Fonzarelli

Hronek is an undersized offensive Dman from Czech. Best case scenario: Rafalski/Krug type.
Smith is big physical shop wrecker. Best case scenario: top 6 powerfoward. Worst case scenario: bottom 6 grinder

What about Em-Dog? 
Ahh I miss TheAxe/Bill Berzeench. It's a good  thing he's still around with his sock account. 

Neither one no way I want to not make play off for 8 years I hate to miss one it got to be some where in the middle a couple years to miss playoffs we can handle as long as it gives us a shot at the cup. The wings in the past has been able to rebuild on the run but that's with great coaching I'm not sure we in that position right now Blashhill a good coach just not great at least yet

This team does lack top-end talent -- but I don't think that fully accounts for this season's struggles. I think the Wings are compounding the talent problem by playing a stupid brand of hockey that 1) is inherently self-defeating and 2) doesn't suit the given personnel (making it that much more self-defeating, in this case).

We have very skilled players in Zetterberg, Nyquist, Tatar, Larkin, Mantha, Athanasiou, Nielsen, Vanek, Jurco, Green...but Blashill clearly believes dump-and-chase is the way to go. We have a very suspect D group that has mobility issues and is prone to mental lapses in the d-zone...but Blashill clearly believes the most passive collapse defense ever employed by an NHL team is the way to go. We're dangerous on the rush, but the players are being conditioned to "just gain the red line with possession so you can dump the puck in, because we want to get to our skating game and be hard and fast on the forecheck."

I'm not saying the players themselves don't have to be better. I'm not saying our passing game has gone to hell because of the coaching staff and the coaching staff alone. (No team struggles with routine passes like this Wings team does.) But I feel like when you de-emphasize a team's fundamental strengths and coach the team to play like a team of scrubs, it shouldn't be a surprise when the team performs like a team of scrubs.

The Pens absolutely throttled the Wings last night. While, yes, there's a talent gap, there's also a systems/philosophy gap. When Mike Sullivan took over for Mike Johnston last season, he inherited a team that had been, essentially, neutered. Johnston was all about defending, winning games 2-1, playing "safe" and "responsible" hockey. Crosby wasn't scoring. No one was scoring. Sullivan said f*** that and flipped the script. He got the team to play a brand of hockey that puts the power in the players' hands, gives them greater control of their own fate.

The Penguins under Sullivan play an aggressive, possession-centric game that's designed to overpower the other team. They own the puck. It's incredibly difficult to put and keep them on the defensive for more than a moment or two at a time. They believe the best defense is a good offense. The more you have the puck, the more the other team has to defend. The more the other team has to defend, the less you have to defend. The less you have to defend, the better.

None of which is true of this Wings team (or, more accurately, the Wings' coaching staff. Or just Jeff Blashill.) The Wings are content to let the other team -- any and every team -- dictate the terms of the game. The Wings are content to withstand, endure, play without the puck and hope for the best. The Wings willingly give the opposition all kinds of time and space in the Wings' zone. The Wings are all-too-happy to dump (or pass-tip) the puck into the o-zone and get the opposition's breakout started for them. The Wings play self-defeating hockey. And it's killing them.

I honestly don't think Mantha or Athanasiou will ever play another game in the AHL. They have both slapped Blashill in the face, and made it evidently clear that not only have they made this team, they make this team much better... As much as Blashill makes some boneheaded personnel decisions, I think he would easily scratch a handful of players before Mantha or AA.
I don't think anyone would be opposed to trading Nyquist or Tatar in a package to improve this team (upgrade the defense). However, we shouldn't just give them away, which is what it looked like from the OP.

I was really hoping to land Trouba in the offseason, or Hamilton by now, but like has been mentioned, these types of players are very difficult to acquire via trade. In order to pull off such a trade, we would have to give up Larkin / Mantha ++, and that would likely be a lateral move at best.
I agree that the best option in today's NHL is through drafting / developing, and unfortunately I don't think we have anything close to a true number one in the system right now. In hindsight, I really wish we hadn't made that Datsyuk / Chychrun trade, but what's done is done. Hopefully Cholowski really takes a few huge steps over the next few years and becomes something special. From everything I hear about the kid, he thinks the game at an elite level, so if his skill set develops, he could become a top pair guy, just not sure about a legit number one...
I think Holland should be looking to trade off some assets at the deadline, and do whatever he can to go into the '17 draft with a couple firsts and a couple seconds, take at least three defensemen, and hope to strike gold with one of them...

No offense or anything but I think I honestly might have seen the worst line combo in these forums in a long, long time. 
Sheahan on the 2nd line is lol
Jurco over Nyquist or Tatar is um what?
The 2nd line and 3rd line centers are like 40-45% on faceoffs probably the worst in the league. Nielsen is at best a 2nd line center. Zetterberg proved in the 25 games so far that he's still better, plain and simple. Even at his older age. 
Unless these are line combos for tanking without being too obvious about it to the league. Then I can see the strategy behind all this. 

Another thread about fantasy lines

Ill disagree with the Wings having a ton secondary talent. Two years ago you could qualify Tatar and Nyquist as secondary talent guys. Now that neither can replicate those numbers so they are not secondary guys. Forgetting about the defense for a bit since we all know how badly they rate. The Wings have no forward in the top 50 NHL scorers and are in the bottom 3rd in team scoring. For me you have your "elite" players which is usually the top 20 and after that you have your true secondary talent. The team is full of 3rd and 4th line guys with a couple fringe/decent 2nd line players and then youth. Youth with potential no doubt but not anywhere near proven secondary talent. Sure Larkin looked like he could be a true top line player but that was mostly first half of last year Larkin. He hit the rookie wall and hasnt been able to get a resurgence in his play since. Nielsen has been playing better recently and is probably the closest thing the Wings have to a true secondary player. Vanek has been good but how much of that is contract year boost? To put it simply this team has no true top line NHL players and very little NHL secondary talent. The only position the WIngs have above average NHL talent is in goal.

