detroit and to a lesser degree the devils seem to stay competitive every year even when they are considered "weak"

i wouldnt count out detroit until they show that they are going downhill
- dmarsden2988

Detroit will be just fine and the devils did not contend at all two seasons ago when parise was hurt soo...

Of that list, the only ones I think have some potential to be top pairing/top line NHL guys are Jurco, Smith and Frk, though all have some drawbacks (and Frk is probably a longer way away). Tatar/Nyquist might be decent second/third liners. I'm not particularly impressed with either Mursak or Kindl -- both are probably career role players. Pyett is a long shot. McCollum is awful.

Off the list, I'd add Mrazek (goalie) and Pulkkinen (forward) as guys that have high-end potential but are definitely works in progress.

Bottom line, while the Wings could strike gold and turn one or two of those guys into NHL all-stars, I'm far from sold on any of them. And Smith is probably the only one that might be there in the next 1-2 years.

We just have to hope that Datsyuk and Zetterberg stay productive long enough for a few of those guys to (hopefully) emerge or a marquee free agent to stop on by.
- Sven22

They probably picked someone in the 7th round this year who will eventually be the best player in the league.

Detroit will be just fine and the devils did not contend at all two seasons ago when parise was hurt soo...
- Genev21

and that was the 1st season out of 16 that they missed the playoffs, followed by going to the finals

and the reason they didnt make the playoffs had little to do with parise, they werent doing well with him before he was injured, look what happened after the coaching change

devils have the best record in the east since that coaching change

Makes you wonder why they let Hudler walk away like that.
- flamminghead

They would have signed him, but Hudler is not worth 3 million a year much less four. Put him with good offensive players and he can get some points but he is a liability on the ice most of the time. He's small and slow his offense relies completely on his linemates.

They probably picked someone in the 7th round this year who will eventually be the best player in the league.
- Genev21

The last time anything even close to that happened was 13 years ago, when the Wings picked Zetterberg 210th overall.

Drafting is hard and the Wings do it fairly well generally, but Holland, his colleagues and predecessors get way too much credit today for the work they did in the late 80s to mid 90s (when they genuinely had a big advantage in European scouting) and also pulling Datsyuk and Zetterberg out of nowhere.

The last ten or so years, the record is pretty middling.

They probably picked someone in the 7th round this year who will eventually be the best player in the league.
- Genev21

Saying we missed the playoffs because Parise was hurt. Brilliant.

The case could definitely be made for more, but I stopped at 10 just to show he falls into that average middle class
- FourFeathers773

should a hawks troll really hop a wings fan about their goalie? don't think so.

Saying we missed the playoffs because Parise was hurt. Brilliant.
- rmdevil313

He said they missed when Parise was hurt not because of it.

He said they missed when Parise was hurt not because of it.
- flamminghead

He implied it.

No...his time is done. Can we get a Canucks vs Leafs debate going AGAIN, they're much more fun than talking about this old horse.
- LeftCoaster

What's a Canucks/Leafs debate? What's there to debate?

homer was a warrior, i've never seen a player take so much abuse and never draw a penalty...but the key word = WAS and it's time for the wings to move on. although looking at the recent track record of keeping guys around a year longer than they should have, (maltby, draper, chelios, mccarty) i wouldn't be surprised if he signs and sits in the press box all season.

they need to give some of the rooks a chance to succeed or fail this season.

homer was a warrior, i've never seen a player take so much abuse and never draw a penalty...but the key word = WAS and it's time for the wings to move on. although looking at the recent track record of keeping guys around a year longer than they should have, (maltby, draper, chelios, mccarty) i wouldn't be surprised if he signs and sits in the press box all season.

they need to give some of the rooks a chance to succeed or fail this season.
- houseofcards74

tatar.

ya he can come back.


and play in the alumni game..

tatar.
- tomburton99

tatar, nyquist, smith will all "get a chance"

homer was a warrior, i've never seen a player take so much abuse and never draw a penalty...but the key word = WAS and it's time for the wings to move on. although looking at the recent track record of keeping guys around a year longer than they should have, (maltby, draper, chelios, mccarty) i wouldn't be surprised if he signs and sits in the press box all season.

they need to give some of the rooks a chance to succeed or fail this season.
- houseofcards74

That's not the Wings' style. They like to keep their kids rotting in the minors for 5 years before they get even a sniff at the NHL. Like Brendan Smith.

I thinke we will see more of Howard looking like how he started last season before the injury.
- Genev21

Not with that defense in front of him...

tatar.
- tomburton99

If Tatar, Panik, Jurco, Frk, Collberg, Straka, Galiev, Kabanov don't all make it to NHL, i have to apologize to Brian Huddle and tell him he was right when he left them very low with his prospect list. I don't think his gonna forgive me.

If Tatar, Panik, Jurco, Frk, Collberg, Straka, Galiev, Kabanov don't all make it to NHL, i have to apologize to Brian Huddle and tell him he was right when he left them very low with his prospect list. I don't think his gonna forgive me.
- NOAH_U

Kabanov?

Jimmy Howard gets more praise than he should. He had a roller coaster first couple of years.

He was red hot to start this past year, missed some time with a minor break in his hand, and regressed back into an average goalie.

I havent seen anything to say he is above average yet. Not at all saying he is bad, but people put him in the top 10 of hockey, which he isnt. If youre 11-20, thats average.

In no order, Lundqvist, Quick, Rinne, Miller, Thomas (even though he is taking the year off) Kipper, Halak, Luongo, Price, Backstrom, Ward
- FourFeathers773

I wouldn't be surprised to see Jonas really come in to his own in detroit and push Howard aside for the number 1

detroit and to a lesser degree the devils seem to stay competitive every year even when they are considered "weak"

i wouldnt count out detroit until they show that they are going downhill
- dmarsden2988

I thought Detroit had some really solid prospects as well

What's a Canucks/Leafs debate? What's there to debate?
- Flyfreaky

Who will screw who in the inevitable luongo trade

Kabanov?
- cor99

Kirill

Who will screw who in the inevitable luongo trade
- Yeti1181

If Holmstrom can still be effective then yes.

but if his knees are that bad, then I'd concider retirement and joinning Lidstrom as a scout.
though decision to make.

No one gives a flying F$ucK.....