Mr.TaterSalad

I think the other city that should be considered before Salt Lake is Milwaukee. Wisconsin has proven support, albeit on a much smaller scale, with the Admirals in the AHL and Wisconsin in college hockey. I'm not opposed to Salt Lake persay and it's better than giving Atlanta another chance. I feel that markets like Quebec and Milwaukee should be considered.

Do you consider the Winnipeg market a success since they've returned to the NHL?

Is there any player, realistically speaking, if the Lions took you'd be underwhelmed or disappointed by in the first round?

Many people said the same thing about Winnipeg before they got the Jets back and they are doing fine. Winnipeg metro has 834,678 people and Quebec City metro has 839,311 people. People said Winnipeg would never get a team back and they eventually did. People then said Winnipeg would not make money or turn a profit as the metro area is too small and the Canadian dollar too weak. It seems Winnipeg, while certainly on the lower end of the revenue scale, is indeed a profitable team. So if Winnipeg made sense I think Quebec City does as well. It is a heritage hockey market with a diehard fan base.

Disappointed to see Salt Lake get awarded a team. Quebec City should have been next in line for a team, assuming there is an ownership group to support it. I know there is an NHL ready arena, but I don't don't know if there was an ownership group in place.

Where's the money going to come from though to get a big free agent when they have to pay both Seider and Raymond. They have $2,813,684 in cap space currently and if all three of Kane, Perron, and Sprong left that would be about $19 million cleared in cap space when you calculate what they have plus the three players leaving. Wouldn't Seider and Raymond eat most, if not all, of that cap space up with $8 million/year contracts?

I really an all blue, color rush type of jersey instead of the black ones. Oh well, it's just a jersey at the end of the day. If the football team that plays in them is good, that's what matters.

For alternate jerseys something like either of these would have been cool too. I really like the all blues in these concepts too. Though I'd have replaced the Lions logo with Bubbles on the alternate jersey.

That looks like dog**** if you ask me. Just randomly adding black into your jersey is dumb. If you are the Raiders or Steelers and black is apart of your team colors then obviously fine. But just because you can have a black uniform doesn't mean you should. That helmet with the black Lion looks exceptionally terrible imo. I was hoping for an all blue uniform to be the third jersey with either the helmet design they used last year or a return the Bubbles the Lion. I think it would have been sick to have a white helmet too with a blue lion logo on it. Something sorta like this but with a different helmet featuring either last years design or Bubbles.

