Jacksoni

The fan in me hope you are right. I do agree that many of our players under performed last year. However subjectively I do not see that changing this year, once again allowing for local variation, as in some may blossom and others decline. But that equates to guessing. I don't have enough data to justify a peak, nor dip collectively. The strategian in me does not hope you are right. If we won't make the playoffs, finishing in the lower middle of the pack gives us the worst (of non-playoff teams) to land one of the generational talents that are coming up in the next years draft. If we won't make the playoffs I would prefer us being in the lower echelon with a realistic top 5 pick. With that said I would take a vacation and stock the fridge with beer if we were to be back in the race come April.

Oh boy... Your lines seems reasonable and with some minor random variation is what we will field come puck drop I believe. And that is depressing. I am having a hard time finding a team in our division we can topple on paper. Yes, reality is not paper and we will squeeze an unexpected win here, a Mrazek-saved/Howard-saved game there. But we are in dire straits and I suspect this season might be the worst in terms of wins in 35 years. With that said, all isn't bad. We have Larkin, Mantha and AA. This year we'll see how they've progressed and they are certainly exciting to watch. Finally with some luck we get a top 2 pick, resulting in either Dahlin (my clear pick, would pay from my own pocket to get him) or Svechnikov, a win-win would that scenario come true. One can dream. Soon enough that's all we got.

You can see my last on my pic. My next will be of a defender. I would very much like it to be Rasmus Dahlin.

What I wrote. I would have liked her writing a little about Tatar's shoulder. Either she has been asked to not speak about it or she doesn't know. Either way, she's a hack in my opinion. Give it early next season if Tatar is here and decide for yourselves.

He was playing hurt all season from the get-go. He had surgery as soon as we got smoked. The details about the injury and healing process has not been disclosed, likely for good reasons - both parties has/have his negotiation which is playing out right now. I hope he's good to go at puck drop, but for me that's not remotely possible. Hands, which he has, needs continuous practice. Use your own logic to determine how likely he's in prime shape even if the surgery was successful. Those who has been in a cast for a month can probably attest to my point. Ties to my logic a few posts prior as to payment and contract length.

Tatar can score, no doubt. But he is small and has a bad shoulder which makes me uncertain as to what position to take against him. I would be weary signing him to a long term deal. Need proof about that shoulder first. I'm fine with a costly 1-year deal. If he performs this season, he'll get paid, either by us or any entity bidding over us. It's not a win-win but given the situation that's the stance I would take. I have had my share of injuries; if his injury is chronic he is a 3rd pairing for a few years at best I think.

To me this signing is a backup if defensive pairings "up top" goes haywire due to injuries. He could probably fill in a few games. We are on thin ice with Kronwall's fate unclear and a somewhat strange mix of young-old defenders, some with nagging injuries. So a Griffin that could fill in as a stay at home defender if some of our 'core' defenders drop out due to unexpected injuries. Decent enough signing for me.

No. I am saying he could be having the same role he had last season, which was a wildcard on the bench. If he shows growth preseason he will crack top 9. He will not play on the 4th line. Most folks here knows that is not his forté.

Nice picture, ergo nice software. A few questions though: Green on the second pairing? Jensen on the first pairing? That immediately sends you to la-la land. It is not going to happen. -- Speculations, justified: Larkin will center. Either 2nd or 3rd. Helm will be on wing. Most likely on the 4th line. Our first defensive pairing will be your 2nd, DeKeyser - Green. edit addon: Abdelkader will be top 6 if healthy. -- Speculations, less justified: Glendenning will be a starter on the 4th line. Athanasiou will replace Glen on the bench, for rushes. Besides all that, looks decent, given what we have to play with of course. Still going to be all about misery.

What is this blabbery? The first rule of commerce always apply in compensation and it pertains to supply and demand: "Everything is worth what a purchaser is willing to pay for it." I was about to insert a rant or some biblical allegory here but I trust your mediocre judgement to think the matter through.

