blind

With team Delvecchio, I Agree with you that it definitely seems like Mantha and Jurco are going to get a shot with Datsyuk and Helm. It also seems like they are going to see if Andersson can be a good play making pivot with a couple skilled wingers in Pulky and whomever doesn’t play with 13. They also seem to have the 3rd D pairing in this group and that it seems like they are giving Marchenko a chance to take Kindl or Lashoff’s spot to play with DK. With team Howe, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are challenging Cleary with AA to play with Z and Franzen. Blashill seems to think the world of AA, maybe even enough to see if he can stick on a scoring line in the bigs as with Mantha. They have the grinder line with a combination of Miller/Glendening/Callahan/(either Cleary or AA). If AA isn’t ready, he’ll probably fill in with the GR line of Frk/Nosek/Tvrdon. I think it’s also interesting they have Sproul with this D group. I’d guess they want to give the kid a shot with either Kronner or E and if he isn’t ready to play in the top 4, he’ll most likely be in GR. With team Lindsey, I agree that this may be the most interesting juggling of forwards to see if they can shake out a 2nd/3rd line. I’d think the onus is on Abby and Weiss, 2 players who really don’t have a defined role on the team. Weiss for the reason we don’t know what his game is like with 2 years of injury. The boards definitely have a wide range of opinion on what Abby is eventhough Babs probably see him as a flexible player. My guess is the line will be Nyquist/Sheahan/Tatar to start, with Weiss pushing Sheahan and Abby pushing Tatar to see if they can make a scoring line. The other 2 left out will combine to Ferraro as a checking line for now. I wouldn’t put the D pair as Smith and Quincy right away. I can see mixing Ouellet and Beckman in there to see if they can stick as a top 4 as well. In terms of D, Marchenko may the only one they are willing to bring up at as 6th D where as they want the other 3 (Sproul, Ouellet, Beckman) to take a top 4 job or it’s back to GR to play tons of minutes. From the reading way too much into the lineup corner, they are definitely looking to create competition. Either way, will be interesting camp.

I think a first round is a bit of stretch for Meech. Meech would be a little bit ahead of the players drafted in the first round in terms of NHL readiness, but it's not that much and the potential is greater for a guy taken in the first. Meech is older and not proven yet, though there are good signs of being a possible 3 or 4 defenseman. 1st rounds you hope will turn into top 2 and close to NHL right away. I think teams are more willing to trade picks where the players will need more development and more long term projects such as second and beyond.

Yea, I'm not sure how easy it is to trade prospect for prospect. The teams that would look to get these guys probably won't be in the best of shapes themselves, which means they are looking to hold on to their prospects now, who are more ready for success than draftees. This makes me think that it would probably be draft picks. With draft picks, its usually just 1st rounders that are really ready for duty right away and everyone else are projects. As for best option, I think the wings actually don't think the wings really need offensive prospects right away. Their front is mostly still developing and have a few guys coming in. Hudler and Filppula are still learning. They have guys like Abdelkader and Helm ready to take spots. Then they have Leino, the Finn FA coming over to try. So if you look at the roster, our forwards are pretty set for now with Z, Dat, Homer, Filppula, Hudler, Cleary, Mule, Draper, Maltby, Helm, McCarty, and Samuelson. Then you have Downey, Abdelkader, and Leino that can fill in. The prospect they would have to get would involve someone that still has years left in playing in the minors, college, or major juniors.

Yea, it would be one of those things that beneficial for all. If Stuart returns we are looking at 9 possible defensemen, well, Lilja would probably not be back then. You would have Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Stuart, Lebda, Chelios, Meech, and Quincy. I actually wouldn't mind seeing both Lebda and Meech moved, especially seeing how we have Erickson ready. I think he has the most room for growth out of the group. I just think this year was a pretty much disaster in terms of Meech developing, he definitely deserves more time. I guess I'd trade Lebda over Meech because he might have more value and Meech has more room for growth. Lebda has pretty much gained the veteran status in the league and probably has some more value now that he has so much playoff experience.

So with the wings just winning the cup, the puck moving defensemen will be a hot commodity this summer. Also since the wings have such a deep pool of reserve defensemen that can move the puck, such as Meech, Lebda, Erickson, Kindle, Smith, and Pyett, it might be a good time to move them for prospects in other positions. This is especially true for guys without anymore AHL options but are stuck in a 5-8 defensemen role on the wings like Lebda and Meech. Both could probably crack top 4 on other teams, Meech especially with the way he played in February when we only had the JV defense. So what do you guys think about what they might actually be worth around the league? I'd imagine we could get a few draft picks as high as 2nd rounder for them which would be a gain in value in terms of how we acquire these guys. And with the wing's staff, they are bound to find equal or better prospects and this will allow them to build more so for the future rather than clog up our defense corp and slowing down those kid's development.

If the wings drop to 2nd in the west and the rest of the top 5 stand as they are, it could be beneficial for the wings. If wings finish first, they would have to play Ducks or Sharks in the second round. But if the wings finish 2nd, they would face Wild in the 2nd round.

