Dabura

Your face is too old. At the right price, Visnovsky would be a good add.

Just to be clear, I'm not really arguing with you. It occurred to me that my last few posts could be read that way, but that's not it. If anything, I'm just rambling, maybe taking sides for the sake of taking sides. Nothing personal! I get snippy about the Kings because I'm tired of everyone and his or her mother pointing to them as this Cinderella rags-to-riches underdog success story. Like you said, they were a contender. BUT - and it further pisses me off that people tend to gloss over this fact - they had their issues, and instead of saying, "Well, whatever. We like our team. You get into the playoffs and anything can happen," they made some very big, very ballsy moves. They weren't complacent. They weren't in love with themselves. They weren't afraid to hurt some feelings. And it paid off. And it continues to pay off. We're not in the same boat that those Kings were in. We are NOT a contender. But there is, I think, a lesson in there that is worth considering.

I see what you did there. (I think?)

I mean, not that Ryan Kesler is gonna be the difference between an 18-game win streak to close out the season and finishing in 40th place. butt u no wut eye meen.

Maybe I'm reaching here, but I think there's also something to be said for heading into the playoffs on a high note, peaking at the right time. Y'know, like we did last season? (And by "we" I mean Zetterberg and Howard, and some other guys who were also on the team whose names I can't remember at the moment.) (Brandon Smitt?) We don't make any big moves and we're very likely going to be crawling the rest of the way. Then, even if we get into the playoffs, we're gonna be gassed, beaten-down, not feeling especially great about ourselves. Lord knows it's only going to get chippier, choppier, meaner, harder. But don't give me any of that the-Kings-were-the-8th-seed crap, unless the point is that the Kings made some huge moves and they paid off quite well for them so hurray for huge moves and being bold. But we already have Sheahan, Andersson, and Glendening. That's why Helm might be "expendable" in the first place, right? Though I'm not opposed to trying to find some value in low places.

Their D's actually been really impressive this season, all things considered. It's infuriating.

+1 It's a good point about Helm. But wouldn't we basically be turning Helm into Kesler? That's a big upgrade. I guess that would leave a hole in our bottom six, but isn't Sheahan already sort of making himself at home in Helm's regular spot? Cammalleri - don't get me wrong! I like the guy! I guess I'm just kinda tired of small centers and small forwards in general.

So. We're rumored to be interested in Edler and Kesler, possibly as a package deal. As far as I know, we haven't been linked to Ehrhoff or Stewart - but, as I've blabbered on about in the deadline thread, I think there may be the potential for a package deal, as Ehrhoff's estimated trade value appears to be a 1st, a prospect, and a young roster defenseman with upside, or any two of those. My question is, Which would you prefer - the two Canucks or the two Sabres? I guess for the sake of discussion we should factor in actual real-world considerations, e.g. cost.

No offense to you, but I grow really weary of the questions about [insert player who isn't a Red Wing]'s character. Some people here were s***ting all over Tatar when he kinda sorta maybe threatened to bolt to the KHL because Cleary took his spot at the last minute. Now he's Untouchable, a Phenomenal Team Guy, etc. Fedorov wasn't exactly the greatest Team Guy in history, and was most definitely a Diva. Kronwall's widely regarded as one of the dirtiest, most gutless players in the league. (Actually, there's some history between Kronwall and Kesler.) Bertuzzi almost murdered a guy in cold blood. We could use a really good center. Kesler is a really good center who we might have a shot at getting. He might be the difference between the playoffs and early tee times. I don't really care if he's a prick. Maybe he becomes a better Team Guy as a Red Wing. (Wouldn't be the first time that's happened with a player.)

Cammalleri is another option, but he is friggin' tiny.

I'm not big on Kesler. But we're talking about maybe a first-round pick, a prospect, and a 3C for a very good 2C who could hold his own as a 1C or be one of our better RWers. Given our situation, I think that makes a lot of sense. The argument could be made that even with a fully healthy lineup we should be thinking about adding a top-six centerman sometime soon. Datsyuk and Zetterberg are getting old and breaking down. It's sad but it's true. Weiss is a huge question mark, short-term and long-term. Helm, Sheahan, Andersson, Glendening are bottom-sixers. Franzen doesn't like playing center. Jarnkrok is the only Griffin who projects as a top-six center in the NHL, and he's still got a long way to go.

