Richdg

Most likely yes. We can't trade him so the only option is to buy him out. This is the best year to do that. Anyone want to bet if that happens?

The overall talent between 8 and 16 is little if any. But the positional talent changes. There are already GM's being quoted saying "there are no future #1 Dmen in this draft". There are 3 guys that could be #2's and they will move quickly. That is why I hope we draft a F and trade for 1-2 Dmen.

Yes the risk is higher. If you look at most top 50 Dmen lists for the league, it is about a 50-50 split between 1st round picks and 2nd round picks.

IMHO the draft will be tied to what if anything we do in the trade market. Our 3 best trade pieces are: Nyquist, tatar, and Smith. If we move some/all of those guys for under 30 Dmen, then the need becomes forward. If we fail to make any trades then D remains the highest need. Just for a lineup sake lets say we move all three of those guys and add one of Faulk, Fowler, Trouba, or Shattenkirk. What does the BL look like? Dekeyser-Fowler/Faulk/Shattenkirk,Trouba Kronwall-Marchenko Ericsson-Green Oullett-Sproul That is better. If we buy out Ericsson (I doubt this happens) then move Oullett up into his spot on the 3rd pair. Or maybe we keep Smith for the 3rd pair and move one of the 3 young Dmen instead. Then you have this: Dekeyser-trade pickup Kronwall-Marchenko Smith-Green 2 of Oullett/Marchenko/Sproul Again better, more athletic, and cheaper. This can/will have some impact on the draft. Anyone we draft isn't goign to make the club for 2-4 years. We draft, they play their final junior season, then 1-3 years in GR.

No rules for UFA's. For RFA's there are some. As long as a term offers the minimum increase required-then it becomes a qualifying offer. Most of the rules cover if other teams offer your RFA's and what they have to pay to the current team. I am not aware of a max limit, just a minimum to protect your interests. But I am not a CBA guru or even a fan.......

Not 2016 related, but 2018. The younger Svechniokov signed to play junior hockey for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. So for those in west michigan head on over and check him out.

Greenway would be a good 3rd rd pick if we had one....... Going to college which gives us extra time on the development side.

Just some rising/failing stuff. Chychrun is falling. Might be out of the top 10. Brown is rising. Might be in the top 10. Bean is rising. Many now think he is firmly in the top 10. Bastian is falling. Mid second round now.

There is a big difference though. larkin has never played a full pro hockey season before this year. mantha has no played 2. That makes a huge difference.

To early to know if they are worse off or not. I would at first glance disagree with that. Getting Seabrook resigned is a much bigger deal and more important than keeping Sharpe was. But that is the Hawks and not the RW's. Now you did bring up an important point about money not being the issue for bringing in UFA's. Again at first glance that may be true. But we are not sure. We don't know one way or the other why UFA's are not coming-the big names that is. Are we going after the wrong guys? Are we not offering enough money? Is Holland not going at players 100%? This summer we should have 10+ million to spend on UFA's after we resign our RFA's. More if we move Howard and Ericsson's contracts either by trade or buyouts. Next year we could have another 15 million to spend. The question become how is it spent? Signing guys like Helm or KFQ ro do we land a star or 2? We will find out soon. If you go back a few pages, I gave Holland some praise for his cap management. We are in good shape overall and could be in great shape if we make some of the hard choices. That does not ensure that the top UFA's will come however.

Kliq, some things are set in stone, others are changing. Average size changes every year. The last 2 years the average weight in the NHL has been dropping. Must likely do to the enforcers disappearing. 5 years ago the average weight was about 210. The height continues to increase. As for the Sharpe thing that was the debate we all were having. Bowman made the choice of moving an aging player with declining production to free up cap to resign his core. Holland refuses to do that. He extends those players. This is part of why the RW's are in the position they are in. Yes if Howard can be moved without retaining part of his contract, do it. If E can be moved do it. If not he is the best buyout candidate. Next summer Kornwall's contract changes and he can be traded. 2018 Green's contract expires. Those are the smart moves that should be made the next 3 summers. Any bets on how many actually happen? 1 is my prediction and I hope I am wrong.

