Helene St. James Wings likely to waive Abdelkader, move on from Blashill

[Ricelund]

Surprised no one's posted this yet! Sign of sign of the times...

According to HSJ:

F Justin Abdelkader

The evidence: He’s signed at a $4.25 million cap hit through 2022-23, making a buyout prohibitive (six years at annual cap hits ranging from $1.55 million to $2.35 million). Given his decline (22 points in 122 games the past two seasons, no points since Oct. 23), the most likely scenario is Abdelkader is waived and demoted.

The 33-year-old would still draw his NHL salary, but the Wings would gain a little north of $1 million in cap relief — plus a roster spot, maybe one Evgeny Svechnikov could claim.

The verdict: Gone (from the roster, not the payroll).

Coach Jeff Blashill

The evidence: Yzerman has been emphatic he does not hold Blashill responsible for the team’s 17-49-5 record, pointing to injuries and limited talent on the roster. Still, the Wings have missed the playoffs four straight years under Blashill, and Yzerman is likely to make a change.

His former linemate, Gerard Gallant, has been available since January after the Vegas Golden Knights dismissed him. Yzerman’s former roommate, Lane Lambert, is an assistant with the New York Islanders. Those are believed to be the two leading candidates Yzerman is considering to be the next Wings coach.

The verdict: Most likely gone as coach, but might be offered a different job in organization.

Interesting that HSJ says Blashill will likely remain in the organization. Wasn't Custance saying the same thing a few months ago?

Click to read more...

 

[Snuggs]

Blashill is the victim of circumstances in my opinion. He's not completely at fault but at the sametime he's not really helping. I think he's a solid coach, just not a good one or one that you want developing the youth of the team.

I think Gallant is Yzermans guy, Kinda of think they'll spend some money and we'll see a way more competitive team after the off-season. Idk about playoffs or anything, I just don't think Wings we'll be clearly the worst team in the league by a fair amount.

Abdelkader is gone. I think the AHL is a nice retirement package for him. Likely will be the team Capatain. Local boy. Good fan fare. The more I think about it, the better it would be for everyone to let Abdelkader go down and help the younger guys become professionals. Help develop the guys in the AHL that are there.

 

[Hen Kolland]

Isn't HSJ just picking the low hanging fruit in regards to the coaching change? Did she offer anything of substance other than "the team is bad" and "Steve knows people".

This seems like Freep fodder because she can't write about anything else considering she doesn't know about anything else at the moment.

 

[jkutswings]

Assuming they make a change before next season, I would strongly prefer Lambert over Gallant.

I think either would be an improvement, but Lambert seems to be exponentially sharper as a student of the game and with the X's and O's of everything. Gallant might provide an immediate emotional boost and rally the troops for short term gains, but with how many pieces I think they still need, and the number of ups and downs still in front of this roster, I think a long term strategy is best, which I believe Lambert fits.

 

[Killerjas]

I dont get why we need to waive Abdelkader, it is not like we are capped anywhere in the near future...

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

HSJ the most bias shill in the history of Detroit sports journalism and that's saying a lot! Larkin has "earned" the captaincy to start next year? I wish she followed Holland to Edmonton....

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

I dont get why we need to waive Abdelkader, it is not like we are capped anywhere in the near future...

He is taking up a roster spot and he is not a good hockey player. That's why.

 

[TheMule93]

I dont get why we need to waive Abdelkader, it is not like we are capped anywhere in the near future...

Waiving abelkader frees up a roster spot, it doesnt provide any cap relief (unless some team miraculously claims him).

 

[Hammettf2b]

So nothing concrete then? Just her speculation or does she know something nobody else does.

 

[Retire91]

On both counts... I will believe it when I see it.

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

Pure speculation at best

 

[RabidBadger]

Isn't HSJ just picking the low hanging fruit in regards to the coaching change? Did she offer anything of substance other than "the team is bad" and "Steve knows people".

This seems like Freep fodder because she can't write about anything else considering she doesn't know about anything else at the moment.

I agree, but I'm not going to let that get in the way of the mental porn I'm experiencing thinking of Abby being gone. I know you didn't even address the Abby part of it, but I'm not letting that get in my way either.

 

[Bench]

So nothing concrete then? Just her speculation or does she know something nobody else does.

You guys should know by now that our anointed beat writers don't throw out random conjecture that would be disrespectful to the team and its tenured staff. The narrative they create is very much in line with that the organization is comfortable sharing - or at least cannot reasonably deny.

 

[Flowah]

just not a good one or one that you want developing the youth of the team.

That's hilarious given that's what he did for our AHL guys and that he won with and that some of those players are *damn good players.*

I think the value of most coaches is vastly overstated. Babcock was on most people's top 3 list, if not at the very top. He got canned for underperforming with a team that is significantly better than ours. They have like 4-5 players who are simply indisputably better than anyone on our roster.

I'm not sad to see him go, but I don't think you can put more than 25% of this on his shoulders. You put the greatest coach to ever live in his shoes with this roster and you get what, 10 more wins tops? Still not even a playoff team.

 

[newfy]

I dont get why we need to waive Abdelkader, it is not like we are capped anywhere in the near future...

The sooner you have him riding buses on long shitty trips in the AHL, playing 3 games in 4 nights etc, the quicker he might just retire and let the wings off the hook for his contract.

It would be hard to give up that kind of money but hes also made enough to live ridiculously comfortably for him, his kids and his grand kids probably. Might be worth moving onto the next thing for him at this point instead of the bus rides

 

[Hen Kolland]

I agree, but I'm not going to let that get in the way of the mental porn I'm experiencing thinking of Abby being gone. I know you didn't even address the Abby part of it, but I'm not letting that get in my way either.

