Assuming all the resigning goes smoothly (and if Yzerman wants a Guelp reunion)

Zadina/Larkin/Vrana
Bertuzzi/Suter/Fabbri
Smith/Rasmussen/Erne
Namestnikov/Stephens/Nielsen

Those are guesses. If Ryan gets re signed, probably on 3rd line. Move Smith down and scratch Nielsen. If Veleno or Berggren grab a job, get the Yatzi cups out
- Jeremy Laura

I am guessing Nielsen goes on LTIR. It was setup perfect at the end of last year and he was even a healthy scratch. I have a feeling he won't be seeing much ice time.

I did forget about Smith, he deserves a long look.

Assuming all the resigning goes smoothly (and if Yzerman wants a Guelp reunion)

Zadina/Larkin/Vrana
Bertuzzi/Suter/Fabbri
Smith/Rasmussen/Erne(Gagner)
Namestnikov/Stephens/Nielsen

Those are guesses. If Ryan gets re signed, probably on 3rd line. Move Smith down and scratch Nielsen. If Veleno or Berggren grab a job, get the Yatzi cups out
- Jeremy Laura

I don't mind those. Berggren could get some looks this year. I'd like to see Veleno on the wing on the third line moving either Smith or Erne down if Veleno isn't playing center. I'm liking the options we have. Forgot about if we resign Ryan or another winger for that matter. Injuries will happen.

Hey all, sorry for the absence this morning. It really sounds like Stephens will be the 4th line center. Veleno, if/when he makes the jump, may well be on the wing. Berggren is better at the center position at this point. JV, throughout last year, kept getting moved back to wing. They also probably want Veleno grabbing top 6 minutes. So, if he can’t grab that in Detroit, probably will be skating in GR.

He’s working hard, for sure, but he needs a lot of reps up the middle still.
- Jeremy Laura

The way Veleno & Bergy play out will determine how lines shape up. I think a really good indicator is what transpires during camps. I was happy with what Veleno showed last year, he shows promise. I'm sure if he camps out with Zadina, they would have a very positive impact on each other, drive each other to achieve more. I foresee a VERY nice problem: WTH do the lines look like with all these danged ole kids developing?!?!?!? Bergy needs to season a bit in GR, but you know he'll be closely watched. Larkin, Suter, Ras, Vlad are what I "think" the initial 4Cs will be.....then training camp begins and everything gets thrown askew!!!

Dude, I'm as excited for this season as I've been in a while. The "problems" Blash has are really kinda nice, if you ask me. Speaking of.... Is this Blash's last year? He's been given some decent parts to fix the plane in-flight, methinks it's time for improvement to be readily apparent. I'd be happy if we were choosing at the #10 spot in the draft. I just think that, all things being equal, maybe Blash isn't the best fit for this club. Losing Bylsma last year kinda sucked, but seeing Tanguay come in gives some measure of comfort.

All-in-all, the things being discussed here are things that are caused as a result of getting better. What a fine place to be in, huh??!!!

Assuming all the resigning goes smoothly (and if Yzerman wants a Guelp reunion)

Zadina/Larkin/Vrana
Bertuzzi/Suter/Fabbri
Smith/Rasmussen/Erne(Gagner)
Namestnikov/Stephens/Nielsen

Those are guesses. If Ryan gets re signed, probably on 3rd line. Move Smith down and scratch Nielsen. If Veleno or Berggren grab a job, get the Yatzi cups out
- Jeremy Laura

Frans..... I've been saying we need to resign Ryan, which drives what you outline above, which is what I'd think would be a very solid starting Forward group. Love the 1st line.....

The way Veleno & Bergy play out will determine how lines shape up. I think a really good indicator is what transpires during camps. I was happy with what Veleno showed last year, he shows promise. I'm sure if he camps out with Zadina, they would have a very positive impact on each other, drive each other to achieve more. I foresee a VERY nice problem: WTH do the lines look like with all these danged ole kids developing?!?!?!? Bergy needs to season a bit in GR, but you know he'll be closely watched. Larkin, Suter, Ras, Vlad are what I "think" the initial 4Cs will be.....then training camp begins and everything gets thrown askew!!!

Dude, I'm as excited for this season as I've been in a while. The "problems" Blash has are really kinda nice, if you ask me. Speaking of.... Is this Blash's last year? He's been given some decent parts to fix the plane in-flight, methinks it's time for improvement to be readily apparent. I'd be happy if we were choosing at the #10 spot in the draft. I just think that, all things being equal, maybe Blash isn't the best fit for this club. Losing Bylsma last year kinda sucked, but seeing Tanguay come in gives some measure of comfort.

