LeftWinger

Fershweiller, Granato. Both American's. I think this may be the first ever ALL American coaching staff... Fersh played at WMU, coached there and I think GR with Blash. It seems that the Wings dip into WMU to get a lot of staffing and talent, doesn't it? It's almost like, GR is our minors and WMU is GR's minors...weird. Cool, but weird.

With the big 4 available, I think Lashoff is done in Detroit. Lets see what we have I we sign a UFA and keep or trade Kindl. Kronner - UFA Dekeyser - Ericsson Quincey - Kindl Jensen That could be fine IF that UFA is our first choice target, if you traded Kindl, then of course you could promote 2 of the kids, trade for a top guy and sign a #3/4 or try to sign two UFA's, a top guy and a #3/4... Kronner - Newbie Danny D - E Quincey - Marchenko Jensen Kronner - Newbie Danny D - Newbie Quincey - E Jensen

Ok, so it looks like Detroit may not be too interested in Phanuef anymore (just according to some twiiter rumblings) so...who do we trade that #1 for then? Do they try to get another top paring guy from somewhere or does KH just put his D cards in July 1st and trade assets and the #1 for a top 3 offensive player? KH has already said that one of the spots will go to one of the 4 kids in GR...I am still betting Jensen for the #7 spot because if KH gets a Mike Green or COdy Franson, I cannot see any of Ouellet, Marckenko or Sproul coming up to be a #7 when they would benefit tremendously to play full time in GR for their last season or GR eligibility. If Smith is dealt (which his name seams to be the one mentioned all the time from analysts) and Zidz is not re-signed, there should be two spots to fill, unless KH decides Kindl is staying. I don't see Blash sitting Q in the pressbox at $4M+, but this is a new regime...maybe Q gets dealt? IMO if KH is pretty confident that he can land one of the top sought after UFA's, then I would be fine with trying to acquire a top 3 guy, but I think it will be expensive...also I am not liking what I am reading about Sharp so I would hate to throw that pick and a young prospect their way...plus I would HATE to help Chicago out with one of our youngins!

Never had a problem with Avery...he stood up to everyone for his team and teammates. He was valuable as a Red Wing.

Just my thoughts (even though our former coach wouldn't want them) I'd trade the 1st round pick to TO along with Weiss and Smith for Phanuef. NOT Mantha. I think he deserves a full healthy year in GR to show that he is a star. So on draft day, I am ok with trading the 1st pick in a deal for Phanuef. Hopefully Holland doesn't overpay and trade all 4 assets... Weiss, Smith, Mantha and 1st is WAY too much payment for just Phanuef. Now I you want to throw in Kessel as well? Now we can talk adding Mantha in there...plus more I assume, but that is a good starting point if we're talking Mantha AND the 1st.

Ya, but which "prospect" are you willing to give up (for free) for Cleary to have that #14 spot? Jurco? Pulkkinen? Ferraro? Callahan? Who else? Point isn't we'd rather worry about upgrading the D rather than being upset if Cleary comes back, point is, if Holland cannot make a deal and Franzen makes a comeback to play, you are waiver 2 players to keep Cleary in that #14 spot. Ferraro will not clear waivers again...Jurco, Pulkkinen will never clear waivers, even once. Callahan is a favorite of Blashill's, so he will fight to keep him off waivers... siging Cleary will destroy some of the future of this team...lose Ferraro and Callahan, but hey, Cleary is only the #14 guy, so no biggie...

wonder what happened to Mantha to make him "touchable" now...last two trade deadlines he was "untouchable." If Holland is trading Mantha our 1st, Smith and Weiss, it damn well better be for a Ryan Suter type defenseman, NOT a Phanuef-type defenseman. I am assuming that Mantha is not horrible, but of all our top end prospects, someone has to go to get what we need, and he is the one? Maybe? I mean with AA, Bertuzzi, Larkin and the chance of us landing Hyman, someone has to be the odd man out, but damn, I sure was looking forward to Larkin and Mantha being the next dynamic duo... Again, like I said, if he's dealing Mantha and our 1st along with Smith and Weiss, it better be a blockbuster coming back....if it's only Phanuef (or similar) and tie that in with the possible re-signing of you know who, I would say our off season would be taking a bad turn...

