Ken Holland's "Deadline Special" Predictions

[Lidstromrules16 7]

Zetterberg is the only Deadline special I am looking forward to.

[Casey 145]

The only move I would make is re-signing Hank and Franzen, along with Hudler. Hossa can go after the season if that's what it takes to keep those 3. I might countenance trading Lebda, but not much else.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Maybe a Roberts, Peca or Nolan up front. A gritty depth defenceman for a late pick or something. I'd love to see Kopecky moved and bring up Helm/Downey, but we know that wont happen, unfortunately. Overall nothing huge though, we just dont have the room.

[MacK_Attack 108]

In that case all you have to do is pray no one vetoes the pick up of a Sakic type of player at the draft table again! *sigh* Here's hoping the Leafs get back to drafting smartly. God knows I'm tired of breaking the news to my Dad that his beloved Leafs draft picks aren't materializing in the minors I'd rather tell him I'm impressed by the picks for once

EDIT: Your first rounder wasn't bad last year (it's certainly a compliment when a D-man can play in the NHL as an 18 year old). Although I'm not sure they shouldn't have drafted a certain Russian forward, who knows how it'll turn out, at the very least it looks like they have a top four defensive defenseman from it all.

Schenn's rock-solid. Very happy with that pick. He puts a lot of veteran D-men to shame.

It's too bad they aren't a whole lot worse this year, Fletcher didn't quite strip them down enough. Tavares would've been nice, but that ship has sailed.

Fortunately, Burke's his own man and won't let meddling owners get in the way of building a team that he wants. Hate Burke all you want, but he's exactly the kind of GM the Leafs have needed since Punch Imlach, sadly.

Just can't wait to see what the returns are for Kaberle, Kubina, Antropov, Ponikarovsky and Moore. It's going to be a fun trade deadline with a real GM for a change.

[Rice 42]

I think Kopecky might be the odd man out come deadline time. Moving him for anything will open up a much needed roster spot for one of our young guys to come up from GR (Helm, Leino come to mind). Any reasonable pick for him is better than losing him to free agency for nothing at season's end. As for Flips, I agree with most above...keep him. Unless you have a contract signed by Hank &/or Hoss, he's not expendable. Chances are, we have the team we're going to the playoffs with already. I think the moves that will make the most difference for us this season is to bring up some guys from GR once the cap is no longer an issue at season's end. Guys like Ericsson, Helm, Leino and maybe even Abdelkader might just be the final pieces to the puzzle for another long playoff run...

Kopecky won't be going anywhere. He was a big factor in Hossa signing here and he could prove to be a big factor in Hossa staying here.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Yeah, I'm thinking a Roberts - Nichol - Peca type guy for the fourth line. The chemistry would have to be there, of course.

[Doggy 130]

I reckon the Leafs will take Brayden.

[Icesurfer 75]

Nothing will happen unless someone goes on LTIR. Injuries are always the key. But then again, if someone gets injured, depending on who it is, nothing may happen anyway because we have guys like Helm in Grand Rapids who has playoff experience..... sort of our secret weapon..... LOL. In the beginning of the season Detroit elected to go with Osgood so they will ride the wave and sink or swim with him. Detroit is not into making big multi-player trades if you have been paying attention the last umpteen years.... so you can kill all those wild fantasies. The Wings are meticulous and deliberate with their transitions and the youngsters have to be well-seasoned. .....AND that's why they have been so successful. Holland and Burke are like night and day, yin and yang, apples and oranges, good and evil.....LOL...

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Schenn's rock-solid. Very happy with that pick. He puts a lot of veteran D-men to shame.

It's too bad they aren't a whole lot worse this year, Fletcher didn't quite strip them down enough. Tavares would've been nice, but that ship has sailed.

Fortunately, Burke's his own man and won't let meddling owners get in the way of building a team that he wants. Hate Burke all you want, but he's exactly the kind of GM the Leafs have needed since Punch Imlach, sadly.

Just can't wait to see what the returns are for Kaberle, Kubina, Antropov, Ponikarovsky and Moore. It's going to be a fun trade deadline with a real GM for a change.

Oh I completely agree with you about Burke being the right man for the job in Toronto. Once Toronto gets to be respectable, and they will, you better get him the hell out before he single-handedly dismantles his legacy and jumps ship like he did in Vancouver and Anaheim.