All-in-all, the things being discussed here are things that are caused as a result of getting better. What a fine place to be in, huh??!!!
- mcmastermike1968

I could easily see Berg and Veleno being left in Grand Rapids and get top line minutes all season. Add Raymond to that mix.

Frans..... I've been saying we need to resign Ryan, which drives what you outline above, which is what I'd think would be a very solid starting Forward group. Love the 1st line.....
- mcmastermike1968

I love the first line as well..unless Zadina makes a big jump then I think it is still more of a very good second line. We need someone that is elite.

The way Veleno & Bergy play out will determine how lines shape up. I think a really good indicator is what transpires during camps. I was happy with what Veleno showed last year, he shows promise. I'm sure if he camps out with Zadina, they would have a very positive impact on each other, drive each other to achieve more. I foresee a VERY nice problem: WTH do the lines look like with all these danged ole kids developing?!?!?!? Bergy needs to season a bit in GR, but you know he'll be closely watched. Larkin, Suter, Ras, Vlad are what I "think" the initial 4Cs will be.....then training camp begins and everything gets thrown askew!!!

Dude, I'm as excited for this season as I've been in a while. The "problems" Blash has are really kinda nice, if you ask me. Speaking of.... Is this Blash's last year? He's been given some decent parts to fix the plane in-flight, methinks it's time for improvement to be readily apparent. I'd be happy if we were choosing at the #10 spot in the draft. I just think that, all things being equal, maybe Blash isn't the best fit for this club. Losing Bylsma last year kinda sucked, but seeing Tanguay come in gives some measure of comfort.

All-in-all, the things being discussed here are things that are caused as a result of getting better. What a fine place to be in, huh??!!!
- mcmastermike1968

I would love to see jobs taken by the kids. Yzerman’s quote yesterday was, “be better than the players we have”. He keeps mentioning Raymond, and GMs said that Raymond was mentioned as “untouchable”. They must be really high on that young man, look forward to seeing him in camp

Veleno has not shown any evidence that he can play center in the NHL. He couldn't even demonstrate that at the AHL as he was often shifted to the wing. If he does make the Wings roster it will be as a bottom 6 winger. For a guy labelled with exceptional status as an underager, he sure seems to have a slow learning curve. I would give him another year of reps in the AHL as a 1C.

Also, Chase Pearson? I doubt he wins a job. Maybe, but it will be brief. Reminds me of Cory Emmerton. Mitchell Stephens would have the inside track at 4C.

Renouf, Lashoff, Witkowski, Criscuolo, Pickard are nothing more than good soldiers for the AHL to help lead what will otherwise be a pretty young roster. Nothing to see here.

who?

Veleno has not shown any evidence that he can play center in the NHL. He couldn't even demonstrate that at the AHL as he was often shifted to the wing. If he does make the Wings roster it will be as a bottom 6 winger. For a guy labelled with exceptional status as an underager, he sure seems to have a slow learning curve. I would give him another year of reps in the AHL as a 1C.

Also, Chase Pearson? I doubt he wins a job. Maybe, but it will be brief. Reminds me of Cory Emmerton. Mitchell Stephens would have the inside track at 4C.

Renouf, Lashoff, Witkowski, Criscuolo, Pickard are nothing more than good soldiers for the AHL to help lead what will otherwise be a pretty young roster. Nothing to see here.
- Kooleus

Agreed on AHL fodder. Yeah, JV got demoted in SHL too. I think they hope he can break top 6 but he’s got to do a lot to get there. Winger seems likeliest at this point. Good drop in here

So who’s the 4C?
- Feds91Stammer

I guess they will have to sign Eric Staal!

Agreed on AHL fodder. Yeah, JV got demoted in SHL too. I think they hope he can break top 6 but he’s got to do a lot to get there. Winger seems likeliest at this point. Good drop in here
- Jeremy Laura

There are SO few natural Centers....it seems as if every C-man has spent time on the wing at one time or another. It stands to reason that Bergy & Veleno will need the same. Of course, if they weren't as young in their professional (and North America) careers, I'd be more apt to throw the baby out with the bath water. But at this point, they both need work and are by no means ready to assume the mantle of #1C. It's going to take time.....but they'll get reps for sure, whether it be here or in the bus league.

