- Holland should have used a compliance buyout on Franzen. Didn't happen.
- Holland shoud have traded Jimmy Howard. Didn't happen.
- Holland should have traded for Tyler Myers. Didn't happen.
- Holland should have traded Justin Abdelkader. Didn't happen.
- Holland should sit on his thumbs and let Blashill do his thing. Hopefully this happens.
We need to draft cheap elite talent at the top of the draft and get Holland to retire so Stevie Y can take over.
Please let this happen.
1) Yeah, maybe. At the time of the buyout, Franzen was still a top 6 forward and not a candidate for LTIR because of concussions. You could say they should have used it regardless because of the length of the deal, but Johan Franzen made this team much better when he was playing.
2) Why? When? When we had Jonas Gustavsson as the backup? When Petr Mrazek was playing in the world juniors for the Czechs and was still two-three years away? When we had Ty Conklin backing him up? It has not been reasonable until this year to potentially deal Howard because Mrazek has proven he can handle the load and Howard actually has rebuilt some value. Any idea of dealing Howard a couple years ago is ridiculous hindsight at best.
3) Larkin and a 1st for Tyler Myers? So, Larkin and Svech for Myers? Yeah, I don't want that. Also, wanting to deal Mantha++ is again, ridiculous hindsight. At the time the deal was being offered, Mantha was a budding top 6 forward with size and scoring ability who was going to be given a chance to make the Wings as a 19 year old.
4) Trade Abby for what? Replace Abby with who? It's easy to throw out a "he should have done this" when you give no specifics. Justin Abdelkader is one of those types of players who are infinitely more valuable to you than what another team would give you for him. Say you get a second round pick for him (which is probably generous), you have literally nothing in the way of physicality on the roster.
5) Finally, one I agree with. Holland should just let Blashill work with the team to get it to an effective one utilizing his gameplan. Help him out by adding pieces where necessary, but don't micromanage him.
I would be alright with Yzerman taking over for Holland. Not because Holland is a dumpster fire or anything, but Yzerman has proven to be a great GM in his own right. You might not be singing his praises as much as you do now if he does come here though. With the roster and atmosphere he'd have in Detroit, he probably wouldn't operate much differently than Holland.