Team next season?

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Pretty much this. I would be absolutely shocked if they found someone to take Weiss' contract at this point. No one's going to touch Mule, IMO - he's either done and stuck on LTIR or he'll play for Detroit. Honestly, I think that Cleary and Gustavasson are the only surefire bets to leave. I'm really hoping they find a suitor for Kindl, and I'd like them to part ways with Andersson and give Callahan a crack at that 4th line RW spot.

Franzen might retire to LTIR, which will open a spot. Unless they move someone else, Zidlicky needs to go so Marchenko or Ouellet can stay. If Kindl can't be moved he can be the 7th, otherwise Lashoff or some cheap vet of the Kent Huskins caliber will be the 7th. Pulkkinen in at forward. Weiss has shown enough when he's been allowed to play with skilled players that a team might take him if Detroit retains some salary and doesn't want much. If they know that Franzen is gone and they can move Weiss, they might bring back Cole for a year.

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Abdelkader

Tatar-Sheahan-Nyquist

Pulkkinen-Helm-Jurco

Miller-Glendening-X

Franzen, Weiss, Cole, Andersson, Ferraro, Callahan, possibly Mantha or Athanasiou in that one open spot, juggling lines as needed. 2 guys not waiver eligible to fill the 2 reserve spots.

Kronwall-Ericsson

Dekeyser-Quincey

Smith-Marchenko

Kindl OR Lashoff OR cheap vet

A waiver eligible player will NOT be kept in Detroit as a reserve. If a kid in GR deserves it, they'll be kept in GR and brought up to cover for an injury like they're doing now with Pulkkinen and Marchenko.

[Smite 399]

#TANKIT2016

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Miller has 98 hits, 4th on the team. Helm, Glendening, and Abdelkader have more.

Somehow, I don't think of Miller as a punishing hitter. He gently nudges people into the boards.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

I think It could be interesting come Free agency. I like our chances at Franson (its not working out for him in NSH) Green, Erhoff. If we got one of those guys I could see us trading Quincey. Quincey's been really solid, but he'll be in the final year of his contract and it would be much better for us to use his spot for that elusive RH offensive top 4 Dman.

Dion trade is still interesting to me. replacing him for for Q and Smith. Or even him for E might work. I know there would have to be other parts to the trade - I'm more thinking what work for roster slots.

Otherwise, I see us going with the same. Zidlicky has been great for us, but it having him in that 3rd pairing spot blocks the youth. It wouldn't make much sense to me to have to have two stopgap players (Q, Zid) for a year when we've got prospects ready. It'd be nice to find a taker for Kindl, but I think he will stay as the #7 if we don't have any cap issues (and we don't unless we add players).

K-E

DD-Q

Smith-March

Kindl

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

Green Franson or Petry will be a wing this offseason or we will trade for Dion

[Buppy 1,720]

I think It could be interesting come Free agency. I like our chances at Franson (its not working out for him in NSH) Green, Erhoff. If we got one of those guys I could see us trading Quincey. Quincey's been really solid, but he'll be in the final year of his contract and it would be much better for us to use his spot for that elusive RH offensive top 4 Dman.

Dion trade is still interesting to me. replacing him for for Q and Smith. Or even him for E might work. I know there would have to be other parts to the trade - I'm more thinking what work for roster slots.

Otherwise, I see us going with the same. Zidlicky has been great for us, but it having him in that 3rd pairing spot blocks the youth. It wouldn't make much sense to me to have to have two stopgap players (Q, Zid) for a year when we've got prospects ready. It'd be nice to find a taker for Kindl, but I think he will stay as the #7 if we don't have any cap issues (and we don't unless we add players).

K-E

DD-Q

Smith-March

Kindl

At the time of the trade, I thought there was next to no chance of Zidlicky coming back, but not so sure now.

He provides an element that Ouellet and Marchenko do not. I think if he maintains close to current level of play for the rest of the year we will try to bring him back, even if it means keeping both kids in GR. We could also go after Green or Franson, and hope Zid would still be available if we miss out, but I do think he would get preference over the kids.

I don't think keeping one of the the kids as the #7 is totally out of the question. Not a 7 in the sense of Lashoff/Kindl this year, but a 7 we actually like in the lineup. Someone to push Smith, provide rest for Zid if he comes back, even maybe challenge E or Q. Plus we could always send him down during the season if he wasn't getting in enough.

