"One of the reasons the Red Wings are in this predicament is missed opportunities in the draft. They had three picks in the second round in 2011. They selected forward Tomas Jurco at No. 35, defenseman Xavier Ouellet at No. 48 and defenseman Ryan Sproul at No. 55. Each is long gone. Among the players they could have had: goalie John Gibson and forwards Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Saad and Vincent Trocheck."

This hits on it right here. Yzerman can get all the draft picks he wants. They HAVE TO draft well and hit on these picks!
- wingz4life

First rounders Smith, Kindl, McCollum, Ferraro, Sheahan, Svechnikov, Cholowski..ugh. I trust Yzerman and Verbeek at the draft table. More picks the better.

"One of the reasons the Red Wings are in this predicament is missed opportunities in the draft. They had three picks in the second round in 2011. They selected forward Tomas Jurco at No. 35, defenseman Xavier Ouellet at No. 48 and defenseman Ryan Sproul at No. 55. Each is long gone. Among the players they could have had: goalie John Gibson and forwards Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Saad and Vincent Trocheck."

This hits on it right here. Yzerman can get all the draft picks he wants. They HAVE TO draft well and hit on these picks!
- wingz4life

In more recent times we’ve gotten Bertuzzi and Hronek in the second round. There are a lot of misses, but those two look really good for that pick. McIsaac was a second round as well, we’ll see how he does. Seider looks good, Larkin, Mantha, Lindstrom seems to be finding his game as well. Zadina has come a long way in just one year. I feel like there have been some solid picks along the way here.

First rounders Smith, Kindl, McCollum, Ferraro, Sheahan, Svechnikov, Cholowski..ugh. I trust Yzerman and Verbeek at the draft table. More picks the better.
- gergeswillems

Some brutal ones. But Kenny did grab Larkin and Mantha as well.

In more recent times we’ve gotten Bertuzzi and Hronek in the second round. There are a lot of misses, but those two look really good for that pick. McIsaac was a second round as well, we’ll see how he does. Seider looks good, Larkin, Mantha, Lindstrom seems to be finding his game as well. Zadina has come a long way in just one year. I feel like there have been some solid picks along the way here.
- Jeremy Laura

Drafting Givani Smith over Carter Hart.

Some brutal ones. But Kenny did grab Larkin and Mantha as well.
- Jeremy Laura

Pastrnak would've been nice but he'd likely still be playing in Grand Rapids if Kenny drafted him.

Pastrnak would've been nice but he'd likely still be playing in Grand Rapids if Kenny drafted him.
- gergeswillems

For sure, but we needed a center. Pasta took a smaller dollar amount crediting Bergeron for a lot of his success.

I don't like this trade... pretty underwhelming. If Stevie had gotten a first rounder and/or a good young player in return I'd be okay. AA's value is at it's lowest point... why the trade him now ? Two 2nd round picks is not an offer that's "too good to turn down" as far as I'm concerned. You don't grow 30 goal scorers on trees. I think the chances either of those two picks at having his level of talent is pretty low (top 6 winger / forward with tremendous speed and finishing). If he only turns out to be an effective sniper / pure goal scorer as his full potential then that's fine with me. This team is starved for goals.

I think on a team with a new coach (which isn't far away) in a different system AA can still play to his full potential.

Late to the party, but I don't love the AA trade.

Even with some obvious holes in his game he's still an above average player. Good at driving offense, great shot, tremendous at drawing penalties. Plus he's 25 (so probably not getting much better, but also not on the verge of getting worse) and still an RFA.

Meanwhile I think the odds that either of the two second round picks (likely middle to late in the round) end up having more productive NHL careers than what AA has left to give is somewhat less than a coin flip. Granted the timing would be better (i.e., players rounding into prime as the Red Wings move up the standings, rather than round out), but even so AA can still be useful now, and didn't HAVE to move strictly speaking.

I don't know. I'm not saying Yzerman got fleeced here. You can make a case either way. I guess I'll just say I'm a little underwhelmed by the return, especially for a guy they really didn't have to move.

I don't like this trade... pretty underwhelming. If Stevie had gotten a first rounder and/or a good young player in return I'd be okay. AA's value is at it's lowest point... why the trade him now ? Two 2nd round picks is not an offer that's "too good to turn down" as far as I'm concerned. You don't grow 30 goal scorers on trees. I think the chances either of those two picks at having his level of talent is pretty low (top 6 winger / forward with tremendous speed and finishing). If he only turns out to be an effective sniper / pure goal scorer as his full potential then that's fine with me. This team is starved for goals.

