Next Seasons Needs/Team Future

[BadgerBob 297]

Callahan picks up garbage most of the time. he does have a good shot and scores that way as well. But he crashes the net and drives in goals.

That's good to hear the guy has a nose for the front of the net. Wings could use some of that, too many finesse guys.

[dirtydangles 1,328]

Does anyone watch a lot of Griffins and know how he's scoring these? Is he straight roofin missles? Or is he just hunting rebounds in front of the net?

For the first time in his career he has less PIM's than number of games played, and is doing his best scoring. Maybe he's just not in the box as much anymore??? He only has 8 assists though, which is a bit concerning. Truly skilled players usually have a bit more than 8 in 54 games.

Last 2 were a tip in and a garbage rebound both off of Almquist slapshots.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Last 2 were a tip in and a garbage rebound both off of Almquist slapshots.

That's what this team is lacking....garbage goals! Those are the prettiest!

[VM1138 1,921]

The difference between Tatar's cockiness and some of these other guys is that Tatar didn't want anything handed to him. He did put in his time and hw got impatient.

Other players get even more entitled before they pay their dues, or don't work hard, or pick fights with teammates. Those are tge problem attitudes.

[kipwinger 8,518]

I'm not saying anything about whether it's good or bad, but I think the Wings land Andrew MacDonald. We want a second pair puck mover, Detroit's already rumored to be in on him, and latest reports say the Isles only want a young d-man and a high draft pick. We could easily afford that with no long term harm done to the organization. Kindl and a 2nd to start negotiations I'd imagine.

Edited February 25, 2014 by kipwinger

[DickieDunn 2,571]

I'd rather go Kindl, a 4th, and a conditional pick. 2nd if he re-signs, a 2015 5th if he doesn't. I don;t like giving up high picks in a cap league for a rental just to lose him in July.

[Guest RyaN_84]

bring back Lebda!!

[DickieDunn 2,571]

bring back Lebda!!

He's better than Almquist.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

I'd pay Vanek over 5 years, just not 7. If he wants 7 years from me he needs to drop his salary at the end of the deal.

Can't do that anymore per the new cba

[kipwinger 8,518]

I'd rather go Kindl, a 4th, and a conditional pick. 2nd if he re-signs, a 2015 5th if he doesn't. I don;t like giving up high picks in a cap league for a rental just to lose him in July.

I'd prefer that offer too, but I assume that there will be enough of a bidding war that we'd need to go that high. Again, I'm not saying I like it or don't (I haven't seen enough of MacDonald to say) but I just think it's the kind move Holland would be willing to make.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Can't do that anymore per the new cba

Yes you can, just not as much as you could under the old rules.

CONTRACT VARIABILITY

Front-loaded contracts where the average of salary plus bonuses over the first half of the contract exceeds the cap hit, variability rules apply. Year-to-year variability is limited to 35 per cent of the first-year compensation. If a player earns $10M in Year 1, the contract cannot subsequently increase/decrease by more than $3.5M from year to year. Meanwhile, the lowest year’s compensation cannot be less than 50 per cent of the highest year’s compensation. If a player earns $10M in his highest year, he can never earn less than $5M any other year.

[number9 3,297]

I'd prefer that offer too, but I assume that there will be enough of a bidding war that we'd need to go that high. Again, I'm not saying I like it or don't (I haven't seen enough of MacDonald to say) but I just think it's the kind move Holland would be willing to make.

God I hope Mac is truly available. Jensen + this years 1st.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Callahan picks up garbage most of the time. he does have a good shot and scores that way as well. But he crashes the net and drives in goals.

Of course Hockeymom likes this! the post about Callahan reminds her of her long lost Holmstrom, whom since retired loses us our usual garbage goal bangin' in guy. I don't miss Homer's one-dimensional game, but his PP presence and in general net front business is much needed.

