Official 2016 Detroit Red Wings Offseason Thread

[LeftWinger 4,949]

AA won't even be up unless it's an injury recall. Too many Helms...

Now, a line of Mantha - AA - Vanek would be fun to watch!

Edited July 18, 2016 by LeftWinger

[kickazz 5,459]

AA, Helm and Vanek.

AA is the type of player that will hang on to the puck and has amazing hands.

Helm is the type of player that would be involved in corner battles and probably get to the corners before most players would.

Vanek would be the net front presence.

What's not to like about the line again? Isn't this exactly Babcock/Canadian style of coaching we saw for years?

It beats having a third line of Andersson, AA and (insert whatever winger you want because it doesn't matter since Andersson is on this line).

Edited July 18, 2016 by kickazz

[LeftWinger 4,949]

Helm will botch that line up. No hands, fumbles the puck to much.

[kliq 3,755]

Helm will botch that line up. No hands, fumbles the puck to much.

Its crystal clear you hate the Helm contract with your constant comments, but lets not paint Helm out to be a piece of garbage. The guy can more then handle himself on the third line. There is a reason other teams were in the running for him at the same price or higher then what we gave him.

Top 6 player....no. Does he have bad hands at times....yes. Is he a good third liner.....yes he is.

[kickazz 5,459]

I hate the Helm contract but the guy is a good bottom 6 player and his speed is very useful at times. He's also our best PKer. There's literally nothing we can do to change the contract lol. Accept it and roll my eyes and sigh million times is what I'll be doing.

Edited July 18, 2016 by kickazz

[LeftWinger 4,949]

Ya...it'll give me someone to blame everything on anyhow.

[krsmith17 7,191]

One of the best bottom 6 players in the league.

One of the best penalty killers in the league.

One of the fastest skaters in the league.

One of the most tenacious forecheckers in the league.

Good top 6 forward? No. Good bottom 6 forward? See above...

Slightly overpaid? Yes. Way overpaid? Hell No.

But keep trying to create the narrative that "Helm sucks"...

[Nyquistfan14 489]

Some things never change...remember Bert, Sammy and Cleary? Of course you do, but if it wasn't for their injuries, we'd of never seen the Jurco - Sheahan - Tatar line that pretty much got us to the playoffs that year....

And what baffles me is we've basically never seen that line put together again for some apparent reason. Those 3 were very good and they were playing against 2nd pairing defenseman at the time due to all injurie. With the depth we have now they would play against 3rd pairs. If I'm Blashill I definitely try that line again

[kickazz 5,459]

If I'm Blashill I definitely try that line again

He tried it last season in a game or two. Wasn't very good anymore.

[krsmith17 7,191]

"a game or two"... That's the problem... Just like Jurco never really got any more than a game or two with any consistent linemates all season...

[kickazz 5,459]

Well when you're a club losing games, you panic and keep juggling till combos make you win.

I will say that it's amazing how when Jurco or Helm are put on a line with Glendog it's fairly obvious that he's getting carried by them. Jurco should be on the 4th line to help carry Miller and Glendogs crappy possession.

A line of Sheahan - Glen - Jurco or Sheahan - Glen - Helm would easily be the best 4th line in the NHL.

Edited July 18, 2016 by kickazz

[krsmith17 7,191]

I understand that mentality later in the season when it's getting down to the wire and the streak is on the line, especially it being Blashill's first season as head coach. I just hope he improves on a lot of things he did last year, line combinations and player usage being the most important in my opinion...

[amato 3,210]

I understand that mentality later in the season when it's getting down to the wire and the streak is on the line, especially it being Blashill's first season as head coach. I just hope he improves on a lot of things he did last year, line combinations and player usage being the most important in my opinion...

This, in addition to special teams, are what I'm hoping the assistant coaching changes help the most.

The revamped coaching staff definitely seems like it could go a long way to improving the team from last year, imo.

[LeftWinger 4,949]

What about

Tatar - Nielsen - Vanek

Zetterberg - Larkin - Abby

Nyquist - Helm - Sheahan

Miller - Glendening - Ott

There's just no room for Mantha and/or AA, sadly.

In trying to not dump on Helm too much, if Miller and Ott were not signed you could have a bottom 6 of:

Nyquist - AA - Mantha

Sheahan - Glendening - Helm.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I really like the looks of that lineup, with the latter bottom 6...

Miller - Glendening - Ott - - - Worst 4th line in the league.

Sheahan - Glendening - Helm - - - Best 4th line in the league.

Both are options, I wonder which one we use...

I don't think either of Miller or Ott should be in the lineup, but unfortunately one definitely will, I doubt two of them will though...

If both Athanasiou and Mantha are sent to Grand Rapids in favor of those two scrubs, Blashill is a f***ing moron...

