dirtydangles

It has been so refreshing to see a RH on the point so far with Marchenko. We are keeping the offensive pressure going due to the ability to just throw the puck back in off the boards on his strong side. I'd pay quite a bit to get Adam Larsson out of NJ. I think he is exactly what we need and we have the FWDs to send back that NJ needs. If we had a future RD of Larsson, Sproul, Marchenko I would be something special. At this point we can't rely on getting top guys in FA because they just don't seem to be coming in recent years and I really don't want to overpay for a rental that bolts. Just get something done here Kenny.

Yeah I've caught quite a few Griffins games this season - even a few live. I would still be cautiously optimistic here about AA. The AHL and NHL are different beasts - if the transition was easy then Pulkkinen would be scoring 2 per night in Detroit rather than in GR. I'm just not ready to declare him the heir apparent to Z or Dats. I'd like some insurance here rather than picking a Dman that won't be in Detroit for another 3-4 years when our D will likely be filled with our own young players and FA during that time. I think by the time that D prospect gets to Detroit we won't have the same need on D we once did - or Holland is useless.

Yeah I still think you are reaching on the AA prediction. I don't see him becoming a top 6 NHL C. He could be a 3C or MAYBE 2C but more likely pans out as a 2/3 winger in the NHL. I really only see Larkin and Sheahan as future top 6 C's and neither likely becomes a legit top line C like a Z or Dats. How many teams have won the cup without a premier 1C recently? None - you could argue Boston doesn't have one but they are a different beast. The only way to get a 1C is through the draft and getting lucky. I truly think we need to add one more legit C prospect to the pool to feel comfortable going forward. This is the draft to do it with how deep it is at the C position. Either way, I don't think I will convince you and you won't change my mind - and thats okay - because at the end of the day you and I aren't the ones making the pick on draft day lol. I don't think any of those guys except for Larkin ends up a top 6 C at the NHL level. Its an impressive list nonetheless.

That site is really terrible and they hardly ever update any info on the players. The best way to determine the quality of prospect is the eye test or hearing it directly from the wings organization/someone reputable. This site can't properly keep track of all 30 teams' prospects - they just go off of stats and hype going into each year.

How the hell do people think Franson is going to fetch one of our better developed prospects? He is a UFA on a team with no room for him - that pushes his value down. I'd give up a 2nd and Ferraro for the guy.

I think it is just that those C's we have in AA and Larkin are greener than our current D prospects that are a lot closer to being NHL ready (and many of them are already looking very promising in the NHL games so far). Therefore these younger guys have a bigger bust potential. Larkin looks like a stud - I totally agree - but he hasn't even hit the AHL so far (he has done everything I could ask for so far however). If you look at Mantha who has struggled greatly in the AHL you have to think that could happen to others. If we had similarly aged D prospects I would say they have equal bust potential to our C's. I just don't think we can live post Z and Dats without top 6 C's. Our system and entire team depends on depth down the middle and if we don't have that we will start looking like the Leafs. I don't want to have Sheahan playing out of his element on the top line ala Bozak with his elite winger in Mantha (who may also bust but we have lost of young wingers already in the NHL).

I have to disagree regarding the biggest need in the draft. While I agree we definitely don't need more wingers. We can't just expect Larkin to pan out as a top 6 C and for AA to transition to a 2-3C either. From what I understand AA will likely be a winger at the NHL level but could also bust potentially. We need at least one more top 6 C prospect to make sure we don't get caught with our pants down when Z and Dats retire. Sheahan is definitely a 2C but could go down with an injury or leave in FA at some point. At this point we can't afford to miss on ANY of our C prospects - we need some wiggle room. We could also use C's for the purposes of having tracdeable assets too. If we have 3-4 more years with Z and Dats that fits perfectly with a 2015 1st round C spending 3 years developing before coming in to replace the need. I would say we need to follow-up a 1st round C pick with a couple Dmen for sure. Our current D prospects are almost graduated and we need to refill the cupboard. However - we won't be drafting D prospects for the PRESENT. Although we need help on D now - none of our 2015 draft picks will be sniffing the NHL for quite some time and we really need our current D prospects to pan out well. We realistically need to address our current D through trade or FA in order to make a run at the cup with our current core (Z and Dats). I don't think Goalie is a need in this draft to be honest. I wouldn't take one in the first 4 rounds.

