LeftWinger

https://www.si.com/hockey/news/red-wings-could-target-cap-strapped-teams-for-a-defenseman?fbclid=IwAR2t_6Pmq3_sa64SLm3CcIuRhXuOEJRJdymr-itsQ1Xj-kl-SjlEdzDLARU

Acquiring: Alnefelt, Palat and Marcus Pettersson. Signing: Koekkoek, Ullmark. Re-signing: Ryan, Glenny, Staal All RFA's except Brome, Djoos and Svechnikov.

I'm officially going on record saying Wallstedt is gone before 6 and Cossa is gone before 22. Forcing Yzerman to acquire Alnefelt and Palat from his old buddy for the low price of a 5th.

I made the big league! Although I'm right on that cusp...

All this back and forth about Larkin and whether he is our #1 C and if he should have the C because he may not be our #1, but in the glory days, Yzerman was not our #1 C either, that was Fedorov. Yzerman is not going to award the C to Larkin and then take it away, that is not his style or this organization's. This is not San Jose or any other Mickey Mouse team that pretends to be as prestigious as us. Yzerman can draft or trade for a REAL ELITE #1 C and Larkin will still and always (while he is here) be our Captain. That is just how this organization is.

He might pick Wall at 6 AND Cossa at 22!

I remember all the talk of Yzerman taking Askarov at #4 last draft. Same reason's and same logic. He obviously thought he needed to fill a different need first. Maybe this is the year of the G? I just don't see it at #6, but it all depends on who is left there. Maybe already having two legit D in Seider and Hronek, he doesn't even look at a D and goes with a forward, specifically a Center, which is our glaring hole. BUT, would whichever C that is left at #6 actually BE a shoe in for a #1C, even on our team? Would he be good enough to push Larkin to the 2nd line? Honestly, I think we have enough top 6 wingers to move forward with to avoid drafting a straight up RW or LW this year, but if for some reason Beniers drops to 6? or if they see Eklund playing C? Are any of them a legit #1C prospect? Beniers may be the only one, and I am pretty sure 5 teams are not going to pass on him. So maybe, BPA avail will be Wall? It is a gap in our system. I trust Yzerman, if he takes Wall, then I am ok with it.

to be fair, he already had an all world D in Hedman a top D on any team in the league, and at the time a #1 Elite C in Stamkos. Sure Seider seems to be a shoe in for a top 2, if not #1 D in the NHL, but, and all due respect to Larkin, we don't have that Top C. Not saying it's available in this draft, we can always hope we win one of the next two lotteries, but I don't see that happening, plus honestly, I'm tired of tanking to get screwed. I want to start looking forward, not at lottery picks. If Yzerman thinks Wall is the guy, I'm on board. I guess it also all depends on who he see's drafting at #22. Maybe we find a C there that is develops into a top 2 C? It all depends on who is on his board and if they fall to #6 or not. Let's say their board is as follows: Power Hughes Beniers Wallstedt Edvisson McTavish ...if Wallstedt is the number 1 guy left on his board when the pick comes up, he's taking him. If any of the 3 ahead of him falls to #6, he's taking them. (I am not saying this is his board, just hypothetically.)

A good question is, how does Wallstedt compare to Askarov? Better or no? Askarov went 11th last year. IF Wallstedt is not projected to be as good or better, I just think #6 is too risky. if he is projected to be better or already is, then maybe he goes in the top 10. re: the article saying he is the best goalie to come out of Sweden. That's fine, but I don't want to best goalie from Sweden, I want the BEST goalie. Just being the best in one region doesn't mean he's going to be the best in the NHL of even in the top 5. Steve is gonna pick who he wants, and he doesn't care if it seems like a reach or surprise at the time. I would not be surprised if he picks Wallstedt, but I would not be surprised if he doesn't, and "reaches" for someone else.

I'm not putting words on someone else's keypad, but it just sounds like that is what he is saying. Especially if we wait until 22 or 23 to draft one. I happen to think Cossa would be ready much sooner than 2028 myself. But, much like draft's in the past, we can only hope the pick pans out no matter who and no matter where.

