krsmith17

Yup, every GM is giving out terrible contracts. It has absolutely nothing to do with inflation... Helm brings a lot to this team, just as Clutterbuck brings a lot to the Islanders. Sure, they may be a little over paid, but the point is, it's not just goals and points that go into contract negotiations...

Cal Clutterbuck re-signs for 5 years at ($3.5M AAV)... Just saying, for those of you that though Helm was WAAAAY overpaid...

Looking forward to seeing Athanasiou back in tonight. Blashill hasn't announced any lines yet, but you can be guaranteed that no matter what changes are made, Glendening's spot will be safe on that 2nd line...

Marchenko getting back in the lineup tonight, likely taking Ouellet's place... Couple that with Lashoff being in for Sproul, this defense is looking real gud...

LWer, your love for Ott is almost as ridiculous as your hate for Franzen, Helm, Nyquist, Kronwall, Ericsson, etc... Ott is not at all a key piece to this team. He should not be playing if / when we get completely healthy, and he definitely should not be re-signed next summer...

I may be in the minority here, but I'm not a big fan of Ken Kal... I'd prefer Bob Kaser...

Sproul has had three or four "bad" games (Boston, Buffalo, Dallas and Pittsburgh), but in my opinion has been one of our better defensemen in most other games he's played this year. He sat for two weeks after the Boston game, which I didn't think he was that bad in, and when he got back in, the game against Tampa, that was one of the better games he played all season. I agree that he should have sat a game or two, but he's sitting again tomorrow, when I believe he should be playing. Send Lashoff back to the minors. He's not an NHL quality player...

I'd argue that Mrazek is just as or more important to the future success of this team, as Larkin and Mantha. I personally think we should move forward with all three of those pieces, but to each their own I guess... I'd prefer to hope that Howard keeps up his stellar play, and we can move him for a pick at the deadline. We definitely need to upgrade our back end, but not at the expense of our future number one goaltender...

Blashill is dumb for scratching Sproul for Lashoff. If it were for Marchenko, I'd still be kind of pissed, but for Lashoff? Give me a f***ing break. I can't speak for everyone but I think for most people, we just want to see the kids play, and actually be given a legit shot to prove themselves. Make mistakes. Learn from your mistakes. I wasn't even that upset to see Sproul sit for a game (he wasn't great the past couple), but to be sitting his third straight, for Brain f***ing Lashoff, who has played just as poorly, is bulls***. I just wish the kids (Sproul, Ouellet, Larkin, Mantha, Athanasiou, and Jurco) were all treated equally to the vets, when it comes to cutting minutes, demoting, scratching, etc. If you're going to scratch Sproul for consecutive games for playing poorly, you damn well better scratch Ericsson for the same reason. Same goes for Jurco, give the kid a legit shot in the top 9, he's played great, just hasn't scored yet. Meanwhile Glendening has been less effective in that role, but continues to play on the second line with Nielsen and Jurco gets demoted to the 4th line again...

Very sad news... I guess Ken will be off for a while...

Shattenkirk is a pending UFA, so yeah, that would be enough to get him, but Holland would be a complete idiot to pay that ridiculous price... It's also way too steep for Fowler in my opinion... Like I said though, we all get it, you don't like Mrazek, but like him or not, the kid has a TON of potential, and you don't just trade that sort of potential unless you're getting an absolute stud in return.

I'm on the same page. I would love to have a big kid like McKee on our 4th line, that hits like a ton of bricks and is willing to drop the gloves. For me though, he would also need to be able to actually play hockey, and McKee clearly doesn't have the skill to hack it in the NHL. No way would I want a player like that on the ice in any situation. In fairness though, McKee took the college route because he wanted to concentrate on the skill part of the game, not fighting. He knew he could fight, the Red Wings brass knew he could fight, but wanted to see if he could play. It's clear now though, that he's not there yet, and likely never will be...

We get it ami, you don't like Mrazek... for whatever reason. But you are the only one that wants to trade him. He is our future goaltender so either stop trolling or get used to it...

