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[Son of Sam99]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nickflyers

What's Smith's overall? Hiller AND a 1st is really steep

88. it was steep for sure but for one thing Smith's contract was for like $1 million less and the last few drafts have been REALLY weak.

[Son of Sam99]

[Nickflyers]

Quote: Originally Posted by Son of Sam99

88. it was steep for sure but for one thing Smith's contract was for like $1 million less and the last few drafts have been REALLY weak.

Nicely done then

[Son of Sam99]

The Weird, Wild Red Wings Off Season

Red Wings General Manager Rick Watkins has never been shy about doing whatever it takes to make his team better, but rarely in the conventional way. While most franchises will make a deal here or there on draft day then turn over the roster as needed at the trading deadline Watkins seems to figure he’ll flip the script, make most moves during the offseason and add here or there if injuries so require.

Key contributors to the current Red Wings team that Watkins has brought in via trade include Connor McDavid, Vlad Tarasenko, Michael Grabner, Cal Clutterbuck, Jarred Tindori, TJ Brodie, and Mike Smith. You may not be familiar with those last two as Red Wingers, we’ll get to that.

While the current NHL covets young talent over anything Watkins sells his draft picks like he’s setting his team up to win the next four Stanley Cups and doesn’t care for any criticism when editorials (like this one) find their way to print.

Perhaps the best example of this brazen attitude toward deal making was the 2015 NHL entry draft when through much deal making Watkins dumped three players he had absolutely no use for (& could be argued no one else did either) for basically all late round draft picks.

As if nobody was aware what was happening until it was all said and done all of the sudden Watkins had cut $8.13 million from his salary which he then used to load up on free agents Keeton Ellerby, Jarred Tindori, and Jonathan Bernier.

Well that was the best example until this summer.

At the end of last season Watkins and the Red Wings had a problem between the pipes in the form of Jonathan Bernier (not all deals work out in the end after all). Though Bernier helped the team win a Stanley Cup his performance was subpar and the team had to rely too often on their prolific scorers. So Watkins rolled up his sleeves and made some deals.

This time though he waited until the free agency period and fired the first shot by signing Jonas Hiller to a 4 year $6 million deal.

Absurd we all called it! And it was. Tying up $12 million on two goalies when you can only play one! Not only that but any leverage to be had for trading Bernier evaporated as now the entire league and their brother know the franchises intention.

Upon further reflection the Hiller deal wasn’t terrible. His deal was up with Anaheim and while the Ducks didn’t want to pay him somebody certainly would. A career 2.55 GAA hasn’t commanded $6 million per year in the past but it’s a new day in the NHL.

Well less than a month later Watkins admitted defeat on the deal from two years ago and sent his beleaguered net minder to San Jose along with a whopping $6 million in cash to help the Sharks pay for Bernier. In exchange for that ransom Detroit managed to get lifetime AHL goalie Alex Stalock and a 2018 2nd round pick.

REDICULOUS! Everyone cried. Why throw bad money after good and double down on the crazy shell game of goalkeepers!? Stalock will never be an NHL level goaltender and the Wings will still be paying for Bernier for the next three years of his deal until he surly flames out in San Jose.

Red Wings fans and NHL pundits alike called for Watkins to quit while he was behind. Hiller appeared a lateral move at best and the Bernier deal had the optics of a GM paying off another franchise to deal with a problem player he didn’t want anymore. Mainly because that’s exactly what it was.
Watkins could fold his hand and just glide into the season with the roster he had. After all he can surly boast the best lineup of skaters in the league plus Connor McDavid would finally be donning the winged wheel.

Perhaps it’s that exact amount of PR capital that spurred this whole trading spree. Watkins knew no matter where this odyssey ended up at the beginning of the season his head coach, Jeff Blashill, would still be writing names like Kronwall, Smith, Datsyuk, McDavid, Sheahan, and Tarasenko into the lineup card every night. How bad could he really make the team as long as those studs are still available?

Suddenly though a trap door appeared in Arizona. Just two days after Bernier became a Shark the Coyotes announced that their goalkeeper was unhappy, requested a trade and that they were attempting to appease this request (demand).

