Next Seasons Needs/Team Future

[dirtydangles 1,328]

If you can produce even one article I'll concede. As for the opinions of fans, being a member of LGW has taught me nothing if it hasn't taught me that most "fans" are irrationally gossipy and prone to serious lapses in judgement and analytical reasoning. Hell, there are currently a bunch of "fans" in another forum pontificating (poorly) on the principles of democracy, constitutionality, and representative governance. Nothing about "the fans say so" is convincing to me.

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1589003

[VM1138 1,921]

Not to sound like a broken record, but our offensive corps is shaping up nicely. Sure, you can always use more firepower but barring a power forward acquisition, we should be okay for this year.

I would argue that we actually need TWO defenseman to win a Cup.

Kronwall is our only offensive defenseman. I know Kindl and Smith and Quincey are considered as such but in performance they aren't. So let's break our corps in half.

At the top, we have Kronwall, Ericsson and DeKeyser. One offensive talent, two defensive-minded players. Good enough to play defense but not really help the offense. Here is where an offensive D-man can help. Someone with a good stretch pass and who loves shooting. The mythical right handed point man for the powerplay. It's okay if he is a bit of a defensive liability because he would be paired with Ericsson or DeKeyser.

In the bottom half we have Smith, Quincey, Lashoff, Kindl. Lashed is a reliable defensive guy, but nothing more than a #7. Six if we need him. The rest aren't particularly good at anything, and make particularly bad decisions with the puck. Also, their passing is bad, which stems from boneheaded decision making. So our second acquisition needs to be a solid, smart stay at home guy. A #5 or #6. I bet this would be just as valuable an acquisition as a star defender, even if he only had 10 points a year.

Find those two guys, don't be shy about using our first or second picks in a weak draft, and this team suddenly operates very differently.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Swap Kindl and a pick or prospect for a top 4 guy and let Marchenko take Quincey's spot and I'll be happy.

Ericsson and Dekeyser both do OK offensively for guys who don't get PP time. Last year Ericsson had as many or more points at even strength than guys who are considered offensive d men.

Edited February 12, 2014 by DickieDunn

[Richdg 267]

Bumpy, if you go back a few pages I did propose improving the D. I propsed: signing vanek, trading for hanzel or some other big C, signing Matt Greene for the 3rd pair, and trading for Petry to be the RHed pair for dekeyser. By doing that we improve our F corp and our D in the same off season. 2 UFA's and 2 trades, and a much much better team overall.

[Dabura 12,206]

Not to sound like a broken record, but our offensive corps is shaping up nicely. Sure, you can always use more firepower but barring a power forward acquisition, we should be okay for this year.

I would argue that we actually need TWO defenseman to win a Cup.

Kronwall is our only offensive defenseman. I know Kindl and Smith and Quincey are considered as such but in performance they aren't. So let's break our corps in half.

At the top, we have Kronwall, Ericsson and DeKeyser. One offensive talent, two defensive-minded players. Good enough to play defense but not really help the offense. Here is where an offensive D-man can help. Someone with a good stretch pass and who loves shooting. The mythical right handed point man for the powerplay. It's okay if he is a bit of a defensive liability because he would be paired with Ericsson or DeKeyser.

In the bottom half we have Smith, Quincey, Lashoff, Kindl. Lashed is a reliable defensive guy, but nothing more than a #7. Six if we need him. The rest aren't particularly good at anything, and make particularly bad decisions with the puck. Also, their passing is bad, which stems from boneheaded decision making. So our second acquisition needs to be a solid, smart stay at home guy. A #5 or #6. I bet this would be just as valuable an acquisition as a star defender, even if he only had 10 points a year.

Find those two guys, don't be shy about using our first or second picks in a weak draft, and this team suddenly operates very differently.

This.

Swap Kindl and a pick or prospect for a top 4 guy and let Marchenko take Quincey's spot and I'll be happy. Ericsson and Dekeyser both do OK offensively for guys who don't get PP time. Last year Ericsson had as many or more points at even strength than guys who are considered offensive d men.

Nothing against Marchenko, but I feel like if we're gonna Go For It, we should Go For It. (And isn't DeKeyser getting PP time this season?)

If we play our cards a certain way, we could potentially be looking at $12-14M in cap space this summer. (And that's with Alfie returning.) That could, in theory, get us two top UFA defensemen. Like I've said, some of the better defensemen in this summer's class (assuming they all test the waters, which is, of course, most definitely not a given) are older guys at or nearing the end of their careers, so they'd probably be looking for relatively short deals, if not one-offs. Which would be good for us, because of the young talent we have in the pipeline.