[number9 3,297]

Of course Hockeymom likes this! the post about Callahan reminds her of her long lost Holmstrom, whom since retired loses us our usual garbage goal bangin' in guy. I don't miss Homer's one-dimensional game, but his PP presence and in general net front business is much needed.

If Callahan wants to play in front of the net and fight... that'd be cool with me. Lord knows Abdelkader, Bertuzzi, and Cleary don't do that very well.

[LeftWinger 4,949]

Ok, in todays episode of What we need, the guy is MacDonald. That's cool, so lets look at this. Let's say Detroit acquires MacDonald, Moulson and Visnovsky....what do you think goes back in return?

Never mind, for some reason I thought Moulson was still with the Isles....please return to your regularly scheduled program...

Edited February 25, 2014 by LeftWinger

[joesuffP 1,746]

Have you noticed how few deflection goals we score now? We used to be one of the best teams in the league at that. Seems we have had to completely earn every goal we have scored all season nothing has come easy

[kipwinger 8,518]

Have you noticed how few deflection goals we score now? We used to be one of the best teams in the league at that. Seems we have had to completely earn every goal we have scored all season nothing has come easy

Seems like it's been a long time coming. As Holmstrom declined we lost that element of our game, and instead of getting a guy who's made a living at that type of thing we tried to get guys who had never done it (Bert, Cleary, Abby) to become that sort of player...which is silly, and ineffective.

[LeftWinger 4,949]

Next season's need is most definitely defense. This D needs to be re-tooled and not include the likes of Q or K or, and I hate to say it, Smith. Not unless they hang on to Smith and he proves next season that he can make the jump to a full time reliable guy. I think you look at the D and keep Kronner, E and Diesel as your core, everyone else is up in the air. Laser makes a good #7 relief guy, but again, hasn't grabbed that #6 spot by the horns and probably won't. So outside of those 3 keepers, the other 4 are very expendable and that is the reason we are doing not so good this season. We need a top line guy and 2-3 solid #3-#6 guys.

I fully believe that our offense will be fine, maybe find a specialist out there to help the PP and/or Shoot Outs (Boyes) that won't cost too much. But I love our kids and Mantha is just tearing up the Q. He may not step in next season, but there is quiet the possibility...

So the way I see it is:

Kronwall - Top Line Guy

Ericsson - Solid #4

Dekeyser - Solid #5

(Lashoff/Marchenko)

...I know Almqvist is out of options, but I do not see him on this team and would be better served in a package or just get a pick for him.

[kipwinger 8,518]

Next season's need is most definitely defense. This D needs to be re-tooled and not include the likes of Q or K or, and I hate to say it, Smith. Not unless they hang on to Smith and he proves next season that he can make the jump to a full time reliable guy. I think you look at the D and keep Kronner, E and Diesel as your core, everyone else is up in the air. Laser makes a good #7 relief guy, but again, hasn't grabbed that #6 spot by the horns and probably won't. So outside of those 3 keepers, the other 4 are very expendable and that is the reason we are doing not so good this season. We need a top line guy and 2-3 solid #3-#6 guys.

I fully believe that our offense will be fine, maybe find a specialist out there to help the PP and/or Shoot Outs (Boyes) that won't cost too much. But I love our kids and Mantha is just tearing up the Q. He may not step in next season, but there is quiet the possibility...

So the way I see it is:

Kronwall - Top Line Guy

Ericsson - Solid #4

Dekeyser - Solid #5

(Lashoff/Marchenko)

...I know Almqvist is out of options, but I do not see him on this team and would be better served in a package or just get a pick for him.

I agree we need to improve the defense. I also agree that we need to cut loose of Kindl and Quincey. BUT I have to disagree about Smith. As much as I think he's a bonehead and god awful at playing defense, I also used to say the same thing about Ericsson. I'd want to give Smith the chance to grow into a real player...BUT...that means being firmly entrenched as the THIRD PAIR puck mover and nothing more. I don't want that s*** for brains anywhere near the second pair until he outplays someone and takes their spot. Until then, third pair puck mover and a "good luck kid". Let him sink or swim without Kindl or Quincey to take the fall for him. If he does...great. If not...no harm done because he's on the third pair.

