JPT

I don't understand all this Jurco misuse talk. What about earning a spot on the top lines? He was playing with lesser talent yes, but also playing against lines with lesser talent. He showed a flash here or there but never ever truly impressed.

Absolutely. I would move our first rounder in a package for either of these guys. They're potential building block for this team and acquiring players of this caliber could help us kick start a rebuild. 1st + Nyquist/Tatar? I wonder if teams will go crazy to bid for these guys.

The only one we know that is on the market is Shattenkirk. And there are a lot of team interested with STL in no rush to move him. So I'm not bemoaning the lack of action from KH. I do hope he's talking about Shattenkirk. I hope he's talking about Trouba. But its not like we have a glut of studs to trade, the only one is Larkin and there is not a single person on this forum who would be ok with moving him. I'm not surprised a trade hasn't happened and I believe KH is looking to make a deal. I still give him a failing grade though, after the ridiculous Helm, Glendening contracts.

So what are we willing to give that would land us a Trouba or Shattenkirk? I suspect that Mantha would have to go in any such deal, plus a roster player like Nyquist. That's a steep price, but maybe we need to bite the bullet.

From what I'm reading and talking to Isles fans about they're feeling worse about losing Nielsen than Okposo. They really made a push to keep him. Quick read: http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2016/7/1/12077848/frans-nielsen-free-agent-contract-red-wings Comments are worth perusing.

Helm would have gotten a similar deal had we let him walk....which I would have been fine with. Especially knowing we were going to sign Nielsen. Nielsen aav is fine, term is two years too long but I'm sure KH felt pressure to get a deal done. I think Nielsen makes the team better. i don't think you get a a top FA in the NHL without significant term these days.

I think we have to acknowledge that no one wants to live in Detroit. I certainly wouldn't. Boston is a great city.

I'm good with this, ideally would have been for 4 or 5 years but the market is what it is. With this term wishing even more we didn't sign Helm.....

I yelled NO in my apartment when I saw this thread. It's not that Darren Helm is not a useful player, he's good to have on the PK and in the bottom 6. It's that he's taking a spot I'd rather have a young player in and if we're going to give out too many years in a contract I'd rather it be for Okposo or Lucic. Or maybe we're not in the running for those guys. At this point I'd rather save the cap space for next year and try again with the top FA.....

Hit was slightly late, didn't seem all that dirty to me

From the current roster: -Trade Howard (if possible). Free's up much needed cap space. Sign vet backup, hand keys to Mrazek. -Let Richards and Miller walk. Helm too if he wants more than ~ $3mil over 3 years. Quincy I would love to resign short term but let him walk too, unless we jettison Ericsson. -Resign Sheahan, Dekeyser, Marchenko, Mrazek and I guess Pulkkinen. Guys to target: -Obviously Stamkos. Guy is elite, we need an elite player and he's only 26. If you can sign him for anything under 10 mil/yr do it. -Yandle. I would be comfortable anywhere around 6mil for 4-5 years. Maybe that's lowballing him? Obviously can't do both Stamkos and Yandle unless serious moves are made. -Everyone else out there like Lucic, Eriksson, Ladd, Backes are going to want too much and too much term for their age. Let's not forget that after you hit 30 scoring production declines. I know it's never done, and KH is the least likely to make a move like this but I would throw an offer sheet at an RFA who's team is close to the cap. If the Bolts resign Stamkos they may have trouble matching an offer for Kucherov. Kid is 23 and not yet in his prime. If we can't trade for Vatanen, throw an offer sheet his way. Not realistic I know, but if you want a stud for his prime years this is the way to do it.

Boy the Wings sure came out flat, but the last half of the game they put about incredible amount of pressure on Tampa and it's just unlucky we couldn't get that third goal. I don't blame Mrazek, the fault for the loss falls on our special teams. PP is a joke, pk stinks too.

Not a chance this happens. Yzerman has been building his team there, you think he's just going to drop everything? That's silly.

Wow not cool. I'm not even going to get angry about this, it's what I expected coming in. Too many weaknesses. They've definitely played decent hockey at times but it'll always come back to bite you. Mrazek playing is a no brainer. Would like to see Smith and Mantha just for the change.

Just got home from Barclays. Thank god we're not going back to that hole that is Nassau Coliseum! Wings could never win there. Barclays was pretty empty, not surprising given the snow we had over the weekend. Probably half Wings fans too. From my view, it was a choppy, ugly game. A win, but Wings clearly need to be better to be a postseason danger. Hope we can make a trade before the deadline to improve.

I think the aav around 4 mil a year sounds about right but 7 years is insane. He's 28, already at the end of his prime. Forwards decline after 30, and while he has been a solid player last year's scoring is the outlier, not his current production. 4 years should be what the organization commits to. It's time to be smart instead of trying to be loyal and handing out contracts that hamstring flexibility

The label "all-star" means nothing. Howard was playing the best hockey of his career early this season for sure. But he has a larger body of work and he is nothing more than a solid goalie that has issues with the shootout and consistency. And the shootout does mean something - it sure would be nice to have a couple extra points from all those shootout losses. That being said Mrazek has shown enough that I would gamble and see if Jimmy would waive his NMC. He's a lot of salary for someone who isn't the clear #1 on the team and I think you could bring in a veteran for insurance like Jhonas Enroth at a much lower cap hit and use the $ elsewhere on the roster.

Babcock is in a tough spot here. Mrazek has played well enough to at least plan the seed that he might be the better goalie to ride at the moment. But even in light of Howards struggles I don't think you sit him yet. Mrazek needs more starts and if he can outplay Howard then I say ride him as far as he takes us.

Unfortunately the Isles do too....

Parity does have a lot to do with it. Great rivalries are created by great teams fighting for a division and meeting in the playoffs and battling it out.

Call me crazy but I think trying to trade for a potentially elite player is a good thing. Hall is 23 years old and scored 80 points in 75 games last season. He is not the reason Edmonton is horrible, that's on managment. I would think that Edmonton fans would commit ass suicide if they were to trade him and I doubt he's really on the block. Even if he were the Wings wouldn't part with the pieces to make it happen. But I want to play too.... Mantha + Tatar + Smith + 1st Rd pick for Hall and Petry Mantha is a blue chip prospect...but still a prospect. Tatar is a good player but a tradeable asset. Losing Smith would hurt but I think we have some prospects that could step in if we don't make a trade. Again Hall could be an elite player and if you haven't noticed the two of those the Wings have are a little long in the tooth

I was just getting to like his middle name "rebound machine". The shootout really does expose his weaknesses, he's always down first, have you ever seen him poke check someone making a move on him?

Can SOMEONE take the body and not let the Bruins skate anywhere they want? Dear god

If he re-signs Cleary then he should be fired!

Being in ny I'm watching rangers - isles. Good game, fun to watch.