Juklitz

Actually it´s wrong year to contend for top OA picks.. Seems like there´s not a single guy ready to go.

On some boards during the pre-season, I can´t remember, saved the pic on my comp.

Not really true, there are some differences..

That´s ok, sorry for confusion. Rather confirming your idea above with true fact we failed in last seventeen years with our low picks. Scouting become balanced through the league, I believe it´s nearly impossible to repeat Dacjuk-like pick nowadays with "who´s that guy?" gem in 7th round. It´s my way how answer original topic point. 1 or 2? Ok, you can be real contender with low picks, but we need to prove our picks better, not giving them shot after 5 yrs of OHL/AHL/whatever... I mean, make this process quick as possible and don´t hesitate to make some mistakes - BUT mitigate anchor long term veteran contracts like Abby, Helm, Ericsson etc., keep roster flexible for future changes. If not possible, then suck and tank. I don´t like this idea either. Honestly, I don´t like Hawks´s way as I can remember them as a total league garbage and I don´t want to see Wings to be a team without honor because of waiting for another Austcklas McJesustzky.

Should be, but.. Dacjuk and Hank were the last gems from aprox150OA+ we had. Holmstrom in ´94. So our proclaimed ability to pick gems from end of queue is like 20yrs old. List of active roster and real league caliber 150OA+ picks since 2000: Jonathan Ericsson Alexej Marchenko What is league bottom result. And this has nothing to do with tanking (see Hawks), obviously.

Smith is a failed project, wouldn´t mention him. His progression was killed by Babcock and I hope he´s going to make space for XO/Sproul asap. Means - I hope Ken´s not going to re-sign him with some ridiculous term. He was on a good way to be our best pmd, but didn´t happen. Not saying he´s bad, but his upside was light year higher. DeKe emerged quickly and lucky us he decided to stay at home. He´s rewarded with term comparable to Lindholm´s fresh one, better than Vatanen and way better than Fowler. Actually, I´m not going to blame Ken for his contract, but in the other hand, take a look on Klingberg´s, Brodie´s, McDonagh´s etc contracts and yes, what I´m saying is he´s paid as a 1st pairing long-term guy which he obviously is NOT. So we have 15M in three guys where one is paid better he´s playing (and I hope he´s going to play better), second we´re looking for his retirement/exit and third one should be retired instantly (and you can just guess which one is one). And we have Green for another year, Marchy + 1 and above mentioned Smith´s case. So I´m actually searching for rebuild-in-a-fly evidence and what we´re doing more that standard NHL team when adding new youngsters to their roster. Even if I can say "yes, this is THE rebuild", I have to add that this is a high-stake game Holland is playing with accepting all the risks behind. He WAS sure Ericsson is going to be good D, he WAS sure Kroner will be our main corpse for such a long term, now he WAS once again sure DeKe will be our top guy. So, now what will happen?

I don´t know either and I really wish it will turn good sooner or later, but what I know for sure is that Abby´s, Helm´s, Nielsen´s terms won´t help us too much and that at the end of the day, these will be bottlenecks same way as E´s and Kroner´s terms are right now. What I´m saying, that if we are really re-building, why we are constantly choking ourselves?

Which ´our prospects´ actually? November 2016 - XO and Sproul benched, only Marchenko playing and were not picking wider D range between 2011 and 2016. We´ve just spent 5 years with building a bridge to exact point we´ve started and even worst. Exact reason why I asked... but then it´s clear how 2008 - 2016 comparison works out, isn´t it?

1/ But it was quite clear that Rafalski/Lidstrom´s exit will be a major impact for our D, like nothing in previous two decades in comparison. And it was predicted and Holland was NOT prepared, even later then we basically didn´t draft more Ds. And I don´t think that since 2011 Wings were somehow contending. Still, Holland´s moves instantly closed all real rebuilding options when gave a long-term to Kroner, BigE, signed KQ, White, Coala...ovo, 4yrs ´bridge´ to Kindl etc. I do understand the plan and point, but all of that just failed. 3/ but what is the exact timing of this rebuild-on-fly process? Ok, let´s say it started in 2011. Now it´s 16/17 season and team is constantly falling down and our youngster kick-off plan is still slow. Leafs started like two-three years ago and already have some real future shapes. Who actually really succeeded last time with rebuild in a fly?

