krsmith17

Well "Canadian bacon" as some refer to it (I haven't heard many), is basically ham isn't it? I'm not sure, bacon is bacon and ham is ham to me... Technically bacon is pork belly and ham is pork loin...

Looks like we will have a 4th line of Wilson - Glendening - Frk... Frk will be a regular scratch before Christmas Halloween... F*** Blashill!

I've never had Little Caesars in Detroit other than at the Joe. I got it there every damn time though, and it was f***ing delicious. Granted, every time I had it, it was 2nd intermission, when I was around 6 beers deep... So who knows, maybe I was eating cardboard like so many have described it... These chains definitely do vary in quality from state to state / province to province though. I had Domino's in Alberta, and it was bad. Love it here though. Little Caesars just opened here recently and it's f***ing amazing!!!

For the most part? I'll agree that Zetterberg, Nielsen, Larkin, Athanasiou, Helm, Glendening, and possibly even Abdelkader are interchangeable. As in they are natural centers (or have played center in the past) that can play wing. You can't just throw any winger (Nyquist, Tatar, Mantha, Frk) at center and expect them to excel. I could get behind trying Nyquist at center, if Zetterberg, Nielsen and Larkin all went down to injury, but not just to swap one of them out just for the sake of it. Not to mention you're advocating taking out our future 1 / 2 C... It makes ZERO sense. Sure, once the puck is dropped, and covering players in the defensive zone, or cycling in the offensive zone, but not to actually take draws.

Either Little Caesars and Domino's are extremely different here in Canada than in the States, or some folks grading of pizzas is way off... When it comes to traditional North American style pizza, Little Caesars and Domino's are way up there on my list. Quite possibly 1 & 2...

You mean his career total of 31 face-offs (35.5%) isn't enough to justify converting him to a regular center over Larkin?... Natural center, playing wing... Not a natural winger, playing center. HUGE difference...

What are you talking about? So you're saying there's no difference between center and wing? Seriously? What does having 7-8 natural centers in our lineup have to do with anything? Nyquist isn't one of them. He's a natural winger, and shouldn't be relied on to play anything but. F*** it! Why not throw Tatar on defense while we're at it...

Nyquist isn't a center. Larkin is a center, and has proven to be a very good one so far this season. Why would you move him to the wing? Makes no sense...

The only other way is if Abdelkader is demoted to the 4th line, and I doubt that... I'm not a fan of Abby in the top 6, but if he is (and he will be), I'd prefer him with Zetterberg... If there's one player that can get him going, it's Z. It also adds depth down the lineup. I wouldn't mind seeing something like this... Abdelkader - Zetterberg - Nyquist Mantha - Larkin - Frk Athanasiou - Nielsen - Tatar Wilson - Helm - Glendening Frk and Tatar are interchangeable. That would give us three strong "offensive" lines and a solid checking line. I agree. But what we would like to see, and what will happen, is often quite different...

Well, no. It should be an easy decision to scratch Witkowski, but he's Blashill's boy, so that probably won't happen... EDIT: Just realized, you likely meant between the three of them to be demoted to the 4th line, assuming Witkowski actually does get scratched. Then yes, I would say it's between the three of them, or maybe even just two (Helm and Frk). I'd much prefer it to be Helm, because his game is much better suited in a "checking role". Let Frk play with "skilled" players...

So in other words, Frk will be demoted to the 4th line or press box... Awesome...

Athanasiou took part in his first practice with the team today, and will make his season debut tomorrow night in Tampa. Can't wait! Hopefully he slides in on the 3rd line to start, in Helm's spot, and Helm bumps Witkowski off the 4th line...

Nielsen has been terrible. 2 points, -3 in 10 games, 38.7% in face-offs... He may be the worst contract on the books right now. Ericsson has actually been decent in my opinion, and I'd take Ericsson at $4.25M for 3 seasons over Nielsen at $5.25M for 5 seasons any day... I'd trade both in the offseason though...

Yeah, Dahlin should be the obvious choice, if we do have the choice. I'd be shocked and kind of pissed if we had the number one overall selection and took Svechnikov, for the simple fact, like you said, our defense is the obvious priority to upgrade right now. If we do end up with the number one selection, and we truly do want Svechnikov, we damn well better be trading down a spot, and picking up something significant in return. We also better be willing to make a big trade to bring in a number one defenseman...

Blashill, keep rolling Frk - Larkin - Mantha... F*** off with Nyquist and Tatar on the same line. It just doesn't work.

I was going to mention Veleno as well. I also really like Merkley.

Sheahan gets his first point of the season...

I'd trade either for Shea Theodore without thinking twice.

No, I don't doubt that is his "philosophy". But I don't think that being his philosophy means he cannot / will not make any trades. You can build through the draft, and also make a trade or two to upgrade the team. It doesn't have to be one or the other. So you believe this team can be built back up solely through the draft, not making any big trades? I guess it could, but I highly doubt it...

Again, take what GM's say with a grain of salt. I have to ask though, are you happy with that philosophy? Do you think we should build this team solely through the draft / free agency? Do you believe that to be a recipe for success? I don't, which is why I'll keep hoping for a trade, or hoping he be replaced by someone that would be willing to make the necessary changes / adjustments...

Why? Because that's all he's done in the past 10 years? Or because he's specifically said that he won't make big trades? I don't think he's ever said that... Again, I don't think he will make a big trade, but I do think he should. What's the issue with that?

I couldn't agree more with all of this.

So what exactly was your point? Has he ever said that he won't make any big trades?

100%. F*** Brian Lashoff!...