Jeremy Laura: The nearing 24 team bracket spells a long break for Detroit
- Jeremy Laura

Wings are getting AL and will sign a D man in the off-season. Can’t see Mantha going at all but if it does, they better get more than a goalie.

As for buyouts, let’s hope that Frans or Abby bite the dust. 4 goals between 9.5 millions and all scores by Frans. 12 freakin points total.... Thats worse than Howard not winning for 5 months.

I’m praying Stevie makes some magic happen to get some D lined up to speed the process.

Go Wings...

Tag Bertuzzi is eligible to be drafted in the upcoming draft (Todd's son, Tyler's cousin). He's listed as a center but he can play wing. 6 feet, 200 pounds. 19 years old. I wonder if Yzerman has any interest in him?


- gergeswillems

I’m glad you put that up! He was eligible last year but got derailed by injury. In the OHL draft he was 2nd overall. He moved on from Guelph and had a better go of it. Could be a sneaky good pick. Mantha was derailed similarly. I wonder where Tag will end up getting picked

Wings are getting AL and will sign a D man in the off-season. Can’t see Mantha going at all but if it does, they better get more than a goalie.

As for buyouts, let’s hope that Frans or Abby bite the dust. 4 goals between 9.5 millions and all scores by Frans. 12 freakin points total.... Thats worse than Howard not winning for 5 months.

I’m praying Stevie makes some magic happen to get some D lined up to speed the process.

Go Wings...
- Manthamania

Yes, it’s been tough to watch. a couple writers have speculated that Abby will be in Grand Rapids. Although we don’t get the full cap recovered, it’s interesting to hear. Frans could be a good piece for a stacked team. If he does get bought out, I could see him going to a contender, or even back to NYI on a league minimum. Well done sir

Yes, it’s been tough to watch. a couple writers have speculated that Abby will be in Grand Rapids. Although we don’t get the full cap recovered, it’s interesting to hear. Frans could be a good piece for a stacked team. If he does get bought out, I could see him going to a contender, or even back to NYI on a league minimum. Well done sir
- Jeremy Laura

I wouldn’t mind seeing them grab some D from the FA pool. Maybe a Barrie or someone like that for the right price. Also need a goalie but no need spending on someone 32 +.

At the very least, they would start to be competitive which is what everyone needs now.

Johnson would be a huge upgrade for our 2nd line and should buy us a year to see if Veleno is ready. I sure hope so because it would make the Tatar trade worth it.

Keep up the good work

I wouldn’t mind seeing them grab some D from the FA pool. Maybe a Barrie or someone like that for the right price. Also need a goalie but no need spending on someone 32 +.

At the very least, they would start to be competitive which is what everyone needs now.

Johnson would be a huge upgrade for our 2nd line and should buy us a year to see if Veleno is ready. I sure hope so because it would make the Tatar trade worth it.

Keep up the good work
- Manthamania

Johnson would be such a huge add, as you said. He’s the epitome of outworking your ‘“shortcomings” in being a “smaller” player. In truth, he’s worked for everything and made an impact as an undrafted player. That’s the kind of work ethic you want in the room. I wondered about Barrie. He did a recent interview saying that if he left Toronto, he wants to be with an organization on the right path to winning. I think that if he did come, it would be that the flat salary cap kept contending teams from signing him and he would do a shorter bid with Detroit. Would you take Ceci? Very polarizing player, but on a short team friendly deal, he may still be an upgrade for Detroit

Johnson would be such a huge add, as you said. He’s the epitome of outworking your ‘“shortcomings” in being a “smaller” player. In truth, he’s worked for everything and made an impact as an undrafted player. That’s the kind of work ethic you want in the room. I wondered about Barrie. He did a recent interview saying that if he left Toronto, he wants to be with an organization on the right path to winning. I think that if he did come, it would be that the flat salary cap kept contending teams from signing him and he would do a shorter bid with Detroit. Would you take Ceci? Very polarizing player, but on a short team friendly deal, he may still be an upgrade for Detroit
- Jeremy Laura

I'd stay far away from both Barrie and Ceci.

Johnson would be such a huge add, as you said. He’s the epitome of outworking your ‘“shortcomings” in being a “smaller” player. In truth, he’s worked for everything and made an impact as an undrafted player. That’s the kind of work ethic you want in the room. I wondered about Barrie. He did a recent interview saying that if he left Toronto, he wants to be with an organization on the right path to winning. I think that if he did come, it would be that the flat salary cap kept contending teams from signing him and he would do a shorter bid with Detroit. Would you take Ceci? Very polarizing player, but on a short team friendly deal, he may still be an upgrade for Detroit
- Jeremy Laura

Ceci would be a good fit, too. Not much from the offensive side but anything is an upgrade at this point.

