LeftWinger

IF he did this, then you trade the pick or the person for a haul! Generally players are not like this though.

these RFA's that Yzerman traded for will all be better when the coaching staff is changed. Once Larionov (hoping!!) is here teaching the ways of the Red Army, it'll all be better. Red Army Ice Hockey to be clear, not USSR ways.

oh, ya, I am not just swapping picks and picking up an extra 2nd rounder. Hell no! If I am trading the #1 I am getting a turbo boost on my rebuild, especially if it's an inner-divisional rival, and triple ESPECIALLY if it's Montreal!

Which has been my point for a long time now. Sure, Lafreniere can be a no-brainer, selection, but you have to listen to phone calls. I am sure (as in TSN's mock up) if Montreal got the #2 and we got #1, they'd be pounding Yzerman's door down with offer(s) to flip flop picks! All hypothetical, but if they offered the trade I mentioned a few times before (Domi, Caufield, the #2 and maybe another pick/prospect) I may be inclined to make a deal like that, especially if I'm eyeing a C at the draft. You could have an entire line for the price of Laffi... Domi - Stutzle - Caufield plus maybe another pick/prospect.

Oops, sorry, I posted this in the draft thread... But my opinion is the same, if Yzerman doesn't trade the #1 to the #2 team for assets and instead just draft's Stutzle at #1, then not only is he crazy, we all are for putting our faith in him.

If Yzerman gets the 1st overall and drafts Stutzle WITHOUT trading down to the #2 to get MORE assets, then I will seriously question my support of him. Seriously...

so here's the question, you acquire Seabrook and Strome, now who do you protect in the expansion draft? Or should I say who gets exposed? Also, do you re-sign Gagner if you trade for Stome? Strome, Larkin, Mantha, Bertuzzi, Rasmussen, 2 more (Fabbri, Timashov? or Gagner? Ehn? Svechnikov? Smith?) Seabrook, Hronek, Lindstrom (or Cholowski?) Bernier You could loose Glenny or Helm for nothing also.

would any of you trade Zadina for Bouchard or Dobson? Especially if we win Lafrenier? We are in need of a 3 or 4 higher end D and I would like Yzerman to acquire a young D. (first one to mention Hague gets a NEG! Virtually of course! LOL!) seriously though, Hronek and Seider look like our future top 2 (for now,) but if we could trade for another top 3 guy (like Bouchard or Dobson) I do think that would help our D development out a ton! I guess if we were to help Chicago out by assuming Seabrook's contract, I'd be fine if that got us Strome, but they would have to give me a 1st round pick in order for me to take that contract. Also, Seabrook has 2 more years of a NMC that doesn't become a M-NTC until 2023, so if he were so kind to waive that NMC to come here (highly doubtful) we could always use him as a TDL chip for a contender in a couple of season's. But wouldn't that tie our hands for having to protect him from Seattle because of the NMC? Not like we wouldn't want to protect him anyhow...

Not sure I want Seabrook for our rebuild. Also not sure if his LTIR is a permanent one or not. If so, I'll take that 1st round pick from them too!

if we've learned anything, we aren't getting any 1st rounders for our players. But ya, a 2nd rounder for Helm or Glenny would be fine. Unless we could get a young RFA or something. Referring to the other thread, how about one of them for Strome?

So who do you trade for Strome?

...and this is before there is any type of compliance buyout (if teams get one(or two).) all of Filppula, Helm, Glenny should be a pretty nice draft pick back from a Cup team.

I agree. I would accept a trade of Mantha PLUS if it meant bringing in an elite type player. This draft will tell a lot, but ya, there just may have to be some deals made in order to get us back to where we were. I do believe Larkin is here to stay, Fabbri I think is going to be a great player for us. Bertuzzi will hinge on what he wants to re-sign for and whether or not he pulls a hold out. Both he and Mantha are good building blocks though. If either of them are dealt, I could see Mantha going before Bertuzzi. What do you think we could get out of Montreal for Home-town Mantha?

everything hinges on the draft results. Do we get Lafreniere or do we get another player with 2-4 years of development? I understand that Holland HAD to take Zadina, he was a Holland player, plus "experts" said he was the best available, but I sure do wish they had gone D. I wasn't exactly on the Hughes train (I was more of a Bouchard guy) but everyone knew Hughes was going to be the drafted player. I sure wish we had gone D. Can't change that now, we just have to hope Zadina becomes the player that Holland envisioned.....or trade him for an Yzerman player. Our D is going to be VASTLY different this upcoming season, No Green, no Ericsson, no Daley. I am pretty sure he'll qualify Bowey, but either way there is going to be 2-3 new faces back there when it's all said and done. Dekeyser being the most senior and most seniority with the club, on D. Considering the state of the rebuild, I don't see a huge signing back there, maybe a veteran presence (like a Shattenkirk or Bogosian type) but no big contracts. Seems Bernier earned the odds on #1 spot, so I don't see Yzerman going after a G other than a backup. (please God NO JIMMY HOWARD!)