[dragonballgtz 273]

So how much could we save if Chelios goes on LTIR? He played in the outdoor game and we should call it at that for him this season. Put him on LTIR and trade Kopecky for a late draft pick. Then see if we could get Gary Roberts.

That would be my dream move.

As for a realistic move I would just put Chelios on LTIR and bring up Helm near the end of the season

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Can't see any moves being made other than, as mentioned, a cheap enforcer.

[Guest MrSandMan]

we have all the guys we need already here. Kenny won't be making any moves.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I predict that there will be some that will potentially make the forum implode by ranting and raving that Holland did little/nothing without considering the situations/scenarios for the Red Wings logically, like the past few seasons. I don't like it when people want a trade to happen just for the sake of it happening.

[up2here 41]

I could be wrong but doesnt the Salary Cap end after the regular season? So in theory we could call up Leino,Helm or Ericsson anyway.

[55fan 5,133]

I could be wrong but doesnt the Salary Cap end after the regular season? So in theory we could call up Leino,Helm or Ericsson anyway.

Thanks for bringing that up. I've been trying to remember what happens when as far as dates and such for trade deadline, salary cap, roster size- all that end of year stuff. Can anyone clarify?

[DMAC 25 18]

I'd like the team to add a Gary Roberts-type player (or Gary himself). Someone they can play on the 4th line and goes out to hit people to get things going.

yea it would be nice to have him but whatever happened to downey, yea i know hes pretty much and enforcer but why dont they put him on the 4th line?

[Chase 0]

Thanks for bringing that up. I've been trying to remember what happens when as far as dates and such for trade deadline, salary cap, roster size- all that end of year stuff. Can anyone clarify?

Yes, after the regular season is over the salary cap goes away and there are no roster limits. Helm, Leino, Ericsson, McCarty, whoever can be called up and can play in the playoffs if needed.

That is a huge asset for us, in case no one else noticed....

[2probert4 8]

Even if its a Cory Cross type trade, I could see the Wings pulling something off. The Wings have about 450k in cap space right now, and adding a guy at the deadline that makes around 500k-800k wouldn't even force them to move someone.

Before the Wings got Drake, they were chasing after Scott Nichol. I wouldn't be surprised if Nichol could be had for a 6th, 7th round pick or even futures, maybe a conditional.

Nichol is recovering from a concussion, and is slow about it......when Ken Holland comes knocking, the price goes up.

[chrisdetroit 189]

I could be wrong but doesnt the Salary Cap end after the regular season? So in theory we could call up Leino,Helm or Ericsson anyway.

You are correct.

[stormboy 47]

Nichol is recovering from a concussion, and is slow about it......when Ken Holland comes knocking, the price goes up.

agreed.

[VM1138 1,921]

Not many possibilities, though I like the idea of signing an aggressive fourth liner. Kopecky could be traded to a team needing some younger players in exchange for a one-year Peca or Roberts.

[daniel1 32]

I dunno...With Ottawa in the toilet I'd love to see Holland pry away both Fisher, & Neil, but since there's this cap thingy

Neil is UFA at the end of of this season and currently makes just over a million/year. I would love to see a Kopecky/Neil swap at the deadline not just for playoffs but so we could have a decent shot of resigning Neil for a couple years. He can regular 4th line and contribute the way Mac could in his prime. He will stand up for teammates and can even chip in a bit offensively if someone goes down (he scored 16 goals a couple years ago). He's a good option to have and probably wouldn't take much more to re-sign than Kopecky would. At 29 I'm sure Neil has at least 2 or 3 good years left in him.

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

I'd love to see the Wings accquire Neil...

One question I have about Kopecky (a name that always pops up in trade ideas)... when I try to look objectively at him, what team would want him? If we placed him on waivers would he even be claimed? (maybe it was timing, but if Quincey cleared.....)

Also, Hossa would lose his landlord if we dumped him..

[Matt 1,049]

Theoretically speaking, if the Red Wings' current active roster remains unchanged until the NHL trade deadline they could add (roughly) $1,734,932 in full-season salary. Roberts would fit as long as those numbers are accurate.

[marcaractac 3,963]

Can't say I blame you. Gary lives for the playoffs and he's said this will be his last season, so he'll definitely be dealt from Tampa Bay for one last kick at the can.

It would be soooo awesome if we got Roberts. I found out during the finals last year that I am related to him!!! He is like my 3rd or 4th cousin!!