Bob Duff: Holland: No decision made on goalies Detroit GM Ken Holland denied internet speculation that he was trying to deal goalie Petr Mrazek

Excited to see how much more damage Holland can do in the final year of his contract.

Can we get a real wings blogger by chance? You know one that doesn't just put out MSM articles.

Ken Holland, one of the best AHL GM's their is, and that's it

i dont know what his course of action will be but, i know it will be a disaster.

i dont know what his course of action will be but, i know it will be a disaster.
- wingz4life

At this point it appears that no matter what his choices are that we are going to hit bottom. There might be a slight chance...if he nails every upcoming decision, that we can avoid bottom and stay minimally relevant for awhile following a short rebuild.

I guess what I am saying is that while his decision making has been questionable it seems like this is a one way street to poopsville. Though he isn't helping with the heinous payroll and contracts.

If the Wings play their cards right (big if) I actually think there's an opportunity to improve the team before the expansion draft. I'm not saying my hopes are high, but the fact that our roster is so garbage could actually be an asset here.

The Wings can protect 7 forwards and 3 defenders, but IMO they really only have 6 forwards and 1 defender that they NEED to protect for one reason or another:

Nielsen (because of the NMC)
Zetterberg
Tatar
Nyquist
Mantha
Athanasiou
Green (mainly because he'd probably get a first-rounder at the deadline)

Besides those guys, pretty much everyone else eligible to be picked is either massively overpaid, easily replaceable, or both.

What this means is that Detroit is in a fairly unique situation -- they could in theory acquire at least one and as many as three decent players in a trade, AND protect them, WITHOUT being forced to expose a current player of comparable value to Vegas as a result.

There are a handful of NHL teams out there who, as it stands today, will end up losing a pretty good No. 4 defender or second line forward to Vegas for nothing -- unless they can make a trade first and at least get something back. The Wings have FOUR third-round picks and a bonus sixth rounder this year. They have an extra second and sixth next year. It seems to me like there's some opportunity to make a move or two (though the salary cap is going to be the limiting factor).

If the Wings play their cards right (big if) I actually think there's an opportunity to improve the team before the expansion draft. I'm not saying my hopes are high, but the fact that our roster is so garbage could actually be an asset here.

The Wings can protect 7 forwards and 3 defenders, but IMO they really only have 6 forwards and 1 defender that they NEED to protect for one reason or another:

Nielsen (because of the NMC)
Zetterberg
Tatar
Nyquist
Mantha
Athanasiou
Green (mainly because he'd probably get a first-rounder at the deadline)

Besides those guys, pretty much everyone else eligible to be picked is either massively overpaid, easily replaceable, or both.

What this means is that Detroit is in a fairly unique situation -- they could in theory acquire at least one and as many as three decent players in a trade, AND protect them, WITHOUT being forced to expose a current player of comparable value to Vegas as a result.

There are a handful of NHL teams out there who, as it stands today, will end up losing a pretty good No. 4 defender or second line forward to Vegas for nothing -- unless they can make a trade first and at least get something back. The Wings have FOUR third-round picks and a bonus sixth rounder this year. They have an extra second and sixth next year. It seems to me like there's some opportunity to make a move or two (though the salary cap is going to be the limiting factor).
- Sven22

Detroit doesn't have to protect AA or Mantha, I think.

Detroit doesn't have to protect AA or Mantha, I think.
- RafiDRW

They do. Both have more than two years of pro (AHL and NHL) experience. Larkin does not have to be protected however.

Justin Faulk. wish this team had a defenseman like him. if hes available which ek says in his blog it would COST a ton to get him.

If the Wings play their cards right (big if) I actually think there's an opportunity to improve the team before the expansion draft. I'm not saying my hopes are high, but the fact that our roster is so garbage could actually be an asset here.

The Wings can protect 7 forwards and 3 defenders, but IMO they really only have 6 forwards and 1 defender that they NEED to protect for one reason or another:

Nielsen (because of the NMC)
Zetterberg
Tatar
Nyquist
Mantha
Athanasiou
Green (mainly because he'd probably get a first-rounder at the deadline)

Besides those guys, pretty much everyone else eligible to be picked is either massively overpaid, easily replaceable, or both.

What this means is that Detroit is in a fairly unique situation -- they could in theory acquire at least one and as many as three decent players in a trade, AND protect them, WITHOUT being forced to expose a current player of comparable value to Vegas as a result.

There are a handful of NHL teams out there who, as it stands today, will end up losing a pretty good No. 4 defender or second line forward to Vegas for nothing -- unless they can make a trade first and at least get something back. The Wings have FOUR third-round picks and a bonus sixth rounder this year. They have an extra second and sixth next year. It seems to me like there's some opportunity to make a move or two (though the salary cap is going to be the limiting factor).
- Sven22

I agree with you. Now is the time to snag a player or two on the cheap. I honestly don't know if it has even crossed the minds of the people in charge that there are various avenues to take advantage of this process. Some outside the box thinking is needed for sure.

Some outside the box thinking is needed for sure.
- datswho

Sadly, Holland is the patent holder on the box.

Bob Duff: Holland: No decision made on goalies
Detroit GM Ken Holland denied internet speculation that he was trying to deal goalie Petr Mrazek
- BobDuff

I'm stoked to watch the Griffins play Syracuse Crunch on Saturday on home ice. Still somewhat surprised how efficiently they dismantled a very good San Jose Barracuda team.

FYI... all the AHL finals games between the Griffins and Syracuse Crunch can be streamed FREE and live on AHL.com. Password: FINALS17

It's kind of ironic the better the Griffins do and the deeper they go in the playoffs show how badly Holland has handcuffed the Red Wings with all those huge horrible contracts for mediocre players in Detroit. There's no room for some of these very good prospects / players in GR who earned at least a look or chance to play in Detroit. Guys like McIlrath have had a huge impact on the team and their deep playoff run. Hoping he'll get offered a two-way contract (he's a free agent at end of season).

I'm stoked to watch the Griffins play Syracuse Crunch on Saturday on home ice. Still somewhat surprised how efficiently they dismantled a very good San Jose Barracuda team.

FYI... all the AHL finals games between the Griffins and Syracuse Crunch can be streamed FREE and live on AHL.com. Password: FINALS17

It's kind of ironic the better the Griffins do and the deeper they go in the playoffs show how badly Holland has handcuffed the Red Wings with all those huge horrible contracts for mediocre players in Detroit. There's no room for some of these very good prospects / players in GR who earned at least a look or chance to play in Detroit. Guys like McIlrath have had a huge impact on the team and their deep playoff run. Hoping he'll get offered a two-way contract (he's a free agent at end of season).
- Vladdie_Kon1

I managed to convince my girl that a great gift for her graduating college is a trip to GR to see the Griffins play. Oddly enough, last time I was at Van Andel was game 5 against the Crunch during their last Calder Cup run.