LeftWinger

Let us not forget the 3 way with Colorado and Tampa where we gave a 1st for KFQ.

Honestly, if they wanted DD, I'd go for the cheaper option in Fowler. DD is part of our future. A huge part. Like mentioned we are acquiring another D to play with DD, not replace him.

Not actually. I've said before pair Smith with DD on the top and let's see what he does with 25+ mins a game...if we stand pat with what we have.

I would not. I like the 3 team deal....but I'm greedy and want both Trouba and Fowler.

Larkin is a no. That's even according to a lot of insiders. They wouldn't get many better offers than Mantha, Nyquist, Smith, XO. If they wanted the 1st round pick, then you could leave Mantha off the trade.

The Jets are rumored to want a left handed D man. Hence the mention of Smith and XO. If they'd take AA and Tatar, they'd most likely accept Mantha and Nyquist. If Holland has any balls, he offers Smith, XO, Mantha, Nyquist. If they say no, then they're crazy. It may take less that that. Since they aren't really in need of too many forwards, you might be able to exchange Mantha with a 1st. Smith, XO, Nyquist, 1st. I think that still gets the deal done. By no means would i trade AA, but if he does, he does. We'd lose out more of our future dealing away AA rather than Mantha. Once Miller (and more than likely Ott) are gone next season, Helm can slip down to the 4th with Glenny and AA will be full time 3rd center, or Helm can move to the wing with AA centering.

I know just because someone is from Detroit, doesn't always mean they are all gaga over playing here, but not only is he looking for term, he is looking for the responsibility and playing time on the right hand side. If anyone can provide that to him, Detroit can, so if Kenny were able to pull off a deal that sheds enough salary cap, I have no doubt in my mind Trouba would re-sign here in a heartbeat, and most likely play his career out here. Not because he's a local kid, but because Detroit is on of the few teams that can provide him the perfect scenario he is looking for. 8 yrs at about $5M to $5.5M is a great deal. The only thing that would stop him from being our 1st legit #1 guy since Lidstrom, would be an untimely injury, which nobody can predict. If the talk is true and Winnipeg would be looking for a lefty defenseman along with a top prospect and another roster player in return, I don't see why an offer of Smith, XO, Mantha and Nyquist wouldn't get the trade done. Again, I know Jacob doesn't have control of where he goes, but there aren't many teams out there that can provide him exactly what he is looking for. You would think a team that will pay more than us just because they can, but cannot give him the top pairing minutes, it wouldn't make him too happy and he'd be looking to not sign there either, or re-sign when the time comes. Just because he gets traded somwhere, doesn't mean he'll sign if they cannot give him what he is looking for. They could have a deal in place for Boston, lets say, but if he's not willing to sign because they cannot give him top line minutes, why would Boston overpay for him? I still believe Detroit would be the best scenario for him to attain all he wants. Money, term, playing time, responsibility. Plus, we do have the assets to attain him. It just makes too much sense not to deal with Detroit. The problem is, would Kenny even make an offer? I think if he was willing (a couple of deadlines ago) to trade Smith, Mantha and Weiss to Toronto for Phanuef, he should be more than willing to obtain a 22 year old future #1. There's no telling what WPG would want, but outside of Larkin, DD, AA, Mrazek, we'd have more than enough to get it done, and have both sides be happy. Smith, Nyquist, top prospect, young D for Trouba, all day, every day. Oh, and the fact that he's local? Icing on the cake. Then just make the minor deal (in comparison) for Fowler, and we'd have a hell of a core D core for YEARS to come!

If Mantha was better than Larkin, he'd be on the team already. You don't trade larkin...ever. Mantha is a great prospect, but you'd have to give him up for someone like Trouba. Fowler has more than just michigan connections, he was only born in Windsor, he grew up in Farmington. He's from michigan.

