DetroitRedWings1993

Dallas probably knew they weren't going to keep Ryder, so they got something for him. Unfortunately, that something was an aging, struggling power-forward who's contemplating retirement. Not only that, but they sent away a draft pick while claiming to be in a youth movement. This deal just doesn't make sense for Dallas at all. They lost good offensive production for fading offensive production, all the while getting older and slower. Matter of fact, the James Neal trade didn't make sense, either. Nothing Nieuwendyk does seems to make sense these days. It doesn't even fall in the buyer or seller categories. If he were selling, he would've gotten a draft pick. If he were buying, he would've added a superior piece than what he lost. This is a head-scratcher for me. I like the Gagne trade for Philly. They get back a fan-favorite and a great locker-room presence. L.A. sheds some salary for some deadline flexibility and gains a draft pick in a supposedly deep draft class. He'll contribute offensively and help the PP out. He was always a guy I wish we would've targeted. He's not what he once was, but I'd say he's still good for 15-20 goals and 40-50 points. Those are numbers we could certainly use, especially on the PP. Hopefully, these deals mean the market has shaken loose and we can have some new Red Wings to celebrate soon.

Not sure if I want Kovalev. Old and has a reputation of being selfish and a locker-room problem. Leopold is a guy I'd like to get. Good offensive D-man who can run the power-play. There have been a lot of rumors connecting us and Stephen Weiss recently, and he's the top guy on this list in my opinion. He provides a great-two way game and can play both forward positions, although he's a natural center. I just want to see someone of significance added. I'm sick and tired of sitting by while everyone around us gets better. I also don't agree with not going after guys who are under contract for next year. If their cap hit is reasonable, then Holland shouldn't hesitate. Also, we have money coming off the books at the end of the year. We're more able to cap in a deal set for next year knowing that.

A lot of them will, but some teams are already on the path downward with valuable assets available. Might be well-served to do a pre-deadline deal for a good player on a struggling team for cheap.

The character in our locker room could set him straight. Maybe he just needs some more leadership. Although, at 29, he shouldn't be having attitude problems like that.

If he couldn't make it with Vigneault or Sacco, Babs would eat him alive. Not sure he could handle The Glare.

Well, BlazeYoungblood was saying this was a baseless rumor with no sources. I was just letting him know that there are sources. But yeah, totally agree. Holland will find something if this team is looking at the playoffs. He's got too much money and too much need not to. We can't afford to stand pat again. The teams we're competing with won't.

Totally agree. We've stayed in the playoffs for most of the season with half of our lineup missing. That's damn impressive, if you ask me. Not the time to fold it up. Delusions of grandeur about prospects happen because, frankly, some fanbases need them to survive. Look at the Isles. If Tavares didn't pan out, what would they have? The Alex Yashin days? Yikes. The Leafs, too. They haven't had a lot to talk positively about but prospects for a while. Some franchises need some prospects to be studs. Otherwise, they're in the crapper for a long, long time. They invest a lot of money and expectation in them. Anyways, I say stay the course and add more talent and depth at the deadline. Lots of deals for guys who would definitely help the team available. Time for Holland to start making some.

http://www.mynhltraderumors.com/tag/boston-bruins/ Just look down the page. Lots of rumors saying the B's are seeking a forward. So, to be fair, there are sources for this. Besides, it could probably be said every team in the NHL would like another scoring forward. I can't think of a good, two-way scorer I wouldn't take in a heartbeat for the right price. Having said that, I think adding without subtracting too much is important. Boston's pick won't be good enough to justify getting rid of Franzen. There's no guarentee that whoever that pick turns into will hustle more and play better defense than Franzen, anyways. This is a seller's move and would tell me that the team has thrown in the towel. With two big wins and big games coming this week in Cali, we can ill-afford to start talking like the season is over. We're currently in a playoff spot and are slowly getting healthy again. I say stay the course and look to add some more scoring depth and help on defense at and before the deadline. Time to bring in some new faces. Too many deadlines have come and gone with little-or-no improvement.

