Richdg

Of course there are some UFA's outt here that would be interesting. I would not go after guys over 30 though. Here are some that I would go after: Stamkos 6-1/195 26 C The big fish this summer. Dream the dream...... Lucic 6-3/235 28 LH LW Yandle 6-1/195 LH D 30 Schenn 6-2/230 RH D-maybe, just a maybe..... Okposo 6-0/220 28 RH RW Martin 6-3/205 LH LW 27 That is about it. Unless you can get a guy like Backes for 3 years which I would do. But most of those guys are going to push for long term deals. Signing a 31 years old to a 6 or 7 year deal is a bad idea IMHO........

Yup. I think DD and trouba could be a great top pair for the next 10+ years.

none are ufa's, all would require Holland to make trades.

he is rfa and the rags have cap issues, which is why he might be available.

If we are being honest with ourselves we have 11 guys on next years roster that we either want or can't move: Larkin, Mantha, AA, DD and Mrasek are the wants while Z, Datsyuk, Abby, Kronwall, Eericsson, and Green are the guys that we can't do much about. Scvenhikov is a must hang onto guy but he needs some time in GR. Every other player on the roster, in GR, in Toledo, still overseas/in junior/college is possible trade bait. Now there are players RUMORED to be available that I would hope we are talking about. Here are some I would be after: Nicheshkin 6-4/215 LH RW 21 Krieder 6-3/230 LH LW 25 Rychel 6-1/215 LH LW 22 Drouin 6-0/190 LH C Fowler 6-1/205 LH D 24 Trouba 6-2/205 RH D 22 Hamonic 6-2/210 RH D 26 All are available and all should be pursued.

Yes we need to upgrade our D. The problem is we need to do it now, not 3-4 years from now. There isn't a Dman in this draft that is really ready to play in the NHL right now. We would be much further ahead to draft another F and then trade for a Dman. So take Gauthier in the 1st, a development Dman in the 2nd, and then trade tatar and/or Nyquist for a Dman or 2. No yes that would require Holland to stop kicking tires and do something, but we would be better off. We need good veteran Dman that have proven they can play. To many 1st round Dmen turn into Smith and Kindl.

Been a few months so time to update. Before I said we would pick between 14 and 22. As of today it is looking more 10 to 16th in each round. If we end up in the range Gauthier becomes a real possibility. A top line of Mantha-Larkin-Gauthier would be a GREAT top line down the road.

All hockey players are streaky, kind of the nature of the beast. Right now Mrazek is playing poorly. 3 of his last 6 games he has given up 5 goals or more. Just imagine if that was Howard....... This is why a team needs 2 good goalies and the talk by many of running Howard out of town is so silly. If there was another guy ready in the minors, then maybe. But that really isn't the case.

what real hockey looks like when played by real teams, here you go:

There are rumors-yes I know, that he may be available. The Stars are looking for upgrades on D. Nill and Holland have worked trades in the past. IF he is available this is a guy I go after hole heartedly. Guys like him are the future of the NHL. 6-4/210 with great speed and skill. He is still very young and learning how to play at the NHL level. He was in the same draft year as Mantha. If he was added to the mix we have a real talented group of F's: Larkin, AA, Mantha, Nichushkin, Svechnikov, to go along with Tatar, Nyquist, and Sheahan and maybe Frk and Pulk. Now Dallas wants D help for their playoff run. Ok we give them some. Start with Smith. Throw in KFQ and maybe a F prospect or 2 not named Mantha, Larkin, AA or Svechnikov. Point is we can make this happen. This gives Nichushkin over a year of playing with his idol Datsyuk to learn from.

We need those as well. This team is under .500 and not getting better overall. We need 3-5 high end players dded to this roster to become anything. That of course will take time. This might be a chance to add one of those 3-5 players. As I have mentioned before I like young skilled F's and veteran Dmen.

Dallas is 20th in goals against and 23rd in PK. We are 11th and 14th. Yes our D is better than theirs at playing D. Their D is better offensively than ours is. They are openly looking for guys that will improve their defense. That is why I said Smith, KFQ and helm. all 3 help them out defensively. Both teams take some degree of risk.

