Finding a 2nd LHD for our long-term Top-4.

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I think the Detroit bit all depends on what a player is looking for. Big City lifestyle you are going to NY, LA, Chicago. Tax breaks you are looking at down south. Outside sponsorship deals probably the big cities plus Toronto. If you are looking for a quieter lifestyle, where cost of living is low, and its a solid place to raise a family then I think Metro Detroit is a nice option. I think its one of the reasons we appeal to Euro players a lot, and older players with families.
Yeah.

Maybe Gavrikov's tired of paying 50% CA taxes...being surrounded by people who think all Russian's are the devil / homeless nutbags-addicts...and living in a house 10% as big as what he could have in Bloomfield Hills

D2 was a long time ago. Not sure why people still think LA is a dream destination for athletes.
 
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btw , my outlook on ufa signings is im not attempting to create the best roster possible next season as no matter who is added this roster wont challenge . but i would like to start the march out of the basement and get into playoffs next season with prospects coming up for cups of coffee , then 2026/27 hopefully have the defense / goal tending / centers stabilized with a bunch of the prospect forwards doing well now coming up getting the job done as kid wingers . then 2027/28 its time to challenge . so my suggested ufa of jeannet n provorov (or garikov) would help stabilizing team for young guys coming up today , but not be over the hill when were ready to challenge
 
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btw , my outlook on ufa signings is im not attempting to create the best roster possible next season as no matter who is added this roster wont challenge . but i would like to start the march out of the basement and get into playoffs next season with prospects coming up for cups of coffee , then 2026/27 hopefully have the defense / goal tending / centers stabilized with a bunch of the prospect forwards doing well now coming up getting the job done as kid wingers . then 2027/28 its time to challenge . so my suggested ufa of jeannet n provorov (or garikov) would help stabilizing team for young guys coming up today , but not be over the hill when were ready to challenge
For sure. Gavrikov's 29. 5yr contract takes him through his 34th bday.

Chiarot is 34 now. None of us have issues with his age, speed, etc. (we have issues w his 14yr old mind).

Mid-30's generally isn't too old for a DMan
 
I’d trade debrincat for a young defensive prospect and a roster player. Bichsel and marchment for debrincat ? I think something like that is the only way we will get our future top 4 d.
 
I just can't get over the fact that this team is icing Holl, Chiarot and Petry. Yeah, it's a dead horse.

But sometimes you just gotta laugh at it, fans of their previous teams were relieved to finally see them go. Laughing stocks of the league. And somehow Yzerman assembled all 3 on 1 team.

He trades away top-4 defenders and pays hefty money for 7th D-men.

Meanwhile, in 6 years he has yet to trade for or sign a proper top-4 defenseman. Like, why give away a 1st rounder for Debrincat and sign Kane if you werent trying to compete. You need a good defense to compete.

I honestly am starting to believe that Yzerman really thought the defense was good. He was probably really happy to get Holl and Petry.

Just spend the f***ing money on a proper defenseman this off-season or piss off.
 
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I’d trade debrincat for a young defensive prospect and a roster player. Bichsel and marchment for debrincat ? I think something like that is the only way we will get our future top 4 d.
Why? He's one of the players who actually competes each night. I'd trade Larkin before him. You would get more for Larkin too.
 
Why? He's one of the players who actually competes each night. I'd trade Larkin before him. You would get more for Larkin too.
Because he’s easier to trade given our roster construction. I think debrincat is awesome and in a perfect world I wouldn’t trade him but you have to give to get. If we trade Larkin we have to get a potential 1c back, because our c depth behind him is putrid. Where as debrincats production can be reclaimed through bringing in other players. I’m also just a big big fan of Bichsel.
 
Because he’s easier to trade given our roster construction. I think debrincat is awesome and in a perfect world I wouldn’t trade him but you have to give to get. If we trade Larkin we have to get a potential 1c back, because our c depth behind him is putrid. Where as debrincats production can be reclaimed through bringing in other players. I’m also just a big big fan of Bichsel.
For a team that cannot score 5on5, that would be a major mistake. We have to get more skill in the door on offense AND sure up the defense, not sacrifice one for the other. Agree on Bichsel, but Jimmy Nill will not let him go, already said that. And I think somebody more proven would be better anyway. Somebody who keeps it simple and is rocksolid á la Brayden McNabb. Gavrikov or Provorov would fit. If that is too much money and term, then somebody like Martinez could prob still fill in for 1-2 yrs, which would buy some time to identify a target. If you wanna go with somebody younger that has more upside, then a trade or an offer sheet for Byram could be the way to go. IMO the time for hoardig picks is past. If the opportunity is right, then even our '25 selections gotta be on the table.
 
