WingedWheel91

No Larkin would not be picked this year over McDavid, Eichel, Strome, Marner, Provorov or Hannifin. He would likely be re-drafted in the 7-10 range this year (albeit in an extremely strong draft). It's like saying if Strome was a little bit younger or a little bit older he would have gone #1 over Ekblad last year, and probably #1 over Auston Matthews next year.

How about Mantha, Nyquist, Smith, Oullette, #19 Pick for Malkin. Good God, I've done it again.

How about Mantha, Smith and #19 Pick for O'Reilly? God this is easy.

First of all, He isn't playing out his entire contract. Second of all, I agree, he does all of the things you mentioned pretty well - but doesn't do anything exceptionally well (if he isn't scoring goals like he once did). But last time I checked, we already have too many forwards doing most things pretty well who aren't 35, who don't make $4 Million annually, and wont hesitate to be physical because they don't share the injury history he does. In terms of serving as a role model, I think you're right in some cases - but if that's his greatest asset, no thanks. How can you be a role model to players like Justin Abdelkader, Luke Glendenning, Darren Helm, or Riley Sheahan (our "power forwards") when all 4 of them are literally twice as effective as you, with half the skillset? I think if Abdelkader could teach Franzen how to play with an edge, he would be the real role model.

I don't really think the people who criticize him aren't "halfway decent human beings" (whatever that means) I have long been frustrated with Franzen's play for years... I couldn't stand to watch a player with so much natural goal scoring ability become invisible for weeks at a time, and then tell the Detroit Free Press "I am not a goal scorer" when he had the size/speed/skill to be one of the best power forwards in the league. I think it was Zetterberg who said in the '08 playoffs "he has the ability to score 60 goals" or something along those lines, then he put the team on his back to almost win the Conn Smythe that playoff year. So... You're not a goal scorer anymore? What exactly are you Johan? I could continue... My point is that no matter how frustrating he was, no matter how much effort he seemed to lack at times, or how many bad things you had to say about him - as a person, most people don't want to see someone get hurt. This is especially true for players who are battling concussions, considering the terrible things that have happened in relation to brain trauma lately - and its at this point where people forget about the hockey player Johan Franzen, and consider the person. If you understand the Salary Cap, its actually much worse financially (for the Wings) if Franzen retires - yet I still hope he does so he can live a healthy/full life after hockey.

I agree and truthfully none of us know what it would actually take to get a deal done... But when I hear Don Maloney say they are potentially shopping the pick to trade down and acquire prospects, I think why not go all in? If Athanasiou, Mantha and the 19th pick can get it done - you probably just acquired a franchise center to replace Pavel Datsyuk one day. Consider that we acquired Anthanasiou with 110th pick in the draft, and we acquired Mantha with the 20th pick in the draft - yes they were great picks, but great draft picks are the core of this teams success, and will be replaced. It still probably wouldn't get a deal done, but I don't see any bottom 3 finishes in the near future for this team - so I would be exploring any avenue that leads to acquiring an 18-20 year old player with elite potential... Even if we have to overpay.

Pumpkin Escobar - I find it extremely hard to believe you would rather have AA over Dylan Strome... In 68 games, Strome led the OHL in scoring (45-84-129). Doing so in his draft year, playing on the 2nd line... (Mcdavid played on the 1st line with Remi Elie and Nicholas Baptiste). Do you understand how ridiculous that is? To compare: In AA's draft year, he had 37 points in 63 games. The Detroit Red Wings can and will draft another AA down the road, he is a decent prospect playing on a very good AHL team for a great coach. Unfortunately, we have a plethora of similar players in our system who may never amount to be more than 2nd line wingers or 3rd line centers... What we lack is an elite prospect who has the potential to be a franchise player. Babcock basically uttered these exact words in his last press conference as an employee of the Red Wings. Dylan Strome is that guy.

Starting to change tune on the Hamilton idea... If 8,250,000 gets it done - and we sacrifice two 1st round picks, a 2nd and a 3rd... Why wouldn't we do it? If everything goes according to plan, we would be giving away 2 draft picks in the 25-30 range, 1 pick in the 55-60 range, and 1 pick in the 85-90 range. Considering that the projections for upcoming draft classes aren't spectacular, and that we typically (1) Draft as well from the later rounds as we do from the 20-30 range, and/or (2) trade down from the late first round for multiple second round picks anyway - what are we really sacrificing? Hamilton will almost certainly be better than any draft pick (coming out of the 25-30 range) in the next 2 draft classes. So now you have a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd to replace. We already have an abundance of 2nd and 3rd round draft pick talent playing in Grand Rapids, and we can probably draft 4th round picks as well 3rd round picks, so I'm not concerned about them. The extra 1st round pick? Its worth it.

