Datsyukian-Deke

If there really was a "conspiracy", Uncle Gary would be smart to give Detroit the top pick and keep the franchise relevant. The league can't afford the wings being the "dead wings" again and losing the huge fan base we have amassed over the past 25 years.

I'd love to see a few games of Svechnikov. He has been tearing it up the last 30 games or so in GR. No reason not to let him get his feet wet.

19 games left and we are 3rd from last (although we have some games in hand on some teams). Sadly I hope we tank and get either Patrick, Vilardi, Hirschier, or Liljegren.

I never said we would be a playoff team with Datsyuk.

For me, the takeaway from this article is to show how valuable Datsyuk was to the team. I have a friend who is a Kings fan who thinks we are a better team without Datsyuk because he was "too old" and his points were "easily replaceable." People outside of Detroit don't realize that even at an older age, Datsyuk simply made players better around him. His puck possession, takeaways, and defensive skills are not as replaceable as the 40+ points he prolly would have scored this year. People look at the points but Datsyuk was one of the top 3 all around players in the world in his prime when you add up all his intangibles.

What I thought was interesting is the effect it has had on many of the players on the team without him.

You know who the real winner of this trade is? Larkin. He gets to move away from that dreaded 3rd line with Sheahan and play with AA and Nielsen

I guess at the end of the day we have an additional 3 3rds, a 2nd, a 6th, and didn't sign Smith to a 3.75 million dollar contract. Now hopefully we tank for a top 3-5 pick.

If Holland's quote is true then I guess we can't fault him.

It was an A coming into today. But getting an F on the Vanek trade brings it to a C.

I wonder how much truth there is to this. They say later to not get excited about McIlrath but if the pick turns into the AZ 3rd we did ok.

I read Mcllrath cleared waivers this season. Solid move Kenny! You waited too long and the market dried up when LA realized they could have Iginla for peanuts. Another panic move by the "best GM" in the NHL.

We get the same thing for Vanek that we got for Jurco. What a freaking joke. Holland is an idiot for waiting to pull the trigger. The market must have dried up.

Glad it's a 2018 pick for Ott and not a 2017. Good luck in Montreal!

Well whether we like it or not, Vanek is playing and looking at his ice time so far he hasn't been playing "sparingly" like they said. So here's to hoping he scores a goal to give those teams interested something to really look at.

Where did that come from? Lol

Look on the bright side. If Vanek gets hurt tonight, someone is getting fired.

No salary retention by the Wings for the smith trade

Thank you thank you thank you Holland for doing the right thing. A 2018 2nd and a 2017 3rd is a major haul for Smith!

If Hanzal gets a 1st and a 2nd, there is absolutely nothing unreasonable about a 1st for Vanek.

Terms so far

Hopefully with Shattenkirk off the market people turn their attention to Smith and make Holland an offer he can't refuse.

Looking likely that Shattenkirk is headed to Washington

Beginning to face the inevitable. It being March 2nd and still having Smith and Vanek on this team. It seems we can't even sell the farm correctly. Hope I'm wrong but im preparing to be right.

There isn't a whole lot that we do these days that makes any sense. So I'm not surprised.