stevkrause

That's part of the problem, there are just too many variables to really look at free agents for next year at this time and even with retirements, there'd have to be a trade, or a player let go to waivers/FA to even then consider it... with that said, I still think Drapes has some left in the tank and if he's willing to come back at 1m or less, his value can't be quantified in pure numbers... back to the topic, as for Mo, I think the playoffs will determine his future here, from his perspective and from the Wings brass...

Then please do not dismiss the guts of my original post, I wasn't saying it was a horrible idea and should never happen, and I wouldn't be opposed to Konopka IF a move was made which changed the roster and allowed us to bring in an outside player without giving up assets(Rosehill I wouldn't want regardless and I think would be a waste of a roster spot and is a fringe NHL'er at best) - The main point of my original post was that barring a trade, I don't think just letting assets (young assets at that) walk to sign a spare part/4th liner is a good idea in any scenario... As for their value, I'd actually go Boll>Prust>Konopka - The reason I think Prust and Boll are more valuable assets than Konopka (I don't even think Rosehill is in the same category) is their age, potential and foot speed of both of them, along with the fact that neither have been known to make REAL boneheaded plays in their career, where Konopka is known to take bad penalties at bad times (he's been better this year, but that is why TB let him walk) For the record, I've seen a VERY good deal of both Konopka and Rosehill...

Am I speaking a different language, or is your comprehension just poor? Maybe I need to break it down, point by point - Since we are talking about this COMING off-season, Prust and Boll are moot points, as they are both already signed... last years off-season has no relevance to the point I was making, as we are talking about, once again, this COMING off-season - Also, I was not the one assuming that you said someone wasn't valuable, so why should I search for what you said? (I was also in favor of Prust and Boll LAST off-season, but once again, that is not relevant to the topic at hand,as we are talking about the COMING off-season) Rosehill and Konopka's skillset do not fit the Wings style and are not the same players as Prust or Boll, so you're comparing apples to oranges... Konopka is borderline, but I still think he wouldn't fit here and would end up a healthy scratch more than not, so why waste the roster spot, or give away an asset to get him? Rosehill is an AHL'er. period. Ritola is essentially out of the NHL and will probably have to retire due to his ear problem, Quincey, his back - The Wings brass are not idiots and generally speaking, if the let a guy just "let walk" for nothing in return... there's probably a reason, and that doesn't seem to be the case with Emmerton, so once again....... apples to oranges - We do not just give assets away. If he's traded, then that just goes right back to my initial point of the Wings making a move... which I said in my first post. I was referring to Salei about fitting the system - why would they replace him with an outsider, when they already have someone they know works in this team, AT his caphit... makes no sense, it would be a lateral move at best... Also, Prust and Boll, moot points again. As I said in my first post, there is no one available in this COMING off season worth losing an asset over up front and for the D, it would only be change, for changes sake... And once again, just to clarify - this is all under the assumption of no trades and/or the great one retiring...

Did you even read my post? I said this upcoming off-season. What does last year have to do with it? (also, maybe do a search before you make assumptions) Prust is not available, so that example is useless. Emmerton not being signed, doesn't mean anything - he's still an asset, an RFA, but still an asset nonetheless, so once again, unless they want to let him walk for nothing, he has to be on the big club, or be exposed to waivers... he is out of options (once again, him not being signed yet, means nothing - a tender will at least be qualified) As for signing someone else - this isn't a video game, bodies aren't just easy swaps - The Wings system is not for everyone and if you have a piece that fits, you don't replace him with a lateral move, just for the sake of making change... I don't know how much more I can clarify this to you, you're arguing moot points...

Can I get a hell yea??? Preach it brotha! haha :beerbuddy:

There's no one available that's worth losing our current assets, remember that both Mursak and Emmerton are out of options for next year, so like I said, unless there is a trade, I don't see anyone worth making that move... also, Janik will most likely be our 7th dman next year if Ericsson is not re-signed and if he is, then our D probably stands pat for next year... I'd even just as soon bring Salei back, over wasting money on an outside guy...

Agreed... he would make any team markedly better and I'd welcome him with open arms and in a dream world, it's fun to think about for sure! I really wanted Malhotra this past off-season, Lombardi wouldn't have been bad either... with that said, I think we have plenty of depth in the system and I don't really see any need to go outside of the organization this off-season to fill any holes, except backup goalie (I don't think Ozzie will, or should, come back for another year - he has been a warrior and a great goalie and this is not saying he couldn't possibly still play, I just think his body is breaking down)... the only way I see us needing to go outside of the organization is if the brass feels we need a shake-up via trade or the unthinkable happens (it has to do with retirement and someone whose name I can't actually bring myself to type in the same sentence as the "r" word)

Short of Lidstrom, he has arguably been our MVP this season...

