Dabura

It's not what was said, it's who said it. Holland trades away draft picks like they're candy. And as for prospects - veteran roster + "over-ripe" pool. And this summer he'll be looking to add around 3 FAs to the roster.

If we get both Parise and Suter, it'll be like Christmas. I will be so absurdly stoked.

I actually said the same thing in another thread (that failing in the FA hunt --> trades). But what I said in this thread is, I think, pretty fair. Don't expect any trades (at least, not any major ones), because there likely won't be any - though the door is, of course, open. (And believe me, there are a few guys I'd more than love to see Holland deal for.) I keep putting Penner's name out there because, well, he feels like a Holland reclamation project. Frankly, I think he'd be a mistake with that kind of price tag. But, to me, he screams Robert Lang/Johan Franzen/Todd Bertuzzi. Smyth - like Penner, not calling for Holland to sign him. I'm not a huge Smyth fan (I know a few folks here are). But we need to get bigger, tougher, meaner, gritter, etc. - and Holland doesn't really seem to understand what that really means. So I could maybe see Smyth coming here. You and I are pretty much of the same mind here, I think.

Penguins' D blows. Devils are built around D. There's the difference, IMO. Plus, there was (and, I have to imagine, still is, and will continue to be) some mighty bad blood between the Flyers and Pens. And the Flyers wanted to prove something, and saw they could - in a very big, definitive way. So: D, and motivation. There's the difference, I guess.

Nick will make what he wants to make. And that won't be 3 million - unless Holland has some crazy Dream Team s*** up his sleeve. Parise and Suter are essential - but, realistically, we're not getting both. Indeed, we'll be lucky to get just one. Which is ok. There are other options. Besides, the Wings need depth. Even if Holland did somehow manage to ink them both, we'd still need to make at least one significant, substantial signing. And we do need a backup goalie.

Hot.

What's he out with anyway? I've gotta think Pronger on, say, one good leg is still better than no Pronger at this point.

Odds are, we don't get either of them, and Franzen keeps his spot in the top 6, and we continue to misguidedly count on him to be That Guy for us - the big raging power-forward that the best shutdown players in the league absolutely hate to play against. Not that I think Smyth or Penner would be significantly better, mind you. As for the age issue - we're a bit too old, I suppose. But none of our older players are going to be traded, so we're going to have to get younger by way of FAs and prospects. Really, though - age isn't one of our key worries. We need scoring. We need to get bigger, tougher, stronger, meaner, harder to play against. We need our D to not spot the opposition two goals every game in the playoffs....

Man, imagine if Holland somehow snagged that pick. 1st overall.... We'd probably draft Lilja or something.

LGF Make life hell for Parise. Sow those seeds of doubt and discontent and disillusionment and Datsyuk and Detroit.

IN NET - Officially, Holland wants to improve our goalie tandem - specifically, at the backup position (i.e. bye, Joey). ON D - Holland should not and will not put a cap on Nick's contract. Ryan Suter, Dennis Wideman, Matt Carle - any one of them would be . Smith's a full-time Wing out of training camp. IN GENERAL Don't expect any trades this summer. Babs basically said as much. And, by now, don't we know as much? UP FRONT - Top 6 - We need a goal-scorer and a legitimate power-forward. Re: the latter, Franzen is probably that guy, unfortunately. Ryan Smyth kind of interests me, though I don't think he'd want to sign here. Dustin Penner is 6'4 but he doesn't properly utilize his frame, and he's an underachiever - which makes him the prototypical Red Wings power-forward. So I can see him coming here. Then again, the Kings may soon be the Cup champs.... Re: the former (the goal-scorer), we need Zach Parise. Bottom 6 - We need a couple of big, tough, gritty, hard-working, blue-collar types. Ideally, one of these guys is a center, as we need a solid fourth-line pivot. (Babs wants Helm centering the third line.) I like Brandon Prust and, for the fourth-line center slot, Chris Kelly, Jason Arnott, or Zenon Konopka. [/armchair]

I'm gonna take a page out of Franzen's notebook (ironically enough) and say the regular season really doesn't mean much to me.

THE MAYANS KNEW!!!

True. But, like you said, he won't part with them. Wasn't it just a day or two ago that he was quoted as saying our prospect pool is the key to our future success, or some facepalm s*** like that? meeehhhhhhhhh

Doubt it. Thing is, Franzen is our one legitimate power-forward. And he's not a legitimate power-forward. So, unless we're getting a Corey Perry or a Rick Nash in return and/or inking Dustin Penner, I don't see it happening. And, of course, there's his contract....

To be fair, we're pretty short on sexy assets. I mean, there's Flip...and there's Franzen and his ridiculous contract...so, basically, there's Flip.... Like you said - picks and middle-of-the-road prospects. mehhhh

I'm starting to think this is some sort of ratings stunt.

The Predators suck. (Needed to be said.)

Babs says probably no trades. I think if we're gonna see a trade, we're gonna have to come up really short in the FA hunt, and it'll have to be perfect, something that falls right into Holland's lap and requires next to no creativity or imagination or work or risk or saying goodbye to a roster player or.........

Psh, so what. Larry Murphy's in The Dark Knight Rises.

No more Hudler. Please.

Smith gets the shutout. I am pleased.

Rinne is good for at least ten golden rebounds every game.

Howzabout Chris Kelly as our fourth line pivot?

...Rozsival? Babs says Holland probably won't be engineering any trades. So, it's Suter - and then a steep drop-off....