krsmith17

I wouldn't. I'm not that high on Green. I don't think he's worth close to that. In my opinion we should be going hard after Franson, and I f we don't land him, there's not a single other name out there that interest me. Go with the kids...

I agree that he doesn't hit to injury, but I'm quite okay with that. He takes players out of the play and separates the puck carrier from the puck, which is all I expect of a defender. Sure, bone crushing hits can be exciting but they aren't necessary, and often times, the players that look for those on a regular basis, are the players that find themselves out of position... I also agree with e-prime, I don't see much of a chance Nashville retains Franson. He will be with a different team this fall, I just hope it's with the Red Wings...

I don't get where people get that Franson isn't a physical defenseman... I've watched him a ton over the years and he is very physical, especially for a defender that can provide the offense he does. No, he's definitely not Brooks Orpik physical, but not many are. He would instantly be our most physical defender, as well as most teams. He hits a ton, he wins the majority of the one on one battles, and he can clear the front of the net, all while providing offense...

Who's Axel's dad?... No doubt this kid has more skill than Tomas, but if he has half the career, I'll be very happy.

Paul Martin? No thanks... Johnny Oduya? No thanks... Christian Ehrhoff? Maybe, if Franson and Green are both gone, but even then I'd probably rather go with one of the kids... To be honest, I think I'd rather pick Jamie McBain over any of those 3 guys...

... and the least likely to be moved.

frank, your description of Strome also fits Larkin to a t... He's big, 6'1", nearly 200lbs, as an 18 year old, has an unbelievable two-way game, has a great work ethic... From the very little I've seen of Strome in the OHL last season and from articles I've read, I don't believe he is "great" on the defensive side of the puck. I'm not saying Larkin will be as awesome as Toews, but I do believe he will be compared to such players for his defensive acumen. He absolutely does have all the tools to be a Toews lite or a Kesler or better in a few years. I'm saying he will be a top two center, 60-70 point guy and a defensive stalwart. Does that mean he will captain the Red Wings next year and bring home 3 Cups in less than a decade? No. It means as an individual player, he can and I think likely will be a Toews / Kesler like player... Also, as I've stated before, I firmly do believe that if Larkin were to be drafted this year, he would absolutely go in the top 5. We're lucky to have gotten him where we did last year. I do agree with you 100% with the development process and that we shouldn't rush him. Let's bring him along slowly and hopefully he hits his ceiling. If he does we will have one hell of a player.

I'm a huge fan of both Datsyuk and Zetterberg, I think they're both world class players and were two of the best in the business in their prime. In saying that, I'm not sure if either should have their numbers retired. If they do, awesome, if they don't, it's definitely not a knock on either's career. I however agree 100% with what kliq has been saying in this entire debate. kickazz, you seem to repeating the same stance over and over again, most of which I disagree with. I'm not saying either opinion is correct but I do agree with kliq's arguments. We shall see how it all plays out... Anyway, I'm drunk. Can't wait for the draft / training camp... I miss hockey... Go Wings!

We don't have room for both Franson and Green, neither roster spots nor cap space. And there's also no way both would sign here anyway. There will be a dozen other teams going hard for both of these guys as well. I'm okay with going after both in hopes of landing one of them, but it would be foolish to think we have any chance of getting both. I'm not worried about making space for Ouellet and Marchenko but there is no way either sit as the number 7 defenseman when both can be sent down to Grand Rapids...

Exactly. No thanks to Thornton. While he's still good right now, he will very soon be starting to decline and I wouldn't want to give up the assets it would take to get him. Certainly not Nyquist and a 1st or any package close to that...

e_prime, being a non fighter doesn't necessarily mean that player is also non physical. A player can hit everything in sight and never drop the gloves, there is no direct correlation between the two. For me, I don't want a top 4 defenseman that fights and leaves his team short benched for 5+ minutes. I do however want some physical defenseman, that aren't afraid to lay the body when the opportunity presents itself. That is Cody Franson. You stated that Franson was big but doesn't use his size to be physical. That's just not right at all.

So what exactly is it that makes him "seem" like a big none physical player? Is it that he averages around 3 hits per game? Is it that he hits more than twice as much as any defenseman currently on the Red Wings roster? Or is it the fact that he is consistently at the top of the league in hits per game every single season? He was ranked 18th last season splitting time between two different teams, he was 1st the season before and 9th the season before that. He is a very physical defenseman, and he also blocks a ton of shots. He's exactly what this team needs...

Frank, you said the best option available is Phaneuf. That's where I disagree. If we're talking about who we're more likely to get, I don't think we're that likely to land either, but I'd still say Franson is more likely. I think it's about a 5% chance we trade for Phaneuf and about a 20% chance we sign Franson...

Frank, Phaneuf is not the "best option by far". If you're looking for the most rugged, physical defenseman available that can also put up points, the best option by far is Cody Franson. He wouldn't cost us any assets, he would come with a cheaper cap hit, he's 3 years younger, he's bigger, stronger, hits more, blocks almost as many shots, provides almost as much offense, he's a right handed shot, he is an upgrade in almost every area in my opinion... Franson > Phaneuf

Kylington would be a great pick and I'd be content if that's who we drafted in the first but like most people, I'm hoping we trade back to get him or Roy as well as another defenseman in the 2nd. It seems like Matt Spencer is dropping quite a bit as well. I'm not sure why, but he's a player I'd be interested in, later in the 2nd (if we trade back). If for whatever reason Kyle Conner is still available at 19, we should definitely pick him. I am 100% for picking mostly, if not all defensemen in this draft but he's a player you simply can't pass up if he drops that far. Unfortunately, I think he will go around 12-15 though, if not sooner. Imagine if Werenski were to drop back (never going to happen), but that's a player I would love to see us draft...

