MileHighWingsGuy

Its nice to have the young kids coming up but it does absolutely nothing for your team this year. If our objective is to wait for the defensive talent to come up and win the cup eventually then the Alfredsson signing was a waste of time. Yes the Wings need to clear some dead weight through a trade and bring in another defenseman to win the cup this year. Holland hasn't been equal to the challenge and I don't think we are contenders unless he does.

Tootoo is a waste of $1.9 Million and roster spot IMO...hope Holland can swing a trade to be done with him. I know some of you love the fighters and I'm not against the gloves being dropped. I'd rather see the money and the spot used to upgrade to a better defenseman.

Yeah our 5'8" enforcer was going to strike fear in their hearts and change the series. They must have been so happy Tootoo sat out those games. Tootoo is worthless and a very poor signing. There's a reason he rode the bench, he was where he was supposed to be.

The Wings need to get stronger on D not weaker. Any scenario where Dekeyser is sent down to GR for any period of time is flat out stupid. I don't understand the love this board shows for a 5 foot 8 inch enforcer (Tootoo) who couldn't crack the line-up in the play-offs or a gap filling Center (Emmerton) who is average at very best. If Holland continues to fail in the trade world to make this team better we need to cut bait with marginal talent and support the poor contracts he handed out last year. I don't care who comes or goes from the back end, Nyquist, Tatar and Dekeyser need to be in the line-up if we are serious about winning.

I think as the season begins we'll still be waiting for Holland to pull off a trade that never happens. After seeing where we stand I feel pretty stupid even thinking he was about to do something before the deadline the last few years.

Helm will be the third line as the center or he'll be hurt, he's not our fourth line Center. I can't believe you guys are wasting time talking about Emmerton. He's a gap fill guy that has gap filled. If we must use him this year its only because others are hurt and our team will again not be optimal. Glad he filled in but hope he moves on elsewhere as he's about as boring as it gets.

The thing that kills me is even if he figures out how to do it he'd probably be on the phone with Cleary instead of Brunner....aaaauuuugggghh!!!!

Unless Holland can figure out how to make a trade from the heap of unwanted misfits I think Brunner is gone.

Not signing our RFA isn't an option. We are over the cap and have been in need of a trade for some time. Beginning to think its outside Holland's skillset. Go ahead Ken prove me wrong...please...

Like a teenage girl planning her wedding someday...

I'm not so sure its misplaced. Holland has yet to make a trade we need the last few years let alone recently with the glut of forwards on the roster. I'd rather have Brunner under contract at a slightly higher price tag right now than Samuelsson/Tootoo riding the bench sucking a larger combined salary. I don't think Alfie is a misuse of funds if he contributes. Don't judge Holland by his attempt at getting things done, judge him on how functional our roster is. Right now we need to lose some people, the ball is still in his court to get something done.

I'd be ecstatic if Holland could pull your scenario off.

Think back to the last time Holland made a trade.

I get the feeling we worry about the roster and tear it apart looking to get better more than Holland does. Someone should call him and remind him a trade or two wouldn't be a bad idea.

Holland has threatened making trades, that he'd be active around every trade deadline and nothing ever happens. He's up against it now and must do something very creative, its kind of refreshing knowing he must pull the trigger. I'm scared though at what the fallout will be as he's in a very bad negotiating position. Will probably have to give talent away to rid some bad contracts he's made.

Cleary has fully tested the market, he knows whats out there.

Anytime you have a relationship with a long time player like Cleary a handshake and a gentleman's promise usually is good enough to make a player happy for now. Its old school and sounds like what has occurred in this case with Holland and Co. reaching a deal and once other trades go through it will be finalized. I know I've done it many times with good folks I trust in business. Like Shaman464 said I think you can count on Cleary being a Wing, its pretty much a done deal. Would imagine the Morrow talk is now over as well.

Update (4:40 p.m. ET): So about that whole report… Just forget it. Pleiness updates his story saying the team isn’t close at all to re-signing the veteran forward but they’re willing to do it if they can shed salary first. Seems Holland's lack of trading away part of his huge stack of forwards is causing problems with getting Cleary resigned. LOL Come on Kenny now you gotta make a trade!!!

Nyquist - Helm - Tatar How badly I want to see this third line night in and out. Absolute killer 3rd line. One top Defenseman added would be a very nice touch and with injuries probably something we need.

Yep I think you can safely pencil in Tatar in the place of Brunner in that lineup of yours.

I've been a critic of Holland over the past few days and I'm 50/50 today. I still for some unknown reason am hearing interest in Cleary and Morrow for some reason which scares me. Losing Brunner still hurts but I keep hearing the Tatar argument which resonates with me. I still think we need to get a trade or two in place to lose the dead weight which will be riding the pine all year and perhaps solidify the defense with one more solid name. I am glad Holland didn't stand pat today though, that is a positive.

If we could move some "dead money" on pine riders for a good defenseman I'd have to rethink my stance on Holland and eat crow.

he can be sent down but his cap number still counts against the cap which is really the problem right? $3.0mill in dead money basically.

I'm more interested in a trade to clear out some folks and free up some space than adding another older forward.

Where would we even put Morrow?