I think on a team with a new coach (which isn't far away) in a different system AA can still play to his full potential.
- Vladdie_Kon1

The one element we may not know is player demands for the next contract. If there was an indication that this could have gone south, two seconds starts to look pretty good

The one element we may not know is player demands for the next contract. If there was an indication that this could have gone south, two seconds starts to look pretty good
- Jeremy Laura

One thing the Red Wings could have done to bypass this is use the nuclear option and go with team-filed arbitration.

Could still negotiate during the waiting period but ultimately if no agreement could be reached it would have locked both team and player into a 1 or 2 year deal, with a neutral party setting the salary.

The way AA held out last time leads me to believe he will do it again. IMO that sets a bad precedence and affects the overall culture of the team. Then again, Holland knows AA well enough that maybe it isn't as big of an issue as we think. I'm not a huge fan of the deal, but I trust Yzerman.

The way AA held out last time leads me to believe he will do it again. IMO that sets a bad precedence and affects the overall culture of the team. Then again, Holland knows AA well enough that maybe it isn't as big of an issue as we think. I'm not a huge fan of the deal, but I trust Yzerman.
- DRW1991

With the year he is having, he wouldn't of had much leverage. He'll sign a short term bridge deal at this point.

But now that's he's with Holland, I'm not so sure, Holland loves being loyal to his players. I could see him signing him to a contract like Abdelkader too. I'm glad he's gone.

One thing the Red Wings could have done to bypass this is use the nuclear option and go with team-filed arbitration.

Could still negotiate during the waiting period but ultimately if no agreement could be reached it would have locked both team and player into a 1 or 2 year deal, with a neutral party setting the salary.
- Sven22

Except that the player can walk away and play in Europe. Ferris loves sending players over there...

Except that the player can walk away and play in Europe. Ferris loves sending players over there...
- Jeremy Laura

That's his big bluff. He threatened the same thing with Marner last summer. But none of his players stay there. Ferris knuckled under with Holland and AA came back to Detroit with his tail between his legs.

Except that the player can walk away and play in Europe. Ferris loves sending players over there...
- Jeremy Laura

The player does not have walk away rights if the team elects arbitration (nor does the team, for that matter). The arbiter's decision would be effective immediately and binding.

If AA held out the team could suspend him without pay indefinitely and potentially toll his contract.

If he even tried to go to Europe, not sure how that would go. Most likely he would have to officially "retire" a la Kovalchuk if his NHL team refused to let him out of his contract, since for the most part pro leagues respect one another's contracts. That would make it extremely difficult to return to the NHL anytime in the next 10 years, unless he plans on taking a full year off from professional hockey. Even then, the team he retired from would still have his rights until he turns 35.

Call up Svechnikov you cowards

The player does not have walk away rights if the team elects arbitration (nor does the team, for that matter). The arbiter's decision would be effective immediately and binding.

If AA held out the team could suspend him without pay indefinitely and potentially toll his contract.

If he even tried to go to Europe, not sure how that would go. Most likely he would have to officially "retire" a la Kovalchuk if his NHL team refused to let him out of his contract, since for the most part pro leagues respect one another's contracts. That would make it extremely difficult to return to the NHL anytime in the next 10 years, unless he plans on taking a full year off from professional hockey. Even then, the team he retired from would still have his rights until he turns 35.
- Sven22

Hudler walked after arbitration. It was a while ago, but he didn’t like the award. Team maintains the rights to the player. It’s been done

That's his big bluff. He threatened the same thing with Marner last summer. But none of his players stay there. Ferris knuckled under with Holland and AA came back to Detroit with his tail between his legs.
- gergeswillems

Isn’t he Puljuljarvi’s agent? Nylander went to the deadline, for sure

Isn’t he Puljuljarvi’s agent? Nylander went to the deadline, for sure
- Jeremy Laura

No. Puljujarvi's agent is Markus Lehto.

I don't like the AA deal. He sold low on him with no reason to really do so unless you get a 1st and a prospect. I would have been ok with this return if Yzerman had made Holland take his $hit sandwich (Abdelkader) in this deal.