newfy

No kidding, too many people are saying bust already. He has great size, physicality, a pretty good skillset to put up points offensively, can fight apparently? and is amazing defensively. If we dont get a top 6 powerforward, theres still a chance we get a big, strong third line center that could possibly win some selkes. That is also worth a 1st round pick in my opinion

Coming from someone who is a fan of the all time great Gordie Howe

Thats true. its not like he completey hides away from contact or anything but he shouldn't with that size. The way he acts tough behind a linesman, or drops like he got shot if he even gets tapped in the head is ridiculous, he loves diving on those plays. Against Vandermeer he did it and against Roberts in the playoffs. He can actually take a punch he stayed up with whoever that was on the blues that one time (he got pumped but still didnt drop), so when he dives around like that I really do find it embarrassing

Yeah I just got on the twitter band wagon recently and I must say I really like it. Following guys like Bob Mackenzie, plus you get a decent commentary of important things going on in the wings games, Ive had a free app on my blackberry but Ive never used it til now. Sheahan is on twitter as well.

Yeah did he really demolish Orpik that fight or what? Ive never came across video of it

He hasnt had back problems for like 3 years, it wouldn't kill him to throw a hit. That being said, I dont mind as long as he steps up a bit in playoffs and plays mean

I dont remember him ever getting into fights but it is true he used to be a huge hitter when he was a bottom 6 player. Hitting and scoring like he does are not mutually exclusive of one another, he really is embarrassing when it comes to physical play for his size

OK so can someone here explain how this somehow hurt our team instead of letting our powerplay do something? Ott would have beat the crap outta Franzen luckily Ericcson knows how to handle himself for games like this.

I think he deserves to be in as a winger. He was physical and scoring on the wing but at centre he just doesn't seem to do either. Put him at wing and I bet hes back where he was, I dont know if I would say he is unwilling to fight I never expected him to fight 10 times a season, more like 5 or 6. If he hasnt had as many fights broken up by the linesman before he has a chance to go then he would be right around 5 which isnt too bad. Oh well, once he is at wing and is under performing I will worry

I could too but thats counting guys like Lucic, Stewart, Iggy and Clowe. I can guarantee you cant list 50 tough guys that play bottom 6, put up as many points as Avery does (~30) and can efficiently play a grinding, physical role. I dont like Avery at all but people let their blind hate for the **** hide the fact that he can play the game. The only guy that I would say is better then him in our bottom 6 is Helm and thats even debatable.

I honestly wouldn't want Avery on this team but some people need to get some things in perspective. Avery would actually be the toughest player on this team, he might not be the biggest hitter but he would consistently be the most involved in the rough stuff, fight the most, and be the most consistent hitter (on forward anyways). He might be a ******, I agree but he can actually fight and hit pretty good while having some talent. if he wasnt awful in the dressing room I would want him on the team. Secondly, Franzen is not a tough player, he is actually very soft and rarely is involved in scrums at all... Yeah he is a great goal scorer, but people dont need to pretend because he is a red wing that he actually gets involved in scrums and hits a whole lot. He hits a minimum amount for a player his size, it is very rare that anyone that big is actually less physical or only as physical as Franzen. This coming from a guy who defends Franzens physicality?

UK have faith, they drafted this guy knowing he could fight, maybe they do want him to be a scrapper for them! This seems pretty true, I'm very excited to see how his style of game translates to the AHL next year. Is he big or tough enough to continue playing that same style? I think so, he has been fighting in the WHL against big guys and has only lost like 4 of 50 fights. I doubt he is ever in our top 6 but at the rate he is developing he could end up a third liner who can play on the top line in a pinch perhaps

I dunno alot of people who think he will be a savior but we have another Nik Kronwall calibre player down there which is pretty solid, and yes I agree he has been a beast in GR. Smith is a Kronwall that fights, pretty good prospect to have

No fighting Nichol would get him to stop playing like a cheap prick out there all the time, he is not some useless enforcer or something either. Nichol is a 60% on faceoffs, solid penalty killer. Obviously the time has to be right, I dont want Abdelkader getting an instigator in a 1 goal game or anything but Nichol has been running our guys all the time since last playoffs. I guess you would rather have Nichol out there jumping guys like Kronwall instead of having a decent fighter like Abdelkader go after him? What has happened to wings fans, this is pathetic

Callahan has met last seasons totals that took 72 games in 47 games this season

Scott Nichol seems to have it in for the wings, tried jumping Kronwall last time they played and Abdelkader last year in the playoffs. I wish someone would just fight him and put him in his place, he isnt a very good fighter and he's small, he shouldn't just be taking liberties on guys like Kronner. He would be a good tilt for Abdelkader, hopefully it happens. I dunno how I feel about this game, could go either way I guess, hopefully Howard stays hot

You dont think Hudler is getting the money he deserves right now? Are you crazy? And you have to earn getting on a good line, he did nothing until the injuries started, sure he has chemistry now but he didnt earn his ice time

Agreed. People try to say he has this long term potential because of his draft position when really he has made no strides really since turning pro or shown that he will ever be even close to solid defensively

Not sure if people were serious when they said Sundin?

Points dont mean much really. Anyone who watched the Griffs knows Ericcson was actually pretty dominant out there, Ericcson played very solid in a call up with the wings in the playoffs and Ericcson played bad in a season only where his mom was having chemo. What has Kindl ever really shown besides that he has a decent set of hands with absolutely no defencive awareness? Guys like Travis Ehrhardt looked comparable to him defensively in GR, and he never even showed the slightest bit of defensive aptitude in the AHL. What has he really shown that makes you think he will be better then Ericcson, Ericcson actually impressed in the NHL before last season too, Kindl has done absolutely nothing

It seems like every trade made youve said this lol Maybe GMs just dont value draft picks as much as you think they do and that is actually what these players are worth?

Ericcson moved to D when he was 19, was actually dominant in the AHL for a season and came up to Dettroit playing poorly while his mom was going through chemo. Kindl only showed dominance in the OHL, he never looked good in the AHL, I just really dont see him becoming much more then a number 5 defenceman who seems to have the skills but can never quite put it all together.

I would maybe agree if Versteeg was older but he isn't. This trade is a very late first and very late third and they got a very good, young guy who will probably be a consistent 25 goal scorer especially on a good team. If you get a consistent 25 goal scorer with a late first rounder that is a very good pick. If you get a guy who is anything more then a third liner witha third round pick youre doing very good. This isnt a bad trade at all, definitely not overpayment

Well its really hard to know whose been made available for trade btu some guys that come to mind are Smid (He would be worth a prospect or 2), Phillips, Carkner, Corrente from the devils maybe, Rivet or Montador maybe, I dunno. Those are just some guys that are playing on lower teams that could play that style.

There is something weird about Burke. He wants these big tough teams then acquires one player in Orr who is actually really tough. Brown, Voros, Phaneuf, Komisarek etc are all bad fighters. I realize that some are pretty solid hockey players but if he wants a truculent team he really isnt getting anyone all that scary. This team is not close to as tough as the ducks in 07. Voros is an awful fighter, unless maybe he has a trade involving Brown in the works? He always likes to have a heavyweight and a middleweight fighter in the lineup