krsmith17

Nah, I dont think it would be that costly for either. If they really want to trade Callahan's contract, it's going to cost them... I think it would be more like... To DET: Callahan, Raddysh, 2019 3rd round pick (TBL) To TBL: 2019 2nd round pick (SJS) OR To DET: Callahan, Foote To TBL: 2019 2nd round pick (DET), 2020 3rd round pick (WSH)

Raddysh or Foote is who I'd be targeting. I'd be thrilled with either.

Yeah, pretty much the only trade *acquisition* I'd like to make as well. I would be trying to ship out a player or two if possible though. Daley would be my first choice to move. I do think Witkowski will be back as the 13th forward / 7th defenseman though, which I'm fine with.

Better? Yes. $3.5M per season better? I don't think so. I'd take Trouba at 20 less points per season and his better defensive game, along with the cap savings, durability and youth over Karlsson. Sure, in theory we could get both, but I don't see how you fit both under the cap long term, with Mantha, Athanasiou and Bertuzzi among others due for new contracts in the next few seasons. IF 100% healthy, you're probably right. The problem is, he hasn't been, and I doubt he will be as he gets older.

Is it not different? I'd bet ALL the internet money that a team outside the bottom 10 will jump up to top 3, and / or at least 2 teams outside the top 3 will jump up into the top 3...

Signing Trouba would be a completely different situation. Trouba is 4 years younger, doesn't come with the injury concerns, and would likely cost approximately $3.5M less. No, Trouba alone doesn't get us over the hump, but he's young enough that he will still be good enough to help us when we are ready to compete. Umm you know that Carolina jumped from 11 to 2 the year before right? And Philadelphia jumped from 12 to 2 the year before that? It's literally already happened 3 years in a row... and has a good chance of happening any season...

Sure, if you're just looking at one season, where Nyquist had a career best and Eberle had a career worst... Nyquist also put up 11 points in 20 playoff games, and Eberle put up 9 points in 8 playoff games... I love Gus, but I'd take Eberle over him at the same term and cap hit all day, every day.

Yeah, kind of surprised he got that much, coming off a down year. I don't think it's outrageous or anything, but maybe a hair too much. You'd have to think Nyquist will be looking for a similar type deal, give or take a year / $500K....

$5.5M AAV x 5 years for Eberle.

Yes, IF Karlsson can stay healthy, he would make a positive impact. Just not enough to get us over the hump in my opinion. And if we're committing huge money, long-term, there will be better options over the next few seasons. Signing or not signing a player solely because we may or may not win the draft lottery a year from now is not smart. Look at where Chicago finished last season, and where they're drafting. Look at where Ottawa finished last season and where their pick ended up. Age won't play a huge factor for a team in contention, looking to add veteran depth down the middle. I'd bet a lot of internet money that Nielsen doesn't finish this contract in Detroit... You're probably right. With the emergence of Veleno next season, they may opt to play Cozens on the wing... :p

I don't want to trade Nielsen this summer. I want to trade Nielsen next summer. And yes, Veleno will be more than ready to take over by then, along with maybe whoever we pick 6th overall next weekend...

I'm confused... Do you want to sign Karlsson or not? Do you think Karlsson would make a positive impact or not? You say you want to sign him for 4 years max, but don't think we'll be contenders for 3-4 years... You also say you want to sign him, but you want a good pick in next year's draft... Bottom line, Karlsson is not signing short term. There will be teams (better than Detroit) willing to pay huge money on a max, 7 year contract. It only takes one team. If ALL of those things go right, we don't need Karlsson. There are big name free agents every single offseason. And most come with less risk than an injury riddled Karlsson. This is not the year to swing for the fences. Wait until we're one or two pieces away. $3.5M is a VERY reasonable contract for a 30-40 point 3rd line center. Again, it only takes one team to be interested, and at that price, there would be more than one. There obviously wouldn't be a huge return, but a mid round pick would be fine, just to free up the roster spot. I agree. And I think the philosophy begins to change with Yzerman. I believe he's going to get this team younger. No more being the oldest, highest paid, s***tiest team in the league...

Any team that is serious about signing Karlsson will offer him 7 years. At 29 years old, he'll be looking for long-term stability, and he'll most certainly get it. If you don't think we'll be a legit playoff team in 4 years, what's the point in signing him in the first place? Or more importantly, why would Karlsson sign here? We are a bad team, but we're a bad team on the rise. Blashill isn't as bad a coach as you and others make him out to be. Yes, we would have to retain salary on a Nielsen or Helm trade. Which is easy for a rebuilding team with cap space to do. Hence, easily tradable. Yes. Luckily Yzerman won't be the one handing out those contracts...

