heyfolks

Monster and XO were just called up.
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/02/red_wings_recall_xavier_ouelle_1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+detroit-redwings+%28Detroit+Red+Wings+-+MLive.com%29
Looks like they had a spot for XO and he is being called up out of respect for his play and an invite extended to his father for the mentoring trip. man the wings are a class act.

Monster and XO were just called up.
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/02/red_wings_recall_xavier_ouelle_1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+detroit-redwings+%28Detroit+Red+Wings+-+MLive.com%29
Looks like they had a spot for XO and he is being called up out of respect for his play and an invite extended to his father for the mentoring trip. man the wings are a class act.

Monster and XO were just called up.
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/02/red_wings_recall_xavier_ouelle_1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+detroit-redwings+%28Detroit+Red+Wings+-+MLive.com%29
Looks like they had a spot for XO and he is being called up out of respect for his play and an invite extended to his father for the mentoring trip. man the wings are a class act.

Ok, blind side hit from behind that knocked him over. It was more his teammates fault by not warning him that Prust was on him. Again, he got knocked down from behind. None of that play is indicative of how good or bad Myers is. But then again, cherry pickers will cherry pick.

Brunner appears to be a soft, no hit, no D, 20 goal scorer.
Tater appears to be a more competitive replacement, with more speed and tenactiy. The question is, can he make the same offensive contribution as Brunner?
I prefer Tatar and bringing up the other younger forwards. Good luck to Smiley.

is anyone happy right now? - In direct reply, I am very happy with these moves.
Weiss > Fil
Alfie > Brunner
How is the team worse off with these swaps?
The Wings are rebuilding and staying competitive. They lose Fil but picked up Weiss (who is an Eastern Conference vet). They lost Brunner and picked up a NHL HOF type player in Alfie (who is also an Eastern conference vet).
Both are upgrades.

Brunner appears to be a soft, no hit, no D, 20 goal scorer.
Tater appears to be a more competitive replacement, with more speed and tenactiy. The question is, can he make the same offensive contribution as Brunner?
I prefer Tatar and bringing up the other younger forwards. Good luck to Smiley.

We spoke of this in the other (Howard is average) thread. I presented his stats and the pay ranges. The rumored talk of 4-5 million fall into the range of earned by performance pay one would expect.
As for the future, no GM woth his weight in salt, is shortening the length of term of a proven top tier NHL netminder because of the potential of a 1st year pro prospect. The "worst case" scenario is you end up with a proven NHL #1 and a protege #2, see Vancouver. Even in this scenario Howard won't have the anchor of a contract Luongo carries. Even then Mrazek would need to be locked up and he may choose to hit the open market.
One in the net is worth 2 in the bush leagues. so you fans who believe Mrazek to be the next "Dominator" remember he backed up Belfour for two seasons. Even when moved to the Sabres he was a back-up. I can't remember the one guy's name but he was behind Fuhr until he got hurt. goalies take time and the results are unpredictable. Detroit has found a solid #1.
I wonder what a goalie must do, slay a dragon(?) to win the hearts of some Wing fans?
Achievements Jimmy Howard Medal record Competitor for United States Men's ice hockey World U18 Championships Gold 2002 Slovakia Ice hockey Holds University of Maine school record for shutouts, goals against average
and save percentage. (holds all three records for both single season and career.)
Was awarded a Legislative Sentiment by former Maine State Representative Chris Greeley in July 2011, for his success as both a college and professional hockey player, and his work with kid's hockey programs. Holds NCAA records for GAA(1.19) and save percentage(.954) – 2003–04.[3] Only NHL goalie to face a penalty shot in each of his first two games.[10] Named to the 2005–06 AHL All-Rookie team.[11] Named the 2009–2010 Detroit Red Wings Rookie of the Year in voting by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. Runner-up for the 2010 Calder Memorial Trophy Named to the 2012 NHL All-Star team

This. There are 5 people on the team that could deliver a pass like that and only 3-4 of them could actually catch the pass and put it in. Franzen + Dats = Goal!
BTW, Dats played with Franzen today and finally broke out of his slumber. Everyone here wanted to see Dats with someone besides Cleary and Abdelkader. He was with Franzen for probably half of his shifts.

If the rumored amounts are true-5 million, Howard would be the 12th best paid G in the league. 12th! That is a bargin.

Well recover from some annoying injuries and rebound nicely as the 4th seed.

