He was a 6th overall pick, is all. And as much as people like yourself trash on him, there were only 7 or so other players in that draft year that have put up more points in the NHL than he has.

The 6th overall pick in the 2 years earlier than him were Derek Brassard and Gilbert Brule, the two years after were Nikita Filatov and OEL. Now, that can just mean that the Oil and Columbus sucked at drafting, or that the 6th pick isn't as sure as you are making it out to be.
- Beergu

Zadina has more points than Dobson and Bouchard. Must make it a good pick then. Nice logic. His points are a function of playing far more games than other peers. Also playing as a forward rather than say an all-round d-man like say Dobson. What happened in previous years at 6th overall is irrelevant. In 2018 we were desperate for top d-men. There were 3 on the board. I'm not using some example of a 4th round pick that turned into a superstar. I'm talking about 3 dmen that virtually everyone believed would be selected between 6-12. All 3 are already making a far greater impact than Zadina, at a more important position.

It has to be an option. If they don't draft the center, trading for one could be costly and it isn't like there are lots available for trade all the time. The only other option is to do what the Wings have done for years and sign guys like Nielsen, Filppula and Suter hoping they can somehow play above what they are and be a good top 6 center. That hasn't been working and they need a real 2nd line center. This team is a long term injury to Larkin away from being a bottom feeder again.

Trading for a top pair left dman won't be cheap either. Not a lot of teams have those to spare and if they do, they won't be giving them away for spare parts unless they are massively overpaid. Just look at what Arizona is rumored to want for Chychrun (good young roster player, a top prospect and a 1st round pick).

UFAs only cost money and cap space. Lindholm will likely be one of the top UFA on defense if he hits the market so he likely won't be cheap. Hertl and Trocheck will cost but all 3 of those guys have proven they can be what the Wings need them for unlike the cheaper options the Wings have signed the last few years or what they likely could get for cheaper this summer.

Like i said, i doubt this will happen but those holes need to filled if the Wings ever hope to take another step forward and be a playoff team. If they don't fill them, they will continue to be a team too good to draft a top player and not good enough to be a playoff team so they will stay in limbo as an average team at best.
- dcz28

Take a gander at the second page (#51-100) of upcoming UFA's, these are the guys you have a shot at signing. I would go for Copp, Kubalik, Tierney, Zadorov, Jarnkrok, Holtby, Maybe Korporsalo, you get my drift. These will be placeholders for the up and coming Wings in the system.
https://www.capfriendly.c...wse/free-agents/2023?pg=2

I don't see top flite UFA's coming to a team that does not have a shot at at the cup unless they are massively over-payed. Example: Dougie Hamilton. . Wings are a couple years from attracting stars that will play for what they are worth and that really want to be here.
- HenryHockey

Pretty much all the top tier UFAs get overpaid...that's just the UFA market given there aren't that many top end talents to be had every year. A team like Tampa or Florida might have a bit of an edge given they have competitive teams and the tax break a player gets for playing in that State. For most teams, they will have to overpay in money and term to likely get a deal done.

Take a gander at the second page (#51-100) of upcoming UFA's, these are the guys you have a shot at signing. I would go for Copp, Kubalik, Tierney, Zadorov, Jarnkrok, Holtby, Maybe Korporsalo, you get my drift. These will be placeholders for the up and coming Wings in the system.
https://www.capfriendly.c...wse/free-agents/2023?pg=2
- HenryHockey

None of these guys answer the Wings biggest needs which is a top end center or a top pair left dman. If all Yzerman does is sign guys like these, they better pray they play above what they have done so far in their careers or that the Wings win the lottery and Edvinsson can step in as a top left dman right off the bat or else the team will be mediocre again. Wings are likely done getting a high % at winning the lottery and more likely to be drafting outside the top 10 from now on (unless Larkin gets a long term injury and is out for months).

Zadina has more points than Dobson and Bouchard. Must make it a good pick then. Nice logic. His points are a function of playing far more games than other peers. Also playing as a forward rather than say an all-round d-man like say Dobson. What happened in previous years at 6th overall is irrelevant. In 2018 we were desperate for top d-men. There were 3 on the board. I'm not using some example of a 4th round pick that turned into a superstar. I'm talking about 3 dmen that virtually everyone believed would be selected between 6-12. All 3 are already making a far greater impact than Zadina, at a more important position.
- HockeyBuzzed

Outside of Hughes, nobody from 6 on is looking like a surefire top end talent. The draft is such a legit crapshoot that it almost does make sense to almost trade your overvalued first round pick to bring in proven NHL talent. Whoever the Wings pick around 10 this year realistically isn't ready until the 24 season most likely. We have one more year of the Wings being middle of the road until Yzerman makes his play I think. Unless the Yotes come down on their price.

