kliq

I think one of the reasons why Yzerman makes such good deals and has such good relationships with other GM's is because when it comes to small moves like this, he does just that. If you offer sheet a team for a player like that, I think you just make an enemy.

As long as he can stay healthy, I think Mantha will have a monster season this year. I could see as a ceiling 40 goals, 30 assists.

Despite his 24 assists in 76 games last year, my money would be on Mantha.

100% agreed!

Well, Larkin. In 2015/16 he had 45 points in 80 games in the NHL at 19 years old. Side note, when I looked up his stats I saw its his 23rd birthday today.

If you interpreted my comments to mean that I think Yzerman should plan based on chance, you misinterpreted my comments.

Who knows, maybe this year we become competitive, just barely don't make the playoffs and then land the highest pick we have gotten in years like the NYR and Chicago did this year.

I could see this. They werent good enough last year to get out of the first round, then they loose Duchene, Panarin, and Bobrovsky and gain Nyquist. They are likely going to be an average team at best this season unless they have studs coming up that I dont know about.

The value of the whole "4 firsts" thing IMO depends on the team. If a lottery team did it, I think TO should take it. You could potentially get 4 top 5 picks. If a regular playoff team did it, I wouldn't even consider it. Lets take a team like the SJ Sharks, most likely they will be picking in the 22-30 range over the next 4 years, the chances of any of those picks resulting in a Marner type player are extremely low.

My guess.....either the right deal hasn’t come along, or since we are not in win now mode, yzerman doesn’t feel the need right now.

I agreed with most of what he said, but that part is indeed untrue. Helm could be dealt if we retained a mil, Nielsen could garner some interest, Abby is the only one that would have to have incentives, but like Lucic if the deal was right we could move him.

This isn't a defense of Holland, but rather an observation. I do think that it is much easier to trade a player if you just walked in to become GM, opposed to trading a player that you personally signed, and quite possibly said things like "we want you to finish your career as a Wing" to. Not that Holland said that, but I have to think that things like that have to factor in on your decision making. Also, in Edmonton they are in win-now mode with McDavid, here we were re-building where I'm sure the urgency to move a contract like that was significantly less. With that said, I agree with your point. Yzerman coming in means he has no emotional ties to any player, and that's probably a good thing.

Ya, I can't believe Calgary took him though lol.

As per TSN A pair of forwards are switching allegiances in the Battle of Alberta. The Edmonton Oilers have traded Milan Lucic and a conditional third-round pick in 2020 to the Calgary Flames for James Neal. The Oilers will retain 12.5 per cent of Lucic's $6 million salary, worth $750,000. On the HOF boards (at least first few pages), Edmonton fans seem pretty pumped, Calgary fans seem pretty pissed.

I dont think Yzerman wanted him TBH.

Would you trade AA for him? I dont know much about Ristolainen TBH.

No need to get so angry, we’re just having a discussion. First off, I never said Trouba is coming here. I said it’s not a given he’s signing in NY. Secondly, I’m still waiting to hear you break down all these stars who hit UFA. I agree, none of the guys I listed are stars THAT WAS MY ENTIRE POINT. You keep saying stars aren’t signing here because they don’t want want to, I’m trying to tell you it’s not not because they don’t want to, it’s because they rarely hit UFA. I am citing specific examples, you are not. Please do so.

See that statement I am totally on board with, that is a "realistic" statement.

First Bold: Those prospects have never played an NHL game, there is nothing to indicate that they are better then Larkin, Mantha, AA, Zadina, etc. Also, you realize Trouba has not signed an extension yet...right? He filled for arbitration, I am not sure why you are talking as if he has already signed a long term deal. Second Bold: Truthfully, there is nothing realistic about your posts, you are overly pessimistic. Saying things like "Trouba would have been the perfect fit " and " You really think a Panarin type free agent would come here ? Cause I think there’s a 0% chance at the moment" are not "realistic" comments. You want realistic, read my posts. Optimistic would be saying "UFA will come here" Guarantee we sign Trouba next year" etc. Realistic is what I am saying, that being that we have a chance due to the multiple variables that players take into consieration when choosing a team to sign with. If you are under the impression that i am saying we are the favourites to land a top UFA, then you misunderstood me, because all I am saying is that we have a chance and that I believe if Yzerman really tried, he probably could (not definetely could). Third Bold: Define a "star"? Outside of JT and Panarin, name a "star" who has signed anywhere in free agency over the past 5 years. Here is a quick glance at free agency over the past few years: 2013: Top 5 UFA were Horton, Filppula, Clarkson, Riberio and Weiss. We signed Weiss, sure he busted, but who else here is a "star" Alfreddson was also a top UFA that year who the wings signed. 2014: The top UFA's were Stasny, Ryan Miller, and Vanek, none "stars" 2015: I remember watching TSN on July 1st and they had Mike Green ranked as their #1 UFA, We landed him. Would I consider Green a "star" ? no, but he was the best guy available that year and the Wings got him. 2016: The top UFA's were Okposo, Backes, Lucic, Ladd, Ericsson, and Nielsen (Stamokos never hit UFA), none were stars and all of those guys were busts for what they were paid. 2017 on the re-build started, so we never went for any. So to make it seem like stars dont want to come here is fan fiction.

