Richdg

With the Preds taking Jones, that means he is a UFA in about 8 years. Let him develop then come to Detroit! LOL

You know that is opinion. Nothing more. Same with any prospect. Any one of them can make it and any one of them can fail.

Some here know it and see it. Others don't believe it is an issue. The last time we drafted a big forward that turned into a star was..... Primeau.

Much of the question comes from the question: is Ericsson a #2 or better Dman? I don't think so. Everyone throughout the league considers Stuart a #3. Is Ericsson any better a dman than Stuart? No. So then the question becomes, is a 3/4 worth 5 million per year? No. Now the money is a guess. maybe E is willing to sign a long term deal for 4-4.5 million. But that is still a bunch of money for a second pair guy.

He was always going to go earlier than 18th. Most have him 13th or so. But he doesn't fit our needs as I predicted and now there is confirmation. Forwards and big ones is the goal.

Interesting: In terms of Sunday's draft and the Wings' picks, it appears that the Wings are quite happy with the 18th pick in the 1st round (they will pick 48th and then 79th, 109th, 139th, 169th and 199th), and, somewhat surprisingly, Wings director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell suggested that the Wings will probably draft a forward as opposed to Ye Olde Beste Player Available while speaking with the Windsor Star's Bob Duff... “We’d really like to get a forward, unless there’s a defenceman that’s too good to pass up,” Wings head scout Joe McDonnell said of the team’s likely plan when they make their first-round pick at No. 18 overall in Sunday’s draft at New Jersey’s Prudential Center. “When it comes to our pick, if we feel there’s two players that are even we’ll lean toward the forward. We have a lot of good, young defencemen – (Ryan) Sproul, (Xavier) Ouellett, (Brian) Lashoff, (Mattias) Backman. We think we have a number of good ones. If we can add a little size up front, it would be beneficial.” ... Getting bigger up front is an ongoing process for the Wings and it will continue on draft day. “It’s just the way the game has evolved,” McDonnell said. “It’s a big man’s game. I’m not saying there’s no room for smaller guys, but if you can get a big, skilled guy, you go that route. We’ll still take small guys if we have to, but we’re looking to get bigger. We have bigger guys coming up in (forwards Tomas) Jurco and (Riley) Sheahan.” The Wings will go earlier on draft day than they have in many years. It’s the quickest they will be called to the podium in the first round since 1991, when they also selected a big forward, Martin Lapointe. “We’re excited,” McDonnell said. “At 18, we know we’ll get someone we really like. The draft in general is strong, in the first round and even into the second round. It’s deep at the top end of the draft and then it peters out. There will be guys we like even in the seventh round, but the high-end part of the draft is good. At 18, we’ll get a quality player.”

Change change change..... Now I am not working. Full draft watching party! Ok a 1 man party....LOL

Ericsson and the 18th?

As always: Depends. How much does E think he is worth vs how much do we think he is worth vs how much do others think he is worth? He is 29 and in his last year. If he wants 5+ million per year, I really don't see it. He is a good solid Dman, that belongs on the second pair. He is a 3/4 not a 1/2. But 5+ million is 1/2 money. He already makes 3.25 million so wanting 5 million isn't that big of a jump. But the part we don't know is, what could we get for E? We have 8 Dman with several more on the way. Moving 1 piece will happen. But Cola and Q will not bring back much in return. E on the other hand could. You trade from strengths to fill weaknesses. D is our strength. 8th last year in goals allowed. But 24th IIRC in goals scored.

Good deal that should become a great deal. Kindl is only 26, so his best years are yet to come.

Letang and Dekeyser as our top pair for the next 8 years. That works for me! To get him move Smith and Meresk. They need a G and cheap young D. We need good RHed Dmen. Letang is only 2 years older than Smith BTW.

This will be our most interesting draft in many many years. Highest pick since the early 90's, full load of picks, and lots of teams looking to make deals. Is Letang in play? Ryan? A host of others of course. Do we move up? Move down and add picks? The next 60 hours will be fun!

This Sunday, draft. Starts at 2pm IIRC. I will be working until 7pm. Once I get home, then I will be online tracking the picks.

buyout. Yes teams were allowed to use one before the season started.

For once the rumors were right! Vinny! Vinny! Vinny! Sign him and yes, BUYOUT FRANZEN! Flood the market and drive prices down.

Are we debating Howard again? You know the guy with a BETTER career save % than Brodeur, that Howard!!!!!!!!!

That is the part that is unknown. TB is expected to buy out both Malone and Vinny. But no one s sure if they will do one this year and one next, both this year, both next year, and in what order. If Vinny is available this summer, we need to bendover backwards to sign him, then dump Franzen. Just to make the money/cap work.

Don't need a Dman. We are loaded with blueline prospects. BTW I would change the thread title to daft day thread if I knew how..... Mods feel free to do so.

here is hoping Stevie goes through with the rumored buyout of Vinny LeCav! he would be a nice #2 C for us!

Option 1. we would be dropping two aging guys with big money long term contracts. Sending a 40 point guy and a pick for a guy that outscores this group by himself. The other packages are far to heavy on prospects.

The amnesty buyouts have to be used between the end of the SC finals and July 4. So yes this week will be interesting to us fans, and painful for a lot of players and their families. BTW I am hoping TB buys out Vinny LeCav. Would love to see him as our 2nd line C.

Mantha is who I would take, but I don't think Holland will draft him. I would love to be proven wrong Kenny!

Last thoughts about Ryan the player, not the chances of him going anywhere. In the last 4 full seasons 2008/9 through 2011/12 there have been 36 times that a forward has had 25 goals and 120 hits in the same year. Only 6 guys have done it more than once: ovechkin 4 times, Lucic 2 times, Cole 2 times, Backes 2 times, Richards 2 times, and Ryan 2 times. The others that have done it once: Callahan, Clarkson, Simmons, Iginla, Brown, Franzen-yes he did do it once, Doan, Setoguchi, Marrow, Nash, Latendresse, Neal, Malone, Tkachuk, Hartnell, Kunitz, E Kane, Benn, Kesler, Fisher, Ruutu, and getzlaf. That is it. For those not paying attention, that is just about every "power forward" in the game.

5 days and a wake up until the draft! Time for everyone to place their bets and picks! Who you got in the 1st? My pick: Gauthier

Depends. The answer could be both, neither, or just one. if we had the had the chance to pick up 2 very good/great players but had to trade both away, you do it. Just some examples. You can pick up letang but have to include Tatar to do it. Would you? yes depending on the rest of the parts. same with Ryan. Now which one is better? Hard to say. They are different players. Nyquist is a much better puck handler and 2 way player. tatar is a sniper with a little grit/fire in his belly. Neither are very big. But are young and cheap. In same ways I wonder if the choice is more Tatar or Brunner? They are closer in style of play. Both being shooters first.