who?
- wingz4life

Don’t worry. It won’t affect the bobblehead schedule

There are SO few natural Centers....it seems as if every C-man has spent time on the wing at one time or another. It stands to reason that Bergy & Veleno will need the same. Of course, if they weren't as young in their professional (and North America) careers, I'd be more apt to throw the baby out with the bath water. But at this point, they both need work and are by no means ready to assume the mantle of #1C. It's going to take time.....but they'll get reps for sure, whether it be here or in the bus league.
- mcmastermike1968

Not sure about now, but a few years back t was a popular notion to draft heavy on center because of how hard it is. Center can move to wing. (In Fedorov’s case, they can play the blue line too! My God he was amazing). Getting a center who is elite at that position in the NHL is really tough.

Not sure about now, but a few years back t was a popular notion to draft heavy on center because of how hard it is. Center can move to wing. (In Fedorov’s case, they can play the blue line too! My God he was amazing). Getting a center who is elite at that position in the NHL is really tough.
- Jeremy Laura

I remember those days, draft lots of C-Men because one of them will pan out...like throwing darts. Still see C-men playing on the wing quite often. Nothing wrong with that, I guess. Helps develop vision, for sure.

Man, Fedorov.....that guy could literally do it ALL. One of the best documentaries I've ever seen is "The Russian 5". Excellent review of how Jimmy D and staff worked to pull players form Russia. Great to watch. Amazing how hard those players had it in Russia, how they were treated. The one thing I liked about what was done is how players were forced to play all positions. THAT showed beneficial when Sergy hit the NHL. I still think that players need to be able to do other things (Centers on the wing, guys like Witko playing forward or defense, etc...) early in their development becasue it gives them better vision of the flow of the game and enables them to be overall contributors, not pigeon-holed into 1 thing only. I just think today's game is played in such a manner that a guy can't just be a stay-at-home D-man. Gotta learn all aspects of the game. Hell, even GOALIES need to learn how to shoot the puck!!!!!

I remember those days, draft lots of C-Men because one of them will pan out...like throwing darts. Still see C-men playing on the wing quite often. Nothing wrong with that, I guess. Helps develop vision, for sure.

Man, Fedorov.....that guy could literally do it ALL. One of the best documentaries I've ever seen is "The Russian 5". Excellent review of how Jimmy D and staff worked to pull players form Russia. Great to watch. Amazing how hard those players had it in Russia, how they were treated. The one thing I liked about what was done is how players were forced to play all positions. THAT showed beneficial when Sergy hit the NHL. I still think that players need to be able to do other things (Centers on the wing, guys like Witko playing forward or defense, etc...) early in their development becasue it gives them better vision of the flow of the game and enables them to be overall contributors, not pigeon-holed into 1 thing only. I just think today's game is played in such a manner that a guy can't just be a stay-at-home D-man. Gotta learn all aspects of the game. Hell, even GOALIES need to learn how to shoot the puck!!!!!
- mcmastermike1968

It’s funny, a bit off subject. Byfuglien would talk about going from defense to forward. He said, “you have more time with the puck than you think you do”, from being able to observe from the blue line. It’s a shame he wouldn’t switch it up in WPG. Really enjoyed him playing both.

The Russian model, good grief. Those guys couldn’t see their families for 3 months at a time. I think Larianov would say that you didn’t have to see your linemate, you could smell them because of how long they would practice. That model, family wise, goes back to Alexander the Great. He would bring troops in a month or more before a battle and keep them from their spouses/girlfriends. He believed there was a boost in what we now call testosterone if they were left without, um, extra curricular. The Russians felt the same. In fact, there are stories of prostitutes following the troops under Alexander, and he would have them slaughtered. Really scary stuff how militant leaders try to manipulate soldiers/players to get more out of them.

I doubt Steve gives up a draft pick for a player on a one way contract with the intention of playing him in the AHL. I say 4C with the the worst case scenario being the 13th forward.

I doubt Steve gives up a draft pick for a player on a one way contract with the intention of playing him in the AHL. I say 4C with the the worst case scenario being the 13th forward.
- todd3066

It does look like a Glenny sub, for sure

I doubt Steve gives up a draft pick for a player on a one way contract with the intention of playing him in the AHL. I say 4C with the the worst case scenario being the 13th forward.
- todd3066

Bingo. Stephens has a place on the roster, unless numerous guys beat him out at camp.

Bingo. Stephens has a place on the roster, unless numerous guys beat him out at camp.
- Kooleus

+1

Toronto Maple Leafs sign Ondrej Kase