krsmith17

I thought for sure he had another year after next. Thanks for the info Son of a Wing. Regardless, I think he will be waived at the start of next season and will likely (hopefully) clear. If Sproul isn't our number 7 to start next season I'll be very upset... I don't think there's any chance he clears waivers, and losing him would be very disappointing...

As far as I know, that's incorrect. He would not be waiver eligible until this current contract expires after next season. MLive? Khan or just a random user in the comments?

Frk doesn't become an RFA until after next season (2017-18). Datsyuk and Marchenko are also confirmed for the World Championships.

Larkin and Pulkkinen will both be playing in the World Championships. Also, Svechnikov and Hicketts have both been assigned to the Griffins. I'm not sure if they'll get in the lineup as early as Tuesday, but hopefully they both get in by or before the start of next round (assuming they win one of the next three to eliminate Milwaukee)...

Good read... http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2016/4/24/11494100/jeff-blashill-must-make-the-red-wings-his-team-in-his-sophomore-season

Yes, I would be shocked with that roster. First of all, Svechnikov will not be on the roster next season. Not going to happen. And secondly, despite Holland's reluctance to make trades in recent years, I expect to see at least one this offseason. Hopefully to acquire a top pairing defenseman.

We didn't offer either an entry level contract, and both were eligible to be re-drafted in last year's draft, much like Alan Quine was re-drafted by the Islanders a couple years ago. Neither were selected and as far as I know both are still free agents. Wheaton never really impressed much. However, McNulty is definitely the better of the two and is still considered somewhat of a prospect. He attended the Wings training camp again last season and may get another look again this year. They can still sign him to a contract, as can any other team, although I doubt either are ever going to be impact players at the NHL level, if they make it at all.

Svechnikov is not close to being NHL ready in my opinion. He's at least one full season away, possibly two... Jumping from junior (especially the Q) to the NHL is not easy to do, even for the most elite of players. I wouldn't even be surprised to see him struggle adapting to the AHL at the start of next season, let alone the NHL...

Pretty much the only thing I didn't like with Blashill was his player usage. It's been beaten to death, but he relied way to heavily on the vets and underutilized the kids. Blashill should not be fired, Firschweiler on the other hand, that guy has to go. I'm okay with Granato leaving as well. Two new assistants with a new perspective, fresh ideas and hopefully better speciality teams will help this team immensely... Blashill took over a very similar team (with the addition of Richards and Green), previously coached by Mike "hockey god" Babcock, and had a very similar result - playoff bubble team, bounced in the first round. Firschweiler took over a top ranked power-play, previously coached by Jim Hiller, and made it into one of the worst in the entire league. Special teams, in my opinion, was the teams biggest downfall. Both the power-play and penalty kill were way too conservative. The power-play had very little movement, way too much passing, not enough shooting and way too much one and done. The penalty kill was way too passive, we did a good job taking away shooting lanes but never took away passing lanes. A successful penalty kill needs much more pressure on the puck and not allowing so many cross ice passes opening up the easy one-timer. I still believe this team has a bright future, and Blashill is still the best coach for us right now. As long as he can clear his head this offseason, and come to the realization that this team can't rely on Datsyuk (if he's back), Zetterberg and Kronwall anymore, I think we'll be fine. We need to hand the reins over to the kids, Larkin, Mantha, Athanasiou and company need to take on much bigger roles to start next season.

I love Subban and would love to have a player like that on this team, I'm just not sure I would be willing to give up what it would take to get him here...

Athanasiou will not be joining the Griffins, at least to start the playoffs due to a family matter. If he was sent down, I would assume it was just on paper, so he would be eligible later in the playoffs if / when his family matter is resolved...

That's disappointing. I was hoping AA would get one last run with the Griffins and hopefully a Calder Cup, before he becomes a full time Red Wing next season...

I agree, we should stay away from Staal, and we should let Richards walk. I also agree that Yandle is somewhat overrated, and that we should be looking to upgrade our defense via trade, rather than free agency. However, I would also say that Vatanen is overrated, and of the players that have been rumored to be available, he's the last guy I'd want... I'm okay with trading either Nyquist or Tatar in a package to upgrade our defense, it just depends on which player has the higher value. I'd personally rather trade Tatar, although I'm sure a lot of people would disagree with that. I also think Nyquist would be the preferred player by most teams.

Yeah, I still think there's a reasonable chance we see another season of Pavel. I'd hold off on the goodbyes and tears until it's set in stone...