The reports out of the Coyotes front office are that the Wings’ GM was on the phone within minutes after the Smith news hit the wire with a ‘take it or leave it’ deal of Hiller plus a 2019 first round pick for Mike Smith. Arizona took it.

So for those keeping score at home Detroit has now had three “starting” goalies in as many weeks.

Suddenly maybe Watkins isn’t so crazy maybe?

The roster though still was incomplete. The franchise was up against the salary cap and still hadn’t signed young defenseman Martin Marincin who was holding out for $4 million a year. This was odd considering Danny DeKeyser had already been sent packing after requesting roughly the same amount but the team’s blue line was looking thin at the bottom.

Apparently deciding to solve one problem with another Watkins traded the rights to Martin Marincin for Calgary Flame TJ Brodie and $1.3 million per year of the rest of his two year deal. This got the Wings’ the NHL level defenseman they needed and shipped off Marincin who was a luxury the team couldn’t afford. In effect saving the franchise over $2 million in cap space.

[DrGravyBoat]

Gnarly wheeling n' dealing you got going on in Detroit.

TJ Brodie is an absolute stud on defense, and should provide you a great option on the back-end.

[Son of Sam99]

Quote: Originally Posted by DrGravyBoat

Gnarly wheeling n' dealing you got going on in Detroit. TJ Brodie is an absolute stud on defense, and should provide you a great option on the back-end.

Thanks! probably got a little carried away but worked out in the end. I liked Marincin A LOT; young, powerful, excellent poke check. As mentioned though I needed some speed on the blue line and I frankly couldn't pay for him. Already like 2 months into next season and TJ Brodie is a STEAL!!

[Son of Sam99]

Entry: September 10th, 2017

“Pride goeth before the fall” huh? Well I suppose that doesn’t concern me because I’m pretty damn fired up about this roster that I’ve been able to put together.

The offseason negotiations were fierce to say the least and I’d be lying if I were to say the front office staff isn’t more than a little worn out. Everyone really had to put in a lot of extra hours not only to pull off those three big trades but the amount of research that goes into these decisions is mammoth.

In the offices over the summer time we had myself, our director of player development, the director of statistical analysis, two assistant coaches helping out, our goalies coach obviously, our S&C manager, the director of pro scouting, all four pro scouts, AND the director of armature scouting for good measure. Not to mention probably five interns and six personal assistants. Everyone working together seamlessly to make these three big time trades and bring home a premium goalie to finally man our crease.

I wasn’t thinking about it at the time but the pressure really was on us to deliver the best possible roster this offseason. Opening up the Motor City Fieldhouse, the fans are going to be stacked to the rafters no matter what. But I wanted to make sure they’re not just coming to see the shiny new building, but also to see our guys win a lot.

As for the actual guys that comprise this roster, I’m excited to have Vlad Tarasenko back and healthy and ready to bury that signature wrister of his. Landon Ferraro is looking to have a breakout year, Gustav Nyquist scored 30 goals last season while playing almost exclusively on the 3rd line! I expect Michael Grabner to be able to net at least 30 assuming he can give us around 75 games this season.

And, of course, we have Connor McDavid set to finally step on a sheet of NHL ice. We’re not expecting a whole lot of leadership out of him, he’s not really the ‘rah-rah’ type, but we are expecting him to win the Calder Trophy or at least finish in the top three finalists.

Overall I think we might be a year away… Probably the pessimist in me but I think we’ve got so many young guys that are learning from our veterans, but so much youth that it might be a struggle come playoff time. I have no doubt though that this team will make the playoffs and compete, hopefully a little longer than last season.

[Son of Sam99]

Red Wings Season Preview

Detroit, MI-

Nobody is able to halt the march of time and the off season turnover of the Red Wings’ roster is certainly evidence of that. Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen have both moved on to retirement and a new team respectively while 39 year old Pavel Datsyuk surprised most by signing a new 2 year deal to stay with the franchise.

