LeftWinger

Good on him. I'm paying my Franchise player, current #1 center and future Captain $6.1M, there is no way in snowville that I am giving Nyquist anywhere near $5M. Using that logic, Mantha should be at $4.8M and AA at $3.3M, Helm should have to give money back.

Plus he'll be 30 at the start of next season. $5M, nah....pass. Forget the whole idea I brought up.

Nyquist has been paid handsomely and hasn't really earned it. Factoring in a "hometown" discount, I don't think $3.5M is too little. Kids get paid after they prove it. This is not the Edmonton Oilers. In no way is $3.5M peanuts. But if some team wants to give a player $5M who can barely score 20 goals, then more power to them. No thank you here. Nyquist at $3.5M Good, Nyquist at $5M Bowel Inducing. Loose ones at that!

Ya, then no thanks. Moving on...

Unfortunately Cap is unavailable... Honestly though, using the Pro LTIR mode at capfriendly.com, if we were to assign Z to LTIR along with Franzen, have Rasmussen and Zadina on the roster, we'd have $2.9M available in cap space. First you keep Zadina and Rasmussen, then you LTIR Z first, THEN Franzen. Yes it matters, so in that order only will it work. Would Toby sign here for $2.5M? Guess it would beat $0.0M!

After trading Nyquist at this seasons TDL, I can actually see Holland re-upping Gus in the summer, at a reduced rate for sure. Would you be ok with Nyquist for a round $3M-$3.5M for a couple of seasons to help the rebuild along? I guess I'd be ok with it as long as Vanek, Kronwall and Howard are not back. I like Vanek, and he may get near 30 this season, but at some point we ARE going to have to go with a few more kids. Especially if we luck into a top 5 pick*. I do see Holland re-upping Witko to act as the #13/14 forward, that is fine as well. *Again here is Craig Button's top 5 early picks for 2019 draft. ANY of which would make us better! 1. Jack Hughes electrifying and dynamic player … has ability to be a difference-maker … very elusive … attacks lanes … always a step ahead … plays smart, ISS Hockey 2017 2. Dylan Cozens https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-cozens-hockey-gold-medal-hlinka-gretzky-1.4784191 3. Philip Broberg He has exceptional skating ability and exceptional command of the game in every single regard, Craig Button - TSN 2018 4. Kappo Kakko https://www.nhl.com/news/kaapo-kakko-top-european-prospect-for-2019-nhl-draft/c-299637312 5. Vasili Podkolzin He’s a complete winger with all the qualities that you want in a player, Craig Button - TSN 2018

Besides, this just give Bouchard a better chance of making the Oil. Plus there are a few other D-Men out there that are still UFA that could come in for $1M or so to shore up their D. A few of which are better options than what we have.

I'm all for that trade, for sure. BUT! He'd have to want to go to Edmonton due to his NTC and also the stipulation that it's a full NTC until 10 days prior to the 2019 TDL. Plus I may be wrong, but the 15 team No Trade List just may include Edmonton...BUT I guess he could waive it earlier and allow a trade to Edmonton. Our only defender with no such clause is Jensen. Not too sure Edmonton would want him. Nice going Holland, a team is in need for a NHL caliber defender and you have 5 out 6 with NTC's that can control where they'd go if they waived it!

I don't see Broberg in that list, but it is to be noted that Craig Button says that in his opinion Broberg will be the #1 available D in the draft. Here is his top 5: 1. Jack Hughes 2. Dylan Cozens 3. Philip Broberg 4. Kappo Kakko 5. Vasili Podkozen https://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/video/craig-s-list-top-5-players-for-the-2019-nhl-draft~1459629

