Jesusberg

Even off the ice. I can't speak for anyone else, obviously... but Kassian has come back to Windsor several times since I've worked at a bar in the downtown sector. Every time I've seen him, he's been kind of a jerk. On one occassion, he walked up to me at the door, and we ID'd the people he was with (they looked younger). Long story short I got the, "do you know who I am?" and "Oh good, do you want my autograph?" treatment. I told him I could live without the signature, so he spent the rest of the night banging his bottles off the tables and staring me down. Good times.

Really sucks to lose him. Seems like Detroit can't even catch a break on the length of injuries. It's never "progressing ahead of schedule". Ugh. On the flip side, glad to see AA getting a shot. I personally hope they play him over Kindl and give him time on the 2nd PP unit. Let DeKeyser focus on being part of the top PK unit. If I remember right (correct me if I'm wrong), Lashoff-Almqvist played together at times last year in GR and complimented each other well.

It's weird, right? Kindl last year vs. this year on the PP confuses the heck out of me. Last season he was probably our best player in terms of getting the puck on net, through the PK'ers. Yesterday as I was watching him on the PP, his mobility seems to be so off and he can't seem to find the passing/shooting lanes. He was off by the half boards at some point and just looked confused. Which is fine, and I think the idea was to address this at the deadline. The issue was that prices were too high, and the need for a center outweighed the need for another defender (in the eyes of management). Giving an opportunity for the kids to jump into the top 4 is all well in good, but it hasn't worked to this point. Personally, I would have liked to see the team try out Smith-Dekeyser as a pairing more. Perhaps it's just me, but I don't think I've seen them together often, if at all. Quincey just sort of exists - he's made some stand-out plays throughout the season, but he's not a top 4 guy, in my opinion. If the team's going to go through rough patches trying to mold the kids into top 4 guys, I'd rather have them paired with someone they're going to play with in the future (since Quincey hasn't seemed to stabilize Smith's play).

See, I guess this is where this team is "funny" to me. From the outset of the season, it seemed as if they were fine with a youth movement on the back-end - letting guys like Smith and Dekeyser find their spot and hopefully jump into top 4 roles, and Lashoff run as the 6th/7th defender. On the flip side, they didn't seem willing to trust young forwards like Nyquist, Tatar, etc. to take on bigger roles. It feels like any young forward they've called up or allowed to play heavier minutes has flourished. If they did need a vet player, it would have been on the blueline. Defenders typically flourish later than forwards... so yes hindsight is 20/20, but I'm scratching my head on this one as well. I'm not overly annoyed with Holland about this specifically, but I just wonder about how he evaluates this team sometimes. He couldn't have accounted for over half the bodies on this team going down, but going in with three younger defenders and a question mark (Kindl, who could have gone either way after doing well last year) makes me feel like he should have had an insurance policy from the beginning.

With Marchenko and Ouellet already hurt, I'd prefer to see Almquist get called up to play on the 2nd PP unit. Think he'd give them a boost.

I agree with those who have mentioned that Ferraro and Callahan should have been given a look. As far as I can see, Tootoo's time in Detroit is nearly over - Landon and Mitch are out of options next year and need to stick with the team, be waived or moved. Would have made more sense to me to give either guy a look, but I guess that's what training camp is for?

Top 6 seems to be set - Nyquist-Legwand-Mule, Tatar-Sheahan-Abdelkader

For the first time in a long, long time... I'm actually livid with Ken Holland. This is embarrassing.

I discussed the signing with some pro-Leafs friends of mine during the off-season and told them they'd regret the contract in three years... I was a little off, time wise.

Honestly, I've mentioned it in other threads, but I'd also hate to move Gus, Tatar or Jurco. I'd be fine with moving a package of Pulkkinen, Smith and a 2nd for some of those defenders. I think that's a fair package, and it's probably as far as I'd go in terms of value. It would be ideal to add a legitimate top 4 defender now, but I feel like Smith, Marchenko, Ouellet, Backman and/or Sproul will grow into those roles - we're just going to have some growing pains.