Let's blame Tim Cheveldae, it worked for most of the early 90's...

Hi over-reaction, nice to meet you... guys are dinged up. period.

No way Nashville lets him get away and we won't have the cap space as Lids is looking very likely to be back...

Well, this, I do not like.

That's pretty much my view on the roster priority to the tee...

I like this hypothetical, alternate universe scenario better - We still go the route we did, but when McClellan leaves for SJ, we hire Smith back as an asst

I've been saying for awhile that he should be used on the left side, at the top of the circle on the PP (almost a Stamkos type role) and fire one timers - this also opens up your D better to cycle the puck, because the forwards have to respect the guy at the top of the circle and the D can't come out to him, because they open up down low if they do... as for 5v5, I think he's very good at the role he is in and would probably prefer he stay in the capacity he is (not that he couldn't be used in a bigger role), just add the PP minutes to his current responsibilities and I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility at all that he could become a 30 goal scorer...

I like this scenario better: We win the cup, he retires wearing the Winged Wheel and goes out on top...

This exchange is taking a bad turn and both of you are starting to sound accusatory and defensive - agree to disagree and leave it at that...

As I said in that thread - this is LONG overdue, but at least the NHL kinda got one right for once... I still think he needs to be removed from the game entirely... not just the NHL, but the game. by. any. means. necessary...

I wish I could + this post twice...

As I already touched on, Howard was HORRIBLE last night, but his overall body of work has been very good and people blame him WAY too much... As for CuJo, the people you know are the minority then... all you had to do was listen to sports talk radio at the time and the sheer idiocy spewing from people's mouths in regards to the goaltending situation was enough to drive a logical person insane... he was a MAJOR scapegoat those years and many were basically calling for his head, and that was the main reason that the whole Hasek 2.0 project happened when his groin was still ailing and we already had a goalie... that situation was one of the few black marks on an otherwise pristine Red Wings front office over the last 20 years...

Ding. Ding. Ding Curtis Joseph Year / GP / W / L / OT / Min. / GA / SA / GAA / SV % / SO / PIM / OTGA / OTW 2003-2004 / 9 / 4 / 4 / - / 518 / 12 / 197 / 1.39 / .939 / 1 / - / - / - 2002-2003 / 4 / 0 / 4 / - / 289 / 10 / 120 / 2.08 / .917 / 0 / - / - / - and idiots ran him out of town because the offense in front of him couldn't score goals... goalie in Detroit is a tough job...

I'd say it's a push at this point, I still think Kindl has had more mental gaffes and doesn't really provide anything that Ericsson doesn't at this point, but unfortunately, Ericsson is in a contract year and is 4 years older than Kindl... I was really pulling for Ericsson to pull it all together this year and until about 2 months ago, he was having a great year and I thought "great, that's the guy we saw a couple years ago!" unfortunately... he has looked lost and uncomfortable since... it is actually pretty alarming that he needs to be paired with the same D partner every shift to be truly effective, his in-ability to adjust has me concerned :nonono:

apples to oranges, they are 100% different style defensemen... quite literally the ONLY thing they have in common in their game, is the fact that they're defensemen... With Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall and Stuart, we already have enough d-men that can provide points and at this time, Salei fills a bigger need of a physical, stay at home, defenseman... Did you see the way that Neal flat out put Kindl on his ass last night - a couple times? Once again, Kindl is a rookie and still needs to develop, but lets not make him out to be more than he is - He is the 7th defenseman on this team...

agreed 100% about his ability, but I think as long as the Wings want him, he will come back - he's gone on record saying that he loves it here and it's not about money, I think the only thing the Wings need to do to keep him is give him a respectful contract (1.2 or higher a year for several years) and guarantee him playing time (no more of this healthy scratch crap) and he will remain in the Winged Wheel... I want him locked up long term, 3+ years and I wouldn't have a problem with the wings giving him upwards of a 5+ year deal(not that it's at all likely) - that's how confident I am in his play and work ethic

He has been good/great all season and the scapegoats that dump EVERYTHING on goaltending in this town are a joke and some people have been way too hard on him for things that are not his fault... with that said - He was HORRENDOUS last night... he looked dis-interested, mentally checked out and lethargic in his movement... I'm not going to speculate what was wrong with him, but I almost hope he has a bug or something at this point, because last night was BAD and arguably his worst game in his career to date...