Bump

I look forward to Holland signing an extension followed by him signing a couple of aging (over age 32) veterans so we can just miss or just make the playoffs for years to come.

https://nypost.com/2019/04/05/lightning-architect-steve-yzerman-interested-in-rangers-top-job

Since the '09 Finals the Red Wings have been on a long, steady slide to mediocrity. In the past couple of seasons Holland has accelerated that process and taken us into a sorry state with little prospect of returning to competitiveness. The roster lacks talent and is unbalanced with too many aging vets who are signed to big contracts but don't produce as would be expected of those contracts. I had hoped Holland would come up with a trade where he packaged a couple players for a prospect and a pick but Holland seems incapable of parting with what he considers assets. I don't know enough about the draft prospects to say Vilardi is better than Rasmussen but the scouting services all had Valardi rated higher. That doesn't mean he's the better prospect, but I'd take my chances with the consensus choice. I also have my doubts about players that tall as they often don't pan out as they don't move as well as more compact players. I'd hoped this summer would be the beginning of the rebirth of the Red Wings after a disastrous season but things will get worse before they get better and it is unlikely Holland will be the one to lead us out of this.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=286738

Holland should be begging someone to take the Abdelkader and Nielsen contracts off Wings' salary cap. Sheahan had a miserable year but still has promise. ETA: I just looked up the rules on the protection list and players with a NTC or No Movement Clause must be protected. Abdelkader and Nielsen has NTCs.

I'll be generously and give a C+. He got good value for Smith and Jurco. Ott was a fair trade. However, our most tradeable asset was given away for a conditional 3rd and D who had cleared waviers earlier this year. I'm hoping McIlrath can improve to become an ok D but that's unlikely at this point. My bigger problem is Holland, apparently, doesn't see the state of the team. The guys he parted with were spare parts who were unlikely to be a part of the long range plans of the team. The team needs a shake up, they need an influx of talent like we haven't needed since the 80s. The only way to accomplish that is to give up assets that they had big plans for (Tatar, Nyquist, Abdelkader, Helm, Mrazek, etc) in exchange for a prospect an a high pick or a couple of high picks. Holland seems unwilling to do that because he thinks the roster is capable of competing in the near future. I don't see it. We lack the depth of quality forwards and D-men to be among the elites. At best we could be looking at making the playoffs and a 1st round exit. Maybe those trades where we give up a quality asset are coming this summer but Holland has shown a reluctance to give up those assets in exchange for prospects as he prefers veteran forwards who are on the wrong side of 30. It's time for a complete rebuild but Holland's actions doesn't show he recognizes that.

Mental note: I'll pay no attention to that twitter account that claimed the asking price for Vanek was 2 1st round picks.

I held out some hope that the McIlrath acquisition was a prelude to another deal but it appears that is not the case. If McIlrath can somehow become a 2nd pair D, then I view this as a good trade. If, otoh, he's a 3rd pair tough guy, then this wasn't enough for the Vanek asset.

Dylan McIlrath 6'5" Right shot D. Former 10th overall pick.

Elliot Friedman said a 3rd round pick. Uh, if that's all we got why make the deal 3 hours before the deadline?

It goes by the name of "Salary Floor"

Moving Vanek is a must, but I'd also love for Holland to also move Abdelkader and Helm. Then, somehow get rid of Howard's and/or Ericsson's contracts (it would be too much to hope for to move both) in the off season. We would then finally be in a position to actually rebuild instead patching a lineup together.

There's negligence and there's reckless disregard. Playing Vanek is the latter. Why take the needless risk?