Chychrun gone, so currently the best UFAs are:

- RhD Aaron Ekblad, 29v old (8.1M, 7 years)
- RhD Neal Pionk, 29y old (7.2M, 6 years)
- LhD Ivan Provorov, 28y old (6.6M, 5 years)
- LhD Vladislav Gavrikov, 29y old (5.5M, 5 years)
- RhD Brent Burns, 39y old (5.5M, 1-year)
- LhD Dmitry Orlov, 33y old (5.1M, 3 years)
- LhD Ryan Lindgren, 27y old (3.8M, 3 years)

Contract estimations are from AFP Analytics.
 
Because he’s easier to trade given our roster construction. I think debrincat is awesome and in a perfect world I wouldn’t trade him but you have to give to get. If we trade Larkin we have to get a potential 1c back, because our c depth behind him is putrid. Where as debrincats production can be reclaimed through bringing in other players. I’m also just a big big fan of Bichsel.
Maybe we just could stop hoarding all our picks and prospects and use them to acquire a guy. Every contender is able to do it yearly with a hell of a lot less assets. At some point some of our prospects are going to lose value because not everyone is going to make it. That 2nd round pick we just gave away to get rid of a top 4 D would sure come in handy right now.

Yzerman has had 6 years and still has an awful D-core, terrible goaltending, and soft as puppy shit forward group.
 
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Maybe we just could stop hoarding all our picks and prospects and use them to acquire a guy. Every contender is able to do it yearly with a hell of a lot less assets. At some point some of our prospects are going to lose value because not everyone is going to make it. That 2nd round pick we just gave away to get rid of a top 4 D would sure come in handy right now.

Yzerman has had 6 years and still has an awful D-core, terrible goaltending, and soft as puppy shit forward group.
D-core will be great for the next 10 years:

Edvinsson-Seider
X - Sandin-Pelikka

Guys who can handle physical play:

Seider
Edvinsson
Raymond
Kasper
Brandsegg-Nygård

That will be 5 guys out of 18 in your lineup night in and night out, so nearly 1/3. Also, Yzerman has been willing to trade players, but I agree he should work on moving out some of our more unimpressive prospects.
 
Chychrun gone, so currently the best UFAs are:

- RhD Aaron Ekblad, 29v old (8.1M, 7 years)
- RhD Neal Pionk, 29y old (7.2M, 6 years)
- LhD Ivan Provorov, 28y old (6.6M, 5 years)
- LhD Vladislav Gavrikov, 29y old (5.5M, 5 years)
- RhD Brent Burns, 39y old (5.5M, 1-year)
- LhD Dmitry Orlov, 33y old (5.1M, 3 years)
- LhD Ryan Lindgren, 27y old (3.8M, 3 years)

Contract estimations are from AFP Analytics.
If those are Gavrikov's demands, then we should be all over that.
 
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I’d trade debrincat for a young defensive prospect and a roster player. Bichsel and marchment for debrincat ? I think something like that is the only way we will get our future top 4 d.
i think DAL has enough offensive firepower where a trade for dbc makes 0 sense. Would be real hard to get bischel from them as much as i’d like him
 
Chychrun gone, so currently the best UFAs are:

- RhD Aaron Ekblad, 29v old (8.1M, 7 years)
- RhD Neal Pionk, 29y old (7.2M, 6 years)
- LhD Ivan Provorov, 28y old (6.6M, 5 years)
- LhD Vladislav Gavrikov, 29y old (5.5M, 5 years)
- RhD Brent Burns, 39y old (5.5M, 1-year)
- LhD Dmitry Orlov, 33y old (5.1M, 3 years)
- LhD Ryan Lindgren, 27y old (3.8M, 3 years)

Contract estimations are from AFP Analytics.
Think you have to pick your favorite, get into the bidding war, and win it this summer. Pay more than you’re comfortable paying. Absolutely cannot run it back plus ASP mid-yr.

And I hope whoever liked Chiarot/Holl/Gus isn’t involved in picking the favorite.

