Fixing this mess....

[Jacksoni 418]

Regarding Radulov, in my opinion the strategy is simple. We need him. Badly. If we can get him for a decent price, it is a no brainer.

Me, as many in here are, know that his attitude may be a problem. But that's something we are going to have to deal with, if we can land him. He would be a Significant upgrade in talent, with no picks or trades involved.

[kickazz 5,459]

If we signed Todd Bertuzzi I really don't get what the argument is against signing Radulov.

Bertuzzi paralyzed a guy and ruined his health for the rest of his life. Moore still suffers from headaches and lightheadedness everyday.

[VM1138 1,921]

I don't think Radulov is a slam dunk solution. We just don't know how he'll transition to the new NHL. And of course, attitude issues. But if there's no one else and it's not a long term contract what could it hurt?

[VM1138 1,921]

If we signed Todd Bertuzzi I really don't get what the argument is against signing Radulov.

Bertuzzi paralyzed a guy and ruined his health for the rest of his life. Moore still suffers from headaches and lightheadedness everyday.

Bertuzzi was never a locker room cancer or a coaches nightmare, at least not that I'm aware of. Different scenario.

[LeftWinger 4,953]

Listen to Holland's presser again, he actually names Okposo as a player that could change the style of the team.

Without guessing who won't be back, would you all be excited if he landed Radulov, Okposo and Yandle? Of course, trades would be needed to have the cap, but would that fill needs? Since Datsyuk says we need Radulov, maybe if Holland lands him, Datsyuk comes back for his year??

[marcaractac 3,963]

Ya I think the best thing is to give mantha athanasiou Larkin tons of ice time and let them develop and hopefully turn out to be really good players which we all believe they can be

I'd stay away from stamkos cause he will cost 10+ per and has blood clot issues and if he truly is demanding that he has to be a center I say pass

Okposo as well I'd pass on , would cost 7 I believe and I think he needs a star forward like he had in Tavares to make him a better player , and didn't he dissapear in the playoffs? I'd just want to be sure we give the right player(s) a 7+ cap hit

Think our best route is to let the kids play and to make some trades for defensemen and maybe prospects with potential and hopefully find a kid who didn't have a chance somewhere else and play well for the wings, I don't think this is the best ufa class and we should save our money for someone else at another time

I'd love a backes but I see him returning to the blues and I'd love lucic just so we can have someone who can strike fear into other teams players but I'm not willing to give him a 6x6 type deal ... Maybe 5 million x4 since we have some kids with cheap salaries now but I know lucic will get more on the market

Don't know about you guys but I'm anxiously awaiting draft day since I believe they'll be a ton of trades and names we wouldn't suspect to be traded to be in fact moved

If Stamkos has interest in coming to your team, you open up that chequebook. He is a franchise center in his prime. He would nullify the loss of Datsyuk immediately, as well as be our best player by a long shot. Imagine our pp.

Listen to Holland's presser again, he actually names Okposo as a player that could change the style of the team.

Without guessing who won't be back, would you all be excited if he landed Radulov, Okposo and Yandle? Of course, trades would be needed to have the cap, but would that fill needs? Since Datsyuk says we need Radulov, maybe if Holland lands him, Datsyuk comes back for his year??

This leaves us severely lacking center depth and a top dman. I don't think Yandle is the answer at all. Would love to see Okposo as a Wing though.

For me, the dream is Stamkos, Trouba and Okposo. Easier said than done, of course. But if they can get Trouba or another top dman at the draft via trade, it would greatly help attract UFAs come July 1st. But finding a center is far more important than bringing in a guy like Radulov. Even if it is a band-aid solution at center to take some of the pressure off of Larkin and AA for a year or two. Obviously Stammer would give us a permanent one-two punch down the middle with he and Larkin.

[Internet.Unknown 422]

People would be screaming about Yandle's defensive play after 2 games.

[Dabura 12,207]

EDIT: Whoops!

Edited May 24, 2016 by Dabura

[BadgerBob 297]

Doubt it'll happen but the Wings should look into adding Scott Luce to scouting. He was just fired by the Panthers and he seemed to do a pretty decent job while he was there.

[Dabura 12,207]

People would be screaming about Yandle's defensive play after 2 games.

I'm reminded of something Dave Tippett once said...

When [Dave Tippett is] watching tape or scouting opponents on television, he does so with the sound muted, so he's not exposed to conventional hockey wisdom.

"Sometimes, when I watch games at home (as a fan), I'll chuckle at some of the things being said about the players," he said.

