Dabura

This has probably already been discussed, but here ya go: Holland planning to scout prospects this week [Detroit Free Press]

Jeff Hoggan gets own superhero lunchbox; best fan giveaway ever? [Puck Daddy] Made a thread about this in the minor affiliates forum, but then I remembered we have this thread.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/ahl-captain-gets-own-superhero-lunchbox--best-fan-giveaway-ever---photos-225540067.html Awesome!

http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/674400 And then you add the special teams prowess on top of that.

This.

Don't count on Marchenko earning a permanent spot next season. Assuming Kindl is moved and no long-term defensemen are acquired, Ouellet will be our #6 next season and Lashoff will stick as our #7. Marchenko can't be our #7, because we don't want him sitting in the press box. So he'll be first on the callup list. Or he'll be traded. (Do we really need another shutdown defenseman?) If Kenny really is serious about adding a good long-term defenseman, I'm thinking two of the more semi-realistic non-Petry options are Ellis and Bogosian. That's my (admittedly non-insider) sense right now. I say Bogosian because the Jets may be looking to move one of their top-four defensemen for a top-nine forward. I'm not crazy about Bogosian, but he's big, young, mobile, right-handed, signed long-term, accustomed to playing big minutes, and he has the potential to be a two-way #2, and he's not meeting expectations (which is the whole reason why he might be traded in the first place). That sounds a lot like Tyler Myers, right? Helm has been solid for us this season, but maybe he'd be ok with going home to Winnipeg? They need a 3C...we need an RHD...

Which teams are playing like Stanley Cup contenders in 2014-15? [CBSSports.com]

I love the way this Blues team is built. They're a complete team. Let's hope the Wings bring their A game.

Don't do it, Kenny. Don't you dare do it.

Can you imagine a top three of Johnson, Yandle, Barrie? Holy s***.

Apparently the Coyotes are likely to deal Vermette and Yandle. It's also looking like O'Reilly may very well be moved. We're not getting any of those three, mind you.

Let me put it this way: if DeKeyser and Ericsson were lifelong Oilers, we wouldn't be singing their praises. If Petry were a lifelong Red Wing, we'd probably like him quite a bit. Look into Petry's underlying numbers and such. He faces the opposition's best players every night and holds his own, on a godawful team. He skates well enough, moves the puck well enough, has an underrated shot from the point, is more physical than people think, and can put up decent point totals. He's a top-four defenseman in the prime of his career, and I think it's very possible he could work well with Kronwall on our first pairing.

Kronwall, yes. DeKeyser and Ericsson, debatable. He definitely has Ericsson beat in the puck-movement, possession, and usefulness-on-the-PP categories.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=747491&navid=nhl:topheads meh

If we add someone, it's probably going to be an affordable rental like Petry, someone who can slot into our top four without costing us a prime asset. Similar options: Zybnek Michalek, Marek Zidlicky, Marc Methot. Yeah, I know, but it is what it is. Want Jared Spurgeon? Well, guess what: the Wild don't want to deal him. Want Ryan Ellis? Well, guess what: the Preds don't want to deal him. Want David Savard? Well, guess what: the Blue Jackets don't want to deal him. Want Erik Johnson or Tyson Barrie? hahahahahaha. Want Cody Franson? Well, guess what: that'll cost three good assets (and, remember, we'll be giving those assets to the Leafs) and it's incredibly likely that Franson looks to Get Paid in the summer a la Matt Niskanen, and that even if Holland offers him the moon, there's absolutely no guarantee whatsoever that he'd accept it. Want Mike Green? Too bad, the Caps aren't moving him, and even if they are, Holland won't trade a first-round pick for a high-profile rental (see: Franson, Cody). Want Keith Yandle? So does everyone, including the Coyotes. And, oh yeah, Olli Maatta's out for the season, so the Pens will be looking to add a top-four defenseman. And, as the Pens are in full-on "win now" mode, they'll be willing to pay what we're not willing to pay. Which isn't a knock on Holland. The Pens are simply a better team and they're closer to winning a Cup. Realistically, we're a couple years away from where they are right now. Which, admittedly, is an issue, because we only have so much time left with Datsyuk, and Zetterberg isn't getting any younger. So, hell, maybe we should just go all in this season.

I assume/hope the plan is to include him in a package. On his own, he's not going to fetch us anything. But package him with a 3rd and Frk and maybe that gets us Petry. If Kindl's not gone by the deadline, Holland should be strapped to a rocket and that rocket should be shot into the sun. Ouellet has been excellent. Ouellet is way better than Kindl, and he seems to make Smith better. He should, at the very least, be a regular.

Then again, 6-8 weeks is probably the safer assumption.

Posted this in the All-Star thread: Point being, I don't think Holland's giving a random guess. It seems to be a Grade 2 strain.

Petry's a legitimate top-four defenseman. If we're being honest, we have exactly one defenseman who's clearly better than Petry.

Jimmy Howard's been one of the league's best starters this season. The Vezina is Rinne's to lose, though.

I won't lie, this cracked me up.

For the record, I have total faith in Mrazek.

Holland says 2-4 weeks, or more. http://redwingsfront.wordpress.com/ MRI confirmed it's a slight tear, ultrasound tomorrow to determine exact extent of the damage. My understanding is there are three general degrees of severity. Grade 1, you're out a week (or more). Grade 2, 2-4 weeks (or more). Grade 3, 6-8 weeks (or more). It sounds like he's Grade 2; I'm assuming a month or longer. Even if he heals relatively "quickly," he won't be allowed back until he's 110% healthy. As we've learned (through Howard and others), you don't come back from a groin problem unless you're really, truly, totally, unequivocally better - especially if you're a goalie. We wait.

My concern there is it takes away our steadiest pairing (which, granted, isn't saying much) and gives us two third pairings. Kronwall carries Ericsson, DeKeyser carries Quincey, so...our shutdown pair is the two guys who need to be carried by superior puck-movers? That sounds like a possession black hole. Lots of shot-blocking and hitting and shutting down and defending, sure, but only because they'd never have the puck. But really, any way you arrange it, our D corps just isn't good enough. Replacing Kindl with Petry would be a start, I guess. Kronwall Petry DeKeyser Quincey Smith Ericsson God, our blue line. woof. Seriously. woof.

Nope. Watch him play. Going back to that game against the Blackhawks, for example... http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2015/01/09/player-grades-nail-yakupov-derek-roy-and-anton-lander-exceptional-in-edmonton-oilers-win-over-chicago-blackhawks/ He hits, backchecks, and tends to pass when he should shoot. That's him in 2014-15. I'd actually say his play with the puck has been more concerning than his play without it. He's a good kid who's learning to play the right way.