This is the official LGW.com 2018 NHL Amateur Entry Draft to be held June 22–23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Ok, since we are all (most) hoping we get a legit shot at the #1 pick, I figured a thread to discuss the prospects and where they rank would be a nice thing to have! We can also update draft rankings as they change throughout the season. Here is a September ranking I found of the top 93 prospects, but I'll only post the top 31. I'll add the link at the end for those of you who want to see all of them. This site also has some videos of some of the players to watch! Check it out and come back and comment! While I am officially throwing my hat in the Dahlin ring, I'd like to note that #20 has an absolute Awesome name! Also of local note, I haven't research all of the players, but #7 Hughes and #12 Wilde are both Wolverines. At #61 Johnny Gruden is from Rochester, MI. #39 Ty Dellandrea plays in Flint. Another sidenote for one of our 2nd's, Mattias Samuelsson is a huge D-man at 6'4 216lbs. at the moment. 1) Rasmus Dahlin (LHD, Sweden, Frolunda SHL) 2) Andrei Svechnikov (RW, Russia, Barrie OHL) 3) Adam Boqvist (RHD, Sweden, Brynas J20) 4) Brady Tkachuk (C/LW, USA, Boston University NCAA) 5) Filip Zadina (LW/RW, Czech Republic, Halifax QMJHL) 6) Joe Veleno (C, Canada, Saint John QMJHL) 7) Quinn Hughes (LHD, USA, NTDP U18) 8) Ryan Merkley (RHD, Canada, Guelph OHL) 9) Ty Smith (LHD, Canada, Spokane WHL) 10) Rasmus Kupari (C, Finland, Karpat Jr.) 11) Jesperi Kotkaniemi (C, Finland, Assat Liiga) 12) Bode Wilde (RHD, USA, NTDP U18) 13) Ryan McLeod (C, Canada, Mississauga OHL 14) Barrett Hayton (C, Canada, Sault Ste. Marie OHL) 15) Jared McIsaac (LHD, Canada, Halifax QMJHL) 16) Oliver Wahlstrom (C/W, USA, NTDP U18) 17) Joel Farabee (LW, USA, NTDP U18) 18) Alexander Khovanov (C, Russia, Moncton QMJHL) 19) Vitali Kravtsov (C/W Russia, Belye Medvedi MHL) 20) Jett Woo (RHD, Canada, Moose Jaw WHL) 21) Calen Addison (RHD, Canada, Lethbridge WHL) 22) Evan Bouchard (RHD, Canada, London OHL) 23) Jakub Lauko (C, Czech Republic, Chomutov Extraliga) 24) Isac Lundestrom (C/LW, Sweden, Lulea SHL) 25) Jack McBain (C, Canada, Toronto OJHL) 26) Luka Burzan (C, Canada, Moose Jaw WHL) 27) Akil Thomas (C, Canada, Niagara OHL) 28) Benoit-Olivier Groulx (C/LW, Canada, Halifax QMJHL) 29) Dmitry Zavgorodniy (RW, Russia, Rimouski QMJHL) 30) Samuel Fagemo (LW, Sweden, Frolunda J20) 31) Mathias-Emilio Pettersen (C, Norway, Muskegon USHL) https://thehockeywriters.com/2018-nhl-draft-fishers-top-93-preseason-rankings/

until that happens, there is just no guessing who may become available. If the cap goes down, and the teams get two compliance buyouts, there could be some tough decisions to be made by the teams at, near or over the cap as it sits. For example, who could Toronto or Arizona need to buyout? There are potentially about 10 teams that would be in cap hell if it drops below $77M for instance...thankfully Detroit will NOT be one of those! We'd still have about $30M to spend, plus that would also save us some money on these RFA's, maybe they'd be taking a smaller bridge deal now to remain compliant. Also, maybe the league cuts salaries by a certain percentage too, just like after the lockout season.

I'm just going by the report that teams may receive 2 compliance buyouts. I really have no interest in having Abby on the books for 6 more years and Nielsen 4. If there are no compliance buyouts, then just keep them and scratch them. But with all the lost revenue these teams are experiencing, along with the NHL, I cannot see a scenario where there won't be compliance buyouts. If there is only 1, I guess you'd have to look at which position is more needed. If we could replace Nielsen at C via UFA easier than replacing Abby? Then Frans is the one, depending on need I suppose. Neither have to be protected at the expansion draft, so that plays no bearing on the decision either.

