GDT: Game 82: Red Wings at habs 7:00 pm et 4/16/24 (BSD, ESPN+)

[Axel Sandy Pelikan]

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f***in kill me.

 

[WFIAA]

You dont want to gain that reputation as a turnstile organizaton. And until we hit our window I dont see it as a big enough issue.

So hold onto a shitty coach because you are worried about perceived optics? We held onto Babcock for way too long, we held onto Blashill despite him proving he was inept. Maybe the Wings' reputation is we don't have a clue what is needed for a coach... I certainly don't think bailing on Lalonde would be some turnstile situation, we've been overly patient versus impetuous.

 

[FabricDetails]

Now trying to tell myself that eventually I'm going to be thankful I didn't spend $300 on some vertigo inducing seats for a playoff game.

 

[SuperScript29]

Feel for Larks so much. He’s turning 28 in the summer. Meaning about half his career is probably over and made the playoffs only once. Such a shame.

He's signed for eternity with us, but makes you wonder if at some point, he'll push for a trade.

 

[dj4aces]

I'm kinda looking for someone that doesn't compare with worst of all time.

Then he's just fine, at least for now.
If we hit our window and coaching is the reason we don't make it over the hump, I fully expect a change. If we regress next season, I fully expect a change. Right now? We have bigger problems on our roster to address.

 

[Reality Check]

Not mad at the outcome. They had their chances and came up short over two more experienced teams(NYI and WSH).

Just believe tonight was an incredibly lame way to end the season for the NHL in general.

 

[Axel Sandy Pelikan]

So hold onto a shitty coach because you are worried about perceived optics? We held onto Babcock for way too long, we held onto Blashill despite him proving he was inept. Maybe the Wings' reputation is we don't have a clue what is needed for a coach... I certainly don't think bailing on Lalonde would be some turnstile situation, we've been overly patient versus impetuous.

LALONDE ISN'T THE DAMN PROBLEM. He's not Scotty Bowman. Guess what, 99.9% of coaches aren't Scotty Bowman. The Wings were an exceptionally flawed team that was ridiculous over-reliant on Dylan Larkin being there to hold the line structure together.

Lalonde isn't what held this team back. Being forced to overplay their backup and 3rd string goalie to the point both turned into pumpkins for awhile, running a lineup with a bunch of passengers who were too slow to consistently keep up with play so they'd get costly penalties, and having their "star" scorer get a goal in 19 games and like 5 in 38 did.

That's talent. That's not system

 

[WFIAA]

Then he's just fine, at least for now.
If we hit our window and coaching is the reason we don't make it over the hump, I fully expect a change. If we regress next season, I fully expect a change. Right now? We have bigger problems on our roster to address.

You can do two things at once. Lalonde and his low expectations aren't helping the team. I simply don't get why people are afraid to move on from him. Are you worried you are missing out on the next Scotty or something? He's shown nothing that leads me to believe he is a difference maker, if anything, quite the opposite.

 

[Austrianwing]

Yup, especially getting pucks out. A lot of times they pass the puck to a guy who has neither time or space.

Well, that's bad enough, but sometimes it was passes to someone who did have time and space...
on the other team.
Ah well. I imagine thinking back on this feeling right now will be good motivation to remember that attention to detail over the course of the season might add up to a few extra points at the end.

 

[SuperScript29]

You can do two things at once. Lalonde and his low expectations aren't helping the team. I simply don't get why people are afraid to move on from him. Are you worried you are missing out on the next Scotty or something? He's shown nothing that leads me to believe he is a difference maker, if anything, quite the opposite.

I mean, we just hired the guy, I'd like to give him another season to see what he can do.

 

[Winged Wheel Willy]

Because of the contract structures, we'll likely see mostly the same team next year, except that Danielson will likely make the roster, Raymond has taken a huge step forward, and Edvinsson will be up full time. That should be enough to make the playoffs next year. Especially if they get rid of Lalonde. Gallant is just sitting there waiting for a call.

Year after that is where things will get interesting as the Petry, Maatta, Husso, Fabbri, Lyon, and Reimer contracts will all expire. That frees up 15(!!) million from players that aren't contributing anything. It also becomes a lot more feasible to buy out Copp or trade him with retention.

I expect Kane, Sprong, Fischer not to return. I expect Perron to be resigned for like 2 million.

Raymond (7.5)-Larkin (8.7)-DBC (7.9)
UFA (???)-Compher (5.1)-Berggren (1.5)\UFA (???)
Rasmussen (3.2)-Copp (5.6)-Fabbri (4) (until Danielson takes over 3c)
Perron (2)-Danielson (.95)-Veleno (1.25)

Total: 44.2

Seider (8)-Walman (3.4)
Edvinsson (.94)-Petry (2.34)
Chiarot (4.75)-Ghost (4.2)
Maatta (3)
Holl (3.4)

Total: 30.03

Husso (4.75)
Lyon (.9)

Total: 5.65

Team Total: 79.88

That leaves about 6.5 to sign a top six forward, unless Yzerman can dump some of our bad contracts. I wouldn't mind resigning Kane if he wants to return, honestly. That team has a better shot of making the playoffs but still looks like first round fodder.

Why Gallant? He has failed everywhere he has been lately.

 

[FabricDetails]

Why Gallant? He has failed everywhere he has been lately.

I thought Berube was the latest name.

 

[Roomba With a Bauer]

He's signed for eternity with us, but makes you wonder if at some point, he'll push for a trade.

This is why I think Yzerman might trade 15OA and Berggren for an established top-six winger.
If we don't make the playoffs next year Larkin is going to start looking for the exit.