[dirtydangles 1,328]

I agree we need to improve the defense. I also agree that we need to cut loose of Kindl and Quincey. BUT I have to disagree about Smith. As much as I think he's a bonehead and god awful at playing defense, I also used to say the same thing about Ericsson. I'd want to give Smith the chance to grow into a real player...BUT...that means being firmly entrenched as the THIRD PAIR puck mover and nothing more. I don't want that s*** for brains anywhere near the second pair until he outplays someone and takes their spot. Until then, third pair puck mover and a "good luck kid". Let him sink or swim without Kindl or Quincey to take the fall for him. If he does...great. If not...no harm done because he's on the third pair.

Agreed. If we can go forward with Smith getting sheltered 3rd pairing minutes and grow a little bit we will be in good shape. He has too much potential to give up on right now. I'd like to see our D be something like this going forward:

Kronwall - Top pairing Dman

Dekeyser - Ericsson

Smith - Marchenko/Lashoff

Its easier said than done to acquire a top pairing Dman though... I would be happy with someone around Edler value - I know we aren't getting a Doughty/Weber.

[LeftWinger 4,949]

I still am not counting out a depth move for someone like Mitchell or Morris... both of which are better than Q or K...

[joesuffP 1,746]

Is Yandle off the table?

[LeftWinger 4,949]

It's funny, we haven't heard too much about the Yandle rumors lately!

Honestly though, I think Kenny will go for that depth trade that only cost a pick. I think if they are keeping Smith (although I heard through a grapevine that they are NOT happy with him and he is on the block (along with Kindl)) but if they are keeping Smith, and cannot afford that top pairing guy, then we NEED that depth guy or two. Yandle is their top scoring D-man and would most definitely cost us more than we want to pay. Morris on the other hand is more of a shutdown defenseman with a bit of snarl to him. He is a pending UFA, but at 35 he could be re-signed at a modest raise from his $2.5M for a couple of season's to help usher in the young guys. Plus I am sure he could be had for a draft pick, or if they wanted to offer up Almqvist straight up. Oh, and Morris is right-handed, which is a bonus...

My other depth guy is Willie Mitchell. He is 36 and makes $3.5M, but if you are dumping K and Q or Smitty then you are opening up enough cap space right there. Mitchell though not going to get you many points, he does average 21 minutes a game and is a huge shutdown guy with even more snarl. At 21 mins a game, he seems to be pretty important to the Kings, it may take a bit more to get him, but it wouldn't be Hollands first rodeo with LA, he was able to snaggle Schneider and Stuart off of them fairly cheap...a couple of players and draft picks amongst the two trades.

I think this defense is tons better with Mitchell and Morris on it than Q and K. Quincey had some success in LA and maybe he could be part of a deal getting Mitchell. Quincey and a pick should be enough IMO. Throw Kindl at Arizona and maybe Almqvist or just Almqvist and dump K for a pick to replace the one you gave LA.

Kronner - Morris

Big E - Mitchell

Diesel - Smitty

Laser

I like it and it doesn't cost you too many assets. Plus they are both good enough to maybe re-sign for another season or two to help the kids grow even more... Almqvist is gone with the trade, Sproul, Marchenko, Ouellet, Backman...they all have exemptions still and would not have to pass waivers. So for the rest of this season and the next two years lets say, your D remains the same and intact all while the kids mature even more in GR seeing some spot action in Detroit for injuries and after Morris and Mitchell depart, the kids should be ready to take over... in a perfect world...

[joesuffP 1,746]

I think adding a veteran on the blue line would go a long way. Too much inexperience after our top pairing.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I've always liked the way Shane O'Brien plays, but he undoubtedly has some attitude issues. He's played on like every team except Detroit, and was buried in the minors earlier this season.