Jeremy Laura: Thoughts on Detroit’s Free Agency, possible trades(?), Prospect camp

I did see the note on Trouba’s wife and her agency. I’d talked about that with my friend a couple of days ago. Her schooling was part of the decision to go to New York. She’s in a stressful and difficult final stage with residency. This cannot be easy for them, and I honestly hope they find a way to make sure the family is taken care of beyond any proposed deal.

I did see the note on Trouba’s wife and her agency. I’d talked about that with my friend a couple of days ago. Her schooling was part of the decision to go to New York. She’s in a stressful and difficult final stage with residency. This cannot be easy for them, and I honestly hope they find a way to make sure the family is taken care of beyond any proposed deal.
- Jeremy Laura

Trouba was very transparent in going to New York because it supported his wife's career. The only unexpected factor in this is that I believe her residency was postponed one year due to covid lockdown. Otherwise she might actually be able to leave the area without too much career damage. But this is something that Drury should absolutely have known as a GM.

Trouba was very transparent in going to New York because it supported his wife's career. The only unexpected factor in this is that I believe her residency was postponed one year due to covid lockdown. Otherwise she might actually be able to leave the area without too much career damage. But this is something that Drury should absolutely have known as a GM.
- jfkst1

I completely agree. Have a conversation, you may have found a solution. This mess didn’t need to come out like this. I also agree that the delay could easily be due to the shutdown.

Kanes return and the acquisition of Talbot are fine.... happy to have Kane for a full season and Talbot should spell Lyon making a serviceable duo.... everything else is simply a dead scratcher.... after the Walman giveaway I sure hope Stevie has something else cooking.... team still needs toughness for sure... with all the d in the mix I wonder if this is what we got, because it appears potentially less than we had, though potentially Edvinsson steps up with a bigger role and eats minutes complementing a better goal tending situation.... we'll see....

Campbell and Lagesson should be viewed as AHL deals. Both contracts can be fully buried. Grand Rapids lost plenty of veterans and these guys help fill that void. Both guys can step in if injuries mount. Lagesson in particular could be a 7th guy in the press box rather than having a kid sit idle. So the real turnover was simple:

-Talbot in, Reimer out
-Gustafson in, Ghost out
-Berggren in, Perron out
-Edvinsson in, Walman out

Yawn.

Going out on the limb here, but could he had been called "on the carpet" with boss or bosses after the Walman fiasco, telling him to hold his horses (or whatever the message was)?
It's just that this was such a drastic turn in approach compared to the last 2 off seasons, it makes you wonder.

Going out on the limb here, but could he had been called "on the carpet" with boss or bosses after the Walman fiasco, telling him to hold his horses (or whatever the message was)?
It's just that this was such a drastic turn in approach compared to the last 2 off seasons, it makes you wonder.
- StargateSG1

I haven’t heard anything, but it’s always possible. Chris I. Is usually around for decisions, and internally we don’t know what the discussions were. The move to acquire the pick from Nashville and stapling it to Walman with a move is still at the least a head scratcher. I’ve heard a little about some periphery “stuff” but nothing I can put together and make it all work out. The dollars for Seider and Raymond are the pivot point. I agree and have heard as much as Campbell is an AHL bound waiver. Until we have the internal housekeeping and numbers, it’s tough to imagine seeing a whole lot

The Debrincat trade did not happen till July 9, 2023. So there is plenty of summer for team to keep improving their rosters by addition or subtraction. I am sure there are some trades that will have you oohing and awing yet this summer! LGRW's!!

Campbell and Lagesson should be viewed as AHL deals. Both contracts can be fully buried. Grand Rapids lost plenty of veterans and these guys help fill that void. Both guys can step in if injuries mount. Lagesson in particular could be a 7th guy in the press box rather than having a kid sit idle. So the real turnover was simple:

-Talbot in, Reimer out
-Gustafson in, Ghost out
-Berggren in, Perron out
-Edvinsson in, Walman out

Yawn.
- HockeyBuzzed

The only one I’m not sure about is Berggren. Edvinsson’s spot seems cemented and Johansson seems to have one by default unless things go sideways just because of the waiver situation. There doesnt’ seem to be waiver concerns for at least a couple of the Dmen and Husso in terms of losing them or if they were lost that being an issue.

Campbell and Lagesson should be viewed as AHL deals. Both contracts can be fully buried. Grand Rapids lost plenty of veterans and these guys help fill that void. Both guys can step in if injuries mount. Lagesson in particular could be a 7th guy in the press box rather than having a kid sit idle. So the real turnover was simple:

-Talbot in, Reimer out
-Gustafson in, Ghost out
-Berggren in, Perron out
-Edvinsson in, Walman out

Yawn.
- HockeyBuzzed

Who replaces Sprong?