His approach changed in the mid-1990s, when he served as head coach and general manager in the IHL, when he had to justify his payroll decisions. He was searching for a new way to evaluate the game, to understand "exactly what was happening on the ice."

"I'll give you an example," he said. "We had a player that was supposed to be a great, shut-down defenseman. He was supposedly the be-all, end-all of defensemen. But when you did a 10-game analysis of him, you found out he was defending all the time because he can't move the puck.

"Then we had another guy, who supposedly couldn't defend a lick. Well, he was defending only 20 percent of the time because he's making good plays out of our end. He may not be the strongest defender, but he's only doing it 20 percent of the time. So the equation works out better the other way. I ended up trading the other defenseman."

The best defense is a good offense.

Listen to Holland's presser again, he actually names Okposo as a player that could change the style of the team.

Without guessing who won't be back, would you all be excited if he landed Radulov, Okposo and Yandle? Of course, trades would be needed to have the cap, but would that fill needs? Since Datsyuk says we need Radulov, maybe if Holland lands him, Datsyuk comes back for his year??

So we're going to continue to hold the likes of Mantha and Athanasiou back because "They gotta be better without the puck" and then turn around and throw crazy money at the likes of Radulov and Okposo?

I think the Wings have to acknowledge and embrace the reality of their situation: we have, essentially, no proven top-end talent, and we play a self-defeating brand of hockey that emphasizes all the wrong things. We need to bring along the young talent (which is, at present, the only thing we have going for us) and figure out what our new core is going to look like and if we can win Cups with it. Anything short of that is a dying team on life support fighting to...stay on life support a little longer. I do think we should be looking for someone who can be an adequate 1C for a couple years while Larkin and/or Athanasiou grow into the role. I'm thinking someone like Martin Hanzal or Jordan Staal, maybe David Backes. And, of course, we have to consider multiple options re: our D group. But we have to be thinking long-term. We have to build something new.

Now, if we want to accelerate that process by trying to land a Madison Bowey or a Julius Honka or an Anthony DeAngelo, I'm all for that.

[VM1138 1,921]

The more I think about things the less likely I think we are to make any changes on defense. There's just not a lot to choose from out there that's realistic or helpful. And even with Quincey leaving we still have a full complement, including three unproven (well...Marchenko is kind of proven) defenders who won't garner much in a trade, most likely. I'm thinking we make big changes up front, see how things go this season, and then make a trade or free agent signing next offseason for out defensive solution.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Nyquist-Larkin-Backes

Tatar-Sheahan-Abby

Z-AA-Mantha

Miller-Glen-Jurco

[Dabura 12,207]

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/05/26/wings-trade-pick-sharks-prospect-dylan-sadowy/84992442/

Like I said, I'm all for this kind of thing. Drafting isn't the only avenue for acquiring young talent. (Granted, our pipeline is pretty crowded as it is. But that's no reason not to seek out top talent.)

Now let's take a run at a couple older, more NHL-ready, higher-tier prospects. Possibilities include the three defensemen I mentioned above -- Madison Bowey, Julius Honka, Anthony DeAngelo -- and Josh Morrissey, Shea Theodore, Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylington, Brett Pesce, Ty Rattie, Brendan Perlini, Alex Tuch, Kerby Rychel.

[LeftWinger 4,953]

I'd love for them to try to land Rychel.

You think NJ would parts ways with Santini?

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Go big and get a high end player or stand pat and go with youth. No more mid level vets.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Don't know much about Gundarsson (spelling?) that the Canucks traded for but is this a deal the Wings should have been in on?

6'5" future top four defensemen

Edited May 27, 2016 by joesuffP

[krsmith17 7,191]

No, Gudbranson HAD high potential but I don't think he will ever be anything close to a top pair defenseman. Florida won that trade in my opinion.

[Dabura 12,207]

Does anyone know if Damien Sandow can skate?

[Dabura 12,207]

http://mynhltraderumors.com/nhl-rumors-islanders-trade-bait-sami-vatanen-ryan-nugent-hopkins/2016/06/03/

12 players Staples thinks could be available through trade and would help out the Islanders: James van Riemsdyk, Alex Killorn, Ryan Callahan, Nikita Nesterov, Ben Bishop, Jeff Carter, Valeri Nichushkin, Cam Atkinson, Beau Bennett, Wayne Simmonds, Mark Streit and Jordan Eberle.

Frank Seravalli of TSN: TSN’s trade bait list – players who could be moved this offseason.