I know it’s hard to compare eras but going back 10 years, we always had a couple of stay home guys, plus a few that were offensive minded. # 5 was one-of-a-kind so he shouldn’t be included but Rafalski and Stuart were opposites that fit well with the team. Need guys in that mold and Ceci would be like Stuart, just need some O.

I’d love to get Krug but I see the price being too high for a rebuild and he’s at that age where the end of the contract will be bad. If they could keep it down to a few years, I’d jump on it although he’ll cost more than 7-8 million per year.

Johnson struggled a bit but I don’t think it’s talent or effort, just a deep team that reduced his minutes. Less PP time and playing down the line-up will kill stats. See AA for that one.

As long as they make strides this year, I’m good. Some of the games were fun to watch but most were brutal watching the other team carry the play.

No sane GM will ever trade Laferniere, with a chance to draft a franchise player.

I'd stay far away from both Barrie and Ceci.
- gergeswillems

I’m starting to hear more and more of that thought. You probably had eyes on them more this year. What’s the biggest problem they each face on the ice? Barrie didn’t really find his groove in TOR

Ceci would be a good fit, too. Not much from the offensive side but anything is an upgrade at this point.

I know it’s hard to compare eras but going back 10 years, we always had a couple of stay home guys, plus a few that were offensive minded. # 5 was one-of-a-kind so he shouldn’t be included but Rafalski and Stuart were opposites that fit well with the team. Need guys in that mold and Ceci would be like Stuart, just need some O.

I’d love to get Krug but I see the price being too high for a rebuild and he’s at that age where the end of the contract will be bad. If they could keep it down to a few years, I’d jump on it although he’ll cost more than 7-8 million per year.

Johnson struggled a bit but I don’t think it’s talent or effort, just a deep team that reduced his minutes. Less PP time and playing down the line-up will kill stats. See AA for that one.

As long as they make strides this year, I’m good. Some of the games were fun to watch but most were brutal watching the other team carry the play.
- Manthamania

It is painful to be in the “almost anyone is an upgrade” feel on things. Johnson, for sure, got buried a bit. Similar to Burakovsky in Washington. TB is just loaded

No sane GM will ever trade Laferniere, with a chance to draft a franchise player.
- StargateSG1

You are probably right. Last year there was more of a lukewarm on Hughes vs Kakko. This year seems to be a clear unquestioned #1

I’m starting to hear more and more of that thought. You probably had eyes on them more this year. What’s the biggest problem they each face on the ice? Barrie didn’t really find his groove in TOR
- Jeremy Laura

Barrie is an excellent PP guy. Raw offensive instincts and that's what he excels at. Creating offense. But he's so horrible defensively. He's basically a winger. He has no clue what to do in his own zone.

Why do you think Sakic was so willing to trade him when he was playing in Colorado? Leaf fans saw the flaws up close. The pluses don't justify the flaws for me. He'll go somewhere where he gets a boat load of ice time and racks up alot of points but continues to be exposed in his own zone. Heck, even the Leafs were shopping him at trade deadline.

So the question I'd ask Yzerman is this. How much of Barrie can you live with? He's basically Mike Green 6 years ago. Is this player the right defenseman for this rebuilding team? Do you really want young guys like Hronek, Seider, Cholowski or Lindstrom learning from this guy? I don't.

As for Ceci, he's the furthest thing from Brad Stuart. I don't know how anyone draws this comparison. He's a defensive handicap each time he's on the Ice. How well do you think he'll play on a horrible Red Wings team?

Ottawa was willing to take on 5 years of Zaitsev just to get rid of him. What does this tell you? He was horrible for the Leafs. He's not old but his game has been regressing for 3 years now. Yzerman shouldn't be signing UFA's just for the sake of signing UFA's. That's Ken Holland's modus operandi. No more Frans Nielsen's please!

I'm all for Yzerman signing a UFA defenseman but it has to make sense. Crap. I sound like Ken Holland now. I trust Yzerman to make the right call here. If he signs Barrie for no more than 2 years, I won't like it but I'll stomach it. It'll improve our PP which is at least something. Ceci adds nothing. Well he's better than Pylon Ericsson but that's not saying much.

