Echolalia

This is a slippery slope for a couple reasons. 1, slander laws protect people from getting their names bashed in media, even if they do suck. A coach could be the worst coach in history, but if he has a good lawyer, professional statistics aren't that difficult to skew in your favor. Most of LGW has no experience in law and we already mastered that one. NHL personelle likely make way more money than best writers and local journalists, too, so I imagine the lawyer battle would be somewhat one-sides.Secondly, if a reporter made a reputation for calling out someone in the organization for having a negative impact, chances are that reporter will have a great problem even trying to get interviews, or get into the lockerroom to discuss the game. Hockey players are a loyal bunch, and no organization wants bad rep on them or their employees, no matter how true. Reporters have to tread a fine line in covering stories, but also doing so in such a way that they will have the team's blessing to continue reporting in the future. In short, I think writing up a "Renney Sucks" article is professional suicide.

More or less what I came to say.

Interesting. I was expecting them to bring up a successful coach from a different league that's ready to make the next step. When I checked last (at least at the AHL level) most of the top coaches have recently been plucked. Renney had a good deal of NHL experience, too, so perhaps Babcock was looking for someone who's familiar with how to run a team at this level already. Anyway, welcome to the club!

Let him play his 10 games to receive his bonus, and if he doesn't impress and show he belongs in the top 12 in those 10 games, then scratch him for the rest of the season. Holland stays loyal to his word, Cleary gets the money he left on the table, and a fair chance to prove himself. If it doesn't work out, one of the youngsters plays for the remaining 72 games. It still pisses me off, but I can deal with the above scenario.

That's how we lost Eva

I think the older YouTube vids had some more impressive moves than this; not to say this particular feat doesn't require skill or anything. I don't have a problem with him working on this stuff. We all need to follow our passions, and clearly Jurco has an affinity to practice these hand-eye coordination tricks. Besides, he outperformed my greatest expectations of him last season so I think he's earned the right to spend his time after (or before) practice doing what he wants.

The only way I'm stomaching Tatar being moved is if it's in a package deal for a legit top 2 defenseman. Besides, considering how other trades have gone down, and what Green has brought to the table recently compared to what Tatar has brought, I don't even think Green for Tatar straight up is worth it.

Thank you kindly

I don't follow that Griffins all that closely, but from what I've gathered, after his terrible struggles from a couple years ago, McCollum really rebounded well and likely could have been a solid 1 last year. Unfortunately for him, the Wings also have Hasek jr. in Mrazek, and nobody in the AHL will take the 1 spot from that kid. Anyway, I think if he keeps his pace up, McCollum can break into the NHL, perhaps as a back-up.

NMC or NTC?

Lol at Detroit

Sounds like it, although the fact that he's even going public about his views on loyalty makes it seem like he's trying to demonstrate the perks of signing and playing for Detroit. After striking out on the free agency targets this year, I can see why Holland would want to demonstrate his loyalty and his desire to take care of his players, and the perks that it brings. I just hope that if/when Cleary can't play effectively in a top 12 role, Babs and Holland keep him off the ice and don't impede on a younger player's opportunity to contribute and grow.

Niskanen did say that Orpik had scouted the Washington area for him and relied on Orpik's information on whether it was a good fit or not. He also said that because his former coach was in Washington, he felt more comfortable signing with the Caps.

Use whatever you prefer. We understand what you (and others) are saying.

I'm with you. Tatar was very impressive, especially considering it was his rookie season. He may be only 5'10", but he plays like he's 6'2"

I don't see it happening this year. Dominating in the QMJHL isn't equal to dominating in the AHL, and neither necessarily translate to success in the NHL. The Wings are also saturated with forwards, and I just don't see Babcock and Holland trusting Mantha with a full-time roster spot after observing him for a couple scrimmages over players who have already demonstrated competency at the NHL level throughout the previous season(s). BUT what is exciting is the potential for this kid is really high. I was looking at the QMJHL stats from last year, and two other names besides Mantha popped out at me. Jonathon Drouin, who actually had a higher ppg than Mantha, but only played in 46 games, and Nikolaj Ehlers, who was the only rookie in the top 20 in scoring, and was actually 4th league-wide with 104 points in 63 games. Drouin was drafted by the Lightning 3rd overall in the 2013 draft. Ehlers was drafed by the Jets 9th overall in 2014. Meanwhile, the Red Wings drafted Mantha 20th overall, and this kid is putting up similar numbers as these other top draft picks whom he's playing against. These other two kids are also under 6 feet, while Mantha is already around 6'5". So if I had to bet on who would be most likely to continue to succeed in bigger and tougher leagues, I would go with Mantha.

