krsmith17

Agree to disagree... If Cholowski hits his ceiling, we have a middle pair offensive defenseman, that can QB one of the power-plays. If Lindstrom hits his ceiling, we have a bottom pair defensive defenseman, that can kill penalties. I agree that Lindstrom is more likely to hit his ceiling, but I'll always swing on the higher upside. I think if Lindstrom is exposed, Seattle takes Namestnikov. If Stecher is exposed, they take Stecher. I think Stecher will have more trade value at next year's deadline. I'd protect Stecher and lose Namestnikov, who can easily be replaced by Veleno...

THIS is why we're not talking about Landeskog...

Brendan Smith was a puck moving, offensive defenseman in lower leagues. That's a fact. It never translated to the NHL. It happens. I definitely held onto the tag for too long. He clearly wasn't much of an offensive defenseman at the NHL level. Dennis Cholowski has always had a ton of poise with the puck in lower leagues. That's a fact. He's shown flashes of it at the NHL level, but has been caught holding onto the puck for too long. We'll see if he can adapt. I have no issue if you call players out, but call them out for things they're actually bad at. Again, panicking with the puck is not a thing with Cholowski.

I'm shocked that you brought up Brendan Smith...

So Gcom also doesn't watch the same player... Ken, Mick and Larry have all mentioned Cholowski's poise with the puck on the broadcasts. You read just about any scouting report on Cholo, and they mention his "poise with the puck". None of them say he "panics with the puck". You can point to quite a few flaws in Cholowski's game, but panicking with the puck isn't one of them. In my opinion, Hronek and Cholowski should be protected. The last spot should come down to Stecher or Lindstrom. I'd be okay with either option, but I'd choose the former for the trade value.

For someone that critiques every word people say, "panic" is a poor word choice. Cholowski has always had great "poise" with the puck on his stick. He does not panic with the puck whatsoever. Fixed it for you...

You keep saying this, but it's not even remotely accurate. I'm really not sure you're watching the same player... He's number 21 in red... Cholowski has a ton of poise with the puck. In fact, if there's one flaw in that regard, it's that he sometimes holds onto the puck too long, thinking he has more time than he does. "Panic with the puck" is not a thing with Cholowski. If anything he needs a little more panic urgency with the puck...

Fuuuuu** that...

Basically Svechnikov and 52nd overall... Would have been a nice addition to the blueline... Oh well...

It is a ridiculous amount of cap space, and I hope Yzerman puts it to good use. A lot of teams will be handcuffed with the flat cap and expansion draft. Take full advantage. Take on some bad contracts, trade for players that teams don't want to lose for nothing to Seattle, sign short-term, low salary contracts that can be flipped in the next two years. Basically just continue what Yzerman has been doing.

I'm well aware of the Red Wings mountain of cap space. That doesn't mean we should waste it. And signing Hyman to a $5M, 7 year contract would be wasting it in my opinion. That's a contract that will not age well. Do we really want to be entering our playoff / Cup window, needing to shed another bad contract? I have absolutely zero interest in Hyman (or any of the other guys you mentioned), unless any of them are willing to come here on the cheap (and preferably short-term)... Hyman (and none of the other guys you mentioned) are going to do that with a rebuilding team...

Yes. No. Except it would if he wants a long-term (7 year) contract, which he absolutely would, coming off a career year, as a 29 year old (last chance to really cash in), going to a rebuilding team...

Sure. You do need those types of players to win, but you can get them much cheaper than the reported $5M Hyman is asking for... I think the Leafs could let Hyman walk, and sign an Erne type player for under $2M, play him in the Hyman role with Matthews and Marner, and he would produce similarly to Hyman. There may be a bit of a dropoff in production, but I doubt there'd be much. Certainly not $2-3M worth...

This exactly. If Hyman leaves Toronto (Matthews / Marner) and doesn't go to Edmonton (McDavid / Draisaitl), he will drop off just as quick as Clarkson / Abdelkader. Coincidentally, the same age Abdelkader was when he fell off, after having back-to-back 40+ point seasons with Datsyuk / Zetterberg...

Yup.

I figured it out early on in this debate. I'm just trying to hit home how absolutely moronic it is (you are)... I think this player would really help out our rookie defenseman. He's EXACTLY the type of defenseman that could really help him flourish. I don't want him though, because he's "too old". It's a good thing Scotty Bowman had that same mentality when bringing up Lidstrom to play with Brad McCrimmon, and later Larry Murphy...

Did I say you wanted Yandle? Nope. I said "I" want Yandle... This is what I originally said re: Suter... "All joking aside, I'd love to see Suter paired with Seider for a couple seasons"... This is what you just said re" Yandle... "he fits the mold of what a Seider needs in a partner"... To sum it up, I want good players (short-term), regardless of age. You don't want good players because of their age...

And he's ONLY 34!!! F*** Suter! He's too old... Yandle is who I want now...

Sounds like your dumb Eichel and Landeskog scenario all wrapped in one... Surely Yzerman will be interested in trading assets away for a 29 year old needing a new contract ($5M+ long-term)...

Nope. We're not discussing these players because Yzerman has specifically said that he won't be targeting these types of players... I could care less about Suter. Nope. I think there's a possibility Suter (just like any other UFA) would be interested in Detroit. Sure.

Yup, because that's what I said... I agree with one thing you said, and that is that Suter is unlikely to come to Detroit. That doesn't change the original point (which you also agreed with), that Yzerman should make calls on Suter this summer. The point of the above post was that the comparison you made was dumb. People aren't not discussing Eichel and Landeskog because "we know there's not much of a chance in hell they're coming to Detroit"... When has that ever stopped anyone? It's because it doesn't make sense (cost / term / age) for where we are in the rebuild... I actually think Yzerman could trade for Eichel if he wanted to give up the assets. Fortunately, he's not going to give up Seider+ to get him... I also think Yzerman could sign Landeskog if he wanted to overpay in free agency. Fortunately, he's not going to pay term / money to a soon to be 29 year old...

Not even remotely the same thing... Eichel is under contract for another 5 seasons at $10M per, and would cost way more than we should be comfortable giving up (Seider+). Landeskog is a top free agent that will be looking for long-term (7 years), at a high AAV ($8M+). It doesn't make sense to trade multiple pieces (top prospects / picks) to add Eichel. Sure you fill a major hole, but make another hole(s) in the process. It also doesn't make sense to invest huge money, long-term in Landeskog, a player older than our current core, that will be on the back end of his career when the team is ready to turn the corner. Yzerman has stated several times, he's not interested in making these type moves at this time. If Yzerman is making any trades, I think it'll be another Fabbri (low risk / high reward) or Mantha (gaining future assets) or Staal (cap dump) type trade. I doubt we'll see any blockbusters at this time... If Yzerman is making any free agent signings, I think it'll be short-term stop-gaps like Stecher / Merrill, (Suter / Martinez). I doubt we'll see any star players in their prime signed long-term at this time...

This. I'd add though, at this point I would say any potential free agent is "doubtful" to come to Detroit. Ignoring the "Suter is a cancer" rumors, just looking at the player, he should be at the top of Yzerman's list of targets this summer. If the rumors are true, maybe you stay clear, but I would think Yzerman has a better pulse on that, than any of us.

Even the old / bad ones?

So do you think Yzerman *should* call Neil Sheehy? Too old amirite? Cool. What do you give the odds on Oleksiak signing? What about Oesterle? McCabe?