SwedeLundin77

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2018/06/detroit_red_wings_set_sights_o.html#incart_river_mobile_index takeaways: - Holland wants Kovalchuk and is offering 2 years at a high salary - Vanek is also on his radar, 1 year only - Green offers are 1 year at 6 million or 2 years at 5 million - Primary backup wants are Hutton or Khudobin - Frk may not be re-signed - Bylsma may be joining the coaching staff - RFAs: Larkin will be the only long term contract, 5 years. The others will be no more than 3 years.

That’s all I’m advocating for.

The troll is strong with you.

No one is saying he's going to be an all-star, but to keep him down another season (during a rebuild) seems a tad ridiculous. You have to be able to evaluate your players at the NHL level, otherwise, how do you really know what you have? It is a small sample size, but if you don't ever have a "large" sample size, you simply never know.

You need to seriously check your interpretation of text "emotions." Fairly certain the gif hit home the "sarcasm." Do we want to get back to talking hockey or are you just going to troll on?

Khan wrote something recently that seemed to suggest that if Bouchard is gone by 6, they will either take Kotkaniemi there or trade down and take him if he drops. Not sure if that's insider info or just Khan. I'd still take Wahlstrom or trade down and take him if they don't like the defensemen left on the board at 6.

Yet, he scored 3 points in 5 NHL games and didn't look that out of place, even playing on the powerplay.

Not the only one. Hicketts played better than Ericsson, Kronwall, Jensen, Ouellet. Hence, he should be in the lineup to at least see how he fares over a season before ruling him out.

Oh, how slighted I feel, that in a message forum, someone else happened to have the same opinion I did and voiced it.

I’d say at least give Svech a decent chance to show what he’s got at the NHL level before taking a dump on him. I’m not against trading him either.

This... it’s not an exaggeration and thanks, Christopher, for admitting that development differs from player to player.

The coach and GM have to be willing to have spots available. This staff has shown, up until now, that veterans can do no wrong but that youth have to play like all-stars in 6-8 minutes per game in order to have a shot. It’s bassackward. Again, really happy you’re not in charge of any facet of player development because everyone would be sucktastic. Would you agree that there are players that haven’t come into their own until later in their careers? Blake Wheeler comes to mind.

Oh, I completely agree. I mean, I'm fine if Green goes elsewhere because it serves the rebuild just fine and gives the kids a better shot at making the roster (Hicketts and Hronek). It'd be nice to suss out if Hicketts can stick and be a viable 5/6 guy with powerplay upside. I just mentioned Faulk because we can, hopefully, dump a contract or two in the move and his contract is up in 2 years which gives some flexibility. In an ideal world, we make a trade for Hanafin, Bean, Trouba...

Awesome... way to give the kid a chance to prove he can make it. I'm happy you're not in charge of player development, they'd be royally screwed.

I'm not sure how reliable these guys are, but Last Word on Hockey did a scouting report of him: Skating: Hughes is an outstanding skater. He looks like he is floating above the ice. He has very good speed and acceleration in both directions. Hughes has a textbook stride, and the ability to change directions on a dime. He uses the outstanding speed to join the rush or to pinch at the line. Hughes is rarely caught deep as he can still get back into position defensively thanks to that speed. His agility and footwork allow him to beat defenders one-on-one as well as to walk the line and make quick moves to open up passing and shooting lanes. Hughes has a low center of gravity which helps his balance and makes him strong on the puck. Offensive Game: Hughes has excellent vision and playmaking ability, as well as the hockey sense to almost always make the right play. He seems to think the game and anticipate plays better than others out there on the ice. With his skating and stickhandling ability, Hughes is not afraid to skate the puck out of his zone or lead the rush. He can also make a long pass to start the transition game and start an odd-man rush. He has the passing ability and the hockey IQ to quarterback the play from the point. Hughes has the poise to make plays under pressure. He has a good arsenal of shots. His wrist shot is strong and accurate and features a quick release. He uses it often when trailing the play on the rush, or when pressured by shot blockers. He also has a hard and accurate slap shot. Defensive Game: Hughes' defensive game is based on this anticipation and ability to quickly transition the puck out of his own zone. The size is a liability as Hughes can be outmuscled in his own end. He needs to be quick on the puck on dump-ins, as well as using a good stick check to steal pucks from attackers. Hughes will continue to need work in his own end, perfecting his positioning, and reading the play in order to maximize his potential. He could also add some muscle to his frame. Projection and Comparison: Hughes can be an elite offensive and puck-moving defenseman at the next level. He should quarterback the power play and lead the rush. The defensive game is a question mark, and how much he can improve in the next couple of years will determine if he is a first pairing defenseman at even strength or more of a second pairing player. Hughes will likely head back to college for his sophomore season, as he is probably not going to be NHL ready this fall. His game is reminiscent of Ryan Ellis of the Nashville Predators. Yeah, I saw the same thing. He's not a local kid. He is local NOW, as in his first year in college at that school. Still, Holland does love his USDL players.

That's what I'm thinking, too. Svechnikov was given a chance last season and if you look at what analysts and such said, he played very well and did all the little things right. The thought is that if Blashill actually gives him legit ice time, he'll become more lethal on the score sheet and be just fine. My opinion is that he needs to be on the starting roster. Trade Witkowski who is, essentially, dead weight.

I have to imagine they move Ouellet and Jensen at the draft or prior to the season starting. I would like to see Kronwall split time with Hicketts this season. That will give Hicketts (being smaller) a chance to ease his way into the play and give the staff a good time to evaluate him at this level to know if he's going to be good going forward. I really do think Hronek is ready to jump up and would love to see him on the 3rd pairing from the get-go. I feel like it's 50/50 with Green coming back. On one hand, he's comfortable here and likes it here and on the other, this may be his last chance to really push for a cup win. If I'm him, I go to the Caps, TB, or Vegas and sign a 3-4 year deal at a lower cap hit. I just never cared for Green (at $6 million). He's not the offensive threat he used to be and a lot of times he does seem to disappear from the play. I understand he'd be a good player for Hronek to learn from, but I'm not sure how much that really matters anyway.

Yeah, I can see this both ways. One way is saying, Zadina hasn't played in the NHL yet so you just can't know for absolute certainty what he'll be. The other way is that he really is THAT good and more than likely will be a 1st line winger for years and it won't take him long to get there. I'd be okay with trading up with Mantha as bait to get Zadina or Svechnikov so long as we hang on to our #6 and nab the best d-man available there. Zadina, to me, is more of a Laine type player. I don't feel like looking for it, but it was reported a short while back that Holland is looking at options to move up to #3 or down, but not out of the top 10. I'm pretty sure that rumor involved using the #6 to move up, though.

So Khan indicates that if Green doesn’t sign here, they’re going in on Carlson. Not sure I like that move, given the cost. He won’t come here, but yeah, I’d rather make a trade for Faulk, Hanafin, or Bean.

You just now came across this? This has been in the news for a few days now.

Just read the recent article from Khan and he seems to indicate that Hronek, right now, is the front-runner for the open D spot.

Sure, lateral, but younger and cheaper. Also better offensively and has the kind of attitude and work ethic that is contagious.

If they return the same crappy D as last season and block Hicketts, Hronek, Bouchard... it’s pure stupidity. It flies in the face of the rebuild. Now if they sign Green and move Ouellet and Jensen or Ericsson, then I’m fine with it.

Facts are the true enemy these days... it's all about showbiz!

There's snow somewhere, sure, but in Virginia it's toasty!