The PP as a whole was much better when he was on it. Doesn't matter if he is the one scoring the goals or not. Hype is always an issue. I have said many many times that prospects are just that until they do it. At some point in time they have to perform. Most reasonable fans understand that. Of course many of us become unreasonable........ That being said, Mantha has to make the team. Once on the team he needs to play and when he plays he has to perform. What would I consider a good rookie season for him? 18 goals and 35+ points. Anything above that is gravy. Anything below that then one can say he struggled. All of which is fair.

Because every source out there gives different stats. The average size of the NHL is listed at different sizes on evey different site. Most list a heavier weight than 201. That was one source. It also goes up/down every year. There is no set number. As for Sharpe I quoted what was up at the time. he went for 34 goals with the B hawks, then 16 goals, then 17-stats not updated yet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Sharp#Career_statistics The point remains that Sharpe is in major decline. His last 4 seasons were: 6 goals, 34 goals, 16 goals, got traded, then 20 goals. That is decline. Bowman was smart to move him and his large contract. Somehting Holland needs to do but will not.

I think you mean the 1 for 26 PP was the reason. 1 more goal scored per game and who knows where thing send up.

Yes the average size is most likely overstated. But even if it is the average size is still bigger than the listed/overstated size of Helm. 6-1/205 (overstated) is still bigger than Helm 6-0/195 (overstated). Which again means Helm is under the league average in size. . Now size in and of itself means nothing. Where it does mean something is in applying pain on the other teams D. If I am a defensemen playing vs the RW's who would I rather be checked by? Helm at 6-0/195 or Martin at 6-3/205? Martin is a much more physical player and larger player. Guys like him cause the other teams players to tire and get gun shy. That is what increases mistakes.

Yes. The no goals, no fights and declining wins hockey SUCKS!

Nope. But true. Please I am not attacking anyone personally, so don't take it that way.

More opinions: http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2016/4/29/11530408/ken-hollands-truck-stop-sushi-comments

Excuses.

There is nothing about the RW's that wasn't done intentionally by Holland. It's his GM, coach, players that he drafted, traded for, and signed as UFA's. Holland handed out everyone of our contracts. Its all intentional, if it wasn't then it would be what? Incompetence.

Got to love the old "if you can't refute the message attack the messenger tactic".

I didn't say Helm was a below average player, I said below average size. He is below average offensively which is why he belongs on a checking line and plays that role well. When it comes to listed sizes, this is true in all sports: teams lie. Always have. Guys are listed taller or heavier/thinner than they are. Same is true with speed as well. Football is famous for this. Guys in college are listed bigger than they are 95% of the time. Then they get to Indy and we see them shrink 2 inches and 20 pounds while driving over for the combine. Guys that are listed as having a 4.5 40 yard dash suddenly can't run any faster than 4.65.......

Yes. More than 1 however.....

That is what I said. The RW's the last 2 years-at ages 27-29 have magically increased Helms height. His entire career he has been listed at either 5-10 or 5-11. Now at an age long after men stop growing he is 6-0 ft tall. That is below average. As you just posted the average size of all players in the NHL is 6-1/205 pounds. So a guy at 6-0 or 5-11 or 5-10 is BELOW average size. Yes Average size changes yearly. But he is below average in size. Now back to the point. Helm is 29, 5-11 or 6-0 and a UFA. Most expect him to want over 3 million per year. This past season he had 115 hits. Is he a better option for the checking line than Martin? martin is 26, 6-3/205 and this past season had 365 hits. Chances are fair to good that he can be signed for less than 3 million per season. Add to the question our current inventory of checking F's-only Glendening shows any grit to date, and who fits better?

Who cares? Isn't that the point of this forum? To talk about the RW's and their players?