krsmith17

Some sort of package involving Athanasiou and Jake Bean...

Like I said earlier, Mrazek being left unprotected by Holland and passed over by McPhee were HUGE shocks to the hockey world. So yes, I believe something went down between Holland and McPhee prior to the selection process and possibly even the protection list. I'm not asking you to share the same belief. We're left in the dark, we have no inside information, it's just speculation, so why bother continue the conversation?

And nothing has changed on that front... Like I've said all along, Holland IS an idiot for exposing Mrazek, UNLESS there was something we were unaware of. And in my opinion, there is more to it. You don't think so? Cool...

I've said several times that Mrazek's stock dropped after this past season. So no, I'm not trying to justify anything with "conspiracy theories". If you truly believe that there was nothing done under the table, and no one wants Mrazek, cool, I don't. I'm not here trying to convince you of anything.

Good question. None of us know the answer to this. One thing is for sure though, he needs to get his head on straight unless he wants all that potential to be for not...

An agreement / understanding does not need an "exchange of goods". There are trades all the time involving "future considerations". What makes you so sure that something similar didn't go down in this situation? McPhee did tell Holland that he was taking Nosek, whether it was before or after the protection lists. All GM's knew who they were losing prior to the announcements yesterday / last night. Like I said from the beginning though, it's all speculation, and no one knows for sure exactly what went down. What I do know, is that for so many people to be mind blown over both Mrazek being exposed and passed over, there has to be more to it than what we know now... That's all I have to say on the matter though. Just happy Mrazek is still a Red Wing.

And now look at the Pens. They did what they did in the playoffs (won the Stanley Cup) on the backs of high-end offense... I agree. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Mantha will lead the team in goals and points next season... Hopefully he plays on a line with Zetterberg...

I just feel like we have two equally huge holes at center and defense, so for our first round pick, I'd prefer to go best player available. And for me, it's Patrick or Vilardi over any defenseman in this years draft.

Acquiring top pair defensemen probably will take more than a package starting with Nyquist or Tatar, but adding a piece like Patrick or Vilardi would allow us to trade an Athanasiou or Svechnikov. I think either of those (especially Svech) would be a great starting point to acquire a young, potential top pair defenseman.

But building through the draft is exactly what they intend on doing. Like I've said, they have a TON of picks already and will get even more in the next day or two. On top of all of those draft picks, they also acquired some very nice pieces. I think McPhee has done great so far, and he's only getting started.

I'm going to have to disagree with you there. I'd take Patrick or Vilardi over Heiskanen or Makar. I think we need centers as much as defense, thinking long term. We'd still have a massive hole on defense, but we could fill that via trade or next years draft. We're not going to be good for another couple years, so it's best player available for me. In saying that, I think it's going to cost a lot more than I'd be willing to pay to move up 6 spots in the draft...

Yeah, much like a lot of American League teams. It seems like teams are getting relocated every year. Too many teams are too far away from their affiliates. It should be like the Griffins and Marlies, in the same state or province for easier access...

I seen that, but WHY? They don't have enough high-end defensive prospects? Trying to emulate the Predators mold of having four top two defensemen I guess... Eberle for Strome...

This is not a fact. I'm not saying it did happen, nor should you be stating as fact that it didn't. It is very possible that McPhee let Holland know he wanted Nosek from the get go. And yes that would be a "handshake deal" of sorts. Not in the sense of a trade, but I'm sure he wouldn't go back on his word without at least discussing it with Holland first. If McPhee then decided he wanted Mrazek (or a different player), he would have mentioned it to Holland, giving him the opportunity to make a deal to protect that player. I'm a fan of Mrazek, but putting that aside, I find it very difficult to believe McPhee sees Nosek as the best player available from the Red Wings. I believe there was some sort of gentleman's agreement in place. Of course we may never know what really went down, but 95% of the hockey world were in shock to see Mrazek exposed, and a similar percentage were once again shocked that McPhee didn't take him. To me, there has to be more to it... There farm team is now the Chicago Wolves, previously of the Blues, but I'm not sure if they're being shared. I would think the AHL would expand as well, but not entirely sure on that.

I think Theodore is an elite talent with potential to become a top 10 defenseman in the NHL. I also fully expect them to draft 2-3 elite level players in the next 2 drafts. They're in great shape going forward.

Not to mention, close to half the team will likely be traded over the next couple months...

