Bob Duff: Datsyuk says he will miss start of season Recovery time from June ankle surgery on Detroit's No. 1 center estimated at 4-5 months.

Man you guys cannot catch a break with this stuff. Weiss is still available!

Bozak

That's fine. Hopefully Larkin will get a slot because of this and stick for the season. I wouldn't mind him spending a year in the AHL, but he'd be so exciting to watch in the big leauge!

Hey off topic... I think Florida is basing themselves off of similar systems like Detroit and Tampa. Which is awesome because both teams draft well, develop well, and introduce players to the NHL when they are ready. How many players on your opening night roster (include Datsyuk) do you guys think will be from your farm system? Drafted and developed?

I think pretty much everybody is lol! Aside from Green and Richards obviously. But looking at the roster quickly. I can't pinpoint anyone who wasn't drafted by Det. Maybe I'm wrong, but either way it's an incredible amount.

I think pretty much everybody is lol! Aside from Green and Richards obviously. But looking at the roster quickly. I can't pinpoint anyone who wasn't drafted by Det. Maybe I'm wrong, but either way it's an incredible amount.
- Paul_and_Wings

Yeah that's something I can really appreciate. And it's important to keep doing it that way. I count: Huberdeau, Barkov, Bjugstad, Trocheck*, Grimaldi*, Crouse*, Howden*, Ekblad, Gudbranson, Kulikov, Petrovic, Kampfer*... all being in our opening night roster. Doesn't include Brandon Pirri (who was drafted by Tallon in Chicago).

*player I think should make opening night roster.

Yeah that's something I can really appreciate. And it's important to keep doing it that way. I count: Huberdeau, Barkov, Bjugstad, Trocheck*, Grimaldi*, Crouse*, Howden*, Ekblad, Gudbranson, Kulikov, Petrovic, Kampfer*... all being in our opening night roster. Doesn't include Brandon Pirri (who was drafted by Tallon in Chicago).

*player I think should make opening night roster.
- Panthers88

I don't know about Crouse lol!

I have always liked Florida. I'm really hoping Barkov can turn the corner and break out this year. He's one of my favorite young guns. All in all Florida is doing it right, in my opinion. Soon they'll be a playoff team every year.

I don't know about Crouse lol!

I have always liked Florida. I'm really hoping Barkov can turn the corner and break out this year. He's one of my favorite young guns. All in all Florida is doing it right, in my opinion. Soon they'll be a playoff team every year.
- Paul_and_Wings

I think Crouse is going to at least get his 9 games in. Tallon said when signing him the other day he thinks he is NHL ready. Plus he can't play in the AHL and is suspended in Juniors.

Barkov has had it tough because he's had bad wingers. Huberdeau is finally healthy (had hip surgery before last season), and of course there's this guy named Jagr.

I think Crouse is going to at least get his 9 games in. Tallon said when signing him the other day he thinks he is NHL ready. Plus he can't play in the AHL and is suspended in Juniors.

Barkov has had it tough because he's had bad wingers. Huberdeau is finally healthy (had hip surgery before last season), and of course there's this guy named Jagr.
- Panthers88

Let's hope he is. I love watching players play just out of their draft year. Seems like another year of juniors wouldn't hurt. Especially if they're molding their system after Detroits. How long is he suspended lol?

Yeah, that line was fun to watch towards the end of the season. I wish him and the whole team success. Hopefully they can take a wildcard spot next year. And eventually if they keep progressing, It will be Detroit, Montreal, Tampa and Florida in one division.... As if I wasnt scared of Detroits streak ending as is...

Let's hope he is. I love watching players play just out of their draft year. Seems like another year of juniors wouldn't hurt. Especially if they're molding their system after Detroits. How long is he suspended lol?

Yeah, that line was fun to watch towards the end of the season. I wish him and the whole team success. Hopefully they can take a wildcard spot next year. And eventually if they keep progressing, It will be Detroit, Montreal, Tampa and Florida in one division.... As if I wasnt scared of Detroits streak ending as is...
- Paul_and_Wings

He's only suspended for 8 games. And it's cool.. we beat ya almost all the time anyways

He's only suspended for 8 games. And it's cool.. we beat ya almost all the time anyways
- Panthers88

Yeah yeah... That's because Detroit has a history of losing to lesser teams...

Keep it up and we'll beat you every time lol

Yeah yeah... That's because Detroit has a history of losing to lesser teams...

Keep it up and we'll beat you every time lol
- Paul_and_Wings

Nope I demand we now split the season series.

Nope I demand we now split the season series.
- Panthers88

Deal

Drew Miller wasn't drafted by the wings and technically Dekeyser wasn't drafted at all. Every other current roster player is a wings draft pick.