Let's go wings, 2 for 1 special, SJS don't make it in and we take 4th seed

Believers may only apply. Here's to another year of playoff hockey and rooting on the team we know and love

Howard is in his prime, yes, and is a legit #1 goalie and top 5-7 in the league. sign him until he's 34-35....yes please.
Mrazek is a couple years away likely. If he turns out to be a showstopper in a year or 2, we have a nasty G tandem, which we haven't had in....? Someone fill this blank_________ Or we have an option to move one for other needed assets, like a top 6 goal scorer.
McCollum couldn't prove himself useful in the AHL. His audition has come and gone.

Yes to visors and they should all put a chin guard, like yo see for those that play with jaw/mouth issues. That single bar would lower concussions with shots to the head.
Laugh - I don't think Pat LaFontaine would care today, nor Lindros, Deadmarsh or many others who careers ended early by concussion or facial injuries.
Bryan Berard, a NHL #1 nearly lost his eye at 23. He played with 20/400 vision in that eye.
Visors are mandatory in the AHL and 68% in the NHL wear them today.
http://deadspin.com/5988850/will-the-nhl-mandate-visors-before-someone-loses-an-eye-and-a-career
I JUST do not understand how the players or owners do not move to protect the players with equipment changes clean up the dirty play. A guy like Matt Cooke is putting more than star players at risk (since the is not enough motivation) but organizational success, which translates to $$$$ lost.

Loving Kindl's confidence. This is the guy they they thought they were getting when he was drafted

Kindl has been great so far!

Kindl for the Norris!
In all seriousness he has 5 points and is +8 in 16 games. Those are solid numbers. He's been great the past 8 or so games.
It's odd how the biggest question mark has turned out to be the best asset for the team. The D is playing hard and (mostly) smart. The offense needs to catch up.

Honestly, Kindl has been great the last several games. He is making great plays at the opposition blue line on the rush, has been solid defensively, and even throwing the body around. He has also gotten better at getting pucks to the net. Hopefully he has turned a corner in his career and is gaining confidence, much like Ericsson has this season. Over the last two or three games I would put him among our top 2 or 3 guys.

Kindl is developing very nicely before our eyes. Same as Ericsson over the last 2 years. It seems like he has been around here forever, but he only has 120 or so career games. 1.5 seasons. Still has 2 more years before what should be his peak years. The hole D has been great for the last 10 games or so. Now that all 6 are healthy and playing in the same pairs every night. Good job by all of them and the staff for developing/drafting them.

Cleary-Abdelkader-Tootoo is a great 4th line

I fully understand it take 2 to dance. But there is plenty of work for Holland to do with the players we currently have. Here is a good list:
1. resign Howard. Start at 5 years/20 million and get it done.
2. resign Brunner. start at 3 years/7.5 million and get it done.
3. resign Smith. RFA this year.
4. Resign Kindl. RFA this year.
Those 4 things should be done asap. It fills out your roster, keeps good young talent, and sets the amount you have to spend. Now you know how much can be added salary wise this year and in the upcoming off season.
Now start clearing out those not needed. Several teams are rumored to be looking for D. move White and Cola-picking up draft picks is fine with me. There is a deep draft this year, and draft picks are always asked for in trades. Now if we need to spend a pick to pick up a player we can.
Then do the same with the forward group. There are a few veteran guys that playoff bound teams always look for. Guys like sammy, bert, Cleary, eaves, etc....
None of those guys are going to get you 1st round picks, that is fine. But out of that group we should be able to add 3 picks between the 3rd and 5th round.
Once that is done we have a younger roster, more athletic roster, cheaper roster, and a bunch of picks. Now you can add pieces as needed. All of this can be and should be done over the next 2 weeks. Hopefully at the same time, more teams fall out of the PO race and the chance to buy improves.

This is nowhere near an open debate or discussion of facts. I presented stats, salaries and asked related questions. Axe ignores them and simply parrot the same lines over and over again.
Don't feed the hate!
{click}

Kindl's really impressed me the past 4 games. Since Babs challenged him to be better, he has been. Hasn't over skated any pucks like is usually the norm for him, no terrible glaring turnovers of memory and he's starting to get physical. Threw a great hit against the Hawks along the wall. After seeing Ericssons game develop so much this season, I think I'm riding Kindl this year. I've been critical of him since he joined the team full time in 09/10 and was battling Salei (RIP) for the 6th spot, but maybe he's just a late bloomer too. The current 6 D as it is, is really exciting. And it's hard to believe I'm saying that after Nick left this off-season haha.

ya, not to mention he takes the blame for each loss and never makes excuses. He never says, "well if Quincey hadn't gotten out of position I could have made a save" he says "I should have made the save, I lost sight of the puck and they made me pay for it"
He is a workhorse, a stand up guy, and definitely top 10 in the league