[martinezsvsu 240]

why do people think we should get rid of quincey?

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

why do people think we should get rid of quincey?

I assume you're responding to me. I sort of explained it in my post, but i'll expand on it. It was with the idea of adding one of the top 4 RH offensive UFA Dmen (Franson, Green, Erhoff). If we could add one of them and keep Quincey on the 3rd pair for next year and make it work under the cap then count me in, but I'm not sure that it would. That would make sure no prospects were on the roster next year, but I guess that's not the end of the world.

Anyway, Quincey's 4.25 contract in up after next year. I think we'd have to give him a raise to resign him, but regardless resigning him doesn't seem ideal. It would lockup our top 4 for a while (DD isn't going anywhere and K & E are signed for the long term) and we'd have no RHers in the top 4. I think most agree the top 4 needs to be upgraded. Because of that I don't think Quincey's in our long term plans. If we can get that missing piece, Quincey is one of the expendible pieces even though he's played well.

Edited March 20, 2015 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Quincey's expiring contract is a good thing. It allows the Wings to move in a rookie after next year. Kronwall, Ericsson, Dekeyser, and Smith are all unlikely to be going anywhere. They need an open spot.

[kliq 3,755]

I think It could be interesting come Free agency. I like our chances at Franson (its not working out for him in NSH) Green, Erhoff. If we got one of those guys I could see us trading Quincey. Quincey's been really solid, but he'll be in the final year of his contract and it would be much better for us to use his spot for that elusive RH offensive top 4 Dman.

Dion trade is still interesting to me. replacing him for for Q and Smith. Or even him for E might work. I know there would have to be other parts to the trade - I'm more thinking what work for roster slots.

Otherwise, I see us going with the same. Zidlicky has been great for us, but it having him in that 3rd pairing spot blocks the youth. It wouldn't make much sense to me to have to have two stopgap players (Q, Zid) for a year when we've got prospects ready. It'd be nice to find a taker for Kindl, but I think he will stay as the #7 if we don't have any cap issues (and we don't unless we add players).

K-E

DD-Q

Smith-March

Kindl

I dont see it, I think he has been a hold-out or at least gone to the wire almost every year he was an RFA. He strikes me as a guy who simply will go to the top bidder, and I dont see Holland throwing stupid money him.

[gcom007 1,465]

Unless Weiss really finds a way to turn it around in his tenure as a Red Wing, which is looking increasingly less likely to happen, I think you've got to find a way to move him this summer. I don't know if it's right that he's been given the role he has, but clearly something isn't working out the way it needs to be. It's too much money to be throwing at a guy you're unwilling to put in the top-6, who's now even a healthy scratch after Datsyuk goes out of the lineup. I've got nothing against Weiss, and if anything, I tend to think he's not getting a fair shot here. But something's gotta give at this point: he's either gotta get back into an important role and start producing or he should be moved.

I'd go so far as to say I don't even know if it's fair to keep him here the way things are going. It makes no sense to me that we've got a player of his caliber at that cap hit that we're willing to keep out of the lineup when healthy, even when our best player gets injured and is out of the lineup. Something is seriously not right with that situation.

Edited March 20, 2015 by gcom007

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Weiss' biggest issue is Babcock doesn't seem to like him, and when Babcock doesn't like a player he uses him the least amount possible. He's been fine when he's been given quality linemates instead of being stuck with Miller and Glendening, not worth his cap hit, but a damn sight better than him sitting or being asked to play on the checking line. He needs to be moved one way or the other i Babcock is coming back though, because right now he's just blocking a player who might actually be used to help the team.

[gcom007 1,465]

Weiss' biggest issue is Babcock doesn't seem to like him, and when Babcock doesn't like a player he uses him the least amount possible. He's been fine when he's been given quality linemates instead of being stuck with Miller and Glendening, not worth his cap hit, but a damn sight better than him sitting or being asked to play on the checking line. He needs to be moved one way or the other i Babcock is coming back though, because right now he's just blocking a player who might actually be used to help the team.