I think that’s feasible. Both are feasible. I won’t be surprised by either of them, but I feel like the entire article was just written to generate clicks because they are two hot button topics that people will get excited to fantasize over.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

The sooner you have him riding buses on long shitty trips in the AHL, playing 3 games in 4 nights etc, the quicker he might just retire and let the wings off the hook for his contract.

It would be hard to give up that kind of money but hes also made enough to live ridiculously comfortably for him, his kids and his grand kids probably. Might be worth moving onto the next thing for him at this point instead of the bus rides

He is very likely to be a team ambassador on the west coast of Michigan after his playing career. Transitioning him to Grand Rapids helps in that aspect anyway. He just cannot hold down a NHL job, he was really never close to the same guy after he dinged his knee at the World Cup. I am surprised that injury was so derailing but it really was for him in my opinion.

I think he will do well in a role in Grand Rapids. They could also talk LTIR or in Abby's case while I am not expecting there to be compliance buyouts coming out of this stoppage, if there are you have to think he is the guy getting bought out.

 

[Snuggs]

I dont get why we need to waive Abdelkader, it is not like we are capped anywhere in the near future...

Roster spot man. If you actually wanna upgrade the 2nd line we'll have to sign some type of center. An Zadina/Rasmussen/Smith/Timashov will all push for regular roles. Maybe even another signing or the resigning of Gagner.

(A)Tyler Bertuzzi – (C)Dylan Larkin – Anthony Mantha
*Alexis Lafreniere/Filip Zadina – *UFA Signing– Sam Gagner
Filip Zadina/Michael Rasmussen – Valtteri Filppula – Robbie Fabbri
Darren Helm – (A)Luke Glendenning – Dymtro Timashov

* Frans Nielson, C.
* Givani Smith, LW/RW

Idk, just throwing that out there... If you don't like Smith and just role with Abdelkader then fine. Can't really justify playing him over anyone else though imo.

I guess you can keep him around safely if you sign no one and don't get the chance to draft Lafreniere or Byfield.

 

[Gniwder]

Roster spot man. If you actually wanna upgrade the 2nd line we'll have to sign some type of center. An Zadina/Rasmussen/Smith/Timashov will all push for regular roles. Maybe even another signing or the resigning of Gagner.

(A)Tyler Bertuzzi – (C)Dylan Larkin – Anthony Mantha
*Alexis Lafreniere/Filip Zadina – *UFA Signing– Sam Gagner
Filip Zadina/Michael Rasmussen – Valtteri Filppula – Robbie Fabbri
Darren Helm – (A)Luke Glendenning – Dymtro Timashov

* Frans Nielson, C.
* Givani Smith, LW/RW

Idk, just throwing that out there... If you don't like Smith and just role with Abdelkader then fine. Can't really justify playing him over anyone else though imo.

I guess you can keep him around safely if you sign no one and don't get the chance to draft Lafreniere or Byfield.

You forgot Svech, he's got to go through waivers.

Also I'd prefer to start the season with 2 extra D instead of F because DDK will get injured and Bowey and Biega both suck.

 

[Nut Upstrom]

Pure speculation at best

No, at best a source within the organization has verified that this is happening or being discussed.
At worst this is just speculation, and if it is, who gives a Damn? Gives us something to talk and think about.

 

[Ricelund]

You guys should know by now that our anointed beat writers don't throw out random conjecture that would be disrespectful to the team and its tenured staff. The narrative they create is very much in line with that the organization is comfortable sharing - or at least cannot reasonably deny.

No, at best a source within the organization has verified that this is happening or being discussed.

Yeah, my sense is that HSJ wouldn't publish this if it didn't come from someone in the organization.

 

[waltdetroit]

The sooner you have him riding buses on long shitty trips in the AHL, playing 3 games in 4 nights etc, the quicker he might just retire and let the wings off the hook for his contract.

It would be hard to give up that kind of money but hes also made enough to live ridiculously comfortably for him, his kids and his grand kids probably. Might be worth moving onto the next thing for him at this point instead of the bus rides

Aren't the DRW still on the hook for the contract/cap space if Abby retires (even the part if he went to the AHL) just like Dats?

edit...mean cap space

 

[Snuggs]

Aren't the DRW still on the hook for the contract/cap space if Abby retires (even the part if he went to the AHL) just like Dats?

edit...mean cap space

From what I understand... Moving Abdelkader to the AHL would save the veteran minimum on the salary cap. Yes we'd still have to pay him, and the rest of his salary still count against the cap, but it would free up "some" money along with his roster spot(which is more important than just the money.)

If he retires then, I think Wings in the same situation as Datsyuk. Where Wings will have to eat his cap hit still.

 

[raymond23]

I don’t think the cap is the biggest reason we’d send Abby down. It has more to do with opening up a roster spot and improving the team.

Replacing Svechnikov with Abby is a really big positive.

 

[FMichael]

Assuming they make a change before next season, I would strongly prefer Lambert over Gallant.

I think either would be an improvement, but Lambert seems to be exponentially sharper as a student of the game and with the X's and O's of everything. Gallant might provide an immediate emotional boost and rally the troops for short term gains, but with how many pieces I think they still need, and the number of ups and downs still in front of this roster, I think a long term strategy is best, which I believe Lambert fits.

Yeah - last I read there were rumors of Lambert being Yzerman's top choice.