frankgrimes

Kronwall has too bad knees, Z a bad back I highly doubt you can fake that. Even if they did kudos to then safe your energy for the regular season instead of a gimmick tournament. Can't believe Trouba and Gaudreaus are playing.

All I'm hoping for is that no one gets hurt and Larkin saves his energy for the regular season. But we all know someone will get seriously hurt and his team, fans won't be happy.

But it's so easy to look at the boxscore.... Honestly I fully agree with you, points especially for a defenseman aren't telling the whole story. Trouba is still very young and he would be a great addition to the team. The elite guys aren't available and even if they were the Wings don't have guys like Johanson, Subban, Weber to trade in order to pull of blockbusters like that so it's a moot point anyway. Nobody knows if Trouba can become that number 1 defensive horse the Wings so desperately need but the guy is already a top 4 defenseman and even Chara took a few years (into his late 20s) to come into his own. People are always saying Trouba, Fowler aren't elite yes they aren't but still better than anyone not named Danny Dekeyser and you gotta pay for that. I think Holland would be capable of pulling a trade of but is he willing? I highly doubt it. Nurse would be another guy of interest, maybe he becomes unhappy in Edmonton and he's an RFA after this year, big highly skilled and he stands up for his teammates.

I think Trouba signs a bridge deal and then gets out of Winnipeg after the end of it. But man his agent is nutts no way Trouba should be playing in the world cup of hockey.

Nope, it doesn't like I said it's just apathy. Would I have loved Trouba, Fowler on the team? For sure but after saying something and then doing the exact opposite on July 1 I knew it would be a long summer and upcoming season. Ok so Holland knows that Trouba won't sign do you think he is the only one after him if he really does want out? All Cheveldayof has to do is make it public and then you have a bidding war. Whatever the holdup is I think Winnipeg will regret it, if they lose this guy.

No matter how often you claim it would, I highly highly doubt it. Mantha - doesn't make their top 6 because they are so stacked XO - third pairing defenseman ==> no interest for Winnipeg 3 rd pick - doesn't help them at all first 1 round pick - only piece of interest and since the Jets don't know exactly which position that would be they might have some interest but man this is going to best pick in 25 years, could be a top 10 maybe even top 5 pick. Laine made the whole trading for Trouba situation much more complicated as much as I would love to have him on this team, Fowler seems to be a bit more realistic at this point. I'm with you, it's just apathy there is no clear direction, no stars left, a pussysoft team that doesn't hit, fit or even block shots... the only hope would be Larkin continuing his insane development path and hopefully a top 10 pick. It's really sad this once so proud franchise is held back by a meaningless streak and a GM who is happy to just make the playoffs, instead of building a real Stanley Cup contender...wouldn't surprise if that played into Babcock's decision to leave too. But the guy I really feel sorry for is Blashill, his second season and no number 1 center, no number 1 defenseman on the team even if the Wings end up as a bottom 5 team I wouldn't blame him because coaching this team into anything even near a playoff spot would be a miracle.

Put yourself into Winnipeg's situation: they are loaded upfront and really don't need any help. Cheveldayof knows exactly how desperate the Wings - and others teams are - to get that top 4 defenseman, which Trouba obviously is. So of course the price goes up, a quality for quantity trade doesn't work under such circumstances. MAYBE if the discussion break of and Overhardt makes it known that his client wants out...then the price could drop. At the end it doesn't really matter it's getting closer to the start of the season and the Wings need defensive help, so Holland has to work his butt of to make it happen, simply as that.

yeah that's the problem thanks to Winnipeg winning the lottery with Lainerealistically it would take Larkin plus which means fixing a hole to create another one. Mantha wouldn't have a chance to make their top 6 because they are so loaded. XO/Sproul is me ....The first rounder could turn out to be a top 10 pick (one can at least hope). Toronto, Columbus, New Jersey, Vancouver, Hurricanes and Arizona are Cleary worse for now...so this pick could be the best one in years.

simple: offense wins games, defense championships. Wings biggest need is defense and Fowler, Trouba are the closest running for immediate help. Still young enough to be in their prime when this team finally has some top picks on the roster. No, they aren't elite but the point is elite guys like Ekblad are drafted and not available. Tatar, Nyquist do have the most value of all forwards who aren't prospects but yeah wings need to add if they want Trouba or Fowler. Especially Trouba is hard because the Jets are stacked at the forward position so other than Larkin I highly doubt Cheveldayoff will be interested in anything the Wings can trade for him.