I don't really think there is much of a void to fill in the first play. Bertuzzi wasn't all that great in the playoffs and the wings had plenty of grit with them. Hudler may not a fighter but doesn't mean he can't contribute and fill in what the wings need, a shooter. If you are just looking for fighters, is there a place on your team for maltby, cleary, draper, and franzen? All Gritty guys and it doesn't mean they have to fight.

I believe avery is an RFA. He would be a nice energy guy to have but the Rangers will probably match the offer, he was outstanding for them in the playoffs. The wings are probably going to sign another forward for depth and energy. I guess some of the uncomfort is the unknown of how the kids will play, but i think they've showed enough to warrant a try. The wings won't have a problem making the playoffs, especially our division. You play them for half a year to see who sinks and floats. If you need to make changes you can do so at the trading deadline and you know which kids you can trade and which aspect of the your game you need to reenforce.

http://www.redwingscentral.com/features/orgchart.html This has the current salaries. You would have to add Hudler's and Hasek's plus an depth forward.

Grit doesn't necessarily mean size. It's combination of how much will you have and how tough you are, as in how much you can take a hit and bounce back or dish out hits. Its the scratching and clawing and doing the dirty work in the corners. The wings had been under estimated in that all playoffs in that and they had plenty. Zetterberg isn't good just because he is skill, he is good also because of his strength on the puck, doing the job in the corners and the wall and not letting up. And they are not afraid of scrums, not even little hudler who was in the middle of a few in the games he played during the playoffs. I'm not saying Bertuzzi wouldn't have added to it, but clearly the wings didn't need what he could bring enough to give out $8 mil for 2 years. That has to mean the wings are confident with what they have in those areas.

The reason we lost Bert is because we can rely on our youth. We let him go because we have young guy that can handle it so we aren't so needy to sign him for 4 mil a year.

A shooter would be nice but looking at what's out there, going with the line up might be better. Ellis is a UFA as well, he seems pretty high energied guy in the games he played last year. They could platoon Grigorenko and Ellis like they did this year with Kopecky and Filpulla early in the season last year.

Maybe it won't be. But you won't know in two year would you. You know what happened in case of Getzlaf, Perry, and Penner after the fact when they were given playing time. The kids on the wings can as well turn out to be them or they might not. You won't know unless you play them. Hudler might not be the same type of player as those three but it doesn't mean he won't have the impact of those 3. There is no doubt Hudler can shoot as his 14.02 shooting percentage this year shows (only Penner had higher this year out of those 3 and only at 14.22). The wing sorely needed a shooter this year for Z and Dat to pass to. How else does a scrub like samuelson score so many goals? As Hudler beginnings to be more responsible defensively, he will make a difference. It's definitely not energy he needs. He is like a little kid out there and he is not afraid to go to into the scrums. We live too much with our sports. hehe Really? After how well Guerin did with san jose?

How did Anaheim win? They trusted the youth on their team and let them develop. They gave them top minutes and responsiblities and watched them grow. From McDonald to Penner to Getzlaf. Seriously who knew anyone on Anaheim's offense other than selanne before the last two years. Hudler showed he can score with the limited time he had and in the playoffs, he definitly wasn't afraid to jump into the scrums. Sure, he isn't great defensively but neither was Datsyuk. They challenged Datsyuk with the responsibly of playing on the PK and on the defense and Datsyuk learned. Put him next to Z or Datsyuk for a few games, with the passes he would get, he can get at least 30 or so goals in a season. Flippula was one of the best surprises the wings had in the playoffs. He is ready for top two line duty. Franzen has turned into a nice forechecker and with more development on the offensive end, he can become the next Holmstrom. It seems they were already preparing him in that role during the playoffs. The wings also have Grigorenko coming over. We'll see what he can do. And lets not forget the offensive juggernaut named Dan Cleary (ok, i kid, but he didn't do all that bad last year and definitely performed in the playoffs as to deserve some top two line consideration). Put these kids together with Z, Datsyuk, and Homer and you might have more than you think in your top two lines. The wings can also fill in the 4th line with some energy guys like Ellis, who play impressively during the time he was up here. The playoffs are about those energy guys that want it the most. It was Moen and Rob Niedermayer that made a lot of difference just like it was Maltby and Draper for us. And maybe Bootland might finally be in the line up providing the wings with that fighter everyone wants to see.

It's really not that great of a loss. The toughness and grit Bertuzzi brings is not the same the wings system looks for. Bertuzzi carry the puck and is not the shooter that the wings really need. He appeared much like a bigger version of Lang at times in the wing's system. When the wings carry the puck in, they have guys like Datysuk and Zetterberg for it. When they dump and chase, they use their speed, pressure, and forechecking. Size is really necessary for that, though it may help. It doesn't take an overally powerful check to disrupt the defensive setup. Either way, Bertuzzi was too slow for the dump and chase and he isn't the shooter Datysuk and Z needs. They Wings could use his enforcing type, but he really isn't that guy especially after the Moore incident and why pay that much for it. He was one of those players it would be nice to have, but not really important. The only annoying thing is he goes to Anahiem. I don't think anyone like players going there since they just won and they just beat us.