mackel

I wonder if our training staff is part of the problem. Some of the injuries are obviously not related to them but with the trend of the last few years I'm starting to wonder if they need to be looked at.

This team needs a serious shake up... A trade is a must too many players are way to comfortable here. They seem to think its acceptable to mail it in every night. I don't even care if we "win" the trade. Just move someone to send a message!

How about this... Trading Howard to the islanders for Vanek (conditional on assigning an extension). Resign Gus for 2-3 years and platoon him and Mraz 60-40, 50-50, 40-60 to ease Mraz into the league.

What's the over/under we'll use this new cap room to resign our dead weight... ala Quincey, Cleary, Sammy, Bert, etc

[quote name="Opie" post="2460178" timestamp="13860 This is the same Dan Cleary that was one of the top point getters last post season! To borrow a financial term for cleary's playoffs it was the ole "dead cat bounce" Eaves, Tootoo, Glendening. There's 3.

The loss of Smith is addition by subtraction.

That's your opinion and that's just fine by me.

Howard has what 5 more years on his deal... Mrazek is basically ready to play in the NHL now. It stands to reason one of them will be traded within that 5 year window.

At some point we will either trade him or Howard. Unless of course he turns out like McCollum.

Howard is accustomed to playing tons of games even back to backs. Unless of course they are serious this season about resting him.

I just can't help but think he's being showcased, specifically to Edmonton.

Naw he's the best goalie they have healthy at the moment.

No my point is that Mrazek is 2-3 years further down the development road than Patterson. So a straight across comparison isn't that useful.

He's also 2-3 years further along in his development.

His trade value is very high, he's stuck behind Howie for quite a few years and we'll have jake Patterson coming up soon enough.

I was thinking along the lines of one of our experienced guys ie "leaders" like Bert, Sammy or Cleary so we could clear a roster spot. Add in a career AHLer to us.

I'm not so sure. They would be getting a potentially high end goaltender the same age as the rest of their core group. We'd be getting a potentially high end forward, with a higher ceiling than any of our own prospects.

Crazy thought... How would people feel about a Mrazek for Yakupov trade... Perhaps with some spare parts along for the ride but those two being the key players swapping sides?

I think the problem is with "fighters" not fighting. I have no problem at all with a guy like McCarty, Shannahan, Drake, Big E, etc having the odd tustle when the chips are down. I do have a problem with guys like Parros, Orr and the like who have no business being in the NHL. These guys are in the league exclusively to fight, any points they earn or plays they make are minor miracles. I like tough hockey players who can fight when called for, I don't think a player who can only fight at the NHL level has a place in the league.

Agreed. Kind of like the Wings did a few times with Osgood. Only our management had sense enough not to grossly over pay a 'good enough' type goalie.

I'm not sure skill sets has anything to do with it. With viable (cheaper) options available still in the UFA pool. Why trade and give up an asset, even a 7th rounder to help out another team? Not buying out Bertuzzi was a mistake IMHO.

Aren't we above after we sign our RFAs?

Here's a question for our cap/CBA experts. What happens if the Wings can't shed some salary before the season begins? Given the number of UFAs out there that are as good as what we want to cast off, and they would cost only their salary nothing back in trade. This might actually happen?

I think Crawford is a lock in goal... Also Bergeron will be a starter on this team.

My point was that you have no point. You're proposing a guy who missed a ton of time while injured would have out scored players that weren't hurt. The only place he did that was in your imagination. Fact is, Sammy is old and broken down, to the point where he could barely play this season... Let alone outplay anyone.