krsmith17

You can't seriously still be advocating getting rid of Datsyuk are you? He is still the best player on the team at the age of 37 and leads the team in points per game virtually every season. He certainly won't decline that much in the next couple seasons that he won't be more than capable of filling the 3rd line center spot... When you're talking about veteran presence, and players that the kids can learn from, there aren't two better players than Pav and Hank. I want them around as long as possible for Larkin, Mantha and company to soak up as much as they can, while they can... Regardless, if Datsyuk does want to sign a new contract (I think he will), he absolutely should.

Yeah, the team is playing lights out, which is kind of surprising to me considering the players that they're missing. I've been impressed with Sproul all season, he's played much better in his own end. The offense has always been there, but now the points are finally starting to come. Hopefully it continues. Renouf has only played two games, and I missed his debut, but seen him play lastnight and he looked solid. Nothing spectacular but decent considering it was just his second pro game, coming up from college. He's been touted as having a very solid two-way game but I didn't notice him at all on the offense, more of a defensive defenseman. But like I said, it was only one game, so he may have not had a great game, or he could be just playing it safe right now. Either way, it definitely takes more than a couple games to get accustomed to the pro game, especially as a defenseman.

The Griffins extend their winning streak to 13 games, with a huge come from behind victory against the Stars. Sproul has been playing great, with another 3 point night (1 goal, 2 assists) and 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in his past 4 games. I really hope we find a way to keep him on the 23 man roster next season, because there's zero chance he clears if they try to sneak him through waivers...

I think the Datsyuk declining beyond third line center in the next year or two is very unlikely. I think it's even less likely that he doesn't want to play beyond next season, to play at least one year in the new building. There's zero chance that if he wants to sign another year contract that Holland, Blashill, and the entire team wouldn't want him back. I also don't see Datsyuk being selfish in negotiations, and would likely sign at somewhat of a discount..

I didn't say Holland hasn't done anything. I'm saying he's not going to make any huge impact moves that most of the fan base is clamoring for... Those 6 guys I mentioned in the previous post... no way any of them are Red Wings next season. I'd also go as far as to say, there won't be a single impact player (I'm talking top line / top pair) from outside the organization acquired, be it via trade or free agency... We need a top pair defenseman more than anything right now, but unfortunately they just aren't easily available... You should really make a poll on whether or not Red Wings fans would want Datsyuk to return after his current deal... I would have to think you're very alone on wanting him gone after next season...

I don't think anyone is truly expecting Stamkos to sign here. Major pipe dream. Same pipe dream that has us trading for or signing any of the big names mentioned in this thread. Fact is, whether we make the playoffs or not this season, the team we have right now, will likely be very similar to the team that we will start next season, with the exception of Richards and maybe Quincey. As much as I would love to trade for Kreider, Reichel or Trouba or sign Stamkos, Backes or Okposo, it's just not going to happen. I'm hopeful that the full time additions of Athanasiou and Mantha will make this team better, along with Larkin having a full year under his belt, and hopefully Nyquist and Tatar getting out of whatever slump? they're in now, and Datsyuk and Zetterberg not declining too much more in the next year... I think we'll be fine up front next year but the defense definitely needs some work. Work that I don't think can be done in one off-season, unless we were able to land that number one defenseman via trade... unfortunately I don't see that happening... You wouldn't re-sign Datsyuk after this current contract? That's crazy to me... Even if it were to take on a lesser role at a major discount? I wouldn't want him to continue to be relied upon as a number one center in two years, but as a second or third line center at $3-5M, absolutely. He will definitely still be better than anything we have available for that position in two years from now. Even taking into account his regression since his knee injuries, he's still a threat every time he's on the ice...

GMR, as Richdg mentioned, the three I was talking about are not free agents, therefore would have to be acquired via trade, which would mean it doesn't matter if they want to come here or not... Also, if I were a kid from Michigan (Trouba), and I grew up idolizing the Red Wings, then yes, I would love to sign / be traded to Detroit...

I would love to acquire Kreider or Rychel and Trouba, but unfortunately I don't see any of those happening...