Considering the way DeKeyeser´s played, I wouldn´t be ashamed.

True that... My point with Smith was about real need of identify-2-implement new Ds and the fact, that we´re obviously missing some reasonable way how drive this process. Both Sproul and XO were drafted in 2011, at this time, our D situation was way better than now - only short-terms, no anchors. Now I can see Kroner, Ericsson and DeKe with long terms remaining, Green also for next year. Only good point I can see is the fact Marchenko has fortunately only 2yrs contract instead Kindl´s 4yrs terms back there and Ken was - due to cap issues - not able to pay 4M to Q again. So, in the past our situation was better and more suitable for giving a shot for younger guys, but we failed with Smith. Then we failed again with XO and Sproul, guys are now waiver eligible and we obviously don´t know what to do with them and Blashill is proceeding with - like ITs are callling it - production test with no backup. So, what will be next? Once again we won´t give young guys a shot and won´t be really able to identify their caliber and upside and be ok with Saarijarvi/Hronek/Sambrook/whoever benched in 2021 and call it an upgrade? I´m pointing to the fact, that our 2016 draft was somehow ... perspective... and while we´re not going to outsource top D role, something else must be changed and that´s the reason I´m asking for Smith as this is the first step organization must proceed with. Don´t like examples, but see Flyers implementing Provorov with Morin and Sahneim in backlog (Ghost is extraordinary exempt).

Would like to hear Blashill´s real opinion. I mean real opinion, not these uniform statements about filling gaps, adding grit blablabla... He should realize it´s also his future reputation what he´s building right now.

Not a surprise, can´t remember last time I saw such a horrible matchups.. Playing PK during ES, c´mon. Ott + Miller are no NHL players at all, saying it for the second time.

Holland (and his coaching staff) is maybe trying somehow, but his bad decisions from 12/13 and 13/14 are still hunting him down. Imo main question is not Kronwall´s case, right now the main question is - What to do with Smith? Couple of good guys down there, Hronek, Saarijarvi, Russo... management should start - I mean really right now - thinking how to give them a real NHL shot and don´t be in the same situation like with Sproul/XO (blocked to no-play).

Awful season by DD so far..

Was watching Cats yesterday, should be easier game than Bruins. They´re are failing to play physical game, not able to simple rush the crease, I believe they are really missing few guys making them difference. Ekblad didn´t impress me, same as Barkov and Jagr. Yandle plays really well, expect good game also from Pysyk. Luongo was not a wall and their bottom lines suck.

Heh, because of central european time, I will see two Red Wings games during Sunday..

Sprouly won´t go pressing the box, his direct impact is too obvious to ignore. Not a single D last few years made such an impression like he did in few matches (yeh, not a big challenge with these Quindlicky-es etc). I´d say Smith/Marchenko : 40/60 Anyway, you can´t just cure bad knee, believe Kroner won´t make whole season...

I don´t think the game was a steal like NYR game was. For some reason, we failed to compete for first 25-30 minutes, not able to use our best weapons. AA was our best fw there, not afraid of their high possession game. Blues were very aggressively leaving their d-zone, once our forwards speeded up against their 1st-2nd pass, StL was not able to really deploy their offence. But the issue is still the same for us and Blues are exactly representing what we´re missing - last guy mostly prepared and able to hold the safety brake, Parayko himself several times completely wasted our chances there.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cvy3Vf0UsAE1yq7.jpg:large Murray on Despres... Guy is unfortunately done.

I´d choose Green - nice cap hit, shorter term, will provide them good experienced and (trade) value.

Actually won´t be, he was assigned just to minors. Zatkoff will be ready in one week. Btw, LA is 4-0-0 with Budaj.

I don´t think you have to protect Abby, can´t imagine LV will take his contract. Nearly the same for Helm.

What´s wrong with Sheahan? Not able to win a battle, not able to play the puck in reasonable way... 3on1 situation and pass on #15? Ward was just safe in that case.