Put Zadina with them and now you are rolling. I'm starting to think Ras makes it and Zadina starts in GR until Helm gets hurt again.
Giovani Smirh? Might be a good to great gritty 3rd line player. Like a better Gator that can actually fight, play hard and score. Needs to work on skating. Who knows. Could creep onto a 2nd line wing if he goes beyond his current trajectory.
I think that if Zadina starts in GR, he will play with Puempel and Camper, two proven AHL scorers. That would become your top line. Wade Megan would center Smith and Svech.
I don’t think both Cholowski and Hronek make the team because one would be in the press box. I think Sulak and Hronek at this point.
Was looking at the long term cap stuff last night. We've given out some awful contracts in the last decade of Detroit professional sports, but Abdelkader's deal has to rank pretty high on that list.
Said it the day he got signed. At least Helm is almost up. I think...... Ken Holland has 7-9 contracts given out in the past 5 years that are unforgivable on so many levels. Treason.
Helm has 3 more years (including this one). Nielsen has 4 more years. I kind of understood the Nielsen one when it happened, but the other two were ridiculous from the start considering they were ridiculous length deals for role players after we knew Datsyuk was gone. https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/redwings
The Abdelkader, Helm and Glendening contracts were all terrible the moment they were signed, and in the aggregate that's basically $10M for what should be our 4th line. The Nielsen deal was merely questionable. I think the Ericsson deal was pretty bad the moment it was signed as well.
If he's healthy, he's a decent player for us. Hopefully it's nothing serious that affects his life beyond hockey
No kidding. On the bright side, if it’s serious, we will suck more, and improve our odds to get Hughes.
Anyone ever go to the USA Under 18 games at Compuware? They're fun times, and tickets are only 10-12 bucks. Get a chance to see Jack Hughes. They have a pretty good home slate too. Play Minnesota in a couple weeks
I was there tonight, good showing from the young guys. Veleno and Ras had assists too. Smith got in a fight.
We have a nice 8-6 preseason game going on right now and still over 5 minutes left. Also I am getting excited about AA again, likely to only be disappointed come the regular season. Him, Vanek, Mantha and Larkin are putting on a show tonight.
I just want the bad deals dealt at all costs and for the kids to play. Trial by fire. Gonna suck. But it'll be entertaining at least.
sounds like Zadina will start off in GR. He’s struggled a bit but he has a few shots to still earn a spot. Also DeKesyer, Ericsson and Daley are all questionable for the opener. That’s in addition to Green.
I thought Zadina couldn't start the season in GR. Did something change with his junior status or the rules?
Yea came out that he can go to GR because he was in juniors on loan from a European team. So technically he didnt have a junior status
As I typed it I wondered, "which dickweed is gonna give me a literal answer?" Spoiler I totally would have done the same.
My current guess on the opening night lineup. I’m assuming only Green will be out. Bert - Larkin - Mantha Ras - Nielsen - Nyquist Vanek - AA - Svech Abdelkader - Glendening - Helm Witkowski/Frk DeKeyser - Jensen Kronwall - Daley Cholowski - Ericsson Hicketts Howard Bernier
Zadina and Ras are on the 4th line tonight with Ehn and Frk is on the first line with Larkin and Mantha.... Hopefully that is not a sign of how they stand now