Echolalia

I can't argue with the fact that Roy won, considering where the Avs were this year compared to last year, but the Jack Adams has really become "the best coach not named Babcock award". It still amazes me that he has never won this trophy.

I guess that means there's only 12 #1 defensmen in the league

I can dig it.

With over seven years experience at LGW, I'm sure you've heard that success in the minor leagues doesn't necessarily correlate to the same level of success (or any at all) in the NHL. Jurco took a while to warm up to the AHL and Pulks did quite well integrating, which explains some of the discrepancy. Jurco spent a lot of time shifting the focus of his game from a dangler to someone who plays heavy and wears down on the opposition. Pulkinen has been able to rely on his cannon, which has made for a smoother transition for him, but I'm not convinced he's going to be that kind of force in the NHL. The players are bigger, faster, and there's less time and space to get that bomb off, and I'm expecting Pulkinen's adjustment to take longer and be more difficult than Jurco's with the transition to the NHL, because Jurco has already embraced the faster, heavier style of play, and I haven't seen much of it from Pulks yet.But who knows how things will turn out. I wasn't calling Sheahan to steal a roster spot this year and look what happened.

Well 14-15 season Mrazek is in Grand Rapids, and there's no way he steals number 1 from Jimmy in his first year up (15-16). I can see him taking the top spot in 16-17, though, if he's as good as we are hoping and Jimmy doesn't rebound from this average year he had. But even if Mrazek was number 1 then, there would only be three years, including that season left on Howard's contract, and at the very least Howard should still be good enough to keep the job competitive and provide leadership for Mrazek. I think Howard will be around for the duration of his contract, and Mrazek should have room to be here too, if he can prove he's as good as he thinks. I used to think it wasn't possible, but now that I have it all laid out in front of me, I think it's a pretty good situation for the Wings to be in.

Good call, I forgot about the three year extension.

I think the plan is to have Blashill in Grand Rapids for at least another year, and depending on what happens with Babcock next year, he may become the Wings' new head coach, or perhaps join another NHL team elsewhere.

I'm beginning to think this could end up happening. Like you said, he's from Michigan, and also this would be a chance to work with Babcock, who is widely regarded as one of (if not the) best coaches in the league. At the very least, Babs seems to know how to train NHL level coaches. I mean Bill Peters even got the job over Bylsma in Carolina. My only question would be why would Byslma want to come here as an assistant if the rumor is true that he turned down the opportunity to be a head coach elsewhere. I doubt he'd find the money he's looking for here.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=723330&navid=nhl:topheads Well Bylsma was passed up for the Panthers gig (although theres some speculation that he passed them up due to some conflict with the contract). How many head coaching openings are left right now? Bylsma may have to settle for an assistant coach position (or a different league, or take a year off), if things don't turn around.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=722892&navid=DL|NHL|home I bet this is going to piss off a lot of people on here

The Wings had Boston's number in the regular season; no reason they can't get back to that.

I would disagree with this. As long as the owners are happy, then Bettman is doing his job. Oftentimes the good of the game leads to better sales and more profit, so typically the integrity of the game etc etc is correlated with cash flow, and for those instances Bettman has done well (ie marketing, partnering with NBC instead of ESPN, etc). But if integrity of the game and upholding the public view or whatever else comes in conflict with extra $$$, the owners are leaning on the side of $$$, and it would behoove Bettman to follow suit. That's why we will continue to see a push into non traditional markets to try to reach out to an untapped fanbase, and more outdoor games even if it means whoring off what it really means to play hockey outside. And the end of the day, I don't think anyone who has any real power is handing out checks to him (or even cares) for protecting the integrity of the game or upholding the public confidence in the league, so long as money is flowing.

Yeah I've been doing some research on some of the more successful coaches of the AHL in recent history. Most of the cup winners have already been picked, but the coach of the Iowa Wild of the AHL, Kleinendorst, has had some success at a couple different levels, including leading the Senators to the Calder cup a few years back, as well as a USA Hockey National Team under 18 gold. He's been coaching for a while, and some years are more successful than others, so I don't know if this guy is a solid coach who has suffered from bad talent every so often (right now he's currently the coach of the Iowa Wild in their first season in the AHL; can't fault him for no championships there), or if he's an average coach who's success was due to an abundance of talent. Maybe someone with some AHL experience can chime in on this guy, cuz other than what I've dug up, I've never heard of him.

Good post. Holland isn't doing his job if he isn't making calls.

Actually I think Chelios has mentioned a couple times that his end goal could very well be a coaching gig, but he needs to work up to that point, which is the process he's in now. Anyway, i would rather he start off at the college level, or AHL and demonstrate success there before coming up to the NHL, if he is in fact interested in becoming a coach.Edit: although this link says that chelios has no interest in coaching, so who knows anymore. http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2014/06/red_wings_will_start_another_s.html

Wings' fans have a hard enough time proving that we're a classy bunch without a disgruntled home crowd booing members of our own team at the Joe.

pretty cheap cap hit: check one year contract: check solid enough history between the pipes to show he can stop the puck when needed: check significant history of injury, so Mrazek gets plenty of time to play in the NHL: check I can dig it, although I gotta say after watching Gus play with us and seeing how often he loses sight of the puck, or how frequently it slips behind him, or how regularly he is caught out of position, I'm still baffled to this day how he puts up the numbers he has.

ITS ALL SO CLEAR NOW

Because their coach isn't better than our coach.

The league is running out of jobs for players like Thornton. Edit: oh, and for the record I don't think he's what the Wings need

North American hockey is pretty thoroughly scouted. Even though there are a good collection of scouts on every team looking worldwide, homegrown gems are much more difficult to go unnoticed than someone overseas. Like Paulwoodsfan said, there's no local talent that hasn't been unearthed yet.

Yeah I haven't been able to find anything substantial on it. Some links I read said he would only accept a trade to Pittsburgh or Chicago, others have mentioned a list of six but no offical names. I was wondering if I was looking in the wrong places. Anyway thanks for looking.

I was more interested in Kesler's list. I knew one existed but i don't know what teams are on it.

What are the six teams?

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/06/09/report-very-slim-to-no-chance-boyle-signs-with-isles/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs According to this, Boyle signing with the Islanders is unlikely. It says to expect him to go to a contender, and ask for a two year contract. If true, I don't see him wanting to come here (as far as "contenders" there are plenty of other teams who can offer more), and I don't know if Holland would bite on a two year deal after the mess that Sammuelson and Tootoo's contracts turned into.