krsmith17

I wouldn't give up Cholowski for Virtanen... No way. Virtanen was more of a player I was suggesting we target toward the end of last season and earlier this season (for cheap). Now that he kind of seems to be finding his game, I agree, probably not a viable option. To be honest, I think Armstrong trading Fabbri was more of a favor to him, rather than acquiring de la Rose. I wouldn't be at all shocked to see de la Rose healthy scratched at times this season, not qualified this summer, and maybe (if he's lucky) sign with another team next season, before ending up back in Europe... Yup, this.

I'd go with... Bertuzzi - Larkin - Perlini Hirose - Athanasiou - Mantha Fabbri - Filppula - Erne Abdelkader - Helm - Ehn I'd do it. I'd love to see it. That, or picks...

Demko isn't going anywhere, and the other two guys suck...

Yeah, Virtanen would have been my choice, but I'm kind of hoping Yzerman is in talks with Holland on Puljujarvi... We should have a ton of guys that Holland would just love to have on his squad... Puljujarvi for Helm and Saarijarvi...

Honestly, I think the drop-off from Filppula / Athanasiou to Nielsen / Hirose is pretty significant, and I also think the payoff in playing a capable goal scorer (Perlini) on a line with the former two, would be significant as well. This roster is pretty awful, but I do believe that some small tweaks could make a fairly big difference. Not losing every game by 4+ goals to winning games, big, but maybe being in a few more close games, big...

Average ice time doesn't have much to do with where players are slotted in the lineup though. I don't care if our 4th line gets played a bit more than our 3rd line some nights, or our 3rd line gets played a bit more than our 2nd line some nights. What I care about is slotting players together that compliment one another... I also don't want to see guys that have zero skill, playing in the top six, while players with skill, get weighed down by the worst bottom six in the entire league. Perlini may be getting top six minutes, but he sure as hell isn't playing with top six forwards (aside from a scattered shift). Erne has been playing in our top six and shouldn't be anywhere close to that. Erne sucks offensively. Put him on the 4th line. Perlini is good offensively. Put him in the top six. It's really not that hard...

TWO right-handed forwards? No f***ing way...

Another low risk, potentially high reward trade. Yzerman is getting s*** done. Both Perlini and Fabbri have the potential to become impact middle six forwards. If they don't, no big loss. We didn't give up much of anything to acquire them. I liked Regula, but he was never going to be anything more than a 3rd pairing guy here. Perlini has the potential to be a Mantha-lite, 2nd line winger. de la Rose f***ing sucks, and Fabbri has the potential to regain the form Blues fans seen in his first two seasons in the league (37 points in 72 games and 29 points in 51 games as a 20 / 21 year old). Now trade Ehn and Hicketts to Vancouver for 6th pick in that draft, Jake Virtanen... Why are all of Yzerman's trades made after my bed time?... F***ing NL time zone... Swap Erne and Perlini and Nielsen and Glendening and we're getting somewhere...

Nah, he's a try hard, without the results. The absolute worst...

See? We do agree. Ehn sucks.

Helm hasn't played up there the past couple games, aside from maybe a shift or two tonight because they were rolling 11 forwards. The top line has been back together for the most part, with brick hands Erne occupying the other top six spot... But yes, I agree, Perlini should get a look in that spot. He's the full package (size, speed, skill), just hasn't been able to put it all together yet. Give him some capable linemates and see what he can do...

LOL Your previous post made it seem like just because he won a faceoff, he brings value. Anyone can win a faceoff. ^ case in point above... He's not even particularly good at faceoffs... Everyone: "Ehn sucks!" Ehn wins a faceoff Neo: "that's why Ehn doesn't suck..." Ehn f***ing blows. He's a borderline NHLer, and he won't be playing in the NHL next season.

Perlini looking really good tonight. Guy needs to be in the top six over Adam f***ing Erne...

I'm glad we agree. Joakim Andersson 2.0.

They have righties on the left side, and lefties on the right side. Makes a huge difference. Quick puck movement, players always in position to accept a pass, make a pass, or one-time the puck. The Wings only have that option on the right side of the ice. On the left side, they either have to take it on their backhand, or stop and turn toward the net... This team needs some high quality right-handed forwards in the worst way...

Yup. 0 points through 9 games, -5, 25% on faceoffs... Impact player...

Sure. He could be a "flash in the pan"... So could Mantha. Let's trade low on him too...

With Dallas, and another 11 with Anaheim. Missed that. Regardless, doing that one time as 33 year old, after being a perennial 10-15 goal scorer, is much different than doing it for the first time as a 24 year old, after finally getting consistent playing time...

Why spend an asset (a pretty good one at that) on a player you're going to bury on the 3rd line with Nielsen and Hirose? Put Perlini in the top six for f***s sake... Erne f***ing sucks!

Fake news...

He did it for the first time as a 24 year old, on a very bad team. He generates offense out of nothing as good as anyone in the league. Put him with capable linemates and he would be a perennial 25-35 goal scorer. Again, I'm not saying Waddell would trade Bean straight up for Athanasiou, but that's the return I would be looking for. I also believe that's closer to fair value for both sides than Fleury straight up would be.

I'm not saying they would... That's the kind of return I would expect from Athanasiou though. If I'm trading Athanasiou, it's going to be for a 1st from a playoff team (pick 20th-30th overall), plus a 2nd / mid tier prospect, OR a 1st from a non playoff team (pick 10th-20th overall) / top end prospect. I'm not trading a 30 goal scorer for a "project player"... Definitely too much to give up. If we're trading for Fleury, I'd offer them Svechnikov. That's about it for me. ... and I'm not even sure I'd do that to be honest...

Can't play favorites if I want to make it big time. All business.

Straight up? No. Maybe add in a 2nd on Carolina's end... I'd do Athanasiou for Bean straight up though.

What approach will I take coaching my kids' minor hockey? Or *when* I make the NHL?