krsmith17

EXACTLY! Nyquist to Nashville for Fabbro. Daley to Dallas for a 1st round pick. Ericsson to Vegas for a 2nd round pick. Howard to Calgary for a 1st and a 2nd. Game's easy... If Holland can't pull this off he should be fired immediately!!!

I agree that Nyquist seems like he'd be a good fit with the Preds. I've been saying this for the past two years... Nyquist to Nashville for Dante Fabbro. Make it happen Kenny! Babcock always liked Big E, but I highly doubt Dubas would have any interest in acquiring Ericsson. Pittsburgh wouldn't have the cap space for one of Daley or Howard, let alone both.

I'd be completely okay with this... Trade Nyquist because his value will be at an all-time high. Trade Daley because he sucks... Maybe other teams haven't figured this out yet... veteran leadership... 2 Stanley Cups...

Same. I've always been a fan of Hamilton, but it is a bit of a concern that he's already been bounced around three different teams at the age of 25. I'd still kick the tires on him if he is available. If he can be had for relatively cheap, sure I'd take him.

Dude, I was talking about next game. Not next year. But since you're talking about next year... Hughes - Larkin - Mantha Athanasiou - Nielsen - Zadina Bertuzzi - Veleno - Rasmussen Abdelkader - Glendening - Helm Cholowski - Green Ericsson - Hronek DeKeyser - Jensen Howard Bernier

There could be better teams making similar offers even if we don't trade him though. And better in terms of the actual hockey team, doesn't necessarily mean a better place to play hockey / live for Nyquist. Gus has been living in Michigan for over 8 years now. I assume he has a home, girlfriend / wife. It's not always easy to uproot everything, which is why most players (including Nyquist) push so hard for NTC's. The fact that Nyquist has one, tells me he's quite happy living in Detroit as a Red Wing. Regardless what Nyquist or the team wants beyond this season, like I said above... If a team is offering us a 1st round pick for Nyquist, I wouldn't think twice. If he wants to come back next season, great. If not, oh well, we'll have to find someone to replace that production. Hopefully a young up and comer, not an old veteran UFA...

I actually like Athanasiou in the middle, but probably not as a 2C. I wouldn't mind seeing what he could do as our 3C for a few games though... Bertuzzi - Larkin - Mantha Nyquist - Nielsen - Vanek Helm - Athanasiou - Rasmussen Abdelkader - Glendening - Ehn / de la Rose

What's the point in having any vets on the team? Why keep Kronwall? Why keep Nielsen? Why re-sign Vanek? Because like it or not, teams do need veterans to teach the kids on and off the ice. Green is a great vet to have teach guys like Cholowski and Hronek. I'll admit, I didn't like the Nielsen or Daley signings, even taking into account their "veteran leadership", but I thought Green was a good signing at the time, and still do today.

Yup, currently on pace for 67 points this season. You'll always lose production in some areas and pick it up in others. The key is obviously making sure your additions outweigh your subtractions... We'll also be losing Vanek's 30-40 points and Kronwall's 20-30 points, but we should more than make up for that with the additions of Zadina and Hronek full time.

Why don't you think he would re-sign here if he gets traded though? I think if both sides want him re-signed, they'll do so in the offseason, whether he's traded or not. I don't see the harm in him going to play with another team for a few months, have a shot at a Cup, and then re-sign in Detroit this summer. I know it's not how it typically works, but it has happened in the past, and I'm sure it'll happen again. I specifically remember Antoine Vermette getting traded from Arizona to Chicago a couple years ago, for a 1st round pick and a mediocre prospect. He then re-signed with Arizona again a few months later. I'm sure there are other examples of this as well. If we could do something similar with Nyquist at this year's trade deadline, it's a win-win. Also, we may not have anyone that can immediately replace his production, but we definitely will have a winger coming in the next season or so that will be capable of replacing his 50-60 points. Whether that's Zadina or whoever we get in the top 5 of this year's draft... This. A first round pick holds much more value to a rebuilding team than a 30 year old top six winger.

Yeah, I think the best we can hope for is a late 1st rounder for Nyquist. I wouldn't be surprised if we do get a 1st, but I also wouldn't be surprised if it's only a 2nd. Regardless, take what you can get. We've seen countless 2nd rounders turn into impact players. We need as many kicks at the can as we can get in the first 2-3 rounds of this draft.

@LeftWinger, I think you're expecting too much on pretty much all those trades... I don't think we'll get a 1st AND a prospect for Nyquist, certainly not one of Liljegren's caliber. Besides, the Leafs need defense, not more offense. We might be able to get a 2nd or 3rd for Howard, but personally, I'd rather the pick than Calen Addison. I'm not that high on him. I don't think we can expect multiple picks for Daley either. If he gets moved, it'll likely be for a mid (3rd OR 4th) round pick. There's also no harm in retaining salary, even if there is term (one year) left on the deal. We're in agreement on Jensen, but again, I don't think you'll get anything close to a prospect like Volkov. Probably nothing more than a mid to late round pick, and if that's the case, I'd just assume hold on to him and sign him to an extension. I agree that we should be shopping anyone above the age of 25, with the exception of Green. Like you said, Kronwall isn't going anywhere though. He'll retire a Red Wing after this season. Ericsson could be a decent addition for a contending team looking for defensive depth, but we'd definitely need to retain salary, which I'd be fine with. Nielsen isn't going anywhere, although I'd be okay moving him. Vanek isn't going anywhere, unfortunately. DeKeyser isn't going anywhere. Abdelkader isn't going anywhere. I could see some teams having interest in Helm and Glendening, but the most you could expect for either of those guys, again, would be a mid round pick.

