I understand that EDM may be a bit off, but the framework is there, I believe.

Lots of intriguing ideas here! Personally, I'd be hesitant to deal both Nyquist AND Tatar. I would also probably pass on Vanek. However, no doubt that you've improved the defensive situation (and gotten younger). Not sure ANA is willing to deal Theodore with the possibility (unless something changes with Bieksa's NMC) of losing a good Dman to Vegas in June. Also, I know WPG has gone on record saying they want an equally prestigious, young Dman coming back in any Trouba trade and, while Cholowski could very well develop into that, I think he's too early in the development process to get WPG to pull the trigger on that deal. RFA cap hits are pretty on point but I wouldn't sign Russo to a three year deal; he hasn't shown enough to receive anything more than a burry-able one-year "show me" deal next year.

Not sure what to make of that EDM deal, either. There's no doubt that Eberle is talented but he's already almost 27 and probably will be slowing down by the time DET is looking to contend again. He recorded 51 points this year compared to 48 for Nyquist and 46 for Tatar. Neither Goose nor Tatar will cost 6 million. However, if you have dealt both of them to improve the D like in this scenario, then we are desperately thin at wing so I get what you're trying to do here. Giving up a good first rounder would also hurt...I'd rather play it safe, keep one of Tatar/Nyquist, and use Green to pick up an extra first or second plus a prospect at the 2017/18 deadline.

Lastly, while I'll gladly admit that I could be wrong about anything else I've said, I am pretty confident that you shouldn't buyout Ericsson if you have the cap space like you have here. If he really isn't good enough to be on the roster, then bury him, get 950K of relief, and get him off the books sooner. While we can't get full LTIR relief for both Franzen AND Kronwall (you can only use 10% of the cap ceiling on LTIR), we should still have enough space to eat Ericsson's contract for another year.

I didn't like the idea of trading both Tats and Gus either, but upgrading the D is absolutely priority #1, and that is what it takes to do it here. Trouba is tough, bc idk if that is enough, but I think it's close. Unfortunately, there is no "equally prestigious, young Dman" for us to give WPG, so we just have to overpay with other assets. I like Eberle because he's a RH shot, and Green to EDM makes a lot of sense, so I figured Holland could expand the deal and acquire a nice RH piece.

I am so sick and tired of hearing from or seeing both Kronwall and Ericsson, I just did whatever gets them to go away the fastest. I'd be fine with LTIRing Kronwall and keeping E on the books, because we know Holland's sorry a-- won't waive him.

A lot of different ways this roster can go. Let's hope Holland wakes up and makes something happen.

Agreed. Just not sure it can happen. One of GMKH's favorite phrases is "it takes two to tango" and, at the end of the day, he's right. He's been trying since Lidstrom retired (he almost had Suter) and the fact is: it's hard. I'm afraid the only way we can fix the D is eat the current contracts while hoping one or two of Cholowski, Hronek, Hicketts, Saarijarvi, and Liljegren (fingers crossed!) end up being top-pair, minute-eating, puck-moving studs. Because the Burns/Karlsons/Letangs/Lindholms/Ekblads/Hedmans/etc...NEVER make it to free agency and RARELY get traded for anything other than another elite Dman (aka Subban/Weber).

Our best hope of trading for one is probably one of those one-for-one deals involving an elite young Dman for an elite young forward like Jones for Johansen. The problem for us is that you usually need a surplus of one before you're willing to give one up for the other. Last time I checked, DET has shortages on both fronts! Lol.