1984Echoes

I haven't ruminated on FUNKHOUSER in a long long time!!!

If the offers we receive are NOT better than the 2027 comp pick... Then this is NOT a true statement.

From "fixing the Lions" perspective: he's the best. At least since the 1940's/50's or so. Not counting whether he makes SB's or not. As for legacy... he's raised Lions' expectations dramatically. So now... I believe we will be looking specifically at his legacy... And while that doesn't require SB wins (he's not carrying or throwing or catching or tackling the football...); I think absolutely we will be looking at how many SB appearances we make. He has to give DC enough healthy/ capable football players to get us there. His decisions will be a big factor in that. Not everything is on him... but he will be quite a large factor in any SB appearance. Or wins. IMO.

I don't know if Ratledge is ready for Center just yet either. It would be fantastic if he was that ready... But I don't believe that it is so... yet.

This team is STILL too 1st line dependent. Larkin-Raymond-Finnie have 16 goals, 38 points, and a +17. (Plus, didn't Appleton have an assist and 2 goals on Larkin's line when Raymond was out?) They need some help, IMO.

Are goals truly the only thing that counts with you? Because... There's more to hockey than only goals... Carter Mazur has a goal and two assists in 4 games after his opening night. This is what you call "not much"? Oh, and a plus 7 on the season so far. Probably with some vet help... but a +7 in 5 games tells me he's playing his part in 200-foot hockey. Which, he always has... I didn't even mention Danielson, because he's only played 4 games. But 5 points and a +2 in those 4 games? Sounds like another "not much" per your standards, amiright? But I'll take it. Tuomisto: 4 points and a +3 in 7 games. Sounds like another "not much" per your standards, amiright? But I'll take it.

Can Ratledge handle switching to Left?

BUILD. UP. POINTS. And... "MOMENTUM!!!" (I don't believe in momentum. Just keep getting better as the season goes along Wings...).

I think this topic is going to be a never-ending discussion for at least the next 10 years... But if he's able to get us into multiple SB's (with a little help from DC and his coaching staff and, uh... oh yes, the players too! 😉); then it may render the differences between him and Roseman/Snead moot. As long as he can get players that help us there, even if it's cheaper guys than the big names... and it gets us SB's; I won't complain. I don't necessarily need the big names (but yes... I'm attracted to them too because... SHINY OBJECTS!!!) But again, if he finds "under-the-radar" guys, which he seems to be able to do... and they are "effective"... and it costs us a 6th or 7th instead of a 2nd or 3rd... I'm good.

Mazur, Lombardi, Toumisto (surprisingly?), Cossa and Postava (and Wallinder a little bit too) are also huge drivers for that nice start. Mostly the vets... But I like the overall team-winning and maybe that helps the kids over their learning curves as well...? Some of the kids are playing quite nicely. Not that that tells us that they are NHL-ready yet... (corrected a misspelling...)

The last 2 in-a-rows were: DeGrom 2018-19 Scherzer 2016-17 Kershaw 2013-14 Lincecum 2008-09 Martinez 1999-2000 Clemens 1997-98 And yes... Randy Johnson (4) consecutive 1999-2002. Skubal should easily join the top 6 above with a 2 in-a-row. Can he get more? Or more consecutives?

Especially since: I keep seeing multiple Wings flipping the puck into the air and into the opponents' zone, which is: not icing as it only gets to halfway into the zone... AND it gives the Wings time for line changes... which I'm seeing right in front of me time and time again. SMART way to get the line change by AVOIDING the icing call... So... Didn't Hamonic get the memo?

I feel like we are missing a thread... so here it is. And I didn't want to lose conversations in monthly game threads so I thought it better to put them here...\ Such as the trade deadline, Griffin call-ups, line combinations, etc... Speaking of which: I like Chiarot SOOOOO much better on the 2nd pair with ASP. I think I had gotten locked into Seider on 1st pair and Edvinsson on 2nd pair (to keep at least one of them on the ice at all times...) That I hadn't wrapped my head around: 1) Getting Chiarot to lesser minutes and lesser matchups would be a huge plus for the Wings (this I already felt KEENLY) and that that should include pushing Simon up to 1st pair and putting Chiarot to 2ns pair... Why didn't I think like this? I had him locked into 3rd pair in my mind. 2) Simon is still a kid. Making mistakes is still in his learning curve. So, putting him together with ASP turned into... UGGH!!! 3) Chiarot may be slower, but at 2nd pair, he's a better vet presence for ASP. Less exposed. More experience to chat into ASP's ear. I think this is a huge plus for ASP's learning curve. 4) ASP is not big. Chiarot is. I like this pairing.

I believe this to be a topic all its own. And not just Roseman, but other GM approaches as well. And the final tally won't be known until 5-10 years out. The winner? Whoever gets into the most Super Bowls. (Wins are "gravy" or bonus points... I hope to have LOTS of gravy over the next 10 years on my Detroit Lions Super Bowl mashed potatoes!!!) The debate? Which approach wins... Brad Holmes "build from within"? Howard Roseman: do whatever is necessary to buy/trade for veteran talent that gets those Super Bowl appearances. Cases in points: Philadelphia Eagles: Have been in 3 Super Bowls in the past 8 years: Winning in 2018 and 2025, losing in 2023. Green Bay has also been in 3 Super Bowls recently... but not as recent as the Eagles... winning in 2011 and 1996, losing in 1997. Holmes team-building philosophy most resembles Green Bay's. A huge emphasis on drafting and building from within. And Brad has displayed a sharp acumen for drafting the right players... in any round and even as undrafted free agents or waiver pickups... etc. I love him!!! (Football love that is...) Alternatively: Philly has not been shy about signing expensive free agents or making big trades (he JUST traded for the Dolphins Jaelan Phillips this morning!!! For a 3rd rounder...) So my question is: Who gets into the most Super Bowls from the NFC over the next 10 years? Lions? Eagles? Packers? (or fill in an alternative if that is what you believe...). An IMPOSSIBLE question to answer... But a ripe topic for discussion?

But per your logic, which I think you are correct... We are NOT getting the 35th pick. The only choice is to overpay him or let him walk. Nice player... But I'm not interested. Let Max Anderson, McGonigle, Hao Yu Lee, Keith, and others hash out who plays where next year. I have no interest in Torres being in the middle of that. Bregman, yes. Torres, no. IMO.