DickieDunn

I'm old enough to remember the argument that Petterson was too small and skinny and the Wings would have been stupid to draft him had he fallen that far.

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/03/detroit_lions_owner_william_cl_3.html Bill Jr. running the team now.

He plays for Muskegon in ghe USHL. Went to a game last night, he was one of the best players on the ice. Goal and an assist and scored the only shootout goal in a 4-3 SO win

Acceleration and agility aren't the same as speed. The Dodge Daytona I had in college got to 60 mph pretty quick and handled well, but I couldn't outrun an actual sports car

Some thoughts. Yzerman said he explored trading back but nobody wanted to "Should have been picked later" is subject to debate, is based mostly on opinion, and generally changes after a few years. Lidstrom "should have been" picked #1 overall. "Yzerman "shouldn't have" slid to #4. Yzerman personally scouted Seider and liked what he saw, I'll trust him until he shows he shouldn't be trusted.

The only way this makes sense is of the rumors that Vancouver wanted to trade up weren't true or they weren't offering anything reasonable to do so. They probably could have gotten Seider at 10. I don't like it, but Yzerman did a good job at the draft in TB, and he did spend a lot of time on the road scouting, so maybe he saw something nobody else did.

With Podkolzin the KHL is too big a risk at 6. He's under contract for 2 years, so the Wings will have zero control over his development, and barring a financial collapse of the KHL, he could be tempte to stay there for another 2-3 years making more money than he could on an entry level deal in the NHL. Caulfield looks like a hell of a player, but guys his size don't always hold up well injury wise. I'd be tempted to trade up and make sure I get Byram, or trade back a few and take Broberg

D D D D D D People were worried about turning into the Oilers if Holland didn't have enough vets, if they keep drafting forwards with their top pick that's what will happen, unless Yzerman trades some for D.

Hopefully less than that. As far as him being coach at worlds, there are a limited number of American born coaches, and a lot of them have other things going on. just because you're the only one who wants the job and is available doesn't mean you're good.

I don't expect a whole lot at this point. Major knee injuries can be career killers. Hopefully he can start the season strong in GR and show enough to get a mid or late season call up. If he doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised to see him go to Europe rather than play another year in GR for 20-21.

He WAS a great GM. The last few years he acted very complacent. Handed out deals with seemingly little negotiation, valued tenure with the team over talent, didn't want to make any hard choices. I don't see Holland making the Hasek trade the last few years because "we feel that Chris Osgood is an excellent goalie and we have a good relationship with him." Yeah, he's made some good deadline trades and did a good job moving Datsyuk's contract, but the free agency signings and some of the higher draft picks have been questionable at best. I go back and forth on the "make the playoffs at all costs" attitude because I'm still not sure if that was ownership or Holland pushing that, but whoever it was blundered, and Holland went along with it if it was ownership's decision.

Depends on if he runs the team like Holland Jr. If he's willing to cut bait on vets, doesn't give out NTCs like candy on Halloween, and doesn't think that tenure=good player, I'll be fine with him. His time in TB showed that he's willing to move on from players and doesn't give into player demands just because trading a guy would be hard.

Hopefully he takes some of his players with him

Nielsen had 35 points in 72 games last season. That's not a projection. I never said Nielsen would score 25 next year.

35 in 72 games for Nielsen. I doubt Daysuk would come close to either of those numbers, so I'd rather have Nielsen. Like krsmith said, cap hit for next year is largely irrelevant since they don't need it for anyone.

None. If I had to choose one, I'd pick Nielsen, because I expect more than 50 games and 20-25 points from him.

Hopefully he tears it up in camp and sticks with the team day 1 Well, a panther is another name for a cougar, so...

I don't usually expect a 41 to play in the NHL at all. 1 year $1.5 mil

I said I'd want them gone, too, as in I don't want any of them. Maybe try to work on your reading comprehension?

You don't sign a guy expecting he's only going to play 50 or 60 games unless it's a reserve player.

In response to being asked if I'd rather have Datsyuk or them.

Hopefully the Yzerplan doesn't include Datsyuk on the ice

I'd want them gone too, but Abdelkader's and Helm's deals are too long to buy out. I said at the time both deals were horrible and got grief for it. (Abby is tough and gritty!!!!!!!!! Helm's worth that much for his speed alone!!!!!!!!!!!!) Nielsen is probably about the same as a 41 year old Datsyuk would probably be, especially considering he couldn't stay healthy his last 2 years in the NHL

Where's the hell no option? His last year in the NHL he was a shadow of himself. He's not going to be better after 3 years in the KHL. He'd probably play 50 games and score maybe 30 points. Because 40-50 points isn't that great and the spot could go to a young player