LeftWinger

I am sure Jurco will get a few chances to prove something after his conditioning stint, but it will have to be really something to bump Pulk out of the lineup. I know Pulk is erratic, but I think Blash likes playing him...heck he was on th 2nd line last night with Dats.

Odd how a lot of folks were saying that the OT goal by Washington was not because of a boneheaded line change by Kindl. Maybe Blash saw it differently with K being the healthy scratch last night. We'll never know...

all being said, I can actually live with that lineup from this day forward...until they acquire a top defender that is.

Larkin WILL get the C when Z retires. We have 6 more years of Z (if not a few more 1 yr deals) and by then Larkin will be perfectly groomed to take over. Not a minute sooner IMO. Larkin is a born leader, as a matter of fact that was mentioned by the brass when they drafted him, so indeed he is molded to become C one day, but again, until Z is ready to hand it to him, I don't see him wearing it until Z retires....on a different note, I could see Larkin getting a C when it comes to Team USA play.

I know I did..... (and I DID say he'd be back on it by December... ) Serously though, at least now we know where he stands and we can utilize the salary for some help....hopefuly.

Kid's good, he'll be back! I'd dump Andy or Helm to keep him here.

He absolutely SHOULD be a favorite, but then again, this IS the NHL we are talking about. As of now, Larkin has 13 pts and +13....Eichel has 9 pts and -7...so our guy should be in the lead, right? Oh, its the NHL...

I've said a few times that IF Holland were to acquire Byf, he would not only slot right in on the top combo with Kronner, but put him in front of the net on the PP and he would help there as well. Byf is a win-win for Detroit, depending on the cost and depending on re-signing him.

Well, we sure could use some better players in certain positions, but adding Hampus is not what this D needs. This is an ongoing discussion in the thread I made, and I think we all agree they need a big punishing d-man like Byfuglien. Offense-wise, I am not sure who we could get or afford to get to make the scoring better. But this team better flip the switch or make a deal soon, or we will be sellers come deadline.

BUT, in the video, the lane doesn't open up until Kindl skates towards the bench. Just a poorly timed changed. It opened the passing lane up.

I hate to say it....nah, I don't, but if Kindl didn't go off at that moment, that passing lane would have never been open. Just by watching the video, it's easy to see. K, changed at the wrong time and hndcuffed everyone...especially Kronner coming onto the ice, he never really made it into the play until after the goal was scored. This was K's fault.

Hmmmmm, I've read that somewhere before Kick.... Anyhow, I agree. I've said, even as far back as last summer that although I am a full Mrazek slappy, it would be better for the team from a business standpoint for Howard to retain his #1 status in order to get Petr on a cheaper re-sign. I still feel the same way today. SIgn Petr to a lessor deal then trade Howard as a #1 goalie status. Win-Win for us!

9, nope....I was referring to next season's roster, my bad. I'd like to see a deal made before the off season, but I have a feeling, IF Holland wants Byf, he will have to pursue him UFA...IF he is still a UFA come July.

Buppy, moving K, E and Smith is what needs to be done. Adding Byf and 3 out of the 4 young guns makes this D much better. I can only wish it would happen though.

ya, but if he gives the puck away so much, then whether or not his size helps, he is becoming a liabilty. During the SJC game, he seemed to make a mistake everytime he was on the ice...but it could've been me just magnifying everything he did, but man it seemed like he was botching the play a ton that game...and more so recently. Also, did you see, I think it was the Boston game, that he had a huge hit at the blueline, not a Kronwalling, but just a nice standup hit that rocked the opponent. I like that side of him as well! He seems to play better when he hits more like that! He needs to dump the Kronwalling due to the league eyeballing him now, but man, if he can hit at a standstill like the other night, we just may re-define Kronwalling.

I'd say he is shoving him...the other way! I like the duo now, but next year and beyond, we'll need a cheaper b/u for Mrazek.

