9/24 Exhibition GDT : at Red Wings 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 1

[Echolalia 2,961]

I agree. He can still be a scorer, even a good scorer, but still use his size and speed more. I agree with the folks that say he's not a "power forward" and shouldn't be expected to play like one. I think he'd be completely misutilizing his talent if he was down in front of the net banging and crashing. But I see no reason why he couldn't play a game like Blake Wheeler, or James Neal (hopefully without the penalties). Neither of them are Andrew Ladd, but they are still noticeable each shift.

Another year in GR will do him a lot of good.

I think so too. I hope the coach over there will be able to get Mantha to involve himself more in the play, and not just be the final touch before the shot on net (although I do want to see him shoot).

[Rivalred 630]

Not disregarding the great play by the wings, but I do feel a seasoned pens vet team would not of given the wings that much room as they did last night

And yes, Larkin looks good

[kipwinger 8,522]

Like I said above in the edit, I think it's gotta be a trade at some point.

Big Buf. It's too perfect. We need a top end defenseman. They need to get something for the big man. Not in the same conference. It's as good as done.

[kipwinger 8,522]

Is there a highlight video from last night's game anywhere?

[kickazz 5,459]

Not disregarding the great play by the wings, but I do feel a seasoned pens vet team would not of given the wings that much room as they did last night

And yes, Larkin looks good

Neither would the Red Wings vet team. Zetterberg and vet crew would do well against their vet team too. It was basically a battle of prospects/minors last night and ours won. Edited September 25, 2015 by kickazz

[MotorCityMadness 388]

Is there a highlight video from last night's game anywhere?

Yes they were on NHL.com

[kickazz 5,459]

Put it into perspective, our prospects nearly beat chicagos stanley cup squad. Lost by a goal.

Our vets/prospect team beat chicago prospect team by a wide margin.

Our mostly prospect team beat pens non- vet team by an even bigger margin.

Only positives come out of this any way you look at it

[e_prime 1,936]

Big Buf. It's too perfect. We need a top end defenseman. They need to get something for the big man. Not in the same conference. It's as good as done.

Oh, you just stop!!

I was talking with Jesusburg about this earlier today. Not trading for Buf, but rather the fact that the Wings are going to have to make a decision on the blueline sooner than later.

With Dekeyser needing a new contract in the off-season, I can't imagine KFQ being retained.

So our top four on D for the next few years will be:

Kronner - Ericsson

Green - DeKeyser

With top prospects XO, Marchenko, Sproul, and Jensen being a little more cap friendly and having a familiarity with our new Coach...

I can't imagine we're going to retain both Smith AND Kindl beyond their current contracts.

Not to say that all four of those guys are going to make the Red Wings roster or they won't or couldn't be traded...

I just think the window is closing pretty quickly for both Smith and Kindl.

How do you see us making that move for Byfuglien, Kip? Ericsson obviously has to be moved... what else?

[kipwinger 8,522]

Not necessarily Ericsson. Quincey too. Or any combination of Smith, Kindl, Helm. The important part would be clearing the cap space. Which wouldn't be hard. No matter what package you put together, all of the remaining guys (except maybe Kindl) have value elsewhere.

So, hypothetically...

Helm, Quellet, 2nd (or 1st if need be) for Byfuglien

Quincey to Colorado for 2nd (or 3rd) and mid level prospect.

Edited September 25, 2015 by kipwinger

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Not necessarily Ericsson. Quincey too. Or any combination of Smith, Kindl, Helm. The important part would be clearing the cap space. Which wouldn't be hard. No matter what package you put together, all of the remaining guys (except maybe Kindl) have value elsewhere.

So, hypothetically...

Helm, Quellet, 2nd (or 1st if need be) for Byfuglien

Quincey to Colorado for 2nd (or 3rd) and mid level prospect.

I wonder if Colorado would want Quincey back... *cough*

http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2012/02/23/quincey-throws-avs-under-the-bus-then-backs-over-for-good-measure/9780/

[kipwinger 8,522]

That was just off the top of my head. The main point is that a top four defenseman, even a stay at home guy on an expiring contract, always has value to a team wanting to make s push. Look at Jeff Petry a year ago.

Anyway, I'm not going to say anything more about Byfuglien. I've beat that horse to death. I think it makes sense for both teams, and it would be easy to do without losing anything we couldn't live with/don't need to lose anyway.

Edited September 25, 2015 by kipwinger

[kickazz 5,459]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2015/09/24/detroit-red-wings-preview-atlantic-division-blashill-datsyuk-zetterberg/72664220/

This guy thinks we are a contender. And he's saying EXACTLY the same thing Kip is saying. top 4 D man needed.

[hillbillywingsfan 792]

That was just off the top of my head. The main point is that a top four defenseman, even a stay at home guy on an expiring contract, always has value to a team wanting to make s push. Look at Jeff Petry a year ago.