http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/nhl-draft-2019-prospects-rankings-mock-big-board-jack-hughes-payton-krebs-alex-turcotte/126u2582bkry413nlger8mihk8 Here is a prelim ranking for the 2019 kids. 1. Jack Hughes, C, U.S. U18 (NTDP) Explosive center with world-class vision and the lateral quickness of a running back. Hughes was the top scorer at the under-18 world championship despite playing against mostly older players. He plays like a man among midget-level talent, and there really is no way to slow him down or stop him. The comparisons to Connor McDavid are a bit premature, but there are multiple similarities between the two. 2. Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay (WHL) Dynamic center with leadership traits, game-changing speed and creativity. Krebs can be a stopper in the defensive zone and a scoring threat in the opposing end. He is the kid you summon to take all the big draws or deliver a game-changing play. 3. Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS U20 Jr. A (SM-Liiga) A puck-controlling fiend with exception hands, agility and vision, Kakko is a power winger who is impossible to knock off the puck. His close-quarter quickness and straight-line speed seem to always catch opponents off guard. 4. Alex Newhook, C, Victoria (BCHL) Newhook is close to Hughes in terms of out-of-your-seat excitability, but he can also play a power game and wear down defenders with either his wheels or his strength. He chose the BCHL to maintain his NCAA eligibility and play for Boston College. 5. Bowen Byram, LHD, Vancouver (WHL) Tough-as-nails defender with deceptive agility and puck handling who is earmarked for a top pairing at the NHL level. Byram is an outstanding puck mover who makes good decisions, but his powerful back skating helps him retreat in time to thwart counterattacks. He stands up at his blue line and rapidly transitions from defense to offense. 6. Alex Turcotte, C, U.S. U18 (NTDP) The opinions may lean toward Jack Hughes as being the NTDP's top center, but this talented pivot is strikingly close to matching his skill for skill. Turcotte's blazing speed, high hockey IQ and vision are good enough to at least place him in the conversation with his more-heralded teammate. 7. Raphael Lavoie, RW, Halifax (QMJHL) Towering power forward with a rocket of a shot who can control the puck with bodies draped all over him. He had an excellent showing at the under-18 world championship and shoot see an increase in shot opportunities if Filip Zadina heads to the NHL. 8. Valentin Nussbaumer, C/W, Biel-Bienne (NLA) Slippery yet dangerous stickhandler with very good speed and an assassin's mentality once he gets near the high slot. Nussbaumer is this year's top Swiss prospect and he was quite impressive at the under-20 worlds juniors. Nussbaumer can play inside thanks to rapid directional changes. 9. Dylan Cozens, RW, Lethbridge (WHL) The WHL Rookie of the Year had an impressive second half, including the postseason where he averaged nearly a point per game. Cozens has a great shot and knows how to finish in a variety of ways, including roofing a backhander from in close. He competes hard in all three zones and creates separation in open ice thanks to his above-average speed. Cozens also can serve as a low-slot option on the power play. 10. Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL) A power center with smarts who plays a 200-foot game and has elite playmaking abilities. Dach is a strong stickhandler with soft hands who dictates the tempo of most of his shifts. His average speed is at this point the only thing keeping him from being in the conversation for first overall. 11. Trevor Zegras, C, U.S. U18 (NTDP) Zegras was a critical player for the under-17 NTDP but it felt like he wasn't getting the recognition he deserved. One thing you can't overlook is the way he stickhandles and connects with teammates nobody thought were open. The way he spins and pivots away from pressure is impressive, and the way he can dish the puck makes him tough to war game. 12. Anttoni Honka, RHD, JyP (SM-Liiga) Undersized playmaker from the back end who has speed, agility and hawk-like vision. Honka is one of the 2019 draft's top offensive threats among defensemen. He is very quick and nimble, using rapid directional changes, dekes and stutter steps to cleanly take the puck through a clogged neutral zone, 13. Nikita Alexandrov, C, Charlottetown (QMJHL) Speedy German import with great hands and a nose for the net whose second half elevated his stock for next year’s draft. Alexandrov took a while to heat up, but he has the ability to finish from the high slot thanks to a hard, accurate wrist shot. He's more of a finisher than a playmaking center, but he's good on faceoffs and can run a power play. 14. Yegor Spiridonov, C, Stalnye Lisi (MHL) A power center with top-line upside, Spiridonov wears out opponents with strong puck possession skills and a powerful shot. He can be matched up against any player, and his speed is good enough to make him a threat in open ice. Spiridonov is one of the few big men who can dish the puck as if he had eyes in the back of his head. 15. Mikko Kokkonen, LHD, Jukurit, SM-Liiga One of the top junior-age defenders in Finland, Kokkonen is a poised, mobile playmaker with a high IQ who usually is summoned to take care of the tougher tasks. His skating ability allows him to carry the puck through or around traffic, but he'll only do it if the situation presents itself. Kokkonen isn't big in the classic sense, but he can handle opposing top players and chip in on offense with crisp breakout passes. 16. Vojtech Strondala, C, Brno U20 (Extraliga Jrs.) Strondala has been a dangerous player on the top line at a handful of under-18 events, and for good reason. He has phenomenal quickness and keeps the puck glued to his blade during cycles. Strondala always is noticeable when he's on the ice and uses his speed and vision to make the most of his odd-man rushes. 