A buddy told me today that he read that if Holland offers him a contract, he will have to earn a spot in training camp or get waived. Holland said that he will not lose another young talent again this year like he lost Nestrasil last year. He went on to say that the report said we didn't even have to lose him to waivers because of Cleary, but because our former coach was dead set against sending Jurco down to GR, making room for Nestrasil and for Cleary to ride the press box. I didn't know that Jurco had exemptions last season. Not that I would have been in favor of sending him down in order to have Cleary and Nestrasil, but from a business aspect, if we had to have Cleary (like it seems this year as well) you had to send Jurco instead of Nestrasil in order to protect Nesty. I wonder if that was something that Holland and Babs butted heads on and something that maybe soured their relationship... Problem with this is, IF Cleary were to play well enough to get a 14th spot, then they will have to waive a player or two. Maybe Holland is hedging on trading Weiss, losing Franzen to LTIR or maybe trading a kid anyhow, but just like before I would HATE to again lose a young un-tapped talent in order to keep a useless geriatric on the team.

Our last coach LOVES Andersson... Pulk, Jurco and Nyquist (along with Ferraro and Jensen) are all RFA's right now. Nyquist will get the largest raise, but the others will come pretty cheap, get then all signed for 3 years. DD , Sheahan and Mrazek are RFA's in 2016. DD should get Quincey money at most, Sheahan will be modest. Mrazek will get at least $3M. He will cost us the most, but if he pans out to be our legit #1, Jimmy will eventually be traded, so that would open up $5M more. I know my wish list is a dream and I will most likely be disappointed, but I'd also be fine with one of Green or Franson and just keep Kindl or promote Marchenko. What if we land this Reilly kid? He won't go to GR, so I know that is even more Cap space gone. Heck, we may even land Hyman as an FA, he might spend some time in GR with Larkin. Abby and Helm will get raises for sure, but how much? I think they are forever $3M or less players...just my opinion. I will still probably be disappointed... Jackman is interesting, but he is lefthanded and I think if Kenny is going to spend big cash, it'll be for what he needs...but then again, he did want Phanuef...

My Perfect off season.....Blashill (check!) Trade Weiss, Smith and Kindl, rights to Andersson all for more draft picks. Sign Mike Green, Cody Franson and Carl Soderberg. Re-Sign ALL our other RFA's. Keep Marchenko, Sproul and Ouellet in GR for HUGE minutes. Promote permanently Jensen, Ferraro, Callahan. Franzen to LTIR "retirement." AND DO NOT RE-SIGN YOU KNOW WHO!!!

Move to Vegas, keep Coyote name. Put expansion team in Phoenix, name them Scorpions. Move new Phoenix Scorpions team to Quebec, rename to Nordiques...sound familiar?

Love to! But unfortunately, if Cleary is re-signed, it'll monkey wrench every line combo that we'd want to see!

No, I'M the psychic! Detroit will trade Weiss, Smith and Kindl all for more draft picks. Then they will trade their #1 for a legit D man. They won't have a #1, but will instead have multiple 2-7 round picks to choose our next wave of future players. Or was it that they were going to sign Hamilton and give up 3 picks? Damn, I cannot keep these psychic visions from appearing!!!! It's confusing me!!! Seriously, I would entertain trading the #1 I it brought us that defenseman we need right now...

Ya, if we get Reilly and we already scored Dekeyser, I guess that really makes up for it.

People will go apes*** when he signs...but what will be even more funny is all the folks here that will try to convince the rest that it was a good signing in some way or fashion... In NO WAY will re-signing Cleary to play be good for anyone EXCEPT Dan Cleary. You want to talk about rookie coaches and asst. coaches, but having Cleary take a roster spot away from someone is horrible. Where is he going to fit? Especially if Franzen is able to play and Weiss is not traded? You know Jurco and Andersson will most likely be re-signed. Ferraro for sure, Nyquist and Pulk are given's. Where is this guy going to fit? If all that happens, the forwards actually get worse. No room to sign a MUCH needed UFA to make the team better and then we will have to put Ferraro and Callahan through waivers again...if Franzen is healthy, do we waive Pulk next? If Cleary signs and Franzen is healthy, that is 16 forwards, without getting better via UFA. Guess we say goodbye to Ferraro, Callahan and Pulkkinen. As you can guess, I am highly upset at this news. Signing Cleary in any on ice capacity would seriously hinder this team moving forward and unfortunately, the blame will get directed at the rookie coaching staff instead of Holland stunting the growth of his team. I am all for trading a couple of forwards to improve this team, but not just to make room for Cleary.