I think it's a given. Buying out both makes 100% sense. You could argue Dekeyser, but this team lacks NHL defense-men, and he is an NHL quality D-man, bottom paring on most teams, but on our team, he still has value. Same with Helm, also Helm will only have 1 year left, so it would be pointless to buy him out. Abby and Nielsen have ZERO value on this team, IMO. Maybe they are good locker-room guys? They both wear "A's" but that is more of a coaches choice... I agree with the Svech opinion, this may be his make or break year. Depending on who I get at the draft, or make a deal for, sign as UFA, I think Svech, Ehn/Hirose, etc... and just going to be 13th and 14th forwards here. Best to try and deal a couple of them away at the draft or something. We have a good amount of players who have seemed to pass them on the depth list. Ehn, of course spent his time in Detroit, but he is just a bottom 3 player, who can be replaced, especially if there are a lot of buyouts this summer and others become available.

of the mentioned players (because we really do not know who will be bought out from other teams yet) I see Yzerman offering Gagner a contract and then if he goes after another, I could see him offering Namestnikov a contract. I don't see anything long term being offered. I happen to believe Abby and Nielsen have seen their last days here, that could give both Gagner and Namestnikov a shot at 2C, with the other going 3C. I see Filppula taking up the 4C spot with Ehn and Glenny or Helm on the RW. I am hoping for a bunch of buyouts and having more options open up!

McIssac moving forward. IF I had to choose one of them. Cholowski could bring a nice return in a package. Probably just draft picks, but I'll take it.

ran the sim ONCE and this is what came up. So to add some thought and discussion to what I said above about trading down no further than 4th, what would these teams have to offer Detroit and what would you expect or feel that it would be worth trading down? If NJ wanted the #1, I'm asking for the #2 (in this sim, they also ended up with the #10 and #17,) Jack Hughes and Nolan Foote. Would they do it? I really don't see many Roster players on ANA that I would want, but I would take BOTH their first's (#3 and #31) and maybe Zegras? Ottawa will have (in this scenario) the #4 and the #5. Not sure if they'd part ways with BOTH of those, but I'd ask for sure, especially if they want to outbid NJ. Plus I would definitely ask for Anthony Duclair. Maybe THEIR #4 pick, their 2nd (#33) and Duclair.

Honestly, IF Lafreniere is not a McDavid type player, and we DO get the #1, I see what Montreal (or others) have to offer! If he is not McDavid-ish, then I am more than happy with getting others (Rossi, Stutzle, Byfield, Perfetti, Drysdale, etc...) Really, we could SO move this rebuild up with a trade down! If it were Montreal, I'd want Domi, Caufield, their 1st and 2nd. Maybe they want to get out from Carey Price? They are going to offer HUGE to get the #1 (if they are given it by Uncle Gary outright.) Domi has to be protected in the expansion draft, that would help Montreal dealing him since they have a ton of players that need protecting. This being said, if Montreal is NOT in the top 4 after the lottery, then I will not trade with them. I do not want to be out of the top 4 really. I know I listed 5 others I would be fine with taking, but of them, I do want more choices of the bunch. ANA, NJ and OTT will have two first's, I will be asking for both of those from either team if they want the #1. I am wheeling and dealing come draft day if I have the #1. Here's a serious question (although it may not sound serious) could any of the following players be traded for a hypothetical trade for Lafreniere? Would you accept any of them along with the respective team's 1st and high prospect? Eichel, Dahlen, Jack Hughes, Laine, Connor?

No secret I was/am a huge AA fan, but I do think that with our current crop of young players (not including last year's and this year's draft) Gagner fits a better role for us. I certainly hope that he re-signs with us. I don't think he'll be buried with Abby, because I really do believe that Abby and Nielsen will be the compliance buyouts once it's all said and done. They just are not performing up to their contracts and we have plenty of lessor paid players that can contribute more than they have. I could see Abby retiring and possibly taking a job as a scout with us, maybe scouting Colleges and USHL or something. Nielsen will try to sign somewhere else, and who knows, maybe he'll get a depth role on a Cup team. Ya, TWO 2nd's and Gagner is looking very nice right now!

https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/james-neal-milan-lucic-jeff-skinner-p-k-subban-which-nhlers-might-face-compliance-buy-out/wcm/4df8ce1c-697a-4a62-8f7e-f8db68de9a8c/ Compliance buyout speculation. Goodbye Abby and Nielsen!

Hmmm, would this make only 7 teams lottery eligible? Because that would be more fair, the only teams that should be in the lottery anyhow are the bottom 5, IMO.