Majsheppard

Yeah, and a bunch of people like that...

Well, it is something. This deadline is going to be boring as hell. Selanne, just save us.

The updates seem to make Sheahan out to be more than I have seen. He is developing, but he isn't finishing. I guess from looking at him on the FS net coverage, he looks to be able to handle himself well with everyone on the ice except the goaltenders. This is not what we need on the current team, but he might turn into a good bloke down the line. When I suggested we trade him for Selanne, I have to admit that would be horrible overpayment. I don't know what it would take for Selanne, but considering we would have to move a forward for him... I would imagine Emmerton would be the deal on the table for him. Eaves would make sense as well, but I doubt they will want a concussed guy like him. Hudler would be a good trade for him, and I doubt with his UFA status and Holland's desire to keep the team together... it won't happen. In the end, I still want Selanne. I think we win flat with him.

Yeah, Kindl is improving rapidly and Kubina is pretty much done. I wouldn't make that trade unless they are getting back at least a second round pick as well.

I have to say I made an effort to take a look at Sheahan, and he is doing more than he used to, but still where is the production? Nick Jansen the defenseman for St Cloud state is producing almost the same. I really hope this changes at some point. I wonder if he will end up with more than Pulkinen.

I'd bet it is his back. Having a bad back, it just will mean some rest and stretching before he is back. I am ready to see how much Tatar has progressed. I still think he isn't strong enough yet for the NHL, but he is getting there.

I won't listen to either. It isn't that it wouldn't be good, but it would most likely be noise to me trying to focus on all the waiting with no trades. This year is going to be boring guys.

Two new teams would fix the new Division inbalance, and would only really cost each team a single roster player. Sure you could fix problems with relocation, but you can fix others with expansion. My vote is for expansion. Besides, you might end up moving Phoenix or Florida to Kansas City or Hamilton anyways.

And he will be a Wing as well. It just feels right to me.

If anything there will be harder work from the others and they will crush the Preds. I kind of hope that we see some unfounded chemistry right now. I say this as the top two line, while getting hotter, have been lacking offensively compared to where we would want them. Oh, and with our depth. Cleary can be out as many games as he needs to be and then even a few more. I am not calling him worthless, he just would be worth a ton more if he gets healthy. With our current depth, we wouldn't miss him that much, and would be so much better with him rolling 100% in the playoffs.

You have to start preparing that he isn't going to play this year, and thinking about him never playing again.

Still out, update.

I got an email saying that I might get an email saying I might get an email about buying tickets at some point if I jumped through some hoops. This is run so well...

Clearly they meant, that it will be the centerpiece when it hopefully happens, but boy is it poorly stated. It is supposed to be motivational.