Simple, their talent hasn't been developed. That is on the coaching and GM for not getting their very talented young players the help they need. There are reasons why every league does a reverse order draft-to create parity. Yes there are guys that over perform their draft postions just as their are guys that become busts. But the law of averages evens all of that out.

There are only about 5 guys in the organization that we shouldn't move: larkin, mantha, Dekeyser, mrazek, and Svechnikov. Other than them I don't care who we move. That being said, guys like KFQ good stay at home Dmen are valuable this time of year. As average as our blueline corp has been, the Stars is much worse. Smith and KFQ would be an upgrade for them.

Dallas has plenty of cap space BTW so they can take on the 7 million for Smith and KFQ. Maybe a better offer for a team looking to make a PO run would be Smith, KFQ and Helm. Either way it can be done. GR not sure if you are serious or not. But Nichushkin was a top 10 draft pick in 2013. he made the Stars roster out of camp that year. That was to early and he has been rushed. He has great talent and works at it, just needs some more time for things to come together. He turns 21 March 4, so still very young.

This isn't a surprise and many of us have been talking about it for years. If you draft 20th every year in time you will have the 20th best talent. That is where we are heading. As of today we are 30-31. 30 wins, 20 loses and 11 OTL. We are sub .500. We lack F's that can plug up the crease and Dmen that can clear the crease. The worst part is Holland will not make trades. He has been on a plug and patch path for the last 5-6 years. Meanwhile we have lost HOF caliber players and not replaced them. Right now there are only 5 players in the entire organization that I wouldn't trade: Larkin, Dekeyser, Mrazek, Svechnikov (spelling) and Mantha. That is it. Everyone else could be moved in the right deal. Of course nothing will happen other than resigning more average players to long term deals instead of going after big fish.

of course we are here and love the wings. but what other teams do you like? I respect the other O6 teams, but I don't really like any of them. In fact hate most-history is a ***** sometimes. as for me, I grew up in the 70's. While the wings were bad I grew up following.... the Islanders. In fact Billy Smith was one of my favorite players. Would have loved to see how he would have handled Hommer in his crease! Of course it is really hard to say you like the Islanders the last 20 years or so...... Yikes! As for other teams, I do like the Yotes. Love watching Doan and Hanzel play and have a lot of respect for their coach. so, how about you all?

So you want us to tank the 2017/18 season so we can draft him? He will be a top 5 pick if present trends continue........

Tangradi is an average skater in an organization that wants great skaters. Seems like they forgot about Homer..... he plays the same type of game. Most of his goals have come from 15 ft or closer to the net on rebounds and deflects. Something the RW's need badly!

Another player that was signed by Holland that he can't give away. One of his biggest areas of mistakes.

He appears to be fine this morning. Hope he stays that way. as for the Griffins another win last night. Mantha and Tangradi both had 1 G and 1 A.

Now look at our potential roster in say 2020ish. Forwards: Larkin, AA, Sheahan, Nosek, Glendening, Turgeon, Pearson, Mantha, Svechnickov, Nyquist, tatar, Pulks, Jurco, gauither, McKee, Lil Bert, Nastasiak and Abby. That is a strong group of 18. Blueline: Dekeyser, marchenko, Oullett, Sproul, Smith, greenway, and Saarijarvi. A good group. Still need to add more. Goalies: Marezk, Paterson, and Van Pottelberghe. That overall is a very good group of future prospects overall. This of course does not include anyone from the 2017 and beyond drafts, of which a few will make this list. Nor are any UFA's or trades included. We do have a surplus of F's IF they all make it-which is unlikely.

Pass. At best Rychel will be Cleary before age and injuries caught up with him. He would have to improve to get to that point though......

It is a need vs. value thing. Yes adding another young Dman makes sense. But this draft is strong on F's and weak on Dmen. There isn't much of value in terms of Dman between 14 and 22. Yes someone could fall. Or we could trade up/down. But as of today based on what we know a F makes more sense. Now I personally prefer to draft for F's and trade for Dmen. Dmen take a long time to develop in general and you only have 3 years of waiver protection now. Most Dmen reach their peaks 26+ so let others draft/develop then trade for them.

Coaches can only play they players the are given. We still need some upgrades in the talent level. Until that happens we will continue to be a .500 team that finishes between 6th and 10th in the EC. Same as we have been for about 5 years now.