kliq

I was looking at the first round of this draft and overall it seems like a pretty weak draft class. If my memory serves me right, I think Nudge, Landeskog, and Larrson are the 3 biggest names to come from it.

Well, yes and no. Nobody wants Howard at his current cap hit. If Jimmy was a UFA right now, he would have plenty of teams interested. The nice thing is the closer to the last year of his contract we get, the higher the likelihood of us trading him (long as he doesn't regress big time which is possible).

Probably not a bad idea, but my gut tells me that Zetterberg wouldn't go for it. Pro athletes (especially one's wearing the C) do not want to be coddled.

There is no way you can say that with even close to 100% certainty. In 2002, round 1, you take away Lidstrom's half ice goal against Cloutier, we possibly dont get out of the first round. Round 3 against Colorado down 3-2, take away our #1 Norris caliber d-man, and there is a very good chance we don't pull it off and shut them out in game 6. Not to mention, the guy won the Conn Smythe. Take away the Conn Smyth winner from any Stanley Cup winning team, and the argument can be made that they wouldn't have won.

In hockey, I believe this is a very flawed argument. You can say this about pretty much everyone. Without Fedorov/Lidstrom, Yzerman likely doesn't win a cup, without Yzerman/Fedorov & then Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Osgood, Lidstrom doesnt win a cup. No NHL player can win a cup by themselves. As far as Zetterberg goes, in 2008 the guy did win the Conn Smythe, and I believe set some Red Wings records. Not sure what else you could have asked of him in that run.

I think this is probably a spot on assessment of the two. Hopefully they limit Z's minutes early to prevent this.

Better. Pros: 1) 1 Year ago we didn't even have Datsyuk, he was recovering from a surgery and Neilsen is better then an injured and or not playing Datsyuk. 2) Vanek in 2016 is better then Richards in 2015. 3) Blashill has now had 1 year to coach in the NHL, logic would dictate that he will be better prepared in 2016 then 2015. 4) Every player that struggled/regressed with the new system should be better this year (Abby, Helm, Tatar, Nyquist, Sheahan, Jurco, etc.) 5) Larkin, AA, Mantha should all keep getting better. 6) Mrazek should keep growing as a goaltender 7) Better Assistant Coaches Cons: 1) Zetterberg/Kronwall are definitely wild cards, will they come in healthier and put up better season, or will they continue their regression. Odds are regression. 2) E should just keep getting worse 3) Datsyuk is Gone. He did show up in some games and give us the Datsyuk of old, we will never get that again.The high scoring Boston game comes to mind.

Its funny, WIngs fans are crying about us not getting Martin, Leafs fans are crying about getting Martin. A GM just can't win with everyone.

How long of a flight if he has the ability to take a private jet?

Ya you're right, my bad.

If I had to guess, I would say all 4 eventually go up there.

At the end of the day though, isn't results what matter? I would take a guy with physical limitations that is the best player year after year, then a guy who has elite skill, but doesn't execute to the same level of a Lidstrom? Otherwise you could argue Kovalev is one of the greatest of all time.

In alot of cases this may be accurate, but in this situation IMO this way of thinking is too simplistic. In the case of Fedorov, people that have to "discuss it" are people who are using emotion to cloud their judgement. Had Fedorov had his career cut short in 2003 due to injury and not leaving to Anaheim, I think he would be in the same category as Lidstrom & Yzerman. Here are my thoughts: I've come around on Fedorov. The guy is one of the greatest to ever wear the Winged Wheel, and he should be up there with LIdstrom/Yzerman. Datsyuk IMO was a very special player, one that not many people have the same skill set as. Based on that alone, and based on how good he was a as two way player at his peak, I would say yes. He may not have the point totals, but imagine if his body didnt let him down, and imagine if he played in a different era where there was more scoring. Z - How can you say no to him and Yes to Datsyuk. Osgood - At this point no, but I see the argument as he accomplished ALOT and if he gets into the HHOF, that could alter my opinion.

To say you would be upset or happy with Holland for getting rid of any player is impossible to assess without more info. For example: If Holland traded Larkin for McDavid, I would be fine with it. (Yes, I realize this would never happen). If Holland traded Larkin for Shattenkirk I would be pissed. Point is, I cant say I would be happy or upset if Holland got rid of Larkin or anyone for that matter as it all depends on the return.

I'm not going to engage in Bill like arguments. Not worth my time to argue with a troll or a 12 year old.

Off the top of my head: 1) Howe 2) Lidstrom 3) Yzerman 4) Sawchuck 5) Fedorov

This is getting to Bill like for me to continue debating. I will just say this, when I said that I dont like it when people are blind by legend, I was referring to instances when people say things like "Datsyuk is nowhere near the player Abel was". When you are talking Gordie Howe, and you call is 6 hart trophies and utter domination of an era "stupid s***" and "trivial garbage" either you are trolling, or just not intelligent enough to understand.

Agreed. His ridiculous argument is using logic that would apply to a skills competition. I've said it before, you have to compare players to those who played in their era because if you dont the opinion will be bias and sound stupid which is what it sounds like putting Zetterberg above Howe.

6 teams has little to do with it, if anything with there only being 6 teams it was just that much harder to make an NHL team with so little opportunity and spots being available. If you are trying to make that argument you should be bringing up the fact that now a days to be an elite player is harder because back then non North American players were not in the league, but you are still talking the best players in North America. You think if the NHL lost 24 teams right now, Crosby/Ovie would be out of a job or stop dominating lol. It would be guys like Abby and Helm that would be effected. Elite will be elite regardless of how many teams/players. Maybe if you are talking guys like Abel and comparing them to a guy like Zetterberg I would see your point to a degree, but not even including Howe in your top 5 just shows me a complete disrespect of an entire era. I hate it when people put players of that era on a pedestal being blinded by their "legend", but I also hate it when people completely dismiss players from that era being blinded by ignorance.

Can you please explain your criteria? I would love to know how in your mind Zetterberg was a better player then Howe, when Howe won the hart trophy 6 times, led the league in scoring 6 times, and led the league in goals 5 times. All thing Zetterberg never came close to doing. When comparing players of a different era, who have to assess them based on their play within their era. With that being said, I dont see how there is any argument that Zetterberg is a better player then Howe. I would bet money that even Zetterberg himself would laugh in your face if you told him that. The only player on that list that even has an argument is Lidstrom because like Howe he dominated his position in his era. Fedorov, Yzerman, Datsyuk, and Zetterberg never came close to doing what Howe did.

Again, time and place. Substance is not the point.

When you post that in a memorial thread right after he died, its trolling and in ridiculously poor taste. If that is a topic you legitimately want to discuss, you start a thread called "who is the greatest Red Wing of all time".

People need to remember, we need to put 3 guys in the press box each night to essentially be backups to out lineup. With no more Andersson and some trades likely coming this opens up some spots. This is where I believe Ott and Miller will be on opening night baring any injuries.

Isnt this the same write that wrote about the "Swedish Mafia" lol. The article reads as if it was written by a 14 year old.

Kind of cool to see Ott on the Wings. I remember back when he played for the Spits he scored 50 goals and at the time it was a pretty big thing.