Official 2016 Detroit Red Wings Offseason Thread

[gcom007 1,465]

I don't want to be negative for the sake of being negative, but I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be brutal for us.

[LeftWinger 4,951]

Sign Okposo, sign Martin trade for Hartnell.

Talk about making your team harder to play against...

[Dabura 12,207]

You haven't seen either of them play center with big minutes. I'd say Larkin will be a first line center by the time we switch arenas he has such a good work ethic and he's so smart

AA will definitely produce but how will he do on faceoffs and playing in his own end

I think Larkin could be a serviceable 1C this coming season. I think Athanasiou could be a serviceable 2C this coming season. But do we want to bet on those two things happening? Do we want to take the chance? Do we want to potentially stunt the growth of these players by forcing them into big-time roles they're not quite ready for?

I'd rather see them grow into -- and, yes, earn -- the roles over the course of the next couple of seasons. This is why a guy like Backes or Hanzal intrigues me. Either one could be a bridge 1C for a season or two.

I wonder what it'd take to land Matt Duchene. DeKeyser...and...a French-Canadian player (Mantha/Ouellet)? Who knows with Sakic and Roy. They're weird and they do stupid things.

[Wingnut1989 165]

Did DET even meet with lucic or anyone?

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Did DET even meet with lucic or anyone?

I think it's safe to say that we're out of the running for Lucic. I'm cool with it.

[Dabura 12,207]

Also, I still love Mattias Ekholm.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Yes, the fourth line could use a different element. And that element is skill.

Like I've said before, Miller and Glendening are possession black holes. Having them together on the same line and hard-matching that line against the opposition's best players is tantamount to shooting ourselves in the foot.

We don't need a Matt Martin or a Mike Brown. We don't need "physicality." We need to be so deep, top-to-bottom, that our fourth-liners are overqualified and could just as easily be our third-liners. Sheahan is our 3C? Then, ideally, we're so deep at forward that he's our 4C. This kind of depth is what all Cup-winning teams have in common. Unfortunately for us, you need to have some serious top-end talent in order for this to be feasible. We lack that proven elite talent, and, as a result, all of our players are asked to do more than what they're realistically capable of doing (e.g. Tatar, Nyquist). And this is our plight, in a nutshell.

Mind you, I believe Larkin and Athanasiou are going to become cornerstone centermen. I just don't think they're there yet.

Though it's not the most pressing issue facing the team, bringing Miller back was unnecessary. He's not particularly good at anything and we have a lot of guys who can play PK.

While I don't disagree that depth is integral to challenging for the Cup, I don't think we're anywhere near the point of our fourth liners being overqualified third liners.

We got beat by Tampa in part because our powerplay was atrocious, but we also got taken to the cleaners along the boards. Tampa was able to win a lot of 50/50 physical battles down low. The Pens, while not a mean team by any stretch of the imagination, were able to win a lot of puck battles along the boards against the Sharks. We need players that can do this all throughout the lineup.

I share your expectations for Larkin and Athanasiou.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Okposo is nice

Goose Larkin Okposo

Abby AA Tatar

Z Sheahan Mantha

Miller Glen Jurco

We're going to need to do more than sign Okposo if we're serious about remaining relatively competitive.

[marcaractac 3,962]

Okposo is nice

Goose Larkin Okposo

Abby AA Tatar

Z Sheahan Mantha

Miller Glen Jurco

This lineup would get eaten alive. Helloooo draft lottery

[LeftWinger 4,951]

Bringing miller back may be the same thing they did with cleary. If a kid beats him out in camp, down to Rapids he goes...

Edited July 1, 2016 by LeftWinger

[kylee 727]

Tortorella scratched Boll a lot last year - not surprised that he got bought out. I think it'll be difficult for him to find another NHL contract. Guys like him have dropped like flies these past few years.

I've always liked Boll. Wish Holland would sign him, he would be dirt cheap. I wish we had a few tough players on the bottom 6.

[SwedeLundin77 460]

Bringing miller back may be the same thing they did with cleary. If a kid beats him out in camp, down to Rapids he goes...

It just depends on our other depth players. I think the argument could be made that Miller at 1.025 mil is a depth signing. He could just as easily get injured again and this conversation may be moot.

Also, the way Frk played last season in GR and throughout the playoffs as well, I'd like to see him given a chance to make the club. He played with an edge and I think he'd be solid to start out at right wing on the 4th line who would be capable of potting 10-15 goals (potentially).

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Would we maybe be better off say signing 2-4 guys like mcginn eriksson Brouwer backes and then turning around and trading both Tatar/nyquist in seperate deals along with a prospect/picks and getting one or 2 of trouba/brodin/fowler ... Or a duchene/landeskog maybe being available (long shot)

The forwards are older than nyquist and Tatar but it would enable us to get some defensive help ... Didn't add okposo cause I read his wife wants to go back to minnesota

[marcaractac 3,962]

Would we maybe be better off say signing 2-4 guys like mcginn eriksson Brouwer backes and then turning around and trading both Tatar/nyquist in seperate deals along with a prospect/picks and getting one or 2 of trouba/brodin/fowler ... Or a duchene/landeskog maybe being available (long shot)

The forwards are older than nyquist and Tatar but it would enable us to get some defensive help ... Didn't add okposo cause I read his wife wants to go back to minnesota

Nope. Trade one of Goose or Tats if and only if it's part of a package for a dman.

