Bob Duff: Svechnikov earning his Wings Rookie right-winger Evgeny Svechnikov is developing into a heavy presence on the puck, something the Detroit Red Wings sorely lack among their group of forwards.

Good thing Toe Blashill is giving the kid a boat load of ice time.

Toe Blashill....that name suits him GW.
About the only thing he could have in common with the great Toe Blake is
Chewing gum.....and he can’t even do that....lol.....Toe Blashill.....Priceless.

Svech.

Now trade him for Hanifin somehow.

“It’s way different. I got the different ice time now. I have to earn it. Nobody is just going to give it to me for free.”
-Evgeny Svechnikov

This after a game in which, to pick just one egregious example, Darren Frickin' Helm (17 goals in his last 116 games) played more than 18 minutes.

But hey, he's got "elite compete level," so can't take away his ice time. Or Justin Abdelkader, whose ability to be "hard on the puck" and "do all the right things" have allowed him to score 11 even strength goals in the last two seasons.

I don't mind so much that young players start out with less ice time or easier assignments as they adjust to NHL play.

I do mind that certain players are allowed to suck out loud on a permanent basis without any kind of consequences, as long as the coach seems satisfied with their level of "hard work."

This after a game in which, to pick just one egregious example, Darren Frickin' Helm (17 goals in his last 116 games) played more than 18 minutes.

But hey, he's got "elite compete level," so can't take away his ice time. Or Justin Abdelkader, whose ability to be "hard on the puck" and "do all the right things" have allowed him to score 11 even strength goals in the last two seasons.

I don't mind so much that young players start out with less ice time or easier assignments as they adjust to NHL play.

I do mind that certain players are allowed to suck out loud on a permanent basis without any kind of consequences, as long as the coach seems satisfied with their level of "hard work."
- Sven22

It's called the Kenny Holland Veterans Entitlement Program.

It's called the Kenny Holland Veterans Entitlement Program.
- gergeswillems

(frank) Holland.

I hope we can get Boqvist/Hughes/Bouchard and Woo.

It's called the Kenny Holland Veterans Entitlement Program.
- gergeswillems

Yep, this has been his MO for many years even before the salary cap. When your team is stacked with elite level talent (like in the 90's and early 2000's) you could get away with that and let your good prospects sit in GR for way too long. This methodology of thinking is why Holland has buried this team in salary cap hell and mediocrity. He WAY over-values his veterans who are mediocre at best (at the expense of good, young talent). Drafting has definitely gone downhill as well since Jim Nill and his top scouts left for Dallas. At least they still have Hakan Andersson in Europe.

Holland needs to go... and he can take Blashill with him. Arguably, the worst GM in the league after 2009. Very poor trades and asset management. Praying Chris Illitch sees the Light. We all know if Holland is brought back that Blahshill will be the scapegoat as this team will still be crap for another 2-3 years most likely.

I think for me the most frustrating thing is that everybody who follows this organization could see the writing on the wall at least 3-4 years ago. This DELAYED rebuild could have started several years back without all these horrible and NTC contracts (Helm, Abby, DeKeyser, Neilson, Weiss, etc....). It's one of the reasons even Babcock admitted he left... he saw the aging core (Hank, Dats, Lidstrom) and saw the vacuum of talent... while Toronto had a stacked farm club (and still do).

Holland has failed according to the standards he himself set.

For years even before the end of "the streak" he was saying that the team wouldn't be a contender forever, that a decline was coming, that there were going to be years where they might not make the playoffs. Which is a completely realistic and reasonable analysis.

But any time the topic of a rebuild actually came up, he couldn't stop giving reasons to NOT do a total rebuild:

- It'll take 5-7 years of serious pain minimum

- There's no guarantee you're going to draft a superstar core even after all that pain.

- We want to maintain a "winning culture" with "veteran leadership."

“This is a tough league to think that you’re just going to dismantle and wake up on the other side and win the Stanley Cup." - Ken Holland

So the goal instead was to "rebuild on the fly" and remain a competitive NHL team with solid veteran leadership, while bringing along the next generation. Maybe they'd miss the playoffs for a couple years, but they wouldn't bottom out, wouldn't lose the culture.

How is that working out?

- Wings have won less than 1 out of every 4 of their games in regulation over the last two seasons (36 out of 155)

- Wings have one of the oldest teams in the league and not a single regular defenseman younger than 27.

- Wings have one of the most expensive rosters in the NHL and 10 players with trade and/or movement restrictions on their contracts

Instead of being bad (but with lots of potential young talent and cap space), we're bad with a ton of expensive mediocre players limiting our opportunities for meaningful improvement.

Holland sold ownership and tried to sell the fans on "rebuilding on the fly," and he utterly failed. He said he was going to try to keep the team competitive while restocking for the future. But he hasn't kept the team competitive, AND the cupboard is still basically bare.

He has to go.

Holland has failed according to the standards he himself set.

For years even before the end of "the streak" he was saying that the team wouldn't be a contender forever, that a decline was coming, that there were going to be years where they might not make the playoffs. Which is a completely realistic and reasonable analysis.

But any time the topic of a rebuild actually came up, he couldn't stop giving reasons to NOT do a total rebuild:

- It'll take 5-7 years of serious pain minimum

- There's no guarantee you're going to draft a superstar core even after all that pain.

- We want to maintain a "winning culture" with "veteran leadership."



So the goal instead was to "rebuild on the fly" and remain a competitive NHL team with solid veteran leadership, while bringing along the next generation. Maybe they'd miss the playoffs for a couple years, but they wouldn't bottom out, wouldn't lose the culture.

How is that working out?

- Wings have won less than 1 out of every 4 of their games in regulation over the last two seasons (36 out of 155)

- Wings have one of the oldest teams in the league and not a single regular defenseman younger than 27.