How much more could it possibly take? Overpay and throw in Anthanasiou - we would still have awesome depth down the middle 3 years from now.. LARKIN STROME SHEAHAN GLENDENNING

I keep hearing that Arizona is looking at trading down from #3 if a prospect was included... Would anyone do Mantha + the 19th Overall for Dylan Strome (likely #3 Pick)? I certainly would. Doubt it's enough.

As much as the NHL is about winning, its still a business. Connor McDavid is not only the best player entering the draft this year (with the most potential), but he is also the most marketable player entering the draft. No matter what, Edmonton isn't trading that asset away - even if there's a trade out there that makes the Oilers better.

Good point - Toews is a great player, unbelievable compete level and intangibles plus elite two-way ability as a Center. I'm not sure Eichel will possess those same traits at the NHL level. But I'm also not sure if McDavid will be as good as Crosby... Either way I doubt Buffalo would make that offer, and without a Defenseman I doubt Edmonton bites. Maybe Ekman-Larsson and the 3rd overall pick (Strome) for McDavid would work better...

The truth is, (without bias) I actually think a Canadian is being undervalued this year... Mitch Marner is my 3rd overall pick. Better than Hannifin, better than Strome... This kid is unreal.

I'm not disputing Eichel's talent or ability - I think he's going to be a great NHL player one day, and I am Canadian. But Connor McDavid isn't more popular because he's "playing in a weaker league against a bunch of teenage boys" - He's more popular because he's legitimately better as a player, and probably the best draft prospect since Sidney Crosby. If you think the NCAA is a better developmental league than the OHL, you obviously haven't had much exposure North of the border. I played in the NCAA for 1 year and understand how good the hockey is, but trust me when I say the best players in the NCAA do not compare with the best players in the CHL (OHL/WHL/QMJHL). Winning the Hobey Baker as a freshman is an achievement I can fully appreciate - but take a look at the history of who's won it... An extremely underwhelming list.

I don't think Edmonton even makes the playoffs next year - Just like Pittsburgh didn't the years directly before and after drafting Crosby, just like Washington didn't the years directly before and after drafting Ovechkin, just like Tampa Bay didn't the years directly before and after drafting Stamkos, just like New York didn't the years directly before and after drafting Tavares... and why is this? Because you get drafted at 18 years old. But eventually - these players develop, and eventually, these players make the team that drafted them a contender. (Each of those 4 teams qualified for the playoffs this season and 1 of them is still playing) Connor McDavid is no different, and if you would rather have Eichel - congratulations on being the only person alive today that would make such a bad decision. Even the Buffalo Sabres (Eichel's future employer) expressed disappointment in losing the "McDavid Sweepstakes",

lol... I'll just stay quiet and wait for everyone else to figure out how good Connor McDavid is. He is not a normal draft pick. No, you would not rather have Eichel.

Never understood why people don't understand this... The RFA compensation system completely favours the team who initially drafted the player. In Dougie Hamilton's case (a player drafted 9th overall) seeking upwards of $7,000,000 annually - we would have to give up two 1st Round Picks, a 2nd and a 3rd Round Pick plus overpay him in the first place to prevent Boston from matching the offer. Here is a look at the most recent players we drafted (with the same picks) that would be forfeited to acquire Dougie Hamilton: 2013 1st - Anthony Mantha 2014 1st - Dylan Larkin 2013 2nd - Tyler Bertuzzi 2014 3rd - Dominic Turgeon The problem is that he's seeking $7,000,000 from Boston, meaning he probably wouldn't sign an offer sheet with Detroit unless it was for $8,000,000, but Boston would probably match up until $9,000,000 - see where I'm going? So you have the highest paid Defenseman in the NHL, and it now costs you four 1st Round Picks. Would anyone trade Mantha, Larkin, Sheahan and McCollum for Hamilton? Not me.

Neither, but Fedorov deserves a lot more votes here than Osgood. Don't forget, he won the Hart Trophy, 2 Selke's and the Ted Lindsay award. Both won 3 cups. Not to mention his superior hockey swag. White Skates ->>>> Birdcage

Kipwinger I don't know why you respond to people (including me) as if you know them personally. I have no idea if your a 13 year old kid with nothing to do, or a 65 year old retired lady waiting for my response so you can argue it immediately. I will end this dialogue for those reasons. I can also tell you probably have never played the game of hockey (correct me if I'm wrong) at any notable level, so was probably always a waste of time Thanks

