SwedeLundin77

From what I've read on mlive, they're going to bring him back to Detroit to see the team doctors. The Griffins doc, after checking his knee out, said it appeared sound. They're classifying it as a "little tweak." It also said that him coming out of the game was more precautionary than necessary. Sounds like they think, if he had to, he could have played through it. In either case, it's unfortunate with the deadline coming up. I don't think they'd be able to trade him anyway, but still.

I don't think Blashill is the answer, in any capacity, at this point. He has shown a surprising lack of passion or heart and it's clear that when your team is in the dumps and you finally get healthy, that if you are showing very little heart and drive, it has to be on the coach. Holland needs to move on from him now, so that we can get a possible coach in (Hitchcock, Gallant) that can prove what he can do down the stretch here and then they can make a decision in the off-season.

You cannot let someone like Hitchcock get by... especially with the state of this team and the coaching staff.

Well trade block has to include Vanek, Miller, and Ott, and Smith. They're all pending UFA's. id also put Nyquist, Jurco, Sproul, Ericsson, Dekyser, and Mrazek or Howard out there.

Rumor has it that Vanek really wants to stay with Detroit. If they do stay in contention, I hope he's re-signed to 2-3 year contract. I also wonder about trading him so he has a shot at a cup with the understanding that he'd sign with us in the offseason.

You're absolutely right. He's just not NHL caliber. He took nearly half a season to bench Sheahan, but Athanasiou has a couple of bad shifts and he's benched? Not to mention, he's one of your more explosive forwards and you play him around 8 minutes a game? Get out of here. Also, Larkin playing on the bottom 6 is just ridiculous. Glendening playing in the top 6 is also ridiculous. He regularly uses backhanded compliments about players to the media and doesn't show enough emotion in and out of games. Both he and Holland need to go. They need to make some serious moves.

Halak went unclaimed... too bad we don't have the cap for him. We just had to have Paper Helm, or E. How has Blashill not been fired yet... it's ridiculous!

Well he said both, and Holland actually controls who is called up/sent down... so, you know, like calling Lashoff up instead of Jensen or Russo. That was Holland. Blashill decides to keep playing Sheahan and not benching him like he should to send a message and light a fire, like any sensible and hard coach would have done long ago.

I think there will be a sense of urgency going into a new arena. They need to sell tickets, and going into a new season being a .500 or less team is not going to fly with Illitch. I just hope that if/when they do make moves, they don't overreact.

I have a friend who's uncle works in the press box (has for a long time). If Blash keeps losing, he's out and Torchetti is in for the rest of the season at least. Shake things up and get rid of Holland at the end of the season. He is the main reason we're in this mess. Illitch has to be pissed that THIS is the last season at the Joe and the team heading into the brand new complex. Of course, how long does he have to lose for?

Blashill has to go... The season is more than likely lost at this point, give someone else a chance to at least turn things around a bit.

Yeah, I agree. I would have thought that he'd be gone by now, considering last year and now the start of this season. I hate the fact that Holland is basically standing pat instead of shaking things up now, while there is still a chance to turn things around. I don't think Torchetti is the long-term answer, but give him a chance to help turn this season around. Blashill just doesn't show any emotion and it's frustrating when the team is playing so poorly. His lines and TOI management is also beyond frustrating. AA is finally above the 4th line, but he should have been playing at least 2nd line all season so far. Sheahan should have been on the 4th line after the first 2 weeks, and should have been benched multiple times. It's not all Blashill's fault, but these are the same guys he had a lot of success with in the AHL, so he should be able to get more out of them. Holland needs to fix a lot and stop signing terrible contracts and handcuffing the team's future. Holland needs to go, but I don't know who would replace him. Maybe Jimmy D. It just sucks that we let Yzerman go and then let Nill go. I'd take either one here in a heartbeat.

So this is purely word of mouth, but my friend's uncle works in the press box with the Wings. Rumor from him is that if they keep losing, Blashill is out and Torchetti is in as head-coach (interim I would guess). Apparently, Blashill is a very ho-hum coach with little to no heart in the locker room. That's what the press box folks are saying. Also, Chelios has taken to referring to Blashill as "Jeff Blash s***." Again, this could be exaggerated, but I find it very interesting that Holland didn't come to defend Blashill in the latest article I read (when the interviewer asked about Blashill's status). I feel like Holland always openly supports his staff/players when asked about how they're doing. Take it as you will.

Watch out boys and girls, Vermette is being bought out by Arizona. http://www.tsn.ca/source-coyotes-place-vermette-on-buyout-waivers-1.536354

A common opinion that literally know shares with you in here so far and I guarantee the majority of hockey fans do not share either. Do you need a schooling on what "common" means?

But...but...but... I thought only the "all-stars" were responsible for winning? I sense that shocky will never truly understand just how wrong he is on this subject.

Yeah, you can GTFO for this comment alone. Blasphemy. Oh, and Darren McCarty?

Vanek's production dipped with the Wild... you know who else saw their production go down and stay relatively down on the Wild? Parise. I would wager there is a correlation here. I have a feeling his numbers will bounce back with us, assuming we don't misuse him.

Some might say that Dallas Drake was a part of why we won our last cup... Not saying that Ott is comparable to Dallas Drake, but your comment about grit meaning nothing holds no water. Grit does not go hand in hand with fights and PM's. Okay, first of all, Pulk had had ample opportunity to show he can bring it in the NHL and has yet to really earn it. 20 points in 70 games. That doesn't bode well for a sniper. Secondly, Mantha would be wasted on the 4th line. He'd be better of playing top line minutes in Grand Rapids. I would love to have Mantha stay up with the big club this season, but one more year in the AHL may actually benefit him over playing 10 or less minutes a game on a shut-down line.

I would also say it's hilarious that you have Helm on the 4th line. He's on the 3rd line, count on it. I don't think he would have stayed otherwise.

That's cute that you think Helm will be playing on the 4th line. We didn't pay him as much as we did to have him play minimal minutes. Mantha will more than likely be in GR. If we can't trade a roster forward, then Mantha and AA will be in the minors this season. It pisses me off, but that's what happens when you re-sign Helm and Miller. I'm happy to have Ott. He's a character guy, and won't let the opposition take liberties with our (few) stars. I kind of hope it allows Abdelkader to concentrate more on putting the puck in the net and less on stupid penalties.

In what regard? Less wear and tear?

Boedker 4 years, 4 million per with San Jose. Yet another guy it seems we may have been in on (according to chatter). Would have rather had him over Helm. He can at least produce points.

He doesn't need to mention wanting a trade right now. He is definitely looking into it as he has 8 defensemen, 15 forwards right now. Those are the players who cannot be sent down, so he currently has 2 extra forwards and 1 extra d-man. Something has to give there.

Good move to bring in some grit on the 4th line. Holland said that AA and Mantha are going to have to push the other guys in training camp, so sounds like they'll be in Grand Rapids, unfortunately. Unless we make a big trade for a D-man. I have to imagine, if we do, it'll involve Nyquist and others.