Just saw an article by Kevin Allen about Zadina not getting an offer yesterday. It sucks for Detroit knowing we could have had Hughes, or Bouchard, or Dobson, or Farabee, or K'Andre Miller, or even Sharangovich and Det would be much further along, but I do feel bad for Zadina.

By all accounts, he puts in the work. He was willing to walk away from over $4 million to try a different situation, which I give him a lot of credit for. It just shows what a crapshoot drafting 17 & 18 year old kids is. He certainly had the tools to be a solid NHL player, he has a rocket for a shot, but his game just didn't translate to a higher level. A ton of it has to do with confidence. Perhaps if he had been drafted in later rounds, with lower expectations, he may have blossomed. Perhaps if he had come into a different system, or a different style, who knows what may have happened. A lot of times, it's just luck and circumstance. There was a reason why he dropped from being projected to be ahead of Kotkaniemi and Tkachuk, but Kenny didn't see it.

If you look at top 10 picks still in the NHL, 2010 7 of 10, 2011 10 of 10, 2012 5 of 10 (including the 1st 4 picks being gone), 2013 10 of 10, 2014 7 of 10, 2015 10 of 10, 2016 8 of 10, 2017 7 of 10, 2018 6 of 10, 2019 7 of 10. It happens, it just sucks for Detroit, they got nothing for 2012, nothing left for 2013, 2015, or 2016 and their last draft that produced NHL players (so far) is 2020.

Just saw an article by Kevin Allen about Zadina not getting an offer yesterday. It sucks for Detroit knowing we could have had Hughes, or Bouchard, or Dobson, or Farabee, or K'Andre Miller, or even Sharangovich and Det would be much further along, but I do feel bad for Zadina.

By all accounts, he puts in the work. He was willing to walk away from over $4 million to try a different situation, which I give him a lot of credit for. It just shows what a crapshoot drafting 17 & 18 year old kids is. He certainly had the tools to be a solid NHL player, he has a rocket for a shot, but his game just didn't translate to a higher level. A ton of it has to do with confidence. Perhaps if he had been drafted in later rounds, with lower expectations, he may have blossomed. Perhaps if he had come into a different system, or a different style, who knows what may have happened. A lot of times, it's just luck and circumstance. There was a reason why he dropped from being projected to be ahead of Kotkaniemi and Tkachuk, but Kenny didn't see it.

If you look at top 10 picks still in the NHL, 2010 7 of 10, 2011 10 of 10, 2012 5 of 10 (including the 1st 4 picks being gone), 2013 10 of 10, 2014 7 of 10, 2015 10 pf 10, 2016 8 of 10, 2017 7 of 10, 2018 6 of 10, 2019 7 of 10. It happens, it just sucks for Detroit, they got nothing for 2012, nothing left for 2013, 2015, or 2016 and their last draft that produced NHL players (so far) is 2020.
- bluelineenforcer

The year was 2034 and the wings fans were still posting about Zadina and Hughes.

The year was 2034 and the wings fans were still posting about Zadina and Hughes.
- Feds91Stammer

Sorry I've hurt your feelings. Prayers for a full recovery.

Who replaces Sprong?
- Feds91Stammer

This is the watch question. I only know that conversations “have been had” with all the outgoing UFAs. Fischer came back. Wondering if any conversations are being had with Sprongs group but haven’t heard a thing. My hope was that Sprong replaced Perron on the power play and saw better minutes, obviously nothing like that has happened.

Sorry I've hurt your feelings. Prayers for a full recovery.
- bluelineenforcer

I’m not the one crying about a draft that happened 6 years ago.

Geez, why are you so angry?!?!?!?!

Nah, my friend; decent synopsis and sense of "Welp, what's next????" Not flashy, not blown away....just.....just

EDIT: Because the post of "angryagain" didn't copy here, allow me to clarify:
Angryagain was targetd yesterday about being angry, he made a joke, I was carry that joke over to today.....NOT targeted at anyone else.

You may go about your day

I think kasper is in the starting lineup. Maybe big Elmer can push though as well. Maybe one, and not both.

My son and I were noodling the lines, currently:

First line is Raymond, Larkin and ____. Who?
Second line is Debrincat, JT, and Kane.
Third line is Ras, Copp, Fischer -successful checking line.
Forth line is Veleno centering “your guess is as good as mine. Is it JV centering fabbri and burgertime??