I'm not sure what you were expecting from an expansion team. Of course they have a few bad contracts, but at a good price (future assets). Clarkson will never play again, and Grabovski may or may not be ready to start the season. They received 2 first round and 2 second round picks for taking on two players that may end up on LTIR for the majority or entirety of their contracts. Not a bad haul. They'll likely keep Neal and Perron, at least until the deadline, where they might get another few high picks. As for their defense, there is definitely a market for the majority of them. Methot and Emelin should garner a decent return, same goes for Van Riemsdyk and Miller if they decide to move them. But like I said, this is not the team they're going to roll out in October. They have a glut of picks in the draft, and I would expect at least one (maybe Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier) to be on the roster this season. They also picked up a stud defenseman in Shea Theodore. So they could potentially have a true number one defenseman and number one center right out of the gate. There are a lot of teams in the league that can't say the same, and unfortunately we're one of them...

Where are you getting this info from? We know that no assets were exchanged to keep McPhee away from Mrazek, but there could have been some sort of handshake deal. Maybe there was a conversation between Holland and McPhee before the protection lists were made, and McPhee made it very clear that he wanted Nosek. Holland may have even asked if he had any interest in any of our goaltenders, and he flat out said, "No, we're taking Nosek. We were very impressed with him in the Calder Cup Playoffs"... A lot of speculation I know, but that's all we really have at this point. But if that were the case, Holland had no reason to offer Vegas anything to extend their protection list. I don't know, I get that Mrazek's stock plummeted last season, but I find it very hard to believe that not a single GM in the league would have interest in him. Just over a year ago, he was in the conversation as a Vezina candidate. Anyway, I'm happy he's still a Red Wing, and I hope he's given an opportunity to prove that last season was an anomaly, and he is a true bonafide number one.

Really? I wasn't aware of that. Thanks! So is he property of VGK after next season?

I disagree. I think McPhee has done a fantastic job building this team. It's still early and what they look like today, isn't anything like what they will look like in October. They have a ton of assets to trade off. About 6 or 7 both defensemen and forwards could potentially be traded in the coming days / weeks / months. They already have a ton of picks, and will get many more by trading off these assets. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up with one of Patrick or Hischier in the draft, as well as another pick or two in the 1st round. An expansion team that could potentially start with a stud center (Patrick / Hischier or at worst Vilardi / Glass), a stud defenseman (Theodore) and a very good goaltender (Fleury) is in great shape going forward. They have also already signed two very good players out of the KHL (Shipachev and Gusev). I've been saying, maybe a little tongue in cheek, that Vegas will be better than Detroit in the next 2-3 years, but I actually think that's a strong possibility, and it could be even sooner than that...

I think one of Nyquist or Tatar should be expendable, regardless if we get Foo or any other free agent this summer. Not because I think they're garbage (like some), but because we desperately need help on the back end. I believe Svechnikov could be one of their replacements over the next couple years. If we can use one in a package to acquire a young, unproven, potential top 2 defenseman I'd be happy. I'd be shocked if Holland does anything though, let alone a big multi-asset trade... Good to hear you're finally coming around...

I'm happy Holland doesn't have much cap space. Hopefully he stays far away from free agency. Just sign Tatar, Athanasiou and Ouellet, and that's it, no UFA's. I don't expect much in the way of trades, but if he can make one big splash for a young defenseman, without giving up the farm, I'd be very happy.

I still cannot believe Anaheim gave up Theodore to keep Vatanen... What the f*** is Murray smoking? Holland, you better be on the phone with McPhee right now...

Just when I thought I've heard it all, someone says they'd rather lose any of Mrazek (elite number one potential), Sheahan (reliable 3rd line center), or Sproul (top 4 potential), over Nosek (3rd line center potential)... Not only that, goes on to say that they would offer Mrazek and a pick to stay away from our coveted bottom 6 center... Absolutely stoked that it looks like Mrazek is staying, just have no idea what is going to happen to him going forward... I'm okay with shopping him, but it has to be for a significant return, and that's not going to happen now while his stock is at an all time low. I say, see how this season turns out, and make the decision next summer. Shouldn't be any rush to move either Mrazek or Howard at this point.

I didn't say this one move is the reason I believe he has lost touch as a GM, in fact I said the opposite. It's a build up of all the bad decisions over the past 5+ years. This is just the icing on the cake for me. I understand that the selection hasn't been made yet, and there is an off chance that Mrazek doesn't get picked, but the fact that the option is there is my issue. Mrazek should never have been available, unless like I've said, there is some sort of deal in place that no one else is aware of. Anyway, difference of opinion. I think Mrazek is much more crucial to the success of this team going forward than anyone else exposed. Others disagree, and that's fine. We already went over this... Either teams weren't shopping for a goaltender or Holland wasn't actively shopping Mrazek. The market wasn't there before, but it most definitely will be after the expansion draft...