Jesusberg

There's a new player in the world of game day threads. Cleary with the hattie. Every. Day. Playa.

Cleary in for Jurco, not Andy. Gotta love the way they decided to phrase it

Fixed I'm OK with Franzen being on the 3rd line. Makes sense to balance things out, and if it doesn't work, they can always swap Nyquist for Jurco and turn it back into the 2nd line.

Detroit was outplayed in the first 2 periods, they were soft on the puck, yada, yada. That's all fine and dandy - they lost. What's ridiculous is how the team is constantly being called for goalie interference based on reputation. That's just wrong to me. A referee should be calling what he sees, not what he thinks he sees/he's going to see. "They were in the crease earlier, so when they score... nooope." It's what happened with Glendening the other night - Detroit has a reputation for being in front of the net/in the crease. It's great that Babs and co. are at peace with it, but I've seen that goal or one similar counted several times this year. The reputation calls need to end. All I want is consistency throughout the league, but that's too much to ask for, apparently.

This is pretty much my exact fear. The team is riding a high and Mule is going to jump back into the line-up. To me, this game is going to be as important as any they have played so far this year. I want to see that killer instinct they've been lacking in previous seasons. I want to see them crush Buffalo and limit them to 10 shots on goal. Edit: Not to mention, it's a dreaded afternoon game.

I actually agree with sending Jurco down. I was thinking that before the season even began when there was the Alfie vs. Jurco debate. I actually think krsmith was in agreement then, too. I think Jurco being in the AHL could spark his play and the Griffins' offense. Also, nice to see Trotz give Detroit the nod. Lot of mutual respect between both coaches.

Yeah, it's not an anti-Nestrasil thing, but when you've got the guy compared to one of your better goal scorers on the team... I don't get going after Mule every chance possible. When he's coasting and playing below his ability, sure, but why dog him when he's playing well? The guy is making less than four million, and when you compare him to other people being paid about that much, it's worth the cold streaks he goes through. He's started the year off with five points in four games. Let it go.

And Rask hasn't looked sharp this year. Combine that with the team looking for someone to put with Lucic-Krejci (they've used Griffith lately, but it's been a struggle thus far)... they've got some serious issues. Seidenberg-Hamilton as a top pairing...

Every time I see a team hit with the injury bug, I cringe... must be a sense memory thing. Then I think, "maybe we can shoot ahead of Tampa, Boston, etc.". Then I think, "Hey, you want Jakub Kindl?" Issue is that these teams getting hit right now are all up against the cap.

If I know Mike Babcock, (I don't, but we can pretend for right now) he'll wind up going with something like this: Mule-Z-Nyquist Tatar-Datsyuk-Helm/Abs Abs/Helm-Sheahan-Jurco Miller-Glendening-Andersson Weiss, Cleary Also, can writing "Kindl (Ouellet)" become a thing around here? Just leave XO's name in parentheses every time Kindl is mentioned

From my perspective, I don't see Myers putting Detroit over the top in the next two years - maybe that's just me. Around that time, Sproul and Jensen should be on this team. I'm not sure the ceiling between Sproul and Myers is that far apart. I agree that this team is going to have too many NHL caliber defenders (hopefully), and I think one or more should be packaged, but with a winger - not a center. Again, in terms of relative value, I feel as if Larkin is worth more to this team. I don't think you move two of Ouellet, Sproul, Backman, Marchenko and/or Jensen and get someone like Larkin back. IMO, it would be poor asset management if Holland moved Larkin today, hoping that he can move one or more of those guys down the road for another center. Perhaps if this team was in a better position to win a cup, and Myers was a for-sure impact defender, I'd make the move. At this point, I think Larkin's perceived value to this team is greater than Myers' immediate value. Just my take on it.

This. In terms of objective value, it's probably not that far off, but with respect to the Red Wings' talent pool they need to keep all of the promising young centers they can. Outside of Datsyuk and Z, you hope that Sheahan has 2C upside, but after the it's kind of grim looking. Hopefully, one of Janmark, Athanasiou or Nosek can pan out, but I wouldn't want to ride on that. At wing we have Nyquist, Tatar, Mantha, Jurco, Pulkinen - on defense Ouellet, Sproul, Backman and Marchenko. Those all seem like more surefire bets to me than the aforementioned centers. I just don't think the team should deal from an area of weakness.

Myers for Larkin and Kindl? I call shenanigans. For one, Buffalo has a glut of talented centermen in the pipeline - Reinhart, Girgensons, Grigs, etc. Not that guys can't be shifted to the wing, but I assume they'd be looking for talented wingers at this point. Second, just sending Kindl over wouldn't be enough to clear the space for Myers' 5.5 price tag. Unless I'm missing something, there would have to be another piece coming from Detroit.

Fairness of the deal aside, has Eklund ever been right about anything since the Philly activity? He got Richards to LA, correct? I'm legitimately asking.

No one's suggested it yet!? *mumbles out of side of mouth* Hey Stevie, Greeeat deal on a Czech defender. Fantastic partner for Andrej Sustr. He'd be like an older brother to him. ...what do you mean "salary cap restraints?"... no, just do it. Do it.

I'm not sure about Wideman, but Wisniewski did for sure. I recall him going on about how Detroit doesn't pay players market value. Also, just an update to the Myers situation, TFP is reporting that the Ducks are potentially offering Palmieri, Vatanen and Rakell as part of the deal for Myers. If that's the case, phew. Too rich for my blood, personally - draft picks included or not.