I made a long post about this a few weeks back. Without having a true #1 center, capable of consistently producing 80 points or more in a season to build around, Yzerman is going to have to take the Blues and Golden Knights route to building a Cup contender. I don't see that marquee, #1 center coming to us in free agency or via a trade. As crazy and incredible as it would be to get a Sam Reinhart in here via free agency, I think ideas like that are a pipedream. And so we must go another route. To me, taking the St. Louis and Vegas route means an overhaul of certain parts of this roster and upgrades at others to what what those teams had in their Stanley Cup years: good goaltending from two starters, tough and smart defensively, good two-way hockey players, and scoring depth on three lines. I also don't think this rebuild is going to be completed in this offseason. As crummy and painful as it is to say, I think we are stuck waiting for all of Cossa, Danielson, Kasper, Sandin-Pellika, and Wallinder to come up and contribute. Below I ranked what I believe this teams most pressing needs are. As well, what I think we can do this offseason and what the future looks like for us to become a Cup contender. 1. Defense Outside of a defensemen or two, our defensive defenseman suck. We're towards the bottom of the league in goals allowed and shots given up per game. As well, we make too many mistakes in our own zone on defense and give other teams scoring chances or fail to clear the puck out. We need some more big bodies, who are both physical in their own zone, can press more when coming up ice, and don't make as many mistakes. Sounds easier said than done to find those guys. Jeff Petry and Justin Holl are outright liabilities on the ice and should not be back on this team next season. It looks like Petry would be a $1.968 million cap hit over the next two seasons to buyout and Holl would cost around a $4.533 million overall cap hit to buyout. I'm ok-ish with Holl being on the roster next year if he has to be for another season, but not Petry. I think you buyout Petry, pin a $20 bill to him, and wish him the best of luck in the future. He has got to go. Then there's Ben Chiarot. At least we can say that Chiarot somewhat turned it around this season. Though I am still not sold on trusting him for the long term and given his age, I don't think he is a long term option on defense. After his current contract expires he will an should be gone. If there was a way we could trade him before then I would love to dump that $4.75 million cap hit. But alas, no one is going to take that kind of cap hit on and we are likely stuck with Chiarot for another season. As far as defensive acquisitions go, unless there was a big move to be made of a marquee defensive player, I don't think I'd sign or trade for anyone. We've made too many poor, mid to low end defensive acquisitions that haven't worked out in our favor: Chiarot, Holl, Petry. I would wait until next offseason to get back into the defensive free agent or trade market, unless there was a big move to be had his year. I really depresses me what we're paying Chiarot, Holl, and Petry. Bad moves with ugly contracts. I would do what I can to resign Gostisbehere though as he has been productive on the powerplay and we can afford to take a step back there. If we could get him for 1-2 years at $4 million a season or so I'd go for that. I'm also ready see what we have with some of the kids. I think we should see Simon Edvinsson up to start next season on the main roster. I think William Wallinder should be brought up at some point in the season and given a test drive as well to see what we have. Last, but certainly not least we get to resigning Mo Seider. It's finally time to pay up and we're going to have to give his kid a big contract. Based on projections I have seen I think he gets somewhere around 8 years @ $8.5-$8.75 million/year. Both he and Raymond are in for large, long term deals. Off-Season Moves: Resign Gostisbehere at 2 years @ $4 million/season, Buyout Petry at a $1.968 cap hit Call ups: Edvinsson to start the year and eventually Wallinder 2023-2024 Defensive Unit: Chiarot, Edvinsson, Gostisbehere, Holl, Maatta, Seider, Wallinder, Wallman 2024-2025 Defensive Unit: Chiarot, Edvinsson, Gostisbehere, Seider, Wallinder, Wallman, free agent/trade acquisition 2. Goaltending I look at goaltending as the one area that needs a complete overhaul because you have to replace 2 of your 3 starters if you want to have a chance to emulate what St. Louis and Vegas did. When the Blues won the cup they had both Jake Allen and Jordan Binnington, Vegas ad Adin Hill and Laurent Brossoit. We're going to have to overhaul our netminder situation and get two strong starting goalies. We're all obviously hoping that Cossa can come up within the next year and be our Goalie #1 of the future. If that is the case, then I think we can rely on Lyon as Goalie #2 until and if Augustine develops. Husso can't be around here much longer though and he can't be apart of a playoff team that has aspirations to actually get out of the first round. Right now Husso is just dead, unproductive weight with his $4.75 million cap hit. He's got to go and that money has to be spent better elsewhere. Unless I am reading it wrong it would cost roughly $3.166 million in cap hit over the next two season to boyout Husso. If that's what costs then bon voyage Husso. Looking ahead to free agency or the trade market, I'm not sure I would make a significant move here. I know some would like to, but I'm willing to be patient (something I am normally not) for Cossa to come up and be our starter. I'd rather spend free agent or trade dollars elsewhere given that we have Cossa and Augustine in the farm system with Cossa ready to come up sooner rather than later. I'd be looking to make a move down the line, after next season, to bring in another netminder to pair with Cossa and possibly Lyon. Off-Season Moves: Buyout Husso at a $3.166 million cap hit Call up: Cossa 2023-2024 Goalies: Cossa, Lyon, Reimer 2024-2025 Goalies: Cossa, Lyon, free agent/trade acquisition or Augustine 3. Center position Larkin is not a number 1A center, he's really a 1B center. But there is nothing we can do about this. He's our guy at the top moving forward, for better or for worse. So it's everything around him we're going to have to try and make better. We're also stuck with the boat anchor contracts of both Andrew Copp and JT Compher for the next 2-3 seasons, so we better hope they can produce. We're going to need scoring depth and points produced from these two guys at the center position otherwise we are doomed given the lengthy contracts each guy has. If I could trade Copp somehow I'd do it. I'd certainly be actively shopping him, but whose going to want to take on his $5.625 million cap hit? Probably no one. Looking ahead to the free agency and trade markets here, this is yet another area where unless there is a marquee move to be made on a top tier player, I'm standing pat and calling someone up at some point. I would probably resign Valeno on a 1-2 year deal and call it a day as far as moves go. I expect Kasper to be up next year at some point and Nate Danielson the year after that. Off-Season Moves: Resign Valeno, Call up: Marco Kasper at some point 2023-2024 Centers: Compher, Copp, Kasper, Larkin, Rasmussen, Valeno 2024-2025 Centers: Compher, Copp, Danielson, Kasper, Larkin, Rasmussen 4. Forward/winger This is where things get both interesting and potentially ugly. We obviously have to resign Lucas Raymond. Given his play this past year, that price tag obviously went up, way up. That's a good thing because that means we have a guy capable of producing 70-80 points on this team. But he's going to be a big cap hit moving forward. I project he resigns at somewhere around 8 years @ $60-$65 million with an $8-8125 million/year cap hit. As a result of having to pay Raymond there are guys that will be cap casualties and won't be back next season. Those being Perron and Sprong. I expect both to be gone and there is the possibility of Christian Fischer joining them as a cap casualty too. I'd like to bring back Fischer and would hope Yzerman can find a way to get it done. I could see Fabbri being a cap casualty the year after next as well given his $4 million/year price tag. Then we get to Patrick Kane. I think he should be back and I would think Yzerman wants him back. But does he want to come back is a different question. Given his productivity and age, this is his last chance at a semi-big contract. I would think he's going to ask for more than the $2.275 we paid him. He might bolt for a Cup contending team next year and I don't blame him. As far as what a Kane contract looks like in-terms of length or dollars, I really have no clue. I took an overly generous shot in the dark and said 2 years @ $4.5 million/year. I don't know that I am making a big move here either, other than paying Raymond and possibly bringing back Kane, when it comes to free agency or the trade market. My only other moves of note here are to call up Carter Mauzur and Elmer Soderblom next year and then Dmitri Buchelnikov the year after that if he's any good. Off-Season Moves: Resign Raymond to 8 years @ $60 million, resign Kane to 2 years @ $4.5 million/year Callups: Mazur and Soderblom 2023-2024 Forwards: DeBrincat, Fabbri, Fischer, Kane, Mazur, Raymond, Soderblum 2024-2025 Forwards: Buchelnikov, DeBrincat, Fischer, Kane, Mazur, Raymond, Soderblum 23 Man roster to start next year Centers: Compher, Copp, Kasper, Larkin, Rasmussen, Valeno Forwards: DeBrincat, Fabbri, Fischer, Kane, Mazur, Raymond, Soderblum Defense: Chiarot, Edvinsson, Gostisbehere, Maatta, Seider, Wallinder, Wallman (Holl can go sit in Grand Rapids) Goalies: Cossa, Lyon, Reimer