Karlsson isn't signing a short-term contract with a contender, let alone a rebuilding team. If for whatever reason Karlsson does choose to sign in Detroit (he won't), we wouldn't flip him for picks. Our biggest issue is that we're a bad team. Karlsson doesn't change that. Continue building through youth and draft picks. No quick fixes. Bad contracts are traded ALL the time. Apparently Holland has interest in Zaitsev... Abdelkader can be traded, but I'm okay with keeping him around for at least another season or two. Yzerman wouldn't have to pull off any crazy s*** to trade Nielsen or Helm. Both are easily tradable pieces.

1. A lot of people... re: Karlsson. 2. A lot of people... re: Karlsson. 3. It's not about helping Tampa / Toronto resolve their cap issues... It's about helping the Red Wings. I obviously wouldn't just take Callahan / Marleau for the sake of taking on a bad contract. It would come at a big cost. For me, the trade would have to include Raddysh or Foote / Kapanen or Liljegren. 4. Which is where 1. and 2. are coming from. A LOT of Wings fans want to go all in on Karlsson. In my opinion, that would be extremely dumb. I think Yzerman could make a tweak. I just don't think it's necessary. He's already made one shrewd UFA signing in Kaski, but I think that was already in the works before he was "officially" hired. Like I mentioned though, I think a shrewd trade would be the better option. In saying that, I wouldn't be too upset about a Connolly or Ferland signing, as long as we don't get into any bidding wars. As long as it's a short-term, low cap signing, Id be fine with it.

The "free agent frenzy" is built up for the contenders to add that one (or two) piece(s) they feel will put them over the top. A rebuilding team should have no interest in overpaying for players that will be past their prime (or closing in) by the time they're ready to compete. If we really want to sign free agents, it should be young (22-23 year old) guys out of College (Hirose) or Europe (Kaski), that still have upside. Not 25+ year old castoffs that couldn't crack other teams' lineups... We already have a few NHL tweeners in de la Rose, Ehn, Hicketts, etc. I don't want to get into any bidding wars over any long-term, big money players. If Yzerman wants to dip into free agency to add depth, like a Riley Barber for Grand Rapids, I'd be fine with that. If he wants to add depth for Detroit, I'd prefer to go the trade route. And by that I mean, a player like Callahan (or Marleau) that will help us add assets, not give them up. I have NO interest in Karlsson short-term or long-term. It makes no sense the position we're in. If we're going after the big fish, we might as well go after ALL the big fish (Panarin / Duchene) too. Trade our 6th overall pick, multiple 2nd's plus top prospects for a couple pieces that can help us win it all now. F***ing go for it... I'm sure Columbus have no regrets... Stay the f***ing course...

And the ones you mentioned... I don't think Yzerman should be in on ANY free agents this summer.

Go Blues!!! St. Louis wins 3-2 in double OT.

False. I would hate to draft Broberg at 6th overall. It's a reach. I would hate to reach at 6th overall.

Backwards cross over - Byram = Cozens > Broberg

Speed - Cozens > Turcotte > Broberg

Skating - Cozens > Broberg

Fair enough, and you make some good points. I just see Cozens as a player that doesn't have any one quality that is truly elite, aside from maybe his skating, which is huge in today's NHL, but he also doesn't have any real glaring weaknesses either. I'd say his speed, strength, hands, passing, shooting, hockey IQ are all well above average to high end. Most of these prospects have at least one thing they really need to work on. I don't see that with Cozens. His game is already well defined and is probably pretty close to NHL ready. Like I said, his ceiling may not be quite as high as some of his peers, but I do think the likelihood of him reaching that ceiling may be slightly higher. Regardless, as I've said, I'd be thrilled with any number of guys at 6th overall, and right now, I'd lean toward one of Cozens or Zegras outside of the obvious Hughes, Kakko, Byram and Turcotte...

Low ceiling compared to who? The guys that will likely go top 5? Sure, which is why he *might* not go top 5... His ceiling is still a top line center / winger, and I'd say he has a better chance in hitting that ceiling than most of the guys around him. Maybe a slightly lower ceiling than some, but a much higher floor than most in my opinion. Cozens is nothing like Rasmussen. Dach is similar in a lot of ways though.