Maybe Rangers take him at 9? They chose another RW in that spot. But you are right on with him falling further than 7 if we didn't pick him. If Detroit took Hughes, I could see Vancouver and Chicago still going D since there were still 3 or 4 good ones on the board.

unless you're egging him on, I believe he means that whomever Yzerman drafts that is not names Wallstedt won't be developed and in Detroit until at least 2028.

IF a goalie is what Yzerman covets, and someone takes Wallstedt in the top 5, maybe look for Yzerman to trade up to guarantee he gets Cossa before 22. Let's say we are looking at the #15 pick, you offer up the #22 and what else? Another pick or prospect? Honestly, I do believe Chicago is the key to getting Cossa though. I think if they lose Subban to Seattle they'll be taking Cossa at 12...there's no way we're getting into the top 10 with a trade unless its the #22 AND a top prospect.

That would be a nice number for him to have as well! Not many goalies with that number. I know Cholowski wears it, but just saying that is a cool number for a goalie. I am tired of the high numbers and of course the regular ones are boring.

Yes, but you're betting on us winning the draft lottery in one of those years. Like I said, I'll trust the pick no matter what, but if we're talking odds, I am thinking that McTavish has better than the 18% odds (of us winning the #1 pick) of becoming a top 2 C. Yzerman cannot hedge his draft on that. Even if he picks a C at #6 then ALSO wins next years lottery, he is still taking Shane Wright. Why "hope" you get to draft Wright or Bedard and pass up on a top 2 C? Dunno, like I said, I there with Yzerman whomever he drafts, but I don't see us winning the lottery next year, and we just may not even be a lottery team in 2023.

...so, to carry on with what @BarkBurgerman brought up in the "2017 Draft" thread, here are our picks in 2018. This seems to be a little better, but honestly, I do believe this is the summer that Yzerman "stepped away" from his duties with Tampa to be at "home" more with his "family." There were always the rumors that he was secretly a part of the decision making process from this particular off-season and up until he was officially hired. Just rumors...plus he's already traded Regula from this draft, one would think if he was in any of the decisions this draft, he would give "his picks" all the chances to make it in this organization. ..that being said, hindsight is always 20/20 and maybe we could've made a few better choices? I will still give Zadina the chances to prove he can be that player he was projected to be, but I will always wish we had gone D instead. I was hoping for Bouchard, but any of him, Hughes or Dobson would've been good. I wonder what we could acquire for Zadina 1 for 1, considering he still has that "potential" tag on him? I really hope McIsaac can shake his injury problems too. The three I am excited about (not mentioning Zadina since I already said I'd give him his chances) are Veleno, Berggren and if McIsaac can actually make it. I know Barton just signed and Brattstrom has one more year left on his ELC. He is 24 now though since he was drafted at 21. I am not too sure he is going to make an jump to N/A let alone The Wings. It's definitely looking as Hughes is the gem D in this draft so far. Yes, he has 10 less points than Dahlin, but he has played in 70 less games...albeit for a much better team than Buffalo. I think whoever made that final decision to draft Zadina (Holland or Wright?) made a catastrophic mistake not taking Hughes.

I certainly hope Yzerman takes a skater. On D, hoping for Hughes, on F, I am gonna go with the rumored McTavish. Obviously I will trust the pick, but I really hope we solidify the D and or the C positions first.

speaking of Seattle, I'm guessing they'll get a pretty good G in the expansion draft, but IF Wallstedt is truly a franchise goalie, it might make sense for Seattle to draft him, no? I mean, IF he is all that he is said to be, why not draft yourself a goalie that may be on your team for 20 years? Doesn't matter who they pick in the expansion draft really, they could draft themselves a the rock that will keep their franchise in contention for years and years once he jumps to the NHL and getts the starting position. Especially with this draft not really having a stud, franchise D or F. Even though Power seems to be the #1 pick, I wouldn't be surprised if Buffalo went with a C, especially if they trade Eichel. Beniers and Wallstedt going 1 and 2 would really mix things up! As a matter of fact, this mock shows Buffalo doing just that. https://thehockeywriters.com/2021-nhl-draft-the-hockey-writers-mock-draft/ also, I like this: ...I really hope Yzerman does this instead of the G. If Hughes is off the board, and they aren't that high on Edvinsson, I say get that impact 2 way C.