There's been plenty of "talk" about both Svechnikov and Hicketts joining the Griffins for their Calder Cup run, but I haven't heard anything definitive on when they'll be with the team, not sure if anyone else has heard anything yet?... I hope both get inserted into the lineup immediately, but that may or may not happen after seeing Saarijarvi sent down to Toledo. Unfortunately Turgeon suffered a season ending shoulder injury that required surgery, so we won't see him with the Griffins until next season... This could be a very talented team that could go on a deep run. I'd like to see something like this... Bertuzzi - Athanasiou - Mantha Tangradi - Miele - Callahan Svechnikov - Nosek - Frk Hoggan - Aubry - Zengerle Nastasiuk / Cleary / Campbell Ouellet - Russo Paetsch - Sproul Hicketts - Jensen Lashoff / Renouf / Saarijarvi Coreau McCollum

Jurco should start next season on our third line, and then depending on how he does, we can make a decision from there. I think selling a player with his potential when he's been a healthy scratch for most of the season would be a mistake. Richards shouldn't be back, Mantha should take his spot. Athanasiou is in the lineup now, so that's a non issue. Svechnikov and Bertuzzi are a couple years away. There's no reason one of the two can't be penciled in on the third line next season. I'd choose Jurco and trade Pulkkinen at the draft to move up a few spots...

I'll reiterate, I would trade Smith in the right deal, but I'm talking top pair elite puck moving defenseman ala Justin Faulk type player, not top 4 defensive defenseman...

Trading Jurco or Pulkkinen right now would be a mistake for the simple fact that their value is at an all time low. In saying that, in part of a package I would trade either. I think Jurco still has a ton of potential, not so sure about Pulkkinen though...

Where have you been? There were a LOT of people saying it's a f***ing joke that Smith was scratched for games one and two, and it was. Yeah, Smith's dumb blah, blah, blah, heard it all before... He's grown a lot in the past couple years, but people still see him as a mistake prone kid, when he's not at all anymore. Advanced stats have a very limited use when they completely prove your entire argument to be wrong. Like I said, based on those stats, Smith is our best puck possession defenseman. If you don't value a defender that has the control of the puck more than any other defender while he's on the ice, I have no idea what to tell you. He also leads the back end with most passes that lead to scoring opportunities. Anyway, I'm done with this for another day. I'm pro-Smith, and you're clearly anti-Smith, I believe he will stick with the team, you don't. Whatever...

Yes, I do really like Smith, everyone knows that, but the fact that some still don't is mind blowing to me. I know most have come around and realized the importance he is to this team. That was very evident by all the people wanting him in when he was a healthy scratch down the stretch and for the first two games of the playoffs... He is one of our best defensemen many nights, and he brings a lot of elements that most of the other defensemen don't have to offer. I wouldn't argue with anyone about who is a better puck mover, Smith or Green, because they are our two best, and it's not even close. However, Smith does lead all of our defensemen in most advanced stats, including Green... Fact is, none of us know whether or not the organization view him as a permanent part of the defense corps in the future. But I do believe it would be a big mistake to let him go, unless like I said, it was in a package to bring in a bonifide number one defenseman...

Hahahaha keep spewing the same ol' s*** despite the fact that literally every stat tells a completely different story... He IS our best puck moving defenseman, whether people want to admit it or not...

I'd be willing to bet that was all rumor and speculation, based on the previous trade deadline. I've also heard that during that whole Phaneuf debacle, the Leafs were the one that wanted Smith as part of the return if Weiss were to be included, but Holland turned it down (thankfully)... Regardless, it would be beyond dumb for a team that lacks puck moving defensemen, to move arguably their best puck moving defenseman...

Hilarious how some people are still wanting to trade Smith... He's not nor should he be going anywhere, unless it's in a package to bring in that number one defenseman. VM, I'd love a link to where the "Wings have tried to trade him a few times this season"... I also love how you're so willing to move one of our best puck moving defenseman, and then say you want to keep Green on the back end to "build a puck moving defensive corps"...

No one would trade for him? Obviously no GM is going to be hounding Holland, trying to get him to trade Marchenko, or any of our defenseman for that matter, but every single player has value in package. And that's what I was referring to...

Marchenko isn't a great puck mover, nor is he anything close to a top pairing guy. Anyway, this is beginning to get way off topic. I'd love to see Ouellet in over Ericsson. Unfortunately, no chance that happens...