I don't want to assume too much about why things are the way they are with Weiss, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is that he's been relegated to the 3rd and even 4th line, he's making a lot of money, and he's now worthy of being a healthy scratch even when Datsyuk goes out of the lineup. It doesn't matter if Babcock and management hates him or loves him, or whether Babcock and management are justified or not in the decisions they're making; it's a total waste to keep Weiss around if he's going to be used in this manner. It's not fair to him or the team. Unless something drastic happens between now and then, he needs to be moved this summer.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

I don't want to assume too much about why things are the way they are with Weiss, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is that he's been relegated to the 3rd and even 4th line, he's making a lot of money, and he's now worthy of being a healthy scratch even when Datsyuk goes out of the lineup. It doesn't matter if Babcock and management hates him or loves him, or whether Babcock and management are justified or not in the decisions they're making; it's a total waste to keep Weiss around if he's going to be used in this manner. It's not fair to him or the team. Unless something drastic happens between now and then, he needs to be moved this summer.

That's pretty much what I said.

[DSM 114]

To me it looks pretty simple. No real big changes, just continued emphasis on developing and improving home grown talent.

Up front:

(In no real order)

1. Datsyuk, 2. Zetterberg, 3. Wiess, 4. Franzen, 5. Tatar, 6. Helm, 7. Abdelkader, 8. Miller, 9. Nyquist, 10. Sheahan, 11. Jurco, 12. Andersson, 13. Glendenning, 14. Pulkkinen

-All RFA's resigned

-Cleary is a goner for sure this time.

-Pulkkinen is no longer waiver exempt next season (but obviously doesn't need to go back...) and gets a spot.

-Franzen will be back

-As will Weiss. He will literally be impossible to ship out without getting another bad contract back. Especially since his salary goes up to $6M in the next two seasons. I can't see Holland doing a buyout either.

-Unless Cole goes on an extreme tear and/or it appears Franzen may not be ready to start the season, he won't be resigned.

-Callahan and Ferraro get re-signed and get to battle over who will be the next Nestrasil.

On D:

1. Kronwall, 2. Ericsson, 3. DeKeyser, 4. Quincey, 5. Smith, 6. Zidlicky/UFA/Marchenko/Ouellet, 7. Lashoff/Kindl/UFA

-Smith re-signed

-Attempt to re-sign Zidlicky for one more year. Then, when Quincey/Zidlicky/Lashoff leave on July 1, 2016, Ouellet, Markchenko and Sproul have open spots when their waiver exemption goes away.

-Or, Marchenko gets #6 spot as sole RH shot.

-(Unlikely) Or they go after another UFA RH shot.

-Attempt and hopefully succeed trading Kindl for pick(s). Having him (expensively) sit out most games will just make him even harder to trade.

-Lashoff slides in at #7 again to sit in the dressing room most games. I don't see Holland putting Ouellet/Marchenko in this spot, since they could play every night in GR. They could also bring in a cheap veteran UFA for this spot as well.

In goal:

1. Howard, 2. Mrazek

-Gustavsson FINALLY leaves as a UFA a year later than he should have

-Mrazek gets the backup job

-McCollum elects for Group VI UFA status to get a change of scenery

-Bring in an experienced #3 (ala LaBarbara, Ellis, JOEY MACDONALD PLZ, etc.) to push Mrazek in camp, give them a serviceable backup if needed, and mentor Paterson and Coreau on the farm.

UFA's/Trades:

I don't see Holland getting too aggressive in the market this summer. The UFA class this summer is stupid thin, which will lead to stupid Andrew MacDonald like overpayments in both trades and salaries. The overpayments can also lead to Stephen Weiss 2.0.

Plus, the Red Wings need to be a little conservative for the future. Loading up on big long term contracts will make it harder to retain all of the good young players when they start approaching UFA eligibility. If the team is poised to make a run, they can use any extra cap room for affordable rentals again.

[LeftWinger 4,949]

I am going to look at the "kids" with exemptions from a business aspect. If you have exemptions, pretty much you can expect to start the season in GR. Unfortunately that has how it has been most of the time and probably will continue. That being said:

Franzen, done. He will not play again, at least not here. Weiss, unfortunately isn't too welcome here, especiallu if Babcock comes back, so he will waive his NMC to certain teams in order to get playing time, if not he will ride the press box for the rest of his contract. Cleary will finally be gone. To me, Andersson should be the #13 guy, so if we must re-sign him at $800,000ish to play that role, fine.

Now, I am going to suggest some thngs that I feel will make this team better, they may not be popular, but I think it will make the team better, and its not like I am suggesting trading Ferraro for Stampkos.

