Dead Thing
Registered User
- Jun 24, 2018
- 91
- 27
I know it may be a week too early, but I don't think that this weeks results would change any of my thoughts on what I would like to see happen this off season and next years team make up.
For as much as our latest little winning streak may encourage some much needed optimism regarding next years playoff chances, I still think we will be on the outside looking in. For the life of me, I can't see us beating out TB, Boston or Toronto to be a top 3 division winner. As for a wild card place, I think we would rank behind Montreal, Carolina, Philly, Florida and possibly the Blue Jackets(depending on how many of their UFAs they manage to retain). So 1 more year out of the playoffs.
Management: I am far from Ken Holland's worst critic among Wings' fans( and I thank him for being instrumental in the 4 Cups he was involved in) but(after he fulfills his last year of his present deal)I think it is time for him to move on, or up, with him vacating the GM post. Bring in Stevie in an advisory role for 19/20 and then take over as GM in 20/21. Our drafting lately has been spotty at best and I think Yzerman can easily improve this situation.
This off season, I hope that Holland restrains himself from any UFA signings other than possibly Kronwall(if he feels he has one more season in him). This means no Vanek and Witkowski. I truly believe that none of the major UFAs like Karlsson, Panarin, Duchene or Bobrovsky would seriously consider the Wings no matter how much money they were offered. Save the cap space for 20/21 when Mantha, AA, and Bert(amongst others) will need contract extensions with significant raises.
Coaching: Not the biggest Blashill fan, but I'm OK with his 2 yr. extension. This means that Stevie can bring in his own guy in a year costing the Wings only 1 year in salary if he fires Blash. As the Wings presently rank 22nd in PP and 27th in PK, we could use up grades in these coaching positions. I personally would love to see Adam Oates brought on board to fine tune the PP.
Roster: With respect to NMC/NTCs and cap hit situations this is how I see the roster playing out(with some wishful thinking along the way).
Forward keepers:
Larkin: Team leader and future captain. Enough said.
AA: Has finally showed the talent and, more importantly the consistency, that we have all been waiting for. Not sure if he is a true center or better on the wing, but either way he is a top 6 forward. His speed alone makes him a keeper.
Mantha: His recent 5 game point splurge should put to rest any questions about how productive he can be. I have no doubt that he is easily capable of 30/30 in the future(would 40/40 be out of the question?).
Bert: Again, his recent production only bodes extremely well for the future. At worst, a highly productive 3rd liner.
Zadina: If the Wings kept Rasmussen on the big team this year, really can't see how Zadina doesn't make the big team next year. He will make mistakes, but he will learn.
Rasmussen: I would have sent back to junior this yr(as I not sure that playing just 12 minutes a game helped improve his game all that much). Also, not sure where he best fits in best-as a winger or as a center. I was one, of the apparently few, Wings fans who were happy with his 1st rd.(10th OA)selection in 2017. I can easily envision both Ras and Mantha bracketing any of Larkin, AA or Veleno in the next couple of years.
Abby: His NTC and cap hit means that he will be on the roster for the immediate future. If only we could see a little more production.
Nielsen: His cap hit and modified NTC(10 team no trade list) suggests that he is around for a while unless a deal can be made with some sort of retention. The question is how much.
This leaves 5 spots with Helm, Glenny, Hirose, Frk, Ehn and DeLarose having the inside tract. Although it's a small sample size Hirose has impressed and will definitely press for a spot. Veleno had a magnificent season and is off to a great start in the playoffs but will likely need a year in GR to adapt to the pro game. As for Svetch, no doubt he will start in GR to insure that he has fully recovered from his knee injury.
Defense keepers:
DDK: Has a full NTC until Jan. 2021 when he can then submit a 10 team no trade list. His cap hit is another factor(although his $5 mil hit doesn't even land him in the top 50 of NHL dmen).
Kronner: as stated above, he might come back for one more season. Had a decent yr. missing only 3 games so welcome back if he so chooses.
Hronek and Cholo must be on the big team next year.
