1984Echoes

This is exactly my point. Yzerman's attempts at getting tougher have included: 2023: Signing 24 y.o. Klim Kostin, C. Big dude (6'4" 235)... but failed at providing either adequate offense or defense so we traded him to San Jose. Drafting a crapload of big, mobile defenseman in the top 4 rounds: (2019 Seider & Tuomisto, 2020 Wallinder & Viro, 2021 Edvinsson & Buium, 2022 Anton Johansson, 2023 Andrew Gibson & Brady Cleveland & Larry Keenan, 2024 & 2025 (no top 4-round D...)) a couple of whom are in Detroit, a few lower rounders have crapped out or been traded, and quite a few are in Grand Rapids so we are waiting to see if any of the non-1st rounders can make the leap into "decent-to-good" NHL blueliner. A common theme with the GR group however, is that they do not play with the NHL toughness that is required. So we'll see about them. Whether they make the cut or not. Drafted two-way forwards the past few years who may not be the biggest guys on the block... But are 6'0" to 6'2", who have some offensive skill, but are moreso "known" or have the reputation of being... sound defensive forwards. Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson, MBN, Carter Bear, Eddie Genborg... These guys aren't mirror images of each other... but I believe they are cut from the same cloth: Sound defensively. I mean, they drafted ASP and Buchelnikov (2022) and Raymond so... if the SKILL is there, you don't pass up that high level skill, even if the player is a bit undersized. But, yeah... Yzerman is still working on solving this. Methinks. OR... I guess I am calling this a "work-in-progress" and... we'd all like to see a LOT more progress on the playoff toughness side... Just my 2 cents.

Point.

Doesn't pass the smell test. The Wings have wilted at almost the same point in the season for 3 years running. McLellan is last year only. No... the issue is that playoff level teams amp up their playoff level play around February until season's end. Crunch time to make it or miss it: the playoffs. They hit more. They fight for the puck more. They are tough, battle-tested teams that get tougher to play down the stretch run. Simply put: The Wings aren't that. They aren't built yet for the playoffs or playoff crunch time. Not when all they do is wilt. When they fix that... they'll stop wilting during crunch time and make the playoffs. Yzerman has been trying to fix exactly that the past two years, as well as this offseason... but hasn't gotten us there yet... So he's still trying...

Transactions are showing JHen and Chase Lee... where are you seeing SGL coming up...?

When is he supposed to get back? On that note... how about SGL getting up to speed as a potential starter come October...?

I think I’m more comfortable with a Melton start.

I am going to guess that Holmes is looking at something different than "how much money do we have committed to this position"... I mean, I'm not saying he is completely ignoring that as a factor... But again, just guessing... I'm thinking that Holmes' and DC's thought processes go something like this: 1) Does this player give us the best chance at getting Super Bowls? (I think this is their primary concern or factor... And I mean this only in retaining their own players... I think money plays a MUCH larger factor in Free Agent decisions). 2) Can this player be easily replaced with a similar player costing much less? What is the degree of difficulty in replacing him? I think the factors in #2 say that Jamo can be replaced because there are always so many options or ways to replace receiver production. Obviously, it's a lot more complicated than just that... St. Brown and maybe TeSlaa (in the future) and LaPorta will factor into they're thinking. Has Jamo fully matured into a dominant/reliable WR? Do they predict Jamo with more future/shelf life than a St. Brown (for instance)? Or did they just draft a speedster at WR in the 1st or 2nd or 3rd in the latest draft that they think can slip into Jamo's role...? I say those factors apply also to Gibbs. I know he's explosive. But RB's do last shorter in NFL life than I think any other position. 5-6-7 years in the NFL for a RB... seems to be the limit of high-level productivity... before injuries or wear & tear take their toll... And every year, it seems, REALLY good RB's slip late into the 1st or into the 2nd or 3rd rounds... 3) Only at this point do I think Holmes' and DC would start to consider dollars spent on one position group. 4) But I also think Holmes tries to mitigate costs with the following philosophies: (A) Don't spend on the interior O-Line. Too easy to find them in almost any round in the draft... so just keep drafting them. (B) RB's have short shelf lives and are often injured... so keep drafting or searching for them, even when you have good starters at the position. (C) Constantly draft RB's, WR's, DL, OL, and DB's. That just about covers everything... but not really. The NFL takes a heavy toll, so having drafted and developed backups at positions is a necessity. And when a game-changer is available, get him. So I don't know where that leaves Branch. Is he easily replaceable? Does one of the many safeties Holmes' is always bringing onto the team develop into one as capable, or nearly as capable, as Branch? At a far significantly lower cost? Does the NFL rigors of playing Safety diminish Branch's impact within a few years and it makes more sense to NOT extend him but to just move on...? I don't really know these answers... just some thoughts rolling around in my head...

I don't think it's Branch. I would start with Jamo. There are just so many receivers floating around... 2nd: I would offer Gibbs as the next candidate to NOT get a huge contract offer. RB's have such a short shelf life. I know they're trying to extend his shelf life as long as possible by having a "heavy" RB do a lot of the dirty work (Montgomery right now) and soaking up half or close to half of the snaps (I'm guessing though that this year it will be Gibbs 60-70-ish and 30-ish other...). 5 years Gibbs. Franchise him... once or twice? And be certain to find the "next" explosive back in year 5 or 6 to eventually take over for him. Without paying Gibbs a huge/monster contract which will invariably age BADLY. Just my 2 cents.

PS: Lions fill final practice squad spot with former All-American edge rusher - mlive.com Lions fill final practice squad spot with former All-American edge rusher Published: Aug. 28, 2025, 5:11 p.m. By Jacob Richman | jrichman@mlive.com

Andre Carter II was added to the practice squad today... VERY interesting flyer to take at DE...

Gotcha...

This has absolutely ZERO to do with what Hongbit posted and you quoted. Why are you taking this angle? When Hongbit's point (not to put words in your mouth HB) was Homes needed to work FASTER on a Hutch extension because waiting just makes him more, and more... expensive. NOTHING to do with trading for Parsons...

I'm waiting to hear the signing of Smith...

I think it's time for this thread also to get started... General Detroit Lions topics outside of the game threads... First topic: After they set the 53... I'm going to guess subsequent practice squad: Starting with Hendon Hooker. I'm going to guess here that they try to keep him, on the practice squad... although DC might just be ready to move on (from his comments...). So this is maybe even less than 50/50. More like 25/75. But guys I think they will DEFINITELY try to keep by putting them on the PS: Deon Jackson, RB Jackson Meeks, WR Tom Kennedy, WR Kingsley Eguakun (I think he doesn't make the 53 but they want to keep him in the Org...) Mitchell Agude, Edge Nate Lynn, Edge Anthony Pittman, LB Nick Whiteside, CB Erick Hallett, DB Ian Kennelly, S Morice Norris, S I think the team actually LIKES a lot of these guys that they are releasing... they're releasing them early to try and slip them through the cracks... IMO. But... We'll see.

I'm going to take a wild guess that there is actually some ability in there. And if this year is a practice squad year (Lions or otherwise...) I think the UFL is a great suggestion. I think he needs a vast amount of work IN-game, on-the field, so he can actually develop some timing/ reading (defenses)/ etc... and the UFL is the place for him to get it. So... we'll see.