Shaman

Or those players are less able to produce, and given the lackluster defense and jekyll and hyde nature of Howard they finish just on the outside of the playoff picture at the end of the season.

I am a realist, and I am also a person who wants Detroit to win a Cup every season, and as such any season where I don't feel they are either A) Contenders for the cup or B) Taking actual steps to become contenders, I will not be happy.

Well, seeing as Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen and Kronwall are all a year older and on the unhappy side of 30 expecting them to carry the team is becoming less and less feasible. Couple that with Nyquist likely not exploding this year, Sheahan returning to form and Tatar putting up similar numbers as he did last season and finally the the defense being mediocre they could easily be worse than last year.

The issue with Franzen is that his points tend to come in bunches and tend to be in games where they are next to meaningless. If he scored a hat trick in a 7-1 game that makes his stats look great, but does that get Detroit any closer to being relevant? Tootoo should be bought out, Cola shouldn't have been, as he, when he wasn't injured was better than Kindl and Lashoff, and when he was injured he didn't count against the cap anyway.

Yeah, your link contradicts this: Personally I believe Bob Mckenzie when he says it's more than 3 million than I do a blog that says it's around 2.

Actually what it's saying is since he's 35+ the bonuses might not be deferable and will cause the team to be assessed penalties

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/mirtle-plenty-of-buyouts-expected-to-kick-off-nhls-silly-season/article19176028/

The Globe is reporting Detroit was at least 3 million over cap last year and will be penalized this year for exceeding the cap. It'll reduce this year's cap.

Assuming the health of players who are on the wrong side of 30 in an increasingly more physical league isn't the safe bet to make. I would eat my hat if you don't see one of the Kronwall, Zetterberg, Datsyuk or Howard miss a considerable amount of time, and would dress in drag if all of them played 80 regular season games next year.

They better add a bag of pucks to make that deal more fair. In all seriousness, if anyone here seriously expects the team to look much different going into next season will be disappointed. Mantha will be in the AHL, there will be no big trades, any FA additions will be older players on short term deals with moderate cap hits. Book it.

And if he doesn't? The Wings are then off the hook for all the fun cap problems he'll cause when he retires.

And depressing.

As the title asks, the Wings gave up a center a lot of scouts characterized as being as close to the next Zetterberg as there can be and a second for a 4th liner and 5 games in the playoffs. Was it worth the cost to keep the streak alive? Or should they have trusted the kids? Thoughts?

Bringing in Legwand to keep the streak alive made the team weaker going forward.

No way he has a career year. His career year he had 43 goals and 92 points. At this point I would be happy with 70 points with 30 goals and 40 assists.

I have this same fear, that one year is a fluke, three years is a pattern. There is no way anyone can seriously believe this team as it stands will not be top 5 next season in man games lost next season.

It's not a wash though for a few reasons: #1 Jarnkrok has years of cheap team control left. #2 He's still wavier exmept #3 Weiss, Zetterberg and Helm all have long track records of being injured and the Wings have no center depth, look at the names you listed. #4 The 2nd rounder that also was part of the package.

But he's still scoring, and the Wings don't have anyone like this on their current roster. Ever watch their PP? It's all pass no shoot.

The point I am trying to make is that he's been sending completely mixed signals for years now. Examples: 2013-14 trade deadline: He said "(The Red Wings are) not interested in paying a premium (top young players, high-end prospects and/or a first-round pick) for a rental player." Reality: They sent one of the best prospects at a thin area of the depth chart for a UFA. The last three offseasons: He said: "We are looking to make a trade or sign a top 6 winger and a right handed top 4 defenseman" Reality: The Wings haven't added a real impact player either through trade or through free agency since Hossa (free agency 2009) and Stuart (trade 2008), respectively. Last season: Youth movement He said 'We will be leaning on our young player a lot more". Reality: It wasn't until a string of injuries forced their hand did the Wings start to use the young NHL ready talent they had. Remember the opening day roster featured Bertuzzi and Cleary as starters. I could go on with many more examples of this type of management, but lets be honest, anything Holland says should be taken with a pound of salt.

He also said he wants to build from within. So, much like a drunken sea captain, his course is muddled.

He's okay, but, his defense is trash and the jets would be trading from a place of strength.

We know where he goes... He has a pillow fort in the dressing room.... I imagine it to be a lot like this:

No. No. No. No. This team has 9 bottom 6 forwards and a lot of players that are either out of options in GR, or should be getting their chance soon. A 35 year old goon who can't make the NHL and whose team is losing to the Griffins in the Calder cup playoffs is not the answer.

Holland hasn't been known to be a great trader either. I think Holmgren and Holland both spent many years in elementary trading their deserts for brussel sprouts and not realizing they got had.

Niskanen is definitely an interesting player. But please let Detroit trade Glendening, he's going to be the new Cleary if they don't. Mark this down, Babcock can be fickle, but I see this guy being the soft, stone handed staple of the Wing's line up for decades to come.