In an awesome world, we get Boyle on a two-year deal at around $6.5M and Girardi on a four-year deal @ around $5M. It's almost certain that at least one of them won't even make it to free agency, but the point is that there's the possibility of significant improvement in our D corps between now and October, without even considering trade options.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Swap Kindl and a pick or prospect for a top 4 guy and let Marchenko take Quincey's spot and I'll be happy. Ericsson and Dekeyser both do OK offensively for guys who don't get PP time. Last year Ericsson had as many or more points at even strength than guys who are considered offensive d men.

100% agree. Give the kid more then 1 game to prove himself. I highly doubt he's worse then Quincey.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

I don't think any GM in his right mind would give up a top 4 guy for Kindl + a prospect (unless it's one we don't want to give up!) or a very good first round pick.

I'm honestly warming up to the idea of overpaying for Girardi if he hits UFA, the benefit is it would cost nothing only a bit of an overpayment but capspace is useless if you don't use it so.

Edited February 13, 2014 by frankgrimes

[DickieDunn 2,571]

I don't think any GM in his right mind would give up a top 4 guy for Kindl + a prospect (unless it's one we don't want to give up!) or a very good first round pick.

I'm honestly warming up to the idea of overpaying for Girardi if he hits UFA, the benefit is it would cost nothing only a bit of an overpayment but capspace is useless if you don't use it so.

Any trade that brings back a good player is going to cost. The Wings have more defense prospects than they have roster spots available. Kronwall, Ericsson, and Dekeyers for sure are going to be around long term. Smith might still get it and turn into a decent defenseman. Kindl is probably gone, either in trade or as a free agent when his contract is up. Lashoff is a decent 6/7 guy. That only leaves 2 or 3 open spots for Sproul, Ouellet, Marchenko, Backman, and Jensen, all of whom look like legit prospects, any of the other guys who are farther out from the NHL. If they can swap Sproul, who I think has the highest top end potential but also the highest chances of not coming close to that potential, and Kindl, or Kindl, Marchenko, and a 2nd for a defenseman to give the Wings two balanced pairs for the top 4, that's a good deal. If Edler isn't traded at the deadline, they might be able to get him for Kindl and a pick. I think he'd be a lot better here away for Tortorella.

[VM1138 1,921]

That's exactly why we should trade some prospects. It's up to Kenny to decide who but we have more than will ever see the ice. It sucks but we might as well get something for them.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

That's also why I want Marchenko up next year. He's big, can skate, and plays a defensively responsible game. Get the kids up when they're ready so they're not trying to break in 3 rookies at once.

[number9 3,297]

That's exactly why we should trade some prospects. It's up to Kenny to decide who but we have more than will ever see the ice. It sucks but we might as well get something for them.

And with what cap space will we fit that player in? Trading involves us losing salary. The only way that happens is we trade Sammy and a pick for a bucket of pucks... That's not a trade Kenny's going to make

[DickieDunn 2,571]

And with what cap space will we fit that player in? Trading involves us losing salary. The only way that happens is we trade Sammy and a pick for a bucket of pucks... That's not a trade Kenny's going to make

Any big trade would probably need to be an offseason move, but it's certainly possible.

[Buppy 1,720]

No reason to trade anyone now (not counting Almquist), all our D have two more years of waiver exemption. The longer we wait, the better idea we'll have of what they'll be. Most likely they'll all go up in value too. After next season, or the 2016 trade deadline, is the time to start shopping. Max their value, but before the immediate pressure to move them.

[Dabura 12,206]

Also, teams can eat salary. Not that I think we should count on that happening.

[Dabura 12,206]

That's also why I want Marchenko up next year. He's big, can skate, and plays a defensively responsible game. Get the kids up when they're ready so they're not trying to break in 3 rookies at once.

I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to Marchenko being a regular next season, but I wouldn't want him to be the only new face on the blue line. I really do think we need a top-four guy from outside the system, be it Girardi or Edler or whatever. This whole counting-on-rookies-to-be-the-difference thing isn't working so well for us this season.

Kronwall Ericsson

DeKeyser Girardi

Smith Marchenko

Lashoff

Maybe something like that.

[Dabura 12,206]

This whole counting-on-rookies-to-be-the-difference thing isn't working so well for us this season.

I mean on the blue line.

[VM1138 1,921]

And with what cap space will we fit that player in? Trading involves us losing salary. The only way that happens is we trade Sammy and a pick for a bucket of pucks... That's not a trade Kenny's going to make

You'd have to package them with a roster player if it's a trade this season, but this summer cap space won't be an issue.

