Holland doesn't expect to be busy this offseason

[LeftWinger 4,953]

...or maybe he trades Smith, Quincey and Sproul to TO for Phanuef...

[kickazz 5,459]

Ah Holland trolls the entire media. Love it

[Andy Pred 48 337]

With the log jam we have at both D and Fwd, there has to be a trade in the pipeline, now wouldn't that just blow everyone away if Kenny pulled off a deal for a legit #1/2 D !

[Nightfall 871]

I think we did good today, improved the roster, hopefully we can break the round 1 ceiling and at least get into 2nd round.

That wouldn't be enough for most Wings fans. You forget the general consensus around here is cup or bust. If we get booted the first round, its a failure and people want to see a deeper run. Make it to the 2nd or 3rd round, then its a failure because they should have made more changes to at least make it to the finals. Make it to the finals and lose, then Holland will be blamed for not getting that last key piece to put them over the top, and its a failure.

[joesuffP 1,746]

We really were having a pretty good regular season for quite awhile though. The wheels did fall off down the stretch, but this team looked pretty good early on. We'll definitely be better with Green and Richards this year.

Even though it hasn't translated to playoff success or our position in the standings, we've steadily improved each of the last three years. Without that free fall down the stretch we're flirting with winning the division

[13dangledangle 959]

So far Ken Holland has done a great job this off season. Green and Richards both bring to the table what we need, goals. Now just sign goose, and perhaps make a trade with our excess forwards for a Kadri or something

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

This doesn't bode well for Holland getting rid of Kindl like I hoped.

Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 1m

1 minute ago

Blashill also likes Kindl's abilities and wants to give him a chance to resurrect his career here.

[amato 3,210]

I like the wait and see mentality here.. with the new coach and all, if a trade does happen, I don't expect it before camp anyway.. let Blashill see what he's working with first.

[Helmethead 235]

Best thing about Kindl is that he gets his shots through from the point. Can Blash utilize this? Seems to be a logjam of depth dmen. Smith, Kindl, Marchenko, Ouelette. Marchenko and Ouelette can be sent down to Grand Rapids still. That's likely what will happen if everyone is healthy.

[Rivalred 630]

This doesn't bode well for Holland getting rid of Kindl like I hoped.

Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 1m

1 minute ago

Blashill also likes Kindl's abilities and wants to give him a chance to resurrect his career here.

You just made my day a little worse. Amazing how this team is too patient with some players and not enough with others.

[TheXym 2,606]

Maybe Holland saw the Babcock departure coming a couple years back and decided to take a longer view to player acquisition to get past the first round AFTER Babs left (coupled with TO missing the playoffs again would be quite irksome to the Leafs loyal). Babs is a good coach, and seems to be a good guy, but his message ran its course here and I think having Blashill will energize the team more than we realize.

Cue Kenny lighting up a cigar, Hannibal Smith style, "I love it when a plan comes together".

[Helmethead 235]

Better than lighting one up Hannibal Lector style...I once had an old player for dinner with a bottle of Gatorade and a nice Daniel Cleary...fffffffffff....

[Bannedforlife 403]

Kronwall - Smith

DeKeyser - Green

Kindl - Ericsson

Quincey

Too much offense?

[Helmethead 235]

The Kindl-Ericsson pair scares me.

Edited July 2, 2015 by Helmethead

[kickazz 5,459]

Kronwall - Smith

DeKeyser - Green

Kindl - Ericsson

Quincey

Too much offense?

Who cares when our best defenseman are our two forwards

[FlashyG 1,799]

Another couple Holland off-season gifs.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I'm guilty of it too but it's just another example of how you can't read too much into what these guys say to the press. It's the actions that matter, not so much the quotes.

[kickazz 5,459]

I'm guilty of it too but it's just another example of how you can't read too much into what these guys say to the press. It's the actions that matter, not so much the quotes.

I mean if I were a GM I would probably do my best to keep media busy by saying bs comments while I did my work behind the scenes.

[mvanpop 98]

I almost think that Holland wasn't too confident he would be able to sign anyone so that's why he said that but maybe Weiss was bought out because Richards had shown interest in signing here.

Edited July 3, 2015 by mvanpop

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Maybe Holland saw the Babcock departure coming a couple years back and decided to take a longer view to player acquisition to get past the first round AFTER Babs left (coupled with TO missing the playoffs again would be quite irksome to the Leafs loyal). Babs is a good coach, and seems to be a good guy, but his message ran its course here and I think having Blashill will energize the team more than we realize.

Cue Kenny lighting up a cigar, Hannibal Smith style, "I love it when a plan comes together".

I really liked that old show

[kickazz 5,459]

I almost think that Holland wasn't too confident he would be able to sign anyone so that's why he said that but maybe Weiss was bought out because Richards had shown interest in signing here.

Yeah I agree. Hollands sort of been a flub the past 3 years and he probably thought it was best to law low with the media and act like not much was going on and hoping his talks worked out with Richards and Green. Which they did. Typical, we all would have probably done the same thing in his shoes.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

@RedWingsFeed: Comparing Illitch's Decision to Release Dave Dombrowski to Red Wings Reality: Well, http://t.co/5ZKIAfHdEdvia @wingingitmotown #RedWings

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

@RedWingsFeed: Comparing Illitch's Decision to Release Dave Dombrowski to Red Wings Reality: Well, http://t.co/5ZKIAfHdEdvia @wingingitmotown #RedWings

I don't agree with that article, I think they are two totally different situations. Dombrowski clearly wanted to move on after he made the moves at the deadline, I am almost 100% certain he is coming to Toronto to take over for Paul Beeston as the President of the Blue Jays. Holland unless he wants to move on or retire I believe he will be re-signed. I don't really see any other GM doing what he has done the last two decades and to maintain it is incredible.

Edited August 5, 2015 by darkmanx

[DickieDunn 2,571]

The fact that it's on that site tells you most of what you need to know.

[e_prime 1,936]

The fact that it's on that site tells you most of what you need to know.

What does that mean exactly? I'm not sure your post could be any more vague...

Do you not think that WiiM does a decent job with opinion pieces? or Red Wings coverage in general?

While I don't necessarily agree with the piece, I do think they do at least put some thought into their articles before posting them...

As far as Holland and this off-season goes I think he did a good job at tempering expectations through the media, while acquiring some pieces that should make a difference this season and surprisingly cutting ties with some mistakes/easy re-sign options that he would normally jump all over -- Weiss/Zidlicky.

His next "test" is going to be managing assets. Which players stay? Which players go?

Do we move some vets to make room for younger players?

This is going to determine Holland's viability as an NHL GM going forward.

Will we be able to continually "rebuild on the fly" through asset management or will we end up having to go the TANK IT route because we don't have the players or the prospects to make the moves necessary to continually reload year in and year out.

Edited August 5, 2015 by e_prime