17. Drew Helleson, RHD, U.S. U18 (NTDP) Mature two-way blueliner with good speed and the ability to run a power play who is headed to Boston College in the Fall. Helleson at 6-2 offers the size you want in a defender with top-pairing potential. It's his playmaking and pass accuracy that when combined with his mobility presents the opposition with tough choices. 18. Vasili Podkolzin, C/W, Vityaz Podolsk (MHL) It's easy to gravitate towards forwards you didn't expect to excite you, only to walk away from the rink asking yourself "who was that guy?". Podkolzin is one of those noticeable players because he works extremely hard but also finds a way to be involved in most quality chances for his team. He busts his rump every shift, so it's no coincidence the puck seems to always find him. He also owns a deadly shot. 19. Matthew Robertson, D, Edmonton (WHL) Strong defenseman who can skate and excel in either a shutdown or puck-moving role. Robertson looked comfortable playing in his first full season in the Dub, as well for Team Canada at the under-18 world championship. It's not common for a 16-year-old defenseman to earn the respect of his coach when it comes to late/close situations, but Robertson always was out on the ice to match up against top lines. 20. Blake Murray, C, Sudbury (OHL) Murray is a fast center with size and a strong all-around game who eventually worked his way up the Wolves' depth chart to become a top-six center for most of the season. He's excellent on faceoffs, can kill penalties and possesses both elite vision and soft hands to finish around the net. A matchup nightmare for opponents. 21. Ben Brinkman, LHD, Edina HS (Minn.) College-bound puck rusher who accelerated his high school education in order to be eligible to play next season for the University of Minnesota. Brinkman is big, strong and mobile, but he also is an on-ice leader that loves to take chances when his team needs a boost. 22. Michael Vukojevic, LHD, Kitchener (OHL) Smothering defender with good wheels and late-game reliability in all three zones. Vukojevic played critical minutes for the Rangers as they came close to upsetting the favored Soo Greyhounds in the OHL playoffs. But don’t label him as merely a shutdown type -- the kid stickhandles with confidence and won't hesitate to join the rush or pinch well below the circles. 23. Nils Hoglander, LW, AIK (Allsvenskan) Smallish winger who plays at an intense pace and throws his weight around regardless of how big or strong the opposing player is. Hoglander saw a lot of top-six time on a deep Swedish under-18 team thanks to his speed, nonstop motor and advanced puck skills. He can wire the puck or connect with tough passes. 24. Matthew Boldy, LW, U.S. U18 (NTDP) Another Boston College-bound draft prospect who can fill the net from the flanks. Boldy is an excellent skater with a hard, knockdown wrist shot, but he's not your typical top-line winger who thinks offense no matter where the puck is. Boldy is a very good checker who throws his weight around and covers up dangerous gaps created by wandering teammates. 25. Oleg Zaitsev, C, Dynamo Moscow (KHL) Wonderful skater with strong agility and edge work that gets him into prime set-up areas with regularity. Zaitsev was a top-six player for most of the year, centering either the first or second line. He has good size and keen vision, but he also lends support well below the circles in his own end. Zaitsev seems more like a playmaker than a shooter, but his ability to think ahead of time and properly rank the best options is what separates him from most 2019-eligible pivots. 26. Petr Cajka, C, Zug U20 (Elite Jr. A) Big, strong two-way playmaker with a very good compete level who creates opportunities and keeps his head up at all times. Cajka is very responsible defensively and always competes below the circles to support his defensemen. He plays poised under pressure and uses boards effectively, especially in the neutral zone to trap overcommitting opponents. A jack-of-all-trades, Cajka is a center who is very good on faceoffs but also playa wing. 27. Vladislav Mikhailov, LW, HC MVD (MHL) Big power winger with excellent footwork and quickness to get into shooting areas and wire home a hard shot. Mikhailov has an excellent very good touch around the net and consistently dekes both goalies and defensemen out of position. 28. Arthur Kaliyev, LW, Hamilton (OHL) Kaliyev's size, high skill level and surprising quickness came in handy for Hamilton as they skated to an OHL title. He gets a ton of mustard on his shots and can pick the corners with little to no backswing. 29. Leevi Aaltonen, LW, Kalpa (SM-Liiga) Diminutive yet dangerous goal scorer who hunts for pucks and is willing to pay a high price to grab them. Altonen has speed and a heavy shot that keeps both defenders and goalies honest, so his pump fakes usually leads to a lot of bodies sliding across the deck. His combination of speed and elite stickhandling terrorizes unsure opponents. 30. Maxim Cajkovic, RW, Malmo J20 (Superelit) This Slovakian scorer followed up his dominant season in Sweden's J20 Superelit with a ridiculous performance at the under-18 world championships. Cajkovic is pure offense from his shot all the way down to his fancy feet that deke and dangle their way towards premium scoring chances. 31. Lassi Thomson, RHD, Ilves U20 Jr. A (SM-Liiga) Another Finnish defensemen who likes to rush the puck and toe that line between smart reads and dangerous risks. Thomson looked solid at last year's under-18 Ivan Hlinka tournament and carried that play into what became a strong season in Finland’s top junior circuit.

