SwedeLundin77

The way I see it is, Mrazek continues to play and plays well, solidifying that he may just have a future here and we can re-sign him and trade/waive Howard. The other option is he keeps playing well and we can trade him for better assets pre-deadline. The more picks the better.

If we were a better team, play Mrazek because you're not looking to trade a goaltender, but responsibly you play Howard as you don't want Mrazek getting injured and ruining his trade value (which has to be up at this point). I'm not saying that I think they'll trade Mrazek, but it's best to keep your options open. My only hope is that they don't think they should hold on to everyone and make a run because that is piss poor decision making when you KNOW you need to obtain more picks and improve this team in the long-run. Maybe they squeak into the playoffs, but they'll get tossed very quickly in the first round anyway. The offense and the defense cannot sustain this as they're just not that good. My other hope is that they don't think Blashill is suddenly "turning the corner" or whatever because he is still a sub-par NHL coach and they HAVE to improve in that area going forward. Still crossing my fingers for a complete GM/Coaching overhaul. Bring in Bylsma, for example.

http://themalikreport.com/2018/01/29/jon-coopers-zinger/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter Haha, this is amazing and, while meant to be funny, absolutely true. Blashill is a bad coach, at least the NHL level.

http://mynhltraderumors.com/nhl-rumors-the-detroit-red-wings-are-ready-to-start-selling/2018/01/28/

I would love if they could get Bernier in the off-season. I seriously think he could be a solid starter for short-term.

Mrazek should have started, plain and simple. He's been the better goalie, so if the point was to try and get wins and shorten the point gap, he's your go-to. I called this game being a blowout as soon as they said Jimmy was starting. I have nothing against Howard, but he hasn't played well over the past 20 or so games... only has like 6 or 7 wins in that span.

When you max out at 21 shots through regulation, there is a problem. Tatar is worthless, why are we paying him 5 million again? Oh, because Holland can't see that he's one dimensional and floats around too much.

It's all about future-proofing. Can Mrazek be that guy, or has he lost his way and this is the best we'll get (inconsistent play)? Howard has done well to stay healthy, but he'll be 34 this spring, heading into his final contract year. Petruzelli probably won't be ready by then, so they'll need a stop-gap and I would be heavily concerned about going with Howard/Coreau, in case Howard get's injured long-term. It's in the team's best interest to see if they can get Mrazek back to 15/16 performance levels to see if he's worth 4 million on a short-term deal if he'd take it.

Dude, it's about increasing Mrazek's trade value, at the very least. Let's be honest, this season isn't going anywhere, so they're going to trade assets again. As it stood, prior to the Chicago game, Mrazek's value was basically zilch given his stats this season. He has a strong game against Chicago (after Howard had a poor game the day prior) and he gets benched the next game? Makes no sense but that's Blashill for you. I don't think anyone is disputing that Howard earned the starter gig this season, but one of them should be dealt this season, if possible, so wouldn't it be wise to make sure they're both positioned to garner you a good return, at the very least? Oh, and regardless, Mrazek deserves the next start after tomorrow's game, given his performance. Don't forget, if they want to keep Mrazek, they need to qualify him at around the 4 million he currently makes, so they won't do that unless he has shown he is back on his game. They do not want to lose an asset for nothing.

Green and a 1st for Smith.

Daley is going to miss the next 3 games, at minimum, supposedly. I for one am happy to see someone like Hicketts, who has played his arse off, get a chance up.

Well, it looks like, at best, they'll be the 8th worst team in the league at season's end. I don't see them dropping below Buffalo or Arizona. So 3rd worst is the bottom they can hit at season's end. Definitely a shot at top 3 pick, but again... lottery.

This team needs to sell sell sell. Then get a new GM/Coach. Bylsma is available... speaking of Penguins.

Good Lord is this a rumors thread or a goalie debate thread. Keep it on topic, bishes!

Good win, but I couldn't help but notice that this was the Athanasiou Show... Larkin played well, too. Our other forwards, for the most part, were invisible. We've won 3 straight, 2 of them due to great performances by Athanasiou and Larkin. I will happily eat crow, but I don't see this winning streak as anything but an aberration.

Exciting game through 2 periods... then a complete poop show in the 3rd... don't let a few stray wins fool you, boys and girls, this team is not good.

People talking about Witkowski like he would have made a lick of a difference over the past 10 games... come on!

Um, they have chosen Howard from the start so I'm not sure what you are referring to. Howard has known he's starting the next game, this season, about 99% of the time.

Yep, I'm not a huge fan of either goalie, but they need to let Howard rest for a bit and get his head right. Mrazek is not much better but you have two goalies, try and get the other going... the season is already going in the crapper, so do whatever you can. Oh, and whoever mentioned Witkowski earlier... come on! Do you honestly think Witkowski would have made any lick of difference in this game? NO. He's a waste of a roster spot, in my opinion. As bad as the goalies were today, the defense was not great either, regardless of limiting shots. The shots they gave up were defensive lapses and the 5th goal, Mrazek should have had that save, but Ericsson was coasting behind the play and didn't even make an effort to make an extra stride and get his stick into the shooters hands to disrupt a shot/ANYTHING. It ultimately, for me, comes down to coaching and Blashill has to go. I said so after the Montreal game, and I am starting to think that the Winnipeg game was more of aberration than anything else. Winnipeg wasn't ready for that game and we took advantage.

Blash has to go... even if you just ride an interim the rest of the season... we've lost 7 of the last 8 and have been handled in a majority of those games. They need to let Mrazek play the next few games, regardless of how he plays. Give him a chance to get going and gain some confidence (if possible). Give Howard an extended rest because he just looks tired out there.

Yeah, the Wings are outshooting them cleanly... and they have good chances, just hard to get it past Allen. That's what makes this game so frustrating because we could have used a goalie that could help us compete in a 1-0 game (if our goalie was ready). He's got another season, too.

Also, Howard has just looked tired and disinterested in both the Montreal game and this game so far.

At this point, I'm just hoping we further cement Holland and Blashill's demise. This team is only in the position it is in, because of Holland and their complacency/lack of heart is on Blashill. They have clearly stopped listening to his message, whatever that was in the first place. All he can do is act indifferent and throw individual players under the bus to the media. I'm just hoping we are in the running for a top 2 pick at the end of the season, coupled with a new coach/GM.

Right, the team in front of them is blowing it, but you can't tell me Mrazek has been good tonight. He needs to make some clutch saves, make this a 3-0 game... he looks like garbage.