Tell me your line predictions

As diehard sports fans and Wings fans we can’t have everything. It’s funny as half of the people complain that we need to bring up the kids that Yzerman is turning into Ken Holland 2.0 and they are over ripening. The other half is saying that we need to win now and need to add multiple high end vets and who cares about term and money and don’t care if we give a player 8 years at 6 mil but then will turn around and say Copp, Chiarot, Compher, Holl. We sucked and still do you have to overpay when your team sucks and the cupboard is bare. We finally have some kids coming and need to start seeing them up with the big club we don’t need anymore 7 year 6+ mil contracts. It’s time to get Edvinsson, Albertsson, Berggren, Mazur and maybe Danielson a chance. We have a good core with Larkin, DeBrincat, Raymond, Kane, Seider and Rasmussen. Let the kids push the vets and have the vets teach the kids to become good pros.

As diehard sports fans and Wings fans we can’t have everything. It’s funny as half of the people complain that we need to bring up the kids that Yzerman is turning into Ken Holland 2.0 and they are over ripening. The other half is saying that we need to win now and need to add multiple high end vets and who cares about term and money and don’t care if we give a player 8 years at 6 mil but then will turn around and say Copp, Chiarot, Compher, Holl. We sucked and still do you have to overpay when your team sucks and the cupboard is bare. We finally have some kids coming and need to start seeing them up with the big club we don’t need anymore 7 year 6+ mil contracts. It’s time to get Edvinsson, Albertsson, Berggren, Mazur and maybe Danielson a chance. We have a good core with Larkin, DeBrincat, Raymond, Kane, Seider and Rasmussen. Let the kids push the vets and have the vets teach the kids to become good pros.
- Goalie Dad

Well said. Play the kids! Let’s go!

As diehard sports fans and Wings fans we can’t have everything. It’s funny as half of the people complain that we need to bring up the kids that Yzerman is turning into Ken Holland 2.0 and they are over ripening. The other half is saying that we need to win now and need to add multiple high end vets and who cares about term and money and don’t care if we give a player 8 years at 6 mil but then will turn around and say Copp, Chiarot, Compher, Holl. We sucked and still do you have to overpay when your team sucks and the cupboard is bare. We finally have some kids coming and need to start seeing them up with the big club we don’t need anymore 7 year 6+ mil contracts. It’s time to get Edvinsson, Albertsson, Berggren, Mazur and maybe Danielson a chance. We have a good core with Larkin, DeBrincat, Raymond, Kane, Seider and Rasmussen. Let the kids push the vets and have the vets teach the kids to become good pros.
- Goalie Dad

No. They are calling him Kenny 2.0 for not being creative in bringing in talent and making safe draft picks. Kane is not part of the core and any core that includes Rasmussen sucks.

No. They are calling him Kenny 2.0 for not being creative in bringing in talent and making safe draft picks. Kane is not part of the core and any core that includes Rasmussen sucks.
- Feds91Stammer

Bingo. I'm not saying they need to win now. I'm also not saying to play a bunch of kids. But aside from the DeBrincat trade, what has Yzerman done to acquire prime talent to potentially form a new core? His UFA signings have been awful and are just bandaid stop gaps. The drafting is safe and unlikely to yield high end talent. When young players are traded we're not involved. I guess too busy dumping Walman so we can sign Talbot. There appears to be no cohesive strategy beyond drafting a bunch of 2-way reliable players and hoping a couple of them leap into Zetterberg and Datsyuk.

Bingo. I'm not saying they need to win now. I'm also not saying to play a bunch of kids. But aside from the DeBrincat trade, what has Yzerman done to acquire prime talent to potentially form a new core? His UFA signings have been awful and are just bandaid stop gaps. The drafting is safe and unlikely to yield high end talent. When young players are traded we're not involved. I guess too busy dumping Walman so we can sign Talbot. There appears to be no cohesive strategy beyond drafting a bunch of 2-way reliable players and hoping a couple of them leap into Zetterberg and Datsyuk.
- HockeyBuzzed

Yeah not great when Buchelnikov is the player I think has an actual shot at being a star level scorer.

Winger Tomáš Tatar has landed back with the Devils on a one-year, $1.8MM deal, the team announced Tuesday.

Hey Feds, if Tater Tot gets a new # you will have to buy another jersey! That will make 7 all together!

Winger Tomáš Tatar has landed back with the Devils on a one-year, $1.8MM deal, the team announced Tuesday.

Hey Feds, if Tater Tot gets a new # you will have to buy another jersey! That will make 7 all together!
- HenryHockey

Don’t collect jerseys at this time but I do still have my devils hat from when he first signed there.