We are about to enter what might amount to the hardest seven game stretch any team faces all season long. Overall standing based on point % in parenthesis: at Minnesota (4) at Rangers (8) Colorado (1) Toronto (6) Carolina (3) at Tampa (5) at Florida (2)
The last big stretch of time off this season is now past us. Games are going to come rapid fire from here on out, which is great but it’ll also smack us back to reality. We get Colorado tonight without MacKinnon, but it sounds like Larkin might be out. I foresee pain.
ESPN posted a list of basically everyone who could get moved before the TDL. Had to be around 100 names on there, and Bertuzzi wasn't on it.
I think Leddy goes, and we launder cap space as a third team in a deal. I don’t think we trade Vlad barring us getting a third or better. I do think Bertuzzi could move (Dave Pagnotta says the Wings are taking calls on him and could command a bigger return than Mantha got) but I’m not holding my breath (unless he and I end up on an elevator together). It is possible Yzerman actually buys this year, getting someone with term that can help now and in the future (JT Miller perhaps)
I don’t think so tbh. It seems like Canada might be cutting back on those mandates which might cause a team to take a swing.
Mandates, possibly, but he would need to quarantine for two weeks so nothing changes for him. I read that thing from Pagnotta, he said there was interest last year and talks red wings could pick up in the next couple weeks. So nothing going on besides teams talking internally.
I can’t think in absolutes with Bert because to this point Yzerman has shown no indication of wanting to sign him long term. Maybe Bert takes 3-4 years but this is his last big chance to cash in, so I have my doubts.
DeKeyser has been absolutely dreadful tonight. The entire team has been bad mind you, but he’s been a special kind of awful.
Mick is a moron, that’s absolutely a cross check and exactly what they are trying to get out of the game.
Tonight is a good reminder of how far this team has to go to be an elite team. At least another 3-4 years to get to this level.
We need to be a 90 point team next season. Probably keeps us out of the playoffs but that would be good incremental improvement.
I think a lot of you discounting the guy who looked like our 2nd best forward or even best most of the year after the trade last year hasn't played yet this year. Have high hopes for Vrana when he returns Keep weeding out the dead weight in guys like Rowney and DeKeyser and other D and infuse Vrana, Berggren, possibly some of our other recent draft picks like Edvinsson and a ton of cap space to fill out roster and I think this team could be competitive next year. Not cup competitive but a possible 5 seed area in playoffs with some luck. Not bad for a team led by a ton of youth. Team is going in right direction for sure. Best built team in Detroit and best rebuild so far. Still work to do of course though. And they are doing it without lottery luck
Vrana is one of the reasons I’m up for trading Bert, vax status notwithstanding. Like DeTox has said, Bert is going to demand much more than his production the past few seasons warrants. Not to mention the back issues. If you get a good return, you take it. This is his prime so it’s likely all downhill from here. Especially the way he plays the game. Don’t pay him for what he is this season, pay him for what he will be (or let someone else pay for the former).
What’s everyone’s thoughts on an Edvinsson/Seider pairing? Or would you rather split them up? And if you split them up then who plays with each?
If we could sign a Hertl or Trochek this offseason they could throw out for the first time in a while 3 lines that could possibly be capable offensively. I think I'm coming around to Trochek as the guy I want to target. My college roommate is a big hurricanes fan and thinks there is a good shot he tests market. Keep Bert and your 2nd and 3rd line interchangeable. Keep Zadina with top pair because it has seemed to spark some offense in him. Hell our 4th line even would have some potential. Raymond-Larkin-Zadina Bertuzzi-Suter--Fabbri Vrana-Trochek-Berggren Ras-Veleno-Smith Defense I'm thinking they probably aren't signing any big FA. I'd guess a couple more stop gap Leddy/Staal type guys (not saying those 2 in particular). Will be interesting to see how D shakes out next year with a lot of pending FA and a lot of young guys in the wings.
Maybe play them together when Simon is a rookie but eventually split them up. I don’t think you need a stud next to Seider, so I think a guy like Sebrango might be perfect if he pans out. Edvinsson/Hronek or Lindstrom as well.
Speaking of Hronek, he might be a guy worth trading. He’s a .5 PPG RHD with term, and that’s his value, because he’s a complete black hole defensively. I would like to see him playing with a guy like Edvinsson before we move him, just to see how much that helps him in his own end, but in spite of his shortcomings I do think he could provide a huge return. I also think Lindstrom can be a perfectly fine second pairing guy for the next year or two, so it wouldn’t be a massive loss.
I would be fine trading Hronek as well, pending the return. Wallinder being able to play on the right is a big plus to his future prospects as Edvinsson and Albert Johansson seem like the future top two on the left. Not to mention the likes of McIsaac, Sebrango, Buium, and Viro also on the left. It’s pretty cool to finally be checking a few boxes on the rebuild. 1C? Larkin, check 1D? Seider, check 1G? Ned, check 1RW? Raymond, check Edvinsson seems to be on his way to our second 25+ min a night D. We have a plethora of top 9 wingers confirmed and prospects in Raymond, Vrana, Bertuzzi, Zadina, Berggren, Soderblom. We have Cossa who should push Ned in a few years. Obviously the biggest hole is 2C. Maybe a solid LD to help ease Edvinsson in the next couple years.
I think if Edvinsson ends up as a1D that plays on our second pairing, our D will be set because you can plug in 3-4 mil guys next to he and Seider without killing your cap. You just need to be consistently filling out the bottom pairing but that shouldn’t be too hard. The focus now has to be on getting another C. There isn’t anything else taking priority.
And we should be clear, no one should expect Edvinsson to have a Seider like arrival. It should take him a couple years to get to 25+ reliable mins a night. But I have zero doubt he makes the team out of camp next year and should be safely slotted in a second pairing role (which likely places him with Hronek), unless they feel Seider can baby him into the league, which I’m fine with. Berggren seems like a lock to make the team as well. Biggest wildcards are Soderblom and Johansson. The hope is neither need AHL time and both can come over and play sheltered (3rd line, 3rd pairing) minutes.
Our 2016 draft...wasn't great. 1st round-Cholowski-gone. 2nd round-Givani Smith-4th line ceiling 2nd round-Hronek-disaster defensively, still some hope. No 3rd round 4th round-7th- none of the fliers turned into anything. *let us never discuss the 2017 abomination.
Start at 2018 to make you smile. It could turn out to be a really incredible 4 year run without having a top 3 pick. Clearly it’s early but there might be 10-12 legit NHL contributors from that span.