I hope so! That would help out tremendously! Especially if Holland wants to make a splash UFA by going after someone like Byfuglien. Not saying he is even interested in him, but I am sure if he hits the market, Kenny will....ugh, kick the tires on him. If he does, he will need all the cap space he can muster! Of course if Franzen is done and Q leaves, add to that Abby's money (Q's salary) he has a nice starting point with some cap relief. Take away Franzen' $3.9M and Q's $4.75, then add the extra $2.25 to Abby's salary Holland is ahead of the game by $6.4M before anyone else is signed. That is, IF Franzen calls it...Strange we haven't heard anything on him, and yet he still isn't showing LTIR.

It is my opinon, that given the right tweeks and growth of our yoots, Blashill will win MORE Cups and make more deep playoff runs that our former coach did while he was here...and, BTW, more than he will in Toronto. Holland needs to tweek the roster though. He needs to give up some to gain better, he also needs to losen the cap a bit with some of these $4M to $5M players that are replaceable with lessor paid players already in our system or via UFA/Trade.

Mrazek has great stats! Those are Vezina stats right there! Damn, he's gonna cost us a mint! Hope they can get a backup come July then, because with our cap being so tight, and they overpaid contracts Holland hands out (see: abby) two goalies at $5M each will be a nightmare! If Jimmy continues to have those solid stats, he could fetch us a nice asset in a trade bundle!

I really haven't liked E too much, and the facts you bring up now makes me dislike him more. Unfortunately I don't think Holland will trade him. I've said it many times before I believe that E, K and Smith are very replaceable within our system. It is nice to see K doing bettter under Blashill, and maybe if Holland moves E and Smith, Kindl can slot in #6 even next season...and his cap hit is good. I am most disapointed in Smith. I remember, back when Suter got P-Whipped into going to Minny, I remember predicting (or maybe hoping because I felt dissed) that Smith will end up better than Suter....what? Ugh! Boy was I wrong. I had high hopes for him...

With all the hooplah the other night over him scoring (trying) the goal on Fedorov night, I mean it was obvious that they were going to him every chance they got, 15 shots for petes sake, but with all the hooplah, I think it would've been VERY sportsman-like fr Ovie to skate over to Mrazek after the barrage and give him a little wink and nod, like, "you got me man, nice game!" Not saying that he isn't a sportsman, or am I judging him at all. I know it's not a common thing to do, but with all the hooplah and fanfare, that would've been pretty neat to see. But ya, I like Ovi, I hate that he is passing Feds, but I sure would like someone with his scoring ability on the Wings.

I still think he is too inconsitent. He's been worse, but still, I think he's better served in a package deal. But that is just my opinion. If, Holland can dump E and Smith by time the next season starts and K is still here, I cannot be too mad, because with Q done, it still leaves room for 3 of our 4 young guns. K will still be #6 or #7 on the list, IMO, but his cap hit is fine for another season. What would the pairs look like then? Maybe K with Marchy? XO and Dekeyser? House needs to be cleaned by next october.

This is good. It's a prove it contract IMO. I think IF there is a deal to be made, either Sproul or Jensen (boo!) would be in a package before XO. One of our issues was we didn't have any RH'd shooters, but if XO is dealt, pretty soon we won't enough LH'd shooters. Not that this would be a deal breaker, but I would think ideally you'd want one of each on your combos. I too believe he will be Smith and or K's replacement soon enough. LIke I've said more than numerous times, there is just no room for all these assets we have. If you do not want to lose any of your kids in the waiver wire next season, there will have to be deals made. For me, if a top guy (Byf maybe) is acquired, then re-signed, K, Smith and E need to be traded. Kronner - Byf Deke - Green XO - Marchy Jen-Ho That would be my ideal lineup by next season. I do like that they gave him another year, and who knows, maybe he would be traded, he is NHL ready and has some experience. All in All, good signing, heck of a bargain.

Too funny! That's almost as bad as Crosb's antics...

We need that top D man and maybe a scorer. Can we get it? Doubt it, we have no cap room. Remember we are the highest paid team in the league. All we need now is the "...it's not even December yet..." thread and the ever popular "Tank It..." thread.