Jesusberg

Three times - good for a spot in the bottom ten of the league. The only teams who have yet to be shut out are Tampa and (oddly enough) Ottawa.

Weird hunch, but I feel like Kindl's going to have a real solid game. I wouldn't be totally shocked to see him add a sweet goal an assist or two. Edit: Grammar

I'm pretty sure we've already had disagreements over Brendan Smith contracting rabies from Nick Foligno and Jack Johnson's bankruptcy. I'm waiting for something really special next.

OK, every one start chipping in for the PPV. Kip vs. krsmith, best two out of three posts. I call special guest referee. Edit: Oh yeah, we're talking about Pulkkinen. I'm going to borrow an idea from Malik (yes, he offers some solid commentary at times) and say I thought he played with really good pace. He was after the puck all game - some good stick work on his end. He needs to learn to get his shot off much quicker, though. Far less time in the NHL to wind up. In fact, I think he really needs to start getting away from the wind-up. I know it's his bread and butter, but until he figures out how to create more space for himself, he'll need to find another way to his shot off.

Oh, I wasn't directing it at you. More like expanding on some of what you said, and maybe taking a different approach as to why he's on the 4th line. You and I were two of the few suggesting that Jurco starting the year in the AHL might be for the best. Really, that's why I was comparing Callahan and Jurco. It's not a direct comparison regarding their skill level, but rather their assumed role on the Wings.This team has enough scoring forwards - guys who fit into the top 9. Callahan could slot into a role as a net front presence, but he also makes sense on a fourth line. It's not going to hurt Callahan, because he's got a lower ceiling than Jurco. Edit: It's entirely possible that the team didn't have faith in Weiss' scoring ability (or healthy, for that matter), and I doubt they thought Helm was going to be used as a complimentary winger in the top 6. It was likely about depth, more than anything. Plus, I'm pretty sure getting Jurco on this team was one of the "battles" that Babcock won against Holland, with Ouellet being sent down as the one he lost.

Here's the thing. I don't think it's so much Babs trying to make it difficult for Jurco, as it is that this team is deep up front. I think you can say he sometimes makes life hard for Tatar, especially last season. Babcock pushes Tats more than anyone, because he sees a potential, budding superstar. I don't even think there's room for him to put Jurco through that process at the moment. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Nyquist, Tatar, Abdelkader and Helm have pretty much held down top six spots with Franzen rotating in there when he was healthy, too. Without Mule around, Weiss-Sheahan-Jurco should be this team's 3rd line, on a regular basis. I thought Luke looked good at times during the whole 3rd line, RW experiment thing, but in my opinion, that's Jurco's spot. This honestly might be a case where Jurco would have been better served starting in the AHL for another season. The argument for each side is something like: "He's better off playing every night in the AHL, than sitting in the NHL." "Yeah, but he's learned all he can down there. It's better that he plays against NHL talent every night." Well, he's not sitting, but he's playing in a lesser role and the competition he's facing isn't all that great. It's not the exact same situation, but it kind of reminds me of Tom Wilson on the Caps. He's stuck behind guys like Brouwer, Ward and whoever plays on their top line with Ovechkin (Johansson, Burakovsky, etc). They're got their 2012, 1st round pick in an enforcer role on their 4th line. Several Caps fans I've spoken to, and just taking a quick look online now, fans mention that Wilson's offensive game has regressed quite a bit. It remains to be seen what happens with him - chances are he bumps up and Ward leaves next season. Point being, it may have been a better decision to leave Jurco down the AHL this season, and have Callahan up instead. It would have been against "weaker" competition in the AHL, but he'd most likely be on a line with Miele-Pulkkinen. I think that would have done more for his offensive game than sitting on Detroit's 4th line is right now.

Throwing Pulkkinen right on that top line... I know Gus has slowed down, but I'm surprised to see Teemu there. I wonder if there's something to the whole "showcasing" theory.

I tend to agree with most of the points made in this article: http://thehockeywriters.com/its-time-to-give-tomas-jurco-a-chance/ Jurco can produce more than he is right now, especially considering the minutes he's getting. You can't really expect much offensive out of him in his current role.

Actually, you made it worse... "People who don't think Callahan won't amount to anything" = double negative. You're basically saying people who think Callahan is going to do well are stupid, or haven't watched enough of him. Also, I think he was referring to the Mantha part.