While the core of talent has aged over the years fans have been treated to the rise of youngsters such as Joakim Andersson, Riley Sheahan, and Landon Ferraro all of which are expected to see consistent ice time from the drop of the puck to the conclusion of the season.

Certainly the largest change coming into the 2017-18 season will be where The Wings play their home games. Joe Louis Arena has been closed out and awaits demolition. The Red Wings front offices are already up and running in their new home; Motor City Fieldhouse. After the season begins on the road in Toronto the Wings will open their new digs to the rest of the NHL on October 16th in a return match up with the Leafs.

Probable Line Parings

FWD 1: Abdelkader - Datsyuk - Taresenko
FWD 2: Sheahan - McDavid - Grabner
FWD 3: Nyquist - Andersson - Clutterbuck
FWD 4: Ferraro – Weiss – Mantha

Yet again Abdelkader, Datsyuk and Tarasenko will be the first line on the ice this season. This being the third straight opening night this trio has been paired by now it’s said they can communicate just by passing the puck to each other. Pavel took the Rocket Richard award last season and it is expected that Tarasenko will challenge for it this year with is leg back at full health.

Michael Grabner is back healthy as well and he’ll slot in with Riley Sheahan and Connor McDavid. There is no longer any worry from coaches or front officers that McDavid isn’t 100% ready for the NHL and they fully expect him to win the Calder trophy.

Coaches will be looking to the bottom two lines for increased contributions on the scoring end from each of the bottom two lines. Landon Ferraro provided a boost last season and will have to overcome any potential sophomore slump this year.

We’ll have to see if Joakim Andersson stays on the third line or if Coach Blashill moves him up during the season. Coaches are saying they look for him to expand his leadership role while Datsyuk’s time at the club winds down.

DEF 1: Kronwall - Smith
DEF 2: Quincey - Tinordi
DEF 3: Brodie – Oulett

Jakub Kindl, Danny DeKeyser, and Martin Marincin are all long gone but currently the only new face on the blue line is TJ Brodie who came over from Calgary. Brodie will slot into the third D paring with Xavier Oulett who has earned every night duties apparently. Based on the preseason though Blashill will also expect Brodie to fill in on the power play and penalty kill as he brings with him the speed which the Wings’ defense has sorely lacked over the last two seasons.

The top four defenders; Kronwall, Smith, Quincey, and Tindori are steady as ever when on the ice but each have had injury concern over the last season. If this corps of blue liners can keep their health there is no reason to expect anything other than a big step forward in the teams goals allowed per game.

Goalies: Mike Smith – Anders Nilsson

Mike Smith will step into the goalie crease on opening night with much fan fair from Wing’s supporters. With a sub 2.50 GAA each of the last two years Smith could provide the lockdown net minder Detroit has been searching for since Jimmy Howard was dealt to St. Louis four years ago. If Smith does preform as expected many are predicting the season to be academic and are ready to start engraving the Stanley Cup with Red Wings names.

Anders Nilsson will fill the backup role for the second straight year. While he was far from a disaster last season the hope is that he can give the team 30 or so games that won’t be written off as losses as soon as it is announced that he will be that night’s starter

Olympics

Another four years and another NHL season disrupted by the Olympics. Naturally this will mean two and a half weeks of no Red Wings hockey in February followed by a feverish pace in March and April.

The Red Wings expect to send numerous players to PyeongChang to represent their country while hoping against hope that those same players return healthy and with plenty of gas left in the tank.

It will be up to head coach Jeff Blashill to give guys the rest they need down the stretch as there are numerous instances of two games in three nights right as everyone in the league is ramping up to push for a playoff spot.

Captains

With the roster having basically been set for the past month the hot topic in Detroit has been who will take over as captain in place of the departed Henrik Zetterberg? Both coaches and teammates have been tight lipped about it with a vote to come the night before the regular season opener.

Assuming one of the assistant captains (Niklas Kronwall or Pavel Datsyuk) puts on the C then who will be the new assistant?

Word is that players, coaches, and front office staff will all have a vote but fans seem to unanimously agree that youngster Connor McDavid should be the one wearing the famous captain’s C.