Gavrikov (for ex) — Seider
Ed — Johansson (then ASP)
Chiarot — Gus (then Johansson)

Is actually pretty solid once ASP’s ready. If you can find a cheap 1yr RHD to start the yr with instead of Gus, all the better.
 
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Maybe we just could stop hoarding all our picks and prospects and use them to acquire a guy. Every contender is able to do it yearly with a hell of a lot less assets. At some point some of our prospects are going to lose value because not everyone is going to make it. That 2nd round pick we just gave away to get rid of a top 4 D would sure come in handy right now.

Yzerman has had 6 years and still has an awful D-core, terrible goaltending, and soft as puppy shit forward group.

Agreed. I think we need a stabilizing force on D. Doesn't have to be a flashy vet but someone who plays smart simple hockey. All of our vet dman right now play hot potato hockey, and while I think Seider/ASP/Ed will be the foundation of one of the better D cores in hockey in a few years you need to insulate them a bit at the start.

Gavrikov sounds like a solid option if we could land him on like a 4 or 5 year deal. He can play with Seider, Aljo, or ASP next year. A RHD would probably help for next year but I see LHD as the bigger issue long term. My issue with Aljo is that while I think he's solid with Ed I don't see a lot of other guys he could play with in the top 4. The more I watch him I just don't think his style will mesh well with Seider and I think a Aljo/ASP pair would be too small.

If we are going long term option I'd really see if we can pry Romanov from the Islanders. I doubt Lou gives him up but I'd be down to deal some picks and prospects for him. I realize this helps less on my vet point, but I just really like his game and think he'd be a good long term partner for Seider.

The Wings have a lot of smaller skilled forwards on the team/system. Not all of Lombardi, DBC, Ray, Berg, Plante, Buch are going to make the team at the same time. Ray is obviously going no where. DBC I think is here next year but could be dealt the following season if Buch comes over and establishes himself. There is some definite trade bait in that group, as they are all playing well outside of maybe Berg.

Besides that I think all of our d prospects should be in play outside of ASP (and even ASP is in play for me if a top end center is available). The Wings aren't going to ice an all drafted d group. So the likelihood of Tuo, Antjo, Buium, Wallinder making the Wings is pretty slim long term. They should all be available for deals.

Any of our goalie prospects not named Cossa/ Augustine should be available. I'm also not opposed to dealing one of those two if a really good deal came along because they are too close in development.

There isn't a single guy in our prospect system that should be untouchable. Some caveats yes, like I'm not dealing Danielson or ASP unless we get an established young center or prospect (better in Danielson's case or equal level in ASPs). I also wouldn't deal both of our grade A goalie prospects either.
 
Agreed. I think we need a stabilizing force on D. Doesn't have to be a flashy vet but someone who plays smart simple hockey. All of our vet dman right now play hot potato hockey, and while I think Seider/ASP/Ed will be the foundation of one of the better D cores in hockey in a few years you need to insulate them a bit at the start.

Gavrikov sounds like a solid option if we could land him on like a 4 or 5 year deal. He can play with Seider, Aljo, or ASP next year. A RHD would probably help for next year but I see LHD as the bigger issue long term. My issue with Aljo is that while I think he's solid with Ed I don't see a lot of other guys he could play with in the top 4. The more I watch him I just don't think his style will mesh well with Seider and I think a Aljo/ASP pair would be too small.

If we are going long term option I'd really see if we can pry Romanov from the Islanders. I doubt Lou gives him up but I'd be down to deal some picks and prospects for him. I realize this helps less on my vet point, but I just really like his game and think he'd be a good long term partner for Seider.

The Wings have a lot of smaller skilled forwards on the team/system. Not all of Lombardi, DBC, Ray, Berg, Plante, Buch are going to make the team at the same time. Ray is obviously going no where. DBC I think is here next year but could be dealt the following season if Buch comes over and establishes himself. There is some definite trade bait in that group, as they are all playing well outside of maybe Berg.

Besides that I think all of our d prospects should be in play outside of ASP (and even ASP is in play for me if a top end center is available). The Wings aren't going to ice an all drafted d group. So the likelihood of Tuo, Antjo, Buium, Wallinder making the Wings is pretty slim long term. They should all be available for deals.

Any of our goalie prospects not named Cossa/ Augustine should be available. I'm also not opposed to dealing one of those two if a really good deal came along because they are too close in development.