I'd add AA and DD to that, but everyone else open game. Including Mantha and ANY of our young D, yes, that means Marchenko too.I'd start with Mantha, Marchenko, 1st and go from there...if they wanted Nyquist or Tatar, so be it. You have to get Trouba. He'd get both tge money he wants AND the responsibility he desires. Him and DD? Killer! Just waiting to see the trade topic to pop up! It's happening! Must happen! Can it? Please Kenny? Maybe? For us?

jobs anyone else get a link when they the word jobs appears? Thats weird.

it just happens to be that 2 of the rumored higher end d-men that may be available are Michigan boys. I want a D that is young, can grow together and are hard to play against, if it just so happens that 3 of them are Michigan kids, thats great! But if they got Shattenkirk or any other higher end D that would make us better and harder to play against, that's what matters. My choice(s) are Trouba, Fowler, Shattenkirk, in that order, because Shattenkirk is the eldest has a little something to do with it. I don't know of a european d-man that has been rumored to be traded. At least no 25 or under one. If we landed Fowler and Trouba, along with having DD long term, thats a D core that will grow together and be a very VERY good one too. Add in there Marchenko, and another couple of youngsters, we'd be looking a ton better than two broken swede's. All due respect to when they weren't broken, but now they are, its time to move forward.

I just want to say again how important it think it would be if we somehow got one of, if not both Trouba and Fowler. I know....but man that would be a perfect scenario.

Well you better hope one of Kronwall or Ericsson is out the entire season. If both healthy, only room for one of them. Say goodbye (for free) to one maybe two to waivers.

Well unless Holland acquires someone, with Kronwall being not ready, you'll see two of the youngsters. I am a fan of jensen, but I do believe XO and Sproul will take the #6 & #7 spots. If E can't go either, then you'll have all 3 here to start the season. That would be great!

Holland and Cleary, please! No, he played hard where ever he went, but I'm just saying inside there has to be even more excitement and want to play when you are playing for your dream team. Not that he didn't play extra hard for the others, but just the mental aspect of it. Ott will be an important piece to the puzzle. Remember Aaron Downey? Dallas Drake? Didn't play all 82 games, but when they were in, they made an impact and became very important to the team. I expect the same out of Ott. ...and no, before you say it, I will not be disappointed. Meanwhile... Man, all is quiet on the Fowler and Trouba front... What's up with Kris Russell?

It's going to be refreshing to see a player play for a team he's always dreamed to play for, and from a young age. I know he won't be the first one, you have Abby, Glenny, DD and Miller who have all said that from a young age, their ultimate dream was to play for the Red Wings. That sense of pride shows in their play. They aren't the most talented on the team, but the damn sure out work most players and you can see it in their play that the are so happy that they will never not give 150% and leave it all on the ice. I can see Ott doing the same. He may not get as much icetime as he should, but I believe he is going to make a lot of fans here with his heart and his complete euphoria playing for "his" beloved Detroit Red Wings. I didn't mention Larkin because even though he is a local kid and obviously loves playing here, he has been quoted as saying his childhood team was Toronto. Not saying he doesn't play with similar heart, but something has to be said about the sense of, again lack of a better word, euphoria those others have considering this was their dream of dreams. Sure just getting to the nhl is a huge dream, but when you're 12 and dreaming of not only the nhl, but a certain team and it happens? I just cannot imagine. I just hope Ott can play as hard as his heart wants to and he forces Blashill to keep him the lineup. Good luck Otter, and welcome "home."

Found on Erica Ott's twitter page @EricaRene4 Steve Ott's 8th grade "ideal self" poster he made up. This is why he is an honorary member of the Michigan Mafia. Got to love him!

You missed the part where I said I'd rather have a $950,000 Cleary as a 14th forward than overpaying a 4th liner by $2M per season, 3 years too long and giving him guaranteed 3rd line or higher minutes, PLUS a FULL NTC. Cleary would not be keeping AA or Mantha out of the lineup, the above mentioned contract will...and no, Vanek is not either, Vanek was signed at a great price to be in the top 6, not the bottom 6. I believe Vanek is going to outplay his contract and be one of our better players. Unlike giving nearly $4M to a guy just because he's fast. If he scores 25 goals and plays up to his contract, I may change my mind about him, but I remain VERY skeptical...to say the least. I get the whole Cleary thing, but I am just tired of seeing his name associated with Ken Holland. We really need to photoshop that brokeback picture with those two's faces on it.