Barrie is an excellent PP guy. Raw offensive instincts and that's what he excels at. Creating offense. But he's so horrible defensively. He's basically a winger. He has no clue what to do in his own zone.

Why do you think Sakic was so willing to trade him when he was playing in Colorado? Leaf fans saw the flaws up close. The pluses don't justify the flaws for me. He'll go somewhere where he gets a boat load of ice time and racks up alot of points but continues to be exposed in his own zone. Heck, even the Leafs were shopping him at trade deadline.

So the question I'd ask Yzerman is this. How much of Barrie can you live with? He's basically Mike Green 6 years ago. Is this player the right defenseman for this rebuilding team? Do you really want young guys like Hronek, Seider, Cholowski or Lindstrom learning from this guy? I don't.

As for Ceci, he's the furthest thing from Brad Stuart. I don't know how anyone draws this comparison. He's a defensive handicap each time he's on the Ice. How well do you think he'll play on a horrible Red Wings team?

Ottawa was willing to take on 5 years of Zaitsev just to get rid of him. What does this tell you? He was horrible for the Leafs. He's not old but his game has been regressing for 3 years now. Yzerman shouldn't be signing UFA's just for the sake of signing UFA's. That's Ken Holland's modus operandi. No more Frans Nielsen's please!

I'm all for Yzerman signing a UFA defenseman but it has to make sense. Crap. I sound like Ken Holland now. I trust Yzerman to make the right call here. If he signs Barrie for no more than 2 years, I won't like it but I'll stomach it. It'll improve our PP which is at least something. Ceci adds nothing. Well he's better than Pylon Ericsson but that's not saying much.
- gergeswillems

Then who do da Wings go after defensively? FA's Hamonic or Brody ? Shattenkirk? I like Dillion, but I bet he stays with the Caps. Jon Merril would be resonable. I would not be looking for a Torrey Krug.....Need to stay bargain basement for a year and stike for a big FA in a year or 2......Damn, I sure like Krug though.......(sigh)

Barrie is an excellent PP guy. Raw offensive instincts and that's what he excels at. Creating offense. But he's so horrible defensively. He's basically a winger. He has no clue what to do in his own zone.

Why do you think Sakic was so willing to trade him when he was playing in Colorado? Leaf fans saw the flaws up close. The pluses don't justify the flaws for me. He'll go somewhere where he gets a boat load of ice time and racks up alot of points but continues to be exposed in his own zone. Heck, even the Leafs were shopping him at trade deadline.

So the question I'd ask Yzerman is this. How much of Barrie can you live with? He's basically Mike Green 6 years ago. Is this player the right defenseman for this rebuilding team? Do you really want young guys like Hronek, Seider, Cholowski or Lindstrom learning from this guy? I don't.

As for Ceci, he's the furthest thing from Brad Stuart. I don't know how anyone draws this comparison. He's a defensive handicap each time he's on the Ice. How well do you think he'll play on a horrible Red Wings team?

Ottawa was willing to take on 5 years of Zaitsev just to get rid of him. What does this tell you? He was horrible for the Leafs. He's not old but his game has been regressing for 3 years now. Yzerman shouldn't be signing UFA's just for the sake of signing UFA's. That's Ken Holland's modus operandi. No more Frans Nielsen's please!

I'm all for Yzerman signing a UFA defenseman but it has to make sense. Crap. I sound like Ken Holland now. I trust Yzerman to make the right call here. If he signs Barrie for no more than 2 years, I won't like it but I'll stomach it. It'll improve our PP which is at least something. Ceci adds nothing. Well he's better than Pylon Ericsson but that's not saying much.
- gergeswillems

Didn’t mean Ceci was as good as Stuart. Just comparing the Offensive VS Defensive minded approach. I think Hronek can be a combination but still need a QB on the PP and someone who can clear the net.

I forgot about Dillion. He’d fit the mold and provide some physical play that we’ve lacked from that side of the ice.

I’d rather see them bring up the kids and save the money but I don’t think they have anyone in the pipeline that’s ready. Cholowski can’t defend and unless we want to watch Laschoff waste our time, we may look at that second tier to find someone.

I have faith in Stevie to turn it around in the next 18 months or so. Maybe a little longer than a win for Howard...

Didn’t mean Ceci was as good as Stuart. Just comparing the Offensive VS Defensive minded approach. I think Hronek can be a combination but still need a QB on the PP and someone who can clear the net.

