krsmith17

Kip, I don't think anyone is saying that there was absolutely nothing Kenny could have done since losing Rafalski, Lidstrom and co. or that we agree with every single personnel decision that he has made in the past few seasons. Obviously there have been plenty to scratch your head about. But there have also been plenty of players that have signed elsewhere that we really didn't have any chance with, without giving up way too much in assets or salary cap. If a player has his mind set where he wants to go, like DeKeyser for us, there isn't much else you can do other than crazily over pay, and even that isn't going to guarantee they come here... You can't argue that some pretty good players have been going to other teams for reasons other than having a better chance at competing for the Stanley Cup as of late. Do you really think any of the players that signed elsewhere, other than maybe Ehrhoff, Richards and Heatley (there were a lot of people that didn't even want these players anyway) believe that any of these teams they signed with have a significantly better chance at competing than the Red Wings? Does anyone believe that Washington, Tampa, New York, Dallas, Colorado, Minnesota or Nashville, were significantly better than us, prior to the signings? Or even after their big signings for that matter?... I certainly don't. I think Holland is doing a great job managing this team, and keeping them afloat while building on the fly. To go through two successful rebuilds in both pre and post salary cap, without missing the playoffs once in over two decades would be pretty damn amazing wouldn't it? Sure, I would have loved to have a shiny, new piece to the puzzle on July 1st, who wouldn't? But I'm quite content waiting another year and see what these kids can do.

I agree what you guys are saying about Frk, but I really think he will find his game this season. Like I said, I expect him to be slow coming out of the gate again, but will catch fire after a month or two and finish with a solid 50 points. I follow a lot of our guys as soon as they're drafted, right through junior to Grand Rapids to Detroit, and I was just as excited about Frk as I was Jurco, and that's saying something... Sadly Frk hasn't shown the same promise as Jurco yet, and at this point I don't see him coming close to as good as Jurco, but there is still plenty of time to round out his game, and if he could become a grittier / hungrier Jiri Hudler, that would be great.

I don't care what anyone says, that's a great signing. Like Dany Heatley or not, he is definitely worth the $1M gamble on a 1 year contract. Watch him be the steal of the offseason, putting up 50+ points on a line with Getzlaf and Perry. He may slot in on the second line with Kesler, but I think he would be great on the top line...

Ummm... okay...?

They're going to have to shed approximately 8 million off their cap next season, taking into account the cap rising another couple million next season. No, it probably wouldn't be impossible to keep their entire core together but it definitely won't be easy. If they do, they'll probably have the worst bottom 6 in the league, which isn't exactly ideal either. I think this is huge over payment, although I think the entire league is massively overpaid. So I guess it will be on par with similar players around the league will be making.

Only this time I don't see how they can keep half of their guys, including part of their core. They're going to have to get rid of one or two of Hosse, Sharp, Keith or Seabrook after this season, no question.

Dabura, how many times does it need to be said that Green could very well be a rental?... Why would you give up any promising assets for a guy that could bolt after this season? No way, any of our top prospects should be involved in a trade to get Green.

It's been very clear for quite some time now that we are "retooling". We're definitely not going to rebuild and dump our three captains, nor are we going to trade away all of our promising prospects for a quick fix. I'm more than okay with the retooling that is in progress. Our team will be stronger because of it, knowing that this team does not accept losing (tanking).

Toews and Kane signed identical 8 year, $10.5M contracts... Anyone else feel that the Hawks could be screwed cap wise in the near future?...

Yes Dabura, let's mortgage the future. For what? A year of Green? No, thanks! Jurco, in my mind is much more of a sure thing than either of Nyquist or Tatar. You're right he is 21, 2-3 years younger than either of the other guys, and has accomplished much more than either at the same age. I'm not saying we should trade any of these guys, because I would be crushed if we lost Nyquist or Tatar but if I were to say that only one is untouchable, it would without question be Jurco, hands down... I'm not worried though, Jurco isn't going anywhere.

How do people not see how special this Jurco kid is going to be? He has a much higher ceiling than Tatar and I would possibly even consider trading Nyquist before Jurco. Kid is going to be unreal.