I love watching Pulu score like that - it seems so effortless for him. I wonder how effective it's going to be at the NHL level. Granted, he wasn't given many chances on the PP during preseason, but they seem to give him way too much space down in the AHL. You know the guy has a rocket, why give him the chance to let it go? That being said, I think he could boost the PP. Hope he has a great season down there. Should be the 1st call-up. Does anyone have some updated lines? I'm pretty sure they've used Cally-Nosek-Pulu as one, and Hoggen-Miele-Ferraro, but I'm not sure about the other guys. Haven't gotten the chance to catch much of the Griffins yet.

Even just 5 games in, it's getting tough for me to see where Weiss is going to slip into the line-up, barring any injuries. 1st and 4th lines are performing very well, The Kid line just looks snakebitten, but they're getting chances. 3rd line could use a boost, at times. Nestrasil shows flashes on one play, then shows some growing pains the next, IMO. I wonder about Helm's health... he seems a step off to me right now. Really, once Datsyuk gets back, I have no idea where and when Weiss gets to jump in. Having Joker as the 4th line RW has allowed him to slot into C on the 2nd PK unit, which as a whole, has been fantastic. I had very low expectations for Andersson, but I have to admit, he looks much faster and is doing some solid work on the 4th line and PK.

When did the D pairings switch up like that? I feel like I missed something. Practice?

I'm pretty sure I'm not a professional hockey player because I'm s*** at hockey, but hey... maybe it's my love for those little umbrellas that keeps me out of the NHL. My point was, the guy isn't going to be pushed out by being benched a few games. I'm pretty sure that's the last thing, on a team where players continually overstay their welcome, that Detroit management would do to a player. Especially if you consider (like I do) that Detroit has become a less favorable destination that it has been in the past. Why would they purposely bury a guy on the bench in hopes of him requesting a trade? If that was Ken Holland's MO, Kindl would be riding the pine, since they're actively trying to move him. I'm not even going to touch the McCrimmon comment. Come on, now.

First, the whole point was that I wouldn't move him for Myers - I do see him as a piece this team needs (ie: value relative to defenders on the team). I understand his value to the team. I see Tatar as more of a "catch and release" type player, rather than someone who is going to drive the play. If he can put up 60 points, he's still within the top 60 players in the league in terms of point production. I don't think that's insulting, or cutting him short. I think he's going to make an excellent complimentary winger. He's got great hands in tight, and releases the puck as well as anyone on this team. I do think, however, that he's going to wind up being a 2nd line player on this team. I see Nyquist, Mantha and Jurco as player who all have higher ceilings than he does. Perhaps I'm wrong, and that's fine... but I really do see him as a complimentary guy. I think he's in the same company as Ryan O'Reilly, Voracek and Oshie - all great players, but maybe not ones regarded as superstars. I do agree about the small sample to judge his potential. Considering there hasn't been enough time to accurately gauge his production in the future, I'd say there's no way to say he'd top out as a 1st line 70-80 point guy, either. Basically, I just feel that what I see from him hints at him being a complimentary winger, not a superstar. Either way, it's all conjecture at this point.

If someone sat you on the sidelines of their team, would you agree to go to that icy tundra of frozen hell, or wait until an (sadly, very likely) injury occurred on your current team? I'd have my feet up, smiling in the press box before I set foot in Edmonton. Heck, at least you can get those little drinks with umbrellas with them in Florida, and there's no one in the stands to bother you.

First off, the whole basis of me not wanting to move a forward is more about their value relative to the team compared to defenders. Right now, we're sitting pretty with Datsyuk, Z and to a lesser extent Mule. When those guys are done, there's a big drop-off in talent. In my eyes, Detroit needs to hang onto their potential top 6 guys for now. On the other hand, they've got guys like DeKeyser and Smith on the team now, with Ouellet, Marchenko, Sproul, Backman and Jensen on the way. Regardless of that, my opinion of these two players is that one guy is on the upswing, while one is on a downswing. Myers had a fantastic rookie season, but aside from that every thing has pretty much gone downhill from there. I get that he's on the Sabres, but there hasn't been much positive to say about Myers in a long while. Anytime you read Sabres fans discussing Myers (outside of when they want a king's ransom in a trade) they mention his mobility issues and poor decisions with the puck. There's a big IF involved in Myers turning his game around in Detroit. When I look at Tatar, I do see a guy who tops out at that 50-60 point mark, but I also see a feisty player willing to go to the hard parts of the ice. He plays bigger than he is, and the guy exudes passion. When I think of Tatar and his potential, it's not a matter of "if" but when. I'd rather keep the commodity I know about over the one I'm not sure is going to return to form.

Personally, I wouldn't move any forwards named Mantha, Tatar, Nyquist or Sheahan in a deal for Myers. I feel like he's a bit of a project, and I wouldn't want this team to gamble assets up front to see if Myers can turn it around. If it were a package of say, Pulkkinen, Backman/Jensen, Weiss/Quincey/Kindl (for cap relief) and a 1st, I might be more receptive to it, but I think Buffalo believes they can get a much better return for him. I just don't see the risk-reward working out on this deal for Detroit.

I don't want KH to touch any of the names being thrown out there. Not that I don't think any of them have value - I'm just worried about the assets being shipped off the other way. It makes sense to move a defensive prospect (since we're, in theory, going to have an abundance of NHL defenders in the near future) and a pick, but I imagine teams are looking for a quality forward as well. The ones teams are going to want (Mantha, Nyquist, Tatar) are the one I don't want to part with at all.