[kliq 3,755]

I cant see AA being sent down to Grand Rapids.....Mantha on the other hand is probable.

I also dont see BOTH Ott & Miller playing if there are no injuries, but someone will likely get hurt in training camp. It always happens to every team.

If we make no trades, I'd like to see something like:

Zetterberg - Nielson - Nyquist

Abby - Larkin - Vanek

Jurco - AA - Tatar

Sheahan - Helm - Glendening

DD - Green

Kronwall - Marchenko

Smith - XO

Healthy Scratches:

Miller, Sproul, Ericsson (make him earn his way back in)

Waived: Ott

I would start Mantha in GR, unless he tears it up in preseason/training camp and then bring him up at the first injury of a top 6 guy. The only top 6 guy I could see us putting him in front of is Jurco and I want to give Jurco a chance to play on a line that is not the 4th with Glendening/Miller

Edited July 18, 2016 by kliq

[kickazz 5,459]

I just cant see AA being sent down to Grand Rapids.....Mantha on the other hand, I could see it.

I just dont see Ott & Miller playing if there are no injuries, which based on history of all teams will happen.

Idk man. Ott I can agree with you but Miller is playing all 82 games as long as he can.

[kliq 3,755]

Idk man. Ott I can agree with you but Miller is playing all 82 games as long as he can.

I actually agree with that. What I am saying is I cant see both of them playing, and what I want is neither of them playing. I do agree that Miller is likely on that 4th line for the entire season.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

I guess were sadly gonna have to hope for injuries to Miller/ott ... Don't wish anyone being hurt but sadly it seems the kids only get shots when injuries occur

Even if mantha gets 7 goals in 4 games he will get sent down and holland will just say we have a great piece waiting for us in Grand Rapids if we need it , and jurco will probably start as a scratch ... Again I hate wishing I'll on people but I'm hoping Miller/ott/Ericsson are out for 2-3 months

[joesuffP 1,746]

Yeah well if the youngins want a spot they have to earn it like Larkin did what's the big deal? Worst case scenario is they play after a huge nosedive or they don't get their chance because everyone is playing better

[kickazz 5,459]

Yeah well if the youngins want a spot they have to earn it like Larkin did what's the big deal? Worst case scenario is they play after a huge nosedive or they don't get their chance because everyone is playing better

AA has earned his spot. There might not be one available for him though. There was a spot available for Larkin because Datsyuk started the season injured. People seem to forget that.

[kliq 3,755]

I guess were sadly gonna have to hope for injuries to Miller/ott ... Don't wish anyone being hurt but sadly it seems the kids only get shots when injuries occur

Even if mantha gets 7 goals in 4 games he will get sent down and holland will just say we have a great piece waiting for us in Grand Rapids if we need it , and jurco will probably start as a scratch ... Again I hate wishing I'll on people but I'm hoping Miller/ott/Ericsson are out for 2-3 months

That is what you are literally doing, wishing injuries on players you dont want in the lineup. If Mantha and or Jurco come to camp and play amazing, I'm sure they will be in the lineup.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Ya Larkin was given a shot because how great he played for GR and training camp. Perform like that and Blashill will have no choice. Simple as that

The only time a prospect sat when they were clearly ready to contribute was when Nyquist was forced to play in GR for roster reasons. Poor management but Holland made room for him eventually. In the last 2 years the wings have brought up a lot of guys that became regulars quickly. But then theirs guys like Jurco and Pulkinnen who very clearly haven't earned a job on this team yet and they should be treated as such. It's about creating a competitive environment in the locker room but players have roles. Mantha isn't fighting for the same spot as Miller or Helm

Say what you want about Miller but theirs no way Helm isn't a top 9 forward on this team including all the GR studs that are too good for the AHL

[kickazz 5,459]

Larkin was in the line up for two reasons. One he did well in training camp and two to try to fill the hole left by Datsyuk's injury.

It's a completely different scenario heading into this year. There are no injuries yet.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

That is what you are literally doing, wishing injuries on players you dont want in the lineup. If Mantha and or Jurco come to camp and play amazing, I'm sure they will be in the lineup.

I'm sorry but that's bs , if mantha gets 2 hat tricks in exhibition games he will be in Grand Rapids ... He's starting there no matter what he does and Ken holland says and if athanasiou is waiver exempt it wouldn't shock me either if everyone is healthy and we make no moves that he starts the year in grand rapids(although I don't think he'll stay too long)

if the wings could they would let mantha and athanasiou stay in Grand Rapids for 4 years rather than just 2 ... It's just the way wings do things

Larkin was just a lucky break for us (that we found top talent at the 15th spot) and like someone mentioned datsyuk was injured which also helped Larkin or he would of stayed down