First Bold: I'm also taking guys like Panarin as well, I dont want the Gardner's of the world either. Paranin signing with the Rangers is a perfect example of that. Second Bold: You sure you aren't buying into the hype? What kids do they have that look better then Larkin, AA, Mantha, and Zadina? They have Kakko and who? Third Bold: I was quite clear that I was not talking about every player, to dismiss this notion across the board is simply incorrect. The Habs are the most successful franchise is history, but the generation playing now never saw the Habs as a powerhouse considering they haven't been true contenders since 1993. Forth Bold: If Yzermans wants to make a splash, I think he will. The real question is does he want to overpay in free agency. Even in TB, Yzerman mostly developed and traded, he didnt make many massive UFA signings. I get it, you are very down on this roster. What you need to realize is just because you feel this way, doesn't mean every player in the NHL shares your opinion. And for the record, I'm no saying every player shares mine either.

To answer your question in the bold, 100% yes I do. I believe that hockey players are motivated by different things. Some players simply want to win and will only go to a team that is in "win now" mode. Will those players come here right now? No, but lets not pretend that every player is motivated by this and this only. Some players are motivated by family (ie. Suter/Minny), and if there is a player who grew up close to Detroit and wants to "come home", do I think that player would sign here? Yes. Some players are motivated by money, they dont care about anything else. To be honest, this is what I believe motivated Panarin. Guy went to a Rangers team that is pretty much in the same boat as us. Sure there is some buzz right now, but if we are talking pre July 1st, landing Kakko and acquiring Trouba for one year doesn't make you a playoff team. Rangers didn't get Panarin because they look like a team on the rise, they got him because they made the 17th(ish) best player in hockey, the #2 highest paid player. Do I think we could sign a guy who only cares about money if we threw the bank at him? Yes. (though you admit that). Some players are motivated by history/ownership/management etc. At the end of the day the Detroit Red WIngs are the second most successful franchise of all time, and the most successful franchise of the past 25 years. A lot of current player were likely fans of the Wings growing up, and you hear over and over again that "wearing the winged wheel" matters to certain guys. Then when you throw in the fact that we are now being run by quite possibly the most respected GM in the business, we have a leg up in this category. Now do some guys give 2 s***s about this, sure. But do I think some big names could sign here for this reason? Yes. Your "0% chance" statement is 100% wrong because neither you or I have a clue of what motivates any particular player. I just listed a few motivators, but there are still many more. Everyone is different, but I do believe that if we made a legitimate push for a UFA, we have a chance, I would even argue a strong chance.

I truly dont believe that NHL players look at this roster as negatively as some fans do. Anytime you watch an unbiased analyst talk about the Wings, they always praise the young core this team has, and reference them as a team on the rise. Lets take Trouba for example, if he hits UFA and you are willing to pay the guy, I have zero doubt that he would be willing to come here.

I dont know about that, when kids are developing its so important to instill good habits. I see what you are saying, but if you wait too long the player sometimes gets stuck in their ways and is a lost cause. Look at Alexei Kovalev for example, imagine the type of player he could have been if a coach pushed him harder at the beginning like what Blashill is doing with AA. I have heard so many players say he was one of the most talented guys ever, but he never lived up to that because of his work ethic Anyone remember this gem lol .

Its so hard to asses Wright because at the end of the day these picks ultimately fell on Holland. Wrights job is to provide Holland with all the info he has, but its entirely possible Wright wanted someone else in 2015, and Holland took Svech instead, just as its possible Wright wanted someone else in 2014, and Holland took Larkin instead. Who knows.

Yikes....I think its safe to say that this draft class was a total bust. We obviously did the 2011 draft in 2016 (this thread), did we ever do the 2012 class in 2017 or the 2013 class in 2018? I'm almost sure we didn't do 2014 this year.