Fred_Bear

I'd have probably been ok over committing to Stralman. Holland's concept of value has been off for a couple years. Remember, we're only one offseason removed from giving Stephen Weiss $4.9M a year for 5 seasons... Quincey was a 'tilt' signing and that's never good to see.

If Detroit (or anyone for that matter) gives up future top six talent for Mike Green, I'd be very surprised. Washington has been trying to move him around injuries for three years and they haven't had a sniff. An offer sheet to Subban would be a smarter move... Cody Franson might be an interesting idea. Don't know that Shanny's going to do us any favors, but he's another one that hasn't been the most popular guy in town.

Both Petry and McBain had a rough time with poor defensive teams. Of the two, Petry probably has a slightly higher upside, but he's still a project. Down the road he may develop into a top-4, but he needs time. This is the problem with the Wings current defensive group, while everyone lauds the Wings for bringing prospects along slowly, depending on what you read, defensemen typically require about 100-120 games at the NHL level to get used to the speed and flow of the game. Kronwall, Kindl, Quincy and Ericsson meet that guideline with Smith and Lashoff just getting over the hurdle... Dekeyser and the rest of the fill-ins are still getting there. This could explain a lot of the struggles on the blueline last season as well as why most people agree that a veteran needs to be brought in to help. This year should be better, but Quincy was about the worst option available (in my opinion) and there are a couple of long-shots that could have been had for much less investment (time and dollars). Might have taken a chance with the playoff streak, but a deep draft in '14 might have made it worth a risk... I couldn't agree more. This is nothing new to business and it's regular for leadership to look for new challenges. Holland has been there for 17 years and has had great success with Cups in '98, '02, and '08. How long is it going to take a replacement to get there? How long before we're ready to start? How many more NHL GMs are going to leave the organization before Holland is comfortable with his replacement? Maybe it is time to move Holland into a role as just Executive VP and alternate Governor and allow a new GM to make personnel decisions. If we could land Yandle for a reasonable price, great. Tyler Myers could be an interesting option, but unless he's just in severe need of a scenery change, his recent performance doesn't warrant the cap hit...

Don't kid yourself, Quincey is every bit as bad as people say. The most positive thing you can say about him is that he chews up minutes. He certainly doesn't make a team better or give you upside potential. He also doesn't fill the need that the Wings know they have - a top 4 right-handed shooting defenseman. Quincy will continue to be what he has been - a space filler. I'm optimistic that next season won't be a complete wash-out, but I'm not sure the OP is pointing to the right stuff... Boston may have lost Iginla, but they didn't lose much else. They also have several players who are continuing to develop and get better. The same is true for Pittsburgh. They are going to move on without Neal, Niskanen & Orpik, but they added Hornqvist and Erhoff and will likely use rookies like Pouliot to fill gaps. Maybe not 'better', but certainly not out of playoff contention. We also have to look at the improvements that Washington made yesterday and New Jersey looks to be improving as well. Flordia and Buffalo may not be immediate contenders either, but they both improved more than what the Wings accomplished on Day 1... The Wings still look like a fringe playoff team IF (big if) everyone stays healthy. We can't rely on huge performance from rookies every season. I was disappointed to even hear that Holland tried to sign Boyle and even more disappointed that Niskanen couldn't be landed. Being forced to re-sign Quincey is a huge letdown and Holland has to think of ways to kick start some kind of 're-design' (I agree that a rebuild is taking it too far). Eeking into the playoffs shouldn't be good enough for the Wings and a change is going to be necessary. We're getting beat up by all the GMs around the league that we trained but they went to find jobs elsewhere (Tampa Bay, Dallas, etc. etc.).

If Subban is available for a decent price, the Wings would be crazy not to take a look. Personality is one thing, play is another... Subban would step in and either push Kronwall's game forward or replace him as the foundation of the defense (not that he wouldn't deserve it with the Norris he's already won). For all the talk of 'immature' penalties, Kronwall actually has a worse penalty differential than Subban does this season (-15 for Kronwall to -9 for Subban). Subban is more aggressive in his play that what the Wings are today, in both ends... He has twice as many shots as any Detroit D-man, 50% more hits, and has still managed to block nearly as many shots as Kronwall... He would be represent a huge upgrade over any non-Kronwall defenseman and could really open up more options on the power play. The fact that Montreal tries to make him look like a bad guy or immature kid in the media to keep his cap hit down shouldn't really factor into what he can do on the ice...

Kesler has had two hip surgeries, a shoulder surgery (all labrum tears), and a broken foot. 4 injuries in 8 years may not have cost him a ton of games, yet, but it also doesn't shout 'durable' for a gritty player like him. He just seems a little expensive for what he brings to the table. I agree he's a good 2-way center, but his production has fallen off since the 10-11 season you referenced (1 shoulder surgery, 1 hip surgery, and a broken foot later). I don't think he's ever going to become a #1 center and the Wings ultimately need a guy who can put up numbers regardless of who skates with him on the second line as long as Datsyuk is around to log minutes on the top line. Weiss should have been that guy, but this year isn't what was expected (obviously). I'd love for the Wings to get a guy who opponents don't like to face, but not if it's going to cost too much...

I'd be surprised if Quincey or Kindl (plus a draft pick) would net him, but if it could, I'd be pretty happy. The upcoming draft isn't considered to be very strong past the first few. Draft picks for 2015 and 2016 are already seeing movement...

It's nice to think about a Vanek or Moulson, but I tend to agree - the price will be too high and they aren't likely to stay in Detroit (at least not without the Wings giving up some of their youth). I'd be very interested in what they could swing for Andy MacDonald, though, if the Isles may only asking for a 1st rounder. If Holland could turn that into a conditional 1st based on the Wings locking MacDonald up to a contract, that would give the defense a few more options moving forward. As for Kesler, I hope not. His injuries have kept him on the top-6-to-checking-line border his whole career. He certainly has upside, but Vancouver is paying him soundly to be in the top-6 and I think the Wings have better options for the cost. We need an effective wear-'em-down third line to go into the playoffs and I'm still holding hope that they give Steve Ott a look if he's available. Much rather 'rent' Ott than overpay and get stuck with Kesler...

Ott isn't a scorer, obviously, but he's tough in the corners and in the face-off circle. Come playoff time, this is something the Wings lack year-in-and-year-out. He's definitely not a top-6 forward for an offensive team, but the Wings lack a real 'grind'-line center and Ott would provide Drew Miller a lot of help on the PK. By Tootoo's role, you mean as a scratch or buried in the AHL? The big difference between Ott and Tootoo is that you want Ott in the circle. He would give the Wings a lot more options than, say, skating Datsyuk out to take every draw late in playoff games or at the end of the regular season. Really? This is why I would do it. Holland gave up a minor leaguer and the 19th overall pick for Kyle Quincey on an expiring contract. If we could get Ott for just a late 1st rounder, count me in. Realistically, Ott isn't the type of guy that the Wings want to sign in the off-season, but he is the type of guy they need in the playoffs. This team is getting old enough that they can't overwhelm opponents with speed and stick-handling like they used to. They need a line that can wear down an opponent. A center-man like Ott who can handle himself in the face-off circle, won't embarrass himself on the PK, and can log nearly 20 minutes a game is quite valuable for doing that (especially during a playoff run).