krsmith17

Just because we have cap space, doesn't mean we should carelessly throw it away. There are other, much more beneficial ways to utilize all that cap space. Yzerman has made mistakes and will continue to make mistakes. If Yzerman signs Namestnikov (or another mid level player) to a big contract, my initial reaction will be WTF? but I'm sure I'll get over it. That has nothing to do with Yzerman. Not gonna happen. Yeah, maybe.

I'm aware that those pieces would be overpayment, but I don't think Athanasiou will be traded, unless it's an overpayment. There's no rush to trade him.

I doubt any team interested in Athanasiou would also have interest in another one of our players, other than maybe Holland. If we're trading Athanasiou and Helm to Edmonton, I'd want something like 2020 1st round pick, conditional 2021 2nd round pick, and a prospect.

That's part of it (including Rasmussen), but more than that, I just don't want to overpay again in free agency. We sign Namestinkov to a six year, $5.5M contract to be our 2nd line center, because he would currently be our 2nd best center. However, he's not a 2nd line center, and one (or both) of Veleno and Rasmussen could very well be better than him in a year or two. All of a sudden we have another bad contract on the books for another 3-4 seasons... You're saying "four" forwards again, when it was only "one". I didn't say we shouldn't add any forwards. I said we shouldn't add any forwards *via free agency*. More specifically, *overpay* for any free agent forwards, which is almost always the case. I'm all for more low-risk, high-reward trades. Let me rephrase it... I don't think we should sign any big name free agents on July 1st to bloated contracts. If we sign another stop gap center or defenseman, I won't care. I just don't want to sign any big money, long-term contracts. That's what you do when you're a legit contender, not when you're the worst team in the league... I will also say though, if Namestnikov wants to come to Detroit because of his uncle Vyacheslav, and is willing to sign a team friendly deal in the neighborhood of four years at $3.5M, I'd be okay with that. Of course, we know whoever he signs with, it will be for much more than that though...

I did, and I'll be saying the same thing this offseason (aside from a goaltender). We signed Filppula and Nemeth last offseason. Erne, Perlini and Fabbri were trades. Sure, we'll have plenty of cap space, but that doesn't mean you have to use it. Namestnikov will get overpaid in both salary and term this offseason. I don't want that team to be the Red Wings. If we want to use cap space, use it by taking on a bad contract with 2 or less years remaining, and acquire an extra asset. Don't overpay mediocre players, because we can...

Yeah, exactly what this team needs, to overpay for an average middle six center... No thanks...

What exactly makes Joey Keane a "middling prospect"? Because he's a 3rd round pick? He's emerging as a top prospect. He's a 20 year old defenseman that has put up 30 points in 49 games in his first season turning pro. To compare, Evan Bouchard (a top prospect), has 33 points in 50 games at the same age. Jake Bean (another top prospect), has 39 points in 49 games, a year older. I wanted us to take a shot at Gauthier, but it looks like the Canes got a great return for him. So you wouldn't trade Athanasiou for Puljujarvi and a 2nd? That's what I've seen mostly thrown around here. Not just a 2nd, and not just a prospect. With the way the market is shaping up, I think Athanasiou is definitely worth a 2nd round pick and a high end prospect, or a 1st round pick and a middling prospect.

I'm not sure how "it does seem", "may be" sounds confident, but nah, no source. Partly speculation, partly wishful thinking...

It's all speculation, including what I said, based on (probably nothing) Verbeek scouting the Aves game. Maybe they are more interested in Helm / Glendening. Who knows...

He may not be there scouting one player in particular, but it does seem like Colorado may be inquiring about Athanasiou. Any time a team shows interest in one of your players, it makes sense to scout that team. They're obviously not giving up any of their top young players, and we're not going to acquire any older players. If we are trading Athanasiou to Colorado, I would hope we get a prospect like Kaut along with a pick.

Mmm pancakes... Yeah, a package of players could work, but I'm not sure how many teams will be in the market for, or have the cap space to add a 4th line winger and a 3rd pairing defenseman. Even with 50% retained on Helm and Green, they'd still be looking at over $4.6M for two players that likely don't move the needle a whole lot. Personally, I think Helm may have more value than Green at this point in their careers. Maybe if one of our player's perceived value is a 3rd round pick, we could trade that player along with an early 3rd round pick for a late 1st round pick... That's the kind of trade I'd like to see Yzerman make...