Re-sign Cole and Zitlicky. Trade Kindl for a pick or just waive him, no loss, no big hit on the cap if he clears waivers. Trade Weiss, Smith's rights and a pick to Toronto for Phaneuf. Re-sign Nyquist and Tatar of course (or is it Jurco who is a RFA? Whichever one, re-sign him.)

Now, of the 4 NHL ready defensemen in GR (Sproul, Marchenko, Ouellet and Jensen) you don't want the better ones coming up here to be #7, so you keep Sproul, Marchenko and Oullet in GR to play BIG minutes and you promote Jensen (who is probably the least talented of the 4) to #7. Of course Monster walks.

So, the roster should look like this (and without capgeek (RIP MATT) I am not sure if the #'s line up)

Abdelkader - Datsyuk - Pulkkinen

Cole - Zetterberg - Nyquist

Jurco - Sheahan - Tatar

Miller - Helm - Glendening

Andersson

Phanuef - Kronwall

Dekeyser - Zidlicky

Quincey - Ericsson

Jensen

Mrazek/Howard

[joshy207 156]

The Wings have to begin to make room for the young defensemen. Rather than make the mistake of "overbuilding" the roster again (like last season, then embarrasing players like Tootoo and Eaves by sending them to Grand Rapids), there should be a job or two available to be won at training camp by Ouellet (ready), Marchenko (ready), Jensen (maybe a year away), Sproul (at least a year away), and a possible veteran FA depth-type guy. There isn't room in GR for all of them again next year, and it'll get to a point where keeping them in the AHL will hinder their growth more than help it. With no expiring contracts other than Zidlicky (who they may even want to re-sign), one or two D will need to be moved. Obviously, Kronwall and DeKeyser aren't going anywhere, but they could trade any of the other 4.

Up front, Franzen's situation is a dilemma. His long-term health is in question, and his play when he is healthy leaves much to be desired. He could be bought out, retire, or put on LTIR permanently, a la Savard and Pronger. Pulkkinen is the only prospect really knocking on the door. The others, including Mantha, are maybe a year away. A couple forwards are candidates to be moved out as well.

Mrazek should be here full-time next year as the backup to Howard, but he will challenge for more playing time right away. He's the goalie of the future.

My roster next year:

Forwards (14)--Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Tatar, Nyquist, Helm, Abdelkader, Sheahan, Jurco, Pulkkinen, Glendening, Miller, Andersson, Cole re-signed, Callahan promoted. Weiss traded or bought out, Franzen no longer on (active) roster, Cleary not re-signed.

Defensemen (7)--Kronwall, DeKeyser, Ericsson, Quincey, Zidlicky re-signed, Ouellet promoted, Marchenko promoted. Kindl and Smith traded. (I would gladly trade Ericsson, but Smith would probably fetch more in return.)

Goalies (2)--Howard, Mrazek promoted. Gustavsson not re-signed.

Any traded players bring draft picks and prospects in return.

Quincey is the least of our worries, with how well he's played add to that he's only got the rest of this season and next season remaining on his contract, the gritty new player for the fourth line will most likely be Callahan.
And I don't See Ericsson being moved all the way down the third pair.
He has his gaffes but he is a top four defenseman, and this year he came in less than 100% with his finger still being messed up and not being able to train fully.

So I give him a mulligan for the beginning of this season.

Finger injuries don't affect your brain. Ericsson has been awful this year.

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

Mike Green and/or Petry would be nice trade Quincey for a second or a prospect and let smith walk

Kronwall Green

DK Petry

Big E Zids/Marchenko

[LeftWinger 4,949]

The Wings have to begin to make room for the young defensemen. Rather than make the mistake of "overbuilding" the roster again (like last season, then embarrasing players like Tootoo and Eaves by sending them to Grand Rapids), there should be a job or two available to be won at training camp by Ouellet (ready), Marchenko (ready), Jensen (maybe a year away), Sproul (at least a year away), and a possible veteran FA depth-type guy. There isn't room in GR for all of them again next year, and it'll get to a point where keeping them in the AHL will hinder their growth more than help it. With no expiring contracts other than Zidlicky (who they may even want to re-sign), one or two D will need to be moved. Obviously, Kronwall and DeKeyser aren't going anywhere, but they could trade any of the other 4.

Up front, Franzen's situation is a dilemma. His long-term health is in question, and his play when he is healthy leaves much to be desired. He could be bought out, retire, or put on LTIR permanently, a la Savard and Pronger. Pulkkinen is the only prospect really knocking on the door. The others, including Mantha, are maybe a year away. A couple forwards are candidates to be moved out as well.