Wait, Abby and Helm are bullies? I heard it was the Michigan boys picking on the poor little (but rich) Canadian. One repping the East Side and the other repping the West side. They got Drew and Glendog repping the middle. DD being the General of the state. Of course Mike Ilitch is the God Father of the MM, with Christofer being his #2. The reason they can't fire Holland is because he's in the Canadian Mafia and they are trying not to go to war. But this World Cup rivalry is really stretching the strings to the breaking point! Didn't you know? Thats why they are in the rumors for Fowler and Trouba, they're building their own Michigan Mafia. Ryan Miller will be acquired (for Howard.) They've got Blashill as the coach, Horcoff as "player development" which means he will handle the "whacking" if another player thats not in the MM gets out of line or tries a coup. They'll eliminate the Swedish Mafia one by one... Steve Ott is in as their little toadie gopher...only because he pledge allegiance to them by saying he has always wanted to be a Red Wing, plus he spends a lot of time in the off season in Michigan. He was actually here when he got the call from his agent saying they wanted him "made." Of course nobody knows what he is going to have to do this season to "prove" he is loyal to the MM....

Yes, moving on. Opinions are ours to have...I have mine, you have yours, noting asinine about it. End. dont take the bait.

post 4704, 4706, for example...in your opinion of baiting, those fall right in. oh, crap, now I just baited you...we must stop this nonsense!

How am I baiting you? If you read the original mafia post, it was tongue in cheek, was no baiting there. We all post tongue in cheek things now and again. Then I said, I have my opinion and it won't change, again, is that baiting? Is having my opinion make it ok to call me asinine? I have an opinion about player(s) and I am free to speak it within forum rules and yes, people are free to respond, but not attack with names calling. I've been around way long enough to know what to post and what not to in regards to my opinion(s.) It's not my fault some folks think the sky is falling because not everyone sees the world through the same glasses they are wearing. That's the problem with most of society today, too sensitive and they too offended too easily. Look, most people believe they are best buds and make each other mix tapes, that's fine, but don't get offended and call names when someone (me) doesn't share the same opinion. I don't bait, but I am not going to NOT defend my position. Deal with that. BTW, if you think that my couple of posts on their friendship is baiting, the everytime someone has a differing opinion than you or anyone else, and posts it, then that would also be baiting...I guess we're all guilty as charged, shut it down.

No need for name calling and personal attacks....over a personal opinion? Wow...Ok, everything is just dandy roses and cucumber dreams in the world. We all hold hands and skip stones. Look how sensitive people get when it comes to their precious red wings! It started as a joke and still is. I don't care if they're butt buddies, hooray. The mafia war was a joke and the man crush people cried boo hoo. Do you think they care as much about you? Do they care who your BFF is? They don't even know your name nor do they care to. Me, I'm fine with that, some of you....not so sure. You say they're besties, great, I say they were teammates who were friends with each other, I just don't believe they were as close as everyone assumes. Move on.

My original post was a tongue in cheek post about a Russian mafia vs. Swedish mafia. But people are so goo goo gaa gaa over everything to do with Datsyuk and Zetterberg so they all got butt hurt. I don't need proof. It's just my opinion. I can read all the PC quotes to the press all day long. My mind wont change. D and Z weren't as close as everyone likes to fantasize over and Bert & Ernie are lovers. Deal with it.

It's ok. Not everything is the roses you'd all like to believe. You'll have your opinion, I'll have mine. Doesn't mean anybody is right, and there's no way to really prove it either way...just talk and pictures. No that picture reminds me of Cleary and Holland. Where's Flashy when needed!