I forgot about Dillion. He’d fit the mold and provide some physical play that we’ve lacked from that side of the ice.

I’d rather see them bring up the kids and save the money but I don’t think they have anyone in the pipeline that’s ready. Cholowski can’t defend and unless we want to watch Laschoff waste our time, we may look at that second tier to find someone.

I have faith in Stevie to turn it around in the next 18 months or so. Maybe a little longer than a win for Howard...
- Manthamania

Dillon would be a solid choice.

What if: Tampa were to offer Sergechev and Joseph and a 2nd for the #1 pick? Would you bite?

What if: Tampa were to offer Sergechev and Joseph and a 2nd for the #1 pick? Would you bite?
- HenryHockey

No.

What if: Tampa were to offer Sergechev and Joseph and a 2nd for the #1 pick? Would you bite?
- HenryHockey

Not a chance. You don’t pass up an opportunity to change your organization with one pick. Both good players but not great.

What if: Tampa were to offer Sergechev and Joseph and a 2nd for the #1 pick? Would you bite?
- HenryHockey

How about Sergechev and Point for #1

Barrie is an excellent PP guy. Raw offensive instincts and that's what he excels at. Creating offense. But he's so horrible defensively. He's basically a winger. He has no clue what to do in his own zone.

Why do you think Sakic was so willing to trade him when he was playing in Colorado? Leaf fans saw the flaws up close. The pluses don't justify the flaws for me. He'll go somewhere where he gets a boat load of ice time and racks up alot of points but continues to be exposed in his own zone. Heck, even the Leafs were shopping him at trade deadline.

So the question I'd ask Yzerman is this. How much of Barrie can you live with? He's basically Mike Green 6 years ago. Is this player the right defenseman for this rebuilding team? Do you really want young guys like Hronek, Seider, Cholowski or Lindstrom learning from this guy? I don't.

As for Ceci, he's the furthest thing from Brad Stuart. I don't know how anyone draws this comparison. He's a defensive handicap each time he's on the Ice. How well do you think he'll play on a horrible Red Wings team?

Ottawa was willing to take on 5 years of Zaitsev just to get rid of him. What does this tell you? He was horrible for the Leafs. He's not old but his game has been regressing for 3 years now. Yzerman shouldn't be signing UFA's just for the sake of signing UFA's. That's Ken Holland's modus operandi. No more Frans Nielsen's please!

I'm all for Yzerman signing a UFA defenseman but it has to make sense. Crap. I sound like Ken Holland now. I trust Yzerman to make the right call here. If he signs Barrie for no more than 2 years, I won't like it but I'll stomach it. It'll improve our PP which is at least something. Ceci adds nothing. Well he's better than Pylon Ericsson but that's not saying much.
- gergeswillems

Those are interesting points. It’s true, any older free agent being brought in will be looked at as some sort of leader while the kids learn their trade. You can’t afford liabilities to form bad habits.

One thing that has impressed me is Seider’s comfort level in leadership. Even at camp last year, youngest guy on the ice and he’s giving directions. Kid has guts

Those are interesting points. It’s true, any older free agent being brought in will be looked at as some sort of leader while the kids learn their trade. You can’t afford liabilities to form bad habits.

One thing that has impressed me is Seider’s comfort level in leadership. Even at camp last year, youngest guy on the ice and he’s giving directions. Kid has guts
- Jeremy Laura

Yeah Seider has his $hit together that's for sure.

Not a chance. You don’t pass up an opportunity to change your organization with one pick. Both good players but not great.
- Manthamania

It is pretty exciting to think about these special/generational players. It will be exciting to watch them grow and develop.

Yeah Seider has his $hit together that's for sure.
- gergeswillems

I remember hearing that he wanted to interview with every single team. That is such a rare individual. He loves the pressure cooker

Since you said get creative might as well take a walk on the ridiculous.
Draft order 1-Detroit, 2 LA, 3/4 Ottawa.
This is where it gets crazy Detroit trades 1 to Ottawa for 3,4 and a 2nd round pick.
Ottawa takes Lafreniere, LA Byfield and leaving Detroit to take Stutzle and Drysdale.
As far as coaches go Blashill given 2 year deal but Gallant hired as an assistant and the clock on Blashill starts ticking.
Free agent signing if the buyouts happen Martin Jones on a 2 year deal as a back up for Bernier.
It could make for a wild time for sure.
- Justarm216

Looks like you’re the winner on coach! Not a 2 year deal, but no one else guess Blashill. Check your inbox