Richdg

Could be. But he is better for it. That is also the selling point for putting guys in the AHL. Either way, don't care. Just want dekeyser in a winged wheel asap!

Fil isn't a goal scorer. He is a passer. We have a bunch of those guys. No need to spend 4+ million to resign him. Move for picks prospects and spend our money of guys that put the puck in the net. How many years have we heard Babs, Holland, Micky and others talk about Filppula needs to shot more, needs more confidence, etc..... well he is 28 going on 29. If he ahsn't figured this out by now, he never will. Now, this doesn't mean I hate Filppula or anything like that. But we have a bucnh of Filppula's. We don't have any Perry's or Clarksons. That is what we need.

Was busy over the weekend and didn't have time to reflect on this. What did we end up with out iof this 6 game stretch? 7 points if I did the math correctly. Not good enough.

We will have to disagree. Helm hits, a lot. But these are not teeth rattling hits. He causes great fear amoung Dmen because of his speed. He will hit you, cause a lose puck and then get to it. All of which is great. But he is not a guy that Dmen worry about getting hurt/beat up/battered etc..... over. That being said, welcome back Helm.

You do realize that Schukltz played half the season in the AHL right? Dekeyser will need some time to adjust to the pro game. Everyone does. But by Jan 1 2014 he should be good to go.

Brunner wasn't downgraded. Ok, I guess one could take it that way. I prefer to look at it as spreading out the offensive talent and scoring. Getting goals from 3 lines is better than just from 1 line.

Let's not get carried away now. Yes getting Helm back is nice, but he is not physical. he is fast. Very fast and a good checker. But he isn't much of a scorer nor is he physical. Helm is all about the speed.

What has become interesting is, over the last 48 hours now, every RW forum, reporter covering the Wings etc.... has talked about this story. Yet not one word from Holland, datsyuk etc..... Sometimes silence is deafening........

First you can't trade Kronwall-Full NTC. Not untill 2015/16 can he be moved. Now with that being said, the question is valid. it depends on what the answer to the question of: How far away from a SC are we? If you beleive that we can compete for SC over the next 3 years-when Kronwall is 33, 34, and 35, then you keep him. if you beleive that we are further away than that, then the idea of moving expensive veteran players for cheap young talent is a valid question. yes kronwall is doing well, offensively. the flip side is, the defense part of defensemen needs some serious work. he is overly agressive and alwasy out of position lately. Last night-before Q went out of the game, Kindl and Ericsson where togehter facing the Oilers top line. kronwall was with Smith facing the second line.

Good luck Q! yes he has been doing avery good job in our zone.

As soon as WMU's season is done, he is going to sign with.......

Howard saves us agian!

There is some history with the RW and dekeyser. he is from detroit and grew up a Wings fan. Both good. he has camped with the RW the last few summers. Better. last year when he was deciding on staying in college or coming out, he talked to the RW and they told him to go back for 1 more year, and then come out. Which he did. He was wanted by all 30 teams last year as well. if money is what he cared about, he could have come out last year. He didn't. Now is it a sure thing? No. nothing is. But would I give dekeyser signing a high $? hell yes. like 75%+.

So I guess everything about datsyuk is BS right? At least according to us "fans". I like Abby with datsyuk. He brings size, speed, and some grit. No he doesn't score-not his game. But there is no one else on this team that can do the things that Abby does.

would it be in poor taste for Holland to go to every game that WMU has left? With his briefcase.......

If the rumored amounts are true-5 million, Howard would be the 12th best paid G in the league. 12th! That is a bargin.

Ok Michigan won, but as I was watching they mentioned it is a best of 3 series. So at least 1 more game. But the same questions are there. if WMU is out of the CCHA this weekend, is their season done? if so Dekeyser gets signed when?

Franzen to the Isles. They will need another contract or 3 to get up to the NHL minimum........ again......

While Blue may be a little drastic, what he is saying is going to happen. just over 24 months, not 4 months. Fact is: Cleary, Miller, and White are all UFA's after this seasonand most likely gone. Bert and Sammy after next year. datsyuk my be gone after next year. Ericsson could be gone after next year. ilppula after this year. severa more are nearing te end as well. So as i was saying most of this is going to happen. as of today we only have 7 players signed for the 2014/2015 season: Zetterberg, Franzen, Konwall, Abby, Helm, tootoo, and lashoff. That is it. I assume that Smith, Kindl, Howard, and Brunner will be resigned soon. That makes 11 out of 23 on a NHL roster.

http://hockeytraderumors.com/wings-kings-bruins-flyers-leafs-perry/

Stafford is all of 3 years maybe 4 years older than Nyquist. he has already SHOWN he can score, 20, 25, 30 goals a season. has tatar? has Nyquist? No. I think tatar may be able to get to 20+ someday. Nyquist will not. he is a passer/playmaker, not a scorer. We need guys that can score goals. If Stafford was here today, he would be our 3rd best forward. better than Franzen, better than Filppula, better than any of the others.

Its simple math and it proves you wrong. last year (all numbers rounded) we averaged 32 shots per game and 3 goals per game. That comes to .094 goals per shot. This year we are averaging 30 shots per game and 2.6 goals per game, which comes to .087 goals per shot. That is a 7% drop in goals per shot. That is big. It covers more than half of the 13% drop in scoring.

Stafford is a good solid proven player at the NHL level. he only cost 4 million per year for the next 2. Guys in UFA at the same price will not score 25-30 goals. Guys that do will be in the 5.5 or more range. What would be the better use of money? perry at 8+ million for 40 goals or Stafford and say Dubinsky at the same price and more goals? The later makes us a deeper team. We need more than just 1 piece to be a good team agian. We need 3-5 more pieces. In that context picking up a stafford as one of those pieces makes a ton of sense.

myhockeyrumors.com had this. another gritty forward good for 20 goals per year......

I would be ok with that. Not ideal, but we need more talent. Period.