Well number9, Tyler Ennis is a forward, but I see your point. You probably meant Tyler Myers, I understand what you're saying. However, having no #1 is worse than having one, period. You could argue that Salvador emerged as NJ's #1, or that Zidlicky or Larsson were in the conversation for that role. Besides, you're comparing apples to oranges. Top to bottom, NJ's defense corps is MUCH better than ours. A lot more depth and a lot less dead weight (Ericsson, Kindl, Quincey). When three of our 6 nightly defenseman are as useless as those three, we've got troubles. We may not have the option to trade for a legit #1 this year, e-prime and DeGraa. If we can't find one available (and they don't become available often), we may need to make do with what we can get. Guys like Drew Doughty, Keith Yandle, and Kris Letang don't just go up for grabs every day. If Liles is the best we can get, we would be well-served to explore that option. I would, personally, rather have Mark Streit, but the recent talk of a contract extension have quieted those trade rumors quite a bit. I don't really see any candidates on defense this year who fit our need. We needed Kronwall to be that guy and he simply hasn't been.

Boston will come calling hard, I've heard. I'd imagine they would outbid Holland. We can't afford to start auctioning off prospects. There's a transition coming and we need as much talent coming up the pipe as possible. I agree. We would need more than just Ryder at the deadline. He's a good player, but not an elite goal-scorer. The Stars would ask for either Zetterberg or Datsyuk AT LEAST if they would even consider moving Eriksson. He's part of that core. Pretty much untouchable.

Those deals represent a lot of depth players and valuable draft picks going the other way. In a deep draft, we need to hold onto as many picks as possible. We can really stock the shelves big-time if we have a good draft. A lot of top-notch prospects available. I would also love getting Weiss. However, I don't see it happening. There are other teams who will come calling who have greater need and better assets available. Toronto and Ottawa come to mind. Both need another center. Toronto has a plethora of NHL-ready prospects and Ottawa has Jacob Silfverburg and Mika Zibanejad to dangle over Florida's head. Adding Zibanejad alongside Huberdeau would be huge for the Panthers. Need to have depth, too. Two Flips is better than one. As bad as both of them are struggling, we know what Weiss is capable of and a change of scenery might help. He represents depth scoring and a great two-way game, both essential parts of any playoff run. But, I think we have bigger needs. Weiss isn't the top-line, two-way defenseman and PP quarterback or the top-6 pure goal-scorer that we need.

Hate to say it, but I have to agree about Franzen. He just doesn't look like he tries most nights. Too inconsistent and injury-prone lately, too.

I would agree if Datsyuk were starting to fall off. Then it might be time to consider it. But, he's not. He's still putting up huge points, playing solid defensively, and creating opportunities for everyone. That goal against Nashville proves he's still every bit the player he always was. We just can't part with him right now. Trade Datsyuk and the fanbase will call for Holland's head on a spit. Throw in Illich's, too. You can't trade this guy. This season is not over. We don't know what we would get for him. What happens if our return for him fails epicly? Then what? He spends the last years of his career contributing excellently as he always has and we're STILL in trouble. I'd rather have him here to play his game and mentor our younger talent. That's another point. He means more than just what is seen on the ice. Personally, I would want EVERY ONE of my forwards learning from Datsyuk. This is a guy you want to be a part of your organization up until his final second and beyond. This is a guy I want scouting and coaching young talent. This is a guy I want around my young players. We shouldn't attach ourselves to our stars and shut our eyes to possibility, but we can't be pessimistic and defeatist, either. No franchise that has that attitude has ever won anything. There is still talent on this team and Pav is a huge part of that. His value is just too great to this franchise playing here than it is away from it. I say that this young talent will need coaching and a role model. Datsyuk is the perfect choice.

