krsmith17

It's all Griffins. Keep it up boys!

No thanks.

Yeah, I'd like to see us (if we end up with 11 picks) take 5 defensemen and 5 centers and maybe one winger (forwards preferably right handed). We don't need to draft any goaltenders this year. I'm still hoping Holland will get creative in the expansion draft and offer Vegas a pick or two for them to take a specific player (Howard or Ericsson). I doubt that happens though, and you're probably right on losing one of those, although I wouldn't be surprised if Ouellet is one of the protected defensemen. Yeah, Marchenko is a Leaf. When I mentioned the 4 of them, I was referring to the logjam we had over the last couple seasons, and that being the reason we lost Marchenko to Toronto. Just saying if we're not careful, we could end up in a similar situation in 2-3 years and lose one of the others to waivers as well.

Yeah, I'd be shocked if it goes any less than 6 games. No way will Pittsburgh sweep them, even without Johansen. Unfortunately I don't see Nashville winning the series, but it's definitely a possibility with their tight defense and great goaltending. Expect to see some low scoring games, hopefully with the Preds coming out on top...

Yeah, Mittelstadt will most likely be gone in the 7-10 range, and I do think he will be a very good player, just wouldn't be my first choice based on team needs. I know you should take the best player available regardless, especially in the top half of the first round, but I'm just hoping one of the others are available. I agree that Glass has a chance to slip to us, and I would love that pick. I really like Tippett as well, but I think he will be gone before 9. Liljegren would be huge for us, but if we take him, I hope we package a couple of our young defensive prospects. If not we'll end up in a similar situation (Sproul, Ouellet, Jensen, Marchenko) with too many guys (Russo, Hicketts, Cholowski, Hronek, Saarijarvi, Liljegren) trying to break in at the same time again...

I don't know about reasonable chance because I fully expect most of these guys to be gone before 9, but I'd like any of Vilardi (will definitely be gone), Glass, Tippett, Suzuki, Liljegren or Makar at 9. If we're trading back (depending on how far back), I'd like Mittelstadt (likely wouldn't be available in a trade back scenario), Foote, Hague, Necas, Petterson, Thomas... The latter 3, only if we traded way back to the bottom third of the 1st round... All players listed are in order I'd take them. I was way off the Liljegren hype train for a while, but I'd love if he fell to us at 9.

I highly doubt you would need to trade up to 3 to get any of those guys (maybe Vilardi goes 3rd but I doubt it). Trading up in this year's draft would be terrible. It would cost us major assets to move up to 3rd. Not worth it. There are about 5 players I'd be okay with drafting at 9 (not including Patrick or Hischier) so one of those guys will likely drop to us. If not, trade back and pick up another late 1st or early 2nd.

I doubt he'll be close. Jordan doesn't have the size or skill of PK. I think Jordan tops out as a decent 2nd pairing guy.

GO PREDS!!!

I was one of the people that really wanted to go after Montour. He wouldn't have been cheap, even back 12-18 months ago, but I do think whatever the asking price was probably would have been worth it for us (assuming it wasn't anything too crazy). I agree though, we should be looking at somewhat unknowns with potential. Aneheim aren't moving Theodore or Montour unless it's massive overpayment. Who's Carlsson? I'm assuming you meant Larsson? He could be a decent option. Guys that I'd inquire about would be Sanheim from the Flyers, Fabbro from the Preds, or my number one choice, Bean from the Canes. None of which would come cheap, but for three teams that are overflowing with defensemen, and could possibly use a little more offensive punch, I think a deal could be worked out...

Rights to Adam Marsh and Hampus Melen set to expire a week from today (June 1st). Thought we might sign Marsh but not really surprised with either not being offered a contract.

