LeftWinger

we need to make the deal for Kesler, sign Morris and Mitchell to 2 year deals....bingo, instantly better up front and on D...

krsmith17.....do I really need to name them? I answered 30 teams have 6 guys that are better....so 30 teams means ALL....hell I will even say 31 teams and add in there Grand Rapids.

30

Franzen has not been a top 6 forward since 2009. Maybe on this team he ranks as a top 6 guy (until this season when the kids take over,) but around the league he is not. I am not blindfully hateful, just not wearing rose glasses. he was chosen to be "The Man" over Hossa, and at first I was on board (mad we lost Hossa, but still on board.) He quickly turned into a pud after his "serious contract" and hasn't gotten anywhere near the power forward he was in 08-09. Holland gambled on him and he turned to mush. 1000% positive if Holland had an inkling of what Franzen would turn into, he would have signed Hossa.

Rival, I was just going to ask if I am the only one who would love to see Larionov come here.... What makes him unavailable? His agent job? Iggy knows hockey...he would 1,000,000 X better as a coach in the NHL. Not that he is a bad agent, but I think he just may ponder a spot on the bench grooming young talent instead of taking there money...besides agents are DB's.

putting my hatred for Franzen aside, same could be said of him that you just said of Kindl. He needs a change of scenery and I do think he can become a 30 goal scorer again. I think he has also grown stale in this system. That is why I always do my fantasy trade scenario with Vancouver. I think playing with the Sedins could help him.

I am absolutely for getting rid of Kindl, no matter if we sign a vet or not...I just think that finally he has peaked about as high as a mountain in Florida. He fooled us all the shortened season.

Kip, I can dig it! I would make those trades and of course my vet D-Man would be Derek Morris. I think though that Mrazek will spend one more season in GR, so we'd have to find a #2 guy (who would stay healthier than Monster.) I would try Nabokov...why not. I am not so sure Columbus would take Franzine from us, unless we assumed some of that contract, but I do like the idea of trading him..... no really?

is this the draft thread or next seasons needs thread? Because no matter who is drafted, he isn't gonna help next season. if we must mention the draft in this thread, then I say trade to pick for someone who will help us next season.

This is not too unexpected...lets add to that a Calder...then a Hart...and then a Conn Smythe... YAY! quick note on Jarnkrok...for those of you who don't think he would have left for Sweden, think again. If Emmerton left for the KHL because he realized he had no place on next years team, what do you think a talent like Jarnkrok would do in the same situation...when he already made mention about going back if he didn't get a promotion soon. He would have left, he knew it, the scouts knew it, Ken Holland knew it. Ken Holland traded him for two reasons, to get something in return (which helped us keep the streak alive) and to give Jarnkrok his opportunity to play in the NHL because he wasn't going to be here until 2015-16...case closed.... BTW...Mantha = utouchable....he is the best thing to have in this organization since...dare I say, since Fedorov arrived. (not saying he is the next Fedorov, but he is definitely the hottest prospect since...

I believe if we are getting help at the forward position, it will come via trade. No UFA out there worth outbidding someone for.

I could see Holland going for Giguere because of his history with Babcock. Babs would have no problem throwing him in if (when) Jimmy takes a(nother) dump. Giggy would have to be ok with getting $2M or less to be a backup to start the season out. Trades....hmmmm....plenty of wishes, but I agree Holland doesn't do too many in lieu of his tendencies to just sign UFA's that are nearing the end of their careers. BUT, I think if there is one trade to be made, Holland just may pull the trigger on a Ryan Kesler deal. Speaking of UFA's, I still would love to see Derek Morris here for 2 season's to take Q's spot. Trade Kindl and let Ouellet take that spot. Kronwall - Smith Dekeyser - Ericsson Morris - Ouellet Marckenko Looks nice to me. (pairings may be different of course)

Are we officially at 15 or are we at 14 because of New Jersey picking 30th due to their contract penalty? I could have swore that we were actually going to pick #13.......

everyone says get better on D and Howard becomes better...heck, even I thought that would be the case as well...but then I realized that the D has nothing to do with shootout goals. We lost so many points due to Howard being inept in the shootout. It better had been a knee or we are in deep doo doo for years to come. Especially if they pass on Miller and then realize Howard blows.

I should have said it this way.... I think both Miller and Hiller would be huge upgrades over Jimmy. I still think they should trade Jimmy and go le gangbusters on one of those two guys. This is my opinion and don't expect many to agree with me...

Miller >>>> Jimmy....do the deal. Hiller >>>> Jimmy....get rid of Jimmy

we need to trade for Kesler and Edler.

neat. I think they got Jimmy Howards movement down pat! He barely moved on any of those goals...so realistic!