We are going to be drafting a C with our 1st rounder unless a top d prospect somehow drops to us (think Fowler). We only have 1 prospect with potential to be a top 6 C (Larkin). We need more than that to replace Dats and Z in the not so distant future. You simply don't win without top C's on your team and Detroit's system relies heavily on having talent C's. I don't want to turn into Toronto with lots of talented wingers but no C's resulting in a pathetic team composition.

Who would we want more: Adam Larsson or Tyler Myers? I'm leaning Larsson - I think Myers has a bigger bust potential and would likely cost more to trade for. They both have around the same point production this year I believe.

I thought Marchenko looked good in terms of positioning but didn't make the greatest plays when the puck was on his stick. Hopefully that was just nerves. His coverage in the D zone was nice to see compared to Kindl and made it easier for Smith.

OEL is 23 years old (turning 24 in July). Our kids (Tatar, Jurco, Nyqvist) are all around that age already so if they are looking for pieces for a rebuild and don't think OEL is part of it then neither will our kids. It would probably take at least 1 first rounder and another highish pick (2nd rounder) plus one of Mantha/Larkin to even get things started. I doubt they would be interested having our young forwards in detroit on for the rebuild if they don't mind losing oel for a rebuild.

Maybe Buff wants to see what Marchenko can do in the NHL? I honestly wouldn't mind dealing Ouellet or Marchenko in a package for Myers but I wouldn't be moving Pulkkinen at this point. Id rather move Jurco than Pulkkinen considering our needs. For the record I would much rather have Larsson out of NJ than Myers. Thats who we should target.

Frk is pretty much a bust at this point. I don't see him making much noise anymore. With what we currently have on the Wings and the talent in front of him there is no way he sniffs the lineup without a seismic shift on his part.

You never ask for a player to be injured - but I can't say I will miss Franzen while he is out. He has not been contributing of late and isn't really putting in the effort to make up for his dip in production.

1. Mantha needs to earn it first - guys like Nyquist, Tatar, Pulks worked very hard and produced before being called up - shouldn't be any different for this guy unless Holland magically decides he gets special treatment 2. There are so many guys ahead of Mantha if there is an injury - right now we have Franzen and Jurco on the sideline and Pulks is clearly ahead of Mantha on the call-up so its not likely that we see him up over those 3 unless we have a string of injuries somehow. 3. The wings will want him to spend time developing properly rather than player lower minutes in Detroit and bouncing around between teams.

Marchenko should be on Holland's radar too.

Z had a huge giveaway in OT that was almost as bad as E's.

Our 4th line was gassed against their top guys. it was bound to happen.

yeah and all I heard was crickets...

Please no shorty

You have to go Sproul over Jensen if that is the decision we are making. I really like Jensen and he has been great. But Sproul just has all these tools that Jensen doesn't to make an effective NHLer. Jensen is way faster but Sproul is also a fast skater with additional huge slapshot, size, and physical play. I wish we could keep Jensen as a number 7. I think we should consider moving one of Smith or Ericsson at some point in the coming years. Neither are exactly lighting it up and we need better in our top 4. Down the road I could see: Kronwall - Something good Dekeyser - Sproul Ouellet - Smith/E Marchenko

his points have picked up lately. mantha seems to be having a tough transition.

I honestly think Sheahan has the 2nd softest hands on the team. The combo of his strength and passing ability makes him so special.

I hate to say it but I just keep noticing it. Ouellet seems to be half a step slow out there. Thats the only knock on him that I can see.

We need those guys to teach excellence to our young guys so we don't turn out as the oilers.