Trade season heating up

[everyoneneedsasmil]

With Evander Kane to the Sabres and now Cody Franson/Mike Santorelli to the Predators, things really seem to be heating up. Franson was my favorite name to target, so I'm a little upset that Nashville was able to get him. That said, they gave up a first rounder for what is likely a rental. Franson would still be a solid play in free agency for the Wings.

Does anything think the Wings have a big trade up their sleeve?

Who do you think are the most likely targets?

Who do you think are the most enticing prospects/players the Wings would be willing to move?

 

[zoombabyzoom]

Sir, I do hope so.

We have a surplus of young talent. And by surplus I don't just mean we have lots of very good young talent. We actually have too much. We don't have the roster spots for these guys in the foreseeable future (2-3 yrs).

We also have a lot of cap space, more so than most contenders.

And we have a dire need, a right handed offensive defenseman.

And it just so happens there are a few guys who are on the block that fit what our need is:

Johnny Boychuck/Boston
Mike Green/Washington
Zbynek Michalek/Arizona

However, we have been linked to many left handed defensemen as well. Dion Phaneuf, Andrej Sekera, Michael Del Zotto, Marc Methot, and Kieth Yandle.

Overall, though it has been said multiple times that the young guns on the current roster are near untouchable and that Dylan Larkin and Anthony Manta are as well. But the other 6-8 top prospects we have are available.

 

[zoombabyzoom]

Reading a lot currently that Phaneuf is being talked about heavily between the two teams.

Toronto would have to eat some of his salary and it appears Toronto wants a 1st Round Pick in return or something of that value. One rumor said half his salary being eaten and Abdelkader + Ryan Sproul.

If this would be true or happen we would probably go fishing for another forward though

 

[biggunsbob]

I am torn thinking about trading Abdelkader.. I think the guy will get better the next few years.. But if its right guess he has to go... I agree with all your untouchables though..

 

[zoombabyzoom]

I am torn thinking about trading Abdelkader.. I think the guy will get better the next few years.. But if its right guess he has to go... I agree with all your untouchables though..

Not my untouchables, its what Holland has stated lol.

Ouellet, Pulkkinen, Ryan Sproul, Janmark, Marchenko, and others are available.

And I would think we would probably get rid of one of our current defensemen to make space. Hopefully Quincey, lol.

 

[sggatecl]

When I saw "Franson" on the ticker I was hoping it was a typo...

 

[biggunsbob]

Rumblings: Would Red Wings pay price for Dion Phaneuf?
By Pierre LeBrun | ESPN.com

It will be fascinating to see just what Detroit Red Wings veteran general manager Ken Holland decides to do before the March 2 trade deadline.

Of course he has interest in some of the pending unrestricted free agent defensemen that are still on the market, the likes of Jeff Petry, Andrej Sekera and Zbynek Michalek, among others.

But it’s about the price. The Wings gave up a second-round pick and Calle Jarnkrok last season at the deadline for David Legwand. They needed to make that trade just to make the playoffs because of all their injuries. So there’s no remorse there. But I think what’s giving Holland some pause as he approaches this deadline is that he knows he has to be careful how many times he trades away second-round picks as he continues to brilliantly retool this franchise on the fly.
Dion Phaneuf has six years left on his deal after this season, which carries a $7 million salary-cap hit.The Wings are going to make the playoffs for a 24th consecutive season. That’s nothing short of amazing. But that only happens as long as the draft picks and prospects keep coming.

So it’s about the price.

Can he get a Petry or a Sekera for something less than a second-round pick? Probably not, but that’s no doubt the hope.

Or as the clock ticks toward 3 p.m. ET on March 2, does Holland's gut tell him it’s worth dealing a second-rounder if said defenseman helps the Wings get beyond the first round of the playoffs?

It’s a really tough call, and one that I don’t think Holland has made yet.

Certainly if there’s a way for the Wings to sign one of those pending UFA defensemen as part of the deal, then that makes it easier to part with a future asset instead of seeing that player walk away July 1.

Or what about a guy like Dion Phaneuf?

The general belief is that Toronto will look at what’s out there for Phaneuf and Phil Kessel (both of whom carry huge contracts) in the offseason when more teams can get involved. But what if there’s an offer before March 2?

Phaneuf has six years left on his deal after this season, which carries a $7 million salary-cap hit.

My sense is this: For the Wings to even contemplate taking on that type of contract, Phaneuf would have to become a $5.5 million player, with the Leafs retaining the rest of the salary. And I don’t think Detroit would pay a large return either; you can forget a first-round pick ever being part of it.

Are the Wings mildly interested in Phaneuf? I’d say yes with the proviso I just laid out.

To which I think Toronto might be more apt to wait until the summer to build a bigger market. I also don’t think the Maple Leafs have any intention of retaining any salary in any potential Phaneuf deal.