- Wings have one of the most expensive rosters in the NHL and 10 players with trade and/or movement restrictions on their contracts

Instead of being bad (but with lots of potential young talent and cap space), we're bad with a ton of expensive mediocre players limiting our opportunities for meaningful improvement.

Holland sold ownership and tried to sell the fans on "rebuilding on the fly," and he utterly failed. He said he was going to try to keep the team competitive while restocking for the future. But he hasn't kept the team competitive, AND the cupboard is still basically bare.

He has to go.
- Sven22

The defensemen age scares the (frank) out of me if Holland stays more than anything else you mentioned. If he keeps signing/resigning aged players on the back end we won’t see Hronek or Cholo for six more years.

The defensemen age scares the (frank) out of me if Holland stays more than anything else you mentioned. If he keeps signing/resigning aged players on the back end we won’t see Hronek or Cholo for six more years.
- RafiDRW

Holland hasn't drafted a legitimate top 4 defenseman in 18 years. Kronwall. Holland says you can't win without lottery picks. That's BS. We could've had one or two of these guys...Letang, Weber, Subban, Josi, Parayko, Stralman, McDonagh, Klingberg, Keith... Just to name a few. None of these guys were drafted in the first round.

Instead, Holland drafted Quincey, Smith, Kindl, Sproul, Ouellet, Jensen.

I'm so sick of all the BS excuses. Now Jimmy D is canvassing for Holland to get a new contract extension. Why? How can you fail so miserably at your job and keep it?

Holland hasn't drafted a legitimate top 4 defenseman in 18 years. Kronwall. Holland says you can't win without lottery picks. That's BS. We could've had one or two of these guys...Letang, Weber, Subban, Josi, Parayko, Stralman, McDonagh, Klingberg, Karlsson, Keith... Just to name a few. None of these guys were drafted in the first round.

Instead, Holland drafted Quincey, Smith, Kindl, Sproul, Ouellet, Jensen.

I'm so sick of all the BS excuses. Now Jimmy D is canvassing for Holland to get a new contract extension. Why? How can you fail so miserably at your job and keep it?
- gergeswillems

I agree with your analysis, although in fairness I think Hronek has legit top-4 potential.

- Second on team in scoring as a 19-year-old defenseman in the OHL.

- 13th in defense scoring as a 20-year-old AHL rookie this year (and more than a full year younger than any player ahead of him)

- Griffins team leader in plus-minus

Remains to be seen whether he can handle NHL forwards day in and day out, but I've been impressed so far. Plus he's a right-handed shot.

I agree with your analysis, although in fairness I think Hronek has legit top-4 potential.

- Second on team in scoring as a 19-year-old defenseman in the OHL.

- 13th in defense scoring as a 20-year-old AHL rookie this year (and more than a full year younger than any player ahead of him)

- Griffins team leader in plus-minus

Remains to be seen whether he can handle NHL forwards day in and day out, but I've been impressed so far. Plus he's a right-handed shot.
- Sven22

We'll see how he does at the NHL level. I heard the same optimism about Smith and Kindl as well. They were supposed to anchor our blue line for years. They were anchors alright. The sinking kind. Both had the tools but no tool box.

I would've drafted Chychrun and Liljegren. Oh well.

My bad. Karlsson was drafted 15th overall. Still not a lottery pick though.

My bad. Karlsson was drafted 15th overall. Still not a lottery pick though.
- gergeswillems

Hronek and Cholo could be second pairing material. We’ll see. But just imagine if we had picked Josi and Klingberg. Well, knowing Holland, they’d still be playing for Grand Rapids.

Hronek and Cholo could be second pairing material. We’ll see. But just imagine if we had picked Josi and Klingberg. Well, knowing Holland, they’d still be playing for Grand Rapids.
- RafiDRW

Kennyisms...

"Need more seasoning. It's a man's league. Vets have earned stock. Tie goes to the vet. There's no Hockey store I can just go and buy a top 4 defenseman. I kicked some tires and it didn't make sense. We like our team. I don't know why players don't want to sign here. It's a great organization. Trades are hard. I don't have a magic wand I can use to make other teams give me star players. You need lottery picks to win and we haven't had them. Rebuilds don't guarantee success. Look at Buffalo and Edmonton. We're retooling on the fly. Young guys need to learn to play the right way."

We'll see how he does at the NHL level. I heard the same optimism about Smith and Kindl as well. They were supposed to anchor our blue line for years. They were anchors alright. The sinking kind. Both had the tools but no tool box.

I would've drafted Chychrun and Liljegren. Oh well.
- gergeswillems

I hear you. Not saying I'm sold on Hronek, just that I think he's got potential to be a decent NHLer. He could go full Kindl too. I'm very much aware of that.

I agree with your analysis, although in fairness I think Hronek has legit top-4 potential.

- Second on team in scoring as a 19-year-old defenseman in the OHL.

- 13th in defense scoring as a 20-year-old AHL rookie this year (and more than a full year younger than any player ahead of him)

- Griffins team leader in plus-minus

Remains to be seen whether he can handle NHL forwards day in and day out, but I've been impressed so far. Plus he's a right-handed shot.
- Sven22

Hronek is legit

Hronek is legit
- Feds91Stammer

Too bad Holland hates Czechs. I think the only reason he re-claimed and then re-signed Frk was so he could wait a year or two and then enjoy the satisfaction of giving him away for nothing a second time.

Too bad Holland hates Czechs. I think the only reason he re-claimed and then re-signed Frk was so he could wait a year or two and then enjoy the satisfaction of giving him away for nothing a second time.
- Sven22

Holland will be trading AA this summer for a 3rd round pick.