Dabura

If trading Howard could help us land, say, Brent Burns, I'd definitely consider it. We need a Brent Burns in the worst way.

Re: Trading Howard... Hell no. Unless it makes perfect sense for us. This is a two-goalie league; if you want to win the Cup, a 1a-1b tandem is pretty much a prerequisite (unless you have a perennial Vezina candidate who's durable as hell and consistently excellent). Look at what Darling did for Chicago. Look at what Vasilevskiy did for Tampa. Look at what Talbot did for New York. Look at what Hammond did for Ottawa. Hell, look at what Ozzie did for us in 2008. Hasek faltered (as designated starters are wont to do), and we needed a starter-caliber replacement. If Ozzie is instead some random backup, do we win the Cup that year? Howard-Mrazek would and will be one of the league's best tandems (if not the best), and it'll cost us a combined cap hit of, like, $7M. It's pretty much an ideal situation. Howard was an All-Star last season (pre-injury, of course) and his "backup" is a prodigious stud. They'll push each other, bring out the best in each other. It'll be great. For the first time in foreverrrrrr, I'm not the least bit concerned about the talent in net.

Mantha's 2014-15 season tells us nothing that we didn't already know about him. We drafted him with the understanding that he was going to be a project, that his first year as a pro would probably be spent in Grand Rapids and wouldn't necessarily be anything to write home about. In major junior, he was a big fish in a small pond; he didn't have to play a strong two-way game, he didn't have to battle against grown men, he didn't have to keep his feet moving at all times, the pace was nothing like pro hockey, and QMJHL goaltending is notoriously awful. And in terms of physical fitness and conditioning...if a teenager is going to play in the AHL, he has to put in a lot of extra time at the gym. (Even someone as fit and fleet of foot as Larkin has to bulk up and condition his body to withstand the rigors of the pro game and, in time, the murderous marathon that is the NHL schedule.) Mantha had all this to contend with - and then he broke his leg. Even before he broke his leg, I wasn't expecting greatness from him this season. He's got a long, long way to go before he becomes a first-line winger. I believe he'll get there, but it's just going to take a while.

To which someone will say, "Yeah, but Boston would've wanted more from us because we're in the same division." To which I say, "OK, how much more? I want to know exactly how much more before I conclude he would've cost way too much." 24 hours ago we all would've agreed that no one would be able to land Dougie Hamilton for a first-round pick (one that's not even in the top twelve) and two second-round picks.

When I look at our D corps and I hear that Dougie Hamilton was acquired for some picks..."comforting" is not the word that comes to mind.

I would like to see Kenny work that Old Holland Magic and make a couple sneaky-shrewd moves that pay off in a major way and, in turn, make him look like a total genius. I like Alex Chiasson, who could be had for peanuts and/or lint. I like Alex Semin, who could be had for Andersson and [insert players who make us wish that amnesty buyouts were still a thing, e.g. Weiss, Kindl, Ericsson]. I like Dustin Byfuglien, who would be the best (or an extremely close second-best) defenseman on this Wings team and could be acquired for substantially less than his true trade value. (The catch being that he has only a year left on his contract and that he will most definitely Get Paid next summer. Would we be able to pay him? Hard to say. Would it be worth it? Also hard to say.) I like Mike Green, who could be had for only money. (I think Byfuglien is the better high-scoring, right-shooting, smooth-skating, 30-year-old American defenseman who "can't play defense and sucks." But if he's going to cost us a really good asset - say, Jurco or Pulkkinen - and then demand $7.5M x 6 years...Mike Green might be the better option. Unless Mike Green demands $6.5M x 5 years, in which case...well, there are plenty of other defensemen I like.) I like a lot of players. I don't buy this "Well, in terms of trades, Phaneuf is pretty much the only realistic option, and we're not interested in him, so I guess we're standing pat" mentality. There are always deals out there. The Sharks got Brent Burns and a second-round pick for Devon Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle, and a first-round pick. Don't tell me "There's no hockey store" or "It takes two to dance." (And don't tell me it's all about getting more out of our young players when Cleary is still in the picture.) Imagine a line of Tatar-Datsyuk-Semin. Imagine DeKeyser paired with Byfuglien and Kronwall paired with Quincey or Marchenko. This team is a couple additions away from being really, really good.

Keep Larkin, make a move for a great NHL defenseman, e.g. Dustin Byfuglien. I've spoken with some very knowledgeable Jets fans and they feel a 1st and a high-end forward prospect might be enought to land Byfuglien. (1st + Jurco/Pulkkinen + Smith?)

To me, Dylan Larkin qualifies as an "elite prospect who has the potential to be a franchise player." I don't put much stock in Hockey'sFuture, but they feel he's the fifth best NHL prospect and the NHL prospect of the year, and I can't say I disagree with them.

Larkin scores his first two as a pro Griffins won, 4-2. Larkin scored the first two Griffins goals, Pulkkinen scored the game-winner, and Bertuzzi scored the insurance goal. Series is now tied at one. Next three games are in Grand Rapids.

