BringBack19

Quite frankly this doesn't surprise me. Smith has underperformed expectations so he deserves a 6 year, 4 million dollar contract in Hollands mind.

I wouldn't group Hischier into the play small Nyquist type. He uses his body and stick like Z. I actually think that is a very good comparison as far as game/potential go.

Any kind of trade for Trouba that uses the top 5 pick, and doesn't involve AA, Mantha, or Larkin I am in for. He is 22 and only going to get better over the next decade. This draft class is weak compared to the last few but it is no worse than 2012.

I don't necessarily give Holland a pass with regards to Chychrun either. His plan was to move Dats contract to sign Stammer. He didn't so as of now it is not a successful move. Now if we get a good pick for Vanek, and Nielsen is competent through the whole contract then it wouldn't be one of Hollands worse moves by far. The book isn't closed on this move, and we probably won't know until whoever we pick develops. All of this being said I don't think Holland deserves to be bashed for trading with Arizona. He swung for the fences, good for him.

No, I would take Middlestadt at that point. He has more than a little Patty Kane in his game.

Well JR was pretty bullish on Brendan Smith lol

Looking at this and realizing we don't have any real promising centers in the minors puts center as the top necessity. Z only has a year or two left, Nielsen is not a #1, and most importantly is Larkin even going to develop as a center? This could be a long rebuild. The only position of strength in the whole organization is wingers.

I would say Mantha is at the very least the same level of Trouba respective of position. I agree with everything else you say. The question is what is Trouba's ceiling?

I hate to call someone a liar, but I didn't like Nyquists explanation of what happened. It wasn't an accident, and he should have just owned up to it.

Nolan Patrick, Hischier, and Vilardi are all future top 6 centers which we need. Mittelstadt may have the highest potential of the top 7 picks, but is a winger. That being said if Trouba is available for Tatar + 1st round pick I don't care about getting another pick from Winnipeg, just make the trade. I just don't think it will be that cheap.

Hopefully it is just a product of a bad team, and he develops into a solid NHL defenseman. I'm just skeptical over the fact that Xavier Ouellet is the only top 4 defenseman we have drafted and developed since Kronwall.

Barring an unlikely run of winning hockey it appears we will be picking in the top 5. I would be happy with any of Patrick, Hischier, Vilardi, Tippett, or Mittelstadt. All are no more than a year away from the NHL. With the exception of Mittelstadt the rest may be able to step right in and contribute. Hopefully (unlikely) Vanek can bring us a late first round pick, and we can acquire Foote/Hague later in the first. Unfortunately our scouting department is subpar with identifying defenseman. If put in this position Holland would probably reach for the next Cholowoski type. Who by the way is not having a good freshman year in college.

Is it a coaching or scouting issue in your opinion? I tend to lean towards a scouting problem, but it is probably a blend of both.

Holland is already setting himself up to do nothing or very little at the deadline. He always points to the next beneficial time frame to make trades as "that's where we will make moves". Then when the draft comes the mantra will be pushed to the trade deadline. I bet Vanek gets traded for a pick/prospect, and Smith for a mid to late pick. There will be no big moves that signal a rebuild, and the company line will be "we were only a few games away from the playoffs. There is no need to blow things up". Until Holland is replaced we will continue to sign anchor contracts, and see very few moves to make this team better.

Holland hasn't made 7 good trades in a decade, or even sign 7 good contracts. He can't flip this roster because of cap issues with regards to the terrible contracts he has signed that we are still paying for (Weiss, Ericsson, Howard etc). The problem with him isn't that he made a few bad signings in the past he continues to do so i.e Nielsens term. I probably am just wasting my time, since the Holland faithful think he does no wrong and would be willing cuckhold participants.

What the hell is Shehan doing on the 6 on 4 and not AA???!!???

I'm going to say this now, because it will probably never happen again. Ericsson with two nice passes in one shift...

I'm always supporting our team to win. I do not think tanking is a good philosophy for fans or an organization, because it reveals traits of weakness. I support the theory of trading a player or two to build draft picks/prospects to make ourselves more competitive in the future. Actually trading one of Tatar or Nyquist may do the lineup some good, and wake up a few players. Complacency is the problem with our organization not talent. Well maybe coaching too.

To play devils advocate, I believe Howard lost the job or was injured before the end of 2014/15. Then he was terrible last year. Howard was great this year until he got injured. So saying he is inconsistent, and when playing well generally gets injured is a pretty fair statement regarding Howard. This is coming from a Howard fan.

I've seen enough of him, but he would be better the 15

Mick has been spot on. Why have Mantha play beneath the goal line when he is the guy who should be isolated for the shot

I think it's time to see if Sheehan clears waivers and bring up Nosek or basically anyone else...

Dekeyser responsible for both goals tonight... Man has he regressed this year...

I think this team is closer to what we have witnessed the majority of the year vs the last three games. I fully expect to drop a few we shouldn't and be right back in the top 5 pick discussion. I don't like Kostin either.

AA scores now he deserves to be benched- Blashill