As awesome as that line has been, I wouldn't mind seeing what it would look like with Nyquist in place of Tatar. Put Tatar on a line with Vanek or Jurco centered by Larkin or Nielsen.

I love hitting in hockey. I still think fights (not staged) have a place in hockey. But having an enforcer in your lineup does NOT in any way prevent cheap shots...

The bolded was my point. Ken Holland does not make blockbuster trades, and although he does tend to overpay for free agents, I'm not even sure if that will be an option next offseason. Unless a few big contracts are moved, which leads us back to the whole lack of trades thing...

That hasn't been our top pairing at all... It's been DeKeyser - Green and Kronwall has been paired with one of Smith, Sproul or Ouellet. I wouldn't count on getting both of Shattenkirk / Fowler. I think either is a long shot, both is never going to happen.

Since reading seems to be a challenge for you, I will say it again... "I think he would easily scratch a handful of players before Mantha or Athanasiou." Meaning both stay, and we trade / waive other (lesser) players. I'd be shocked if Mantha and AA continue to be impact players every night (I think they will), and they get sent down to Grand Rapids before Miller / Ott get waived or a trade happens. Unless of course, Holland gives up on the season (he won't), and wants to ice a worse team...

McKee is back to playing on the wing this year for WMU. He scored a nice goal off the rush last night and added an assist, for two points in his first two games. I still don't think he has much of a chance to make the NHL, but I wouldn't hate if he could develop into a solid 4th liner that could kill penalties. He does look to be a decent skater...

I was really hoping to land Trouba in the offseason, or Hamilton by now, but like has been mentioned, these types of players are very difficult to acquire via trade. In order to pull off such a trade, we would have to give up Larkin / Mantha ++, and that would likely be a lateral move at best. I agree that the best option in today's NHL is through drafting / developing, and unfortunately I don't think we have anything close to a true number one in the system right now. In hindsight, I really wish we hadn't made that Datsyuk / Chychrun trade, but what's done is done. Hopefully Cholowski really takes a few huge steps over the next few years and becomes something special. From everything I hear about the kid, he thinks the game at an elite level, so if his skill set develops, he could become a top pair guy, just not sure about a legit number one... I think Holland should be looking to trade off some assets at the deadline, and do whatever he can to go into the '17 draft with a couple firsts and a couple seconds, take at least three defensemen, and hope to strike gold with one of them...

I honestly don't think Mantha or Athanasiou will ever play another game in the AHL. They have both slapped Blashill in the face, and made it evidently clear that not only have they made this team, they make this team much better... As much as Blashill makes some boneheaded personnel decisions, I think he would easily scratch a handful of players before Mantha or AA. I don't think anyone would be opposed to trading Nyquist or Tatar in a package to improve this team (upgrade the defense). However, we shouldn't just give them away, which is what it looked like from the OP.

No, you didn't say it, but you also didn't explain what happened to them. Which lead me to assume they had to have been traded away for picks, or healthy scratched?... Completely healthy I'd like to see something like... Nyquist - Zetterberg - Mantha Athanasiou - Nielsen - Vanek Tatar - Larkin - Jurco Abdelkader - Helm - Glendening / Sheahan

I was wondering why your lines looked so terrible, then realized Nyquist and Tatar were traded away for draft picks...

I'm okay with it being Nosek. He probably plays the closest to an Abdelkader style game. Lashoff is a bit of a disappointment though. I would have liked to see Russo get a shot, but obviously management / coaching don't think he's NHL ready...

I'd be surprised (disappointed) if it were Lorito. Although Frk and Nosek probably don't have a future with the Wings, I'd say they're much more likely than Lorito. While Lorito is a very good player, I think he's a career AHLer, and at 5'9", 170lbs. soaking wet, I'd pass. I don't think Svechnikov is ready for the NHL yet, I'd prefer to hold off on calling him up. Jensen could be the D that gets that call, though I think Russo would be the far better option. Renouf is another Lashoff in my opinion, and I'd be disappointed with either of those choices...