Dabura

This is the silliest argument I've ever read yo. Y'all Hughes haters be trippin' balls.

Probably safe to assume we're all going to be disappointed with the opening night roster (assuming we don't get Hughes or Kakko). Cholowski, Rasmussen, and Zadina will probably start on the farm and that will probably be the right call. Barring an absolutely sensational training camp, Veleno probably starts on the farm and stays there for most of the season. Maybe McIsaac has as good a camp as the one Cholowski had last year. I'm not expecting it. Our first overall pick in the upcoming draft won't make the team out of camp (unless his name is Hughes or Kakko). Based on what he's shown (in an admittedly small sample), Hirose is a full-time Red Wing. I dunno what happens with Ehn, de la Rose, Kuffner, Svechnikov, Witkowski. Vanek is done. I'd be in favor of a Daley buyout, but I'm not expecting it. I think all the older veterans not named Vanek will be back, including Kronwall. I doubt we go HAM after any of the big-name UFAs. And that's fine by me. In all sober honesty, I'm feeling like we might offer-sheet (or simply trade for) a stud RFA. Holland and Devellano and Daniels and Redmond have all openly teased/discussed the possibility. That's significant.

Re: 2017 -- I remember reading somewhere that the Wings missed moving up to 3rd by one digit. So, like, I guess the winning four-digit sequence for 3rd overall was *that frking close* to one of ours.

(Note: I realize you're sort of playing devil's advocate, so what I'm going to say isn't me hardcore disagreeing with you.) Hughes has played against a ton of top college teams. He actually tends to play his best hockey when he's playing against older players. What Kakko is doing in the Liiga is incredible, but Hughes' body of work is at least equally impressive. Hughes' style is absolutely conducive to the NHL game; he's the most shifty, elusive, effortless skater I've ever seen (think Karlsson) and his hockey sense and playmaking ability rank among the best I've ever seen (think Datsyuk). He's a weapons-grade point-producer. The only concern I have with him is the lack of "physicality" in his game. But he's good enough that I don't think it really matters, especially if you assume he's going to be a winger. I don't think Kakko going 1st overall is completely out of the question, but I don't think he's better than or equal to Hughes. Possibly more NHL-ready, certainly bigger and more physically imposing, but not better. It's weird to me that people would have concerns about Hughes' game at a time when players like Gaudreau and Marner and DeBrincat are thriving. Then again, I get the sense the "ACKSHUALLY, Kakko is every bit as good as Hughes" narrative is coming from Canadian outlets like Sportsnet. Because controversy sells and Canadian hockey media can't help itself. tl;dr Kakko is a top checkers players, Hughes is a chess prodigy. That being said, I'd be deliriously happy with Hughes or Kakko.

HYPE! https://undertale.fandom.com/wiki/Genocide_Route LGRW!

I guess the Lindros trade might count. But, yeah. Basically not a thing. The cost of acquiring that pick would bleed us dry.

I'ma bring the points update back for tonight, cuz why not. Bertuzzi (2G, 1A) - 21 goals and 47 points thru 71 games Larkin (3A) - 32 goals and 73 points thru 74 games Mantha (2G) - 24 goals and 47 points thru 65 games Athanasiou (1A) - 30 goals and 53 points thru 74 games Hronek (1A) - 5 goals and 21 points thru 44 games Kronwall (1A) - 3 goals and 27 points thru 77 games

The BLM MLB line has spanked the Bergeron line and the Crosby line. And in a couple of days they get to spank the Crosby line again, in front of thousands of Crosby fans. Life is pretty sweet right now, not gonna lie.

Absolutely. Take the L. Um, I mean W.

Mantha (24) from Bertuzzi (26) and Kronwall (24) - PIT 1, DET 4

Bertuzzi is the first Red Wing in history with four straight three-point games.

MANTHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kinda sucked towards the end of its lifespan, but yeah. Been sayin' the same thing. This is a conspiracy, plain and simple.

They've added a Hronek assist (16) on the Mantha goal.

The Leafs suck lmao

That's a good thing. I'm cool with whatever life throws at the Wings. I'm cool with the losing because I think that's where the Wings should probably be at this time, based on what they are and what they need.

Mantha (23) from Larkin (41) and Hronek (16) - PIT 1, DET 3

MANTHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's why winning games like the Wings are doing is important. "Winning culture" is a thing and it matters. No games are meaningless. No wins are meaningless.

Not today, Crosby. Not today.

"Welcome to cold and miserable Buffalo. We have Niagra Falls. That's about it."

They be tankin'. Congrats to Edmonton on wasting 100-point seasons from McDavid and Draisaitl. Great work, guys. Really glad this whole parity thing is working so well for you.

They're not useless. They're a model franchise. The Wings should aspire to lose their asses off in embarrassing fashion every year just like those mighty Sabres who most definitely do not suck and are most definitely not a joke. Blessed are the Sabres, who are most definitely not a Mickey Mouse organization.

This isn't my only source of happiness. I also have pasta.

So then the fix is in every year. In which case it doesn't really matter where anyone finishes. In which case we should all just enjoy ourselves and hope for the best.