These are just the things I'd like to see. I really don't see why they wouldn't bring Alfie back - he's been one of the more consistent Wings all season. I think the question marks are more about the other veteran UFA's (who I really hope we don't bring back). I think the top 9 is pretty much locked in. After that it's pretty much a battle for 5 forward spots between Miller, Andersson, Sheahan, Ferraro, Glendening and Callahan. I don't think Miller and Sheahan are going anywhere. Glendening is the only one who's exempt from waivers, but he's done a solid job in his position. In the end, I think Callahan is the odd man out, but at this point I would prefer Andersson to be moved, to be honest. I think the other guys bring more speed, and having Helm-Sheahan-Glendening as options down the middle is good enough. Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Nyquist Tatar-Weiss-Franzen (I think this line could click) Abs-Helm-Alfie (Nice balance) Miller-Sheahan-Ferraro Glendening, Callahan I feel like the only change on defense will be, hopefully, letting Quincey go and letting Almqvist have a shot. I wouldn't be opposed to exposing Lashoff to waivers and letting someone like Marchenko play, too. Nothing against Lashoff, I just think Marchenko brings more now and long term. Kronwall-Ericsson Smith-DeKeyser (I know it's a risky pairing, but I really feel like DeKeyser could balance Smith out.) Kindl-Marchenko Almqvist I wouldn't mind another year of Gustavsson or another vet back-up, just to give Mrazek one more full season in GR. You can argue he's ready now, but the way this year's been I think it could benefit him to get one really strong year before coming up. Howard Gustavsson

Considering he played for the Golden Gophers, has family there and Heatley's 7.5 million is coming off the books next season, I'd say it's a pretty good chance that he signs in Minnesota next season. No reason to risk moving assets for a guy who seems to be heading somewhere else.

The more I see the young talent on this team play, the more willing I am to justify parting with some of them for a proven guy or two. I think the team's got some solid forward depth now, and even more depth on the way. I think the glaring hole is someone who can move the puck and walk the line on the PP. It might not be a popular choice, but someone like a Mike Green, Dustin Byfuglien or Marek Zidlicky come to mind for me. None of those guys are going to be great defensively, but I feel like that's one of the team's biggest issues. Moving some young players who are going to face a logjam in 2-3 years might be a good option.

Not that I'm necessarily an advocate of bringing Weber here, but the best +/- on their team's defense is a +1. The team can't score, Rinne's been out most of the season and Weber's been paired with Jones and/or Josi. There are going to be some issues there, regardless of his level of talent.

I can really see DD and Goose getting letters, beyond that it's a little more up in the air, I think. Jarnkrok or Ouellet could both make a case.

It's not bad, but I think Dats and Alfie have looked decent together, as well as some other lines. I like the look of this one, though... Bert-Dats-Alfie Mule-Z-Nyquist (they looked great together) Abs-Helm-Tatar (also thought they looked decent) Miller-Andersson-Glen/Toots

I've been impressed with what I've seen from Marchenko. I wasn't sure he'd transition well, but he's looked good and he's putting up some points.

I don't mind Kulikov, and it wouldn't hurt to have him as insurance in case a few of the other young, d-men don't pan out. I think he'd be a boost to the PP. Though, I imagine the price tag would wind up being a little steep.

In before "Glendening su...". Oh, wait... that's been covered. A reliable fourth line guy who plays about 20 pounds heavier than he actually is, works his butt off everyday off ice and brings speed and positioning on the PK. Yeah, he's awful. There's a role and place for guys like Glendening. There's a reason he's being called up. He's a very solid 4th liner with a great attitude.

Filppula would enter the offensive zone, skate to the half-boards and turn the puck over 80% of the time. Aside from that, he had spurts where he showed a lot of offensive talent, and he was almost always defensively responsible. Weiss is a disaster, but let's not pretend Filppula was some messiah that decided to take off for greener pastures. He felt he was worth more than the Red Wings were willing to offer (based on his offensive performance) and so both sides parted.

While I agree that his play thus far has been beyond disappointing, I don't think it's time to call him a bust yet. Then again, I don't think I'd even call him a bust after a full season. Tonight could be a resurgence for the guy. Call me blindly optimistic, but I think he'll catch on sooner or later.

I'm not always the biggest Bert fan, but I think he protects the puck in a way that no one else can on this team (one-handed, uses his size, etc.) After Alfie, he would be one of those UFA vets I wouldn't mind being brought back next year, possibly... but it stops there. *glares at Samuelsson and Cleary*

I understand some of the mixed feelings, considering his response is a bit... underwhelming. It could have to do with a number of things - his skating ability, wish to remain "professional" and loyal to Tampa, lack of passion for on-ice aspects of the game now, etc. Regardless, I'm more than happy he's going to be there in some capacity. It wouldn't be the same without him.

I'm fairly certain it cannot be used on Weiss, as he was signed this past off-season. Someone mentioned it in another thread.

I'm glad someone understood the reference, and didn't think I was just being passive aggressive