Dabura

Also from WIIM, a look at Anton Stralman. Kronwall Ericsson DeKeyser Stralman Smith Marchenko I wouldn't mind that.

http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2014/5/30/5765576/red-wings-playoff-streak-pavel-datsyuk-has-the-right-idea "I wouldn't say so. Though they confidently won the series against us, and deservedly won. There was so much talk about how the team had been making its way into the playoffs for over 20 years, and that it's a sign of permanence. And in my opinion, those who think that way are thinking incorrectly. It's time to change the stereotype. The team needs to be challenged to not just get into the playoffs, but to get into the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup." - Pavel Datsyuk Oh snap. First Z, now D. Great minds. Not that there's anything remotely sensational about what he said, mind you. Any NHLer will tell you that just making the playoffs isn't enough and shouldn't be the ultimate goal. But this does feel kinda different, at least to me. Z and now D put it right out there without any prompting or poking and prodding. It doesn't feel like a "safe" answer. It feels pretty honest, genuine. I think it's really pissing them off that they finished this supremely frustrating season about as far from the Cup as they've ever finished. But I could just be projecting my own feelings here. I tend to be very Cup-or-bust.

I can absolutely see it being true, especially if we're also in on Boyle. That doesn't scream Ken Holland?

Holland was desperate for Legwand, though. Poile probably could've squeezed half our prospect pool out of him.

Well, yeah. If you have a truly elite goalie, you pay him what he wants when it comes time to hammer out an extension. And if you can acquire one (and I'm talking about a really short list of names), you do it. But do you go all in for a Jimmy Howard? Do you make him one of the highest paid goalies in the league? For what it's worth, Lundqvist is only a couple years older than Howard and Quick is a couple years younger.

There's been some talk that Neal may be shopped this summer. Elliotte Friedman: http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2014/05/cap-increase-wont-ease-penguins-roster-dilemma.html You can and should hate James Neal. But let's face it: we could really use a guy like him. Would you be interested?

So I was thinking. Dustin Tokarski. John Gibson. Frederik Andersen. Jake Allen. Martin Jones. Chad Johnson. Ben Bishop. Robin Lehner. Semyon Varlamov. Jonathan Bernier. Alex Stalock. Darcy Kuemper. Petr Mrazek. Et al. They're all quite good and all quite cap-friendly. And there were a few nice veteran surprises, like Ilya Bryzgalov. And then we have Jimmy Howard. Above average, but coming off a very disappointing, injury-riddled season. 30 years old, a cap hit of a little more than $5M for the next four or five years, has never gone especially deep in the playoffs. And the understanding - drilled into our heads through repetition - is that he is our guy, no matter what, hardcore, forevz. Was the big-money extension a mistake? Could we maybe see one of those younger fellows doing for us what Jimmy Howard has done for us and only costing a fraction of Jimmy Howard's cap hit? Would a, say, Mrazek-Hiller tandem be so terrible? Is there a reason why we're so loyal to Jimmy Howard? Certainly we can't say, "It's almost impossible to acquire a Realgud goalie in this day and age." Unlike the borderline mythical Top-Four Defenseman, the Realgud Goalie doesn't seem all that hard to come by. Indeed, we have at least one in the pipeline who's ready for a legitimate job in the big league.

This thread needs more joy.

They definitely didn't miss Price as much as we all assumed they would. Tokarski was phenomenal. First team to play the maximum 14 games across the first two rounds and make it to the Cup Finals. I can't believe that's true, but apparently it is.

This would be the Wings if they'd gotten Girardi. But noooooooooo. But srsly, the Rangers looked fantastic tonight. Their quick-strike transition game, like LA's, is relentless. Their speed is lethal. They make good, hard, tape-to-tape passes, know how to work below the goal line in the o-zone, their defensive positioning and stickwork is A+, they've got the best goalie in the world, they're a true four-line team, top-notch PK, they check exceptionally well - there's a whole lot to like about this team, which is why I picked them as my bandwagon team in the first round. I think they put up a better fight against LA/Chicago than most will be expecting.

Eh, I don't really blame Kenny for it. They seem be a prerequisite for deals these days.