So, um... how about that Marek Zidlicky, eh? Guys? ...Hello?

Pulkkinen can seriously score from anywhere on the ice. It doesn't look like it should go in, but it finds a way.

Watching the game and was just going to mention this. Hooking penalty wasn't all his fault - he was put in a bad position. He's hard on the puck and uses his frame well.

Not necessarily, but I'd rather have that option. If Mrazek falters in that situation, at least Gustavsson could come in. You move Gustavsson and you have to turn to McCollum. It's not the end of the world if Mrazek goes back down for the remainder of the regular season. He can come back up when the NHL playoffs start, if they don't want to use him as the Griffins' starter down there.

I've seen it mentioned a few places (most likely here), and I agree with it. Let's say the team trades Gustavsson, then Howard goes down just before or during the playoffs. You're in a situation where your starting goalie is a rookie with no PO experience, and your back-up is Tom McCollum. If they really want Mrazek up during the post-season, then fine... but carry him as a black ace. I'd really prefer them to have the depth.

Honestly, if you've ever put stuff out there for public consumption, you know what you're getting yourself into. You write something and people are going to find a way to rip it apart. Same goes for putting out any kind of hockey-related information. People are going to find mistakes, or at least try, then call you out on it. If you're serious about your work, you'll appreciate it in the end. It's more important to get the facts right than it is to be right. You take your lumps, and get it right the next time. Chances are it's not the first, or last time that GM's going to get "fact checked". I did it the other day on something regarding Nick Jensen (I'm much nicer than Kip, though).

Kip, you're such a s***.

I always thought it was reported to be Larkin OR Mantha, not both. Not sure where the idea for both came. In fact, I just double checked... he says ONE of Mantha or Nyquist, then goes on to speculate about whether or not Detroit would be willing to part with Larkin. http://www.thescore.com/news/605596 Also, Durren Durgurr speculated on TSN 1040 about a package of Larkin, Kindl and a prospect. http://www.nicholsonhockey.com/worthreading/2014/11/11/dreger-red-wings-most-persistent-and-consistent-in-myers-pursuit On the record: I find Darren Dreger to be less and less credible each and every day. He was on top of the Kane-Myers thing yesterday, but he's gotta earn my trust back. I've been hurt too many times.

I appreciate your Smith crusade, but this happens because Weiss puts up points despite his position in the line-up and his minutes played.

There's still the elephant in the room: Jakey Kindl. I was picturing him as the HS in my scenario, sending Marchenko back down to GR, considering I don't think Toronto would take Kindl as part of the deal. They could always go with eight defenders, so long as Mule is on IR, but I'm not sure that's ideal. It would be ideal to move a roster play in pretty much any deal the team makes for another defender, as the team's going to need the room moving forward.

If Detroit does manage to land Franson, I would definitely be hesitant to break up DeQuincey. First instinct would be to put DeKeyser with Franson, but then we'd have a Smith-Quincey pairing, and we all know how that worked out... Big Rig's been better lately (at least offensively), but I think that's where I'd slot in Franson. I agree that Smith-Franson would likely be a disaster. These would be two different looks I'd explore if the team adds Franson. Kronwall-Ericsson Quincey-Franson DeKeyser-Smith Kronwall-Franson DeKeyser-Quincey Smith-Ericsson Obviously, these aren't the only options, but I'm trying to avoid pairings that haven't worked out in the past. I'm not as sold on that first group. As solid as Quincey has looked this year, I'm not sure I trust him to hold down that pair defensively.

Not so much of a direct comparison, but because that's one less guy off the market. I almost wonder if it'll influence Nonis to pair someone with Franson, looking to land a bigger package. I really think it's going to turn into a bidding war.

Have to imagine this drives up the price for a guy like Franson now.

Dreger says it's the lowest of the three 1st round picks they have. So, not their own. Edit: It's St. Louis' 1st rounder.

Not sure it's even a big deal, but apparently Franson and Lupul aren't practicing right now. Wasn't Franson rumored to be injured this past week? https://twitter.com/jonastsn1050/status/565548332354125824 Either way, looking at the BUF-WPG deal right now, I'm glad Detroit escaped the whole Myers thing. What an insane deal, if it all comes together.

**** is going down, people. Blockbuster. Dominoes. Bingo-bango.