For sure it would, especially for Trouba

if Trouba gets moved, there will be a bidding war for the guy. Same with Fowler he may cost a bit less but there is no way a one for one trade like Fowler for Nyquist, Tatar is going to happen. Wings will have to throw in something valuable maybe AA. If Kronwall can't go then yeah that defense is even worse and Holland can't be stubborn enough to go into the season with this defense

we will see but it doesn't really matter with that defense in front of them

The boys from Illegal Curve speculated that Trouba is looking for 56 million and more playtime. To me that means 8 years 7 per..which is a very real for a guy with all the talent in the world The elite guys simply aren't available and even if they were looking at the pieces the wings wouldn't have the pieces. It's not that Tatar and Nyquist are bad players far from it but they are also the best established forward assets that the Wings have. I don't think either one returns Fowler but if you add another solid prospect plus a pick maybe that gets Murray's attention. This is not a defense who's gm can afford to wait for better prices, if the Wings go into the season without Kronwall than that's even a bigger problem. I'm more than sure Trouba would cost Larkin plus, which would mean fix the defense but have another hole at center.Whether that's worth it or not is up for debate But something needs to happen and time is running out. I think people have to get rid of the hometown discount idea..It's not a players job to manage the cap that's the job of the GM and the cap magicians

speak for yourself I do, first because most goalies out a lot of thought into their mask design and second if Mrazek plays like he did after the ASG Howard will have to play in more often than not

I've constantly said Larkin is the closest thing the Wings have to become a number 1 center. If not overhyping him is being pessimistic so be it. Never ever did I claim to be an expert but I know what type of players I prefer and if I want to look deeper in it, where to find their goals, assists and whatever. Well it's not my fault that Holland decided to trade Chychrun away, he would have instantly been the best defensive prospect the Wings have and something that would have been much needed. Just watch him develop and you will see why I believe the Wings made a mistake trading the pick, as did a lot of other teams by not taking him. Saying that someone is not at the same level, doesn't mean I'm pessimistic it means I'm looking at things rationally. Eichel as great as he is isn't on McDavid level (that guy is just ridiculous), does that mean that Eichel is bad? Heck no, same goes for Larkin there is no shame in maybe not becoming as good as Eichel. Mrazek played one heck of a first half but then really fall of. I'm not going to hype any young goaltender as the next Vezina winner or whatever ridiculous expectations some people are having. And like I've already said I HOPE you are right and Larkin becomes as good as Eichel that would be awesome but I think expecting it is setting yourself up for disappointment, this season will be very telling...I just hope the Wings continue to let him develop at a slow pace instead of making him the number 1 center alredy. If people think Mrazek might be a Vezina winner in the making fine, I think they are setting themselves up for dissapointment. As far as liking players: well did I ever say a bad word about Dekeyser? I'm one of the few people who thought he has been our best defenseman and yet he gets blamed for not being offensive enough...

No, what I've said is that I take the guy who scores. I don't care if it's related to any advanced stats or not, it's just a simple eyetest thing. Really? I was one of the few guys around pissed of that the Wings traded Chychrun for a (small) chance to make a pitch for Stamkos and what happened? They didn't even get a meeting with him, looks like the *** streak didn't wow him enough. So tell me what you rather have Chychrun or that Cholowski kid or whatever his name is? Keep in mind Chychrun fall because of a shoulder injury but has a ton of potential. If you think Toews is overrated fine, I'd take him over everyone not named Crosby, Stamkos. Like I've said before if you believe Eichel and Larkin are close...go ahead and make that proposal on the Saberes board and see how that works out. There are lot of players who I believe are overhyped, one would be Austin Matthews he will be a very good player but I also don't think he is McDavid or Eichel good. btw. if Larkin proves me wrong that would be fantastic but I shouldn't have to remind anyone on the ridiculous expectations some people had for Tatar and Nyquist and when people told them to slow down...they've talked about it's better to be optimistic than realistic. How did that work out? I'm for one really happy that both have become solid top 6 guys and trade chips a certain GM should use.

