Jeremy Laura: Tids and bits - follow ups and news bits from the weekend
- Jeremy Laura
This extended break for the Red Wings will be more mental than physical. Players are VERY routine oriented and are creatures of habit and being off longer than what they're used to will be an adjustment. Some players will handle it better than others
A guy like Abdelkader, he could care less. He's a slug and his game won't be any different. He likes collecting a paycheck and not doing anything to earn it. Whereas a guy like Larkin will be going bat$hit crazy. He's a rink rat and eats, drinks and breathes hockey. It'll be interesting to see how he fares coming back. I bet he tears it up and racks up alot of points early.
My biggest fear is that after the Red Wings do resume playing that the second wave of Covid strikes forcing the NHL to shut down once again. Then the Red Wings will miss even more time. Even though this team is bad, these young guns like Zadina, Seider and Hronek need NHL game action to improve. John Carlson didn't become John Carlson overnight.
This Red Wings team could use a real shot in the arm right now. A momentum boost. Something to feel good about. We haven't had that since Yzerman was named GM. Seider being drafted was good too. Drafting Lafreniere would create some excitement here and rejuvenate the franchise a bit. We'll still be awful but the Red Wings playing is still better than them not playing.
I suppose the extended layoff will be good for Blashill. He can memorize his Tony Robbins DVD collection and come up with more cliches, catch phrases and excuses. Poke and Hope baby!