rick zombo

Agreed. Something we're missing a bit I think is the fact that the Wings tend to let the smaller guys over-ripen more. It's no coincidence that Nyquist and Tatar both maxed out their waiver exemptions before sticking with the big club while Sheahan and especially Jurco seem to have carved themsleves an NHL niche a little prematurely by Wings standards. Matha has elite size for a scoring winger. This alone should speed up his development.

Absolutely disgusting behaviour from anyone in any situation. Fans of a franchise that broke ground, way back when, with Willie O'Ree should have more respect.

Holland vs Shaman Drunken Sea Captain vs Broken Record

Unless Holland outbids everyone. He has the cap space to do it.

There's probably a better than good chance that Holland overpays to bring Nabby here for one year and I'm OK with this.

Since we've decided to get a cute little dig in at Holland, I just thought I'd edit your post a bit.

Troll time: Danny Heatly + Derek Morris 3 year deals for each. Book it.

Chicago in 5 !!!!!! (and this is not the wrong thread)

The Habs will upset the Bruins, then it's Pitts vs Chicago for the cup dream match-up of the universe (!!!!!!), and Bettman will slather himself in baby oil and slide around a room carpeted with Crosby and Toews posters.

No chance. The Hawks are in the zone. The one they get in when everything is going to go their way. Just like a spoiled brat at their own birthday party.

The Hawks just bought themselves a ticket to Cali. forn. i. a.

Holland's notorious for keeping current players or bringing former players back because, in addition to loyalty, he feels like "he knows what he's getting with them". He's dusted off this quote on several occasions in the past. I'd say the uncertainty (How good will Smith be? How good will that 1st be? How many good years does Kesler have left?) would be more of a turn off for Holland than loyalty. But yes, Kelser's still in his prime (maybe a touch past it) and this would be the closest thing to a 1996 style Shanahan deal this generation of Wings would see.

Yeah. I'd do that. 100%.

But he does have a point. There's a strong chance that at least two (maybe three) of Ouellet, Sproul, Marchenko, and Backman becoem ery good NHLers sooner rather than later. Where do they fit? If I'm Holland I'm including Smith or Ericsson in a deal for a RH top pairing D man that can run a PP and move the puck. That's the only way we can get that coveted #1 or #2 guy and keep spots open for the kids. Also, Kindl is gone. You can tell based on Babcock and Holland's comments regarding the defence.

Comparing Holmgren to Holland is just further proof that you have an agenda and there is no limit to what facts and opinions you'll twist to get there. We get it. You hate hate Holland. You hate that he traded Jarnkrok. And on and on and on. I feel like, right now, if Holland were able to trade his receeding hairline to Phoenix for Yandle, you'd have something negative to say about it.

We need a righty that can score on the PP and move the puck.

This. This. This. This. This. A tousand times over. I'm actually blown away that this never gets talked about more.

Or Statsny. edit: on (what would most definitely have to be) a mult-year deal. Then deal with the Weiss situation if/when he's ever healthy again.

Maybe Holland's sick of losing all his personel to other teams? As happy as I am for Nill, MacLean, McLellan, etc for thier new opportunities over the last few years, other teams' scavenging of the Detroit organization is getting old and frustrating, in a hurry.

frank. Generally I agree with everything you've just said. Except for these two points above. And it's not that I don't agree, rather, I don't think they're 100% fair. 1. Going back to 2003 vs the Ducks up until now (highlighting 2007 matchups vs Calgary, San Jose, and Anahiem in particular) Wings fans have been screaming that we need to get bigger and tougher. Hell, when we were winning Presidents Trophies, this was to only and often cited criticism of the team (other than goaltending). We won the cup in 2008 followed by a highly skilled and not physically dominant Penguins team in 2009. The next four years was 50-50. Two big strong teams (Boston and LA) won and a highly skilled Blackhawks team won twice. Four of the last six cups were won by "skill-first" teams. Chicago could very well repeat this year. Or Montreal could beat Boston. Or Colorado could go deep. Do we now focus on being small and fast? Know what I mean? 2. In his 16 years as Red Wings GM, Holland has never had a pick higher than 17th overall. The GMs you mentioned are all beneficiaries of the draft lottery. This is a huge deal. Since then, most of these GMs just have to make roster tweaks (much like Holland did in 2006 and 2007). But there is no question, they've all had way more to work with. I'd like to see what someone like Shero would do with Hollands skimpy resources.

This last part is spot on, and basically how I feel. Well said.

Mos def.

Holland's done plenty of good things. And some bad. Just like Bowman. Just like pretty much everyone who has dipped a toe in NHL waters. Around these parts, I would argue he doesn't get enough credit. I tend to try and evaluate his work over larger periods of time that, IMO, have yet to expire.

Of course I know Bowman was af****** coach. I assumed, since you were evaluating Holland as a GM, that you were comparing him to Bowman when he had assumed brief GM duties (or player personal or whatever vague position he had along with being the coach) with the Wings back in the 90s. As it turns out, you were comparing Holland the GM to Bowman the coach? Is that what you were doing? Why? Why would you do that? And also, it is true that the Illitches had to intervene when Bowman (who was acting as GM) had all but traded Yzerman for Yashin back in 1994 or 1995. That would have probably meant ZERO cups for us over the last 20 years. So yeah, don't tell me what to do. I'll put Bowman down if I want. He's not infallible. How about you not put down Holland? How do you like that for an order?

Because I'm getting tired of logging on the LGWings and seeing people's negative opinions over and over and over. To the point where we're now making assumptions on Holland's mental and emotional disposition? And I like coming here. So I don't plan on stopping. And I ignore lots of posts, but sometimes I just can't.