Of Red Wings-related note this morning:
1. MLive’s Ansar Khan answered reader questions in a mailbag article, and Khan answered a couple of draft-related questions:
Q: Do the Wings plan to look for a lot of trade-up opportunities at the draft and use extra picks to move up? – Tom
A: They will try. They would like to move up to No. 3 for a shot at right wing Filip Zadina or No. 4 or 5 to get defenseman Evan Bouchard. If they do trade up or down it would happen during the draft on June 21 and of course depend on what transpires ahead of them.
What would it take to move up? At minimum, in addition to swapping the No. 6 pick, the Red Wings surely would need to relinquish their other first-round selection (30 or 31, depending on whether Vegas wins the Stanley Cup) or one of their second-round picks (No. 33 or 36).
Khan continues, and this is a situation where Ken Holland will have to do his due diligence to determine whether the teams ahead of the #6 pick will go for Bouchard. I hope that the Wings stand pat and draft whoever’s available at #6, but I could easily see the team moving up to 4th or 5th.
2. DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner penned a “By the Numbers” examination of Xavier Ouellet’s 2017-18 season, and Regner was particularly candid regarding Ouellet’s future:
Once the year concluded, he requested a trade and Detroit is seeking to accommodate his request. It has long been speculated the Red Wings have been trying to move Ouellet since the middle of last season but received lukewarm interest.
Whether the Wings can deal Ouellet is iffy. He is in the second year of a two-year, $2.5 million contract and most teams may feel a cap hit of $1.25 million is too high for a player who has been relegated to spot duty.
A likely scenario could be Ouellet getting optioned to Grand Rapids. He will go through waivers and if he isn’t claimed, he will begin next season as a Griffin.
If Ouellet is in Grand Rapids, only $225,000 will count against the Wings salary cap.
Regner continues, and Ouellet’s always been a good soldier, so I hope that the Wings can find him another home.
It would be awkward if Kenny doesn’t trade Ouellet…and then he comes to camp and outperforms guys like Kronwall, Ericsson, Jensen, Hicketts, etc…
I wonder why Ouellet wants out so bad? Fractured room? Not a fan of the process? Feels that he’s better than Kronwall?
Oh man!!!!! This team is a mess!!!!! The locker room is a daily fist fight (fortunately no one on the team can actually fight or at least Jensen is afraid of lil’ Bert). I’m too imagining Z limp wrist slapping Nelson.
“I wonder why Ouellet wants out so bad?”
I think it’s pretty cut and dry. He’s not playing. He’s a hockey player who probably wants to play hockey and he’s not getting the chance.
You act like everything involving this team is a day’s of our lives spinoff.
Hilarious
Nearly 5 years of treading water with any coach would be a challenge.
Hey Rangers! Mr. Sprouls perfect pairing partner! How about a 2nd and a 3rd?:)
It sucks when one of our young D cant outlplay a vet on one knee, a guy who needed neck surgery, another with a degenerative hip issue, another guy who disnt score a goal at all this year, etc.
I would have played Ouellet for 82 games. Kronwall could have been scratched. Not sure why Jensen was on such a long leash. So I wouldn’t claim Ouellet couldn’t outplay these guys…Blashill just didn’t believe in him. Scratching Kronwall would also hurt feelings in the country club.
Fire!
I’m starting to think Jensen fell on Howard on purpose.
It is what is regarding the veteran D – assume Kronwall and E will play out their contracts. If mgmt believed in playing young(er) D a ton to see once and for all what they can do, they wouldn’t have signed Daley and wouldn’t be so strongly interested in bringing back Green.
It seemed like Jensen’s greater mobility and right shot gave him the edge over Ouellet.
Maybe I’m missing something, but with veteran’s dominating the roster that’s all it took, to relegate Ouellet to spot duty. The games where he played like five mins as the 7th D must have been especially puzzling.
The same principals are returning who make those decisions, so I’m sure Ouellet feels blocked. From other team’s perspectives, why give up an asset for a #7 D who is no longer really a prospect?
Likely either a team with injuries will pick up Ouellet on waivers, or…five(!) veteran D will be clogging the roster in Grand Rapids, right when at least four prospects who need to play will be (re)joining the roster.