krsmith17

Ott is a better hockey player, and is on a better contract - one year, close to league minimum, you know, the way 4th liners should be paid. Glendening is way overpaid, both dollars and term, and is not a very good hockey player. I wouldn't have either on my team, but if I had to choose, it would be Ott every time...

No. We already have a huge logjam on D. All of which are better than Marchenko, including a couple others in Grand Rapids.

Very solid game for Smith, Vanek and Ott, which bodes well for the upcoming trade deadline... hopefully. Great game for Mrazek, and the Mantha - Zetterberg - Tatar line is looking dangerous every shift.

5 years ago, I wanted Hanzel on this team, now, not so much. Hanzel is a very good hockey player, but not at all what a rebuilding team should be looking for, especially as a deadline acquisition. I'd consider acquiring him in the offseason, if we didn't already have a ton of vets signed long-term. We really need to start getting younger, and Hanzel doesn't help in that regard. Hard pass for me as well.

Yeah, pretty much exactly this for me as well. Oddly enough, the one I have the biggest problem with, is the one that is hurting us the least cap wise... Glendening. I think that was a terrible contract to hand out, both way over on dollars and term. But whatever, this team shouldn't have too much trouble offloading any of these contracts, and like has been mentioned, most of the bigger ones are due to be up, by the time the kids are due for their first big raises.

I think you'd definitely have to think long and hard, but I'd have a hard time pulling the trigger on that trade straight up. The two hardest (most important) positions to fill in hockey are number one center and number one defenseman, and I think both Larkin and Trouba will get there in their respective positions. Larkin is the only guy in the organization with 1C potential in my opinion, and I'd rather overpay in other areas than give up a 20 year old with that ceiling. I still think (hope) a deal surrounding Tatar / Nyquist, high end prospect / high draft pick could be enough to get it done, closer to the expansion draft... Winnipeg may be perfectly fine going the 8 player, 1 goalie route, and protecting 4 defensemen and 4 forwards, but there's a reason most teams would prefer to go with 3 defensemen, 7 forwards, 1 goalie, it allows protection of 2 extra players. If the Jets go the former, they will likely lose a young kid like Dano, Lowry or Armia. None are likely to be huge losses, but moving a defenseman (Trouba) prior to the draft, while gaining valuable assets would allow them to protect more players. They would then be able to protect their other 3 defensemen, plus an extra 3 forwards, including one they could potentially gain in any trade...

I agree with Dickie here, and I've said the same thing in the past as well. The great Hakan Andersson is still considered a genius for all of his great picks in the later rounds in the past, but he hasn't really had any big time steals since Zetterberg back in '99... For every one decent NHLer since then, there have been a dozen complete busts. I'm not (and I don't think Dickie is) trying to take anything away from what Hakan has done in the past, but to act like he is some guru that pulls elite talent out of the late rounds every single year, is way off. For me, it's just an annoyance hearing people say, "we should have at least gotten a 7th rounder for 'him', so Andersson could work his magic"... I'm still hopeful that Holmstrom or Elfstrom develop into solid NHLers, but that's what I see as their ceiling, nothing more than "decent"...

I don't think you think highly enough of Trouba, or what he would bring to this team... All his numbers point to him being a legit top pair defenseman, right now at the age of 22, and he will most likely develop into a true number one within the next year or two. Trouba would instantly be our undisputed number one (I know, not saying much on this team...), he logs a ton of minutes, can run a power-play, kill penalties, hits, blocks shots, clears the net-front, and drives possession. What are the chances we get anything close to that in this years draft? I'd say slim to none. Sure, Liljegren could develop into a good offensive defenseman, maybe he even becomes a top pair guy, but I highly doubt he will become anything close to a well rounded player like Trouba.

This. Exactly why I'd prefer one of Patrick, Vilardi or Tippet over Hischier, Necas or Pettersson...