I disagree. He won't make the team out of camp, but we might see him join the team later in the season, possibly as a winger. He's an exceptional skater; he plays a remarkably mature, rounded 200-foot game; he's got a good frame for an 18-year-old; and his vision, smarts, hockey IQ, playmaking ability are all commendable. While NCAA hockey isn't AHL hockey, killing it as a freshman like Larkin did is extremely impressive and bodes well for his adjustment to the pro game. This is a kid who just played for the USA in the IIHF World Championship as an 18-year-old, the only other 18-year-old on the roster being Jack Eichel. This is a kid without any true holes in his game or even areas of concern. He's not a project. He has to bulk up, has to get used to the grind of the pro schedule, has to make all the necessary adjustments that every player in his situation has to make - but I don't think the adjustment period will be a long one, maybe not even a full season. This is one of the ten best NHL prospects.

You may be right. The thing is the potential return. It's entirely possible the Blackhawks could win a Brent Seabrook trade, as pretty much every team wants to add a right-shooting top-pairing defenseman.They might be able to land a couple really, really good young cost-controlled players.

Brent Seabrook is the one who comes straight to mind. Though, my gut says the Oilers are going to do pretty much anything it takes to get him - and lord knows they have some attractive pieces they can offer.

I honestly don't think he'll be in Grand Rapids all that long. There's going to be an adjustment period, but he's probably the most complete prospect (or, at least, 18-year-old) we've had in a very long time. The one thing that might really hold him back is how many bottom-six type forwards we have in the system. Unless the powers that be get to thinking he could really work as a top-six forward (sort of a Helm or Sheahan or Abdelkader dealy), they may just say, "Y'know what, there's no real rush." Or maybe one or two of those bottom-six type guys get traded and getting Larkin into the lineup as, say, a fourth-liner seems to make sense for the team and for Larkin's development track.

Eh, not necessarily. They drafted him because he's an awesome centerman from Michigan. If he and Mantha become a dynamic duo because they just work that well together, awesome. But it shouldn't be forced. Finding chemistry and coming up with winning combinations is not at all an exact science. Having said that...I'm still hoping we get to see Athanasiou - Larkin - Helm at some point, if only for s***s and giggles. (Legion of...Zoom? Vroom? Va-Va-Voom?) (Cuz, like, the motor city and cars and stuff. GET IT?!?!) Man, we're gonna have a crazy-quick forward corps within the next couple of years.

First 50 seconds. No Babs file necessary.

http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2015/5/15/8612459/don-cherry-tells-mike-babcock-to-stay-in-detroit I thought this deserves its own thread.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/21/hobey-baker-finalist-hyman-wont-sign-with-florida/ http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/zach-hyman/ Hyman and Dylan Larkin were so good together this season that I have to think Kenny will try very hard to land him.

I don't necessarily believe Backes will be moved, but I believe it's within the realm of possibility... He's the face of a Blues team that is now synonymous with underachievement/disappointment/failure/choking. ("The David Backes Era.") He's a 31-year-old power-forward who may be one bump to the head away from being Franzen. Power-forwards tend not to age well, even without concussion issues. The game is increasingly about speed and skill. It can be argued that the Wild beat the Blues largely because of their superior team speed. Backes isn't known for being especially fleet of foot. Backes fought Tarasenko in practice. As far as I can tell, he instigated the fight (responding to an errant Tarasenko stick to the mouth).

The Blues will deliberately implode as an organization before they trade Tarasenko. He's as untouchable as they come. I'd also put Shattenkirk in that category. Backes or Oshie. Those are the guys I'd be looking at.

Agreed. It's great that the DoPS is trying to get head shots out of the game. But...if Palat-on-Glendening doesn't warrant a suspension, and Garrison-on-Abdelkader doesn't warrant a suspension, and Wilson-on-Visnovsky doesn't warrant a suspension, and Byfuglien-on-Perry doesn't warrant a suspension, and Kronwall-on-Kucherov does warrant a suspension...has the DoPS really done its job this month? With this decision to suspend Kronwall, have they really helped to make the game any cleaner? Have they really educated anyone? Have any standards or guidelines been made any clearer? Does this set a clear and logical precedent (and was there a precedent for the precedent)?

I got it from someone over at Winging It In Motown: http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2015/4/28/8510677/niklas-kronwall-suspension-nikita-kucherov-kronwalled-red-wings-lightning Not sure if he made it or got it from someone else.

Everyone would say Glendening put on the brakes when he should've just taken the hit so it's his own fault. At this point, this garbage just makes me laugh. I hope the Wings rally around this. I hope they all play the game of their lives. I hope this suspension is the reason the Bolts lose the game and the series.

I think I'm just gonna keep posting this: This is the smoking gun we've been waiting for. Unequivocal proof that the DoPS is just a bunch of chimpanzees spinning a wheel of fortune.

Really? Between the roster and the pipeline, we have, I think, a number of potential candidates. Abdelkader, Glendening, Nyquist, Sheahan, Helm, DeKeyser, Larkin, Nastasiuk...I've no doubt that by the time Z's career is done, there will be an obvious successor.