Jeremy Laura: Wings wrap up season series tonight vs Nashville

Always nice to be dealing from a position of strength in the NHL. The Captain holds the cards and controls the ability for teams to succeed in the SCPO. Estimated free cap space of around $14m before Taxi Squad and adjustments. I've read that it goes as high as @39m. Regardless, the position of power exists and something's brewing. Hearing Staal is being light discussed as is Bernie....not hard-core talks, but still being discussed. We could absorb a crap contract as long as the return makes it worthy. Considering the boning we've gotten in the "lottery" over the past few years, we cannot assume to be selecting in the top 4, so having another 1st thrown in would be nice to make up for the lack of proper love in the lottery. With that, I'd go for a G in the second 1st rd pick. That's just me, many readers here will have issues with that, and have some strong justification.

I just don't think there are going to be many moves coming this TDL. Unless the ask is right, those w/cap space will use it in the summer to build stronger rosters. Chicago seems to have thrown in the towel and admitted to being in a re-build, and are sure to fare well in the "lottery" (am I whining too much about how royally screwed we've been????). I think the Avs have the power and posture to fare well, but only have around $5m in space w/LTIR (Johnson's $6m or so, plus the regular $1.3m), so anything they might want to do is predicated on cap-retention which drives up the price, or a 3d team involved which makes the price even higher. Should be interesting....am really looking forward to the next handful of days....Florida is set up for a huge move, so they bear watching, this is gonna get good. Would love to be a resident in FL and able to drive between Sunrise & TB!!!

Tonight, Detroit loses, 4-2. Smashville's gonna have a case of the "ass" and want to extract some revenge for losing Tuesday...
Evgeny Svechnikov -- Dylan Larkin -- Filip Zadina
Adam Erne -- Luke Glendening -- Darren Helm
Anthony Mantha -- Michael Rasmussen -- Valtteri Filppula
Sam Gagner -- Frans Nielsen -- Vladislav Namestnikov

Danny DeKeyser -- Filip Hronek
Marc Staal -- Troy Stecher
Christian Djoos -- Jon Merrill

Interesting to have Svech on the 1st line...Erne's making a case for himself, he's a Stevie guy so wouldn't be surprised to see him remain next year.

There will be a few more moves, Panthers did not clear cap space to sit still, Tampa needs a back-up puck stopper, Bruins need D-depth and a scoring winger, Peg needs depth D, 'Rono could use a back-up goalie, Habs can add a forward, Avs need a back-up goalie, Blues could go either way, Wash needs a depth piece (all positions), Wild are players, Nashville will decide tonight! Gonna be fun! But all are wanting to be cautious with the purse! Detroit has their "Bargain Basement" sale sign out , and Buffalo has flyers on all the team sites with prices and resumes!

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ing-ahead-trade-deadline/
Another "For Rent" sign

There will be a few more moves, Panthers did not clear cap space to sit still, Tampa needs a back-up puck stopper, Bruins need D-depth and a scoring winger, Peg needs depth D, 'Rono could use a back-up goalie, Habs can add a forward, Avs need a back-up goalie, Blues could go either way, Wash needs a depth piece (all positions), Wild are players, Nashville will decide tonight! Gonna be fun! But all are wanting to be cautious with the purse! Detroit has their "Bargain Basement" sale sign out , and Buffalo has flyers on all the team sites with prices and resumes!
- HenryHockey

Sheesh, you coulda just said: “Dude. Yer. WRONG!” and saved me the embarrassment 🤣🤣🤣.
My point was I just don’t see big-names moving for high $$$ unless a dump team’s involved. Everybody needs something, it’s the cost v cap that’ll limit big moves. Or I could be WRONG 😉😉

Detroit is playing like they want to keep Bernier.

Bowman has been eating turds since day one, No surprise.

Bobby Ryan is out for the rest of the season. That's one less 3rd Rd pick we'll be getting at the trade deadline. I still hope Stevie re-signs him.

https://www.google.com/am...eason-1.1620811%3ftsn-amp

Bobby Ryan is out for the rest of the season. That's one less 3rd Rd pick we'll be getting at the trade deadline. I still hope Stevie re-signs him.

https://www.google.com/am...eason-1.1620811%3ftsn-amp
- gergeswillems

Assuming it really is just an "out for the season" injury and not a career-threatening one, re-signing him before the offseason would be an easy way for Detroit to fulfill its expansion draft exposure requirement.

(Teams need to expose at least two forwards under contract with a minimum number of recent games played, and the only forward currently meeting that requirement who would obviously not be protected is Nielsen.)

I like Ryan and would be cool with him playing another year in Detroit (and a second opportunity to flip him at the deadline). I also would not be too bothered by him getting picked off by Seattle.

Bobby Ryan is out for the rest of the season. That's one less 3rd Rd pick we'll be getting at the trade deadline. I still hope Stevie re-signs him.

https://www.google.com/am...eason-1.1620811%3ftsn-amp
- gergeswillems

I do hope we bring him back. There aren’t enough prospects “knocking on the door” yet. We have some guys leaving, Ryan is a good guy to have around

I do hope we bring him back. There aren’t enough prospects “knocking on the door” yet. We have some guys leaving, Ryan is a good guy to have around
- Jeremy Laura

Looking at next season's top 6...

Bertuzzi-Larkin-Mantha
Zadina-Fabbri-Ryan

Not bad. We could do alot worse. Assuming Bert can stay healthy and Zadina can take another step.