So, the Wings have Hudler, Sammy and Kopecky as tradeable assets? Great. I have a feeling we’ll be bitching about secondary scoring when April arrives.

Posted by Jeremy from Bowling Green, OH on 02/25/08 at 05:55 PM ET

Shocker. 

And when do we NOT bitch about “secondary scoring”?  Hell, I’d settle for a little “primary scoring” at this point…

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 02/25/08 at 06:05 PM ET

I’d like to hang on to Kopecky, if poss.  Lebda and Hudler, not so much…

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 02/25/08 at 06:16 PM ET

Might not be a popular opinion but I think Babcock needs to shut his mouth, he keeps flapping his gums on how he likes his roster as is, doesn’t want to see anyone go anywhere, and how certain players are definitely not leaving, I think he may be tying Hollands hands here. Doesn’t look good to have your coach publicly say one thing and your GM go and do the opposite. It’s obvious the Wings need something, as a smaller skill team they need to be a LOT better than an Anaheim who’s going to bash, hook, hold, and obstruct as much as possible and right now they’re not. I’m loathe to give up Filp but if it would net us a Hossa (and a contract extension) I’d ship him, Hudler, and a pick off in a heartbeat.

Posted by Jeff on 02/25/08 at 06:29 PM ET

Kopecky won’t be traded.  The only two NHL-ready big, grinding forwards in the Wings’ system are Kopecky and Franzen. 

Big Johan Ryno (6’5”) might not be re-upped if he chooses to stay with Djurgarden next year, Dick Axelsson is 6’2,” but doesn’t play a physical brand of hockey, Joakim Andersson (6’2”) is a tremendous two-way defensive forward who’s 3-5 years out, and Justin Abdelkader (6’1”) has tons of grind, as does Draper Jr., a.k.a. Darren Helm (6’0”), but both need at least one more year of seasoning before they’re ready for prime time. 

I don’t have a problem with Babcock stating what he’s stating.  The Wings don’t want to trade Filppula or Franzen, and there’s nothing wrong with saying it.  The Wings won’t trade Kronwall, either.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 02/25/08 at 06:42 PM ET

I suspect Babs has a reason for saying what he says.  For one, it reassures the player.  For another, it warns off other GMs.  Also, it does, to some extent, force the issue with his own GM.

Posted by w2j2 on 02/25/08 at 06:54 PM ET

In all honesty, Id rather have Filppula than Hossa on my team, and I am a big fan of Marian Hossa, but at the start of this season in one of these threads I predicted that Filppula would have a great year and is going to turn into a hell of a player, and I thought he was the best player on the ice in Vancouver this past Saturday.

Great player, one of my favourite’s in the league, his skill is incredible and his puck moving/passing decisions are excellent.

Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 02/25/08 at 07:10 PM ET

Yeah, and it could also be a set up. Kinda lettin the other GM’s think that these guys are untouchable so their value goes up. Albeit a far cry, but ya never know.

Posted by cementslinger from a snowbank in Midland on 02/25/08 at 07:16 PM ET

Babcock would not have said anything if he and Holland weren’t on the same page…trust me.

Posted by bababooey on 02/25/08 at 09:29 PM ET

Yeah, I’m sure the organization is a little more organized than that.

Posted by pilgrim on 02/25/08 at 09:44 PM ET

Agreed.  We’ve heard over and over how the Wings’ brain trust talks all the time.  Babcock isn’t going to the press behind someone else’s back on this…  I can’t believe that.

Posted by BobTheZee on 02/25/08 at 11:40 PM ET

Sometimes people forget that Babcock is part of the Wings’ braintrust.  They ask him about not only call-ups, but also trades. 

He’s going to be very, very busy on Tuesday because he will be in the Wings’ executive “bunker,” he’ll hold a morning skate, and he’ll go back to the “bunker” before heading to the rink in the afternoon to prepare for the game.  He will be there, he will have input and some sway—he sees these players and we all know how obsessive he is about keeping tabs on everybody—and he didn’t go over Kenny’s head.  This is not forcing the GM.  They’re a team, and in this respect, he’s doing a little speaking for his GM, but he isn’t saying anything that Ken Holland hasn’t already repeatedly said to the GM’s he talking to.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 02/26/08 at 12:04 AM ET

On this one, I think Uncle Mike may actually be…telling…the…truth.  It’s okay, I’m shaking too.

Good to know that Fil’s not being traded.  Now if some sucker would just bite for William Tell…

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the deadline-trade bomb bunker on 02/26/08 at 03:55 AM ET