I think most people are missing the point and/or are taking things personally... We get that just because Jurco had a terrible season, doesn't mean he's going to have a terrible career. But if the 2-3 year projections put him in the 40-50 point range, how is he not expendable? No-one wants to lose him for nothing, but we already have a surplus of young players who can provide those numbers, and unfortunately we have other more pressing needs. Going back to what turned this thread around: The idea of trading Jurco in a package for Dion Phanuef (who is a defenseman capable of putting up 40-50 points today) makes our team better. Plain and Simple. Tomas Jurco has never impressed offensively at any level of his career - 68 points following your draft year in the QMJHL doesn't excite me... Daniel Cleary had 115 for f*** sake. He also doesn't "excel" defensively and I have no idea who started this notion... As I said, he was the only regular forward on our roster who didn't kill 1 penalty all of last season. Honestly, 40-50 point left handed shooting wingers who don't do anything exceptional are called unrestricted free agents. No were not releasing him, or turning our backs on him because we think he's terrible. I think were saying trade him to make the team better, knowing he can be easily replaced through free agency or the draft. You also have to give to get, and I think there are still teams that might bite on his potential at age 22.

Kipwinger - always seems to be you... Jurco had strong possession numbers? He had 3 goals on 92 shots? Do you realize how bad that is? Possession means nothing without production. But it's ok because Jurco is so good defensively? Is this just because his offensive numbers were a joke? Do you realize he was the only (regular) forward on the Detroit Red Wings who spent 0 minutes and 0 seconds on the Penalty Kill this season? This tells me (outside of Stephen Weiss) he's actually the worst defensive forward on our team. And your comparison to Abdelkader is ridiculous, they are completely different players. Abdelkader's coming out party was in the Stanley Cup finals against Pittsburgh... He was inserted into the lineup because he could actually kill penalties (and score shorthanded) while manipulating the game with his physicality. I don't know if you're related to Jurco or something but he isn't this physical specimen you seem to think he is. It's playoff hockey pal, everyone hits.

I don't know what games you guys were watching but Jurco was absolutely awful last season. He was ok defensively? But not better than anyone on our 4th line. He was ok offensively? But not better than anyone who wasn't named Drew Miller. I'm not saying that he will be a total bust or to give up on him completely, I'm saying trade him while he still has some value before he turns into the next Ville Leino.

Weiss has admitted it will be tough to crack the Red Wings next season. I'm guessing: (1) He's bought out and we pay a $1.9 Million hit over the next 4 seasons. (Which is less than the cap increased this year) (2) He's traded for an equally bad contract, perhaps Dion Phaneuf. (Babcock making this situation difficult) (3) He's traded to a re-building team to reach the cap floor. (Most likely scenario as his contract only has 2 years of salary left) If Franzen can come back healthy (which is looking more real each day) he probably isn't a top 6 player right away, however would represent an upgrade over Jurco on our 3rd line. FRANZEN - SHEAHAN - PULKINNEN. Dream Scenario: Trade Weiss, Jurco, Smith for Phanuef (-1,500,000)

Kipwinger - This is a hockey website, where people talk about hockey. If Johan Franzen isn't doing his job, the hockey fans on this hockey website may use hockey language to express themselves. It may be vulgar - but its nothing personal. Although it may look hypocritical, you can't fault the fans for eventually supporting him (on a personal level) considering what's currently happening to athletes who suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Franzen's situation is more important than hockey, and I think the people who realize that have changed tune quite a bit. That being said - if the doctors say Franzen can go, its ultimately his decision to return to the ice. If he does, people maintain the right to criticize him if he isn't playing well. That's what $43,500,000 gets you.

lol Kipwinger... I played college hockey and all of the things you mentioned are called chirps. They happen every game to almost every player in every stadium. No-one is immune to it and none of it should be taken as personal insult - and it almost never is. I have been called much worse on the ice than whatever Johan Franzen has been called in this thread, by some people who I actually call friends today. I'm not saying its classy, but I don't think the fans on this site are truly questioning his sexuality, mental health, or criminality, The reason I made the comment is because people (unfortunately) tend to use those same expressions in these forums (probably not in good taste) out of frustration when he isn't producing.. I cant count how many times I've screamed at my TV with a lot worse to say about Franzen than what you just mentioned, because his struggles always come down to effort - and this is hockey for f*** sake. If he wasn't capable of so much more - people wouldn't be as harsh on him. Sorry, if 6'3 - 222 LB Johan Franzen played with even half the intensity as a Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm, or Luke Glendenning (players who are all more effective with a fraction of the skillset) people wouldn't be so harsh on him. If people were calling him a homosexual (as you say) after he scored a hat-trick and actually plays with some heart - I would have a much different opinion.