I don't think a late first and a "lower level player" would be enough to land Trouba, but I'd definitely do the late first and a higher level player and / or prospect... Late 1st plus Tatar / Svechnikov. Imagine adding Trouba and Patrick / Vilardi this summer...

Yeah, it's a no-brainer for me, I'd take Trouba every time in that scenario. I'd even strongly consider it if the trade were made after the draft lottery and we won the top pick. Not saying I'd do it for sure, but I'd definitely have to think long and hard about it. I don't think Nolan Patrick is going to be an absolute stud, certainly nowhere close to the level of McDavid or Matthews, and he probably fits closer to a player like Hall (although a center), maybe even Nugent-Hopkins or dare I say, Yakupov... And look what Hall was traded for last year, and Trouba is light-years ahead of Larsson. I think Patrick's potential is about the same as where Trouba is at now in his development, and I still think Trouba has a ton of room to grow. I guess it just depends what you value more, the number one center, or the top pair defenseman? We need both, but I think we have a bigger need for the top pair (number one) defenseman.

I know this wouldn't be a popular decision, but I'd consider trading the pick, either for an immediate upgrade to the roster, or trade back for another pick. I'm just still not really sold on Liljegren... Trade back a few spots and take Tippett, while adding another 2nd rounder, or trade back 10-15 spots and take Foote, while adding another late first...

I think if anything Blashill relies too heavily on the defensive side of the game for the players he has on his roster. This team, as poorly built as some may think, is built for speed and offense, but yet Blash seems to rely on the slower defensive guys. He tries to win games 1-0 / 2-1, and our defense just isn't good enough, instead of trying to win games 5-4 / 4-3 to make up for the defensive lapses. When you have a defense compiled of the likes of Green, Smith, a broken down Kronwall and 2-3 rookies, you shouldn't be trying to play low scoring games, or you're more often than not going to find yourself on the losing end... That's why I still say our defense should be the first priority to upgrade. If we could get a true top pairing guy this offseason, I think we instantly become a much better offensive and defensive team. This team has some nice pieces, just no elite or potential elite level guys on the back end...

I really don't get why you're so adamant about keeping Vanek. He's by far our best trade chip, and for a team that needs to rebuild / retool, it's an absolute must to move him at the deadline. If Holland doesn't trade him to the highest bidder, he should lose his job... If Vanek is such a key piece to this team going forward (I don't believe he is), we could always re-sign him in the offseason, after we get assets for him at the deadline... I agree with this. If we're re-signing Vanek, I'd prefer another one-year deal. I'd do another two-year deal max. Anything more than that, and I think we'll see him disappearing for long stretches. I really don't think it's that he's "such a great fit with the Red Wings" as much as I think, he's in a contract year, and wants to get paid...

I disagree. Our biggest need is defense. I like where LeftWinger's head is at, but I just don't think his trade proposal is very fair from the other teams perspective, although maybe not that far off... This is a weak draft, so if we're able to get a legit top pair defenseman for our first round pick, plus, I do it without hesitation. I'd like to see us aggressively shop our rentals at the deadline for picks / prospects, hopefully get a few high picks, (possibly 4 in the first two rounds), and then try to flip a couple of those picks / prospects / roster players to upgrade this team with young (under 26) talent. This is looking like it could be a long(ish) rebuild, but I don't think it necessarily has to be...

What about Al Sobotka? Doesn't he deserve more credit than the General Manager as well?

That's around what I was thinking. I'm okay with this. Dirty play, not a dirty player. If they're going to set an example, Nyquist isn't the guy. They've had plenty opportunity to set examples with much dirtier players and I'm sure they will have many more. Regardless, I hope Gus learns his lesson here and is more conscious of his stick action... I was hoping this would give Jurco an opportunity, but he's a healthy scratch yet again tonight...