No thank you. Besides, in the NHL there is something called interdivisional rape. Then there is Detroit rape. Then there are fair trades. They ask for the moon from a divisional rival, they ask for God's only son from Detroit, they accept 1980's Lake Erie from everyone else...

good. I know he is a good coach, but I grow tired of his lineup decisions. Remember, he only played the kids because he was forced to due to injury. If Cleary hadn't been injured, he damn sure would have been in the lineup. Look how Bertuzzi kept getting in, even though the kids were outplaying him. bring in Larionov.

the name of the thread can also be read as " What do we HAVE to trade?" Like, what do we have to trade in order to have enough roster spots for the players we have and aren't sending down and the players we need. I think we HAVE to trade Andersson and Kindl at least. They aren't going to get us anything but a low draft pick or future considerations, but they have to go to make room. Ferraro, Callahan and Almqvist also need to be dealt with or dealt. I am not sure any of them clear waivers if they don't make the club. We need upgrade's at Forward, D and G. Pretty much all around. The kids aren't going anywhere, so that means that 4-5 roster spots are taken. Jurco, Tatar, Nyquist, Sheahan and Dekeyser will all be here next season and beyond. So the upgrade is going to have to come via trade, there aren't any UFA's out there that really are going to make this team overnight contenders... I hear what you are all saying about Moulson and Vanek, but I the money they are going to get is going to be too high for what all we need to accomplish. I am a fan of Stastny, but he already makes a ton and will get more. I think the trade route is the way to go. I think Kesler will be pursued. Pricey though. I still the the best upgrade we could ask for is Kesler and Edler via the trade market. Goalie is a hair pulling dilemma. I agree that Howard is 99% here to stay (at least until Mrazek shows he is ready to take over.) But it would be nice to have the option to pursue Halak, Hiller or Miller. I also agree that is Howard couldn't get us out of the 2nd with Lids, Rafi and Stu, he is not going to get us out of the 1st on his own any time soon. There are no Lids, Rafi's or Stu's out there to sign, and even upgrading to Edler and Niskanen isn't going to allow Howard to make his mistakes and still let us advance. I am a firm believer we need an upgrade in that position, but if we are stuck with him, we need to upgrade the #2 guy with a player who is going to really push Howard to be better, if that is possible. I would take Vokoun, Naby or Bryz as a backup. Also Brian Elliot has become expendable in St. Louis, that is if Miller re-signs there. UFA's - You all got to go. The only one I would like to see back is Legwand, but with the logjam up front and the need to upgrade the scoring, there just isn't room. If Weiss comes back 100% and returns to form, he should be just as effective centering Franzen and Nyquist as Legwand was. I would still welcome Legwand back though. Who knows, if a trade goes down, there just may be some room for him afterall. The rest, you all need to go. Sammy, Bert, Cleary, Alfie, Quincey and Monster....thanks, but enjoy the rest of your lives.

I agree with the Howard stuff too. He will be better with better defense in front of him. We also need consistent scoring as well. The best trade scenario I seen on these threads was the one that involved Helm and Kesler. I like that deal and I think Vancouver, and their needs would do it as well. I still would like to see the asking price for Kesler and Edler. If you can acquire those two, our score and our D become instantly better. You have to ditch Kindl though, he is no longer an NHL defenseman. Get a low pick for him, more than likely future considerations... IMO our tradable guys are: Franzen, Helm, Smith, Almqvist, Ferraro, Callahan, Andersson, Kindl, Abdelkader, Miller and Ericsson. Howard if you can secure a better goalie, or if Mrazek was in a better position to take over. Weiss if he submits some teams in in modified NTC. Am I saying trade them all? No, but we need upgrades up front and on D. Folks and or picks have to go in order to get better.

^^^^ I have been saying for a while now, we have to "convince" Howard to waive his NTC and throw the wallet at Miller. There are ways around a NTC. Just let Jimmy know that the team plans to move in a different direction and that they'd like a list of teams he would go play for. If he doesn't submit a list, bench him. Sure he is still getting paid, but he won't start a single game. This kind if stuff happens behind closed doors all the time. If he wants to play, he will submit a list. They don't have to be obvious about it, or even rude. They already told him they were going in a different direction and would like to find him a team to where he will be playing. You sign Miller and Jimmy sits. If you don't want to spend the money, you put your eggs in Vokoun or Nabby and Jimmy sits. It looks like he lost his job. Best case scenario, jimmy waives his NTC and we get miller. This would have to be pre planned though...if you trade jimmy and don't get miller...whoops.

you had me until you said Franzen put up elite numbers...

we need to make up for this mistake. Dump Franzen ASAP.