1984Echoes

One other thing: Even though there are no 1A's out there, to sign as FA's... I still think there are a couple guys out there that Yzerman should pursue: 2-way players, which is much needed. And playing at higher levels than the Copp's/Compher's/Chiarot's of the world. Obviously, this is predicated on dumping as much salary as possible, not just UFA's but also an RFA or two, and most likely a couple vet's signed for next year... But I would look at my two favorites from the deadline: Noah Hanifan and Elias Lindholm. The argument for Lindholm: an actual #2 center. And a tough 2-way player. Argument against: 44 pts in 75 games and a -14 in 2023-24. For: 64 pts in 80 games and +6 the year prior, and 82 pts in 82 games (42 goals!!!) and a +61 the year prior. He allows Compher to be the #3, Kasper to come up and work his way into the lineup (meaning most likely he would start as a winger with less defensive responsibility) and if Kasper steals the #2C spot then fine, Lindholm is a scoring winger on his line. I would rather eliminate some combination of Kane/ Sprong/ Perron/ Fabbri/ Veleno... and HAVE Lindholm... than go back to the above 5 Wings OVER him. Whoever survives of those 5, as a Wing in 2024... great. But Lindholm has a higher priority level, and skill level, and youth and 2-way ability over any of them... So I want to START with Lindholm, add Kasper and Mazur... and THEN determine who of those 5 can still remain with the Wings. I know the actual timing is the reverse of that.. I'm just sayin'... The argument for Hanifan: an actual #1 LHD to pair with Seider. And a tough 2-way player on defense, providing both offense as well as defense from that spot, as well as a high-level of toughness. Argument against: too many LH'ed D on the Wings roster? That can be... corrected. For: 47 pts in 80 games and a +19 this past year. 38 pts in 81 games and +2 the year prior, and 48 pts in 81 games and a +27 the year prior. Now.. Walman has been a nice surprise. But Hanifan is better... much better. Edvinsson may some day take over as #1 LHD, but he's not there yet. Hanifan + Seider? I think that's an outstanding #1 pair. Edvinsson + Tuomisto? I'm guessing... but also WANT that as 2nd pair in 2024-25. If Edvinsson becomes so good that he forces his way to the top pairing...? OK: Then it's Edvinsson + Seider = #1 pair and Hanifan + Tuomisto as #2 pair. I think that is STILL an awesome top 4 pairing... and YOUNG!!! Hanifan is the best vet to plop into the middle of a top 4 like that and be that vet leader. Walman drops to #3... and 3rd pair (plus 4th D'man) can be filled in with Holl or Wallinder or Johansson or Maatta or however that works out. EVERYONE ELSE is expendable IMO... That includes Petry, Gost, Chiarot (I think Maatta too but am uncertain where we are with Cap once we get to Chiarot & Maatta...). I'm happy. That's my offseason FA wants. Dump as much salary as necessary... call up lots of kids... add two better talents than the middling talents we've added the past two years. Specifically: I want Hanifan and Lindholm.

That's simply bad word choice on my part. OK, fine: How can they INFLUENCE timing? What is their mechanism to do so?

I think 2 is the max Yzerman would be willing to commit to. Also... "seeking a long-term contract" means to me, not only term, but as much $$$ as he can squeeze into this (most likely) last contract. I think this is the death knell for Kane remaining with the Wings. It won't be more than 2 years (Yzerman would be open to... guessing), and I don't believe it can get much higher than $4.5 mill AAV (another guess), and I'm guessing Yzerman's willingness may be even a lower AAV than that. Totally unknown, what's actually on Yzerman's mind. But on a WAG... Kane is pricing himself out of Detroit, one way or another. Time to move on to the kids... IMO. Mazur will have to take his place. Totally different kind of player.

On Kool-Aid: I keep saying this...

OK... So explain please... exactly how they are controlling the timing? They would have to have a mechanism to actually do that, if that is what you believe they are doing, or COULD be doing... So... What is that mechanism?

I will go with... THIS... ⏫

Woohoo! Edman & Randy are correct! + 1 more to keep an eye on!!!

Crap. I keep forgetting that. I just did the same thing a couple weeks ago when talking about keeping an eye on the Erie guys... Old Age. Crappy memory.