We're not really in a position to give away offense (no matter how inconsistent) without getting some back. If they could throw in another forward or a good prospect to sweeten the pot, maybe. Franzen's contract is almost unmovable. I would keep him. Can't really justify being sellers when we're still in the race. Besides, how good can their first realistically be? Boston's a team looking at a deep playoff run. All the top-tier scorers and defenseman will probably be gone by the time that pick rolls around. Also depends on what our pick shakes out to be. We could still be working with two mediocre draft picks. Yeah, the top half of the draft is stacked, but the bottom half isn't so certain. The depth of this draft is a little overrated, if you ask me. Also, with teams like Columbus having three first-rounders, how much elite talent can we expect to be on the board when our pick rolls around? We may be struggling, but I'd have to say they'd be picking before us. They also have the Kings' pick, and they might pick before us, too.

Good size and age. Haven't seen too much of him. What's his game? I would do it if we can get him for a good price. Could always use another defenseman.

I agree with everything but making Datsyuk available. He wants to return to Russia soon, so we may as well get whatever production he has left out of him. He's still an elite player. It's not like he's steadily declining. I would only move a big name if it means we're getting a big name in return. We can't just sell off parts. The majority of the fanbase will burn the city to the ground if they commit to a rebuild. Too much talent yet.

Yeah. For those 5 minutes, I thought we might actually make a signing worth getting excited over. And then those 5 minutes were over. *sigh*

1. What has Holland done for the past several years to give anyone any confidence that he's going to do anything with his cap space but sit on it and hope to get healthy? He said it himself a few days ago. He's hoping this year will be like 2009. 2. Again, I hope he does, too, but what confidence should we have? He's pretty much failed at everything he's tried for the past couple of seasons. JayBo could be had for a reasonable price, given how, despite his recent improvement, he is still underperforming for his salary. 3. Armstrong would rather die than let Pietrangelo get away, ESPECIALLY to us. He'll be locked up looooooooooong-term before we can even wet ourselves at seeing him on the free-agent list. Besides that, I think he would still be an RFA, making our chances of landing him slightly north of slavery being put back into effect. 4. It may not be impressive, but it isn't bad, either. Nyquist, Tomas Tatar and Smith are standing out because they're good. Calle Jarnkrok and Teemu Pulkinnen are looking great thus far. Ryan Sproul and Xavier Ouellet also are coming along nicely. Riley Sheahan has a lot of personal problems, but also a lot of talent. Landon Ferraro, Jan Mursak, Martin Frk, and Joakim Andersson all could be decent two-way, third-line depth options in the future. 5. Trade a top-6 forward when two are hurt for the forseeable future? No thanks. Trading Kronwall for Edler would be a wash. We'd lose our de-facto #1 defenseman (deserving or not) for another #1 defenseman. Besides that, Vancouver just re-signed him. There's no way they're going to let their best defenseman walk so soon after re-signing him. The Canucks aren't struggling and have no interest in selling off pieces. The only two Canucks to be had right now are Mayson Raymond and Luongo. Eww to both.

The Axe is right about one thing: we're carrying a lot of dead weight. Cleary's a decent guy and all, but it's time to get rid of him. He provides absolutely nothing consistently. Bertuzzi hasn't had a chance to earn another contract being as he's been hurt, so I'm going to reserve judgement on him. Quincey should already be gone. But, due to injuries, we need a plug like him. Smitty and Colo should return before the trade deadline. Assuming both come back and stay healthy, I think it's time we either dealt or bought Quincey out. He's gotten progressively worse since we acquired him. Everyone thought this was a great move when we picked him up. Now, he's the goat. Funny how that works. But, Holland sleeps through the deadline for the last few years, so my guess is that nothing changes and we either limp into the playoffs and get embarassed all over again or just miss it altogether and spend the summer screaming for change...and receiving none. Another summer just like last summer, if you ask me. The future just doesn't look very bright from that perspective. The GR kids look OK, though. Too bad we're headed for the cellar until they can prop the team back up.

That second line makes me want to vomit. Injuries have murdered any depth and effectiveness we might have.