There isn't a single guy in our prospect system that should be untouchable. Some caveats yes, like I'm not dealing Danielson or ASP unless we get an established young center or prospect (better in Danielson's case or equal level in ASPs). I also wouldn't deal both of our grade A goalie prospects either.
There were a lot of dissapointments to me last off-season. But the two biggest were probably Sergachev and Chychrun getting traded for almost nothing on draft day, and Yzerman seeming to not even be aware either was available. Either could have permanently filled the huge hole at the top of our D-Core.
 
Just being honest... maybe we should play to our strengths here...

Besides Kane (which was a unique situation), Yzerman's a 0.000 on free agent signings.

Besides DeBrincat (which was also a unique situation) and draft picks, Yzerman's a 0.000 on trades.

But he appears to be 9/9 on top-34 picks so far (Seider, Raymond, Wallinder, Edvinson, Cossa, Kasper, Danielson, ASP, MBN).

Wouldn't common-sense dictate that the solutions to our problems are getting him more top-34 picks?

-We've got a 2nd, two 3rds, (I think) two 4ths, a 5th, a 6th and two 7ths.
-We've got a number of solid prospects who *probably* aren't going to quite make it here:
.....Buium. An. Johansson. Cleveland. Tuomisto. (Hard for Johansson, Wallinder, and all of these guys to be 3rd Pair D in Detroit).
.....Finnie. Kiiskinen. --- Plante. Lombardi. Becher. Savage. James. ND Nilsson. LD Nilsson. Hanas. (Besides Finnie and Kiiskinen, don't see any of these guys ever having a spot in DET).
.....Guimond. Gylander. Bednar. (Cossa/Auggie look like our clear 1-2).
-We've got Rasmussen and Berggren who might have some value. Maybe Chiarot.

Certainly we could turn all of that ^ into a mid-1st Rd Pick this yr, right?

Get an elite scoring prospect and a top-four LHD prospect in the top-15 or so of the draft.
 
The fact that Seider is still playing with 3rd pairing/borderline nhler bums in year 4 is straight up criminal management by this team. If you would have told people after his rookie season that 4 years in it would still be his best season and he hasn't finished top 15 in Norris voting once, people would have called you crazy. He's still young obviously, but so far this team has done him dirty with the one of the toughest roles in the entire league while playing with bums.

They need to just move Ed back with Seider asap, that's obviously the future shutdown pairing. Really sad that this team can't find a single semi-competent D-man not through the draft, except Maatta who they traded away.
 
DeBrincat is the best player on the entire team lately and begged his way to get to Detroit.

Now people want to trade him for prospects ? Can you say perpetual rebuild?
It's really not as desperate a situation as it sometimes seems.

This Off-Season:
-Sign 1 of Marner/Tavares/Marchand
-Sign 1 of Gavrikov/Provorov
-Draft an elite scorer w our lotto pick.
-Trade into mid-1st, draft K. Aitcheson.

2025-26:

TAVARES -- Larkin -- Raymond
DeBrincat -- Kasper -- Kane
Soder -- Danielson -- Mazur
Assmusen -- Copp -- Compher
....Trashenko

PROVOROV -- Seider
Ed -- Johansson (then ASP)
Chiarot -- Gus (then Johansson)
...Holl

Mrazek/Talbot

**********

Next Off-Season:
-Bring Kyle Connor home.

2026-27:

CONNOR -- Larkin -- Raymond
DeBrincat -- Kasper -- '25 Lotto
Buchelnikov -- Danielson -- MBN
Soder -- Tavares -- Mazur
...Copp/Compher/Assmusen

Provorov -- Seider
Ed -- ASP
Wallinder -- Johansson

Cossa/???

**********

Next Off-Season: ???

Connor -- Larkin -- Raymond
DeBrincat -- Kasper -- '25 Lotto
Buchelnikov -- Danielson -- MBN
Soder -- Tavares -- Mazur
...Compher/Assmusen (Finnie/Kiiskinen)

Provorov (then Aitcheson) -- Seider
Ed -- ASP
Aitcheson (then Provorov) -- Johansson
...Wallinder/Buium

Cossa/Auggie
 
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I don't know much about other teams defansman, but I know exactly what we need. If in the future Ed and Seider on the first pair than we just need solid , smart ,physical, big defansman without offense to play with ASP on second pair.
Ones up on the time we got DD straight out of NCAA, was very solid at first couple of seasons and maybe someone good will be available shortly out of NCAA
 
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