People say that every year. FA. Is always dog water.
Make a trade. I know trades TYPICALLY happen before the draft however thats usually when picks are involved. Redwings have a boat load of prospects. People WILL trade for those.
I get it. Dont do anything too crazy to block the kids. And waist money. Because yes. Wings have like $50m in cap space next year. But still.
Yeah, if the Wings make any type of splash, Iād expect it to be here. But trades are always tricky. Identify a target, try and deal with the GM, make sure the agent/player are willing to work on an extension, etc. Just a tough process.
As long as the Wings donāt do anything stupid like another 5-6 year deal for a Copp/Compher type player, Iām fine. Iād rather do nothing than see that. Especially when weāre so close to moving through some of these rough conracts on shitty players. Especially on the D. After this year, itāll be like an enema.
I think the wings will make a trade. Might be the only way to upgrade the roater.
Why do i think Robertson will be a wing soon. Top center, larkin finally moves two the 2nd line
Have heard Dallas may be looking to move him. Heās like what? 25? 80 points last season. But heās a Winger, so not sure he bumps Larkin. Would be a good get for the Wings, I think.
Isnāt Robertson a winger?
Interesting at least the Leafs got something. These GMās all have about 25 burner phones. Iām sure this kinda stuff happens all the time with soon to be free agents.
He is. For some reason i thought he was a center. Oh well moves someone to the 2nd line
Iād absolutely love trading for Robertson, as long as we could also get a good defenseman or two
We could. Buy outs. Holl shouldāve have been a buyout already. And try to trade Compher and Copp for nothing. Then it allows a kid or two to come up
I donāt even know what to do with the Wings defensemen. There are so many bad contracts there that are on their final year.
Thereās not really any kids (at least the talented ones) pushing the roster ATM, though. You have Mazur and thatās about it. Most of the other forwards are too young, I think. Danielson still probably a year or two, MBN still a couple away. Maybe Lombardi? He had 37 points in 41 games in GR last year, so maybe he can crack a roster spot. Hanas might be ready, but I think heās really more of a 4th liner. Buchelnikov would be nice, but they need to figure out how to get him out of the KHL. Plante looking good, but heās still at Minnesota for a while.
Defense could maybe see more of the kids, but theyāre blocked by those bad contracts. Wallinder, ASP, and Buium could all possibly make the jump in the next year or two.
Im sure some young dude is ready. There is aways surprises.
Holl stinks, no doubt, but Iām not sure thereās a huge benefit to buying him out other than just getting him off the roster. Instead of paying him 3.4 this year, weād just be paying him 1.3 over the next couple. Maybe the Wings can get lucky and trade him for a sack of pucks.
Yeah, you never know when training camp rolls around. It just doesnāt seem like thereās a lot of young guys in the forward group knocking on the door this offseason.
With 13 forwards you have
Kasper, Danielson, Mazer, Solderblom, Berggrin all up. Thats plenty of kids. Next up would be Nygard i imagine.
If they can turn out to be mid 6 worthy that bumps down Copp, Compher and Rass to a bottom 6 where they belong. Which then it is worth it.
But defense they need to make room.
Top 8
Chairot, Seider
Edvinson. Gustuffson
Johanson, Pellika
Lagesson, Holl
I fully expect the Wings to get a mid 6 guy somehow this offseason. Whether thatās an Ehlers/Boeser type through FA or someone like Robertson via trade. Just looking at where theyāre at right now, itād be easy to see one of those guys slot into the top six and then Soderblom (when resigned) sliding in to the 4th line winger spot.
I wouldnāt slot ASP in just yet, though I certainly expect him to make a case during training camp. He just has only played 2 games in North America. So Iām not sure Iām personally comfortable with him sliding in automatically into the NHL with no speed bumps. Could definitely see them letting him season a year in GR (heās only 20). But the skillset, especially offensively, is there for the kid to be a future NHLer.
The rest of the defense is silly. Chiraot, Holl, Gustafsson all on their last year of contracts which will free up a little over $10m next season. Of all those guys, only Seider and Holl are RHD. So definitely could help ASP make his case, especially on a second PP unit.
A few enlightening Stats for the Wings in 2024/2025
23rd in Off/Def zone time
26th in Shot%
11th in SV%
24th in Cori Diff%
27th in Fenwick Dif%
3Rd in PP% and PP off Zone %
27th in PK Def Zone%
32nd WORST PK% in NHL HISTORY THE LAST 40 YEARS!
All those stats tell me. THEY NEED DEFENSE
Iām not even sure we need the advanced stats. The Wings defense is so bad casual fans watching the games can tell they are really bad. I just donāt know how you move Any of Chiarot, Holl, Gus because who the hell wants them? Gonna have to retain salary probably or send a pick along with them lol
All Yzerman signings as well.
