Why the Red Wings should trade Lilja and Samuelson.
Posted 11:31 PM ET | Comments 0
It is pretty well known that the Wings need to make some kind of a move, if not two moves in order to insure they can be under the cap not only this season but for the next couple seasons. They have an over-abundance of talent on offense and defense and that obviously gives Ken Holland many options with how to get his team there. As a long time Red Wings fan, growing up just 30 miles south of Detroit, I can remember some of the bad times, as well as all of the amazing times this team has had in recent history.
Everyone knows that the Red Wings scouting system is the premiere scouting system in all of hockey, and given this fact, and the fact that they need to be under the cap this season and beyond.
Added to the fact that forwards such as Ville Leino, Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader( who I played against in the Michigan High School State championship in 2004) are NHL ready, and Defenseman Derek Meech and Jonathon Ericson are NHL ready. Who can disagree with me that trading Samuelson and Lilja for draft picks now, is not to the benefit of this organization?
They already have verterans and budding stars, they already have prospects that are NHL worthy at all positions, including in between the pipes, and they have the ability to gain quality draft picks from experienced, cup winnning players such as Samuelson and Lilja. What is stopping them from moving these 2 players right now?
I understand that some of the above mentioned "NHL ready" players can play in Grand Rapids and possibly could benefit from that experience. My argument is that the result of waiting is an oppuritunity cost of the current value that could be returned for Samuelson and Lilja now.
I have chosen these 2 players because both could be highly marketable to other NHL teams, both have experience and cups, not to mention Lilja is a fan scapegoat in Detroit and Samuelson is a possible reliable PP point man for many NHL teams AND not to mention THE RED WINGS CAN WIN MANY MANY GAMES WITHOUT EITHER OF THEM NOW.
Can you imagine if this scouting system could add a combination of 3 or 4, 2nd, 3rd or 4th round draft picks over the next 3-4 years just from moving these 2 players? It could be the difference between finding the next Nicklas Lidstrom(1989, 3rd round, 53rd overall), Henrik Zetterberg(1999, 7th round, 210 overall), Pavel Datsyuk(1998, 6th round, 171st overall) or Tomas Holmstrom(1994, 10th round,257th overall), and letting them slip away.
Everyone knows that the Red Wings scouting system is the premiere scouting system in all of hockey, and given this fact, and the fact that they need to be under the cap this season and beyond.
Added to the fact that forwards such as Ville Leino, Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader( who I played against in the Michigan High School State championship in 2004) are NHL ready, and Defenseman Derek Meech and Jonathon Ericson are NHL ready. Who can disagree with me that trading Samuelson and Lilja for draft picks now, is not to the benefit of this organization?
They already have verterans and budding stars, they already have prospects that are NHL worthy at all positions, including in between the pipes, and they have the ability to gain quality draft picks from experienced, cup winnning players such as Samuelson and Lilja. What is stopping them from moving these 2 players right now?
I understand that some of the above mentioned "NHL ready" players can play in Grand Rapids and possibly could benefit from that experience. My argument is that the result of waiting is an oppuritunity cost of the current value that could be returned for Samuelson and Lilja now.
I have chosen these 2 players because both could be highly marketable to other NHL teams, both have experience and cups, not to mention Lilja is a fan scapegoat in Detroit and Samuelson is a possible reliable PP point man for many NHL teams AND not to mention THE RED WINGS CAN WIN MANY MANY GAMES WITHOUT EITHER OF THEM NOW.
Can you imagine if this scouting system could add a combination of 3 or 4, 2nd, 3rd or 4th round draft picks over the next 3-4 years just from moving these 2 players? It could be the difference between finding the next Nicklas Lidstrom(1989, 3rd round, 53rd overall), Henrik Zetterberg(1999, 7th round, 210 overall), Pavel Datsyuk(1998, 6th round, 171st overall) or Tomas Holmstrom(1994, 10th round,257th overall), and letting them slip away.