krsmith17

What makes you think Sulak is going back to Europe? I think Cholowski will definitely be Prince George this season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Saarijarvi start the season in Toledo.

I'm assuming we're just talking about Ekman-Larsson level players here? I think Trouba as well as several other high quality defensemen could be had for a package not including any of those three.

Absolutely. The criticism is warranted, but not reason to give up on the kid. That's my only point here. And I'm not saying you want him gone, but I know there are some that do, which is crazy to me...

A lot of people are giving Larkin a pass (myself included), and rightfully so. He's still very early in his development, and struggles are to be expected. Mrazek struggled more than I think anyone could have expected, but as with Larkin, he is still very early in his development and should be given the benefit of the doubt, based on what he's shown he is capable of in the past. He may never put up Vezina like numbers again, but I doubt he'll ever have a season as terrible as this past year. I do agree with your point about him being past his ELC and being paid big bucks though. He needs to prove he's worth the money, and maybe because he didn't this past season, is a big reason fans turned on him so quickly...

I think it's a lot more common than you think. You're acting as if I'm saying it's more common. I'm not. I'm saying that there are many situations where a 21 year old is more mature than a 25 year old. I've witnessed it in many cases, and I'm sure you have as well. But anything to argue about right? Anyway, this is getting way off the point. Larkin and Mrazek are at similar stages of their development, but Mrazek is being chastised by many, while Larkin is being given the benefit of the doubt. I hope / think both will turn things around, and neither is more or less likely to hit their ceiling than the other. Both are good, young players, that are coming off rough seasons. Let's hope they turn things around in a big way.

I think we will be a better team this season than we were last, despite minimal personnel changes. I don't think it would be possible for every player to play as poorly as they did last season, and if the majority of the team sees even a slight spike in production, we should be much better. We will finish better than 79 points, but I don't think it will be enough to make the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong, but the only way I see this team making a large enough step to get back in contention, is if we make a trade or two. That's not happening. I think we finish with around 85-90 points, just outside the playoffs...

This makes no sense. I'm not saying Larkin is more mature now than he will be at age 25, or that Mrazek was more mature when he was 21 than he is now, or that any person regresses in maturity as they age... However, people do mature at different rates, just as people grow at different rates, hit puberty at different ages, etc. Everyone is different, and if you can't see the possibility that Larkin could be more mature than Mrazek or any other 25 year old, just because he's a few years younger, I don't know what's to say...

I don't think anyone would suggest that there isn't a huge maturity gap between those age groups. My only point was that it's very common to come across a 21 year old that is much more mature than a 25 year old. And in this case, I think it's very likely that Larkin is just as or more mature than Mrazek. I also think they're in similar stages of their development, despite Larkin being 4 years younger. Anyway, I think everyone hopes that both have huge bounce back years, along with the rest of the team.

I do remember when I was 21. I know 21 year olds now that are more mature than most of my 30+ year old friends. It's not hard to imagine a 21 year old Larkin (who seems to be very mature for his age) could possibly be more mature than a 25 year old Mrazek (who doesn't seem to have it all figured out yet). Anyway, we're straying way off track here. I think Mrazek can bounce back, just like everyone thinks Larkin can bounce back, regardless of age or maturity level.

21 isn't a grown man? My point is that forwards generally have a smoother transition than goalies. It usually takes goaltenders (and defensemen) a little longer to figure things out at the NHL level. Forwards, for the most part, don't have to go through such a learning curve coming from the American League. The bolded, I completely agree with.

Larkin will be 21 to start this season, which is very young for a forward. Mrazek will be 25 to start this season, which is very young for a goaltender. Larkin has played 160 NHL games, came in hot (made the All-Star team), but struggled this past season. Mrazek has played in 144 NHL games, came in hot (put up Vezina numbers), but struggled this past season. I think Larkin is capable of becoming a good number one / very good number two center, and I think Mrazek is capable of becoming a good / great starter in the NHL. There's no question Larkin's great rookie season was largely due to Zetterberg, but his sophomore slump was also largely due to playing with Abdelkader and Sheahan. But again, virtually every player had down years, so I'm not too concerned. I'm also not too concerned about Mrazek's work ethic or attitude *yet*. I think it's been somewhat exaggerated around here, and it's something he's been said to be working on. As long as he comes into camp ready to play with a positive mindset, I think he'll be fine.

Based on Larkin's most recent season, he's barely a 3rd liner... Do you think that's the case? Virtually every Detroit Red Wing (minus 2-3) had a bad year by their own standards last season. Mrazek had an AWFUL year. I think most players are better than they played last season. I think Mrazek is MUCH better than he played last season.

Naming a few great goaltenders that have had good years beyond the age of 35, doesn't make it the norm. There are always outliers. Jagr is 45 years old, and still putting up great numbers. Again, an outlier, not the norm. On average, goaltenders prime years are likely a little later than defensemen, just as defensemen are a little later than forwards, but they do still have a peak, and if Howard hasn't hit his yet (I think he has), he will very soon. Mrazek's prime years should begin this season or next, and if he is truly as good as he has shown in some of the short stints, he should be a very good goaltender for another 5-10 years.

To be fair, most have basically said "yeah, no s***" and moved along with this thread as well. And someone has already mentioned demoting Zetterberg (and they won't be the last to bring this up in the next couple seasons), except in this case, it was Nielsen being promoted not Larkin. I don't think a single person is surprised to see Howard as the starting netminder, and that would include even the biggest Mrazek fans and Howard "haters"...