[Dabura 12,206]

Sobering stuff:

Veterans bolstered by youngsters is a similar story along the Detroit blue line, but it's not working that well. Points-wise, Niklas Kronwall is having a good year, with 36 points in 56 games played. After that, the drop is severe; Brendan Smith sits in 2nd for scoring with just 13. Overall, the 17 goals for Detroit defensemen places the Wings' in 29th place for the category, ahead of only Montreal.

[Winging It In Motown]

So...*stands above dead horse, baseball bat in hand*...we need an offensive defenseman like whoa. So much so that I'm actually questioning how much I'd really want to add Girardi, given that he's primarily a shutdown type. He moves the puck, and that's what it really comes down to, puck movement. But, dayum, we could really use another point producer.

[dirtydangles 1,328]

Putting this out there. I've read that WPG is loaded on RD (Trouba, Bogosian, Buff) and lacking in top 4 LD with only Enstrom really. We are overloaded with LD and could maybe make something happen. If we target a guy like Bogosian without wanting to give up our valued forward prospects what do you guys think of swapping Smith+ or Dekeyser+ or Ericsson+ to WPG for Bogosian (give or take) to even out our D and their D? I know how much people love Smith and DD but Bogo is 23 and a stud. Would there be a deal around these players in any way? No way we are getting a top caliber dman for Kindl + 1st + spare parts but I'd throw Kindl into the above deal as a +.

Kronwall - Bogosian

Smith/Dekeyser/Ericsson

Lashoff - Marchenko

Almquist

That leaves the bottom pairing open in the future for Sproul, Ouellet, Backman to earn a spot (Lashoff and Almquist aren't a long term solutions).

WPG solidifies top 4:

Enstrom - Buff

Ericsson/Dekeyser/Smith - Trouba

etc.

[Son of a Wing 1,644]

Putting this out there. I've read that WPG is loaded on RD (Trouba, Bogosian, Buff) and lacking in top 4 LD with only Enstrom really. We are overloaded with LD and could maybe make something happen. If we target a guy like Bogosian without wanting to give up our valued forward prospects what do you guys think of swapping Smith+ or Dekeyser+ or Ericsson+ to WPG for Bogosian (give or take) to even out our D and their D? I know how much people love Smith and DD but Bogo is 23 and a stud. Would there be a deal around these players in any way? No way we are getting a top caliber dman for Kindl + 1st + spare parts but I'd throw Kindl into the above deal as a +.

Kronwall - Bogosian

Smith/Dekeyser/Ericsson

Lashoff - Marchenko

Almquist

That leaves the bottom pairing open in the future for Sproul, Ouellet, Backman to earn a spot (Lashoff and Almquist aren't a long term solutions).

WPG solidifies top 4:

Enstrom - Buff

Ericsson/Dekeyser/Smith - Trouba

etc.

I think there's a deal that could be done here but it would never involve Dekeyser or Bogosian.

Dekeyser because he CHOSE to play here as a highly coveted FA. 0% chance we trade him just for that reason, let alone others.

Bogosian just signed a huge 7 year contract with a full NMC. If they're trading anyone of value off the back-end it's Byfuglien or Stuart. They've publicly stated Bogosian is a core/building block for them.

I would have interest in Byfuglien and/or Stuart for the right price.

[number9 3,297]

Edler Edler Edler. He does a little bit of everything but moves the puck very well. He's struggling with Torts, so we could add him for cheap if they'll move him. He needs to be among our better swedes so he can reinvent himself in Detroit.

[Buppy 1,720]

Don't know that I'd call Bogo a "stud" really. Kinda reminds me of Souray, where you think, "He has everything, he should be one of the best in the game", but then he isn't... Also not sure WPG is hurting all that much on the left, even assuming they lose Stuart. Clitsome is pretty good, and they have some young guys who look like they could be good.

That said, I'd give up E for him, depending on how much we had to add. Smith is a pipe dream at the moment, and Dekeyser will probably be better.

Though, like the previous poster I think if they were to move anyone it'd be Buffy. Not interested in that.

[dropkickshanahans 463]

Edler Edler Edler. He does a little bit of everything but moves the puck very well. He's struggling with Torts, so we could add him for cheap if they'll move him. He needs to be among our better swedes so he can reinvent himself in Detroit.

What do you mean by add him for cheap?

EDIT: nvm, you probably meant in the offseason after the Wings unload their free agents.

Edited February 14, 2014 by dropkickshanahans

[number9 3,297]

What do you mean by add him for cheap?

EDIT: nvm, you probably meant in the offseason after the Wings unload their free agents.

Yeah meant we wouldn't have to move much for him. However he's got an NTC

[Dabura 12,206]

How do we feel about our own Brendan Smith? Keeper? Dud? Too early to say?