Jesusberg

I think this is what's got the anti-Mule crowd worked up: Source: http://www.foxsports.com/detroit/story/holland-doesn-t-expect-to-do-much-in-trade-free-agent-market-062915 Could be legitimate. It could just be KH protecting his a**. If you flat out admit a guy is done, I assume that works against you keeping him on LTIR - league would just expect him to retire. You have to at least keep up appearances. Also, I can't seem to find anything on it, but I'm sure someone mentioned him even pushing to get into the second round if Detroit beat Tampa Bay. I'm not 100% if it was just something floating around or if someone had a legitimate source. Either way, it seems as if the teams expects him to be in the lineup. The only thing keeping him out is a setback during training camp or the preseason, which is probably 50/50 at this point.

I was thinking that maybe a line of Tvrdon-Nosek-Frk could mesh well, but then Tangradi, Hoggan and Grant were thrown into the mix. Add in the possibility of Callahan/Ferraro heading back to GR, and there's really not much room down there. Does he beat out any of AA, Larkin, Mantha, Bertuzzi, Miele, Tangradi, Tvrdon, Nosek or Hoggan for a top-nine spot? Possibly Hoggan? Then throw Callahan/Ferraro into the mix, and possibly Nastasiuk pushing for a spot. Grant-Aubry-Campbell as your fourth line - you're pressed to find Frk a spot, IMO.

While I agree with Ericsson's deal being too long/costly, I have a hard time seeing other GM's bite on it without DET retaining some money. With Nill grabbing Oduya, I doubt he'd have much interest in adding him, either.

That's some passive-aggressive Cain and Abel stuff right there. I'll level with you - I think it would be a mistake to have Jurco or Pulkkinen on the fourth line, which is what will likely happen if Mule is healthy. Is it an ideal situation? Definitely not, but what can you do with Franzen? As others have pointed out, there's too much risk in trying to move his contract, waive him, buy him out, etc. Ken Holland signed him to this deal, and the team is stuck with him. It's not about rolling the dice with Franzen, it's about making a calculated decision and not making a situation worse. Best case scenario occurs when Mule is at full health and contributing 20+ goals. Regardless of his play, his cap hit, his term or whatever, I like guys who can score 20+ goals for this team. Honestly, I don't think you're getting a pick for guys you may or may not lose on waivers. Personally, I like Callahan's game and I would enjoy having him on Detroit's fourth line. If it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world, though. A healthy Franzen can make or break a playoff series - you can't say that about Mitch Callahan.

If Detroit manages to move one of Kindl/Quincey, I would much rather that extra spot be used for prospects. I would like to see Ouellet, Marchenko and Jensen rotated into the lineup this year (don't think Sproul is ready, but we'll see how his season goes). With the money they have tied up now, plus raises due to DeKeyser, Abdelkader, Helm and Sheahan next season, I would be hesitant to sign a guy like Franson. Edit: As much as I harp on Smith, I think he and Marchenko looked good during their brief time together last season. I would be comfortable with using that as Detroit's third pair on defense.

Jim Nill is best described as an aggressive general manager. Don't get me wrong - I think he's a great hockey mind. It's probably a blast for Dallas fans that he's so active, but for all of the s*** he throws against the wall, half of it doesn't stick.

You know when an unattractive man/woman asks if they're ugly, and you tell them they're not? You tell them that they've got a great personality, and that anyone would be lucky to have them ...and then they ask you out. I'm guessing that's kind of what the Franzen situation is like for a lot of Detroit fans.

Wonder if Aubry plays as GR's fourth-line center. Out of Larkin, Athanasiou, Miele and Nosek, you have to think that one of them moves to the wing. I think there's too much talent there to play one of them down to the fourth line, but what do I know?

Oduya should be a good fit in Dallas. Not a great top-four by any means, but well-balanced in Goligoski-Klingberg and, presumably, Oduya-Demers. They have quite a few prospects who will make push for jobs, too (Oleksiak, Nemeth, Jokkipaka, Johns, Backman, Bystrom, Honka, etc). Perhaps this pushes Buffalo to go out and acquire someone *cough*

Just noticed this and Pulkkinen is not one of the guys at risk. If anything, a healthy Franzen creates a battle for the 14th forward spot between Andersson, Callahan and Ferraro. Why in the world would Holland put a guy like Pulkkinen on the chopping block before Callahan or Ferraro?

Thing is, Jurco's going to have to earn it. No, I don't think he was utilized properly last season - getting dog housed and scratched/stuck on the fourth line isn't going to help any younger player. At the same time, he's really gotta bank on his chances. Both Jurco and Pulkkinen have a fan in Blashill, but they're most likely competing for that same third-line, RW spot at the beginning of the season. Whatever time they get via other players being on the IR list, they'll have to make good on it.

Jensen's not out of exemptions. He's got one more year. 2015-16: Jurco & Pulkkinen 2016-17: Frk, Jensen, Marchenko, Mrazek, Nedomlel, Ouellet, Sproul & Tvrdon 2017-18: Athanasiou, Campbell, Coreau, Mantha & Nosek 2018-19: Nastasiuk & Paterson Games played in the NHL could change some of that, but that's where most of our guys stand right now.

I think he'll have a chance, but the team is pretty full up front. Starting the season without Datsyuk will give someone a chance, but a healthy Franzen takes up another spot. At full health, the group of forwards will look something like: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Abdelkader Tatar-Richards-Nyquist Franzen-Sheahan-Helm Miller-Glendening-Jurco Andersson, Pulkkinen, Ferraro & Callahan Maybe it's just me being pessimistic, but I see Andersson with the one-way contract and see it as a nod from Holland. Not saying he won't send down a guy on a one-way deal (Lashoff's on one, IIRC), but I think he'll be quicker to send down one/both of Ferraro and Callahan. I'd like to be wrong, though - I prefer either over Andersson at this point.