Agreed on Brouwer and Backes, but would much rather Okposo than Eriksson. Goose and Tats canbe the guys to put up Erikson numbers. It's players like Backes, Brouwer, Okposo that would create the space for them to do their thing. Trading Goose and Tats to bring in Eriksson just doesn't make any sense.

If we get a top 6 center like Backes and add a winger that brings a new element to the team, it would go a long way to help the more skilled guys we do have to play their game. What you suggest would just make the team a lot older, leading to even more declining players in 3-4 years.

I think if it takes a 5-6 year deal to get Backes here, Holland should do it. He could be a huge part of this team down the middle for the next couple years, then become a role guy when the youth take over the top 6 roles. If he declines to a point his cap is a deterrent to the team, trade him to whatever rebuilding team needs a character guy to help out with their kids.

Edited July 1, 2016 by marcaractac

[LeftWinger 4,951]

Would we maybe be better off say signing 2-4 guys like mcginn eriksson Brouwer backes and then turning around and trading both Tatar/nyquist in seperate deals along with a prospect/picks and getting one or 2 of trouba/brodin/fowler ... Or a duchene/landeskog maybe being available (long shot)

The forwards are older than nyquist and Tatar but it would enable us to get some defensive help ... Didn't add okposo cause I read his wife wants to go back to minnesota

Ha, another ******* loser who let's his wife tell him where to play. How many times is a Minnesota Homer going to sign there only to realize they ain't winning a cup in the next 10 years...you see where it got Vanek when he went home to play where he played college hockey.

[amato 3,210]

@TonyMarinaro RE if the Habs made an offer to Lucic: "Yes they did. But hearing it's come down to 2 teams Dallas or Edmonton. And he wants 6yr deal."

[SwedeLundin77 460]

@TonyMarinaro RE if the Habs made an offer to Lucic: "Yes they did. But hearing it's come down to 2 teams Dallas or Edmonton. And he wants 6yr deal."

I'm fine without Lucic.... I'd rather have Okposo anyway for the same term/cap.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I'm fine without Lucic.... I'd rather have Okposo anyway for the same term/cap.

Hope he's part of our haul tomorrow, but whenever Buffalo is involved in rumors I get nervous that moron Tim Murray would offer him 8mil/7yrs... we'll soon see.

[Internet.Unknown 422]

You found one of the fishmouth girls.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Nope. Trade one of Goose or Tats if and only if it's part of a package for a dman.

Agreed on Brouwer and Backes, but would much rather Okposo than Eriksson. Goose and Tats canbe the guys to put up Erikson numbers. It's players like Backes, Brouwer, Okposo that would create the space for them to do their thing. Trading Goose and Tats to bring in Eriksson just doesn't make any sense.

If we get a top 6 center like Backes and add a winger that brings a new element to the team, it would go a long way to help the more skilled guys we do have to play their game. What you suggest would just make the team a lot older, leading to even more declining players in 3-4 years.

I think if it takes a 5-6 year deal to get Backes here, Holland should do it. He could be a huge part of this team down the middle for the next couple years, then become a role guy when the youth take over the top 6 roles. If he declines to a point his cap is a deterrent to the team, trade him to whatever rebuilding team needs a character guy to help out with their kids.

Mentions eriksson cause he's in the rumors and he's totally someone holland would target , so long as it's not longer than 4 years I'd be ok ... Term is everything

Same with backes who's aging and plays a big game ... I don't want us to get older but if trading both Tatar and nyquist in big deals can help us land 2 of trouba brodin fowler can be a good thing since they are all young and defensemen which is a big need for us , I think if we upgrade significantly our goal production will increase

Mcginn I think is also a darkhorse target for us I'd be ok with so long as it's 2 yrs max

Edited July 1, 2016 by nyqvististhefuture

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Per source: #Panthers sign Aaron Ekblad to 8-yr deal w/$7.5 AAV

https://twitter.com/MurphysLaw74/status/748693117549903877

[trule23 119]

think we even have a chance at okposo?

[SwedeLundin77 460]

think we even have a chance at okposo?

I think we have a decent chance, but it certainly seems that if Minnesota wants to take him on, they will win. I hope Holland at least gives it a shot, as I think Okposo is a forward that makes us deeper and adds a different dimension.

[TheCaptain19 49]

Why hasn't Rick Nash come up at all? He's one year removed from a 43 goal season.. And he's only got two years left on his deal. Kenny might even be able to get them to eat some salary, depending on how savvy he can get.

[amato 3,210]

I think Okposo will go to whoever pays the most for long term.. Which might be us but will probably more than I'd be comfortable with. Same with Eriksson and Nielsen.

Thought I read somewhere that NYR were trying to shed salary so a trade for Nash could be at a decent price. Add him with one of the physical forward options maybe?