Didn't know where to put this but Zach Hyman (Larkin's linemate last year at UofM) was traded to the Leafs along with a conditional 7th round pick in 2017 for Greg McKegg. They have until July 1st to work out a deal for him or he becomes a free agent.

Don't mind me. I'm half drunk here. I was looking at Columbus' 8th overall, forgetting Wisniewski is in Anaheim... Carry on, as you were...

amato, I'm assuming you really messed up what you were trying to say there or you're joking?...

I'm still disappointed that the 2011 Stanley Cup Champs Detroit Red Wings didn't beat the 2001 Stanley Cup Champs Colorado Avalanche... I mean, of all the years we won the Stanley Cup, surely the 2011 squad was the most talented.........

Euro_Twins, any trade scenario for Phaneuf that we've been hearing over the past 4 months included players that were Babcock's doghouse. Not to mention, Babs was one of the main reasons we were pushing for Dion at the deadline. I honestly think he will remain in Toronto this season, and if he is moved at some point, I don't see it being to Detroit... VM1138, I would absolutely take Thornton on a two year contract worth $6.75M if he were a free agent. My issue is that I don't want to give up the assets it would take to get him in a trade. If you think Thornton is going to come cheap, you're mistaken. He will without a doubt cost us some very nice future pieces. Pieces I don't want to give up for two years of a soon to be declining center... Also, the free agent market is not going to get any better. The level of talent continues to decline year after year. Every team is locking up their stars and what you're left with is past their prime "stars" and support players. We've been doing a great job drafting and developing and unless a player becomes available that will help us now AND in the future, I don't want to part with any of our top prospects...

darkmanx, I see your point, but I wouldn't pay Green a whole lot more than $6M per. He would be a great add, but with his defensive deficiencies, I'd like to keep it at or under $6M. I know, it's probably not likely unless Detroit is the team he wants to play for, which again is probably not likely... I think I'm in the minority here but I'd personally much prefer to land Franson over Green anyway, and I'd pay him up to $6-6.5M per. I think he could potentially give us just as much (maybe slightly less) production from the back end, but be much more solid in his own zone, and not be a liability on the ice. The guy is a hitting a shot blocking machine. I've been a huge fan of him since his first stint with Nashville 5-6 years ago, and I'd love to see him in the Winged Wheel. I'm with the people that believe when Babcock went to Toronto, any chance of us landing Phaneuf went with it, and I'm quite okay with that. I think trading for Thornton would be a huge mistake. The assets that we would have to give up definitely wouldn't be worth it. He's going to be 36 next month with 2 years left at $6.75M. He's still very productive right now but it's only a matter of time before that production starts to fade. If we're giving up the assets to land a big name center, I'd prefer it be for one that helps us long after Datsyuk is gone, not one that will likely retire around the same time... Buppy, me and kip definitely don't agree on everything, but one thing I do agree with him about is that Babcock is very overrated. Babcock always gets good production out of the players that otherwise shouldn't produce much. He did great things for Abdelkader and Glendening, and he will do great with Peter Holland, Casey Bailey and eventually Freddy "the goat" Gauthier. In my opinion, Smith and Kindl have struggled due to Babcock not allowing them to play to their strengths, the same way I believe Jake Gardiner and maybe to a lesser extent Morgan Rielly could potentially struggle under Babcock... Babs is a good coach, just very overrated in my opinion. I was ecstatic to see Blashill take over and I believe we will see better results under him within the next few seasons than we have under Babcock over the past few seasons. Some may argue, that's due to us being on the upswing, but I would say, a big reason for that upswing is due to the great development in Grand Rapids under Blash...

If Babcock were still here, I would tend to agree, but Blashill seems to like his defenseman to get a little more involved in the play. Their styles are very similar in a lot of ways, but l do believe we will see significant changes in certain areas. A little more free wheeling from the back end, hopefully being one of them... Don't get me wrong, I don't think we should stray from the defensive game, I just think when we have some of the best two-way forwards in the game, we can afford to have our defemsemen jump up in the play a little more...

He's a 2nd / 3rd pair tweener in my opinion, and I really don't see him as an upgrade over anyone currently in our top 4. Either way, no matter where he slots in, he's never going to produce points from the back end, and that's what we need. We need a puck moving defenseman that can quarter back a power play and is preferably relatively young and right handed... Oduya is none of that. I'd choose Franson or Green at $5-6M over Oduya at $4M any day...

Better chance than Mantha alone, absolutely, but even then, that's not a guarantee. Better chance to have more of an impact than the entire trade package combined? I have my doubts.

Yup, and that's what I'm saying. If I'm making a trade for a young number one center, I'd rather put a bigger package together for a proven elite center like Ryan Johansen. I know, I know, never going to happen... Even then, with our need on defense, I'd rather put a similar package together for a young elite defenseman, like Justin Faulk... I'd welcome Draisaitl to the Wings, but I'd just be reluctant to give up a huge package for him...