Lol mantha is a healthy scratch tonight. Kruppa suggests he didn't back check after a turnover against Boston that resulted in a goal against. By that logic we should shoot dk and kronwall to the Moon
This article is better than anything that has happened this season on the ice.... https://www.theplayerstribune.com/kris-draper-red-wings-avalanche-march-97/
So Arizona is only 3 points behind us now and we play them tonight. This is a big must lose for us, especially with Colorado at home this weekend. Somehow going 0-3 during this stretch would be amazing, but we need NJ to start earning points.
Fun stat: we have the fewest regulation wins in the NHL now and are somehow 20 points up on Colorado.
Sheahan playing on the PP and with the extra attacker. I guess kudos to Blash for trying to force him a goal while also subtly tanking?
He had 61 points in 59 games. I assume he turns pro and heads to GR next year. His potential is off the charts.
And it's over fellas. This is a much needed season for us, but it's definitely not the last one we will be missing the playoffs in.
Speaks to a bigger issue that Mantha is too important to fight as much as he does. He doesn't pick his spots well.
I don't think any of that really matters at this point. The young guy is probably just frustrated after a shitty year.
So during tonight's game I tried to come up with a semi realistic lineup for next year. This was on the fly so I am sure I am missing something obvious. First the moves I can see being made: - Tatar, B prospect and a third for Fowler. - Howard being taken in the expansion draft. - If we do anything in FA I could see us adding a goon as dumb as it would be. So that's it. I don't expect much. This leads me to next year. Z - Nielsen - Mantha AA - Larkin - Nyquist Abby - Helm - Bertuzzi Sheahan - Nosek - Frk/Glendening DeKeyser - Fowler Jensen - XO Russo - Kronner/E Mrazek/Coreau I wouldn't be stunned if Kronwall ends up on LTIR forever by the early stages of next season either. This wouldn't be a playoff team unless Mrazek became a true Vezina contender but it would be fun to watch.
If we won the lottery Patrick would be a fascinating test case for Holland. He's the only NHL ready kid in this draft imo. Would Detroit bring him up to be the third line C? I think it would be worth it personally but it would also suck because he needs to play with at least one goal scorer.
I do think Svech is a lock to start in GR next year but I hope he doesn't look out of place while he's here.
This makes no sense as Cholowski is still rail thin and he didn't light up college as a freshman. My hunch is the Wings weren't happy with his development at SCSU but still this is pretty wild.
This organisation has no idea how to develop players. They should just send all their draft picks to Europe and let somebody else handle it until the prospect is 23-24 years old and then plug them in.
So Larkin is the first Wing confirmed as to playing in the World Championships. I assume Mrazek, Tatar and Nyquist all go as well. I would hope Z turns it down but with the Olympics in jeopardy this may be the last time he gets to play for Sweden so I get it if he says yes. Mantha has said he will be healthy enough to play if invited. I tend to think he won't get a call but man it would be great for him if he does get a chance to play for Canada.
If they cheat on lotteries, this would be a great opportunity to rig a #1 pick for a classic franchise.
With Florida and Dallas winning tonight, we are assured of no worse than the 7th best lottery odds. We are one point behind Buffalo. If we win tomorrow and they lose we will have the 7th best lottery odds. Any other result and we have the 6th best odds. Fuck all our OT games this year.
Assuming we end up around 6th, I am really all about Casey Middlestadt. After the top 2 there is a jumble of like five or six guys that are all really close, so he could be gone before we pick. If he's on the board he is my guy.
Had a buddy who went to the game. I asked how he got tickets, he said a guy he works with had them, and couldn't find anyone to go with him.
Is this for real? Awesome if so. http://www.bardown.com/bob-probert-...ings-penalty-box-after-sunday-s-game-1.720325
2016 Draft Update: 1st Round 20th Overall - Dennis Cholowski - D - St. Cloud St, NCAA Disappointing year, only putting up 12 points in 36 games. Detroit already decided to move him to Grand Rapids. 2nd Round 46th Overall - Givani Smith - RW - Guelph, OHL No improvement from a production standpoint, and got a taste in Grand Rapids at the end of the year. Plays a gritty game that can translate to a bottom 6 role in the NHL still. 2nd Round 53rd Overall - Filip Hronek - D - Saginaw, OHL Saw significant improvement this season as his first in NA, put up over a point per game and moved up to Grand Rapids at the end of the season. One of the best D at the WJC. 4th Round 107th Overall - Alfons Malmstrom - D - Orebro, SuperElit Defensive defenseman with little offensive upside, and it showed with just 5 points in 38 games in Sweden's top junior level. 5th Round 137th Overall - Jordan Sambrook - D - Erie, OHL Two-way defenseman with good size that showed significant improvement over the year. .66 PPG this year, up from .40 PPG last season. 6th Round 167th Overall - Filip Larsson - G - Djurgardens, SuperElit Another prospect that showed significant improvement this season. Went from 3.86 GAA and .872 SV% in 19 games last year to 2.24 GAA and .925 SV% in 31 games this season. 7th Round 197th Overall - Mattias Elfstrom - C - Malmo, SHL Bounced between the SHL, SuperElit, and Allsvenskan, only produced when at the junior level, great size, but doubt anything comes of him.