1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Edmonton Oilers
   2. Tyson Barrie – Colorado Avalanche
   3. Kevin Shattenkirk – St. Louis Blues
   4. Edmonton’s 4th overall pick
   5. Sami Vatanen – Anaheim Ducks
   6. Mikael Granlund – Minnesota Wild
   7. Scott Hartnell – Columbus Blue Jackets
   8. Rick Nash – New York Rangers
   9. Frederik Andersen – Anaheim Ducks
   10. Jacob Trouba – Winnipeg Jets
   11. Marc-Andre Fleury – Pittsburgh Penguins
   12. Jordan Eberle – Edmonton Oilers
   13. Jonas Brodin – Minnesota Wild
   14. Ben Bishop – Tampa Bay Lightning
   15. Jack Johnson – Columbus Blue Jackets
   16. Jimmy Howard – Detroit Red Wings
   17. Hampus Lindholm – Anaheim Ducks
   18. Nail Yakupov – Edmonton Oilers
   19. Dustin Brown – Los Angeles Kings
   20. P.K. Subban – Montreal Canadiens

Meanwhile, in Red Wings Land, Khan and HSJ are already managing expectations, preemptively justifying/rationalizing the Wings' all-but-inevitable inactivity on the summer trade front with the usual "There's not much out there, and all the GMs want [insert our best young player at the moment], which is a total no-go." We hear this refrain a dozen times every year. Now it's "Dylan Larkin is the asking price for Shattenkirk/Trouba/Hamilton/[insert the player you would want the Wings to pursue]." Alas! If only the CBA allowed GMs to negotiate with each other!

[amato 3,210]

Wayne Simmonds or JVR please! (I don't think either are actually available)

[VM1138 1,921]

Simmonds would be a huge help in transforming the team.

[Jacksoni 418]

Simmonds would be a huge help in transforming the team.

And Philly won't trade him for the same reason. It would transform their team for the very much worse. He's up there in Giroux status for what he brings them now. His play style would improve any team in the league, an excellent physical grinder that plays with an edge.

Edited June 5, 2016 by Jacksoni

[marcaractac 3,963]

http://mynhltraderumors.com/nhl-rumors-islanders-trade-bait-sami-vatanen-ryan-nugent-hopkins/2016/06/03/

Meanwhile, in Red Wings Land, Khan and HSJ are already managing expectations, preemptively justifying/rationalizing the Wings' all-but-inevitable inactivity on the summer trade front with the usual "There's not much out there, and all the GMs want [insert our best young player at the moment], which is a total no-go." We hear this refrain a dozen times every year. Now it's "Dylan Larkin is the asking price for Shattenkirk/Trouba/Hamilton/[insert the player you would want the Wings to pursue]." Alas! If only the CBA allowed GMs to negotiate with each other!

This part makes me laugh considering one of the best players in the world may be a UFA July 1st, and with an impending expansion this might be one of the most actives summers for trades in quite some time.

[Dabura 12,207]

Fun fact: Wayne Simmonds grew up a Red Wings fan.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/flyers/2014/01/26/wayne-simmonds-philadelphia-work-ethic-racial-taunts/4916239/

PHILADELPHIA — Growing up in the outskirts of Toronto, Wayne Simmonds had a lot of red on his bedroom walls. He was a Detroit Red Wings fan in Maple Leafs country and idolized Sergei Fedorov.

"I just liked his style," Simmonds said. "He had all the flashy equipment, but he played the game the right way. They even threw him on defense for probably a quarter of the year one time and he was still their best player."

The mural of Red Wings photos is still on the wall of his childhood bedroom.

What Simmonds saw in Fedorov has carried him from his childhood to veteran status in the NHL. Whether the Flyers are up three goals or down three goals, Simmonds is always playing like it's overtime of Game 7.

He's awesome. And the Flyers know this better than anyone.

But I don't think he's untouchable, nor do I believe the asking price would be too hard to stomach.

[kliq 3,755]

Not true at all. Right now we are going to have about 24 million in cap space after we resign our RFA's. Yes that is in a perfect world. But the point remains we have a good amount of cap room. Sing Schenn for say 5 million per, trade for or sign a #1 Dman for 8 million per year, that only comes to 13 million. Still have room to add more pieces to the F group and a vet backup G. We have 7 roster spots that could be open and need to be filled after moving out guys like Tatar, Nyquist, Smith, Sproul, Jensen, Howard, Andersson, etc....

All numbers are based on what generalfanger.com has posted.

I couldn't help but think of this back and forth when Schenn signed today with Phoenix for 2 years at 2.25 total (1.25 caphit). Signing him for 5mil per year would have been a MASSIVE over-payment.

Edited July 23, 2016 by kliq