krsmith17

Sure, if we're talking about through the course of the season, injuries are a certainly. However, if we're talking about the opening night roster, while injuries are likely in training camp / preseason (I can't remember the last time we didn't have at least one injury that early), they're certainly not a certainty. I have zero doubt that Zadina will play in Detroit this season, when the inevitable injuries occur, but I don't see a scenario where he starts the season in Detroit, unless there is an injury or trade prior to opening night on October 4th. I didn't say that any of those players "can't be scratched", what I said was that none of those players should be "scratched for a large chunk of the season". Sure, if any player is dogging it in practice and / or games, scratch his ass for a game or two. However, if that happens, chances are you're not going to call a player (Zadina) up from Grand Rapids for one (or two) game(s) and send him back down again after. Again, if / when Zadina plays in Detroit, it's going to because of injury or trade, not in place of a Mantha, Athanasiou, Bertuzzi, or even Glendening (unfortunately) for a game or two.

I'm going off the assumption that everyone is healthy and there are no trades. In which case, someone other than Witkowski will be scratched for a large chunk of the season. I understand that there will likely be injuries, but I don't really think it's fair to count on injuries either. Let's assume Rasmussen makes the team, and Zadina is on the bubble. All I'm saying is if it comes down to playing Zadina in Detroit and scratching any of Mantha, Athanasiou or Bertuzzi, or keeping Zadina down in Grand Rapids, and never scratching any of Mantha, Athanasiou or Bertuzzi, I'd choose the latter every time.

I'm in the same boat. I've always advocated keeping kids in the American League until they're good and ready, but if Zadina proves to be ready sooner rather than later, I'm all for him making the team right out of camp, or at some point this season. In saying that, I don't think we should rush him either. Just because he was our highest pick in over two decades and was deemed to be one of the few players in this year's draft that was "NHL ready", doesn't mean he should be rushed into the best league in the world.

F*** that noise... I'd rather Zadina AND Rasmussen spend the full season in Grand Rapids / Tri-City than scratch any of those three for a large chunk of the season...

Yeah, McIsaac was one of the defensemen I really wanted the Wings to take pre-draft, and was happy to see him fall to them at 36. I would have liked to take another defenseman (Wilde) at 33, but it's hard to complain about the Berggren pick. Yeah, I think I heard somewhere that he was once (maybe a couple years ago) thought to be a top 5 pick in his draft year. We managed to get him at 36, which is incredible.

I guess that depends on how you rank prospects. If you rank them on NHL readiness, sure, Rasmussen would be ahead of Veleno, not even debatable. If you rank them on what you project them to become in 3-5 years (which I do), Veleno would be ahead of Rasmussen in my opinion. I think Veleno is just the better all around player. I expect him to have a much better year this year with Drummondville than Ras did last year with Tri-City, and he will quickly be regarded as a higher end prospect, within the next calendar year in my opinion.

The 23-man roster includes 3 healthy scratches. If Rasmussen and Zadina make the Wings out of camp, and you waive Witkowski, who are the 3 healthy scratches? Frk. Who else? Glendening? As much as fans would love to see one of the kids in over Glendening, I don't see it happening. I don't see a scenario where Ras and Zadina make the Wings, unless there are trades and / or injuries before the season starts... Also, Rasmussen can't play in Grand Rapids this season. If he doesn't make this Wings, it's back to Tri-City for him. There have been mixed reports on Zadina, but last I heard he was on loan to Halifax from Pardubice, which would make him AHL this season. Another tidbit, Veleno will be AHL eligible next season as well, because he started in the CHL when he was 15 (exceptional status) and will have 4 years in the Q under his belt.

I'd have Veleno ahead of Hronek AND Rasmussen, but that's just me...

Barring any mid season contract extensions, the Sens will likely lose Duchene, Stone and Karlsson after this season. If they're smart (they're not), they would trade all three players and get a major haul at this year's deadline. They will likely finish bottom 3 (I'm guessing 31st overall) this season, and have a great chance to land Jack Hughes, except they won't get Jack Hughes, Colorado will...

Stone will be a UFA after this season. Ottawa have to be the worst run organization in the league right now... Hell, probably even league history... This is next level bad management...

I'm just happy we didn't trade for him. Not that I think Holland was in on him, but with the rumors swirling, I'm glad he went to Buffalo. Yeah, the only way I want Faulk is if he comes relatively cheap, which won't likely happen. Any word on their asking price? What would we realistically have to give up?

