e_prime

Mike Babcock. We think so much of him we hired a guy who think's he's Mike Jr. so much he tries to speak just like him. He might even wear the same tie. I heard he stole it from Babs.

Anybody got a good money man? I'm lookin' to diversify my portfolioioio.

Bogel? He's playing in the German league now, right? Swensen? Up and coming Finnish prospect? Really, you got me, bruh. I have no idea who these guys are... Maybe you should strike up a conversation in the Prospects Forum?

That's our Brendan. ...and I'm pretty sure that Smitty spent some time on the first pairing here in Detroit. So, it's not a first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KALJy9fw2Q&sns=em

LGW demands their whipping boys!

DREW EFFFIN' MILLER BAY BAYYYYYYY!

I'm confused. You believe that Holland should have traded Vanek (because he's got little worth to us over the course of the remainder of the season and more value to a playoff team) and that he probably couldn't get more for him (a third round pick and minor league player ARE more valuable to us in the FUTURE than Vanek is to us now) and yet somehow we still lost this trade. ?? Say what you mean kr... "You wish/hoped that Holland would have gotten more, but couldn't." That isn't win or lose. It just is or isn't. He can make the trade for what he is offered or he can sit on his hands and get nothing for a guy who doesn't really help us now and probably won't help us later. Unless you believe Holland missed the boat on a better offer earlier and overplayed his hand. (...Which I don't see you as one of those conspiracy theory guys..) We won't really see who won or lost this trade until we see what FLA does with Vanek for the remainder of the season and the playoffs (if they make it. fingers crossed.) and what we do with that pick and if McIlrath has a future with the Wings franchise. Maybe it'll be a win/win situation. Wouldn't that be nice for e'rrybody.

No really, man. You should put the internet away for a while. #genuineconcern

You do realize that we were sellers... and on trade deadline that means giving up players that teams are actually looking for. Teams are looking for a difference maker or player that can add some depth or specific need. Usually a UFA or a player that has very specifc cap hit number. C'mon Lefty. This ain't your first rodeo. Why do we all have to talk you down every "NHL Event Day" Stop pretending like these singular days, Free Agent Frenzy, Trade Deadline Day, and Day 1 of the Draft, are going to miraculously transform this team into your fantasy team.

Agreed. A rebuild doesn't get done in a day. Up until just a few weeks ago this team was still "rebuilding on the fly" There's probably still a lot of that mentality in the management group. Do you just give up on 25 years of playoffs over night? An attitude of we're one or two pieces away from contending or going deep with the blink of an eye. Sure. You, the casual or fanatical fan might be able to, but that's not how things work. How many contracts with term or huge cap were actually moved today? ...or this week? Those things require hockey trades. How many of those were completed today? This week? Oh right, it doesn't matter how the league works or what GMs are really looking for on Trade Deadline day. It's what Ken Holland did or did not do. Sorry your most hated player of the month didn't get moved. Or that Ken Holland didn't do enough for you. Sorry about your tough luck. I'm sure Ken Holland is losing a lot of sleep about how you feel he did on trade deadline day

Here's good analysis on why Vanek got such a low return. Not for the anti-analytics crowd but REALITY FOLKS. Vanek was sheltered and other coaches and teams that use analytics knew that what you see isn't what you necessarily get. Florida, with their forward corps now healthy, can use him for what he is... an offensive threat, but not much else. For example: Wanna know why LAK weren't interested in Vanek? They've already got an all offense guy in Gaborik. http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/thomas-vanek-traded-small-return/

#threadpolice

Expectations were high, certainly, but what can you do? Honestly, this is where guys like Tatar or Nyquist are going to get moved. Teams can realistically look at where they'll stand for next year with cap and what their outlook might be. Also, I don't think we're really going to have to worry about moving up in the draft. Unless we get hosed in the lottery, we've got a pretty damn good pick sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. This. A GAZILLION TIMES THIS.

Depends on FLA's cap situation. Either way, it's pretty meaningless for us... and yeah, just goes to show that the demand for Vanek wasn't as much as we all hoped and certainly not what NHL's finest trade prognosticators speculated. I just like the fact that he's cut from a different mold than our other D. When was the last time we had a big bodied d-man with some real snarl. (Nobody better point to Ericsson)

Rugged third pairing guy with some real snarl with a desire to prove himself and stick with a team. Why the hell not?

...because if we ain't complain' ... IT AIN'T LGW!

At 1:07pm -- Incomplete. ...but I'm giving your post an A++ Dickie. I see some positivity from your POV. Refreshing!

Armchair GMs always make the trade and always do it better.

It'll be interesting to see what/if any trade happens with Vrbata. Thought he was going to go before Vanek and would dictate pricing for Vanek.

Depends on the actual twitter source.

Can you trade a guy who's suspended anyway? Was this Nyquist's plan all along? Get an extra year with a NTC?

Is there like a trade wand for all these wishes you guys got?

Cally gets the call now that we've got a spot. There's a silver lining for all you folks upset about the Ott trade. Heart and Energy guy gets replaced with a YOUNGER Heart and Energy guy.