I dont even think this is true, we are just missing a top pairing. Throw say Keith/Seabrook on this team, then our second pairing is DD/Green, third pairing Sproul/Smith and I think we have a damn good d. Everyone is playing a pairing higher then they should.

I'm sure some will post because of a lack of talent, but I dont buy that. While we may not have any elite players anymore, we still have a ton of secondary talent on this team. Its not like non elite players are not capable of having chemistry. Plenty of 2nd and 3rd lines in the NHL are capable of having a good passing game.
The first thing that strikes me is that we seem to change up the lines every game, or every other game. Look at the chemistry Z and Mantha have formed, it wasn't like that game 1. You need to let these guys play together and practice together for more then 1 or 2 games.
The only other thing I can think of is coaching. If players are being coached incorrectly and given poor direction, this is what happens. 

Nice :/

Exactly, it'll take strategic trades and cutting ties with players.  You have to make a deal for 1 or 2 top defenders.  DD seems to be struggling in the top 2.  You have to keep your young assets here permanently.  Larkin, AA, Mantha, Bert, Svech. and I'm liking what I hear about Givani Smith (although he may be still a tad young.)
You have to choose a goalie and go with him, thick and thin.  Mrazek is supposed to be the future, so roll with him.
Some how, some way, if possible,  cut ties with Kronwall, Ericsson, Glenny, Miller, (one of) Tatar/Nyquist, possibly B. Smith (in acquiring your top D) Howard, and possibly Sheahan.  That's a ton to get rid of and I'm not saying do it all now. Plus, I know, acquiring top end D with cost some young prospects(s.) If this is the case, so be it. I'd be ok with trading some if it gets us some players like the D we've mentioned all season long. Of course if you could just dump those guy for picks, to waivers or to retirement, then it opens up cap and spots to bring up the kids.
IMO, if all we can get is Fowler this year, that is fine.  Maybe if we clean some house, we might be able to attract Shatty to the mix via UFA.  We are probably stuck with E (unless he goes via expansion) and IMO, we can let Smith walk come July. Kronner will be LTIR sooner or later, we won't have to worry about him. You can let Miller walk, trade Glenny and one of Tats/Nyq. and most definitely Howard. That'll open up room for Fowler's salary and I believe enough to try to entice Shatty here. If we're opening up LCA with a D Corps like this:
Fowler - Shatty
DD - Sproul
Ericsson - Green
Marchy
....I think we're looking pretty good. If you have to include Marchy in deal and keep XO, that's cool too. I'd keep XO.
Now if you're replacing Glenny, Miller, Tatar with AA, Bert, Svech you have the makings of a nice kid core, with some vets to help pave the way. And yes, I am re-signing Vanek and Ott.
So here would be my lineup in order to move forward starting in 17.
Z - Larkin - Vanek
Svech - Nielsen - Nyquist
Bert - AA - Abby
Jurco - Helm - Ott
Tangradi (or who ever earns the 13th and 14th spots)
Fowler - Shatty
DD - Sproul
Ericsson - Green
XO
Mrazek
Coreau
 
Too much to ask for I know, but this could start the rebuild on the fly, and I think we'd still make the playoffs.
The most important thing(s) to do, Trade for Fowler this season, clear enough cap space to re-sign Vanek and offer Shatty a bunch. Those, along with allowing Miller and Smith to move on, we'd be much better. For the record, over the course of this season and before next I trade Mantha, Marchy, Tatar, Howard, Sheahan and Glenny. I betting on Kronwall being LTIR before too long. But.....Holland. Nuff said.
I didn't like the contracts, but I do have both on my team moving forward with the rebuild...

The thing is, with the stockpiling of talent Holland has done over the last few years, this team could be a lottery team for 1 or 2years and be right back in the hunt. The depth is there, talent is there, we just lack that elite talent. Draft one or two guys in the top 10 (or even top 5), and the assets are there to make the moved needed to fix the defense. 
To sum things up, I'd be fully on board seeing the team suck for a shot at Nolan Patrick. If the streak ended in any of the last few years, I'd have been heartbroken. This season I just feel ready for it. As a fan, I am within a window where I am prepared for a basement season and a clean slate. This is because the alternative is to keep the streak going and be stuck in mediocrity for a bunch more years. 

Add Jurco to the list of players having an impact at the tournament. I sure hope our coach learns how to finally utilize these guys next season...

I blame Pat Ferschweiler for the loss. And Ken Holland, indirectly, for not firing Pat Ferschweiler long ago when he proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he sucks terribly large buffalo testicles at his job.

If they score on this, Ericsson would've played his last game as a red wing if this were my team.
And just like tgat, E is ******* DONE!

Seriously, can we just get rid of Ericsson now, please?

Saw the replay. No penalty except on Bishop.

You it's, for the first time in the series, goes to the net and gets a penalty. How appropriate.

Well, they'll only need to Zamboni the Wings' end of the ice next intermission.

careful here, boys
refs will be looking to give them their own 5-on-3

We need to simplify the powerplay. Put two players on the point. Do lots of one-timers. Put a man in front to screen the goalie. Stop trying to make the fancy play. Don't wait until the goalie and shot blockers are set before shooting.

I don't think there can be any doubt that whoever is coaching the PP needs to be relieved of their position...jesus...

Hopefully the wings don't turtle because they have a 2 goal lead. For sure AA has to play more but you know that won't happen. That is one of the reasons I detest Blashill. He refuses to believe, even though he sees what AA has done. He has the same stubborn streak as Babcock.