kipwinger

Ok, I understand where you're coming from now. I was always operating under the assumption that all our guys would be healthy at some point, and that additions would be exactly that. Given that I think this is the more likely scenario I think it's only possible to get Wheeler OR Ladd OR Kane (buy not any two), and then Kulikov in a separate trade.

We're all awful sorry that our discussions bother you so much. In the future we'll do our best to make sure that your experience here is a good one. Lords knows how aggravating it must be for you to watch all us peons befuddling ourselves over irrelevant flights of fancy. I mean, how could you not look down your nose with an air of elitist contempt while surrounded by all us low brow hayseeds. You poor man.

Leftie, I know you hate Franzen and all, but you've got to be a realist here. There's no way he doesn't play if healthy. No way.

Hard to say, what are the odds that you're a beacon of light in an age of intellectual darkness? Are those odds greater or smaller than the odds that many people specifically joined this forum because they enjoy mulling over hypothetical trade scenarios?

Yeah that's the sticking point, and earlier I had said that I'd move any of our bottom end guys for peanuts (conditional 7th?) in order to help with that. So, it would be understandably difficult to do, but "may" be possible if you had Kindl involved in the trade for Kulikov, Nyquist in the one for Wheeler, and perhaps one other cap dump trade Quincey, Cleary, Eaves, Andy, Abby, etc. etc. etc. Admittedly, it would be difficult, and might force us to make tough decisions on players we'd rather keep (Abby, Andy) but getting a workhorse like Wheeler in the deal takes the sting out a bit.

Alot of rumor sites have him going super high, if he gets traded at all. But in all the rumors I've seen about Girardi, I've never seen Detroit linked to him (for what that's worth). I don't know, you should start a thread about it.

Yeah, there aren't a lot of pieces I wouldn't part with for Wheeler (I'd give a little less for Ladd, but not much less). Seriously, at the trade deadline all I want is Wheeler (or Ladd) and Kulikov. These two and we're a cup team again (provided we're healthy).

Currently, over in the Jets thread, the exact phenomenon I discussed above it taking place.

We have enough world class offensive defensemen? Kindl and Smith?

We've got plenty enough assets to make a meaningful trade, maybe two. The thing is, to do that you've got to give something of value and in the past when LGW members say we've got nothing to trade it's because they don't want to give anything up. It's akin to saying "We've got nothing to trade because I'd rather not trade our 1st, or Smith, or Nyquist, or Tatar, or any of our top prospects." And it's perfectly true that if you exclude everything of value on our team then we've got nothing to trade.

This is a good point, there really aren't that many teams looking for goaltending now. Still think it's a better use of resources to target a second pairing guy to play with Dekeyser and keep Howard.

Well I think the values are off. In your post you said you'd rather have a top ten d-man than a top ten goalie, which I agree with. Problem is, Jimmy Howard won't get you a top ten d-man. He'd likely get you a top pair guy, but there are lots of top pair guys who aren't top ten. If all you're getting is a top pair guy (and we've already got two) then why trade someone as important as Howie when you could trade a less important piece and get a second pair guy (which is exactly where any new addition will be playing anyway) and not lose your starting goalie? Basically, Jimmy will get you a good d-man, but not a great one. And good defensemen can be had for a lot less than Jimmy Howard.

Final analysis, trade Nyquist + 1st for quality top six winger with size. Trade appropriately valued prospect and/or Kindl for Dmitri Kulikov. Win cup. (implied: clear cap space by trading various bottom end guys at the deadline for peanuts. Literally anybody can go so long as we clear space).

Babcock praises a lot of guys that he has no intention of playing. He's got nothing but compliments for guys like Jordin Tootoo.

I was saying this too, that I'd like Kane, and a couple of guys on this forum who watch him a lot more than I do were saying that he's a really dumb player who takes stupid penalties and isn't nearly as good as his stats indicate. I don't know how true that is or isn't, I was only looking at his physical attributes and his stat line.

Byfuglien is terrible and Babcock would probably shoot him if he played for our team. However, any of Wheeler, Ladd, or Bogosian would be welcome. I'm curious, if the rumors are true, who we were calling about.

Rumor site thefourthperiod.com reporting that the Jets are actively shopping Kane and Byfuglien, and listening to calls on Wheeler, Ladd, and Bogosian. Also reporting that their GM has been in discussion with the Wings as well as others. On the hierarchy of rumor reliability this site ranks somewhere miles above Eklund and just below Aaron Ward. So take it for what it's worth.

Geesh, people are getting pretty worked up over a game in which we just lost 1-0 to one of the best teams in the league...with a depleted roster. Take it easy guys, as far as recent Wings games go, this one is a gem.

Because if you say it every game, sooner or later it'll turn out to be true?

If you add these two posts to one another you arrive at a mathematical truth.

Beauchemin is one of the league's most underrated defensemen. That guy is a hell of a good hockey player.

Missed the first period, how'd we look?

I thought we played a hell of a game, particularly given that we have key injuries. While we didn't completely dominate in every regard, we held our own and carried the play for much of the game. The guys seemed to have great tempo, we clearly outskated them for most of the game, and when they started getting chippy we didn't back down. Plus we seemed to get stronger as the game went on. I was very impressed with our team last night.

I love Pacioretty too, but you're right, there's absolutely no friggin' way that Montreal moves him. I was just throwing names out there anyway, I have no idea who's available and who isn't. My whole point with mentioning Kane and Wheeler was just to say that Nyquist's value is high, package him with our first (which we don't need since the draft class is weak and we're bleeding quality prospects anyway) and get someone higher end for him. Plus, you'd still get to keep Tatar, who in spite of Babcock insistence is the better player.

That's definitely true, but then again I'd do a happy dance if Kindl produced like the Kings' era Jack Johnson too.