Always what? I'm saying I understand the logic in taking Staal over Dumba, I just disagree with it. More and longer lasting success from good drafting vs short success to picking older players.
- Zac_O

ALways build through the draft. Collect as many young assets and trade for better fits down the road

ALways build through the draft. Collect as many young assets and trade for better fits down the road
- Larsson_fan

So don't build through the draft? Just trade for every reject from other teams and sign big name free agents to big long term deals instead? AKA the Wilds plan to be exactly mediocre forever.

So don't build through the draft? Just trade for every reject from other teams and sign big name free agents to big long term deals instead? AKA the Wilds plan to be exactly mediocre forever.
- Zac_O

Huh? Is that what you think I'm saying?

Huh? Is that what you think I'm saying?
- Larsson_fan

Not sure. I'm just being stupid I think.

Not sure. I'm just being stupid I think.
- Zac_O

Thats a good bet.

As a Blues fan, I would have been pissed if they protected Perron over Reaves. Yeah, Perron had 46 points during the regular season, but a whopping one assist in 11 playoff games. I hope he doesn't get picked by Vegas, but after watching his seemingly disinterested performance in the playoffs, I honestly don't care if he is back.

To dismiss Reaves as simply just another 4th line player tells me that these writers don't watch many Blues games. He is a huge man, great, fast skater, and some legit skill. He is the big body they need in front of the net, and he is a beast on the forecheck.
- GSimp1

RR is a great role player, but that is what he is. A 4th liner playing 10 min or less a game isn't irreplaceable. He is great at what he does, but he's aging and in a salary cap league, you can't shell out 2 mil for a 4th liner since that is probably around what he'll want. Perron is an all-situations player. What a difference the playoffs or a year makes--admittedly, Perron did not have a great playoff (perhaps an injury we don't know about?). But his regular season far surpassed what everyone expected of him, and on a nightly basis, he was one of the team's best forwards and leading by example, doing his best to fill the void of Backes/Brouwer in front of the net, killing penalties, taking PP time.

Season before last, RR was just awful, taking stupid penalties, getting suspended, and generally doing little right, plus having injury issues. I would just say one needs to look at a bigger body of work than just the last season or last post-season...

For the record, I am of the opinion Jaskin has more upside and protected him in my mocks over both Reaves & Perron. I'd like to see Jaskin working with the new coaching staff for a season before moving on from him.

Reaves is not good at hockey.
- Feds91Stammer

I disagree. He was really good at his role last year. 2 years ago, not so good.

I wouldn't have protected him, but I would have offered a side deal to not take him and another player in the 4th-5th round range.

The red wings are a dumpster fire. Terrible decisions every year are the new normal. I'm not a bandwagon fan but when terrible decisions are made wnd become routine you can't give the same level of support

Just off the top of my head:
- trading jarnkrok, Patrick eaves, and a 2nd rounder for the corpse of David legs and
- Matthias janmark, backman and a 2nd rounder for Erik cole (terrible)
- and of course the contracts that make half of our team essentially untradeable unless we throw in more assets. Howard, abdelkader, helm, gkendenning, Erickson, and my favorite. Danny dekeyser as around the 50th highest paid defender

Seriously wtf
- datswho

Your list of ails reminds me of our Cardinals. Bad luck, bad position switches, bad trades, bad luck.

Maybe it makes Detroit a favorite for Cal Peterson, though, having Mrazek out of the equation. You go with Howard a few more seasons while CP gets his feet wet in Grand Rapids, then backing up Howard and passing the reins, just as the Wings are gathering some steam after tanking a bit...

Your list of ails reminds me of our Cardinals. Bad luck, bad position switches, bad trades, bad luck.

Maybe it makes Detroit a favorite for Cal Peterson, though, having Mrazek out of the equation. You go with Howard a few more seasons while CP gets his feet wet in Grand Rapids, then backing up Howard and passing the reins, just as the Wings are gathering some steam after tanking a bit...
- Firebrand

You never know. Given the string of poor decisions I am guessing that we will take some poopmonger that will fizzle out and then sign some expensive free agent that won't make a difference. One way ticket to crapville coming up.