Agreed. But I don't even necessarily think Larkin needs "elite" wingers like Ovechkin or Kane. I think even if he had legit "top line" wingers he could be a 90+ point two-way center. Which in my opinion would put him in the conversation of elite. If Mantha continues to grow into the player he's capable of... If Zadina hits his ceiling... If we draft in the top 3 in the next two years... Larkin could have some very good, maybe even elite wingers to play with...

Terrible trade (Duchene), made worse by not giving up the pick (Tkachuk) in last year's draft... Everybody (except Sens management) knew it was a terrible decision at the time. What a train wreck of an organization...

Nah, I dont have much interest in Jordan Schmaltz. I'd love to have his brother Nick though.

Yeah, Larkin clearly wasn't elite when this thread was created, but I'd consider him close now. Not quite there yet though based on *my* definition of elite (top 5ish at his position). I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility though, for him to emerge as an elite center over the next couple years, especially if / when he's given a couple capable (maybe even elite themselves) wingers. I thought Larkin could become a 70+ point, responsible, two-way center, and it looks like that's around where he'll end up this season, at the tender age of 22. I didn't think he'd ever become a 90+ point center, which is what I'd consider him in the conversation of elite. But after seeing what he's capable of with wingers like Helm / Abdelkader and Mantha / Nyquist, I think he could definitely get there with a Hughes / Kakko / Cozens and Zadina / Mantha on his wings...

What do you consider a "reasonable cap hit" though? I think he could easily get 7 years at $8M... and for that price, I'd probably pass. This team shouldn't be looking for any quick fixes. Continue to rebuild through the draft and if a sign or trade for a player under 24 makes sense, go for it. I wouldn't be looking at any big money players in the 28+ range, and that includes Erik Karlsson.

A lot can change in the next 6 months, but it's still Cozens for me right now.

Probably. I'm okay with that line playing big minutes in a shutdown role against other teams' top lines though. Yup. Better late than never I guess...

Wow, I LOVE that 4th line. I also like that Rasmussen is finally getting some help with Athanasiou. Major improvement. Keep it up Blash...

The real HYPE is... Abdelkader at least momentarily, bumped off the top line... Hopefully it sticks. Athanasiou didn't practice today (attended a funeral), but is expected to play tomorrow. Hopefully he squeezes into the top 6 in place of Vanek... I really wish Rasmussen would be given more of an opportunity as well... I'd like to see something like this... Bertuzzi - Larkin - Mantha Athanasiou - Nielsen - Nyquist Rasmussen - Helm - Vanek Abdelkader - Glendening - de la Rose / Ehn / Frk

Bold, I completely agree with. Underlined, I disagree with, at least for myself. I think Blashill is a better NHL head coach than he gets credit for around here, but there are decisions he makes (like every coach) that us fans are going to complain about, and rightfully so. I don't care what AA does in practice, he's clearly getting it done in games. Until he proves otherwise, he should be a go-to guy in every shootout. Just my opinion...

Assuming Holland is still in charge, I don't see any "big moves" being made, despite what Devellano says. Maybe if Yzerman (or another GM) steps in, I could see one of Mantha or Athanasiou being moved, but until that happens, I just don't see it... I like Parayko, but he wouldn't be my first choice. A couple years ago he looked like a surefire top pairing defenseman. Now, I'm not so sure. He'd still probably be one of our best defensemen, and may compliment Cholowski quite well, but that would still be a below average top pairing. Is it worth giving up Mantha / Athanasiou, plus? Maybe, but I don't think I'd pull the trigger at this point.

What's your reasoning? What would you expect to get in return for either player?

Nielsen may be "historically" good in the shootouts, but he's been really bad (1 for 6) this season. Same goes for Nyquist (1 for 6), Vanek (0 for 4) and even Larkin (1 for 4). You know who's been our best shootout performer? Athanasiou. Currently shooting at 100%. Granted he's only had one opportunity, but the question is why has he only been given one opportunity? He's proven to be lethal on breakaways, and while in game breakaways and skills competition shootouts are slightly different, they're not that different. I disagree that Larkin has better hands than Athanasiou. Larkin is obviously a better all around player, but I think AA probably has the best hands on the team in tight on breakaways, especially at top speed. By the way, Blashill has put Abdelkader in more (double) shootouts than Athanasiou. It's f***ing asinine that AA is left on the bench for the skills competition, and I honestly can't believe anyone is arguing that... Why does Blash keep going back to the same old well? It's not like we've been winning with Nielsen, Nyquist and Vanek shooting. I'd rather see Bertuzzi or Rasmussen or even a defenseman, Cholowski or Hronek given an opportunity at this point. They can't be any worse...