Green, Daley and Ericisson are all entering the last yr of their present contracts.
Depending an any moves, Bowey and Sulak will be in the mix.
Goal keepers:
Howard and Bernier. Can't see this changing for the start of the yr.
Potential/likely tradeables;
Helm: If I understand his NTC clause, he can now be traded as the Wings missed the playoffs(his second condition revolves around ice time). Hard to believe that some team who needs help with PK(not to mention adding his speed) would not have some interest, especially if we retain $1.350 mil to make his cap hit a reasonable $2.5 mil. This move might happen in off season and he would be a valuable addition to a playoff bound team at the TDL.
Glenny: His cap hit of $1.8 mil is very affordable in this day and age of the NHL. His value rests in his PK play and, as importantly, his winning faceoff of 55%.
Green: His full NTC is in effect until Feb. 1st 2020(well in advance of the 2020 TDL)when he submits a 10 team no trade list(likely to be non playoff teams). Got to believe that he would be a very sought after asset being a right handed shot who can QB a second team power play.
Daley: Can presently submit a 15 team no trade list. He could be moved during the off season, but would definitely attract some interest at the TDL for depth purposes if nothing else.
Ericsson: One more guy in his last year of present deal. He actually has more a restrictive NTC with a 19 team no trade list. Might be easier to just buy him out.
As for our 1st pick in the upcoming draft, that will obviously depend on where we finish-which could as high as #1(if we were to win the lottery) or as low as the 14th pick (if we win our last three games and none of the Sabres, Rangers, Ducks, Oilers or the Canucks gain any points to overtake us and remembering that the lottery allows teams to jump into the top 3). While I would obviously love a top 3 pick, I'm thinking that our recent winning streak has probably put us in the 4-8 pick range. Potential picks in this spread include LD Bowen Byram, C Kirby Dach(6'4") and C/RW Dylan Cozens(6'3"). A later pick might be G Spencer Knight(who is that rare tender projected in the 1st rd.). Although we have been playing very well lately, I'm hoping that since the Penquins have yet to secure a playoff spot, they will be very motivated to win out and that would include 2 wins against the Wings.
Let the good times roll.
For as much as our latest little winning streak may encourage some much needed optimism regarding next years playoff chances, I still think we will be on the outside looking in. For the life of me, I can't see us beating out TB, Boston or Toronto to be a top 3 division winner. As for a wild card place, I think we would rank behind Montreal, Carolina, Philly, Florida and possibly the Blue Jackets(depending on how many of their UFAs they manage to retain). So 1 more year out of the playoffs.
Management: I am far from Ken Holland's worst critic among Wings' fans( and I thank him for being instrumental in the 4 Cups he was involved in) but(after he fulfills his last year of his present deal)I think it is time for him to move on, or up, with him vacating the GM post. Bring in Stevie in an advisory role for 19/20 and then take over as GM in 20/21. Our drafting lately has been spotty at best and I think Yzerman can easily improve this situation.
This off season, I hope that Holland restrains himself from any UFA signings other than possibly Kronwall(if he feels he has one more season in him). This means no Vanek and Witkowski. I truly believe that none of the major UFAs like Karlsson, Panarin, Duchene or Bobrovsky would seriously consider the Wings no matter how much money they were offered. Save the cap space for 20/21 when Mantha, AA, and Bert(amongst others) will need contract extensions with significant raises.
Coaching: Not the biggest Blashill fan, but I'm OK with his 2 yr. extension. This means that Stevie can bring in his own guy in a year costing the Wings only 1 year in salary if he fires Blash. As the Wings presently rank 22nd in PP and 27th in PK, we could use up grades in these coaching positions. I personally would love to see Adam Oates brought on board to fine tune the PP.
Roster: With respect to NMC/NTCs and cap hit situations this is how I see the roster playing out(with some wishful thinking along the way).
Forward keepers:
Larkin: Team leader and future captain. Enough said.
AA: Has finally showed the talent and, more importantly the consistency, that we have all been waiting for. Not sure if he is a true center or better on the wing, but either way he is a top 6 forward. His speed alone makes him a keeper.
