Dabura

And too Czech.

Is this the real life?

Is it July yet?

Consensus seems to be that he is, but I don't think it's a really significant gap. They're basically the same player, IMO.

Zadina is the better player with the higher ceiling. Tkachuk probably tops out as a Matthew Tkachuk (if that). Zadina has real potential to become an elite, Hall-caliber scoring winger. We need a Zadina much more than we need a Tkachuk. Just my two cents.

Is it July yet?

EDIT: Reply fail.

Should've drafted Hossa.

Seems Bryan Murray was the only thing keeping that organization from eating itself.

#BringBackBrunner wtf

Well, if not Kovalchuk, it's gonna be Vanek or some other ancient relic who was awesome way back in the American Civil War. Pick your geriatric poison. Because Red Wings.

Holland gonna Holland. The only question is if this is purely business as usual (can never have enough past-their-prime vets, gotta put butts in the seats, blah blah blah) or an indication that the Wings are dead serious about only spending a couple of years rebuilding. Like I said above, Kovalchuk might make sense as a member of a deep ensemble cast. But if this is just another Vanek 2016-17 thing? HARD PASS kthxbai.

Starting to get a "We were counting on getting Dahlin. We didn't get Dahlin. So now we're looking to make desperation moves to help us do that Vegas thing that Vegas did" vibes from the Wings lately. I'm only in favor of this if they lean into it 100%. If we're actually serious about signing a guy like Kovalchuk, then we might as well trade up for Zadina and put Rasmussen and Svechnikov and Hronek on the team out of camp and trade for a high-end NHL defenseman. No half measures. Do the thing.

I am shocked, SHOCKED!

nah

boooooooo DeKeyser is lazy and he sucks.

Agreed. I think (hope) change is coming. Two years from now we'll still have a need for veteran leadership (there's always a need for veteran leadership), but I dunno why that leadership would have to be provided by any of Green, Kronwall, Daley, Jensen, Ericsson, or even DeKeyser. There are other fish in the sea.

Which accusations? Smith-Pelly's comment about Trump "spewing racism"? I don't think that should -- or, indeed, would -- get in the way of a civil, constructive sitdown. No, really. I think Trump would be perfectly willing to talk with Smith-Pelly, have an actual ongoing dialogue...assuming he attends the ceremony. Again, I disagree that minds are being changed and hearts are being won to the extent that you think they are. If anything, I'd say these gestures/stunts are hurting race relations, exacerbating problems, widening divides. (And, yes, I think we can largely credit Obama for putting us in this position.) But then, admittedly, I'm not an especially "progressive" person politically. I don't believe in the tenets of what people these days are calling "social justice." I believe in being a decent person and doing what you can, within reason, to help those in need. But in today's Social Justice Movements all over the world, I can't help but see Marxist wolves in sheep's clothing, pulling the strings on useful puppets, agitating for ends that really don't have anything to do with justice, equality, progress. I suppose I should probably leave it at that. Sorry for derailing the thread with politics.

I'm not saying he should try to have a dialogue at the actual event. I'm saying that instead of telling the media, "The president is racist and I'm not showing up," and letting that be the extent of his involvement with Trump, he could, perhaps, show up to the "nonsense ceremony" as a good-faith gesture and, from there, pursue a constructive dialogue (post-ceremony). My point stands: minds are not being changed, hearts are not being won. Actual, tangible progress is not being made. I'm huge into politics, American and international. I've followed this "national conversation" from the beginning, I've devoured coverage of it from media outlets all over the political spectrum. My overwhelming impression is that "I'm gonna kneel during the anthem" and "We're gonna make this awards show hyper-political" and "I'm not attending the White House ceremony" are not actually helping race relations. People who are already predisposed to support [x] are loudly voicing their support for [x], and 90% of the mainstream media and 97% of famous entertainers happen to be among these people, so there's a false sense of how big this conversation really is and how many people are really engaging in it and how close we are to achieving "justice." I believe we need more people reaching across the aisle. I'd like to see more of that from Trump and I'd like to see more of that from famous, wealthy people who hate Trump. I think Smith-Pelly is missing an opportunity here and I think that's regrettable.

I'm not saying he's deliberately trying to make it about him. I don't believe that's the case. What I'm saying is, regardless of his specific intentions, The Story is going to be about him and what he did(n't do). I don't feel "He's taking a stand here to raise awareness for the plight of people of color" is really going to sell anyone who isn't already a believer. I don't feel it's going to win over any hearts or change any minds or advance any causes or spark any truly constructive national dialogues. Mainstream media will use it to attack Trump and Republicans, SB Nation will publish a dozen articles about how hockey is racist. The world will keep spinning, totally unchanged. I'm not a big Kim Kardashian fan and I don't necessarily think the cause she was pushing was a truly just one, but, to her credit, she worked with Trump, met him in person, and got something she wanted without giving him anything. She used her fame, status, power for leverage and was able to achieve (what she believes is) justice. Personally, I'd rather see athletes who hate Trump follow Kardashian's example. If The Cause is really *That Important*, then pursue a course of action that might actually yield tangible results. Try working with the president, even if he is himself petty and [insert other adjectives of your choice]. Be what you would classify as "the better person." Don't just say "F*** that guy" and expect that to help improve race relations in the United States. Because it won't. I guarantee you it won't.

People did care when Thomas didn't want to meet Obama. I remember people calling him a bigot, racist, etc. Your stance here seems to rest on two beliefs: 1) any member of the Caps should be free to attend or not attend as he sees fit, and 2) f*** Trump. I agree with #1. If a player wants to attend? Great. If a player doesn't want to attend? I think that's dumb, but ok, it's a free country. A player can attend or not attend for whatever reasons. As for #2, well, we agree that not attending, for any reasons, is ok ("ok"). But, if I may get decidedly political here, I think "I hate Trump" is a dumb reason. "Yeah, well, Trump says and does stupid s***. He doesn't deserve anyone's respect." Maybe, maybe not. Thing is, I could've said the same thing about Obama -- because, contrary to popular belief, Obama rubbed a hell of a lot of people the wrong way, and not just because "He's black and everyone's racist." I could write a book on the numerous reasons I loathe Obama and why I feel he was, objectively, an absolutely terrible POTUS. Yet, if I were Tim Thomas, I would've shown up at the White House. Because, to me, "I disapprove of this president, so I'm not showing up and I'm not shaking his freaking hand" is petty. C'mon, Devante. Don't be Smith-Petty.

It's not a high moral standard. It's "Hey, Guy Who Hates Trump, maybe don't be a dingus and make this special occasion about you and your personal political beliefs. Your intended political statement won't change anyone's mind and won't do a blessed thing to truly advance any social causes. tl;dr Get over yourself." I'm not saying Trump isn't guilty of countless acts of dingusry. I'm not saying Smith-Pelly has to like or respect him. I'm not even saying Smith-Pelly has to attend the thing. I'm just saying that by not attending, he's kind of being a dingus. A principled dingus? I mean, sure, I guess. You rock those principles, Smith-Pelly. You fight that good fight. Or something.

Pick one.

I do either of those all day, every day.

woof