Not by any means am I too poor, but I choose to spend $600 on more important things. Maybe that makes me not as rich as you, but doesnt make me poor. That's just me. I am not judging people that choose to spend that, or more, on going to a sports game, look at how much a ticket to the Super Bowl costs, but IMO it's way too much and it's only getting worse. I won't pay it. But that doesn't mean you are wrong to. Maybe if one day i win the mega or powerball, i wont care how much tickets are. That's where it's headed IMO .

It will be ok, because as i said all summer, Z is done. But you are just trying to start an argument. You know exactly what I am saying. The .market dictates these salaries, and the owners cause this by the prices they charge to even go to a game. You know I'm not against signing these kids. Despite "The Market" I just don't think the cap hit is team team friendly. Maybe I'm stuck in the 90's. So be it. But that doesn't warrant constant attacks on an opinion in a (failed) attempt to get me to fly off the handle and reciprocate your approach. I'm not the same person I was in the past. Again, despite my opinion, I'm good with this because it's a wash of Z's contract goung to LTIR. That'll give us $2.8M plus Franzen's $3.9M in cap room. That means The New Z and Rasmussen will be up and maybe Hronek, thus making me even more happy that we are going in the "rebuild" direction. If Old Z were playing, I'd be a bit mad because then there would be no more kids this season because of the two cap hits. But I respect your opinion and examples on how it's good. It makes sense. Instead of baiting and trolling you should just respect other opinions even if they don't support yours.

