Babs exiting conference. Tears alert, guy really loved the city and the team, clearly a really tough decision. Wish him the best in Toronto.

Blashill used to coach me back in Indiana I'm so happy for him. The Wings will be just fine

blame all the onions

I cant believe this is happening....

Larkin scores 2 goals in Griffins win

Sounds like Holland may have finally learned his lesson. Says teams are kicking tires but wings have made moves in past years and the young guys beat out the veterans more and more often so they'll primarily look internally.

Still waiting for the next Lidstrom though.
I don't think that's gonna be an internal find right now though. So maybe we'll see an exciting off season acquisition.

I really want to know how the goalie situation is going to play out too.
It could end up being a st. Louis situation where they split games and ride the hot hand but I dunno.

That is always good for the team but the player (Howard) probably wants nothing to do with that.

This post was edited by Stealth on Jun 1 2015 03:56pm

Howard and Mrazek will be 1a/1b with Howard injured half the season so Mrazek essentially becomes starter. Howard will get dangled at the trade deadline IMO.

Gonna be interesting to see what the roster, specifically the defense. looks like in 16-17. They're pretty locked in place right now but I wouldn't mind seeing:

Zidlicky gone
Kindl traded at the deadline
Smith with a 1-year deal and walking for UFA
Quincey re-signed with a lower or about the same cap since he's good with DDK
One of Ouellet/Marchenko called up for good, the other traded

Kronner - ??? (trade acquisition?)
Quincey - DDK
Ouellet - Ericsson

Nick Jensen has a chance at cracking the roster next year I think. He was injured for a while and didn't get a good chance to show his ability. Sproul also has the chance to be dangled as bait.

This post was edited by dxlightning on Jun 1 2015 04:08pm

I hope you're right about 1a 1b
Most people are too quick to jump to the move one when one is good. But I'm more of the 1a 1b camp in these situations (talking about contract timing). You're spot on with injuries and stuff. Neither one is going anywhere until at least the deadline. Even then, if they're in a playoff position, I bet they'd like to be safe as the wings are no stranger to injuries with key positions/players. Also mrasek is not "Holland proven" yet (a legit track record).

In short, I dig the 1a 1b. Sure I'd like to open up the space of Howard's contract but not until the deadline at the earliest. Can take advantage of a team like Dallas for instance if they lose lehtonen to back surgery or send him to a team that is out of the running because not many in the running teams need a goalie at the deadline.

Excited to see Larkin and mantha try to make the team

I just don't know who'd take howard for ages 33-36 at 5.3m, except maybe a team that's under the cap floor and entering a rebuild after this next season. Would have to pawn him off for like a 3rd, and after all he's given for the team that'd just be a raw deal.

Let him run the transition for Mrazek unless the team is in serious cap distress after the upcoming bridge contracts are up with DDK, Jurco, and (hopefully) Nyquist. At that point if you need to trade him for marbles, sorry Jimmy but yer gone.