Getting what we need is going to command big prices, and Holland just doesn't seem interested in paying big prices anymore. Say what you want, we got outbid by Minnesota for our two biggest needs. That's how it went down. Suter was putting his pen to Holland's offer when Minnesota stormed in like John Wayne and took control. We were on Parise's short list, I believe. I remember the morning Suter signed with Minnesota. I was dumbstruck. All that time and effort wasted. Now, Parise is tearing it up and Suter is slowly starting to find his game again. Meanwhile, our injuries mount and our performance gets slowly worse and worse as time goes on. And Richdg, you posted something about watching the Wings now is like watching a family member slowly die...you are so right. I've never heard it put so perfectly. That's exactly how I feel. But, I'll add a little. It's like watching a close, beloved family member die slowly and painfully, and also watching the best doctors in the world sit on their butts and do...absolutely nothing.

Eliotte Friedman recently reported that the Wings probably will have no interest in Ryan Whitney.

I heard via Elliote Friedman today that the Wings probably won't be going after Ryan Whitney. While I do agree that he's too bruised and injury-prone to be of much use anymore, this tells me something. After the reported weeks of phone calls looking for help, all that's come out of that is who we aren't going after? I mean, come on. This team has lost 4 games in a row in ugly fashion. Surrendered multiple leads and just came out awful against Nashville. If this were an 82-game season, a 4-game losing streak is understandable and not insurmountable. But, it's not. It's a 48-game season. Four games is 1/12th of the season, and that's a much larger chunk than normal. Points are at an even greater premium than they usually are. You don't get too many more four-game stretches to make it up. Whitney wouldn'tve been the answer anyways, but it's what this news means rather than the name associated with it. I think this team needs some moves to change things up and get the mood turned around. This team is defeated very easily, the effort is clearly not always there, and sometimes they look like they just don't care. And I don't see the injury excuse as being valid anymore. If that's what everyone is resorting to, we've basically given up on the season before it's even over. Injuries happen to everyone, not just us. When injuries occur, you fill the holes. It's that simple. Don't whine because you have a few boo-boos. Bryan Murray was making calls before Spezza and Karlsson went down. Now, he's working to fill the holes. I'm just wondering how long this has to go on before someone springs to action. This team is hard to watch sometimes. I can't remember the last time I could honestly say that about a Red Wings team.

If he's going anywhere, he's going East. The Avs don't want to see him several times a year. Toronto has been rumored to be making a strong play for him, and Philly butted into the talks recently. The Rangers have also entered the discussion. Ottawa doesn't seem interested in mortgaging their future on a guy with one season of 50+ points. Not to mention that, unless no one remembers, the Avs hate us. There's no way they'd trade us one of their best players unless Datsyuk AND Zetterberg are involved. Toronto, Philly, and New York are the three most likely. Toronto because they flat-out need him and Philly and New York because Holmgren and Sather have compulsive needs to make big deals for big-name players to satisfy their even bigger egos. I am also of the opinion that both Sather and Holmgren are extremely media-driven.

Alright, let's not throw our heads in the dirt and pretend our current roster is good enough to contend. I've seen Nyquist play, and I don't understand the hype. He just doesn't make much of an impact outside of a shot on goal here and there. Tatar has shown a little the past few games, but overall, I'm not overly-impressed. Andersson is probably a grinder, at best. The cream of our prospect crop, which I consider to be Calle Jarnkrok, Teemu Pulkinnen, and Ryan Sproul, are multiple years away from being NHL-ready. We lack the big-name prospects needed for a simple "re-tool" because we've gone so long without the draft picks required to draft "can't miss" talent. This team still has talent, but if we want to avoid another long period of struggling, we need to start drafting at or near the top of the order, and that means selling off big pieces when the time comes. Not now, and maybe not even in 2 or 3 years, but the time for a rebuild is coming whether we like it or not, and we need to prepare for it. We're very spoiled and we can't stay in "win-now-or-else" mode forever.