marcaractac

I don't find it insulting, I just think it will lead to you not being taken seriously in a debate when talking to people that way.

You'd have to think big changes are looming in San Jose right now if they go on to lose this game. It's been proven at this point coaching isn't the problem. 2 different coaches, same results. In the end, the players aren't getting it done there. If a trade for a forward is gonna be made for a scoring winger, I think Holland's first phone call has to go to Doug Wilson.

In other news, the sky is blue.

Is calling someone a clown really necessary?

Franzen isn't getting bought out regardless. When are people going to realize that buying out Tootoo has nothing to do with Mule? Also, Franzen is not this teams problem! He isn't out there costing the Wings games.

He isn't getting ice time with our AHL team either. Buying him out at least gives him a chance to end up somewhere.

Are you going through butt patting withdraw?

It is still 1.9 million dollars ownership would have to pay to a guy to not play in the NHL. I get the frustration for Mule. I don't think he is nearly as bad as some make him out to be, however. In the end, the only issue with him is if the team is in a situation to depend on his scoring. If the top 6 is solidified, he is still a defensive forward who can put the puck in the net. As long as he plays responsible while he is cold, and we have plenty of other secondary scoring, having him around will be fine. I'd love to see him parking in front of the net on the pp. Back in 2008, doing that was what set him on fire scoring-wise to begin with. Maybe it is just a matter of going back to basics with him. Also a good way to have a role for him when his abilities do start to decline. If memory serves me right, he was more than adequate when it came to deflecting the puck in front of the net. Who does he play in place of then? Tootoo can't even crack the Griffins lineup. His only shot to play in the NHL is to play on a basement team who can use a guy like that to keep the fans entertained. Not a knock on Tootoo. I like the guy. There is just nowhere for him here.

Nahhh No ridicule from me. I always try to see things from the positive side

I don't think being frustrated with some things Holland have done is wrong. But people are looking at the mistakes he did make and are judging his ability to do his job based solely on that. All while ignoring all the good he has done. News flash: he has still done plenty of good.

A lot of peopel are concerned about what happens post Datsyuk and Zetterberg (and rightfully so). I'm bored out of my mind at work and have been doing a lot of thinking about players like Nyquist, and how many say he can never be that kind of player. When it comes down to it, it was 4 and 5 years for Hank and Dats in the NHL before they started to emerge as the players they have become. In my opinion, if any the youth in the system right now have a great worth ethic and are as dedicated as Hank and Pasha always have been, I have no doubt tone or two of them could emerge to be leaders of this team down the road. Sure there will continue to be growing pains, and sure there are other needs this team has. But this foolishness of the Wings becoming the next Calgary Flames is silly, IMO. Hank and Pasha became the players they did because they worked their asses off. To to this day they continue to work on things to improve themselves as players. They don't settle for anything. They are also the leaders of the team, and are who the kids are learning from. It's how the Wings have always done things, and will continue to do so. We don;t need the kids to become the next Datsyuk and Zetterberg. We need the kids to become the first Nyquist's, Jurco's, Tatar's, etc.I by no means think they are all gonna become world class players. But there is a culture within the organization of working hard and earning everything that comes to them. Nothing is handed to anybody. That is likely why Jarnkrok is no longer here. There will always need to be pieces added along the way. Just as it has been in the past ala Stuart and Rafalski. Even when they won it all in 2008, it was the result of a 3 year process. They didn't mortgage the future to win back then, and they won't do it now. Patience is key, and this team will be fine.

Hire Gary Robers to lead the training staff! lol

I just think if we were to move Smith, it would have to be for an established dman. Trading a dman to fix our problems up front is just shifting problems around. I agree Helm in a package for Kesler would be fair. Luckily Kesler has wheels to. I do think there is a trade there that works out better for both teams as far as landing Kesler goes.

Don't get me wrong, I think Kesler is a great player. I just don't think Smith, Helm and a 1st is the right way to go about getting him. I get we have to give something up to get something back. I just think there are other ways of going about it. Plus, what if Kesler is traded before Niskanen decides where he wants to go? In the end, this team has needs up front and on the back end. I just don't think trading an improving defender with loads of potential (that he is starting to look like he may live up to) to fix the issues at forward is the right way to go about it when our defense is having problems as well. We need to bolster the blue line, not trade away one of its bright spots and add Niskanen. That will only improve the D so much.