Eichel has the size and skill to become a poor mans version of Mario Lemieux. I don't give a rats ass about how many shots or what shooting percentage a player has. If someone doesn't shoot a lot but scores almost everytime I take that over someone, who shoots a lot but doesn't score. Also I'm not looking down on the analytics I'm just not interested in this stuff. Goals, Assists, Save % for goalies, PIM, Hits and blocked shots are more than enough for me. There is somethiing called watching a game...I don't have to follow anyone but yeah I take the opnion of experts over lot of others. If you think Eichel and Larkin are at the same level go to a Buffalo board and make a proposal and let's see how that turns out. The hype for Larkin almost reminds me on the Nyquist hype were people believed the guy could score 40 goals or him and Tatar might become the next euro twins *lol* I'd rather be realistic and expect things he can accomplish instead of dreaming and then be disappointed because he "only" turned out to be a solid number 1 center.

Larkin has a lot of potential but I don't think he'll ever be a McDavid or Eichel type level which is fine, if Larkin can become a number 1 center who is solid that would be fantastic. Mrazek still hasn't shown the consistency to be labeled a great starting goalie. Mantha should've gotten the chance to play in the olayoffs he for sure has the potential to become better than Goose and Tatar..his shot is deadly and he has great size. Defense is Dekeyser and then nothing AA has played 20 games so let's be slow with expectations , I think he will become one of the best 3 line centers in the game but top 6 is pushing it.

The defense for Sweden is sick: Hedman, OEL, Karlsson but when you look at Canada Weber, Doughty, Pietrangelo, Keith it's so hard to pick between those 2. But I doubt the players will take this thing seriously.

Maybe not but still and improvement and something to build around for the future.

You gott a give to get in the real world (you know outside of excel, json files, nerd findings....), you gotta give to get. Fowler may not be a number 1 defenseman but with the exception of Danny Dekeyser he is better than everything the Wings have. The Wings aren't loaded on the offensive side but still much better than the defensive side of their game. But that mentality is exactly the rason why the Wings are where they ******* are, Holland wants a peace that can help on the defense...(every team does) so the prices are high and his low ball "hockeydeals" aren't going to cut it, period. Want Trouba? Be ready to pay up and I would pay everything to get that guy. Want Fowler? It's going to cost Nyquist, Tatar + a midround pick People that actually watch hockey know that those guys are good players and still young enough to become very good players especially Trouba, plus he's also a Michigan boy which helps creating an identification with the team.

oh thank you

Glad for him hopes he has a monster season and SKA Moskau wins the KHL league.

Roy being Roy, I think he needs to learn how to implement a defensive structure you can't just outscore your defensive shortcomings. Also he nedds to adopt more of a top 6 bottom 6 approach, you can't have a top 9 bottom 3 if you compete in the west, because teams like St. Louis, Kings and Ducks will push you around. Just wait till Therrien gets the boot Roy will be the next coach of the Habs, I'm willing to bet money on that.

Untouchable in my mind = huge overpayment needed, everyone can be traded the best player ever was traded 25 years ago. There is no elite defenseman available, Weber was traded for Subban the Wings don't have the pieces to pull of something like that. Depending on the plus I would consider trading larkin for Trouba because teams are built from the backend, although this team would then have to look for a potential number 1 center, so it's tough. If Trouba wants out which I doubt, Holland has to be the first to inquire about him, good ol' Michigan boy, good size and the potential to become a number 1 defenseman.