Dabura

This...isn't...even...my...final...f...zzzz

Yeah, I don't think it'd be terribly difficult to keep Trouba. Cheveldayoff would have a number of options, none of them painful. Ultimately, it's going to come down to Trouba and what he truly wants. If he's happy where he is and he's willing to sign for market value, Cheveldayoff will make it work. If there's truth to the rumors that Trouba's a bit of a malcontent who thinks a little too highly of himself, he'll probably get moved.

It wasn't long ago that I was calling for him to be fired and complaining about how he was ruining the kids. Digging into underlying numbers and watching games a little more closely (and, overall, just trying to see things from a different point of view), I've come to realize he's right about a lot of things and has logical reasons for doing the things he does. And, crucially, he's willing and able to learn and grow and adapt. So I've done a pretty dramatic 180 regarding Blashill and his perceived competence. TBH, I feel kinda bad for him... >Be Blashill >Coach your teams to play aggressive, up-tempo hockey >Take over for Babcock and realize Babcock was using black magic and duct tape to create the illusion that this team has a pulse >Team can't play Blashill hockey and can only play Babcock hockey if Babcock is coaching >Blue line is bad. So, so, so bad >Team loses Datsyuk >"Playoffs or rebuild, Kenny? What do?" >"I dunno, Jeff, lol" >Kids not top-tier, old guys still best players, old guys still want playoffs >Kids have potential but play stupid hockey >Need to coach the stupid out of the kids and ease them into bigger roles while also leaning on veteran core, because we're still trying to win games here >Try to push the right buttons, sometimes push the wrong buttons >Blue line is bad. So, so, so, so, so bad >Mrazek is a drama llama. Go away, Mrazek, you are a drama llama >Pound head on desk It's gotta be tough.

If they're not playing in a volcano, I'm not interested.

FWIW, I believe we've seen Blashill grow as a coach over the past few years.

Prob'ly. But I think that's an unfair criticism of Blashill. I also think keeping Babcock means the Wings stay in playoff bubble purgatory longer, which, IMO, would piss off fans just as much as Blashill's perceived flaws do.

Here's my question: What solid evidence do we have that strongly suggests Blashill is hurting the development of our younger players? Larkin's coming off a 63-point season. Mantha's coming off a 48-point season. Athanasiou's coming off a 33-point season (and he sat out the first few weeks). Bertuzzi put up 24 points in 48 games. Frk put up 25 points in 68 games and got more PP time than he deserved. Hicketts put up 3 points in 5 games and got some PP time. Mrazek has revealed himself to be a fringe NHLer. Ouellet is a fringe NHLer. Sproul is an AHLer. Do we think a "better" coach gets significantly better production from these players? I don't agree with Blashill on everything, but I'm not convinced he has a harmful effect on our younger Wings.

http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/vegas-golden-knights-nate-schmidt-suspended-ped-banned-substance-stats-nhl-news/czk1kvpnoakm1k4nc8jgdykwn Wild OPEN SPOT ON VGK BLUE LINE appeared! Go! JENSEN/DALEY!

"It's another sold-out crowd here at Little Caesars Arena. Lots of people checking out the concourse." - DRW

NOR. HAVE. I.

Yeah. Based on statements and speculation, this is looking like a safe bet. I do find it interesting that Holland has, on at least two occasions, acknowledged the possibility that two young defensemen could make the team. Back in early July, he suggested that two young defensemen making the team could, conceivably, result in the team carrying eight defensemen. A few days ago, he seemed to suggest that two young defensemen making the team could result in him making a move (probably trading Jensen or waiving Frk). I feel like Holland doesn't make these comments unless he feels pretty confident that at least two D prospects are going to have big camps. Everyone's saying Hronek has the inside track, and he probably does, but Hicketts is proven and the Wings seem high on Sulak. The latter is intriguing: 24 years old, two-way player, coming off an outstanding season in the Finnish Elite League, heading into the second and final year of his contract... https://wingsnation.com/2018/02/16/libor-sulak-your-new-favorite-red-wing/ This is shaping up to be the most interesting Wings camp in ages.

I won't pretend to know the mind of Erik Karlsson, but I'd be kind of surprised to learn he has a strong preference for staying in Canada. If we're ruling out the Wings because they're mediocre, it's not much of a stretch to rule out Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Vancouver on the same basis. Toronto and Winnipeg are Cup contenders, but if we're talking about a sign-and-trade...that could be extremely risky for either of those teams. It would almost certainly set the stage for a massive cap crunch in the very near future. *shrug* Looking at the Wings specifically...bleh. The more I think about Karlsson donning the Winged Wheel, the more it feels like a pipe dream. The Wings have said they won't be trading for him and I think that's the right call, whether we're talking rental or sign-and-trade. So that already puts us behind a number of teams. If we're not trading for him, we'd have to get him via free agency, which means 1) he'd have to make it to free agency in the first place and 2) we'd have to beat out probably two-thirds of the league in an epic bidding war for the ages. While the Wings do have some selling points, I doubt it'd be enough to land Karlsson. Does that disappoint me as a Wings fan? Not really. I'm not convinced Karlsson immediately makes us a dark horse Cup contender, even if all he's costing us is money. I don't think our young players are ready for the rigors of cup contention and deep postseason runs, and I'm guessing they won't be ready for at least another couple of years. By that point, Karlsson is 30(+) years old and his body could be breaking down, given his injury history and the minutes he's played. So much of his game is elite skating...and his legs have already seen an entire career's worth of s***. That's a recipe for buyer's remorse. Seems almost inconceivable here in 2018, but I'd say his best years are probably behind him. Playing for a perennial powerhouse team could prolong his prime, but there's no reason to believe the Wings will become that kind of a team within the next few years. Any way you slice it, Detroit doesn't make much sense as Karlsson's landing spot. IMO.

groan

Anything can happen, but... Khan, Custance, et al. have said those three will probably make the team if Zetterberg isn't playing Holland has said he expects two or three (possibly four) new guys on the opening-night roster It's been more-or-less confirmed that Holland and Blashill already have Rasmussen pencilled into the lineup

No. We are the only remaining survivors.

Wrong forum, m8. Here's the one you're looking for: letsgowings.com/im-a-dirty-anglophile-and-i-hate-freedom-and-puppies

But he'd have to play for the Islanders.

Islanders? lolwut

https://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2018/08/red_wings_preparing_for_season.html#incart_river_index

Right. Point is, Garlic Jr. Saga is the worst. But we had to slog through it to get to Goku's return.

In the meantime: Garlic Jr. Saga.

Die in a(n advertiser-friendly) fire.

It's a tough situation, even if you assume there isn't any real animosity between the parties. Pacioretty's been producing above his pay grade for most of his NHL career and I'm guessing he wants compensation for all of those bargain years. Unfortunately for him, he'll be 30 in November and he's coming off a pretty miserable season. If I'm Bergevin, I don't want to give him a huge long-term deal, for obvious reasons. I think he deserves to Get Paid, but I wouldn't want to be the GM who gives him that payday.