krsmith17

For me, I just believe there are better players available in the top 4. I wouldn't hate if we picked Drysdale, because he would immediately become our top prospect, but no matter how the top three shakes out, there will be at least one or two forwards I like more at 4th overall. There's talk about every player outside of Lafreniere potentially being available at 4th overall. It's unlikely that Byfield drops, but he would be my first choice. Same goes for Stutzel, being my second choice. If that's the top 3 though, I'd still be leaning Raymond at 4. If it's none of those players, I'd have equal amount of intrigue / excitement / concern with Perfetti, Rossi, Holtz, Drysdale (in no particular order). Anyone outside of those guys, I'd have varying levels of disappointment... Definitely things to consider, but neither should be a determining factor. Always take best player available, regardless of "need". If Yzerman believes Drysdale is the best player available, he should pick him. He shouldn't pass on him just because he feels we already have our top four right side in Hronek and Seider. Or just because next year's draft is loaded with high end defensemen. I'd argue that our biggest need is a right-handed sniper to flank the left side of our power-play, opposite Mantha / Zadina. However, Yzerman shouldn't reach for a player like Holtz to fill that spot, unless he and his scouts believe he's the best player available at 4.

Well, there could actually be something there, since JD Burke was the first to "rumour" the "rumblings" of Seider to Detroit, leading up to last year's draft.

So what's the max price you would pay for Danault? For me it's a 2nd round pick (not our 2020 32nd overall), and maybe a mid tier prospect. I think Montreal would be looking for much more than that.

For sure, but I don't see any team taking less than a 1st for Eriksson, or any of the other bad contracts, when we've seen the going rate over the past several years. If a 1st is attached to Marleau with one year remaining at $6M, under normal circumstances, a 1st, plus should be attached to Eriksson with two years remaining at $6M, under these very unusual, unforeseen circumstances....

Yeah, there are a few other teams (Ottawa, Buffalo, New Jersey) with similar cap flexibility, but there are likely more teams looking to move a bad contract, than there are teams looking to take on a bad contract. Yzerman just needs to make sure that Detroit are one of the teams acquiring at least one of those bad contracts. A 1st round pick (or equivalent) should be the bare minimum return, especially with all the unique circumstances (flat cap, internal budget, etc.) due to Covid. That's certainly a possibility, although I doubt it. Chris might not be quite as willing to spend as Mike, but I doubt the Wings will ever have an internal cap under the Ilitch's.

No, definitely not. That's one (of many) reason(s) I didn't mention a player like Lucic... However, Eriksson and Steen are solid veterans that have just seen their on-ice production take a dip, due to age. Thus, they are being paid way too much, and that's where a team with a ton of cap space (Red Wings) comes in...

Yeah, really. Seriously though, if we don't end up with at least one extra 1st round pick out of all of this, I would consider it a major failure. One (or both) of Eriksson / Steen should be Red Wings next season.

Give us all your bad contracts and 1st round picks...

Absolutely. If Van Riemsdyk is on the block though, it won't be as a pure salary dump. JVR still has quite a bit of value, even at 31 years old, and $7M per. The Flyers could easily get an asset or two from another team, not the other way around.

I don't want this team to suck, but that's the reality right now. We need to be patient, and do this rebuild the right way. No quick fixes. No shortcuts. We do need to get younger, and we shouldn't be mortgaging the future for older players. This team is going to improve on last season. How can they not? Gradual improvements will turn into much bigger rewards. Fair enough. I just don't see the payoff outweighing the cost here. As a rebuilding team, I would take a good center that we can potentially flip for more assets, that doesn't cost anything other than cap space, over a very good center, that would likely be a rental (could also flip), that costs multiple assets. If Danault is as good as you seem to believe, he's going to cost a LOT, which I personally wouldn't be comfortable paying. Hell No! I wouldn't give up two young, middle six (potentially top six) centers / wingers for one older top six center. Again, if we're at all close to contending, these are the types of trades you make. Not in the midst of a rebuild...

I don't really think it's much of an overpayment. It's probably right around what a player like Danault would garner in a trade. However, it would be beyond stupid for a rebuilding team, such as the Red Wings to pay that price for a 28 year old with one year remaining (possible rental). For a 20 year old top prospects, that has a good chance to be as good as the player we're trading for, by the time we're in our window, plus a 2nd round pick. So yeah, HARD No!

I'm not undervaluing Danault as a player at all. I think he's is a solid 2C, but his age and contract don't match up with where we are in our rebuild. If he were 4-5 years younger, or we were finished our rebuild, and just needed to fill that one hole at 2C to become a contender, I'd be all for it. Unfortunately, we're nowhere close to that. We're anywhere from 2-5 years away, depending on who you talk to, and like I mentioned, I believe we have a similar caliber player already in the system, who coule be as good or better, in 2-5 years. I want this. I just don't want a short term fix, at the expense of future assets. I agree with this, except that I think Filppula is better than Nielsen. I have zero interest in giving up assets for two or three years of a player, especially when the drop off from some of the players that could be available in free agency, isn't that drastic. Sure, kick the tires. If Yzerman isn't kicking the tires, he isn't doing his job. However, if it's anything more than a 3rd round pick (it would be), I wouldn't do it. Bergevin would probably be looking for a high end prospect and a pick. That, I'm not willing to give up. Or maybe he'd be looking for a one-for-one trade for a similarly skilled, similar age player of a different position. That, we don't have.

