uk_redwing

He did put up some decent numbers with Edmonton in 2009...but offense should be our last priority. He would be a better player as a 4th line forward.

Shame about Eaves...out of him and Miller, Eaves was who I would have wanted back. At least it opens a spot on our 4th line for something potentially (but unlikely) exciting. I have a feeling we'll sign Jovanovski, personally as a short term solution until Lidstrom retires and we can actually spend to get the best Dman available. Not saying I support this move, but it looks likely. Also holding out we get a bit of 4th line toughness like every year. We usually alternate between a year of having a tough guy and a year without and as last season was without I'm hopeful. Max Talbot is about as much as Im gonna hope for. Although the Wings like their rejuvenation projects...Dan Carcillo? Just throwing it out there. If we could get him playing like he did in Phoenix again after his awful time at the Flyers it would be terrific. Edit: On the 4th line front, just realised Mike Rupp is going to be a free agent come tomorrow after the Pens decided to let him go. 17 points and 9 goals. Not bad. Only a minus-4 playing for a pretty bad Pens team. Was a +5 with 13 goals last season.

From a Griffins point of view, it means things will be run to benefit the Wings more than the Griffins in terms of playing staff or playing roles. I'm also concerned about translating their NHL philosophy on enforcers to the AHL where multiple enforcers are an absolute necessity. I wasn't looking forward to the Griffins' next season and even less so now.

We've still got Minard and Johnson for 1 more year. Which were Holland's genius signings For anyone who didn't know, Bob MacNamara has stepped down as GM of GR and the Wings will be running the show down there from now on. Which doesn't fill me with hope.

People saying things like this upset me. I hope he gets a shot in camp at being a 14th forward. I the main call ups this year being Tatar and Smith. I can't see anyone else being ready/good enough to be called up, especially as iFlip isn't coming back and Tardif probably won't be either. Nyquist is far too young and I don't think Emmerton will clear waivers if he gets sent down. I shudder to think how bad Grand Rapids are going to be next season, especially if Tardif goes elsewhere.

Yes. It's such fine logic. Using the same logic Aaron Downey was on pace to score 240 points in the 2008/2009 season if he played every game on 1st line minutes by using his per-minute scoring. 2 points in 12 minutes of ice time. Double that for 1st line minutes and times by lets say 80, cos he can't play every game at that pace cos it's not fair on the opposition, and you get a final points total of the season of 240 for Aaron Downey. Put him in the HOF!

Good job no one said it was important then, isn't it?

We have deserved to win that award every time except for the 07-08 season (Downey, Drake, Mac) when we won the award (by 2 votes) because we won the cup and people were pissed. Nothing wrong with the votes this time round. I voted for Detroit.

I think he would do OK if he was in the NHL next season. I think he'd do even better next season with a proper full season of AHL 1st pairing minutes behind him.

Brilliant idea. Then next seasons defensive pairings would be: Kronwall-Kindl Kronwall-Kindl Kronwall-Kindl

Kris Draper is eager to return to Detroit for one more season. What to do? Is it worth risking Cory Emmerton to keep Draper for one more year? For the record, I think no. It reminds me of when Chelios re-signed for the last time and there was no roster space for Kyle Quincey, who has gone on to be an integral part of the Avs defence. I would hate to lose a guy like Emmerton who hasn't had much chance to prove what he can do in the NHL. As much as having Draper's experience and faceoff ability would be a plus, I don't think it's worth losing one of our prospects. I'm also undecided about him joining the Grand Rapids Griffins. They've nearly maxed out their veteran quota and if all their veterans re-sign then there will be no room for him there either.

That's a good point. Get rid of the useless Hudler (for a Dman or picks or whatever it doesn't matter) and then there should be room for Draper, Mursak and Emmerton if I'm correct? Edit: Assuming Eaves and Miller re-sign of course, which I hope they do.

Sorry, I got excited at the mention of his name.

We wont move East. Bettman needs us Wings fans to increase the attendence numbers in Phoenix

McNeill is being touted by some to go as early as top-10, and others think he won't go in the 1st round at all. I'd like to think either he or Biggs would be available by the time Detroit picks. I just don't think Detroit would put that much emphasis on size. I know Holland wants size but would he use his first round pick to get it? Boone Jenner might be available as well. Certainly a lot of size to choose from in the top 30/40 picks. Can't see it happening though. I think the size will come from every other pick, starting with the second round. I think Detroit will draft the most skilled player available with their 1st pick or trade it. I've got a strange feeling about Tomas Jurco.

