Dabura

I don't think Gaustad's the second coming of Gretzky. No one does. I DO think he'd help. "ZOMG he doesn't fight that much! (Only four fights last season! And he lost two of them!!!)" "ZOMG 6'5 isn't big enough! (The Wings are already a very big and physically imposing team!!!)" "ZOMG Nashville gave up a first-round pick for him and he was a pain in our collective ass and we gave up a first-rounder for Quincey and Quincey sucked so ZOMG they overpaid and we don't need to overpay for players!!!" He's a free agent this summer. If he's asking for 4 million, then sure - pass on him. But if he can be had for less than 3? I'd say it's worth it.

Biznasically. I think we're all over-analyzing this. I mean, what are they gonna say? "We'd rather he not return. Too old and slow"?

I'll take any one of Jason Arnott, Paul Guastad, Chris Kelly, Zenon Konopka, and maybe Lennart Petrell (who'd probably play second-fiddle to Abdelkader, but it'd give us a little depth there). I like Gaustad because he's 6'5, he's totally dreamy, and he was a thorn in our side in the Nashville series. Moreover, of the players just mentioned, he stands out as possibly the only one Kenny would even consider. Arnott's old, kind of lazy, and a bit too pricey for a fourth-liner (the third-line pivot position being Helm's to lose). Chris Kelly - Holland would probably want to see a full season of solid play from him before considering him, which is fair enough. (Objectively I don't think he's leaps and bounds more valuable than Abdelkader, at least not in the context of our team at large). Konopka is the Anti-Wing. Petrell's just my "Look at me, I found a gritty guy under that rock over there! (And you said they couldn't be had for cheap!)" guy. Ideally, we ink Prust and one of the aforementioned PNNBINSOAs ("probably-not-necessary-but-I'm-not-sold-on-Abdelkader"), and we trade up for Lucic.

On the other hand, they're each gonna be looking for a team that's seriously committed to winning.... Really, though, I don't think Holmer's situation is going to factor much into their decisions re: the Wings.

Divine intervention. Coyotes were being flat-out embarrassed. I was actually cringing for them. So God threw the dogs a bone.

Holy shiiiiiiit!

Is Smith drunk?

Good call.

I hear Edmonton's prepared to slit throats for Suter's services.

Trade for Girardi?

11. The way the league is today, if you want to be competitive, every player on your roster needs to be able to play the game. So, while I recognize that maybe we could, you know, go for the tough guy signing that everyone says we need, my question is, Can he play the game? Especially with our puck-possession system, he has to be able to play good minutes and really contribute.

To be fair, I think we all want him to stick around for another season. And, I mean, the guy did score against the Preds - so he's not washed up and useless. But the Cup is the number one priority, and that means Holland has to be prepared to make tough decisions, has to be willing to do things he might not want to do, might not like, if it'll help this team's chances. He has to objective, maybe even a little ruthless. The feel-good family system is nice and all, but if he's aiming to please all the players and to be Mr. Nice Guy, well...how is this team going to look any different next season? I'm cautiously optimistic about this summer. ("Well, you have to remember, we didn't have Helm and Eaves, they weren't available to us against Nashville. I consider a healthy Helm and a healthy Eaves to be our bottom 6 upgrade....")

No way do the 'yotes beat this Kings team. IMO.

Should be a doozy.

3rd - Bertuzzi-Helm-Cleary 4th - Prust-Gaustad-Eaves/Nyquist That's where our bottom 6 needs to be. Now, I like Holmer as much as the next guy, but....

Dan Girardi or bust. IMHO.

Does Hawks' 'dysfunction' start at the top? s*** is bananas.

You're surprised? Ah, you're Canadian. Makes sense.

If I were to switch one of them over to the wing, it'd be Hank - because of his back.

You beat me to it.

Jagr might thrive with our puck-possession game. But, honestly, isn't this exactly the sort of signing we don't want to see Holland make this summer?

Hey, cool, another injury.

Bettman.

I bet he's our lone addition this summer.