kipwinger

NOT SO FAST!

Can't be mad at it I guess, but kinda boring. I'm curious about the addition of Sundqvist here though. Wonder if it portends moving out a bottom six center? Ras? Veleno?

Weekes reporting Leddy to St. Louis. They don't have a 2022 2nd round pick BTW.

I understand what you're saying, but I think it largely depends on the offseason. We hung around with Boston for the Wild Card for about half this season with a rookie goalie, no defense, no 2C, and our best goal scorer injured. Start addressing those things and maybe we take a much bigger step next year. Sure, moving a guy like Bert out could set you back. But not if you sign Hertl or Trocheck as a UFA. Or trade for Bo Horvat. In that case you'd end up with a similar player, at a position of need, and still be in the same age range. Then you add Berggren, Edvinsson, Sodorblom, and a UFA left defenseman or two and maybe you're a better team than you already were. It's going to be really interesting to see what Yzerman does this week, and even moreso in the offseason. But I'm not convinced we're that far away from being good. We have a few really important things going for us right now: a point per game 1C (who is 25 years old), a stud 1D, two highly skilled/offensively gifted wingers, and a solid solution in goal who's going to continue to improve.

Anybody else think Larkin is hurt? This is the 2nd game in a row where I thought he looked like he was skating pretty slow. Doesn't look like he's flying out there the way he typically does.

I genuinely don't agree. In about a year we went from being one of the league's worst teams, to a middle of the pack team. And we largely did that by adding three good rookies. Our offense scores enough to win games. Our defense is just terrible. But it's about to see A) a huge influx of homegrown talent, and B) addition by subtraction with guys like DK, Staal, Leddy, and Stecher gone and replaced by better free agents. You give this same exact team a competent defense and we're in the playoff hunt. Add a legit 2C and Vrana for a full season and you're even better. I'm not saying there's not work left to be done, but I don't see it taking 5 years.

Yawn...I guess I'll check in on the Red Wings' Swedish prospects today...*sips coffee*...probably nothing much going on though.

Shai Buium is currently lighting up the NCAA as an 18 year old. He’s really good. Johansson and Wallinder are both really good too. And McIsaac is playing very well despite missing almost two years of development. All of those guys, but especially the first three, have too four ceilings. Maybe even top pair for a few.

Anybody else think the price Anaheim just got for Josh Manson bodes well for us trading Leddy?

Totally agree, with few exceptions all of these are REALLY close. I was just forcing myself to make a judgement call. It's even closer when you compare them at the same age. Like, Seider was way more physical a year ago in Sweden than he was two years ago (the same age Edvinsson is now) in the AHL. And two years ago Seider's shot wasn't obviously better either. In their D+1 year they're almost identical except that Edvinsson is just much more aggressive offensively and Seider is so much smarter (especially positionally).

Both are good. I'd break down their tools like this: Better Shot: Seider Better Passer: Edvinsson Better Skater: Edvinsson Better Physicality: Seider Better Transition: Edvinsson Better Hockey IQ: Seider Better Defense: Seider Better 5on5 scorer: Edvinsson Better PK: Seider Better PP: Seider They're really alike in a lot of ways but different in one big way. Edvinsson is WAY more aggressive on offense. He jumps up into plays, will skate with the puck below the goal line, and relies a lot more on his physical tools. Seider is more conservative in the offensive zone, tends to make plays from the dots back, and (despite his nearly impressive physical tools) relies on his smarts. Right now Seider is better by a fair margin because he understands the game so much better. If Edvinsson develops a good shot (which he currently lacks) it will be a lot closer.

Good point.

Zito looked really good in the prospects tournament as well. Probably just a bottom end guy, but he's got a legit shot at playing in the NHL one day. His goal scoring is actually pretty good.

People on Twitter are blaming Blashill for this as if he doesn't have a bottom five defense in the league and his starting goalie didn't let in 4 goals on the first 12 shots he faced in the first period.

Agreed, there's no risk and we need bodies. I basically view him exactly the same way I view Jordan Oesterle, except that at 23 years old it's still at least possible (not probably) that he could improve a bit.

Who knows? I mean, he was free to acquire. Maybe they thought he was good enough for a sticker price of zero dollars. If we end up nabbing someone better at the deadline they can just waive him again or send him to GR.

I doubt they're expecting much from him. I'm sure he's just a warm body to fill out the roster because they're anticipating trading a defenseman or two at the deadline. I'd be surprised if he ever amounts to more than a stop gap until the end of the season.

Fat lot of good it’s done him.

Hasn't really been an issue this year. I mean, he's never gonna be Tyler Bertuzzi (we have Mazur for that) but I'd say he's just as willing to go to the hard areas as guys like Vrana or Raymond. But he's going to score most of his points on assists anyway. His passing is elite.

As impressive as his size is, his shot is the best part of his game. He's got a REALLY good shot. His release is sick, but he can change angles, pick corners, shoot off drags. He has a A level shot and you basically can't defend it because his stick is so long (6ft). I genuinely believe you're looking at a 30 goal scorer in the NHL given what a nightmare he'll be to defend.