I never got an account for them, but you definitely deserve to win. GDTs take on a whole new meaning with you at the helm

I hate her journalism, but I do think there's some merit in the idea that players are signing contracts to teams that can provide familiarity. It was the main theme of the Suter and Parise sweepstakes, and they ended up together, in Minnesota, with family. The Sudin twins refuse to be separated. We recently saw two of the Staals united in Carolina. Weiss signs in Detroit, having been familiar with the area during his time with the Whalers. Dekeyser has been a Red Wing in his mind all throughout his hockey development, growing up in Michigan. This whole Niskanen thing seemed to play out similarly. Niskanen relied on Orpik to scout out Washington and the team and let him know what Orpik thought. It certainly doesn't hurt that his former coach was also in the system (Niskanen actually mentioned the familiarity of playing for his old asst coach and playing with Orpik as one of the reasons he went to Washington here: http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=2&id=627797〈=en). I don't think these things mattered so much in the past, because there was no cap and team contracts weren't equal. Now, if you want to get paid, the only teams that can afford an outrageous contract are bottom feeders, while the most competitive teams are tight against the cap. There's now a $ value for each player, and there isn't going to be much difference in contract amount offered between playoff teams (maybe a million or so, or year or two). If contracts are roughly equal, why not sign with the team where your old friends are playing, or that team that's near where you grew up? Having said that, it's still an issue that the Wings organization needs to overcome. Erhoff signed with the Pens on a discount and short term presumably to be on a team that has a chance at the Cup, or play with Crosby/Malkin. Richards signed in Chicago, again, likely because of their odds of winning a Cup, and maybe playing alongside Kane/Toews etc. Holland needs to do something to the team to make players want to come here over going to places that can provide familiarity. The first step is moving the Wings from a fringe playoff team to one that is expected to go deep every year. I personally think that starts with a top 2 defensman ala Yandle (or someone at that level). We aren't going to get a top player in free agency. They can go anywhere and get the same money Holland can offer them, but also play in front of family or whatever elsewhere. This needs to happen via a trade (which I absolutely hate, because trades are such an inefficient way to acquire a player), or we can wait and see if one of our prospects develops into a franchise player. I guess the bottom line here is that Holland needs to change his game plan from expecting to get top talent in free agency every year to fill in the holes, and start actively working on making free agents want to come here.

Jiri Hudler could take Kane on, no problem

At this point, it almost has to be Yandle. This acquisition is just as much about changing how the league (and impeding free agents) see the future of Detroit as it is about acquiring a solid defensman to stick into the top pairing. Myers won't change that image. Neither will someone on the level of Niskanen. It has to be a franchise defensman acquisition. It means losing Mantha and/or Nyqvist, plus a handful of others, but it's becoming necessary.

I wasn't implying you were, and sorry if it came off that way. I do think its absurd to be angry at Holland for this particular signing though, especially if someone is angry because they think that by signing Porter, Holland prevented himself from signing someone else. This is a depth move, primarily for GR, which is also under the scope of a GM's responsibility.

How is it wasting time? Are you implying that by signing him that Holland missed out on signing someone else?

Actually I read that Orpik and Niskanen kind of DID do what Suter and Parise did. Orpik pitched to Niskanen about the city and the team and he's not saying he convinced Niskanen to sign there, too, but....welll ... (also their defensive coach used to work in Pittsburgh, with both Orpik and Niskanen) " Because of his nuptials, he didn’t get a chance to visit the Capitals in Washington. So he depended on the scouting report from someone who did: Brooks Orpik, who traveled to D.C. on Saturday. “When I met with Barry [Trotz] and saw what his vision was, it was kind of a no-brainer,” said Orpik. So he relayed that information to Niskanen in two phone calls on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Even if he didn’t really see it as a recruiting call. “I think we were both just a little overwhelmed at the time. It was good just to vent,” said Orpik. “I don’t want to take the credit for [his signing]. But it hopefully provided some good information.” Niskanen said it helped influence him. “I woke up this morning, and I didn’t know where I was going. I was leaning towards Washington,” he said. " http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/niskanen--orpik-determined-to-prove-contract-critics-wrong-for-caps-004656947.html

I get that same vibe, although I think Tatar deserves a bit more.

The star level of a player shouldn't matter. You want someone, you sign him. Not wait around so the fans don't get their feelings hurt.