1984Echoes

They need to make better choices this offseason. I don't want to say it's make-or-break... it's not, IMO. But they need to broom as much detritus as they possibly can off this roster. And add playoff-worthy toughness and skill wherever they can. And kids. i know these guys are young... but they have to add them to the Wings roster and let them go through their growing pains or else this team will NEVER grow. Stevie Y is STUCK in the philosophy of having vets on the roster and making the kids "earn" their way into the NHL. In a way, I do support that theory. But it's time to give the kids some push, into the NHL. That means Holl, Petry, and Gustafsson have no business on the Wings 2024-25 roster. And even if there are growing pains... it means putting Buium, Tuomisto, and Wallinder into the Wings blue line mix. And with ASP at Grand Rapids... ANY falter means he gets a quick call-up (I know you want ASP on the Wings' Opening Day roster buddha... I just don't think that will happen. He'll start in GR... but get some Detroit time, even if it's only 10 games. IMO). We do NOT need any other blue line "VETERANS" other than Chiarot & Seider. They need to lead the way, when it comes to blue line leadership. Heck, even Edvinsson and Johansson qualify there. Lyon is UFA this summer. But the team needs to keep only 1 of Talbot or Mrazek and call up Cossa. Is Augustine signed this year and placed at GR? Fill in with a couple AAAA vets at GR in case there's a need but it's time to get off the "barely adequate but mostly crappy" vet goalies that they keep signing. Stevie swung and missed, multiple times here. Change gears Steve. (Not an order... just a request.) Danielson needs to start on the opening day roster. But here's our greatest weakness. No high-end forwards ready to be called up. Too many undersized, maybe/ sorta skilled forwards... I'm just guessing... but Kane might move on or retire after this year. I know we love Cat's sniping... but if there were an opportunity to get bigger, stronger... I wouldn't pass it up. Berggren is redundant and not what is needed right now. Which still means, no matter which direction is chosen, that either we don't have enough offense, or we don't have enough playoff toughness/size/skill. Or both. Conundrum. How do we fix this last issue? It's a necessary fix, and Steve has to figure it out this summer. Please.

Mojo... I think a lot of your answers were not correct. Supplying alternative views: Keith back to 2nd? Mojo correct, Torres not going to move. BUT: In the Tigers game of musical chairs: It would be easy to see a multi-position swap where Torres is PH for and Keith moves over to 2B. Javy more 3rd than SS/ Ibanez plays where? I think these two are related. And also related to your first question. Ibanez still has one option left. I think he's playing at Toledo to start the year. It is immaterial whether Baez plays more 3B or SS. The KEY issue here is that Baez CAN play 3B, and SS, and 2B. Maybe even some OF? Which means if you have McKinstry (LH'ed) and a RH'ed McKinstry (Baez), then a 3rd utility IF'er (Ibanez) is not needed. It opens up a possible spot for BOTH Malloy and Tork. I'm not guaranteeing Ibanez starts in Toledo. But he's in HUGE danger right now. IMO. Sadly, Baez is probably not worth more than that right now... Backup IF'er. But he's a sunk cost and if he still has a terrific glove and can find some of his lost pop (in his bat), he's slightly better than Ibanez. Not by much... but it is what it is. I think Ibanez starts in Toledo for these reasons. And Baez may play a bunch of SS, a bunch of 3B, and a smattering of 2B and/or the OF. It won't matter. He's just a utility guy now. But I'm just guessing. The little of Keith I've seen at 1st he looks fine. Not Gold Glove... but no worse than Tork at 1st. I don't know if Tork can get his 1B job back, But I would say this: Torres is signed for only 1 year. Are we going to offer him a few more years? An extension? If not, if we let him walk as a free agent: AND Tork shows he still has some staying power/ MLB bat/ AND he dedicates himself in the field... maybe he has a shot at getting 1B back in 2026, moving Keith over to 2B. But I don't think that will happen this year. But... we'll see how the season plays out. Centerfield? No, no trade. Just get me by guys (band aids) until Meadows gets back. I don't know where he's at in his rehab... but I thought he was making good progress...? Early May-ish I think... but I'm guessing? Bondo's changeup? You didn't get the memo? He's MASTERED it!!! Wait until you see him throw it!!! (But don't hold your breath!)

That would be hilarious!

I'd be very surprised if they DID otherwise. It won't be the non-rate-change that is important... What will be important is what they SAY...

Will make for a fun, and interesting year. Especially if the Tigers can get into the playoffs again.

Amazon. 5 bucks (incl. shipping).

My new name for trump is: Vladimir Trump. I'm sure everyone knows the reference. And why.

This is the correct agreement to equate it to: Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact - Wikipedia Hitler and Stalin agree to dissect Poland in two, each stealing one half of it.

Another 33.3% might be showing some signs of effectiveness this year... although obviously that's only ST so we'll see... And I wish they would just get it over with and push Manning into a 1-inning reliever spot in Toledo. Just to see what happens. It might be nothing. But damn... just give it a shot and let him go all out, one inning at a time... and... see. what. happens. because. there is. nothing. to. lose. at. this. point. in. time. IMO.

Easy decision. Ixne.