 

[wingerdinger]

So hold onto a shitty coach because you are worried about perceived optics? We held onto Babcock for way too long, we held onto Blashill despite him proving he was inept. Maybe the Wings' reputation is we don't have a clue what is needed for a coach... I certainly don't think bailing on Lalonde would be some turnstile situation, we've been overly patient versus impetuous.

I wouldnt be bothered either way, Im just playing devils advocate.

 

[Winged Wheel Willy]

Maybe it's just me...Kane seemed off/distant...

He said in an interview that he dislikes dogs and pets in general...cannot trust somebody like that.

 

[WFIAA]

LALONDE ISN'T THE DAMN PROBLEM. He's not Scotty Bowman. Guess what, 99.9% of coaches aren't Scotty Bowman. The Wings were an exceptionally flawed team that was ridiculous over-reliant on Dylan Larkin being there to hold the line structure together.

Lalonde isn't what held this team back. Being forced to overplay their backup and 3rd string goalie to the point both turned into pumpkins for awhile, running a lineup with a bunch of passengers who were too slow to consistently keep up with play so they'd get costly penalties, and having their "star" scorer get a goal in 19 games and like 5 in 38 did.

That's talent. That's not system

The Wings went 5-17 or something like that in the stretch. Every team has injuries, the Wings actually had very few. A good head coach can get the team through rough stretches, especially if it is a veteran team like the Wings were this past season.

So yeah, Lalonde may not be the only problem but he sure as hell is one of the DAMN PROBLEMS.

I mean, we just hired the guy, I'd like to give him another season to see what he can do.

2 seasons, so why wait? What has he shown?

 

[SuperScript29]

LALONDE ISN'T THE DAMN PROBLEM. He's not Scotty Bowman. Guess what, 99.9% of coaches aren't Scotty Bowman. The Wings were an exceptionally flawed team that was ridiculous over-reliant on Dylan Larkin being there to hold the line structure together.

Lalonde isn't what held this team back. Being forced to overplay their backup and 3rd string goalie to the point both turned into pumpkins for awhile, running a lineup with a bunch of passengers who were too slow to consistently keep up with play so they'd get costly penalties, and having their "star" scorer get a goal in 19 games and like 5 in 38 did.

That's talent. That's not system

Correct, the lack of serious talent is what's hurting this team. Historically the Wings were able to be a top team and make the playoffs on a consistent bases because they had superstars. Their best player at this moment is Dylan Larkin, and while I think of him as a star, let's be honest with ourselves here, he's not in the category of players that led this team in the past.

 

[Euro Twins]

Outside of the captain, this team lacks serious leadership. Yes we signed a bunch of vets, but when Larkin was out, no one stepped up to lead this team. Looking back at those two games we gave away to Arizona in that terrible losing streak, is haunting at this point.

Raymond and edvinsson will be our leaders after Larkin next year. Mark it

 

[SuperScript29]

This is why I think Yzerman might trade 15OA and Berggren for an established top-six winger.
If we don't make the playoffs next year Larkin is going to start looking for the exit.

The wingers are not much of a problem, what we need is another legit top-6 center to backup Larkin.

 

[WFIAA]

I wouldnt be bothered either way, Im just playing devils advocate.

Okay

 

[Filppula]

As much as Perron's been the bane of my existence, I've come around on him coming back as a 4th line pp specialist.

He absolutely cannot be apart of the top 6 next season or i'll pull my hair out.

Thing is though, if Perron is around, there’s no way our coaching staff isn’t using him in the top 6.

 

[saska sault]

Well sad I never made it to a game this year... every time I came close to buying tickets the team would go in an extreme slide and totally turn me off of the idea of taking vacation time and bringing the wife to a sporting event which she cares zero about. So now I can procrastinate until next year, where I will procrastinate to buy tickets again.

 

[Winged Wheel Willy]

I thought Berube was the latest name.

I'd certainly prefer him to Gallant, but i give Lalonde more time. I think to fire him is very premature

 

[WFIAA]

I'd certainly prefer him to Gallant, but i give Lalonde more time. I think to fire him is very premature

so how many seasons do you want to waste? 6? 7? Because you aren't going to win with this guy.

 

[Axel Sandy Pelikan]

The Wings went 5-17 or something like that in the stretch. Every team has injuries, the Wings actually had very few. A good head coach can get the team through rough stretches, especially if it is a veteran team like the Wings were this past season.

So yeah, Lalonde may not be the only problem but he sure as hell is one of the DAMN PROBLEMS.



2 seasons, so why wait? What has he shown?

You can't rag on him for 5-17 without giving him credit for having them up above Tampa earlier in the season. You don't get to count the bad and ignore the good.

The Wings collapsed because while they had a really fun and miraculous end in these last three games... they really really lacked difference makers. They had Raymond during that stretch where they lost 7 in a row. Kane slowed way down, Seider stumbled pretty bad, Debrincat disappeared and after enough games of dragging the team to a close loss, the goalies started falling apart too.

While the team was improved... they needed the depth to carry them through but when Larkin went out, they didn't have any kind of 1C facsimile and it killed all of their lines, not just the top one.

This reminds me of the same stupid shit with Blashill where a certain HFB member who is no longer here and shall remain nameless thought that firing Blash and putting Bylsma in charge would make the 19-20 Wings play .400 hockey.

Coaches, outside of the true greats, don't have the impact you're stating. And coaches, outside of the nincompoops (like Torts who burns every bridge within a year and a half) don't have the impact you're stating. It's talent, it's talent, it's talent. And the Wings by their own design were treading water until guys in GR can season up and their cap could come back into order.