DickieDunn

Kid who is still a legit NHL prospect in Backman vs. Swedish Lebda. I wonder who will be better?

Last I heard he was a healthy scratch because he can't play hockey, just fight. The fact that you think a kid who can't crack the lineup of a mediocre NCAA team should be in the NHL makes me seriously question that you know anything at all about hockey.

This.

The thing with Nyquist, or Tatar, is that they're small skilled guys. The Wings have a bunch of guys like that. When you have a lot of one thing and not a lot of another, you use what you have a lot of to get what you don't. Small wingers and quality young d-men out, big wingers in.

So you just want to list players and when they're not waiver exempt? Almquist would most likley pass through waivers if needed. Nobody is going to want a midget defenseman who doesn't skate better than he does. He'll either sign a 2 way deal and try to win a spot in camp somewhere or go back home next year.

You think that Kindl and Nyquist for a guy like Benn, Simmonds, van Riensdyk, etc. would be stupid?

I'd be shocked if Tootoo is in the organization next year. If they can't trade him before the buyout window, he'll be bought out. I also think that they want to keep Jurco in GR next year so they have a guy they can call up when he's needed. I also wouldn't be surprised if Kindl is traded as part of a package to get a bigger scoring line winger, possibly even sending out Nyquist or Tatar as well, assuming they can get one.

If you think Vanek is a power forward, you need a new definition of power forward. I see them both hitting about 55-60 points regularly when they're establilshed. Tatar will score more goals, Nyquist will have more assists and be better defensively. Tatar is more dynamic and emotional, Nyquist steadier and more cerebral.

If doing nothing means there are spots left open for 3 of Jurco, Sheahan, Ferraro, and Callahan, plus a rookie d-man, I'll be ok with that. I'd much rather have that than a #4 d-man signed for $18 mil over 4 years or Grabovski at $25 mil for 5 years.

He's also on the line that's the focus of the other team's defensive efforts almost playing a man short because everyone who has been tried on their other wing has been completely ineffective, while Tatar is playing against lesser competition with 2 linemates that actually do something positive.

This team is not the team they planned on having. It's not even close. The guys who are #2 and #3 forwards lately, and their best wingers, are at a 0.5 PPG pace and are still learning what it takes to be consistently good at the NHL level. 5 of their 6 best forwards are out except for Helm, who missed a big chunk of games and just came back last night. Couple that with the vets who were counted on in support roles doing absolutely nothing, and you're not going to play at a high level on a game to game basis.

He's scoring at the same pace as Tatar

Can't stop what you can't see.

He played 2, and defensively he was completely overmatched. I don't want a defenseman who can't play defense.

I think that Nyquist kid might be good some day

Almquist is not a good NHL d-man. He's tiny, and not fast enough to make up for it.

They need to keep the refs and linesmen together in crews like other sports do so that they can learn each other's styles and crap like that would happen less.

Cheap shot. Too bad Abby and Bert are playing like they're in the ice capades this year and won't do anything about it later.

Why do you think Holland has refused to trade prospects for the most part? They had to rebuild the farm system first, though.

They went into that season with Osgood #1, and Howard took over because Osgood struggled so much. Howard wasn't planned as the #1, and he had more AHL time than Mrazek has had.

The Wings aren't going to hand the net over to an unproven rookie. I don't care what his stats are in the minors and juniors, he hasn't proven that he can be a #1 in the NHL yet.

By that logic, so does Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and a lot of other NHL players. Hockey is a rough sport, missing a few games is expected. 75-ish games is a better mark to look at, and by that he's been pretty durable throughout his career.

4 things. They won't lose Andersson to keep Glendening. Almquist isn't going to be a Detroit Red Wing full time. He's too small even if he adds 10 pounds of muscle, and too slow to make up for his size. Unless they can't find a good backup, I don't see them using Mrazek as the #2 going into the season. They'd rather have him play 50 games in GR than 20-25 in Detroit. Dekeyser is NOT a 3rd pairing d-man. I really don't see a huge need for a top 4 d-man unless they can get someone at least as good as Kronwall, or they trade Kindl or Smith to get an upgrade. I'd be perfectly happy seeing the top 4 being Kronwall, Ericsson, Dekeyser, and whoever is playing better out of Kindl and Smith. People say they want young players to work into the roster, then don't want to give the players time to develop.

If I'm trading Nyquist and Kindl, plus whatever, I want a legit top line winger with size in his prime or a top pairing d-man coming back, or I don't do it.

I'm not reading 20 pages, so if this is a repeat of someone else, I apologize. Alfredsson will be offered a contract if he wants to come back. Otherwise they will explore free agency. There isn't much there, so they probably won't be bringing in an impact player that way. They could use some of their defensive depth to make a trade, however. 2 of Smith, Kindl, and the prospects should bring back a pretty good scoring winger. Cleary, Samuelsson, Eaves, and probably Bertuzzi will be gone. Bert might be brought back on a low salary deal with the understanding that he probably won't be a full time player. I think Tootoo gets bought out. Given the lack of quality free agents and the Wings cautious approach to bringing in young players, Quincey may be offered a one year, low salary contract. If he doesn't want that, I see them bringing in a vet stay home guy on a one year deal. I wouldn't mind seeing them start the year with Marchenko or Ouellet though. Barring injury, Glendening will start the season in GR and be the center called up first. I think they leave Jurco in GR for depth purposes. Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Abdelkader/TBD Franzen-Weiss-Nyquist/Alfredsson Tatar-Helm-Nyquist/* Miller-Andersson-* reserves: ** Kronwall-Ericsson Smith-Dekeyser Kindl-Quincey/UFA/rookie Lashoff Howard and a UFA goalie in net * will be a combination of Ferraro, Callahan, Sheahan, Bertuzzi, and any lower level free agent forwards they bring in, someone like Setoguchi, Boyes, Pouliot, etc.