Erik Marsh: WING THINGS: Bruins too much to handle, but plenty to look forward to

cant blame the young kids

for example in Datsyuks first 42 playoff games he only had 3 goals and 12 assists. so im not worried about them.

other notes:

tootoo will most likely be bought out (detroit has 1 buyout left ,used the other on colavoccio)

Franzen wont be bought out

They said there will be changes on defense. they will acquire a top 4 defenseman.
But, they are also looking to integrate Sproul,Oulette,Marchenko.

Bertuzzi,Cleary,Samuelsson and probably Quincey wont be back

Kindl could be traded

They MIGHT acquire a scoring winger.??? I dont know how.. Moulson..?

Finally, a lot of growth will come from within. Mantha is coming from juniors, Ferrarro is out of AHL options.

The Holland quote about not being a development program for other teams was actually in the context of a question about letting Blashill interview with other teams. Considering they let Nill go last year, Maclean and Mclellan previously, and Babcock said he is looking to go year to year on his contract, I think this somewhat confirms Blashill is first in line if a new head coach is needed.

The Holland quote about not being a development program for other teams was actually in the context of a question about letting Blashill interview with other teams. Considering they let Nill go last year, Maclean and Mclellan previously, and Babcock said he is looking to go year to year on his contract, I think this somewhat confirms Blashill is first in line if a new head coach is needed.
- JohnnySoze

Hope you are right and happens sooner then later. Starting to question Babs line combos and using players incorrectly.

It would be nice if Kenny went after Niskanen and Vanek hard, overpay do what ever it takes.

The Holland quote about not being a development program for other teams was actually in the context of a question about letting Blashill interview with other teams. Considering they let Nill go last year, Maclean and Mclellan previously, and Babcock said he is looking to go year to year on his contract, I think this somewhat confirms Blashill is first in line if a new head coach is needed.
- JohnnySoze

This is what I was going to say after reading the blog. With the way Babcock was talking about a contract extension (like he doesn't really care if he gets one or not because he knows plenty of teams will give him what he wants), the Wings can't lose Blashill. He has done a great job with the young players and he likely wouldn't be afraid to use them and put them in the right situation...something Babcock seems reluctant to do unless he has no other options.

Would like Quincey to be replaced with a real top 4 guy...also lashoff to be replaced with Sproul...

Also should add a top 6 right handed winger


Kids weren't ready for playoffs and vets were too injured

cant blame the young kids

for example in Datsyuks first 42 playoff games he only had 3 goals and 12 assists. so im not worried about them.

other notes:

tootoo will most likely be bought out (detroit has 1 buyout left ,used the other on colavoccio)

Franzen wont be bought out

They said there will be changes on defense. they will acquire a top 4 defenseman.
But, they are also looking to integrate Sproul,Oulette,Marchenko.

Bertuzzi,Cleary,Samuelsson and probably Quincey wont be back

Kindl could be traded

They MIGHT acquire a scoring winger.??? I dont know how.. Moulson..?

Finally, a lot of growth will come from within. Mantha is coming from juniors, Ferrarro is out of AHL options.
- Jurco_28

Babs said he likes Marchenko and Sproul cause they are right handed and I agree...lots of frustrating 2 on 1 where they are left handed or puck comes to the blue line and our d men are on their backhand ...

Not sure if there is much of a FA pool to pick up players lol

Would like Quincey to be replaced with a real top 4 guy...also lashoff to be replaced with Sproul...

Also should add a top 6 right handed winger


Kids weren't ready for playoffs and vets were too injured
- HomestyleMelt

Kindl can go too


it could be

Ericsson Kronwall
DeKeyser ?(Sproul,UFA)
Smith Marchenko/Lashoff

Lashoff should be the 7th guy no matter what

I think the biggest thing in Motown, is to go from "we can do some damage" to "lets develop mode".

Everyone will look at the Wings different and I think that will change the pressure of the organization for at least a short period. Wings played alot of hockey for the past 6-7 years, some rest/repair for the leaders on this team and some new youth will bring life, but we all know how development can work... some painful losses coming up, but I think the Wings will get back to a regular playoff team at some point with more depth vs strength we are used too.

Kindl can go too


it could be

Ericsson Kronwall
DeKeyser ?(Sproul,UFA)
Smith Marchenko/Lashoff

Lashoff should be the 7th guy no matter what
- Jurco_28

Disagree with Lashoff. Only thing he brings is size. He's not good at moving the puck or generating any offense at all and not good defensively losing his man all the time. He belongs in the AHL or in Europe with his better hockey playing brother Matt. Wings need to upgrade him with someone that can at least do one thing right.

Disagree with Lashoff. Only thing he brings is size. He's not good at moving the puck or generating any offense at all and not good defensively losing his man all the time. He belongs in the AHL or in Europe with his better hockey playing brother Matt. Wings need to upgrade him with someone that can at least do one thing right.
- dcz28

theyll keep him as thr 7th. cheap option, bigger body, he was forced into full time duty because of injuries

theyll keep him as thr 7th. cheap option, bigger body, he was forced into full time duty because of injuries
- Jurco_28

Still doesn't change the fact he just doesn't do anything well...he just has size and I'm sure they could find someone on the market as cheap that would at least be a better option as 7th. Janik was better than Lashoff so upgrading him shouldn't be a problem at all for cheap.

Defense wise, best-case-yet-still-realistic scenario I think is they let Quincey walk, trade Kindl and Lashoff (or even send Lashoff to the minors -- I'll bet he would clear), bring in one solid, at least above-average defenseman via free agency (Niskanen, Markov, Gilbert, Boyle, Timonen, Stralman, Robidas ...) or via trade, and promote two guys from within (probably Almquist for waiver eligibility reasons, plus one of Ouellet, Sproul, Marchenko, or Backman). The D probably gets a little better, gets a little younger (with a lot more potential), and you still have a couple of studs on the farm you can call if you get into injury trouble.

I don't think Lashoff and Kindl are terrible; they aren't the worst D in the league by any stretch. But they're clear third-pairing quality guys, and neither of them realistically has much upside beyond that. They're okay to have on your team for 2-3 years while you've got good prospects cooking or looking for external upgrades, but right now with so many good young defenseman in the system who could (1) replace their production right away and (2) have the potential to become much greater, Kindl and Lashoff are in the way. Time to move on.

Same sort of deal with Quincey. I don't think he's nearly as bad as people say he is. But the Red Wings clearly need to upgrade their defensive unit as a whole this offseason, and Quincey's contract is expiring. Letting him walk and signing one of the 10-12 or so free agent D better than he is (or swinging a trade for an upgrade) seems like the likeliest and easiest scenario for upgrading the top 4. That said, I would probably be fine with re-signing Quincey as a fallback should the Wings strike out on adding a D from outside the organization, provided Kindl and Lash get their walking papers.

In other news, I was at the Griffins game on Wednesday and I'm going again tonight. Got my first chance to watch Mattias Backman and, with the usual caveats (can't really learn very much for sure from watching only one game), he looked very solid. He was working the No. 1 powerplay unit with Pulkkinen, Callahan, Sheahan, and Jurco and looked very comfortable. Also was my first chance to see Athanaisiou in the pros -- he certainly can fly, but he was getting knocked off the puck very easily.