Having an offensive approach to the defensive position isn't a "fault" and shouldn't ever be viewed that way. Smooth skating, puck moving defensemen are far more valuable in today's game than big, slow. shut down defensemen. The offense that Green brings to the game far outweighs any defensive lapses he may have. How does a player like Green not fit on this current Wings team? Green's biggest issue is that he's playing above his head at this point in his career (just like every other defenseman on the team), and he hasn't had a reliable partner to play with other than that short stint when DeKeyser was playing great hockey... I'm hoping we can get a good return for him at or before next years trade deadline, but I'd also be okay with re-signing him to a similar type deal. He's by far our best defenseman and barring any major trades, likely would be for the next few seasons. You can't base whether or not you should keep a player on him maybe getting injured. If Green were left unprotected (he won't be) Vegas would absolutely claim him. No question.

That's what I assumed, but wasn't 100% sure.

Yeah, Niemi will be bought out if Nill can't convince McPhee to take one of Niemi or Lehtonen, which I think may end up happening. Bieksa may be bought out, but wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't. How do buyouts work for players with NMC / NTC? Does that have any effect on potential buyouts?

I'd be shocked if any more than one or two of them actually get bought out. Personally, I don't have any interest in anyone on that list, unless it's a dirt cheap, one year contract for the sole purpose to flip them for assets at the deadline.

So because we don't have a great stay at home defenseman, that makes our top offensive defenseman expendable? That makes zero sense. Why not just go out and get that stay at home defenseman to pair with him? Green has been great for us, and well worth his contract, and as long as he keeps up that same level of play this season, he should fetch us a very nice return at the deadline. So no, he should not be viewed in the same light as Kronwall and Ericsson, not even close.

With such a large frame, not many pucks should get past him, but he hasn't looked good in these playoffs. He's made a few big saves, but has let in quite a few softies. I still think he can be a decent backup at the NHL level, but I wouldn't feel comfortable with him as our starter (if Mrazek or Howard went down) for any length of time (yet). He still needs some seasoning in GR in my opinion.

Callahan! 3-2 Griffs!

Lorito on the PP! Beautiful goal. 2-2. Yeah, Coreau has not impressed at all...

Strange signing. I guess you can never have too much depth but I'd be shocked if he ever plays a game for the Wings. I doubt he even cracks the Griffins lineup out of camp. I fully expect him to start in Toledo.

Do you think Colorado are in a better position than Detroit going forward? I don't. They're also not guaranteed a better player in this years draft. Whoever they pick 4th could become a bust or 2nd / 3rd line / pair player, while whoever we pick 9th could become a stud number one center / defenseman. The difference between 4th and 9th in this years draft is negligible. Anything after number 2 is basically a crapshoot. Also, the point I was trying to illustrate that you somehow missed in my last post was that Philly just barely missed the playoffs and are picking 2nd, guaranteed one of the big two, while Colorado were a complete dumpster fire all season, one of the worst seasons in NHL history, and are picking 2 spots below them... Tanking doesn't guarantee s***.

People hate on Nielsen and his contract (I'm not a big fan either), but the same people would have been b****ing and moaning if Holland was rumored to be in on Nielsen but ended up elsewhere... "No one wants to come here. We couldn't even convince Frans Nielsen to come here"...

Well if we somehow managed to scrounge up an extra 10 points this season (finishing just ahead of the Flyers) we would be picking 2nd overall and be guaranteed one of Patrick or Hischier... Nothing is guaranteed by losing, especially the way the draft lottery is set up. The goal should always be to win hockey games.

You would think the new state of the art arena would attract some players as well. Although that may have more of an effect on veteran UFA's than unknown kids that would have to play for a spot, likely starting in Grand Rapids. Either way, we still are attracting players every year, and people that say otherwise are just looking for s*** to complain about...

I guess there are "technically" 62 (with Vegas) "top pair" defensemen in the league, but that doesn't necessarily mean that all 62 are "legit" top pair defensemen. There are several teams (we're probably one of them) that don't have a single legit top pair defenseman. There are some teams with 3, maybe even 4 that would be considered legit top pair defensemen. I think Shattenkirk is a borderline top pair defenseman, but is better suited on the 2nd pair, getting top power-play minutes. But yes, I'd definitely have him ranked somewhere in the top 62, so I guess "technically" he is a "top pair" defenseman...