rick zombo

Check it. Later today, Canada to announce 34 invites to World Junior camp. MacKenzie quotes sources who suggest that Red Wing draft pick, Evan McGrath (19G, 35A, in 26 games - amongst OHL point leaders) may be odd man out. Along with Avalanche prospect Wojtek Wolski. Not Brent Sutter's types of guys maybe? Anyway, if this turns out to be true, bad news for McGrath. http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/news_story.asp?id=145812

Exactly. And it's funny because I though Seth was one of the LGWers lobbying for some grit on this Wings team. Yet he's campaining for this smallish center. Doesn't make sense.

5 feet 10 inches?

You could argue that McGrath deserves to be right there with Guilliame. So he may be a good deal closer, but this doesn't mean he should be. To be fair.

Exactly. The Devils could use one. And Lamoriello isn't an incapable GM like Holland right? So this points to the fact that Lantendresse isn't maybe as s**t hot as some people here think.

No he didn't. He made the list of 18 forwards invited to final camp. He's not garanteed a spot at all.

That's true Barnes. At this point. I have faith in the Wings scouting. And like I said, you've got guys in here proclaiming that Guilliame is the next Bertuzzi or Thorton. Soooooooooooooo overzealous. Let me ask you cats this. Look at all the best GMs in the league, and exclude Holland if you want. They all passed on this kid.

Latendresse can't skate. And what has he done that has been so terrific? Huh? Big deal, he had a good camp with the Habs. That doesn't mean anything. He's not even leading his Junior team in scoring. Get off his lap.

Derek Meech was the last Wings pick to play for Canada's Juniors. Quincey was the final cut on last year's stacked team. Also: Any word on Abdelkader. Did he make the U.S. Juniors?

Good points. But at some point a young kid needs to get a little reward/ encouragement for his play. Anyway, it's official. No McGrath. http://www.tsn.ca/World_jrs/feature.asp?fid=1007

Big deal. 7.5D. Which means that he's unlikely to reach his potential as a 1st or even 2nd liner and will probably be a fourth line guy or depth forward. What's your point Seth?

It's a stupid proposition. Howard needs at least another year in the AHL, and Liv is inconsistent. Next year, Detroit needs to have an experienced NHL goalie on their roster. Liv could back him up maybe.

And if he keeps playing well in GR, he proabably will.

Mowers and a pick for Langenbrunner or Afinogenov? Do you think NJ or Buffalo would make that deal? Or how 'bout you Eva: Rivers?Lilja and Cleary for Isbister. Lilja and Cleary were both players any team could have had? Why would Boston deal Isbister for them now? People have to realize, you trade from your strengths to address weaknesses. So that means, in order to get some size up front, Detroit would have to trade one of their small skilled players (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hudler, etc.) or an offensive D-Man like Schneider or Kronwall. No one's going to give players away to Holland at the deadline in the new NHL.

Thank you Henkka. Very much. Soooooooooooooooooooo, would anyone be opposed to having Grigs in Detroit this december if he's still lighting it up in Russia. Purely theoretical question. Forget about cap and whatever. If it was possible, which it is, would you do it? How much more ready would he have to be?

So no one really answered this. Is it possible? Is it allowed?

Stupid question alert!!!!!!! But if the Wings could clear up some room under the cap, could Grigorenko join the team say before Christmas this year?

Shocker! Oh wait, McGrath was ready to be AHL bound but their already uber-stocked with AHL havnots and wastful prospects. What are you trying to say?

Is Gretzky a prospect?

Regardless, the Wings have shown in the past that they're not scared to insert a young unproven European into their lineup after coming off a good camp. Not to say Filppula comes with the same brag sheet as Zetterberg, and he's not as old as Datsyuk was when he broke. Remember though, they gave Hudler a shot at the start of last season, but as a purely offensive player it was pointless to give him 4th line minutes. But Filppula has a better two way game, great speed, and is not a pip-squeak. A good camp though, and a Datsyuk scratch, I'd look at the following: Shanny - Lang - Homer Zetterberg - Draper - Williams Maltby - Filppula - Yzerman Mowers - Franzen - LaCouture That could be decent.

I agree. I think he could maybe get stronger. Maybe gain 10lbs. Babcock says he's got major league speed though. Of all the current Wings prospects excluding Kronwall, I think Filppula sounds like he's made the biggest strides since draft day.

Word on the street is that Babcock is really happy with the kid. And alot of the other prospects are impressed. So are Holland and the boys. It's possible he could do the unthinkable and crack the Wings roster this year. Similar to Datsyuk and Zetterberg in years past.

I'm just sick of people in the hockey world saying Detroit are a bunch of old farts. And they were saying this back in 2002. I was very jealous of Calgary's fast young hungry gritty team in the 04 playoffs. Please, I do not want Detroit to be old and slow any longer. I would rather miss the playoffs.

It just makes no sense. Holland said (to paraphrase) that he has 3-4 forward positions. Murray, LaCouture, Franzen, Hudler, Willams, Mowers, MacLean, Manlow, Ellis, etc. will be competing for these. There's no room for Thomas on the 4th line. Unless he's going to be our answer to the void on the 2nd line Wing. Which is scary.

Not true I bet. I heard Leafs, not Wings.