Am I the only one who thinks trading Helm, Smith and a 1st for Kesler is insane? With his style of play, i'll be shocked if he can play at the level he has (when healthy) for 4 or 5 years. If we're gonna be trading young NHL level players, Kesler is not the idea candidate. Trade for someone entering their prime, or stick with what they have and reassess at the deadline. We're finally rid of Cleary. We don't need another player whose body will start to break down on him in the next few years. Especially at that price. Edit: Also, with the improvement Smith showed over the course of just one full season, I think it would be crazy to give him up now. Also unlike Kesler, most of Helm's injuries have been freak injuries. We can't give up on him when he is finally healthy and is only now gonna get a healthy summer of training in.

Unless a guy like Weber is being shopped, I say going after Niskanen or Boyle should be the priority. Boyle only if he can't get Niskanen. At least Boyle can bridge the gap to the kids taking over the blueline. If any forwards are traded, I'd imagine it would be for bigger, gritty forwards. We have a lot of guys with skill, and some with size. But if the opportunity presents itself a legit power forward type, I figure that's the only way kids should be traded. Luckily Jurco may very well grow into that role, though it never hurts to have a couple guys like that. If that need were filled, at least then Franzen would be a player that would be depended on. he could alternate between the 2nd and 3rd line, depending on whether he is hot or not. I'd be ok with Mule staying if the team had the leisure to put him on the 3rd line to be a responsible defensive forward when he is in one of his scoring funks. It is the fact that he has always had to be in the top 6 that really killed the team's scoring when he went cold. In the end, I'd like to see him used in the Homer role again. When it comes down to it, that's what cause him to break out as a scoring beast to begin with. It was after that he started playing as more of a skilled forward, which made him very streaky. He is a big body, and showed in the past he is good at deflections. It would be a good role for him when age starts to slow his production. Props to Weiss for never using it as an excuse, even though most of us knew better. The few games he did play, he always worked his ass off. He just never had that jump he has always had in the past. Really hoping summer treats him well. If it does, I am confident he will be an impact player for this team next season. Edit: Also awesome to see he is doing the Gary Roberts thing this summer. As long as there is no set backs. he'll be ready to kick some ass in camp.

Holmgren is known for awful trades, lets go after Simmonds lol

Franzen isn't getting bought out, and Howard's contract was signed after the lockout so the compliance buyout cannot be used on him. If the buyout is used, it will be on Tootoo. It is bad business to pay someone almost 2 million to play in the AHL. Franzen will play, and as frustrating as his cold spells can be, he will put up his usual numbers. As long as he can be reliable backchecking when he is in a scoring funk, his cap hit is not hurting the team. Howard will rebound. It is not uncommon for a goalie to struggle in the first year of signing a big contract. It happens all the time.

If he was able to be traded he would have been already. 29 other teams even passed on him for nothing when he had to clear waivers.

Totally agree. Winning the cup isn't about being the biggest and toughest. It is about having that right balance. Sure there has to be grit in the lineup. But skill is even more important. A team just can't have too much of one thing.

My guess is that if Mantha were to crack the lineup, he'd have to be in the top 6. So I'd say he has to at least be the 6th best forward (definitively) in camp and preseason to win a spot. Regardless, I think a year in GR would be best for him. But crazier things have happened.

A season in GR to learn the ropes is definitely what's best. I'd imagine he will get a few looks during the season with the Wings during the season, however.

Detroit Red Wings ‏@DetroitRedWings 13s "If Anthony Mantha is ready and he beats somebody out, he'll play in the National Hockey League." - Ken Holland

Holland and Babs pretty much confirmed their desire to add a RH shot on the back end, and that most changes to the team will be done from within. The right move, IMO. Fingers crossed for Niskanen! Very glad the whole signing an aging veteran to patch up the team seems to finally be in the past. A lot of the kids have already done some winning together. They just need the time and opportunity to bring that to the next level.

Totally agree. I do hope Alfie plays one more year as I do think he would be a huge impact in the playoffs when healthy. Of course not having to fight for their playoff lives because of god awful goaltending in the first half of the season would go a long way in helping a guy like Alife get rest when needed.