from bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News,
Maybe the Wings can take advantage of the disarray in Toronto and go big, trading for one of the Maple Leafs stars, Mitch Marner or William Nylander. Or go super big and use their extensive draft capital, a young talent in Lucas Raymond and other prime prospects to pry superstar Auston Matthews out of Toronto. He’s pretty darn close to untouchable, but the Leafs have tricky contract situations and just fired GM Kyle Dubas, who reportedly was close to Matthews. Maybe it’s a pipedream, but I’m willing to try the pipe at this stage....
The Wings could still hope Larkin takes the next leap to stardom. Seider is almost there, but he’s not a scoring star who can carry a team. Raymond, 21, headlines a large group of young talented players and prospects....
Yzerman was a masterful drafter and dealer in Tampa and has done a good job restocking here. The Wings’ farm system is loaded, but that can be a trap, valuing hope more than actual production. The Leafs are primed to be plucked, without the salary-cap means to keep their Core Four, and it makes the unthinkable — trading the 25-year-old Matthews — at least mildly thinkable. Nylander, 27, and Marner, 26, are also enticing.
Yzerman pledges prudence, and in four years as GM here, certainly has practiced it. His trading of Tyler Bertuzzi and Filip Hronek at the deadline landed two more first-rounders. The Wings also have three consecutive second-round choices — 41, 42, 43 — in the June 28-29 draft so perhaps it’s time to deal in the other direction, or at least package picks to move up.
The reigning example is the Florida Panthers, one victory from the Stanley Cup Finals. They had the league’s best record two years ago, fell back, and boldly traded top players to Calgary for Matthew Tkachuk, who has been the overwhelming star in the Panthers’ run....
So where’s the Wings’ version of Tkachuk? They’re not primed to win like the Panthers were, but high-end players might be available: Ottawa center Alex DeBrincat, Arizona center Nick Schmaltz, Columbus forward Jack Roslovic, Winnipeg winger Kyle Connor, Calgary center Elias Lindholm, Vancouver’s Conor Garland.
more ($), the column also discusses the Pistons which I was abel to avoid mentioning them...
from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,
Carter Mazur hasnt yet played for the Detroit Red Wings and yet he has some bragging rights over two of his future teammates.
Mazur registered a pair of assists, including one on the game-winning goal, to help USA down the Swedes 4-3 in overtime to allow the Americans to be undefeated in the preliminary round for the first time in the tournaments history.
Michigan native Mazur made a centering feed from behind the goal line to set up Dylan Sambergs goal at 1:37 of overtime.
The Americans earned the No. 1 seed in Pool A with six regulation wins and one overtime win in pool play. That gave them 20 out of a possible 21 points. They will play either Slovakia or Latvia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Red Wings forwards Lucas Raymond and Jonatan Berggren played for the Swedes who were undefeated coming into the game against USA. Berggren had one assist. Raymond had no points and two shots on goal in more than 19 minutes of playing time....
Both Quinn and Lalonde have mentioned that the teams goal is to end USAs 90-year gold medal drought in this tournament. The Americans last won a gold medal in 1933. Walter Brown was the coach. USA hasnt even won a silver medal since 1950.
a bit more
I don't want, nor would I pay a nickel to get ANY of those floaters from the Leafs. I might sign Marner as a UFA, whenever that happens, but I absolutely do NOT want Matthews or Nylander, especially, in a Wings uni.
Even without NMCs for all those guys I just don't see them becoming available until they go UFA. Doesn't make sense for anyone to make a move for them at the price they would command, and I think anyone in their position would want to test the open market if not resigned.
I hope Nylander and Matthews leave TO to contenders and the Leafs are stuck with Marner and Tavares because they can't move them since no one wants them.
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