Bob Duff: Athanasiou making most of limited time Rookie forward Andreas Athanasiou will get more ice time as he proves he can be consistent defensively.

March to oblivion - that's good.

Right now, who are your protected players for a 2017 expansion. 7 forwards. 3 defenseman and 1 goalie?

I know we don't know what will happen with no moves but ignore that for now. Just used the discussed rules for now. If they have 2 years of pro hockey, they must be protected.

Right now, who are your protected players for a 2017 expansion. 7 forwards. 3 defenseman and 1 goalie?

I know we don't know what will happen with no moves but ignore that for now. Just used the discussed rules for now. If they have 2 years of pro hockey, they must be protected.
- porkchops1977

My picks are:

Forwards: Larkin, Mantha, Zetterberg, Tatar, Nyquist, Athanasiou, Sheahan (if Datsyuk resigns before the expansion draft then, Datsyuk gets protected).
Defense: Dekeyser, Ouellet, Marchenko
Goalie: Mrazek

My picks are:

Forwards: Larkin, Mantha, Zetterberg, Tatar, Nyquist, Athanasiou, Sheahan (if Datsyuk resigns before the expansion draft then, Datsyuk gets protected).
Defense: Dekeyser, Ouellet, Marchenko
Goalie: Mrazek
- porkchops1977

Larkin. Tatar. Nyquist. AA. Mantha. Holmstrom. Bertuzzi.

Dekeyser. Russo. Who cares.

Mrazek.

My picks are:

Forwards: Larkin, Mantha, Zetterberg, Tatar, Nyquist, Athanasiou, Sheahan (if Datsyuk resigns before the expansion draft then, Datsyuk gets protected).
Defense: Dekeyser, Ouellet, Marchenko
Goalie: Mrazek
- porkchops1977

Zetterberg, Nyquist, Tatar, Jurco, Athanasiou, Mantha, and Larkin.

Kronwall, DeKeyser, and Russo.

Petr Griffin

It's sad that apart from DeKe we have no must-keep defensemen...

Larkin. Tatar. Nyquist. AA. Mantha. Holmstrom. Bertuzzi.

Dekeyser. Russo. Who cares.

Mrazek.
- Feds91Stammer

Will holmstrom even have the 2 years pro experience?

My picks are:

Forwards: Larkin, Mantha, Zetterberg, Tatar, Nyquist, Athanasiou, Sheahan (if Datsyuk resigns before the expansion draft then, Datsyuk gets protected).
Defense: Dekeyser, Ouellet, Marchenko
Goalie: Mrazek
- porkchops1977

No team will protect age 36+ players with cap hits over 6 mil

Will holmstrom even have the 2 years pro experience?
- Zmloste

He's played 2 full seasons in Sweden already. It's definitely a pro league, but I'm not sure how the rules work exactly.

Zetterberg, Nyquist, Tatar, Jurco, Athanasiou, Mantha, and Larkin.

Kronwall, DeKeyser, and Russo.

Petr Griffin

It's sad that apart from DeKe we have no must-keep defensemen...
- TwoPieceFeed

Get out of here, (frank)ing turd.

He's played 2 full seasons in Sweden already. It's definitely a pro league, but I'm not sure how the rules work exactly.
- houseofcards74

I'm not sure either, if he needs to be protected, I might pick him instead and take a chance at unprotecting Zetterberg.

At this time next year, Zetterberg might not be worth protecting anyways. I can see a sudden decline come quickly with him.

No team will protect age 36+ players with cap hits over 6 mil
- houseofcards74

No need to protect terrible contracts. You are correct.

Zetterberg, Nyquist, Tatar, Jurco, Athanasiou, Mantha, and Larkin.

Kronwall, DeKeyser, and Russo.

Petr Griffin

It's sad that apart from DeKe we have no must-keep defensemen...
- TwoPieceFeed

It is pretty sad. I doubt Kronwall will be worth protecting next year. I'm not even sure if he would be worth it this year.

Is Russo a better prospect than Marchenko, Ouellet and Sproul? I don't get to see any Griffens games

It is pretty sad. I doubt Kronwall will be worth protecting next year. I'm not even sure if he would be worth it this year.

Is Russo a better prospect than Marchenko, Ouellet and Sproul? I don't get to see any Griffens games
- porkchops1977

He's better than Ouellet and Sproul for sure. Marchenko? Tough to say.

Marchy has elite defending skills, however, with recent consistency issues. He keeps it very simple and I think struggles to make offensive plays because he isn't comfortable with making those decisions yet. Similar to DeKe, how he never pinched even though he is very valuable in taking care of the puck, in his first couple years.

Russo, though, has a very well-rounded offensive game and is on the above-average dependable game chart. Comparable to Rafalski in that he was an elite offensive defenseman who could be played in late-game scenarios because of his smarts and not his size/crease presence/shot blocking.

I personally prefer Russo because we don't have many/any effective defensemen in our system with much offensive potential. Backman would've been that type of guy, but like Almquist he doesn't care to gain weight, and so he fell out of favor after returning to Sweden from Grand Rapids.

Get out of here, (frank)ing turd.
- Paul_and_Wings

I see you've grown up a bit. Last time I said that, you cried and reported me. (frank)ing someone who is attracted to the opposite sex retard turd. You and Feds91Stammer.
- Paul_and_Wings

You're more dense than a can of Campbell's soup.

I've never cried about anything some jabroni on the internet typed. It's also not my fault if you broke the Rules of Ek and someone reported you. Take responsibility for your actions.

You're more dense than a can of Campbell's soup.

I've never cried about anything some jabroni on the internet typed. It's also not my fault if you broke the Rules of Ek and someone reported you. Take responsibility for your actions.


- TwoPieceFeed

That someone was you, because you're a wussy.

Remember the argument about Larkin being Captain? Dumbass.

That someone was you, because you're a wussy.

Remember the argument about Larkin being Captain? Dumbass.
- Paul_and_Wings

Of course a jabroni such as yourself would call it an "argument". There's no place for debate in your pedantic mind.

Pro Tip: Don't take the internet so seriously, and enroll in some sort of psychiatric care.

Larkin could get hit by a car next week that ends his career. Or he could fail to live up to expectations and get traded. You're not Miss Cleo, so who gives a crap what player is the Red Wings Captain in 2021, until it's actually 2021..? Who gives a crap about a debate that happened 6 months ago?

You, jabroni! Seek help!

He's better than Ouellet and Sproul for sure. Marchenko? Tough to say.

Marchy has elite defending skills, however, with recent consistency issues. He keeps it very simple and I think struggles to make offensive plays because he isn't comfortable with making those decisions yet. Similar to DeKe, how he never pinched even though he is very valuable in taking care of the puck, in his first couple years.

Russo, though, has a very well-rounded offensive game and is on the above-average dependable game chart. Comparable to Rafalski in that he was an elite offensive defenseman who could be played in late-game scenarios because of his smarts and not his size/crease presence/shot blocking.

I personally prefer Russo because we don't have many/any effective defensemen in our system with much offensive potential. Backman would've been that type of guy, but like Almquist he doesn't care to gain weight, and so he fell out of favor after returning to Sweden from Grand Rapids.
- TwoPieceFeed

thanks, appreciate that

thanks, appreciate that
- porkchops1977

Of course this is all in my opinion, and Sproul (who I think the least of) could very well end up the best of the bunch while Russo piles up a -30 in his first 6 NHL games.

I'm always interested in sharing thoughts and ideas with fellow intelligent and respectable fans, so you're welcome.