What does Trump mean by "he lost his great general?" Is he referring to Stonewall Jackson who most certainly didn't die at Gettysburg? Jackson was killed in May of 1863 when he was shot by his own confederate forces riding back as the Battle of Chancellorsville was concluding. Maybe he's referring to General William Barksdale, but I'd doubt Trump even knows who he is.

I'm sorry, but those are ugly as effffff. I would like to see an all blue color rush type of jersey as an alternate.

Those black jerseys are as ugly as the last time they had black ones in the Millen era. I hope that isn't their third jersey.

So I did two mock drafts, one with trades and one without trades. In the one with trades I ended up trading back out of the first round with Carolina. Then I traded with Washington and sent the second round pick at 61 and the third round pick at 71 that I acquired in the Carolina trade to move back up to pick 40. I drafted a player I am not really high on, but thought Brad Holmes might be and drafted Darius Robinson. Draft with trades 35. Xavier Worthy/WR, Texas 40. Darius Robinson/Edge, Missouri 71. Caelen Carson/CB, Wake Forest 201. Dylan McMahon/OG, NC State 205. AJ Barner/TE, Michigan 249. Kingsley Eguakun/OC, Florida Draft without trades 29. Tyler Guyton/OT, Oklahoma 61. Ennis Rakestraw Jr./CB, Missouri 73. Devontez Walker/WR, North Carolina 164. Gabe Hall/DT, Baylor 201. Sataoa Laumea/OG, Utah 205. Cornelius Johnson/WR, Michigan 249. Joshua Karty/K, Stanford

I also don't want any black on the uniforms or for them to have a black jersey like they did during the Millen era. I hated those black jerseys they used to wear. I like these concept jerseys (below) that someone posted here a few months back. If these were the jerseys designs I'd be just fine with them. An updated version of the 1990s Lions jerseys.

Just please get rid of the WCF patch on there. So might as well have a patch that says SOL if you're going to continue to honor the worst owner in the history of professional sports.

Maybe I am not taking into account enough the "culture fit" or "try hard" aspects of players like Wiggins and McKinstry. So if they are "poor tacklers" because they simply don't try hard enough or don't bring a coachable attitude to the table. Then I agree, they are off the board. But its a tackling issue that can be coached up and fixed, if these guys are willing to be mentored and coached, I think Holmes might take the risk. Wiggins in particular has all the things you cannot teach. He's 6'1 with missile like speed having run a crazy fast 4.28 at the combine and has a 9.43 RAS score. In scouting reports I've read he can also play outside man coverage, which is something Aaron Glenn is going to really value in a player. I think he could be on the board for the Lions at 29. One thing I did notice in looking over all the players the Lions have either visited with or hosted for an interview, Wiggins is not on that list but Kool-Aid is. So maybe Kool-Aid is the guy I should be arguing for more than Wiggins seeing as they hosted him and not Wiggins. McKinstry had a lower RAS score at 7.54 and ran a 4.47 40 time. I don't see the explosive athleticism as much as I do with Wiggins. Regarding Latu, it looks like the Lions have also not hosted him for a visit or met with him. I don't think his injury history would scare Holmes off. To the contrary, he's just the type of guy Holmes would want. I've also seen scouting reports that say he is a hard nosed and mature player with a well-rounded game. He seems to check the culture box that Holmes and Campbell will love.

Tyler Boyd still has not signed anywhere. I imagine he's pricing himself out right now and teams are waiting until after the draft and until his financial demands drop a bit to sign him. I'd still be very much interested in Boyd if he's willing to take a 1-2 year deal.

The difference is the Lions have one of the youngest, most talented rosters in the NFL. We had an average age with the Wings of 28.4 years which was middle of the pack. They have to shed some of these deadweight veterans this offseason for sure.

When do we being to celebrate and acknowledge "The Streak" lol?

Welp, it's the off-season now and lots of decisions to be made with this roster.

****ing John Tortorella pulling the goalie and getting overly aggressive like that.

Damn, hate to see that. Montreal hasn't gone to the box once.

John Tortorella pulls his goalie and the Caps score.

OH MY ****ING GOD!!!!!!!!