No clue. It's not like he'd have much negotiating power though. Still an RFA, and held out this full season. I would think it would be a 1-2 year prove it deal, sub $2M. Coleman is a very good middle six winger. It is overpayment for Tampa, but that's the price you pay if you want to upgrade at the deadline. Prices are high, which is a great thing for the sellers. Unfortunately, we don't have any big pieces, but maybe we could get something decent for Helm, or anything at all for Green, Daley or Howard...

I don't think Tampa is a realistic trade partner for Athanasiou. If we're trading AA, I'd think Edmonton or Colorado would be good fits. I'd target Puljujarvi / Kaut. I doubt either would give up a 1st along with either of those prospects, but maybe a 2nd...

Coleman may be the better all around player (maybe), but I think you can definitely make the comparison. Coleman is a work horse, but Athanasiou is more skilled, and I think could provide just as much value in a bottom six role to a contending team. If Coleman gets a 1st round pick and a top prospect, Athanasiou should get close to that, maybe even more. He is three year's younger and still team controlled (RFA). I think it's a great trade for both sides. Tampa has one of, if not the best teams in the league. They need to go all in. Jersey has one of the worst teams in the league, and are stockpiling picks / prospects. Yzerman really needs to find a way to acquire a couple more high end picks / prospects at this deadline. New Jersey currently have three potential (conditional) 1st round picks (but don't have any 2nd or 3rd round picks), and Ottawa have two 1st round picks and three 2nd round picks. Both likely to add more before the draft as well. We have one 1st, two 2nd's and two 3rd's. We need to add more...

Something like that...

LOL Abdelkader, Howard and Larkin... One of these things is not like the others...

Keep raising that market value... Maybe we can find a suitor for Green and Daley...

Green f***ing sucks... At least Helm is upping that trade value...

I think at this point, Svechnikov might become a middle six winger. I think Gauthier has top six upside. Guy is a beast. I'd definitely pull the trigger on that trade.

I'd prefer Bokk as well, but I doubt he's available. Certainly not for just Svechnikov. I'd do a Svechnikov for Gauthier swap for sure, but I doubt Carolina would do it, even with the brother connection.

That was what YOU said, I just forgot to put quotations around it. My bad... This, I agree with. I agreed with everything in your original post, except for the one part I pointed out, "prone to panic". Like I've explained, I think it's the opposite. Regardless, why he coughs up the puck, he does unnecessarily cough the puck. And I tend to agree, it may be an issue with hockey IQ... Yeah, poised probably wasn't the right word to use there. I've already explained that. In my opinion, he doesn't show enough (panic) urgency.

No one is arguing whether or not Veleno is ready to make the jump right now. He's clearly not. What I'm arguing is you saying he's "abysmal defensively". He's not. And to me, the only way that you'd come up with such a conclusion is if you didn't watch games, and just looked at box scores / stats, and seen his "abysmal" +/-... Maybe you do watch the games, but if you do, you're watching a different game than me, and many others. Kaser was just raving a few games ago about Veleno's two way game. I know that they can be homers, like any announcer, but he specifically talked about his defensive game. Anyway, I'm done with this. Veleno isn't ready, his defensive game is far from perfect, but he is developing a well rounded game.

Which is all he did... Of course he's bad defensively. He has a team worst +/-... Fact is, his defensive game has grown leaps and bounds since the beginning of the season. Like Larkin, the organization want him to concentrate on that part of his game, and he's starting to mold into more of a 200 foot center because of it. He's not ready yet, and likely won't make the team out of camp. But by this time next year (when we trade Filppula at the deadline), I fully expect him to be up full time.

100%. He's taking way too long to make plays. If he at least showed some urgency with the puck, instead of holding onto it a few seconds too long, there might be something there. I haven't given up on him yet, but right now, it's a little concerning...

The "rush pucks into forwards skates and make rushed sloppy passes" quote was from CRL, not me. That's not the way I see it. Like I've said countless times now, from what I've seen being his biggest issue, is that he holds onto the puck too long, and thinks he has more time than he does. THAT'S what causes turnovers. Not "rushing sloppy passes".