 1st 2008? Damn it, you got me, youre right, I should have done research before i put my foot into my mouth.

I think they understand that and only include teams with intent, and the money to follow through.