We know what we're getting with Kronwall. Smith showed well against the Bruins, is a good fit with Kronwall, and should be put in a position to succeed (i.e. paired with our best defenseman). He has better shutdown potential than we give him credit for. DeKeyser's arguably our best defensive defenseman. Byfuglien's done well enough for himself as a top-pairing defenseman on some pretty awful teams (he currently plays in front of worst-starter-in-the-league Ondrej Pavelec), so playing with DeKeyser on the second pairing of a Mike Babcock team would, I think, be good for him and for the team. Ericsson's our big shutdown guy. He'd help cover for Sproul's shortcomings in the d-zone. Ouellet, Marchenko, and probably Backman are all more NHL-ready in terms of steadiness and responsibility, but he'd be our sixth defenseman, and he'd be on the team for puck movement, offensive prowess, point production - especially on the power play. I've beaten this point to death in recent weeks, but the best top three we've ever had was Lidstrom-Rafalski-Kronwall. Lidstrom was a generational two-way defenseman, but, on the whole, that trio screams offense, not defense. We need less defense (i.e. defending in our zone), more offense. That's what I was going for here. Byfuglien is a big producer and a major weapon on the power play. Sproul is a big producer and a major weapon on the power play. They can both move the puck. Smith is one of our better puck-movers and will, hopefully, become a big producer and a major weapon on the power play. Kronwall, DeKeyser, and Ericsson are plenty responsible defensively. Great defense is never having to play defense. That's how the Kings are dominating, that's how we used to dominate. I want us to get back to that. I posted this in the Dan Boyle thread, but I'll post it here (it's a pretty famous quote now anyway):

Kronwall Smith DeKeyser Byfuglien Ericsson Sproul I like that. Not perfect, but a s***-ton better than what we had this season.

I don't really mind Franzen, but I'm not convinced his 20+ regular season goals and "great" cap hit are all that special. Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Jurco, maybe Pulkkinen, maybe Mantha, maybe a UFA (I like Pouliot), maybe Alfredsson, maybe Weiss - each of those would be good for a healthy number of goals next season. As for the cap hit...I mean, sure, $4M isn't bad. But compared to cost-controlled kids who can put up the same kind of numbers? I guess one thing I really like about him is that it's one less top-six spot that a kid who may not be quite ready to put up big numbers has to hold down. Like, the kid line - they were so dominant largely because they weren't going up against the opposition's better players. But I feel like that's reaching.

Happens all the time. Kirk Muller's now serving under Ken Hitchcock. Renney is a former head coach in this league. Greg Gulutzan went from head coach of the Stars to serving under Torts in Vancouver. Jacques Martin (Blues, Sens, Habs, Pants) in Pittsburgh. Gerard Gallant (BJs) in Montreal. Dave Lewis (Wings) in Carolina. I don't see this one happening, though. If only because of the recent history between the Wings and Pens. Maybe...Blashill? Whatever. If Renney does make his exit, they'll find someone. And, whoever it is, our power play will likely improve.

What does that even mean???

I never said there are 15! Why would I be worried if there were 15 I really liked?! My list is eight names. We might have a shot at maybe two or three of them, but the ones I'm most keen on will almost certainly be taken before we'd pick. I like those guys enough that I'd seriously consider trading up.

I've never really bought that he's a "defensive coach." When he was given some actual firepower to work with, the Preds "magically" became a high-scoring team. But, for the most part, it's been a bunch of bottom sixers, elite goaltending, and two or three all-star defensemen. All he did was play to the roster's strengths. That was the only way they were going to be competitive. So, really, it's pretty remarkable that they've even had the success they've had. I love Patric Hornqvist, but if he's your second most dangerous goal-scorer, and your #1 gun is a defenseman...there's a problem, and it's probably not the coaching.

Exactly. This way, they can be a package deal! Kenny is salivating.

He'll be our backup next season. Book it.

Absolutely. They're no strangers to series deficits. But this one feels kind of different, doesn't it? These Kings aren't the Blues or Wings or even last season's Kings (as you rightly pointed out). And the really crazy thing? As they all said in their pressers, they can and will be much better than they were tonight.

I mean, yeah, if five or six of my guys will probably be available at 15, I'll trade the pick and move back a few spots. But if most of my guys are projected to go in the first 15 or 20, that could be an issue.

? I really like Virtanen, for example. I'd like a better shot at him than the 15th pick.

The Kings are officially a juggernaut. They're dismantling the best team in the league with perfect hockey. It's that simple. They're playing perfect hockey.

I'm just saying most of the names on my list will probably be gone by 15.