That's the point. Exactly. And yes... Elmer's on NHL ice for the Wings... Win. But... I'm hoping he doesn't turn into Mantha or Ras. Mantha only played when he felt like it (not very often) as you noted, and Ras is unable or unwilling to use his size. "Unable" in that it still seems like he is too easy to knock off his skates, and off the puck, he's not much of a hitter, and he loses pucks more than he steals them. Or at least it seems that way. Ras is a good player, as you say, on a checking line that can also offer some offense. But it still seems too much of a disappointment for him. He's not yet a playoff-level player. Can he get stronger on his skates? Does he have that in him? I'm hoping that Elmer can do more than that. He's already a huge win. But I still want more. And I want more from Ras. I don't know how he can get better on his skates, or if he can. He's already 26 (in one month)... I'm holding out hope that he still has some improvement in him. But we'll see. On both of them.

Yes. So we have to see if he grows into an NHL playoff-level player over the next coupla years. Or turns into just another Mantha/ Ras...

And using his looooong stick to take pucks away or protect the puck as the situation demands... He's a skilled stick handler. Could be a dangerous goal scorer and dangerous in front of the nest screening and tipping... He hits a guy... that guy hits the ice. Or they bounce off him trying to apply a check as you mentioned... He's agile and he has some speed... but like a locomotive, you only see that speed after a minute or two once he builds up that head of steam... I hope he keeps it going and continues to improve. He's fun to watch.

Crap. I thought he was UFA.

I prefer dividends. Ok, yeah, sorry... I thought you were teasing or something like that...

Haha! Funny! EURL (EU ETF): purchased 400 sh's Jan 16, 2025 at avg cost of 21.60 today: $30.30 or after-hours at 30.80 if you wanted to use that. YINN (China ETF): purchased 400 sh's Jan 10, 2025 at avg cost of 23.50 today: $52.35

With Trump, Dictator of the U.S. ... Europe is the place to be!!! (or even China...! as an investment.)

We have three 2nd round defenseman at Grand Rapids that the Org seems like they are high on... Wallinder (LH), Tuomisto (RH) and Buium (LH). Can any of these guys stick in the NHL? Even if it's as a 3rd pair, I would consider that a plus. If one turs into a serious defensive defenseman (let's say Wallinder shows he can pair with Seider on the 1st pair) then even without much offense that would be a major plus... But I haven't seen any Grand Rapids play... I don't know what they look like on the ice or if they have enough upside to make it in the NHL, as 3rd pair or otherwise. Buium had some offensive upside, at least when he was playing at Denver... I watched some of his play... very agile. Not as much O as his brother which is why he was a 2nd rounder instead of a top 10 pick... But I always thought he had a very high level of talent. Like a young Walman with a slightly higher upside. But that's just me. I want to sign Noah Dobson this summer, I believe he's a UFA. Pair him with Edvinsson for a dangerous 2nd pair that should rival Seider on the 1st pair... And... My secret wish upon a Birthday Candle is that Buium shows enough to eventually earn his way up to 1st pair with Seider. Probably dreaming... But I have been known to be a bit optimistic from time to time...

Yes this... exactly.

Per AJ: "It's just a sprinkle... Nothing more than that." So... just trying to find creative ways to cover a few OF innings... which explains Baez in CF and Tork in RF.

It's illogical to us. But they're morons. So... it's perfectly logical to them. That's the illogical logic of our current "State of the U.S." Which means we are in DEEP **** in this country because a bunch of brainless ****wads voted the most IDIOTIC and ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL MORON into the White House. AGAIN. Even AFTER he initiated a COUP ATTEMPT against the United States of America on Jan 6th, 2021. I seriously have to ask this of EVERY Trump supporter: "WTF is WRONG WITH YOU!!!" This ALSO includes my brother, my mom and dad (both), and most of the rest of the family. Yeah... I'm the "black sheep" of the family. And PROUD OF IT!!!

Couldn't they just abstain to change the math calculus and still have Zero Dem "yay's"?

PS: Like Lee just said... That = BRAINLESS GREEDY ****ING MORON. Perfectly logical.

The full logic? Hongbit already stated it. Trump and Musk want MASSIVE "Billionaire's Tax Cuts". And the only way to achieve that is to slash the federal budget in every way possible. They don't care what they cut. Or more bluntly: they don't give a "flying ****" what gets cut. Libraries? "Awesome, more tax cuts for us. Libraries are for liberal elites anyways." Nuclear oversight in the U.S., control over our dam systems and airways...? "DO IT!!!" "Oh, wait a second, whoops... get those guys back!" Slash cut and burn. **** veterans. **** the VA. **** POC and women. **** liberal elitest libraries. **** Social Security and Medicare. Those are all WASTED DOLLARS when they COULD BE in OLIGARCHIC POCKETS!!! Like in Trump's and Musk's pockets. It's the only thing that matters. Everyone heard Trump when he said he wanted to slash the military budget in half right? "I spoke with Putin about cutting our military budgets in half and he was for it. Just gotta talk to Xi now and we can do this!" Not joking. Of course he wants the military budget slashed in half. More tax cuts for him and his fellow oligarchs. Makes perfect logical sense. From a certain perspective that is...