I know his chances of making the team are slim to none, but the thought of Callahan and Glendening on the same line, pissing off the opposition... That would be fun to watch.

Definitely agree with this. While it looks like Holland will have to make a move in Detroit (possibly Quincey or Kindl, allowing one of the ``kids`` to make the team, right now the defense down in GR looks something like: Ouellet-Marchenko Lashoff-Jensen Paetsch-Sproul That`s a pretty solid group right there.

This is a great deal - don't kid yourselves. The guy produces and you have to pay him accordingly.I was expecting/hoping for 2 years @ 4.5, but that was me being greedy. I usually steer clear of comparisons. Saad just got 6 million for similar production on a stacked Chicago team. Yes, he's a few years younger than Gus, but Nyquist could have gotten more. I'm going to name my dog after this man.

Boedker just settled/avoided going to arbitration with Arizona today for a one-year,$3.75M deal. Definitely see Gus going for north of 4, but nothing over 4.5.

I don't think people are saying that? It's more like... "Blashill says he's going to give Kindl and Smith a chance to play 'their' game in Detroit." I guess it depends on what you think KH has in mind. Is it going for it? If he is, he'll keep these seven defenders on the team. If he doesn't think this team can compete for the cup, he may very well have the mentality of, "well let's see what we have in these prospects" and allow them to rotate into that bottom pairing. It seemed as if that was his mentality a week ago. Holland went on about the youth movement prior to signing Green and Richards - how these guys need to play in the NHL. Was most likely posturing, but I'm sure he feels the "kids" need to play soon, too. It's not "Ugh, move Quincey, he's ****." It's more like the guy has one year left on his deal, after playing well all year. His is an easy contract to move to a team that thinks they need a solid LH shot. This team isn't moving Ericsson's albatross of a deal, and Blash is on record saying that he wants to give Kindl and Smith a shot. It's more like, "this move can be made to make room for a younger roster player." The bottom line is that I think people are taking everything Holland and Blashill say as gospel, when really anything can change on any given day. Personally, I would like to see a spot on that bottom pairing used to rotate guys like Jensen, Marchenko and Ouellet into the lineup, but it's not the end of the day if it doesn't happen. Though, if this team isn't a cup contender, then why keep Quincey? Guess it depends on your perspective, really.

Take it for what it's worth, but I noticed a number of favorable mentions regarding Saarijarvi and his play during today's camp on Twitter earlier today. Malik did a write-up on him, too.

Not sure if these have been tossed out there, but just stumbled upon them myself. https://twitter.com/AnsarKhanMLive/status/616610293339308032 https://twitter.com/AnsarKhanMLive/status/616609984592396288 So, looks like both Kindl and Smith will be given chances to play under Blashill. Honestly, I don't really have an issue with it, TBH. With how close he was to XO, Marchenko and Jensen, he knows what he's going to get out of those three. Once he sees what he has in Kindl and Smith, he can make a more informed decision. Going to be interesting to see Smith get the PP and what he'll do with it.

This. Don't think Turgeon will be playing in GR., either. Prob back to the Winterhawks. Also, I imagine they bring back Hoggan and Aubry. They like their vets, and Aubry was qualified, if I'm not mistaken. I don't really see Nastasiuk in their top-six either, but I suppose we'll have to see.

Really like the signing - just what the team needs. Solid top-four there. Kronwall-Ericsson DeKeyser-Green Saw that Kenny was talking about moving someone. First inclination is to move Kindl, but if there aren't any takers, maybe they can ship off Quincey. He had a solid season, and there might be more teams willing to take a shot with him. Smith-Quincey just doesn't work as a pairing, and I'd like to see one of the RH shots down in GR used on this team. Smith-Marchenko looked solid in their short time together - think they'd be a decent bottom pair. I'd also like to see Jensen get a look there, too. Kindl is what he is, but I'd rather leave 2.4 sitting on the bench than a prospect or 2.75 of Smith. Maybe they can flip KFQ for a pick or two.

Might be an unpopular opinion, but I would consider moving Helm. Krsmith, just looking at your proposed lineup, he looks out of place on that fourth line now, but I've got the exact same top-nine in mind. I can't see him getting "fourth-line" money. Who knows what he's going to ask for next offseason. Abdelkader and DeKeyser will be in for bigger raises, Sheahan and Mrazek smaller ones. I'd like to see what the team has in Jurco and Pulkkinen, and they're in good shape with Larkin/Athanasiou not far behind. I wouldn't go so far as to call Helm expendable, but he had a good season and he's got younger guys right behind him with higher offensive ceilings. Edit: Just to clarify, I don't think they'll move Helm. I think they'll kind of do a slow build with Pulkkinen, getting him to earn his ice time. If Mule is healthy, probably use Jurco on the 4th line with Miller-Glendening, which I'm not a fan of at all.

As much as Weiss was a bust here, Babcock didn't do him any favors by burying him. Weiss would have stretches of solid play, then somehow wind up in the 4th line, RW position. I can get behind the idea that Weiss being put on the wing was the give him less responsibility, but when he put up some points, he was rewarded with a demotion. Always got the vibe that Babcock didn't like the way Weiss competed (didn't compete) for the puck. Cared more about how the player played, and not the result of his play. Same with Kindl, IMO.

Red Wings don't have their 3rd next season. They'd need to re-acquire it from New Jersey.