Better hope Detroit bombs in the next few games, or they aren't selling unless the deal is impossible to refuse.

Bertuzzi isn't available. Red Wings aren't sellers.

2 points behind Florida with 4 games in hand. 3 points behind the Isles with 4 games in hand. Tied with Washington with 3 games in hand. 2 points ahead of Buffalo. 1 point behind Pittsburgh. 4 points ahead of Ottawa.

Detroit aren't currently sellers, Bertuzzi isn't available. And that doesn't entice us to move him.

What a bad offer

I think we ultimately sell Bert but I hope it's a better deal than that.

I think Detroit keeps Bertuzzi. The win vs Washington puts Detroit in a prime place to make the playoffs, and if they can get 7 out of 10 points, i dont see much selling. Selling good players sends the wrong message for a team that has a decade of missing the playoffs.
To tell a team (Larkin especially) that it's better to sell for some assets that may help in a few years and throw away the effort this team accomplished, well you might as well see Larkin out the door, and a few more years of slow growth and no playoffs.

This team is too good to be in the bottom 6 or 8 teams, so chances of getting 1 or 2 is already slim. I'd rather make the playoffs and trust the scouting department (read: Hakan Andersson and Yzerman) to pick the right player at 18 in the draft than to get pigeon holed into a pick like Leo Carlson who (listed as a center but hasn't played there in the SHL all season) who could end up like Zadina. Losing to get a chance on Bedard or Fantilli or Mitchkov is not a good strategy. Winning is a good strategy. Drafting the right player is a good strategy, and there have been some really good picks.

I don't think we sell Bert because it somehow puts us in a better draft position I'm going to sell him because he isn't interested in resigning and we aren't interested in bringing him back. If you want to drag Larkin into the conversation too if you think you can't sign him you have to move him regardless of the standings or where you are in a playoff race. I mean that's basic for any GM. Would I love to make the playoffs absolutely but I'm not letting some of the few assets we own to just walk for nothing. Carlsson and Fantilli aren't options anymore but an extra 1st or a a good prospect are.