I'd trade our first round pick for a top pair defenseman in a heartbeat. This is a weak draft class, and there aren't really any can't miss guys. Sure, we need an elite center, but I still think an elite defenseman is a bigger priority for us right now. As good as Patrick is projected to be (I don't think we'll get the number one pick), I'd still take the sure(er) thing in Trouba, who fills a bigger hole for us right now... I just think it's going to cost us more than just our first round pick, and forget about getting any picks back in return. Would anyone here trade Mantha and a 2nd round pick for a chance at a top 6 pick? I wouldn't, and I wouldn't even consider Mantha to be at the level of Trouba (yet). We know what we have in Mantha, just like Winnipeg knows what they have in Trouba, and every GM will take the known player over the crap shoot every time...

Yeah, we'd definitely have to give up a fair bit if we wanted any of those guys. They are looking for help up front, and I think they'd probably want one of the big three (Larkin, Athanasiou, or Mantha), but maybe something along the lines of Tatar / Nyquist and Saarijarvi / Hronek could get us Montour...

You have a great woman there buddy.

That's what I meant... Can they just play him on the wing for a few games and have him listed as a forward? Probably not, and I agree, hopefully that isn't an option and they have to move Trouba. Holland should still be calling Cheveldayoff every other day... I would also love to see Holland go hard after Montour. That's if, none of the big names are available...

I thought we already went over this... That's never going to happen. Name a team that is going to give us a number one defenseman and their first round pick for our first? If we're trading for a true number one defenseman, we're giving up our first, plus other assets (picks, prospects, roster players)... I was thinking about this situation, Winnipeg in particular... Byfuglien has played a fair bit of forward in the past. Would it be possible for them to play him on the wing down the stretch and list him as a forward for the expansion draft to allow them to protect all 4 of their "defensemen"?...

I think we have quite a few potential top 4 guys in our system, what we need is a legit top pair guy. That's what we've been lacking for years. I'm really hoping Sambrook turns out to be a steal and can develop into a legit top 2/3 guy for us. I like Hicketts, Saarijarvi and Hronek, but they're all on the smaller side, and I don't have much confidence they'll ever develop into anything more than complimentary pieces...

That wouldn't be close to enough to get either of those guys, and we just don't have the pieces the Avs are looking for, outside of major overpayment. Colorado are looking for a top 2-3 defenseman in his prime, something we don't have to offer them. If we're making any sort of trade of that magnitude, we also need to be going hard after a top pair defenseman. I'd go after an elite center, but only after we get our D straightened out. Wingers are the one thing we don't need, no thanks on Landeskog... Trade Vanek, assuming he's healthy. Hope to get some combination of 1st / 2nd / prospect. Shop Green, possibly hold on to him until next year's deadline, although I'd prefer trade him before the expansion draft. Hope to get, again, some combination of 1st / 2nd / prospect. Shop Smith. Hope to get a mid round pick. Shop Ott. Hope to get a late round pick. I'd throw out other names as well, but I'd look to make more trades in the summer if possible, involving Howard, Ericsson, Nyquist, Tatar, etc...

I've been saying for years that Ericsson isn't nearly as bad as some here like to make him out to be. I do think he's a decent 3rd pair shut-down guy. He's going to make his share of mistakes out there, but they seem to get magnified because he's "Errorson" or "Erection" or whatever other cute name people like to come up with... For whatever reason, fans always like to have a whipping boy, I'm no different, mine are just usually 4th line guys that provide no offense (Andersson, Miller, and to a lesser extent Ott and Glendening)... However I'd never cheer for any of these guys to get injured. I cringed when I seen the hit, but after realizing it's nothing too serious (head / back), I can't say I'm too disappointed he'll be out for a little bit. He was never going to be healthy scratched and I do want to see the kids get the ice time. I am excited that we'll finally get to see my ideal lineup. The 12 forwards I want to see dressed every night, were all in last night, and the only change I would have made on defense, was "healthy" scratch Ericsson, and keep Ouellet in. It's unfortunate that this had to happen due to injury, I'm just happy it's nothing too serious, and we get to see more of the kids...