Now THAT is massive overpayment for ya Dickie lol. There is no way the Jets would be asking for those three pieces... I think Ouellet would be capable in stepping in on the Jets blue line to start this season and making an impact. Tatar would be an obvious key piece to the deal. Kindl can be a serviceable 6th defenseman, maybe even more in a different system. Likewise, Ferraro could be a serviceable 4th line center or winger for the Jets. Add in a high pick and I think that is pretty fair...

Dickie, I definitely would give up that package for Trouba. I think this kid has Doughty potential all over him. So what about all those pieces, minus the draft pick? I agree Frank, that's why my offer would be so high. Any deal can get done, but what would it cost us?...

All this talk about Green, what about any of the other solid right handed defenders in the league? Obviously a lot of the guys we would want would be close to untouchable but what about a young kid like Jacob Trouba from Winnipeg? What do people think it would take to get him, and would it be worth it? I personally think the kid is going to be unreal in a few years, and I'm guessing the Jets probably feel the same about him. So it may be costly, but how much would it cost us? What about a trade something like: To Detroit - Jacob Trouba To Winnipeg - Tomas Tatar, Jakub Kindl, Xavier Ouellet, Landon Ferraro, 2015 2nd (or 1st if that's the only way the deal gets done) Imagine a top 6 in a couple years of: DeKeyser - Trouba Smith - Sproul Kronwall - Ericsson / Backman / Marchenko

Frank, no way this team finishes worse than last season. They will make the playoffs, probably around the 4 or 5 spot.

I agree, the first rounder would be a non starter for me as well...

I agree Son of a Wing. I'm a huge fan of Athanasiou as well... Hell, there are very few prospects I would want to trade lol. I know only one in like every three prospects turn out but I would be afraid we would trade the ones that turn out and keep the busts. Although that is one thing I think Holland has been great at. He very rarely gives up on prospects that turn out to be great and usually flips some of the prospects that he doesn't feel will work out for something in return.

That's fair, I guess. So I guess you would trade Mantha or Sproul because so far they're projections are based solely on potential? Kidding. I get what you're saying. Hopefully we can keep Tats and Pulk.

I obviously don't know for sure who is going to be better between the two small, skilled wingers but I without a doubt believe Pulkkinen will be the better player and the bigger need in a few years. Like, I've made clear many times, I really like Tatar and I would love to keep him, but if we are making a trade, to me, he is the most expendable forward. Yes, he just had a great rookie year, which should increase his value even more in a trade. Pulkkinen has a better shot than any prospect we've had in a long time, probably ever, and we probably haven't had a weapon of a shot on our team since Brett Hull. I hate comparing prospects to retired greats, but you cannot deny the similarities in the two. They're both identical in size, 5'10, 195-200lbs. they both shoot right and have a cannon, hell, Pulk even goes down on one knee, when one-timing from the hash marks, the same way Hull did. So isn't it obvious now that Pulkkinen will put up nearly 1400 points in the NHL the same way Hull did... Seriously though, I really like this kids potential.

Yeah, I said I would rather include Tatar over Pulkkinen in "any" trade and I guess he took it as I would include Tatar in a trade for Green, which I wouldn't by the way, unless we already worked out an extension and it was significantly lower than his current $6+ million...

Relax Kip, if you go back and re-read everything I've said about Green, I've said several times that I wouldn't part with any of our top players or prospects, including Tatar. There is no way Green on an expiring contract is worth that. I just stated to the people that would be offering up Pulkkinen, I would think twice about trading him away...

I am going to say it again. I would much rather include Tatar over Pulkkinen in any trade. Tatar has much more value in a trade right now and I think Pulkkinen, if he reaches his potential, would have more value to us in the future.

I'd be ok with giving up Backman or Jensen and Ferraro and a 3rd for a year of Green. Possibly resign him if he really impresses.

Lol, speaking of McKee http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2014/07/tough_guy_mike_mckee_mistaken.html Has anyone here been lucky enough to get down to Traverse City to catch any of the development camp? I'm curious to see how a few of the camp invitees have looked. Mainly, Kyle Baun and Mark Cooper.

Again, you wouldn't give up Tatar but you would be completely okay with giving up Jurco in a trade such as this?... Neither would be going the other way in this trade anyway... I would expect a mid level roster player or mid level prospect and a draft pick.