I'll admit that I'm not very high on Saarijarvi, or our defense prospect pool in general when it comes to developing into high end defensemen, but just curious, who do you see as potential top pair defensemen in our system? I like Hronek, Cholowski, and to a lesser extent Lindstrom, as well as our most recent addition, McIsaac, but I don't see any of them as legit top pair guys. Maybe one of them can emerge as a decent number 2, but that's best case scenario, and a bit of a long shot in my opinion. I also like Kotkansalo, Setkov, Holway, Regula and Barton on varying degrees, but I don't think any project to be anything more than bottom pairing defensemen, and probably only one or two will actually pan out. I liked the Barton pick from this year's draft. Very good skater, good passer and gets his shots through from the point. He actually reminds me of Cholowski in a lot of ways. Both are BC boys, drafted out of the BCHL, and had similar numbers. They were both fairly lanky (similar stature) coming out of the draft (like most kids), and both are left shot defensemen. Both are / were committed to NCAA in their draft+1 year. It will be interesting to see if Barton sticks with the college route, or switches back to Canadian hockey (CHL) after a year, the same way Cholowski did. Barton is my pick to (hopefully) exceed expectations...

This 100%. They're basically the same player coming out of the draft, with the same strengths (skating, vision, passing) and weaknesses (shot, strength), same projection (Larkin already exceeded his), exact same size, etc. Hell, Veleno was even compared to Larkin pre-draft (before anyone even knew he'd be going to Detroit) by a few draft analysts. I have a feeling Veleno will exceed expectations the same way Larkin did. He has the drive and determination to get there. I'd take Veleno over Rasmussen and it's not even close for me. I think Veleno will be the much better player. I also see Veleno as a true center, and Ras developing into more of a winger, and I'd take the C over the W every time.

I've also heard Jesper Bratt.

Nah, Lashoff is a solid veteran, but I'd say I get as excited about Lash as I do Matt Ford or Colin Campbell... Neither are a part of the Red Wings future, but solid soldiers for the Griffs.

C'mon man, we all know you hate Nyquist (for whatever unknown reason), but he absolutely does have moves just like this kid. I'm high on Berggren too, but the reason I am is because of how much he reminds me of Nyquist. Berggren is likely 2+ years away in my opinion. He'll likely play another season or two in Sweden with Skelleftea, then make his way over to North America and play a season or two in Grand Rapids, before making the Wings in 2020 or 2021. This.

Dylan Sadowy, Colin Campbell, Carter Camper, Trevor Yates and Jordan Topping are a few forwards you missed. Trevor Hamilton and Marcus Crawford are a couple defensemen you missed. And Kaden Fulcher and Pat Nagle are a couple goalies missed. Of course not all of these guys will make the Grand Rapids roster, some (most) will be sent down to Toledo, but still DET / GRG property so worth mentioning. I like the Topping and Crawford signings. Both are 21 years old, coming off strong seasons in the CHL. They probably won't ever be anything more than AHLers, maybe lower tier NHLers, but definitely worth the opportunity. I'm not sure if we're much younger, maybe a little, but at least there's a few players to keep an eye on that could be up in Detroit some day. I'm hoping Svechnikov can build off a rough sophomore season, and get another long look in Detroit. A lot of people are down on him right now, but I still have high hopes for the kid... I'm also hoping Turgeon can build off a strong sophomore season, in (hopefully) an increased role. I expect much of the same from Hronek, but maybe he can take another huge step this season as well. I'm also really looking forward to see how Cholowski, Smith and Pope transition from junior / college to the pro game. I would say those are the 6 players I'm most excited to track this season in GR (assuming Zadina isn't down there)...

Why hasn't Holland pulled the trigger on this trade yet? What is he waiting for?

Lidstrom also played a MUCH different style of game than Konstantinov. It's very rare to see a defenseman play such a physical brand of hockey into his 40's and still be effective. Had that accident not ended Vladdy's career, I think he would have retired / went back to Russia by 35. Even if he did play beyond 35, he wouldn't have been the same player. Kronwall is actually a decent comparable to Konstantinov. Does anyone think he will get into the HHOF?

Berggren's game reminds me a lot of Nyquist. Hopefully he's as good in Detroit and hated less by Wings fans...

Best player I think will be Zadina (top line winger). Biggest steal I think will be Veleno (2nd line center). You're absolutely right though. This was a phenomenal draft by the Wings, and could go down as one of the best since '89... Certainly makes up for the not-so-great draft from last year...

Unfortunately, I agree. I love(d) Vladdy, but I don't think he would have been close to HHOF worthy. He wouldn't have had the offensive numbers required to get in.

Veleno, obviously.