I'm not arguing which of the two makes the team better. It's very clear that Howard was the better goaltender last season, and if he continues to be again this season, of course you ride him. What I'm saying is that it's natural to hope that the younger goalie unseats the goalie that will in all likelihood soon be on the decline of his career. Yeah, we definitely need to unseat the 21 year old Larkin. He's way past his prime anyway... Forget that ridiculous example, do you not hope that Larkin unseats Zetterberg as the top line center in the next year or so? No? Bulls***. Yes? Why? Because Zetterberg likely only has another couple good years (if we're lucky) in him before he starts to drastically decline. This has nothing to do with me liking Mrazek over Howard (I've always been a Howard supporter), this is about what's better for the team going forward. I do hope the younger goalie gets back on track and unseats the older goalie. And if all things are equal, I go with the younger goalie (player) every time. (Note: I'm not talking a few years, I'm talking significant difference in age (8 years)).

Why wouldn't we? Howard may have just a few good years left in him. It's natural to hope that the younger guy can eventually replace the older guy. I also hope Larkin "unseats" Zetterberg as our number one center, although that may be a lot less likely to happen.

A year ago I would have agreed with you on getting Zetterberg's minutes down, but he proved last season that he can handle those big minutes, and he should continue to get them until he shows he can't handle it anymore. Nielsen isn't capable of handling top line minutes and would get eaten alive as our number one center. I also disagree with Larkin playing on the wing. We need him to develop his game as a center, so that's where he should be going forward. I'd try him as the 2nd line center, and if he can't handle it, drop him back to the 3rd line. Just keep him in the middle. I agree with your top 4 defense, although I'd switch the two pairings around. DeKeyser proved that he can't handle the top pair matchups, and is better suited on the 2nd pair. I'd also have Ouellet and Sproul as our 3rd pairing over Kronwall and Ericsson, but that simply won't happen if they're both healthy. Just another reason we need to make a trade or two. One that would see Ericsson moved to make room for one of the younger guys.

The chance of Svechnikov becoming elite are slim to none. He likely develops into a solid top 6 winger. A top 2 defenseman is far more valuable to a team than a 6 (even top line) winger, especially for a team that's biggest strength is on the wing. Nyquist, Tatar, Mantha, Athanasiou and Svechnikov are all / should be legit top 6 wingers. Of course there are other pieces I'd prefer to trade before Svech, but if he could fetch a top 2 defenseman in a package, I'd do it.

Howard is rightfully so the starter going into the season, but I wouldn't be at all shocked if Mrazek returns to form and steals the starter role once again. Here's to hoping...

You have to give to get, and when you have a strength, as we do on the wing, and a weakness, as we do on defense, the smart thing to do is to trade from an area of strength to fill an area of weakness. As I said, Larkin and Mantha are as close to untouchable, unless we're getting an absolute stud in return, but any and all of Nyquist, Tatar, Athanasiou and Svechnikov, among others, should be shopped to upgrade our defense. Exactly this.

The Helm contract isn't as bad as Abdelkader's in my opinion, and I also think Helm is more valuable to the team when healthy. The salaries for both were a little too high, but the term is where the contracts went to s***. I actually think Glendening's was worse, obviously not in overall impact on the cap, but what he brings to the team vs the contract he received makes it the worst on the team in my opinion. I would have been okay with Abdelkader at around $3M X 4 years, Helm at around $3.5M X 4 years, and Glendening around $1.2M X 2 years. 4th line centers of Glendening's caliber can be replaced any year in free agency, or by players within the organization. I think Turgeon could be a viable replacement as early as next season, but Glendening will still be getting overpaid for another three seasons after that...

If they get Mrazek playing games, and he does play well (better than Howard), and takes over the starters net once again, why would they want to trade him at that point though? Unless his attitude really is so bad, that it doesn't matter how well he plays, they want him gone regardless. I'm not sure how it could possibly be that bad, but if it is, I guess it would make some sense... Regardless, best case scenario for this team would be for Mrazek and Howard to play out of their minds, and to trade one (preferably Howard) at some point this season for help on defense.

That sounds more to me like they would have been comfortable playing Coreau 25-30 games as Howard's backup, if Mrazek were no longer with the team. It's obvious that Howard will start the season as the starting goaltender, but I doubt Holland or Blashill would want Howard playing 65% of the games with Mrazek behind him. I can see them going into the season, once again wanting a 50/50 split, if both can stay relatively healthy. I also wouldn't be surprised if Mrazek plays this season like he's capable of, and earns the majority of the work load. I've always been a Jimmy supporter, but at 33 years old, I'm hoping the younger (25 year old) Mrazek takes over the starting role permanently this season.

I'm not sure about specific trade examples, but some of the players we have that other teams would likely be interested in would be, Nyquist, Tatar, Larkin, Mantha, Athanasiou, Svechnikov, etc. I'd be willing to trade any of those players, except Larkin or Mantha (unless it was a steal on our end), if it was for a young potential top pair defenseman. There are quite a few teams that are looking for added scoring up front, and some of those teams have an overload of defensemen / defense prospects. I'm sure if Holland wanted to bad enough, he could find a trading partner and make a trade that would improve this team. I just think Holland truly does "like this team"...

I strongly believe Poile is one of, if not the best GM in the league and has been for quite some time. He has made some of the best trades in recent years, great at drafting, great at negotiating contracts. Nashville should be in great shape under him for a long time.