Outside of Hughes, nobody from 6 on is looking like a surefire top end talent. The draft is such a legit crapshoot that it almost does make sense to almost trade your overvalued first round pick to bring in proven NHL talent. Whoever the Wings pick around 10 this year realistically isn't ready until the 24 season most likely. We have one more year of the Wings being middle of the road until Yzerman makes his play I think. Unless the Yotes come down on their price.
- DRW1991

First of all, it's pretty early to declare that nobody outside of Hughes looks like a top talent. That statement suggests you haven't watched Dobson much. He's already looking like a top pair d-man. Bouchard looks like a QB for a top PP. Wahlstrom has looked more impressive than Zadina. Boqvist looks like a top 4 guy. Then lots of guys that just haven't got much of a look yet - Lundkvist, Kupari, Foudy, etc....and that's just round 1. Awful take. Awful pick. We needed a d-man and 3 studs were sitting there.

First of all, it's pretty early to declare that nobody outside of Hughes looks like a top talent. That statement suggests you haven't watched Dobson much. He's already looking like a top pair d-man. Bouchard looks like a QB for a top PP. Wahlstrom has looked more impressive than Zadina. Boqvist looks like a top 4 guy. Then lots of guys that just haven't got much of a look yet - Lundkvist, Kupari, Foudy, etc....and that's just round 1. Awful take. Awful pick. We needed a d-man and 3 studs were sitting there.
- HockeyBuzzed

We "needed" a dmen. We needed a whole (frank)ing team.

We "needed" a dmen. We needed a whole (frank)ing team.
- DRW1991

No, the greatest need was a top 6 center and top 4 d-men. There were no top 6 centers on the board in 2018, but there were the trio of d-men. At wing, we had the following in the system:

-Mantha coming off a 24 goal season at age 24
-AA coming off a 17 goal season at age 24
-Bertuzzi getting called up at age 23 and scoring 24 points in 48 games. Looked promising.
-still high hopes for Svech at the time
- we had just drafted Rasmussen who was another potential middle 6 winger

Lots of assets on the wing. Nothing at center. Nothing on D. Oh sorry, we had Cholowski.

First of all, it's pretty early to declare that nobody outside of Hughes looks like a top talent. That statement suggests you haven't watched Dobson much. He's already looking like a top pair d-man. Bouchard looks like a QB for a top PP. Wahlstrom has looked more impressive than Zadina. Boqvist looks like a top 4 guy. Then lots of guys that just haven't got much of a look yet - Lundkvist, Kupari, Foudy, etc....and that's just round 1. Awful take. Awful pick. We needed a d-man and 3 studs were sitting there.
- HockeyBuzzed

You should take your own advice and allow Zadina to progress at the same rate as piers.

You should take your own advice and allow Zadina to progress at the same rate as piers.

- HenryHockey

I think that was the same advice I was told on Cholowski, Jurco, Pulkkinen, etc...It's maybe possible that some fans can spot talent whereas other fans don't even know what to watch for. I've seen enough of Zadina. He's a 3rd line winger at best. Nothing special. Whereas a guy like Raymond seems like he'll be a legit 2nd line winger, maybe even more. Have I dumped on Edvinsson? No, I need to see more. Have I dumped on Cossa? No I need to see more. Hmm...

I think that was the same advice I was told on Cholowski, Jurco, Pulkkinen, etc...It's maybe possible that some fans can spot talent whereas other fans don't even know what to watch for. I've seen enough of Zadina. He's a 3rd line winger at best. Nothing special. Whereas a guy like Raymond seems like he'll be a legit 2nd line winger, maybe even more. Have I dumped on Edvinsson? No, I need to see more. Have I dumped on Cossa? No I need to see more. Hmm...
- HockeyBuzzed

Ah yes the armchair scout that can declare busts left and right better than people who get paid to do it. Hindsight 20/20 is always crystal clear.

Cholo is back on waivers again today.....since Seatle lost hm on waivers, they can claim him and put him directly in the minors.

Ah yes the armchair scout that can declare busts left and right better than people who get paid to do it. Hindsight 20/20 is always crystal clear.
- DRW1991

So is the following random luck, or is it possible that our "paid professionals" aren't that great at their job...

-I called Cholowski a bust on draft day, and repeated that in the years that followed. Just luck?

-I said Rasmussens skills would not translate to the NHL. No chance as a top 6 forward. Ceiling is 3rd line defensive forward. So we just wasted a 9th overall pick on a 3rd liner. Just luck?

-was it just luck when others had Jurco and Pulkkinen penciled in as top 6 wingers and I said both guys would soon end up in Europe?