Anyway, I'm not going to say anything more about Byfuglien. I've beat that horse to death. I think it makes sense for both teams, and it would be easy to do without losing anything we couldn't live with/don't need to lose anyway.

I have always wanted Byfuglien so I approve of that one for sure.

[e_prime 1,936]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2015/09/24/detroit-red-wings-preview-atlantic-division-blashill-datsyuk-zetterberg/72664220/

This guy thinks we are a contender. And he's saying EXACTLY the same thing Kip is saying. top 4 D man needed.

Kevin Allen knows his s***, but KipWinger is my go to guy.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

That was just off the top of my head. The main point is that a top four defenseman, even a stay at home guy on an expiring contract, always has value to a team wanting to make s push. Look at Jeff Petry a year ago.

Anyway, I'm not going to say anything more about Byfuglien. I've beat that horse to death. I think it makes sense for both teams, and it would be easy to do without losing anything we couldn't live with/don't need to lose anyway.

They're similar in some ways, but Petry's deal occurred at the trade deadline where a bottom-feeding team moved a top-four defenseman to a team shoring up for a playoff run. That's usually when you see those UFA's moved.

There aren't many teams right now willing to take on a defenseman, I think (perhaps Boston, because of their injury situation).

If Detroit intends to move him, I'd rather they do it now. Assuming they're in good shape at the trade deadline, they probably don't move him. Also, I think spending a season on the third pair with Kindl or Smith is going to knock his value down some - he's coming off a solid season as DeKeyser's partner right now.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I'm also in the Red Wings are a "Kronwall-partner d-man" away from serious contention. I know Holland's forte isn't trading, but there has never been a better opportunity to be bold than now. You have Z and Pav on the downside of their careers (yet both still contribute in big ways), an insanely deep prospect pool, one of the best goalie tandems in the league. The only missing piece is a top four d-man.

The Wings are in a position to contend now without selling off their key components going forward like Larkin. Realistically, there just aren't enough spots to go around as it is. If you can win another cup with the Euro Twins around without mortgaging your future, you have to take advantage of that window. Because truthfully "rebuilding on the fly" has gone quite a bit better than I think anyone in the organization even imagined. They don't have it to tear it down completely or wait on this wave of prospects to fully hit because the group this season is pretty damn good as it is.

Edited September 25, 2015 by GoWings1905

[WingsAlways 486]

It would be foolish if we lost Pulkkinen so we could keep a waiver eligible kid up who may or may not make us better.

Pulkkinen is artillery, we need more field officers.

[e_prime 1,936]

Pulkkinen is artillery, we need more field officers.

If we're going with this analogy... Our waiver eligible kids are barely junior officers, not field generals or something...

and cannons are... well... explody! We need explody!!

[Jasper84 333]

I was at the game last night and these kids are so exciting to watch. Looking forward to seeing some of these guys full time when the time comes (hopefully soon).

[WingsAlways 486]

If we're going with this analogy... Our waiver eligible kids are barely junior officers, not field generals or something...

and cannons are... well... explody! We need explody!!

We need numbers on the board.

[Rivalred 630]

Neither would the Red Wings vet team. Zetterberg and vet crew would do well against their vet team too. It was basically a battle of prospects/minors last night and ours won.

Our prospects that were playing would be regulars on many other teams, why I don't think it was a good test

Edited September 26, 2015 by Rivalred

[kickazz 5,459]

Our prospects that were playing would be regulars on many other teams, why I don't think it was a good test

You're right. but the reason that is true is because our prospects are THAT good. Larkin is 19, bertuzzi is 20, Mantha 21. And they are for the most part ready if it was any other team.

But at face value they are still prospects not veterans. And the pittsburg B team yesterday was not veteran either. The comparison has to be fair. And in a fair comparison, our B team destroyed their B team. Our B team almost beat Chicago's Stanley cup elite A team.

Think about that for a moment. Imo the future is bright.

The Chicago Detroit first game is proof that our proespect team has what it takes. Any other assumption made needs proof. There is zero proof that our prospects can't handle a vet team.

Edited September 26, 2015 by kickazz

[Rivalred 630]

You're right. but the reason that is true is because our prospects are THAT good. Larkin is 19, bertuzzi is 20, Mantha 21. And they are for the most part ready if it was any other team.

But at face value they are still prospects not veterans. And the pittsburg B team yesterday was not veteran either. The comparison has to be fair. And in a fair comparison, our B team destroyed their B team. Our B team almost beat Chicago's Stanley cup elite A team.

Think about that for a moment. Imo the future is bright.

The Chicago Detroit first game is proof that our proespect team has what it takes. Any other assumption made needs proof. There is zero proof that our prospects can't handle a vet team.

That is not a fair assessment either as the goals that were scored were on the Hawks prospect goaltender

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

I wish then pens would've had maf on net, because Larkin was playing against real NHL competition aside from the goalie.

He was matched up against Malkin, don't think that matchup was accidental, they did it to see how he handled himself, and he did very, very well.

[amato 3,210]

Buff has the stuff