An expansion team would not be able to take any more than one player from each team. There's no chance the player they would pick from us would be down in Grand Rapids unless it were a Svechnikov level prospect, and even then I doubt it. I think these expansion teams would elect to take the veteran guys over prospects, unless they were can't miss prospects, which would not be available. I think we would end up protecting: Forwards - Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Nyquist, Abdelkader, Larkin, Mantha, Athanasiou. Defense - Kronwall, DeKeyser, Smith. Goalie - Mrazek. I think we would end up losing either Howard or Ericsson...

Title is self explanatory, but I figured this would be a good spot to keep tabs on all of our prospects either playing Junior, College or Europe. There's always a thread dedicated to Griffins prospects, but here we can keep tabs on the likes of Evgeny Svechnikov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles - QMJHL), Adam Marsh (Saint John Sea Dogs - QMJHL), Vili Saarijarvi (Flint Firebirds - OHL), Dominic Turgeon (Portland Winterhawks - WHL) and Axel Holmstrom (Skelleftea AIK - SHL), among others... Saarijarvi played his first game with the Firebirds tonight and he got one assist. Holmstrom has played two games so far and also has one assist. The player I'm most excited for is obviously Svechnikov, and I'll definitely be watching quite a few Screaming Eagles games this season. Anyway, anyone with any updates, stats, highlights, insight, please post it here and I'll be doing the same.

Blashill isn't going anywhere. However, Ferschweiler should have been fired long ago and hopefully he's gone by next season. Our biggest issue, and the reason we're in so many tight games, is because our power-play is basically non-existent... We have all the same personel as last season, with the additions of Green and Richards but we went from number 2 (1 for most of the season) all the way down to number 24 with the coaching change on the PP...

While I don't believe Blashill has been spectacular by any stretch, he certainly hasn't been terrible, and the chances of Blashill getting fired after a single season is as unlikely as Holland getting fired after this season... in other words zero...

If you're talking about Sproul and Jensen, Sproul actually did get a look 2 years ago in the last game of the season against the Blues, and he actually looked pretty good. He played over 18 minutes, had 3 shots on goal and was credited with 2 hits and 2 blocked shots. It is shocking though that he's never gotten a look since then, and Jensen has never played a single game, especially considering how mediocre our defense has been, and that neither Ouellet or Marchenko have been THAT impressive up here...

Sproul gets labeled as a bad defensive player because he's an offensive defenseman. While his defensive game definitely needed work, it was far from a "dumpster fire" as so many people like to believe... Nonetheless, the defensive side of his game has improved immensely over the past few seasons, and he's rounded out his game quite nicely. Sure, he still makes gaffes from time to time, like literally every other defenseman, but they are becoming fewer and further between... Also, while his shot is probably his biggest weapon, it's far from his only tool. He's a great skater, and a pretty good passer as well. He reminds me a lot of Smith, so take that however you want. For those of you that hate Smith, you're probably not going to like Sproul any more, but those that like offensive / possession driving defensemen, Sproul is just that. As for Renouf, from what I've gathered from reading up on him a little, he's a pretty physical defenseman and isn't afraid to use his body, or drop the gloves. He's got good mobility for a big man, and while he's more of a defensive defenseman but can put up a few points as well, with 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) in 38 games last season with Maine.

Larkin was flying out there again last night. Something we haven't seen as much of in the past couple weeks. Hopefully he's got his second wind, and can continue that pace into the playoffs. We're going to need his speed and energy down the home stretch for sure, along with Athanasiou. AA needs more ice time as well. He should be playing more than 10 minutes a night, with the impact he has on the game he should be seeing anywhere between 12-15 minutes every night. Cut back on Datsyuk and Zetterberg's minutes to keep them fresh going into the playoffs...

Sproul was over a point per game defenseman in the OHL, and won OHL and CHL defenseman of the year, so yeah, I would say he's been a bit of a disappointment so far. However, I still think Sproul will be a serviceable NHL defenseman, and maybe even evolve into a decent second pairing guy. He hasn't put up outstanding number in the minors by any stretch, but still respectable, and his defensive game has come a long way since he entered the league a few years ago. He's still only 23 years old, which is fairly young for a defensive prospect...

