dirtydangles

I'd move Q at this point. Might as well get SOMETHING for him after we picked him initially and then traded a 1st for him. I think Marchenko/Almquist should get some more time up and see if we have something there. We can just roll 2 d pairs heavily with sheltered minutes for the bottom pairing like we have been.

Thank god it is done with - I feel much better knowing he received immediate care and won't do further damage to try to rescue an already poor season. Let the kids develop in the meantime and go all in next year. Simple as that.

With Tavares done for the season and Z potentially being out too it might open up an opportunity for the wings to take on Vanek before the deadline (provided we can agree on a deal long term). I know its a long shot but it is a nice opportunity considering the Isles no longer have the option to compete this year and we have so much cap space going forward to next year. It would be tough to give up our 1st considering it could be in that non-playoff lottery... I would go nuts if we ended up drafting in the top 10 and got a guy like Draisaitl who we have no business getting in most years considering our traditional draft position.

THIS. Give the refs a chance to screw you in OT and you can get burned. Woooooooo!!!

He is 23 - still growing as a Dman and has done very well playing big minutes. He will peak like most Dmen do later in his 20s (I actually don't remember Weber being a top dman at 23 and if he was a good as Weber we couldn't acquire him). He is big and a good skater. Having said that I agree Tatar is too much to add to E - I would offer something around Pulkkinen + E + 2nd. Having developed so many prospects I would prefer to include our 1st over our prospects so if E + 1st + 3rd did it I would be happier.

My buddy just ran into drapes and ozzie the other day in the Caribbean and got a pic with them.

Not likely available - or - still way to expensive to acquire even as an RFA I was thinking more along the lines of someone who hasn't previously won the Norris...

When I hear statements about the players being "paid" during the olympics it makes me think directly of elementary and high school teachers (in canada at least) who get paid during the summer even though they don't work during that time. The pay is spread out over the year and even though they are earning it all in a 10 month span - they aren't paid it all as they earn it so they get money during the summer. This isn't really in response to anyone in particular - I just think its not as simple as saying NHL players are the only career where you can get paid while you aren't directly working for it.

I'm just looking at the RFA page on cap geek for Dmen. I was thinking we may be able to target a young RH dman via trade that a team may have difficulty re-signing due to cap reasons or due to under performing. We wouldn't be giving up as many assets as a signed youngster would require and getting a solid piece to add for the future. Are there any names that pop out for you guys?

f*** yeah! Weak game from Keith. Doughty always looks dangerous.

No. Maybe Franzen but no to Z and Dats. They are so valuable to teach the next generation of wings. Also their cap hits are too high for most contenders to deal with. We would need a 1C or top 5 pick coming back for this to make any sense at all.

I can't see how Smith doesn't make better decisions than Kindl regularly (Kindl has been scratched often). Also he would be safer defensively than say Eaves. I honestly think its Babs way of ensuring Smith doesn't become one dimensional early in his career. Its not like Smith was terrible on the PP in GR and making bad decisions all over the place either. I understand that IF Smith was given the chance and failed he could be held out - but I haven't seen him get a legit chance yet at the NHL level.

Poor Eaves. The guy is so much better than Bert/Cleary/Sammy but will go down for cap reasons.

playoffs

If Smith was playing on the PP regularly everyone would be high on this kid. He is restricted from doing what he does best.

Putting this out there. I've read that WPG is loaded on RD (Trouba, Bogosian, Buff) and lacking in top 4 LD with only Enstrom really. We are overloaded with LD and could maybe make something happen. If we target a guy like Bogosian without wanting to give up our valued forward prospects what do you guys think of swapping Smith+ or Dekeyser+ or Ericsson+ to WPG for Bogosian (give or take) to even out our D and their D? I know how much people love Smith and DD but Bogo is 23 and a stud. Would there be a deal around these players in any way? No way we are getting a top caliber dman for Kindl + 1st + spare parts but I'd throw Kindl into the above deal as a +. Kronwall - Bogosian Smith/Dekeyser/Ericsson Lashoff - Marchenko Almquist That leaves the bottom pairing open in the future for Sproul, Ouellet, Backman to earn a spot (Lashoff and Almquist aren't a long term solutions). WPG solidifies top 4: Enstrom - Buff Ericsson/Dekeyser/Smith - Trouba etc.

Understatement of the year! Also - babs is thinking this is good for olympics and bad for the wings lol

Z really tried hard to be in the lineup for detroit with datsyuk out. You could tell he wasn't fully healthy when playing the last few weeks. I think if Datsyuk was heathy Z would have sat a lot more.

One name that sticks out on that list is Anton Stralman for me. If he hits FA it likely means Girardi re-signed. I like Stralman a lot and think he would be a nice fit on the wings.

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1589003

That looks good. An alternate option with Z and Dats together might look like this. It all depends on how well Weiss returns. Ideally he can anchor a 2C spot. Matchup nightmares everywhere. Too bad our D is suspect. Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Franzen Nyquist - Weiss - Alfredsson Tatar - Sheahan - Jurco Abby - Helm - Eaves Miller/Andersson/Glendening

some are wanting Nyquist, Smith, 1st - I wouldn't trade Nyquist straight up for Edler at this point. And our 1st isn't just a throw in considering our current place in the standings. The best package I could justify for Edler is Pulkkinen + Backman + 2nd + Cap dump. That is all. I've always seen stewart as a bone-headed type player that takes dumb penalties and doesn't bring it every game. I think if the Blues could get a hard working skilled winger they would bite. I don't really love Stewart enough to give up assets that could be better used elsewhere.

Solid Post. AA will be a 4th liner at worst in the nhl - and that was before his offensive explosion. His wheels alone make him valuable but this current tear he is on could make him a legit 3rd/2nd liner. I am excited to see this kid develop.

Vanek 5years 8per is an ideal move. I know we dont need forwards but it frees up an asset like jurco to get a dman via trade. Truth is - our youth will make us attractive just like the pens. Its nice to be on a team on the upswing. I only want to move assets if its for the perfect dman for us and that would mean a trade.

If the wings play smart fast hockey they should win this game against that lineup.