As for the Wings, at the end of the day, if they can’t live with the price that’s out there for any defenseman, they also can live with the possibility of doing nothing as March 2 comes and goes. They have some tantalizing prospects coming, the future looks bright, and there’s no need to damage the future now.

Again, the price must be right for Detroit to act.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

I like Phaneuf, and despite being left-handed, he excels on the right side of the formation. I can't see the Wings paying 7 million a year for him, but at 5.5, that's doable. He's a legitimate top pairing defender who can move the puck and score from the right side.

I would love to see a true blockbuster deal with Toronto, where the Wings receive Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf (3 million in salary stays with Toronto between the two) in exchange for a 1st rounder, 2nd rounder, Franzen, Ericsson, Oullet and Larkin (plus any filler to make the trade work under the cap).

 

[zyxt9]

It seems a trade is absolutely necessary to get the Wings into the top level of this year's competition. While they have the points to be considered top level, they have been terrible versus the other top level teams, which means they won't likely be able to compete well during the playoffs.

It might actually require more than one addition to the Wings to actually compete for Lord Stanley's Cup. I'm not confident Holland can even make one trade happen, let alone a trade for the right missing piece. It seems the game is passing him by or the other GMs are in agreement that the Wings have been successful long enough so don't help Holland in any way possible.

 

[biggunsbob]

I hate the idea of giving away Larkin and draft picks...

 

[LGRW_9]

I know this is a trade deadline thread, and rarely does a team pull the trigger on a goalie at this time, but I am fed up with Howard. I have zero confidence that he can steal a game come playoff time.

So I guess if he's our guy, let's shore up the D and make sure we can put up some big numbers (which, unfortunately, we haven't been able to do lately).

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

It seems a trade is absolutely necessary to get the Wings into the top level of this year's competition. While they have the points to be considered top level, they have been terrible versus the other top level teams, which means they won't likely be able to compete well during the playoffs.

It might actually require more than one addition to the Wings to actually compete for Lord Stanley's Cup. I'm not confident Holland can even make one trade happen, let alone a trade for the right missing piece. It seems the game is passing him by or the other GMs are in agreement that the Wings have been successful long enough so don't help Holland in any way possible.

That's seems really pessimistic without much evidence to support it. The game certainly isn't passing Holland by when he continues to reload the team every year. I mean, not everyone can win the cup. The Wings lost a generational player in Lidstrom less than 3 years ago. In the span of time since the last Wings cup, exactly 4 teams have won, all stacked teams loaded with stars and hall of famers, most of whom are in their prime. The Wings' biggest stars are old and prone to injury now. It's not the game passing Holland by, it's just the growing pains of a transition period.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

I know this is a trade deadline thread, and rarely does a team pull the trigger on a goalie at this time, but I am fed up with Howard. I have zero confidence that he can steal a game come playoff time.

So I guess if he's our guy, let's shore up the D and make sure we can put up some big numbers (which, unfortunately, we haven't been able to do lately).

Howard stopped all the shots he faced against Pitt, it was Mrazek who let them all in. Winnipeg he had a poor game, but the team also gave up 38(!) shots, meaning they did a lot more to let him down than he did to them. Against Montreal he objectively had a really good game. 2 goals on 29 shots is over 93% effectiveness. The problem wasn't Howard, it was the offense failing to find the back of the net (or put more shots on net in the first place).

Look, Howard is not an elite goalie. He's not going to drag a team through the postseason like Price, Rinne, or Quick can. But he's hardly the problem. He's 12th in save percentage overall at a very respectable 92%. Now yes, he's legitimately bad in shootouts, but at least he's getting the team there most of the time. If this team wants to take the next step in being a real contender, it doesn't need an incredible goalie (other than Osgood's playoff boost in 2008, our champion goaltenders didn't really play better than Howard does now). What the team needs is better players suited to our puck-possession style.

 

[biggunsbob]

I'm am not totally sold on Howard either. The winning goal last night is a great example...
Price eats that puck up.. Howard didn't.. I know Pavel fell down but that crap happens in the playoffs also...He has to save that type of shot late in a game.. who knows maybe this is he year to shine in the playoffs..

 

[LGRW_9]

I'm am not totally sold on Howard either. The winning goal last night is a great example...
Price eats that puck up.. Howard didn't.. I know Pavel fell down but that crap happens in the playoffs also...He has to save that type of shot late in a game.. who knows maybe this is he year to shine in the playoffs..

Yeah that shot is a perfect example of my displeasure with Howard. But he's under contract for a few more years, he's not going anywhere, so the team just needs to score more and back check like crazy

 

[biggunsbob]

Yup I guess I agree because as of now I think Howard is the best goalie we have..