News Article: TSN:Stephen Weiss a target? Flip Unaffordable and Letang Available?

[InjuredChoker]

St. Louis is 5'9" and built like a tank.

Maybe with his skates on.

 

[1st Line Interloper]

I think your right in which is all the more reason that they will need to resign Brunner.

I agree. That would produce a 2nd line of:

Nyquist - Franzen - Brunner.

I would be comfortable with that. I would hope that Brunner is able to maintain his production over an 82 game season. Perhaps Tatar could come up to the 2nd line for a handful of games if necessary.

Either way, it leaves the 1st line like this:

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - UFA or Abby

It would still be nice to get Iginla/Horton, Franzen moving to center is not a space clearing move like signing/trading for Weiss is. I would prefer Weiss over Franzen because I believe Weiss is still a great two way player that had a bad season but Franzen being the 2nd line center would be my 2nd option after Weiss playing here. Franzen looked somewhat good in the games that he played center. He's not the "great" two way player that I would prefer to have at the center position but he's serviceable.

 

[Frk It]

St. Louis is 5'9" and built like a tank.

Most guys that are under 5'10" and in the NHL are built like a tank (in terms of lower body) otherwise they wouldn't be able to make it.

5'9" vs 5'7", really splitting hairs huh? lol

to be fair he is listed as 5'8" on nhl.com and in most places online, though those numbers aren't neccessarily accurate. Gionta is listed as 5'7" and I have met him in person a few times, and can tell you he's probably not even that. But his legs and lower body strength are unreal for a guy his size.

 

[nik jr]

Zetterberg was better offensively in the regular season and playoffs than Datsyuk. Just FYI.

zetterberg was better vs chicago. imo, datsyuk was better vs anaheim and clearly better in regular season, since he faced top defenders more, and drove possession a lot better.

If Briere isn't an option I honestly wouldn't mind Camalleri. Yeah he's smaller (short), but who cares? St Louis is 5'7" and led the league in points.

Camalleri has the 27th best career goals/game amongst active forwards. Better than Datsyuk and Franzen's career goals/game. Only Z has a better average on the Wings.

Guy can score goals.

Iginla would be the best option IMO, but I think a guy like Cammy would help out with scoring as well.

iginla is not a good option, imo, other than as a 2nd liner and PP specialist, but he would be too expensive.

iginla is sort of like old modano. slow and kinda lazy.

No thanks to Briere. People love the playoff performer idea but he's a defensive liability and a little you know what.

he is also not nearly as good as he used to be. this season, briere scored 16p in 34 games, while playing 2:52 on 3rd best PP.

F's giving away goals through bad defensive play is usually ignored if they also score a lot.

Just a feeling but if the Red Wings don't trade/sign Weiss, I think Franzen will be our 2nd center next season.

might be a good idea.

franzen is generally more engaged when at C, but sometimes floats when at W.

St. Louis is 5'9" and built like a tank.

he's probably closer to 5'6.

 

[Frk It]

iginla is not a good option, imo, other than as a 2nd liner and PP specialist, but he would be too expensive.

iginla is sort of like old modano. slow and kinda lazy.

Kinda like Modano... but a whole lot better

Modano's 2 seasons before he joined the wings he scored 15 and 16 goals

Iginla's 2 last seasons he has put up 32 and then 14 in 45 games which is like ~28 over a full season.

Iginla still has more left than Modano who was quite a bit older when we got him. He would be expensive but I think he could score 25-30 goals in a season with the Wings even at his age.

 

[SportsballChic]

Honestly? I don't want Iginla at any price we can't just cut him if he's "done".

He really might be frankly, I happened to see a lot of the Pens playoff games with a friend who likes them this year and I can honestly say he was very 'Franzen-esque" and by that I mean entire periods passed without you noticing that he had been on the ice in any noticeable way.

Obviously we're all just wishing here but my wish definitely involves Iginla going someplace else because I don't think he's the player his name says we'd end up paying for. He's not done, but he's not a star anymore either and we got lots of those "not a star" forwards already.

 

[Gyldenlove]

Kinda like Modano... but a whole lot better

Modano's 2 seasons before he joined the wings he scored 15 and 16 goals

Iginla's 2 last seasons he has put up 32 and then 14 in 45 games which is like ~28 over a full season.

Iginla still has more left than Modano who was quite a bit older when we got him. He would be expensive but I think he could score 25-30 goals in a season with the Wings even at his age.

Iginla now is like an older Franzen, both play smaller than they are, neither has the speed to create separation nor the power to consistently win positional battles in front of the paint. Iginla has a good shot, but he is no Brett Hull.

Iginla will be too expensive for what he brings.

 

[Gyldenlove]

I agree. That would produce a 2nd line of:

Nyquist - Franzen - Brunner.

I would be comfortable with that. I would hope that Brunner is able to maintain his production over an 82 game season. Perhaps Tatar could come up to the 2nd line for a handful of games if necessary.

Either way, it leaves the 1st line like this:

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - UFA or Abby

It would still be nice to get Iginla/Horton, Franzen moving to center is not a space clearing move like signing/trading for Weiss is. I would prefer Weiss over Franzen because I believe Weiss is still a great two way player that had a bad season but Franzen being the 2nd line center would be my 2nd option after Weiss playing here. Franzen looked somewhat good in the games that he played center. He's not the "great" two way player that I would prefer to have at the center position but he's serviceable.

I don't really want Brunner back, we already have a logjam at forward unless we trade out some youngsters and he is just plain slow on his skates - in the regular season he did okay because checking is not as tight and open ice is easier to come by so he was able to get open and use his shot (which is good), but in the playoffs he was pretty much completely shut down because of his lack of speed. On that line Nyquist managed to get several break away attempts and create some good rushes with his speed because the backs can't flip and skate with him, Brunner they could turn and skate with and he was unable to get free as a result.

 

[Frk It]

Iginla now is like an older Franzen, both play smaller than they are, neither has the speed to create separation nor the power to consistently win positional battles in front of the paint. Iginla has a good shot, but he is no Brett Hull.

Iginla will be too expensive for what he brings.

Have you watched Iginla play? Plays smaller than he is?

The guy has gotten in over 60 fights in his career, plays physical, and is probably one of the strongest guys in the league pound for pound. Very strong on the puck and plays with an edge.

Iginla is absolutely nothing like Franzen.

 

[Bench]

When Iginla was traded, he made it clear he didn't want to be a rental. I can't help but think they'll find a way to fit him into their plans somehow?

Morrow and Murray, on the other hand...