Fair enough, I guess. I just think IF the Habs are looking to trade Danault (I don't think they should / will), it would be because he's the oldest of the bunch, and could probably fetch a pretty solid return in futures. And for that exact reason, I don't think the Wings (another rebuilding team), should be the team acquiring him. I don't really agree, but IF we do need that player right now, like I said, I think it should come via free agency. Acquiring a soon-to-be 28 year old center for prospects / picks would be a terrible move for this team right now in my opinion. I don't think we should be giving up any future assets for players that will not be part of this team on the other side of the rebuild. That includes Danault. Why is Nugent-Hopkins on that list? He still has a year left, and yes, he would cost way too much via trade. Even more so than Danault. I don't think adding another center is a must, but if we determine that Filppula can no longer hack it as a 2C, and we want to bridge the gap for another year before we promote Veleno / Rasmussen, then we should sign any one of those players mentioned above to another 2 year stop-gap, ala Fil / Nemeth last offseason. OR make a trade for a young (under 24 year old) center, that could grow with the rest of the young players on this team, and be a part of it beyond the rebuild.

I'm confused. Has there been any rumors of Danault being unhappy or wanting out of Montreal? I mean, I would have to assume he was a huge Habs fan growing up, and I would also assume that the Montreal Canadièns would want to keep the local, French speaking center over any of the other guys mentioned. This is exactly what I think / hope Veleno will be in a few years. I'm not for trading away any assets for any 27+ year old veterans. Those are available via free agency.

The interweb, obviously...

Absolutely, but it's certainly not everything either. There's a reason 98% of Habs fans and 2% of Red Wings fans are in favor of that trade... That sounds like every negotiation between player / agent - GM ever... Does not equal hold out.

Why would you assume a hold out? He's made it very clear that he wants to stay in Detroit. I don't see any reason he and Yzerman can't come to terms on a new contract, good for both sides. I also don't see injuries as a major concern. He hasn't had any recurring injuries, and there's no reason to assume he will continue with the string of bad luck. If he can stop punching helmets, I think we will finally see a healthy season out of Mantha.

Hardy-har-har... I've definitely been wrong on a few (who hasn't?), but I'd also say that I'm right on more than I'm wrong.

Yup, scoring rate is obviously the only way to determine which forward is better...

I'd be okay with acquiring a Danault caliber player via free agency, or a younger version Danault caliber player via trade, but I have no interest in giving up assets for 27 year old Phillip Danault. There are other options available. Besides, I highly doubt Montreal are shopping him.

Uh, yeah. I'm not sure if you're being facetious, but Larkin is a much better center than Domi... Also, it's not Larkin that we're comparing to Domi, it's Mantha, and Mantha is also a much better player than Domi, regardless of position.

Forgive me for taking everything you say with a pound of salt. I'm sure you do the same for me. We just see things very differently regarding our young players / prospects... Larkin, Zadina, Veleno, etc.

I'm sure "the book" on Danault or Cirelli was much the same at the same age though... I don't think there's any reason to think that Veleno can't become every bit as good or better than either of those guys. I'm all for acquiring more young center prospects, to increase our odds of one of them turning into something special, but Domi is not the answer. Larkin isn't finished developing yet either, and although some think he's a 2C dressed up as a 1C, I believe he is / will be a legit, high caliber 1C. Well why even include Mantha and Domi, if Mantha isn't a player you're interested in moving, and Domi isn't a player you're interested in acquiring? Romanov is a high-end prospect, but it's not like he's Rasmus Dahlin or anything. He should be able to be had without giving up Mantha. If not, no thanks...

Why though? You're going to have to give more than that... He was a force offensively in the Q, and most players his age would have still been in juniors last season. The only reason he was AHL eligible, is because he had already played 4 years of junior (exceptional status). He played very well as an underager last season, and really came on towards the end of the season. 23 points in 54 games, mostly as a 19 year old, isn't nothing, and he's right there with, or even slightly ahead of the two guys I just mentioned at the same age. If we have Veleno as our 3C, it would obviously be because we have a better option as our 2C, and incredible center depth, which I'm all for. I just think Veleno could be that player in a few years. Let's not get into which one of Veleno or Rasmussen should be expendable, but I don't see any reason we would have to move either, since one of them (Rasmussen) could easily move to the wing... I'm very high on Romanov, so I'd obviously have to consider it, but really, I don't think he's any more than a sure thing than Veleno at this point. I also think Domi is highly overrated. The only thing he has over Mantha, is health, and if Mantha can stay healthy, he's a far superior player.

I'd love to hear your explanation as to why you're so low on Veleno... Why is it that you don't think he could become a more than capable 2C? I've heard many Red Wings fans advocating to add a Danault or Cirelli type center. I don't think there's any reason to think that Veleno can't become a player similar to those guys... A 40-50 point two-way 2C.