Any signing to bolster depth is a good move in my opinion. We will likely see Ouellet, Sproul and Jensen graduate or move on (possibility Sproul or Jensen gets waived and clears, but I doubt it). But we will also add Hicketts and possibly Sarijarvi (unless he decides to go back to Finland). I like it, but I'm not sure if we should expect big things out of him. More than likely just a Nedomlel replacement...

Exactly kip. Smith is our best possession defenseman by a long shot. He leads every defensemen on the team in virtually every possession category, and even rivals some of the top offensive guys in the league in possession stats... For example, Doughty leads all defensemen (with at least 300 minutes) in Corsi with a 58.8%, Smith is 8th in the league with 56.2%. On the Wings, he is first in Corsi, Corsi For / 60, Corsi Against / 60, Individual Corsi / 60, etc... He is by far the best skater on the back end, I would put him up there as one of the better stick handlers and passers as well, along with DeKeyser. There is no way he should be scratched, and I think most of his biggest critiques would even agree with that... There are only two defensemen that should be in the lineup every night, DeKeyser and Smith, and of the other 5, I wouldn't be upset if they were scratched for a game here and there... Kronwall and Green have been subpar this season, but I'd keep both of them in most nights as well...

Smith all day. It should be between Ericsson and Marchenko in my opinion.

I have to admit it was a little too cold at the Big House a couple years ago, and that's coming from a Newfie... but the one in Denver was awesome temperature. It had to be at least 80°. Everyone was going around in shorts and t-shirts during the day and as it cooled off that night, people just threw on a hoodie or whatever. I was wearing jeans, t-shirt and my Wings jersey and I was sweating balls... The one in Ann Arbor I was wearing infinite articles of clothing and still froze my a** off... Still an awesome time though.

You certainly don't go to these games if you're expecting a great view but it absolutely is a great hockey experience. I've been to two now, the one in Ann Arbor and the one a couple weeks ago in Denver, and both were amazing experiences. If you've never been to an outdoor game, and you enjoy hockey, drinking and a good time, or even if you only enjoy one of those things, I'd highly recommend doing the whole outdoor game experience... However, I do agree that they are being way overdone. If there were one a year (Winter Classic), played by different teams every year, it would be worth the excitement, but when there's a handful of games, with the same handful of teams every single year, it begins to wear out the novelty pretty quick...

I like that Athanasiou is getting some time with Pav in the top 6, but why the f*** is Jurco a healthy scratch again? Makes no sense. And Smith out again as well. Blashill is a f***ing a** hat...

I'd like to see... Tatar - Datsyuk - Jurco Nyquist - Zetterberg - Abdelkader Athanasiou - Larkin - Mantha Helm - Sheahan - Glendening Richards / Pulkkinen

I know there are a very small few that still support Smith here, but even the biggest Smith haters (as stupid as it may be) have to see the upside Smith brings to this lackluster defense... He's by far the most efficient skater on the back end, he's been one of the few defenseman that has actually been able to get shots through from the point, and despite not putting up the points, has been generating a lot of scoring chances. I think yesterday's game he was one of our best defenseman (again) and was making a lot happen in the offensive zone. Now he's the odd man out again? f*** off... He's still going to make a scattered bad play, and because that's what he's become known for by fans, those are the plays most people concentrate on, but there's no question, that the majority of games he's played this season, the positives have heavily outweighed the negatives. I think this season, DeKeyser has been far and away our best all around defenseman, despite his struggles of late, Quincey has been by far the most steady on the back end, and Smith has been one of our better defenseman at generating scoring opportunities, despite, like was mentioned before, the lack of point production... Everyone else has been subpar in my opinion...

Lazarev has been passed over in two drafts now, mainly due to size (5'10", 160lbs.), and I don't think we need another undersized skilled winger. If he could be had in the 6th or 7th round, I'd take a gamble on him, otherwise, I'd pass... Personally I'd rather stay away from players out of the Q in general, unless a guy comes along that you just can't pass up. The QMJHL is by far the worst stepping stone in player development in my opinion, the OHL/WHL being extensively better. I also really like the development of the NCAA.