How does this happen? They were only drafted 2 years ago. I am not up on the rules, but it seems a lot of players spend more than 2 years in the juniors and or college before they sign and they don't go back to the draft...Mike McKee was drafted the year prior, he never signed, did he go back to the draft? I know he is at Western, but I just don't get how this works.

Chelly coached and lead while playing on the ice and in the locker room. There is no reason to believe that he cannot have the same effect coaching from behind the bench. There is a risk, sure, but in terms of leadership, I think that Chelios has Gretzky beat. On the Oiler teams, Messier was more of a leader, Gretzky was just pure offense. Same way I believe Malkin is a better leader than he who shall not be named. If Granato re-signs, this coaching staff will be one to reckon with. Hey now, everyone here knows that I am the Psychic One! With all my predictions coming true! (Yes, I can make fun of myself!) But once again, look a few posts up above the first Chelios to be Asst. post and you will see me saying make him an asst. What can I say, this stuff just happens! What can I say?

Blash from Detroit, Chelly and Granato from Chicago Area, we'd have an all Original Six coaching staff!

Now, tweets are flying that Chelios will indeed, join the coaching staff. Wow! I wish I could ask for the lottery numbers and get an answer that quickly! With Chelly and Granato (possibly re-signing) could this be the 1st All-American born coaching staff in NHL history?

1st American Born...nice! Michigan Man..even nicer! re-hire Granato and then move Chelios to Asst. We may not have instant success, but I feel great today! Just super excited.

its also going to be streaming on freep.com

I expect Blash to be forced to play Dan Cleary in the top 6.

got to get it trending on Twitter.... #BANcleary seriously, enough is enough. Who has to clear waivers this year for him? Pulkkinen, Ferraro again? No way, #BANcleary....

...and Q is NOT good. He was not worth a 1st round pick, and he is not worth the $4.25M. I take that back, in this market, he is, but not in the real world of non-inflated salaries. But whatever, he did get better as the season went on, but with the way our D played in the 2nd half, did he actually get better or did the others play down to him? We wouldn't miss him, and K is more offensive minded. IMO, having Franson, Green and Kindl in the starting 6 is better than having Q in there. That would also give you 3 pairs of dual role players, Kronner, Green and Kindl would be your O minded guys and Franson, Ericsson and Dekeyser would the D minded guys...perfect setup.

Helm and Abby are good, but they are not top 6 guys. If you aren't going to put offensive minded guys in the top 6, then trade them, because Jurco and Pulkkinen are NOT bottom 6 guys. Keep Abby and Helm in the top 6 and trade Pulk and Jurco then. People seem to forget ALL the games where we couldn't score goals or even get shots on the net, you will never realize the potential of Jurco and Pulk while playing with Glenny and Andersson as their centers. Abby and Helm have great chemistry with all the guys in the bottom 6 and most likely would make those lines better. Continue to use Helm on top PK lines and Abby on top PP lines, that is fine, but we are wasting the talent of Pulk and Jurco if they are out there playing 5 minutes a game and in a checking role. No offense to Abby, I like the guy, I live 30 miles north of Muskegon, he is an icon over here. I know Jurco and Pulk haven't proven anything yet, but that is because they were stuck in the bottom 6 with our last coach. BOTH players were drafted because of their offensive capabilities. Sure they need to play both sides of the puck, but they are more O than D. I give Abby all the credit in the world for scoring 23 goals amongst 44 points, but both Pulk and Jurco have the potential, with the skills they have, to get near 30. Sure, AHL doesn't always convert to NHL, but the one thing I hated about out last coach was the way he utilized certain players. If Blash is anything like him, then we all know line combos will change a million times over the season. I just would like to see both Pulk and Jurco put in positions to take advantage of their particular skill set. Demoting Abby is in no way knocking him, it's almost a compliment because his skill set allows him to be that versatile. He would make the bottom 6 better, besides, if Jurco is on the 3rd line with Sheahan and Helm, is that truly a bottom 6 line? I understand I actually have Jurco on the 3rd line, so technically, he is in the bottom 6, but by numbers only. That line could be a great two-way line, with Helm 's D and Sheahan's two-way along with Jurco's offense potential.