Quick follow up after autopsy. Novi, mi. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31764017/columbus-blue-jackets-goalie-matiss-kivlenieks-24-dies-tragic-accident?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=news_tab&utm_content=curated

Not saying this to be unsympathetic, and I am sorry to hear about this tragedy, but does this play into whom Columbus drafts now? This could mean Wallstedt isn't even there at 6. https://www.tsn.ca/columbus-blue-jackets-goalie-matiss-kivlenieks-dead-at-24-1.1663959 I admit, I don't know where he was on their G depth chart, this may not even impact their pick.

Well, I saw this on Twitter today, so there's that...

re: Petrotuzzi, ya just trade him to Boston for a pick, if that is where he intends on signing. re: Draft - I know all the hype with Wallstedt, but I feel it would be better to bolster the D and get a G with the 22nd. Hughes/Cossa. Cossa might end up being just as good as Wallstedt, but there's a chance a D at 22 won't be anywhere as good as Hughes. What Wallstedt and Hughes are BOTH gone by #6? re: Hof - What the hell isn't Pat Benatar in the Hall of Fame yet?!?! Come on Man!

Just a quick note on this (and I apologize for taking this thread off subject temporarily) but The Cups that Roy won with Colorado in know way were less talented than the Cups Ozzie won with Detroit. Evenly matched for the most part, but each in their right had superstar players that you can compare 1 to 1. With the exception of Lidstrom that is. But, I get it, and I doubt he ever gets in, but if we're talking numbers and Cups, he deserves it. BTW, I do believe Roy has had a couple of playoff stinkers too! Brings back great memories! anyhow, WTF is up with Petroluuuzzzi? Does he think he is better than the team? Bigger than the game? He could come here and get quality time developing into a starter. Instead he's gonna go sign somewhere and ride the pine or be in the AHL. Unless Yzerman told him, we're not the team for you kid. WTF would he unfollow them on social media? That's a high school move.

Honestly, Belfour has more wins BECAUSE he played 200 more games...BUT if you go by winning % Belfour is at .502 and Osgood is at .538, so you can argue that Osgood was the better winning goalie in less games played. Osgood belongs in the Hall, there no question. But since he was "normal" and wasn't flashy, he always gets crapped on. I don't care what team he played on, how good the defense was, throughout their careers, Belfour and Brodeur played on the 2 of the top 3 defensive teams in the NHL, Dallas and New Jersey always were at the top of the league when it comes to defense. Patrick Roy as well. A great goalie can only take you so far, you NEED that team in front of you to win. So ask yourself this if you think the ONLY reason Osgood was so, well, Good, is because of the Red Wings, then how good would Belfour, Brodeur and even Roy have been on crappy teams? Just look at the year Belfour was traded to San Jose. He was 11 and 15 on a Chicago team that was going downhill, he gets traded to San Jose and goes 3-9. He didn't come back to being a "great" goalie until he went to Dallas, (again) one of the best defensive teams in the NHL. Osgood, for comparison, got picked up by the Isles on waivers (Thanks Holland) and went on to play in 66 games, winning 32 of those and taking them to the playoffs for the first time in 8 years, taking a 5th place (out of 5) team in their division to a 2nd place finish that year. Also, when comparing him to Hasek (not saying he's Hasek) but in 2008, Hasek was struggling (ya he was older, but so was Ozzie) and Osgood came in a literally took that playoff by storm. He should've won the Conn Smythe, hands down. If they would've repeated in 09, he WOULD'VE won it, he was the best Goalie in that series too. Ozzie belongs there. Who cares about individual awards, sure, they're nice to look at on the mantle, but it's more about winning Cups and being the guy who helps your team more than helping yourself. BTW, #30 should be in the rafters too.

FWIW, Osgood has better stats than MAF. Even after factoring in the years he spent on crappy Isles and Blues teams. He's also won 2 Cups as a starter, MAF only 1 and it took a goal post to even win that. Ozzie deserves the Hall...especially if MAF gets in. Back on subject.