VM1138

If we make a move draft picks are going to be huge. We can't offer much in terms of players, but we need to offload someone for cap reasons if we want to acquire anyone. Since Cleary won't net us anyone, we'll have to package a lesser guy with a draft pick or two. With how stacked we are down the pipeline, I'm perfectly find with tossing draft picks around (to a point) like candy if it gets us someone who can help.

I get that his situation sucks, but man, Sammy. Just be glad you're still playing. I appreciate his honesty but quit whining and put In an effort.

In a recent interview Z said he is thinking about staying on Detroit when he retires. He really likes it in Michigan. He's going to be here til he can't play the game anymore, I think. Future GM?

I don't think our offense is perfect, nor do many others, but the more glaring need is defense. Our lack of offense can probably be attributed to them having to be more defensive to support a lackluster D. We can't trade for a top D, but a #4 with better IQ than Quincey would still be a help. Stuart wasn't a superstar in 08, but he was exactly what we needed.

Weird. They had their chance to get him a while ago. Then again, maybe Yzerman wants someone familiar. It is his MO, after all. No one on TB we need, but could work as another three way deal like the one that brought Quincey here.

What's reassuring is that their "downs" haven't really been that bad. Normal for players of any caliber. And they seem to bounce back from droughts, unlike, say, Brunner. They're the real deal. Let's just hope they're not playoff chokers now, haha.

Nyquist and Tatar are really carrying this team of late. Thank God. Where would we be if Tatar and Nyquist had turned into busts like Brunner and Brunnstrom? Let's just take a second to really appreciate how we lucked out that they are legit players in their rookie years.

On the plus side, though, the forwards are playing a sound defensive game for the most part.

Yeesh, Kindl, Quincey and Howard have been brutal. Bah-ruh-tal. We just can't win consistently without a steady defense. Even with our offense scoring, it's becoming more and more obvious our main problem is in goal and defense. Goaltending will probably turn around at some point and is the least easy to fix, so Holland better be targeting a defenseman. Even if he has to overpay. We NEED a stable defense, especially with so many kids coming through the next few years.

I still don't get why Alfie is on the third line. He's been consistently our best player not named Zetterberg or Datsyuk. You'd think Babcock would want to load up on top.

Just read he's from Detroit. If he was effective in Florida,could he be effective again in Detroit?

Maybe we can unload Quincey. Somehow.

That article is pointless. He has an injury. If I remember, this happened after he did something to his knee in a game. They never said as much, but I think I remember seeing it happen and thinking that had to be an injury. Next thing we hear is "lower body injury." The fact that anyone Is doubting Pasha sickens me. He's never given us a reason to doubt, and no other player fakes an injury to play in the Olympics. Why would he? Datsyuk is a professional. He put off playing in Russia for AT LEAST four more years.

Realistically there's no way Holland makes a serious offer for Vanek. It'd be nice to have him, but like others have said, we need defense. And offense, too, but maybe not as bad. Things tighten up in the playoffs, though. What if Vanek were part of a three way deal? What with everyone up against the cap, and everything being so competitive and thus reducing trade possibilities, I bet GMs get creative. And Holland is nothing If not creative. What about overpaying for Vanek and swapping him for a star defender? Thus, making a fair trade in the end? And as to the Florida rumors, we do have an established relationship with them and do seem to be very familiar with their players.

I look at it this way. The kids COULD be enough and could be great. Or they could continue to develop normally and not really hit their prime for a few more years. Now, if we go out and sign some top players, we're set. And then if the kids do develop, we'd be unstoppable. I choose the second option.

I understand why they don't play him. The kids probably bring more than he would. What I don't understand is why they signed him to a three year deal to begin with if they knew these holes in his game. I bet he'd see more ice time if the kids didn't all impress.

I doubt we will miss playoffs, or start a Dead Things era, but I definitely see an era of lowered expectations. Not so long ago our mentality was "Cup or Bust." I don't see that coming back soon. We have good players coming up, just like the Wings in the 70s, but not near the level of what we are losing. Difference is, the Wings of the 70s had bad coaching and front office, the modern Wings have the best. So I don't see us being worse than this season anytime soon.

I'm not sure if Sochi is unsafe. I do know that Russian security is not top tier compared to other international powers. Confidence in their ability might be playing Into the NHL's thinking, too. At any rate, I think that players don't care as much as we think they do. It might be fun, but I don't think any would stand up to the NHL if they backed out. Better to have a career than a two week tournament.

Hope Abby is okay. Jesus. They're getting eaten alive.

Gustavsson, the defense and Babs are to blame. Offense obviously could've been better, but four or five posts could've easily gone the other way. Why Helm and Alfie weren't the go-to guys tonight boggles my mind.

Why is Alfie on the third? Shouldn't he be on the top line? Or playing with some kids to provide balance? I don't get why they'd stick him with Cleary and Helm. He could be deadly playing with a kid, and his defense could make up for a kids' rookie mistakes.

I'd like to see them skip the Olympics.

This forum has a really thin grasp of concussions it seems. He can't will himself better. Concussions hit you no matter how tough you are, and your recovery has nothing to do with your willpower or your strength.

Tatar got less ice time than Cleary, Miller and Glendening. He is clearly better than all of them. This happens consistently. He's clearly not given the ice time he has earned. I'm afraid we have another Hudler situation here, which will end badly because unlike Hudler, Tatar knows he's good and has a temper/attitude to match.

Olympic athletes don't care much about the Olympics. Not the pro, team sport ones anyway. It's an honor but not much more than that. Kronwall gave an Interesting Interview where he basically said winning the gold would be nice and all, but his enthusiasm was obviously toward NHL play. It Is their bread and butter after all. Forgive the random caps, my phone is autocorrecting them and it won't even let me override the caps changes for some reason.