frankgrimes

Not only do the Wings not have superstars, they don't even have stars. Sure, Larkin has the potential to become a star but that's in the future. Asking him to play top 6 center was asking for too much too soon. Also there is no hindsight on the Nielsen contract, it was a bad contract the minute the ink to sign it touched the paper. This is nothing against Nielsen but he always was a second line center behind a superstar center named Tavares. You can ask a second line center to play first line center for a few games here and there due to injuries but acquiring someone and then asking him to play over his capabilities is just bad and stupd, there is no ******* way around that. Also being a realist doesn't mean that someone is a cynic if that were the guys, I guess wingitinmotown, insiders, experts and former players are all cynics. This team is a hot mess there is only 1 player who has the potential to become a star and that's Larkin, then you have a young inconsistent goalie, only one ******* 1! solid defenseman in Danny Dekeyser...plus Green, Kronwall with 2 bad knees, plus Smith and 2 third pairing prospects. Plus the team is near the cap with a roster, were 80 % wouldn't have made the 2002 team, yep that's just brilliant management. Funny thing is, people are calling Ott bad well the guy makes 800k and has been the best off-season edition which speaks volumes to the rest of the transactions and before people are mentioning Vanek let's wait what he can do when he comes back. I hope he continues to impress so someone would overpay for him. Also the Wings don't have to waive Ott they could just send him down and have + 800k in cap space and his experience, grittyness would be a valueable asset to the GR team. I really do feel bad for whoever the next GM of this team is going to be because he has to do a lot of house cleaning and as this team gets worse I think the chance of the captain being interested in that job dwindles.

Maybe seeing the McDavid show come to town will wake this ******* management up and they'll finally start doing what needs to be done, which is a full blown rebuild.

Wings don't have the cap space to bring Mantha up, so there is nothing Blashill can do

How times are changing. I seem to remember how happy some guys here were when Babcock moved on and some even claimed that it would be a seemless transistion and now not even 2 years later he is the scapegoat for failed longterm thinking? Maybe the grass isn't always greener, especially when you have to replace the best coach in hockey over just money! It shouldn't have mattered how much the Wings would have had to pay it, financially Mr. I could have easily matched Toronto's offer maybe not in years but in actual annual salary. So what if Babs would have made 10 million a year? But I also think Babs liked Toronto's vision under Shanahan better than the Wings treading water for a meaningless streak. Anyhow to those that think Blashill should be fired...ok then who is going to replace him? From all the available coaches Hartley would seem to be the best choice, fine...but then what? Wings missed out on bringing koala back or interview more than 1 coach for the job, which wouldn't have hurt. Would have been interesting to see how outsiders are viewing things here and there. Coaches can only work with what has been given to them by their GM and Holland hasn't given Blashill - or his successor - a roster with a lot of options. The defense is a joke it was before this season and it shows during the season, going into this season without trading for a defenseman was a huge mistake but that's not on Blashill. Oh man the guy can't even call up Mantha because this Wings edition is so close to the cap? That's not on Blashill, that's on Holland. I'm not saying Blashill is perfect, far from it, but like I said when the Wings hired him I'd wait 2 years and then see were things are headed. Keep in mind he has an inferior roster and is going up against coaches that have years, some even more than a decade worth of coaching knowledge this is not the AHL, it's the NHL. I too would like to see more TOI for AA, Larkin but the fact of the matter is neither has set the world on fire and oh well cutting Z's TOI should be a nobrainer if the Wings want to avoid him falling of a cliff come march. John Cooper (sadly) is the exception not the norm just another brilliant decision by the guy who should have been the GM since 2012. So expecting great results from a guy who doesn't have the horses for it and still has to learn the ropes of the NHL is a bit unfair.

oh well my Bad then but point stands both aren't available, for prices the Wings can afford to pay

This whole Trouba thing really seems to come down a.) Chevy getting his asking price or b.) no trade at all Gagne is on LTIR so the Ducks have enough space to keep their roster together till he comes back. The reality is simple: help needs to arrive via a very good draft pick position

will try thank you very much

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I don't always agree with you but in this case you are spot on. As always I think it is too early for predictions of any sort. A losing streak followed by a winning one rince repeat is the mojo of an average team , so I'm not surprised. Depending on which side will prevail the Wings might make or miss the playoffs´. The only problem with that is if it's past trade deadline there won't anyone to sell and the Wings wouldrun the risk of playing themselves out of a good pick. Looking at it this way makes watching games much less emotional attached and more enjoyable.

