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At this point, what we look like going into camp is anyone’s guess. The Captain just holds his cards too close to his chest. Based on what you’ve laid out, 8 NHL contracts on the books & $48m in cap space leaves the doors wide open. The promise of seeing “the kids” in camp & exhibition games is exciting as hell. Seider, Veleno, Bergy....Raymond will get a look at camp, but I think he’s in GR with a possible 9-game look at the end of the season. And that suits me fine. I am dying to see Seider, J. There’s just SO much promise on the horizon.
Tonight looks to be a very rough game for the Wings. I just don’t see Dallas waking up on the right side of the bed, very angry, & out for revenge. This could get ugly, but I don’t see a “W” tonight. This whole season’s been topsy-turvey, so anything can happen, teams are very familiar with each other, and doesn’t bode well tonight. Which leads me to the way the season played out.
The division-only series concept was about the best the NHL could do. Financials played into the decision, for sure. But the league’s hands were tied. It is what it is. I’m not a fan of it, but it’s hockey on TV, and some butts in the seats. The repetitive schedule brought some bitter blood, and that definitely lended some excitement to the season, but it wasn’t as “rough” in terms of physical play overall as I’d expected. I thought there’d be a LOT more fighting. Just didn’t play out that way. But the schedule did allow for some nasty hits, and dirty players to play dirty. Gudas is an ass. I’m looking forward to next season opening up a bit. But if Canada doesn’t open up, that bodes ill for an open schedule. In that case, I’d think the only thing we’d see next year is a bit more expansion in schedules to include a few extra-divisional stuff, but then the Canadian teams get shafted. I have no clue how the schedule pays out, but if the league wants to keep it fair, there may be another abbreviated schedule in order to keep it fair. That, inevitably leads to reduced revenues, so who knows what’s going to happen.
I’d like to see the TS stay the way it is now, if there’re continued “COVID” issues. But from my seat, I’d prefer to see guys like Smith, Svech (if he stays), etc... on it to give the Velenos and Raymonds developmental time in GR. The big thing to remember is that we’re not going to be serious contenders for the playoffs, so giving the kids ice time in GR is going to enable them to adjust & grow more. I am not a fan of throwing kids into the fire like that. It can destroy confidence and destroy positive development.
I think we’ll finish with 20 wins. A surprise considering how chaotic the season’s been and how the players have been so abused by the schedule & travel. It’s been brutal. Bert’s done, Larkin’s done...But the kids have persevered and surprised everyone, including themselves, I think. I hold out hope that a new coach is behind the bench, but I’m not so sure now. Gallant, Lambert, my HS coach, my newspaper carrier, my ficus plant....ANYONE other than Blash. It’s time. And if we bring in the kids, it’s crucial that the system they develop under is the one that’ll remain in place, not change going into ‘22, ya know?!? |