Okay, the tone of this might come off as arrogant or angry. I just ask you read it all and know, I am not mad or screaming or anything. I just want to make a few points, and I really don't mean you any disrespect. Please do not read it that way. First point: Go google for yourself all the comparisons, because I am not sifting through a few years of scouting reports for your benefit. The people that compared him to St Louis in terms of style of play. NHL Central scouting, for one, likes to slap playing style labels on the players to make the fans have some sort of concept of what they drafted in a perfect world. If that is not enough, I have heard Hakan Andersson say his style of play is like St Louis in video and in print. Okay, I feel the need to feel better about this so, Exhibit A Exhibit B Exhibit C Three examples of what I am talking about. Now for what I seen. He is a sniper, he is fast, he has skills, he goes hard and wild at the net. His size makes these efforts sometimes less than fruitful, but he possesses maybe the best shot of all of the prospects I have seen in the system now, maybe in a long time (as Johan has the best one of all recent prospect but his shot came on while in the NHL). Again, style of play doesn't mean production. I just know you don't rule it out until you see the guy play at the NHL level for a good long while. I mean you can just look at our current roster... If the Wings traded Franzen, Kronner, Val, Datsyuk, or Hank (some developed prospects who have several years of experience) even in their first couple of seasons in the league... they would have lost a ton of value as they were no where near their best hockey even three seasons in... I am just saying, would you want to get rid of these guys before they even played a game? Last time I checked, all of these guys were ranked even lower as prospects than Tatar at his age. Would you have been okay moving them for let's say Pavel Bure? in 2001? Or Alexi Yashin in 1999? Good trades according to your logic. Final proof, Let's look at a prospect ranking from 1999.... I think it will speak for itself. Prospects 1999 Oh I can't wait for you to read it... Dats is 11. Zetter is 20. Fischer is 1. and 4. Yuri Butsayev, C is the top forward. My point is you can't be so damn sure, and the Wings know this... Tatar established himself high amongst prospects and has remained high. That consistency bodes well, and while no one can be sure... I wouldn't trade him based on the suggestion of some random guy whose experience watching Sea Dog games makes him capable of determining that Tatar 100% FOR SURE, will be a worse NHL player than four guys that have only one or two years experience at leagues several rungs lower than the NHL and AHL for that matter. You are entitled to your opinion on what you saw, I don't slight you for it. I am glad you at least watch some hockey before making an opinion. I just am saying, the track record of the scouting staff, the rankings, the opinions of players, (including Tatar, his peers, those that went ahead of him, and those following behind him) and the stats suggest he is worth a look in the NHL. I know this makes the point that he might have trade value high enough to make a trade. I just suggest to you that getting Nash, Semin, Parise, or some other sniper with a package including Tatar runs the risk of making a trade like Datsyuk for Yashin. You just don't know... and Holland doesn't seem willing to make that move. Good or bad. My problem is that you "ASKED" if Tatar is better than what you have "seen," then immediately refused what everyone else said in the thread. Your point by making this thread was not to gain more information, it was to make a point. I don't even know what the point is, but it was clear it had something to do with the idea we would trade Tatar if you were in charge. Shrugs. I guess that is what bugs me about it. I really hope you don't think I am being mean or unfair. I just am perplexed by the way this thread has unraveled. I stand with Nill and the scouting staff, the guy was worth a second round pick and then proved he could play with men at 18 and has improved every year. I want to see him play with the Wings, not only as a rookie, but at 26-27, because at that point we might have something great. Time will only tell. Second thing. I watch a ton of hockey and play hockey. As for the Wings, I haven't missed a game in 15 years. Griffins games are harder to see if you don't live in the area or want to pay for their streaming package. I won't pretend I have seen a bunch of it, I have broken down tape as it comes available. (youtube and what little experience he has had in international and NHL play) I have watched games at every level of Michigan minors, developmental, kids, and rec league hockey. I am no expert, I don't pretend to be. The only thing I can claim is having a pretty good track record at guessing who Holland likes and dislikes, having predicted trades of Schneider and Lang as well as some predicting some prospect success (granted it was in the thread of buying a Zetterberg jersey during his first career game and telling others who was going to be big this year...) I know hockey, and I know football, and I know team building, and I know coaching. I don't know dick about baseball, and I know little of basketball. Hockey is my greatest love. I also could care less what you think about my knowledge on hockey. You might have watched him more than me, but again I am not going to suggest that makes you an authority on that matter either. A ton of people watch every Wings game here and they get crazy ideas as to who is good and who is bad. That in and of itself doesn't ensure anything. I have coaching and scouting experience when it comes to football, and I will tell you that watching sports and breaking down individual players are extremely different things. For all I know you watch the play and have never followed Tatar away from the puck,seen him practice, or watch the same tape 10 times in a row. I will say that I trust the hockey scouts at the Joe more than either of us, partially because they do these things as a staff, and they are higher on this kid than our other prospects. They have a record I can look at and say, yeah I trust their opinion. Again I will say, Time will tell. In the end, time told us with many prospects we traded away, both good and bad. Though with the cap; it seems the hometown discount and the years where you get them on first and second contracts, at least financially, are worth keeping the prospects. I hope since I took the time to write this, you take the time to read it. I also hope everyone liked it.

What about Doughty? He is having growing pains, but he might chip in the most overall offense in the long run.

