The Malik Report

The Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson's "Hockey World" and "Hockey World Short Shifts" columns discuss players that the Red Wings might want to pursue via the trade route.

Matheson suggests that the Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks are in a "bidding war" for a player who may or may not be on the trade table to begin with, and Matheson claims that the Wings are more than willing to mortgage a good chunk of their future to snag Myers (and for the record, I believe Myers will go to Anaheim instead of "within division"--if he's traded at all):

The Wings crave a rightie on their back-end, with none in their stable, and the Ducks, who are more of a Cup threat than Detroit is, want to win now in the ultra-competitive West. Here’s who the Wings won’t give up for Myers: *Centre Dylan Larkin, the best USA player at the world junior, who will be a lightning-fast second-line NHL pivot. Slovak winger Tomas Tatar, who might get 30 goals in Detroit. Here’s who Detroit would hesitate to move: *Winger Anthony Mantha, the 6’5” kid who had 81 goals in 81 games in Val D’Or in junior last year and while feeling his way in his first pro season in Grand Rapids, could be heir apparent for Johan Franzen. Here’s who would be in play:

Defenceman Xavier Ouellet, even if he’s one of Mike Babcock’s favourites, or blueliner Ryan Sproul, a former teammate of Darnell Nurse in the Soo who has a big shot from the point and can run a powerplay. Swedish forward Axel Holmstrom, their sixth-round draft in 2104, who starred in the world junior in Toronto and Montreal over Christmas and is playing in Skelleftea right now. Winger Tomas Jurco, 22, a former second-round draft who could be 7-9 forward.. Winger Teemu Pulkkinen, an AHL stud at 23 who had 31 goals in Grand Rapids last year and 24 in 38 games this year before his call-up. A Brett Hull type shot. *Russian defender Alexey Marchenko, a stay-at-home second-pairing D who’s up with the Wings right now or Swedish farmhand defenceman Mattias Backman, a top 4 NHL possibility, tall and skinny like Martin Marincin.

Matheson continues, discussing who the Ducks might surrender for Myers, and he also believes that Jeff Petry would draw a bounty:

*Jeff Petry was a second-round draft in 2006 so if the Oilers do deal their UFA D-man who is clearly their best blueliner at this time, they should stop at nothing but a second-rounder plus a solid prospect D back. If it’s the Wings, definitely hold out for Xavier Ouellet or Ryan Sproul along with the pick. I believe the Canadiens have interest in Petry, too.

Also:

*I’ve given up figuring what second-pairing NHL D-men should be making on the open market when teams stupidly throw money around, so I those not to laugh when I heard Cody Franson, an average NHL blueliner would be in the $5.5 mil range on July 1. He’s a 35-point NHL D-man. I guess if Matt Niskanen can get 7 years at $5.75 mil in Washington last summer, anything’s possible. He had 51 points and was plus 33 in his UFA year in Pittsburgh and is predictably back to being what he really is (17 points, plus 3) now.

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