krsmith17

I hope so. I'd be thrilled with either Cozens or Zegras.

Detroit (and by Detroit, I mean me) - Interest in Trouba - Interest in Callahan (or more so the assets that come with him) - Interest in Kapanen (offer sheet $4.2M) - Interest in Puljujarvi

I think it'll come down to Zegras, Cozens, Dach, Podkolzin or Caufield...

I'm not saying any are more in-the-know than the other, I just tend to take everything Art Regner says with a pound of salt. I listen to every episode of The Red & White Authority, not because I like him as a host, but because I love the player, coach, trainer, etc. interviews. I just think Art is a bit of an ass hat to be honest. I don't necessarily agree with everything Ken says, but he does know his s***, and like you mentioned, may have the best knowledge about what's been going on behind the scenes... Yzerman has preached patience and tempered expectations. Ken echoed this. Maybe there's something to his talk on the Red Wings taking Cozens... I'd say Podkolzin to Detroit at 6 is 25%, depending on who's available. Seider to Detroit at 6 is 0%, but I think you know that...

Yes, yes it was. The argument was that he was struggling and should have been sent down weeks ago. That's fine. If he were sent down weeks ago, there wouldn't have been a problem with that decision. If he played one more game in Vancouver, it wouldn't have had any negative impact on him or the team. To scratch him for his first game in his hometown was the dickest of dick moves... I'd pay closer attention to what Ken and Trev are saying. Not so much Art... I think (hope) Cozens is our guy, assuming Byram and Turcotte (and maybe Zegras) are off the board.

Hughes and Kakko will go 1-2 - 100%. Byram and Turcotte will go top 5 - 95%. That other top 5 pick could be any number of guys, but I think it will end up being one of Dach or Cozens. There's a reasonably high chance that Zegras could be available at 6, and if he is, I think he will be Yzerman's pick. A lot of people seem to think that Zegras could have the most raw skill in the draft outside of Hughes. Could end up being a huge steal at 6 if he's available there...

I think there was more hype and for longer on Veleno than Krebs. Veleno was considered a potential top 5 / top 3 pick for a couple years leading up to the draft. Even months, weeks, days before the draft, he was considered a top 10-15 pick by most. It really is amazing that he slipped all the way to 30, and I think a lot of teams are going to regret not taking him in a few years time.

I think he'll slip, but not that far...

A RIGHT-HANDED Tatar!!!

I dont think his trades were THAT crazy... Inquiring about Callahan and Trouba should be high on his to do list, but what those trades would look like, I have no idea...

I really like where Trev's head is at...

Funny enough, those are the two I might be leaning toward if the draft were to go, Hughes, Kakko, Turcotte, Cozens, Byram...

If it's the same worry you had about Zadina last year, I'd take him... Nah, seriously though, I'm not too high on Podkolzin either. I wouldn't hate if we picked him at 6, but in my opinion there are better options available... I could see Yzerman taking Caufield. He's shown a willingness to take high skill diminutive forwards in the past. I wouldn't hate that pick to be honest...

I could see Nielsen and / or Helm getting traded in the next year or so. Not so sure anyone would have much interest in Abdelkader though... Nielsen to NYI (1,050,000 (20%) retained for 3 seasons). Helm to EDM (1,925,000 (50%) retained for 2 seasons). Also Daley to DAL (1,583,333 (50%) retained for 1 season). All traded for mid to late round picks / mid level prospects...

McIsaac expected to undergo shoulder surgery today. Out for the next 5-6 months...

Corey Pronman just released his mock first round, and I think most would be happy if things play out the way he sees it... 1. NJD - Hughes 2. NYR - Kakko 3. CHI - Turcotte 4. COL - Byram 5. LAK - Dach 6. DET - Zegras "I’ve heard Zegras, Dach and Vasili Podkolzin rumored to Detroit. It makes sense given Steve Yzerman’s preference for drafting skill, as well as how little hesitance he shows for drafting Russians. There was skepticism talking to sources at the combine about Zegras being Detroit’s pick, but enough people have pegged him there that I’ll go with that one." I don't think there's any chance Byram or Turcotte fall to 6, and I'd be more than okay with Zegras or Cozens or even Dach or Caufield...

Yeah, I'd still wait a couple years before attempting to pull off that trade. I highly doubt a team would want Abdelkader now with 4 years remaining, even if it were at $2.125M (50%). Honestly, I'd be more interested in trying to move Nielsen in the next year or two than Abdelkader...

No GM would... Not a single one.

Do. Not. Want.

No. The cap hit can be retained, but teams are limited to having a max of three at one time, preventing teams from having "$120,000,000 payrolls"... What is a retained salary transaction/trade When a team trades a player, they have the option to retain a part of their salary (and cap hit). The team who retains the salary then pays the retained percentage of the salary, and also retains the percentage of the cap hit until the contract expires. The following requirements must be met to retain salary: The percentage retained cannot exceed 50 percent of the player’s salary (including all bonuses) and Salary Cap Hit. The same percentage must be retained for both the player’s salary and Salary Cap Hit, and cannot be modified. All teams are limited to a maximum of 3 retained salary contracts per season. Teams cannot retain an aggregate amount of more than 15 percent of the Salary Cap Upper Limit. Players’ contracts are limited to 2 retained salary transactions per contract. Once a retained salary transcation has occured, there are various limitations, such as: A team cannot reacquire a player whom they have retained salary from for a minimum of one year after the date of the transaction, or unless the player's contract expires or is terminated prior to the one-year date. All teams involved in a retained salary transaction will have cap implications if the contract is bought out or terminated. Teams who retain salary on a players contract, will have the full value of the cap hit act against the teams salary cap total, regardless of whether the player is reassigned to the minors by their current team.

Do you think there's a better chance that Svechnikov becomes a better player than Puljujarvi?

I'd do it.