Mantha: His recent 5 game point splurge should put to rest any questions about how productive he can be. I have no doubt that he is easily capable of 30/30 in the future(would 40/40 be out of the question?).
Bert: Again, his recent production only bodes extremely well for the future. At worst, a highly productive 3rd liner.
Zadina: If the Wings kept Rasmussen on the big team this year, really can't see how Zadina doesn't make the big team next year. He will make mistakes, but he will learn.
Rasmussen: I would have sent back to junior this yr(as I not sure that playing just 12 minutes a game helped improve his game all that much). Also, not sure where he best fits in best-as a winger or as a center. I was one, of the apparently few, Wings fans who were happy with his 1st rd.(10th OA)selection in 2017. I can easily envision both Ras and Mantha bracketing any of Larkin, AA or Veleno in the next couple of years.
Abby: His NTC and cap hit means that he will be on the roster for the immediate future. If only we could see a little more production.
Nielsen: His cap hit and modified NTC(10 team no trade list) suggests that he is around for a while unless a deal can be made with some sort of retention. The question is how much.
This leaves 5 spots with Helm, Glenny, Hirose, Frk, Ehn and DeLarose having the inside tract. Although it's a small sample size Hirose has impressed and will definitely press for a spot. Veleno had a magnificent season and is off to a great start in the playoffs but will likely need a year in GR to adapt to the pro game. As for Svetch, no doubt he will start in GR to insure that he has fully recovered from his knee injury.
Defense keepers:
DDK: Has a full NTC until Jan. 2021 when he can then submit a 10 team no trade list. His cap hit is another factor(although his $5 mil hit doesn't even land him in the top 50 of NHL dmen).
Kronner: as stated above, he might come back for one more season. Had a decent yr. missing only 3 games so welcome back if he so chooses.
Hronek and Cholo must be on the big team next year.
Green, Daley and Ericisson are all entering the last yr of their present contracts.
Depending an any moves, Bowey and Sulak will be in the mix.
Goal keepers:
Howard and Bernier. Can't see this changing for the start of the yr.
Potential/likely tradeables;
Helm: If I understand his NTC clause, he can now be traded as the Wings missed the playoffs(his second condition revolves around ice time). Hard to believe that some team who needs help with PK(not to mention adding his speed) would not have some interest, especially if we retain $1.350 mil to make his cap hit a reasonable $2.5 mil. This move might happen in off season and he would be a valuable addition to a playoff bound team at the TDL.
Glenny: His cap hit of $1.8 mil is very affordable in this day and age of the NHL. His value rests in his PK play and, as importantly, his winning faceoff of 55%.
Green: His full NTC is in effect until Feb. 1st 2020(well in advance of the 2020 TDL)when he submits a 10 team no trade list(likely to be non playoff teams). Got to believe that he would be a very sought after asset being a right handed shot who can QB a second team power play.
Daley: Can presently submit a 15 team no trade list. He could be moved during the off season, but would definitely attract some interest at the TDL for depth purposes if nothing else.
Ericsson: One more guy in his last year of present deal. He actually has more a restrictive NTC with a 19 team no trade list. Might be easier to just buy him out.
As for our 1st pick in the upcoming draft, that will obviously depend on where we finish-which could as high as #1(if we were to win the lottery) or as low as the 14th pick (if we win our last three games and none of the Sabres, Rangers, Ducks, Oilers or the Canucks gain any points to overtake us and remembering that the lottery allows teams to jump into the top 3). While I would obviously love a top 3 pick, I'm thinking that our recent winning streak has probably put us in the 4-8 pick range. Potential picks in this spread include LD Bowen Byram, C Kirby Dach(6'4") and C/RW Dylan Cozens(6'3"). A later pick might be G Spencer Knight(who is that rare tender projected in the 1st rd.). Although we have been playing very well lately, I'm hoping that since the Penquins have yet to secure a playoff spot, they will be very motivated to win out and that would include 2 wins against the Wings.
Let the good times roll.