I do agree. the owners drive the market by raising the prices, making more money, thus having to pay the players more. I get it that the players deserve their share of the pie. Im not blaming the players, but I'm not interested at all in paying nearly $600 (tickets, parking, food) to go see any player(s) that aren't scoring 60 goals or getting 200 points. I'd pay that kind of money for the one chance to see a player like Gretzky or Lemieux play, but not to watch a couple guy's who maybe, MAYBE get 25 goals a season. What the heck are 60pt players going to be making 20 years from Now? What will it cost for four tickets? All sports are this out of control. And yes, it's the owners fault.

And you do what you do. Keep at It! If everyone agreed on everything, this place wouldn't quite be the escape from real life that it is. ...and yes, just like that robot lifer said, I do think players are overpaid, in every sport. Doesn't mean I don't get that it's just how the market goes, so it will be.

Still going with something like this. I'm even more convinced now that Z will not return. I was a bit short on Larkin's cap, but this is still what I expect and hope to see.

Hmmmm....light is being shed. The reveal is upon us.

I've been saying it all along. The stories just didn't feel right. I did not and I do not expect him to play.

He's gonna pull a Scott Neidermeyer.

Not enough. Salaries are outrageous and out of control. I know it's "The Market" but it doesn't mean it's not absurd. I'm sorry, but IMO $6.1M is not team friendly. All the talk about he wants the team to be able to sign players and leave room for the team to get better. If $6.1M is team friendly, I hate to see what he was thinking about getting, $10M? It's just like Mark Stone, in no sane world shouls he have gotten $7.3M. He's NEVER topped 26 goals, and he's only been there once. The Market is stupid and making it impossible to stomach the game, just as the NBA, NFL AND MLB has become. But again and for the last time, I am glad he signed, never wanted him not to, just wish is was for a bit less cap hit to have more wiggle room, especially if Z plays. Welcome back Captain D-Boss.

At 6.1 he better get more than 80 pts.

The sky is not falling because Larkin signed. The sky is not falling because now Z is pretty much done. We're good, plenty of room for Ras and the New Z. Besides all I said was it wasn't team friendly, but then again it is almost Z's cap hit, so it's a wash since Z is done. Then I went in to say, if he isn't done, then Holland blew smoke when talking about new kids. I'm more than glad Larkin has signed, I just wish, unless they know Z is done, it was more towards $5M. But hey, with Zadina on his wing, he'll be getting 90+ points a season anyhow!

I've been saying, it is really strange that all the Wings insiders are saying the outlook isn't good and the team physicians saying he isn't cleared yet. They're just setting it all up for the bug reveal. Welcome to Detroit Rasmussen and Zadina.

How many prospects that are going to make the team never had anything to do with Larkin signing. It has everything to do with signing Vanek, Green and giving too much money to them. Now unless Z is done or a trade comes before the season, there will be no kids. Not even Rasmussen.

Did I say I was upset with It? It's just not team friendly. But it is Z's salary, which, in order to have Rasmussen up, will have to come from LTIR. Franzen's is all but used up with this contract. If the plan is to keep Rasmussen in the teenage league and Zadina in the AHL, then Ken Holland blew smoke up all your asses because instead of having 2-5 new kids in the lineup, there will be ZERO. Not even on D. So what page of the Holland Guide to GM'ing is this on? Lying to all the fans and signing players we don't need. UNLESS Z is done, then there will be room for 2 new kids. But if Z plays, then no new kids. We have ZERO cap space, 13 Fwds, 6 D. No room for any new kids. Team friendly is 6 years $5M, it's still $30M, but allows for more cap flexibility. Trust me, I am glad he is signed, and sure, it's a good term, but it would be better if it was the same money, less cap hit.

Not team friendly At all. Thanks for the memories Zetterberg. Nearly exact cap hit as Z, so obvious he is done. If not, then Rasmussen returns to play with 17 tear olds and Zadina wastes his time in the AHL. I am glad he is locked in, but I'd of rather seen 6 years $30M, instead of 5 years $30M