I still don't understand why Dats waited until June to get the surgery done.

Drew Miller wasn't drafted by the wings and technically Dekeyser wasn't drafted at all. Every other current roster player is a wings draft pick.
- JohnnySoze

Quincey?

Drew Miller wasn't drafted by the wings and technically Dekeyser wasn't drafted at all. Every other current roster player is a wings draft pick.
- JohnnySoze

Oh Yeah! Dekeyser was obvious, but I didn't realize Miller wasn't. He embodies the Red Wings so perfectly, it seems like he's a product of the system lol

I still don't understand why Dats waited until June to get the surgery done.
- StargateSG1

He had some doctor appointments right after the season and the call was to rest and rehab it. With no result, he flew back to the U.S. and they found something that required surgery.

Quincey?
- artem791

Quincey was drafted by the Red Wings and later traded due to the log jam at defense.

Drew Miller wasn't drafted by the wings and technically Dekeyser wasn't drafted at all. Every other current roster player is a wings draft pick.
- JohnnySoze

That's pretty awesome. I mean obviously Richards and Green weren't drafted there either.

Drew Miller wasn't drafted by the wings and technically Dekeyser wasn't drafted at all. Every other current roster player is a wings draft pick.
- JohnnySoze

Glendening was never drafted either. But 3 players out of the roster that didn't start off with the wings is pretty incredible.

That's pretty awesome. I mean obviously Richards and Green weren't drafted there either.
- Panthers88

Green was drafted by the caps using the red wings pick they traded to them for Lang I think

Hey off topic... I think Florida is basing themselves off of similar systems like Detroit and Tampa. Which is awesome because both teams draft well, develop well, and introduce players to the NHL when they are ready. How many players on your opening night roster (include Datsyuk) do you guys think will be from your farm system? Drafted and developed?
- Panthers88

I ain't ready to compare Florida's system to Detroit. Wait until they make the playoffs consistently and can develop entire rosters. Luongo, Jagr, Mitchell, Campbell, Pirri, Thornton, Jokinen, Bolland, Montoya are not original Panthers.

They also have had lots of top 5 picks (Ekblad, Barkov, Huberdeau and Gudbranson) which should garantee you top line players.
Ekblad looked really good (#1 overall picks usually do).
I'll give Barkov a few more years before judging him.
I think Huberdeau needs to have his break out year if he wants to live up to a #3 overall pick.
Gudbranson isn't playing like a #3 overall pick. But he's still decent.

I just don't see the comparisons with Detroit and Florida. Not even close.

I ain't ready to compare Florida's system to Detroit. Wait until they make the playoffs consistently and can develop entire rosters. Luongo, Jagr, Mitchell, Campbell, Pirri, Thornton, Jokinen, Bolland, Montoya are not original Panthers.

They also have had lots of top 5 picks (Ekblad, Barkov, Huberdeau and Gudbranson) which should garantee you top line players.
Ekblad looked really good (#1 overall picks usually do).
I'll give Barkov a few more years before judging him.
I think Huberdeau needs to have his break out year if he wants to live up to a #3 overall pick.
Gudbranson isn't playing like a #3 overall pick. But he's still decent.

I just don't see the comparisons with Detroit and Florida. Not even close.
- porkchops1977

Yes see this is why I used terms like "basing".

Barkov hasn't had consistent wingers since he got here; he was playing with guys like Bergenheim and Boyes. It wasn't a good start. We put him Huberdeau last season and he improved greatly. His numbers aren't the best, yet, but he is one of the best two-way players I've ever seen. Speaking of Huberdeau, he hasn't been healthy since his rookie season. He had hip surgery and is finally getting over it. Either way you slice it, they both have improved each year since coming into the league. With Jagr on their line for one more season I think this is when we'll see the real "start" to their NHL careers.

Gudbranson was hampered by not being able to go to the AHL to develop. However, last season was his best, both statistically and in other areas. Defencemen as I am sure we will all agree take little more time to develop. He'll have a top-4 role this season.

Guys like Matheson, Rau, Howden, Bjugstad, Trocheck, Grimaldi, Petrovic, Hawrlyuk, Crouse... not top 5 picks but you will hear a lot about them soon.

When I talk about the systems, I mean a proper developmental program. We never had that. We never had a good scouting department or solid AHL franchise. The guys I mentioned above would never have been given the time to play in college, then get to the AHL. You don't hear about players in Detroit's line up for years and then all of a sudden you have a Nyqvist in the league.

My overall point is with Tallon here we've become a team that is now building and developing via the draft. And this season will be the season you see us make the leap to the playoffs. All in good time.