I will half way agree with you on the point about the San Jose bit at the end. I don't believe we need someone tough or a hitter to combat these teams. We historically in the playoffs do extremely well over the toughest teams. What beats us consistently with the Sharks is simple. Not being able to get gritty goals. This has nothing to do with hitting, it has to do with not being able to shut down Pavalski and Clowe or scoring while they do. One solution might be to study who historically gets the most points differential against Pavalski, and trade for that person. Remember, Zetterberg, Pavel, Val, and Franzen have been powerless to shut them down.

With who is available... and the prices... Selanne or no one for me. I don't think there is a real way to improve our team without the cost being too much.

I have been paying attention to this situation... I haven't heard any official list. Where is there a reputable source?

I still think that Franzen, and all our top forwards for that matter, suffer from lack of the right chemistry. We need top six forwards to make the players better. This is why Nash is on the block. No set up center. Realistically if anyone can fit in chemistry wise, performance will follow.

I still want someone to explain Moen to me in a way where it makes sense. Adding a guy that doesn't bring anything more than depth to a team that already has too much depth in the same department... I don't get it at all.

Yeah, but that is an offer... not a deal. I think if the Rangers were to make a deal they would want more than Dubs. I would imagine they would also want like Del or Staal included and then a first and a prospect.

The comparison is in how they play the game. Search the internet... you will find many comparisons in game play. Does that mean he will finish as much as St Louis? Not necessarily... but if he lives up to potential he could. The point in comparing their NHL paths is to make you realize IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL! Yet it isn't too soon to realize you want to see where he goes. As for you thinking he is only a 3rd or 4th liner... that is a joke to me. Hudler plays on our second line with Bertuzi from time to time. Tatar if called up right now would be a fourth liner... Just like Pav and Zetter were for a year or so... as depth. You see, players have to get used to the speed and the system, as well as develop chemistry. You remember that guy Franzen? People didn't see that developing the way it did, and he put in his dues on the lower levels and lower lines then earned his spot. Tatar will do the same, not saying he will be on par with Johan but that he will have to earn it. You are sure he won't be anything like I am sure you would have been with Johan. Take some time, take some patience to let the guys prove themselves. There are so many examples on our team alone for you to think twice before saying what you are saying. Yet you won't give the chance to the FASTEST prospect in a decade to prove himself ready for the AHL?!?!?! HOW DO YOU NOT FIND THAT CRAZY?!?! He proved to the pro scouts that his 18 year old game was good enough for the rung right below the NHL... I would assume you would want to at least wait to see what his value would be when his body is age appropriate for the AHL AT LEAST! With his skill set and the right amount of muscle and hustle, he could be a ppg player in the NHL. COULD BE. You don't trade that upside without serious reservations and a clear upgrade. I don't see anyone that Tatar could be trade for in a package that would be the kind of upgrade to validate his loss and the other team would take. Creating threads about wanting to know about a kid, then refusing what you hear back and suggesting you want him traded... just be honest... you have no clue about him and don't really care you just want to hear that we could move him for a big name. I don't think it is happening, nor would it be wise to move a first, a second, and him for one guy. Tatar might be the real deal, as is Jurco. They were a first and second respectively. You want to get rid of Jurco, Tatar, and another Tatar perhaps in value? Trust in the scouts. They are doing a good job. Otherwise you might eat a ton of crow if Tatar were to become the next Pavel or Henrik or Johan. It is possible, because at his age neither were exactly world beaters either. They were just kids with a nack for the game and upside trapped in young bodies and lacking experience. Just like Tatar, and only time will tell if he follows the same path. We do know to this point he is walking the line extremely well.

I am saying that the Wings don't have the top ready to go talent that LA has to make such a deal. The Bj's think that they can fix their team fast with such a deal. They are wrong. Yet, they will look for it. I just want to make it clear there is no way such a deal is happening with the Wings.

Of course he is underrated. He is a huge piece... I don't buy he gets moved unless it is absurd. I see a hockey deal working as well. I still think Jeff Carter is the major thing involved in here. I still say they move Richards for Carter right now and both teams win. Richards and Nash would be explosive and fix their Offense immediately. Another interesting move might be Kane for Nash... I wonder if Bernier, Johnson or Brown, and pieces (meaning big prospects) would do it...