Next elite goalie with an elite defense in front of him will be a big test

yup, with Quick out the Kings have 1.54 cap space so the Jets would have to eat 50 percent of Pavelecs contract plus take a cap dumb back. They don't have much choice maybe even trade for Retto Berra.

No they aren't one is signed for too long and the other guy isn't a center nor a defenseman. Sure, if Vanek keeps this up he might net a nice return come the trade dead line but there is also the risk of Kenny resigning him.

The Kings are not looking at longterm contracts so there is no way they are going to take on Howard. He is better than the other options (Pavelec, Mason) but Howard is also signed for longer. Which is why guys like Howard, MAF or Miller will not be an option for LA.

We may differ in our approach how to fix that bad team longterm but in this case you are right. It's way too early to draw any conclusions, which is why I'm surprised to read headlines like the Canucks are the comeback kids, the Flames are in trouble and all that stuff. I think before the 20 game mark nobody should draw any conclusions and even then the bet somewhat can do is to point to some trends which is s till only a quarter of the season.

Happy for the guy and well deserved. But on a personal level it ******* sucks. Generalfanager was my go to site, it was easy to navigate, had a nice clean layout and a lot of great tools (like the expansion draft simulator). This season isn't even one week old, some good streaming sites are down, generalfanager is gone and the games have been mostly boring so far what a ******* great start..

Here's a good article (probably one of the best), on how to fix that defense http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2016/10/17/13298806/despite-performance-red-wings-should-consider-moderate-selling-with-trades TLDR: - expose Green to the expansion draft (no brainer) and don't use the cap space if nobody that really helps in the long run is available - get something for Smith at the trade dead line - sell of guys on 1 year contracts and the trade dead line Personally I would add LTIR Kronwall starting next season.

looks cool thanks for posting that

Trouba doesn't have a contract so teams can't even offer sheet him. it really sucks he wants out but can't

Um ok then damn that's a good contract. hopefully one of the Jets or Ducks get desperate

so the Ducks don't want any salary back but they also don't want to pay Lindholm...The Jets' asking price is sky high....maybe look at buffalo and Ristlainen?

show them the standings and let's see if this team has any heart on them

Yah I'm going to laugh about that ******* irony forever... Unless the Jets are coming off their stance of being hell bent on getting a top 4 defenseman back that deal is almost impossible for the wings to pull of. If you trade Larkin than the Wings have a hole at Center, trade DD and nobody to pair with Trouba. I'd trade Mrazek in a heartbeat but the Jets don't need him they have Halleybuck. That's why I think a trade with the ducks should be easier to pull of, not that I won't require a very good piece coming their way but... And before people keep thinking Trouba, Fowler would fix everything obviously not but they would be a good start to further built around a new core

Like I said I'm not putting the kid down it's just his name is too complicated just like AAs real name is. I think the Ott contract was the best signing he provides some grit, is cheap and his caphit can even disappear by sending him down. I'm just stating that there are no quick fixes and that doesn't fall on Blashill it falls on Holland. He constructed this roster which is very close to the cap and has major flaws sure Tampa and the Panthers will more than others expose them but the reality is..this team is overmatched against every team that has a top defensive pairing and a number one center. People think Ottawa will be an easier opponent well they don't have a number one center but their top 4 pairing is very good, so it's not going to be much easier. I would love a quick fix as much as everybody but look around the League it's not going to happen because nobody is trading studs without expecting studs back, that's why good draft picks are becoming more and more valuable.

whatever his name is also I didn't put him down. I just don't know his name usually I call guys whose name is too complicated just Apu. Also Mr. Super fan I am more than over it. But it will backfire especially with this defense and every potential help costing a lot!

there are no quick fixes. Trouba is going to cost Larkin plus or Danny D. plus which is very telling on how all the other players are viewed by other GMs. Also if Holland isn't even willing to offer AA plus for Fowler Wings won't get him either because others will offer a better package. Oh how handy a guy like Chychrun would have been now but no rather trade him for Clownski and use the space for another patchwork fix on July 1. it's not really rocket science either put in a competitive offer for Fowler or pray that the Jets bomb and Cheveldayoff will lower his asking price which would still be high...or else play out this season with this defensive core and finally sell at the trade dead line to get even more picks. there is no other option, period. The Toronto Maple Leafs learned it the hard way but they learned it. I mean look around the league trades are at a premium and we've seen how much defensive studs cost..either another stud or a top 4 nhl widewinger. Quantity for quality just doesn't work anymore