How about if it were my preferred sentence: Executed for Treason against Democracy, Treason against the United States of America, Treason against the Constitution of the United States. Would that gain him some supporters? 😁 (smartass alert...!)

Plus... He's too chicken **** to actually want to spend a single day in jail. For someone with integrity, they would do it on principle. That's not DJT. He just wants the theatrics... without experiencing ANY real inconvenience.

I don't think conservative is the correct terminology. I think what Yzerman is doing, even if it involves signing a bunch of journeymen veterans... is to demand a higher level of skill/ commitment/ NHL-level responsibility/ and NHL-level compete from prospects trying to break onto the Wings roster. The current roster still didn't make the playoffs. But it just missed, and it's the best team showing since we last made the playoffs. So the bar is now higher, and has to be met or exceeded in order to make the roster. I guess that could be called "conservative"... but I'm thinking more along the lines of "we are demanding more". "The bar is higher so you have to jump higher." I don't consider this a bad thing at all. Demanding more from upcoming prospects. If they can do anything they want to, and still get NHL ice time simply because the team is so desperate... I think is exactly what Yzerman is fighting against and therefore, is creating the higher bar for them to jump over. In fact, I think this is absolutely a smart thing to do on Yzerman's part... I approve this philosophy.

Israel decided that "all out war" was probably not a good idea. I don't think this has any effect, whatsoever, on the Iranian nuclear bomb situation. Why would you think so? Or, exactly how is this "hurting" the situation? I think this should be looked at simply from the Israeli-Iranian sides, not from American or anti-nuclear bomb perspectives. I disagree that this hurts any situation. I believe, looking at it only from... Israel: "We killed an architect of the Oct 7th attack on us. It was an Iranian IRGC General and his team in a military annex to their embassy in Syria. They responded with a limited attack on our territory which we succesfully defended. We also will not allow an attack on our territory without a response. We have responded, in a limited manner. the offramp for both our countries to de-escalate is still there. As how the Americans say: 'The ball is now in your court'. " Iran: "We attacked Israel (limited) in response to the attack on our embassy/IRGC general. Israel attacked us in response, on our home territory? We don't know what you are talking about... we shot down a few small birds that were hovering over our military bases... nothing to see here. We consider the matter closed." This is the only thing that matters right now. The viewpoints of these two countries, only, towards each other. And Israel's attack was much more limited than what it first might have thought to have been (including me), which is allowing an off-ramp for both of these countries to stand down. That is the best, immediate, outcome. Iran's nuclear capabilities are a separate issue, IMO, to be dealt with on a separate basis.

Reported cyberattacks as well but no idea of the impact...

I'm in no rush on any of these guys... Just interested in seeing how they develop...

The pitchers I'm very interested in following (reverse order) Jatnk Diaz - starter? Tyler Mattison - reliever Paul Wilson - starter Wilmer Flores - will end up in the bullpen Ty Madden - struggles against lefties, most likely bullpen Troy Melton - starter with high-octane FB and developing secondaries Jackson Jobe - starter.

Bless You Boys believe he has lots of work to do... But he's young with some projectability so go ahead and keep an eye on him. https://www.blessyouboys.com/2024/1/27/23905903/detroit-tigers-prospect-scouting-reports-jackson-jobe-colt-keith-max-clark-jace-jung

I think Honolulu Blue on Black looks...

Market futures are tanking right now due to Israel's attacks on Iran and other...

Market futures are tanking right now due to Israel's attacks on Iran and other...

Current play-by-play on incoming information of this strike(s) in Iran:

Possibly Natanz as well...?

In Isfahan, Iran's nuclear development facilities. WAG: Successful software attack by Israel melts down... something... This could get very, very... bad.

Matt Millen record with the Lions (7+ years): 31-84. Including the completion of his last season with the Lions, when he was fired mid-season and they ended up 0-16 that year: 31-97. Lions record before Millen signed a 5-year contract extension in August, 2005: 16-38 Post extension: 15-59.

Same. Maybe pull off the road for a few seconds until it passes. Highly inconvenient and annoying but... "Alligator Alley" in Florida is similar. 2-lane extreme high traffic road with lots of semi's on there IIRC, and lots of road deaths.

But it was a GOOD epistle (IMO)... ! 😁