Mrazek should be here full-time next year as the backup to Howard, but he will challenge for more playing time right away. He's the goalie of the future.

My roster next year:

Forwards (14)--Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Tatar, Nyquist, Helm, Abdelkader, Sheahan, Jurco, Pulkkinen, Glendening, Miller, Andersson, Cole re-signed, Callahan promoted. Weiss traded or bought out, Franzen no longer on (active) roster, Cleary not re-signed.

Defensemen (7)--Kronwall, DeKeyser, Ericsson, Quincey, Zidlicky re-signed, Ouellet promoted, Marchenko promoted. Kindl and Smith traded. (I would gladly trade Ericsson, but Smith would probably fetch more in return.)

Goalies (2)--Howard, Mrazek promoted. Gustavsson not re-signed.

Any traded players bring draft picks and prospects in return.

Finger injuries don't affect your brain. Ericsson has been awful this year.

I hear all that, but neither Oullet nor Marchenko are going to be promoted to sit the press box at #7. That is why I suggested to promote the less talented of the four kids in Jensen. The other three won't be hindering their developement in GR, but sitting in the press box they will for sure. Jensen is the lowest on that pecking order for D to be impactful here in Detroit. XO and March have already proven that they can be very impactful NHL players, Sproul hasn't yet gotten a legit debut, but he is touted to be the most offensive of all of them. I still stick to keeping the "big three" in GR full time (with spot time up here of course) to keep them playing 20-30 minutes a game. Jensen can come up, be a great #7, get some NHL experience and show that he indeed can handle NHL playing time.

Its the next year that worries me, Q will be gone, but the other three kids are all out of exemptions, that is when its going to get crowded, and once again, I cannot see a scenario where any of those three will be a #7...going to get interesting. Maybe one of those three will get traded before that bridge comes up to cross...

Edited March 21, 2015 by LeftWinger

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

I hope Kenny knows he's not collecting cards... At some point you gotta use these kids or trade them you can't keep em forever

[DickieDunn 2,571]

I hear all that, but neither Oullet nor Marchenko are going to be promoted to sit the press box at #7. That is why I suggested to promote the less talented of the four kids in Jensen. The other three won't be hindering their developement in GR, but sitting in the press box they will for sure. Jensen is the lowest on that pecking order for D to be impactful here in Detroit. XO and March have already proven that they can be very impactful NHL players, Sproul hasn't yet gotten a legit debut, but he is touted to be the most offensive of all of them. I still stick to keeping the "big three" in GR full time (with spot time up here of course) to keep them playing 20-30 minutes a game. Jensen can come up, be a great #7, get some NHL experience and show that he indeed can handle NHL playing time.

Its the next year that worries me, Q will be gone, but the other three kids are all out of exemptions, that is when its going to get crowded, and once again, I cannot see a scenario where any of those three will be a #7...going to get interesting. Maybe one of those three will get traded before that bridge comes up to cross...

Why sit any waiver eligible player? That's what guys like Lashoff are for.

[number9 3,297]

I hope Kenny knows he's not collecting cards... At some point you gotta use these kids or trade them you can't keep em forever

I think we've seen that already with Jarnkrok, Ouellet, Marchenko, Jurco, and Pulkinnen. He's clearly trying out what he think could work.

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

I was referring to them being sent down (Marchenko, Ouellett) they are both ready for the nhl you gotta think some moves are coming this summer for the back end and I think a trade is inevitable either way because we will either sign a RH d-man/get rid of Kindl and/or Quincey because I don't think smith is going anywhere and obviously Kronner DK and E aren't, either way I think we'll have two new pieces on the back end for next season I'm hoping for

Kronner Green

DK Petry/Marchenko

Ouellett Big E\Marchenko/Zids

Don't want two rookies on the same pair tho

Don't forget Dion lmfao

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Finger injuries don't affect your brain. Ericsson has been awful this year.

He makes quite a few mistakes, I said as much. I'm not trying to make excuses for his lackluster play, but just because he's struggling on the top pair doesn't mean he's not a top4 D-man

And the ability to grip and handle a stick definitely has an impact on the plays you make.

He hasn't been the same player since he went down before the playoffs last year, so who knows.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

Weiss and Smith may be gone in exchange for Phanuef if you believe various media links, and I'm not too against the idea either.