You're right. We won a Cup with Lebda. What has Quincey done for us lately? (I kid. Quincey has grown on me. But try saying, "We can win a Cup with Kyle Quincey playing huge minutes" with a straight face.)

I guess what I'm saying is, this news about Weiss and Datsyuk takes us from "If we make a trade, great. If we don't, we're still fine" territory and places us in "s***. We might actually have to make a big trade" territory. A Ryan Kesler might now be something of a necessity.

Why not? If Dats's injury is more serious than stated (and we all know it is), that means we could be fighting tooth & nail for a playoff spot without our two best players. I've already pointed it out twice in like the past eight minutes, but it can't be overstated: Joakim Andersson is our first-line center. With Weiss not even ready to play in a game yet, we have to consider trading for a top-six centerman.

You know what this is? This is pumping up Andersson's trade value. Helm's too. That's what this is. It has to be. /denial

Dickie, not that I'm especially keen on Almqvist, but you're basically just saying what everyone says about smallish offensive defensemen. And yet, there are guys who were hit with the same criticisms earlier in their careers who've gone on to become good defensemen at the NHL level.

Joakim Andersson is our first-line center! Kyle Quincey is a key part of our blue line! When is Brett Lebda due back???

Tonight we're gonna be without Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Weiss. Against a team that's hot on our heels. At some point, this all-our-key-forwards-are-injured s*** is going to cost us a postseason berth, if it hasn't already. If we can move Helm, Sproul/Ouellet, and a 1st for Kesler, that's worth serious consideration. I'm sorry, but the state of our team is ticking me off, as is the notion that if we just keep waiting for the absolute perfect trade to come along - say, Cleary for Chara - we'll be doing the best we can do. Or if we just keep waiting for the perfect UFA - say, Vanek at $5M over three years. Because it goes without saying that we'd be the only ones in on that, right? Welcome to Motown, Thomas! We need to add a high-end piece! If it can be done without losing one of our untouchables, it should be done! And even some of our untouchables shouldn't be wholly untouchable. Ehrhoff, Kesler, Byfuglien, someone good. Do it. Just do it. (I kinda feel like Dunbar in Catch-22 when he finally snaps. THERE'S NO ONE IN THERE!)

Detroit Red Wings Trade Rumors: Dustin Byfuglien [WIIM] I've said it before and I'll say it again: we should be in on Byfuglien. We need more right-handed players - he's right-handed. We need a top-four offensive defenseman who can be lethal on the PP - that's him. We need a top-six power forward who can park his ass in front of the net - also him. We need to get bigger, tougher, more physical - him. We need a guy who isn't a rental - him again. We need at least one of the Jets' 9,000 players who could potentially do wonders for us - him. There are some concerns about him, but that's the whole reason why he'd be traded - and possibly for a reasonable price - in the first place. We're not getting Duncan Keith or Alex Ovechkin. And, again, standing pat is not a recipe for significant improvement and winning one more Cup with Datsyuk and Zetterberg. It's praying that some rookies can be the difference between a second-round exit and the Stanley Cup, all while our core gets older every day. On that note: I'm very happy that we're in on Erhoff. Kesler's price is about what I'd expected. That's Helm/Sheahan, Sproul/Ouellet, and a 1st. If any one of Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Weiss were healthy, I'd say it's absolutely, positively not happening. But, fact is, we could really use a top-six center. (And if we get healthy down the middle, Kesler's able and willing to play RW.)

Kesler not a team player? Ehrhoff capable but not proficient? Do you guys know what you'd be saying about 90% of our players if they played for other teams? Maybe my next thread should be "Build a Wall Around Our Players and Throws Rocks at Anyone Who Comes Near Them!"

Helm definitely isn't expendable. But, as I've argued before, if we're gonna move a key roster player who isn't Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Weiss, Kronwall, Ericsson, DeKeyser, Howard, Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, or Jurco...it's gonna have to be Helm. Not that it's gonna happen, but I don't think it'd necessarily be a devastating loss if it did.

Actually, I think Lidstrom will be making his comeback. The jersey retirement week hoopla is secretly a buildup to it. He'll explain how he faked his death and spent the past two years dismantling Moriarty's network, and it'll be like he never left.

Ray Whitney.

*slaps you for being silly* How available is Yandle? Do we have any real reason to believe the 'yotes might trade him? I haven't read a single thing about him in the rumor mill.