We need more data on Sproul. I hope he's healthy and can play and is given the chance this coming season. The hockey lords know we need an(other) offensive defenseman. Our back doesn't look too sharp regarding that. Except for Green we don't have excessively offensive minded d-men. If he blossoms he could fill that role on our second pairing. However as a tidbit, my takeaway thoughts about Sproul last season was that he looked good offensively but looked damn bad defensively. I would like to be proven wrong next season. Edit addon: Another tidbit: he can skate. As in he can Skate. A prerequisite for offensive danger.

Thought this thread was about Ken Holland and goalie protection. Got derailed as many other countless threads. Yes, I concur with KH, we protected our best goaltender. Yes, he's getting up there in age but he is certainly not old and can produce. And Mrazek seems to need a kick in the booty in order to see if he's going to wake up and play to what many of us thinks he can. I for one am looking forward to the goalie battle next season. Many a times the only thing that kept us in games were them. Mostly Howard.

A Roman, supposedly Julius Ceasar, eating pizza depicted on the roof of a sports arena. Mr I and the old Wings are gone for sure.

He does have upside potential. I'm fine with this one, especially the length is great. Me likey not complaining for once. Almost forgot how it felt.

In retrospect counting from his back injury I believe Zetterberg is one of those athletes that has an almost maniacal mindset that makes them push through pain and misery in order to improve or find alternative ways to perform. Looking forward to reading what he went through in a bit more detail once he hangs the skates up. I know he had a hard time during rehab but he was pretty hushed up about it. Anyway, too early for that. I hope he has another 2 good seasons left to squeeze.

Me forth. Might as well pick him up. It's not like we're gonna win the cup next season. I'd enjoy him play with the wheel, winging Larkin.

Didn't McCollum play for the Griffins? What did I miss? I am expecting a disaster and really hope Holland will stand pat after these moves. We shouldn't trade for anything else than young talent regardless of position but preferably on D. Anything else look away. I seriously doubt we'll place better than last year, might as well focus on getting our core up and going and get studs that can compliment and grow together.

Lindström is there. Ehn is there, Actually quite a bit of players that I'd like to see is there. I'll keep up with that, albeit with half an eye, vacation and all.

Reading this, I miss Lidström so much. Damnit.

Crazy. Well good luck to them. I'll make a mental note to follow his stats on and off next season.

Been thinking the coming trade window. I do believe we will trade for a defenseman and the price we pay will be hefty. Probably too hefty. Given that I believe we will be getting a top draft pick next year I hope the defender we get is young enough to be in tune with Larkin, Mantha and AA (and our picks). And hopefully those bucks wont be included in the package. I wouldn't mind sending off Tatar and/or Nyqvist.

There should be way more foo jokes in this thread. Come on now dry folks. Just imagine the game commentaries.

Well maybe we should tank and go for the closest thing to Lidström that has come up the last 5 years in the next draft. I believe Rasmus Dahlin would have gone first this year, he's eligible next year. In honesty I think we will be in running to be able to draft him next year. You will hear more about him the coming season. Kid can play.

I have seen Lindström play live. He will play top 4 in Red Wings in time, no doubt in my mind. Excellent puck control, forwards and backwards. But he needs work, there is no way he can handle the speed of the NHL yet. I will be following him in Allsvenskan (2nd highest Swedish league) where he will get top minutes this coming season. I'll write something up if it's noteworthy.

I already stated that I am skeptical about our first pick. Despite his size he will need serious polishing in the minors then in GR. My point being that we can't figure him out in quite some time, I'm guessing he'll be on the wings maybe 2, most likely 3 years from now. Since I'm not getting any younger maybe some young buck wouldn't mind reminding me who this big dude is once he's on the roster and what my initial thoughts were, which is a solid 3rd line center, after some tryouts on the top 6 which failed, albeit not miserably but clearly.