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Detroit so far - 18-27-9
2 games remaining
My prediction from January - 19 wins
Current place - 26th
First round pick without lottery win - between 6 and 8 *Seattle will have a pick, possibly in the top 3. This could push Detroit back one more spot
Detroit had stellar goaltending in the 2-1 loss to Tampa. The duo of Greiss and Bernier have given the rebuilding squad a fighting chance on most nights. As the changes continue to come, the core is becoming a bit tougher. The balance is getting a team that is hungry to win, committed to playing hard, and doesn’t get lethargic or fall off due to frustration. So far, I like what we’re seeing from this squad.
At the beginning of the season, it was the commitment of the players (newly signed and existing) to be part of the rebuild that felt the most important. Things got off to a promising start with the line of Fabbri, Zadina and Ryan, as well as the now eternally separated LARMANZZI. COVID protocol and injuries derailed the early success, and there were some tough stretches. Out of all of the rough run, some players really stepped up and even seemed to change the direction of the rebuild.
There were several reports that, early on in ‘19-‘20, Yzerman wasn’t happy with Rasmussen. The first round center completely changed the tone with his improvement and commitment to play hard. When Mantha was moved, Yzerman mentioned a few players as the core, and Rasmussen was one of them. (Larkin and Zadina were also mentioned). That is a Herculean task, moving from fringe/AHL to core. Zadina’s defensive play was shockingly good as well. His interviews, “the goals will come if I play the right way”. That’s a long way from the player he was when drafted.
Svechnikov has shown some solid play as well. I’m not sure Rasmussen or Svechnikov will be in the top 6, but they’re fighting to be a part of the team. Larkin played most of the season hurt, but wanted to be there to lead. Hronek is logging a lot of tough minutes. Vrana is an entire new dimension of player and seems eager to keep going. Erne, Glendening and Helm are all still playing hard. While Helm may be moving on, he didn’t mail it in.
A lot of the sentiment I was hearing from early comments was, “just go out there and compete. Even if the losses mount up, just play like you care”. I honestly think that the team has done that. Incoming rookies will now be coming into an environment with expectations. That’s a huge step forward. It’s not post season, but it’s a culture. Yzerman has seen all sides of how to build a winning team. At the Joe, above the locker room doors was written, “to whom much is given, much is expected”. Detroit had become a destination for an opportunity to hoist a cup. The fan base was (and is) fantastic. Players came here and found out that pro athletes are Detroit’s equivalent of movie stars. But, there was an expectation.
I don’t know what the rallying cry of the future contender will be. It’s going to have a lot to do with effort and sacrifice. It can’t be adequately summed up how much Bertuzzi has been missed. When he and Larkin are on the ice, they yell at each other. “Show me something” is one of the favorite phrases. They challenge each other shift by shift to be better. That’s the guys at the top. If they’re willing to challenge each other, they’re definitely willing to challenge anyone else.
All of that being said, there are still changes coming. It will probably never happen, but Rod Brind’amour would be such a fantastic fit with this group. If Carolina ownership is smart they’ll make an offer good enough that Rod won’t listen to anyone else. If he does, teams are going to throw a lot of money around. Part of what makes Rod tick, though, is loyalty. It would be really tough for him to leave an organization he loves as much as Carolina.
It’s the downhill slide. Just two games left and some much needed breathing room for Detroit. Playing every other day for so long, the body just doesn’t heal correctly. It’s been intense, and I’m proud of this group for going hard at it. There are issues, for sure. I also believe this to have been a brutal division to play in. The lessons learned, if and when the league opens up, will make this team better.
What do you think, as things wrap up? Let me know as we look forward to a final back to back with CBJ.
Check out my previous blogs:
Wings vs lightning post game
Wings vs Lightning Pregame
Detroit vs Carolina Post game
Detroit vs Carolina pre game
Detroit vs Columbus post game
Detroit vs Columbus pre game - Veleno debut 
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