I thought he had a quite a flashy game in his spell in Grand Rapids. He wasn't afraid of pulling a move every now and then. Does a good spin-o-rama and toe drag. Scary to think of line so far ahead in the future, but Im guessing assuming theres no major trades or movement (which there will be at some point) I'd go with (for 5 years in the future): Tatar-Datsyuk-Nyquist Zetterberg-Filppula-Cleary Pulkkinen-Jarnkrok-Mursak Abdelkader-Helm-Callahan No idea how those lines would work out. Certainly very skilled and very speedy. Size would be a concern though.

I like that one the most

Damn shame. Easily one of the best players in the AHL and fit in to the North American style from the first game. He'll be missed in Grand Rapids. Thought he could have easily made an NHL team elsewhere in the league, but I guess for him it was with his bro in Detroit or nothing. Best of luck to him back in Finland.

ANYWAY... A guy like Khokhlachev I think has had too strong a playoff showing (20 points in 18 games) to still be available by the time its the Wings turn to draft but who knows. His lack of size might be off putting to some GM's. Think Detroit would snap at the chance to take him as a number 1 pick. Don't think it will happen. Seeing as Detroit are concerned about the size of their forwards in the system, a guy like Tyler Biggs could be a good shout? Most are saying he'll go late in the first round and at 6 foot 2 202lbs at the age of 18 he would certainly add a bit of size to the system, if he can reach his potential. Scouts saying he could be a 20 goal a season guy, so certainly has the makings of a powerfoward. Good penalty killer as well, which is always a plus. Strong steady skater who throws the body around by the looks of some videos.

Actually, the response was because you failed to address any other part of my post.. which pertained to hockey, to make your anal retentive ad hominem post. By all means, try again. Add a little grit to it though.

Never seen you post in any of the draft or prospect threads. Let alone the AHL section. You know anything about our prospects? How they're getting along? Feel free to watch a Grand Rapids game at any time. You might learn something.

1) I was replying to someone who mentioned the word "enforcer" so read before posting, please. Would save everyone time. 2) Aw babes. I know you don't like me but chin up...the minus rating is back so you can go through alllll my post history and minus every single one. Again. It'll be like old times.

No more 10:30pm (3.30am for me) start times please!

If people don't like enforcers, they should stay out of this thread. This is a thread where people who like tough style hockey can discuss realistic options the Wings have. Konopka would be an ideal 13th forward for the team, especially with his faceoff skills. Would come in very handy on the 4th line especially if Draper doesn't come back. However I don't think there will be much change on the 4th line with Mursak ready for next season. Only one depth signing at most maybe. Lets hope its along those lines. Any extra grit for next season will probably come from the defensive zone. James Wisniewski would be ideal, or Shane O'Brien. We need someone to clear the front of the net and punish opposition forwards.

It will. As I said before, Holland is actually concerned that there's not much size in his current system. But of course, who's fault is that? His own. Anyway, in this draft I expect a mix, similar to last year. Maybe something like (with examples); 1st Round: Small Skilled (Tatar) 2nd Round: Power Forward (Marc Aubry) 3rd Round: Big Defensive Dman (No examples) 4th Round: Small Skilled From Earlier Round (Pulkkinen) 5th Round: Small Skilled Fighter (Callahan) 6th Round: Tough Power Forward (No examples) 7th Round: Small offensive defenseman (Marshall) or wild card (Jesper Samuelsson) Going to have a good look through all the mock drafts and see who I fancy. Don't you just love the draft? One of my favourite parts of hockey along with free agent frenzy. I would love to see us draft toughness to go with the size. Obviously such a prospect is hard to get in the lower rounds, but we managed it with Callahan, even if he is a bit undersized...maybe something to look for in the second round. I firmly believe, as always (and rightly), Detroit will use its first round pick to select the best available player that remains, unless of course someone comes alone and trades two or three picks for it. With us being a little higher in the draft this year I don't expect that to happen. But who knows? The rest is a lottery, but as they stated they wanted size this year, Im expecting the rest to be a mixed bag, slightly favouring size over skill. The draft is so far away