chaps80

Looks good, but having Drew Miller in the lineup instead of AA shouldn't happen. But we all know it will.

No big deal. May actually help.

Hell of a goalie. Top 5 of his era, i'd say top 3 along with Brodeur and Hasek, with Belfour and Joseph behind them. As a coach, meh. Some greats are just meant to play and retire and leave the game behind, while few are able to transition very well to coaching/management/league executives. Later Patty.

LOL

True. That would be a good way around it. Didn't think of that.

Ya I wasn't sure. Just guessed he didn't play much, being Detroit and all.

If Z was left unprotected and was claimed by Vegas, he'd probably retire. Sure he's leaving quite a bit of cash behind, but he's already got plenty. Can't see him wanting to start over with a new franchise put together with a hodgepodge of other teams castoffs at this point in his career. And I agree out of that list of forwards, Helm and Sheahan stand out as the two who should be left to the pillage. But don't forget Vanek as well. If he has a big turnaround season, he will most likely get an extension. So then who goes?

Always pulled for the guy and hoped he'd end up with the Wings full time one day when he was drafted 30th overall. Used to watch him play in the OHL, and he was damn good. Just sorta stagnated once he hit the AHL, and he was never given a shot with the big club, not that he deserved it. Never inspired enough confidence for Holland to bring him up as full time backup. Only brought up as an emergency backup here and there before Mrazek and Coreau passed him on the depth chart. Pretty sure he didn't even start one NHL game. Played a few third periods. I always felt he didn't really want to be in the Wings system where it takes forever to get a shot unless your Mrazek and you force them to give it to you. Maybe a change will do him good and he gets another shot at playing in the NHL.

I welcome Ott. It's his lifelong dream to wear the Winged Wheel. I expect he will play his ass off and do whatever he can to help out the team. $700K well spent.

It was awesome having Downey on the team in '08. He fought and dropped some pretty tough guys. I remember when he destroyed Parros. That was one my faves. Glad he got a cup ring even though he didn't play a playoff game. He played just enough regular season games to qualify.

Since Downey, not really. Had Brad May, but he was at the end of his career and i'm not sure if he even dressed for one game with the Wings. I know he played a bit in GR. As for Ott, he might not be what he was in his Dallas days, or the best fighter, but he could be a deterrent to some players taking liberties with the skill guys. Sometimes that's all you need is for the opposing team to know you have someone who will stick up for his teammates if need be.

At first I thought it was a dick move on his part (and still do) to bail on the last year of his contract so he could "go home to his family", and then turn around and sign with a team 8-10 hours away from them, but it didn't turn out too bad in the end. His play was declining, he didn't want to play in Detroit anymore so he may have just half assed it out there this season anyways, Holland traded his cap hit and signed Nielson and Vanek, so it's not a big deal to me anymore. The show must go on.

It'll be nice to have Ott around to help him this season, so maybe he won't have to f*** up his hand again defending all the ******* on the team. Would be a bonus if Errorsson made himself useful in that capacity as well, since he makes a bundle for doing nothing.

Howard.

Yeah Philly is where goalies careers go to die. They haven't had a franchise goalie since Ron Hextall. Trade Bobrovskyn he becomes a Vezina winner. Sign Bryzgalov, it's the beginning of the end of career. I'm surprised when they draft a young goalie, he doesn't just retire right then and there.

I thought he was pulled in 2014. My bad. The Flyers still have Neuvirth for one more season, and he' coming off a good year with them. Almost upset the Caps in the first round after Mason was pulled.

Better, although our D is skimped out. Wish there was a bit of cap to add a UFA vet like Jackmann at least. Better up front though with Nielson and Vanek(who i think will end up being a huge steal), Larkin coming off a full NHL season, hopefully see alot more of AA and Mantha however it has to be done..Kenny went a bit too wild with the chunk of cap he had signing UFA and RFA forwards..he'll figure it out though. No split games in goal, no competition for the starting job..Mrazek is the guy going forward, and I think he'll thrive knowing that and hopefully Howard improves in a backup role with less pressure on him.

True, but that's in an extreme case where a serious cup contenders starter is out for the season heading into the playoffs and they want some extra insurance in case their backup or third stringer falter. Even then, why would they take Howard and his contract? He's not exactly a proven playoff performer and he's played pretty bad for much of the last two seasons, was pulled in favour of Gustavsson in the 2014 playoffs, didn't even start a playoff game in 2015, and was pulled in favour of Mrazek in the 2016 playoffs, who he's lost the starting job in Detroit to for good. If teams were still interested in him and thought he'd be a reliable starter for them going forward, he'd already be gone. He almost won the Calder and has been in Vezina talk and has decent numbers overall, but he's not the same Jimmy Howard from 2010-2014. Just watch him out there..he's lost, shaky, sketchy confidence, gives up on a goal on almost every one on one chance and deflating goals at the worst times in games. BUT, maybe he'll be better in a backup role this season with less pressure not competing for the starting job and playing less games and increase his trade value some. We'll see.

Glad to see this done. Too bad Howard couldn't be moved, but whoever needed a goalie found better and/or cheaper options. The Elliot trade to Calgary was a huge surprise, and the nail in the coffin. His value is LOWWW! Hopefully he's only got one more season here then picked up in the expansion draft.

Anyone having Joseph on the list LOL. And Conklin did pretty well in Detroit as Osgood's backup in '09. Some forget that Osgood had a very up and down regular season probly because once the playoffs started he "flipped the switch" and had a Smythe worthy run. Conklin saved the team during the regulars.

He got market value, and while I don't think he's a franchise cornerstone, he's still a very solid player. D men make more these days, from the scrubs to the Norris candidates. I figured DK was getting a mid-long range deal for $4-5 million per.

And as for Richards in the HOF, i'd say maybe. Two cups, Conn Smythe, Selke, some great seasons in Tampa and Dallas. There are others more deserving at the moment though.

LOL love how the Wings always end up with former superstar players the year or two before they retire. It's a right of passage. Got one more year in ya and can't find a team? Call Ken Holland. He'll make room for ya.

Having Jimmy wouldn't be a factor. Holland has said Mrazek is the number 1 goalie this season. Looking at what Vasilevky got with Tampa still having Bishop as their number 1, and Mrazek playing alot more than Vasilevsky did last season, I think if Kenny gets Mrazek for $4 million a season, he'll have done well.

Bob Essensa Ken Wregget Vincent Riendeau Glen Hanlon Allan Bester