-before you think I just criticize, was it just luck when this board labeled Erne as Abby 2.0 and I defended him saying he was a legit bottom 6 forward.

-was it luck when I praised Seider on draft day and said I loved his size, skating, and the fact that he was already competing against men?

-if you want to keep tabs on me so that I don't get accused of more hindsight...in 5 years Cossa, Edvinsson, and Johanson will be on the roster. Great picks. Niederbach might as well. Meanwhile...Lindstrom, Veleno, Berggren will be playing in other leagues. So look me up in 5 years and see if I'm still just lucky.

So is the following random luck, or is it possible that our "paid professionals" aren't that great at their job...

-I called Cholowski a bust on draft day, and repeated that in the years that followed. Just luck?

-I said Rasmussens skills would not translate to the NHL. No chance as a top 6 forward. Ceiling is 3rd line defensive forward. So we just wasted a 9th overall pick on a 3rd liner. Just luck?

-was it just luck when others had Jurco and Pulkkinen penciled in as top 6 wingers and I said both guys would soon end up in Europe?

-before you think I just criticize, was it just luck when this board labeled Erne as Abby 2.0 and I defended him saying he was a legit bottom 6 forward.

-was it luck when I praised Seider on draft day and said I loved his size, skating, and the fact that he was already competing against men?

-if you want to keep tabs on me so that I don't get accused of more hindsight...in 5 years Cossa, Edvinsson, and Johanson will be on the roster. Great picks. Niederbach might as well. Meanwhile...Lindstrom, Veleno, Berggren will be playing in other leagues. So look me up in 5 years and see if I'm still just lucky.
- HockeyBuzzed

You will have changed your moniker 3 times in the next 5 years, but I am sure your writing style will give you away and you will not be too difficult to track....

You will have changed your moniker 3 times in the next 5 years, but I am sure your writing style will give you away and you will not be too difficult to track....

- HenryHockey

So no real comeback then. Big surprise.

So no real comeback then. Big surprise.
- HockeyBuzzed

I would do better to just ignore you like most sane people would do with the petulant children of their inlaws.

I would do better to just ignore you like most sane people would do with their petulant children of their inlaws.
- HenryHockey

That sentence made tons of sense...

It has to be an option. If they don't draft the center, trading for one could be costly and it isn't like there are lots available for trade all the time. The only other option is to do what the Wings have done for years and sign guys like Nielsen, Filppula and Suter hoping they can somehow play above what they are and be a good top 6 center. That hasn't been working and they need a real 2nd line center. This team is a long term injury to Larkin away from being a bottom feeder again.

Trading for a top pair left dman won't be cheap either. Not a lot of teams have those to spare and if they do, they won't be giving them away for spare parts unless they are massively overpaid. Just look at what Arizona is rumored to want for Chychrun (good young roster player, a top prospect and a 1st round pick).

UFAs only cost money and cap space. Lindholm will likely be one of the top UFA on defense if he hits the market so he likely won't be cheap. Hertl and Trocheck will cost but all 3 of those guys have proven they can be what the Wings need them for unlike the cheaper options the Wings have signed the last few years or what they likely could get for cheaper this summer.

Like i said, i doubt this will happen but those holes need to filled if the Wings ever hope to take another step forward and be a playoff team. If they don't fill them, they will continue to be a team too good to draft a top player and not good enough to be a playoff team so they will stay in limbo as an average team at best.
- dcz28

I think you're right and I agree. I'd be happy to get either Hertl or Trocheck to take the 2nd line center job... we're going to overpay regardless if Stevie were to sign either one... as would any other team. Comparing the two I'd prefer Hertl... be nice to have a 2nd line center with his size. However, I don't want a super long term contract that either player will probably want in free agency (I think Stevie would keep the contract short as possible if he were to sign either). Trading for a legit 2nd line center or a top tier defenseman is going to cost too much so getting a couple free agents is the best viable option right now.

I'm hoping to maybe see Edvinsson play here in GR at the end of the season... just to see how he plays in North America and at the AHL level. Probably won't happen though. He's 19 right now... so it's possible. Wings may just want to keep him in Sweden for another year or two.

With Bergeron out, Marchand suspended for 6, and Rask retired, Boston is at a new low. A Bruin losing streak along with a Wing winning streak would make a very interesting stretch run!!!

With Bergeron out, Marchand suspended for 6, and Rask retired, Boston is at a new low. A Bruin losing streak along with a Wing winning streak would make a very interesting stretch run!!!
- HenryHockey

And if they finish well and make it to the play-offs, or come close.....It would do much to attract FA's to Detroit!!