Jeremy Laura: Zach Aston Reese called up, Wings get down with the sickness

For me, Jeremy, it's HOW we lose. Frustrates me to no end. If we were foot to the floor and lost to a superior team? Fine. Just......grrrrrrrr.

Read a pretty sweet prospects round-up on THN....Cossa, big man's hitting his stride. Another year in GR and the kid may be ready! GRG is slammin' em back right now. Nice to see it all come together. Especially when you know the team has the talent to knock it outta the park.

Reckon that's another source of my personal frsutration, DRW/ WE are a good team. Better than we've shown. Anyway....

Spring in MI is amazing. Growing up on the farm, the smell of fresh cut sweet clover, the robin's blue eggs, the explosion of flowers.... but, yeah fall in MI is nothing short of incredible.. I miss it, especially with the pine pollen covering every square milimetre of space in SC. My charcoal gray Chevy Blazer is yellow, looks like a wasp :/

We are going to get better. There's no doubt. The CORE group of guys have what it takes. They need to learn how to hammer it down like CAR, Vegas, FLA....those guys skate like the wind all game. Hell, I bet they shower skating like crazy! We CAN get there. Got the right balance and nothing's impossible. We just need that mentality & determination. Learn how to win emphatically, not by luck....

We're gonna be ok....have faith!!!

A Happy Easter to all!!!!

For me, Jeremy, it's HOW we lose. Frustrates me to no end. If we were foot to the floor and lost to a superior team? Fine. Just......grrrrrrrr.

Read a pretty sweet prospects round-up on THN....Cossa, big man's hitting his stride. Another year in GR and the kid may be ready! GRG is slammin' em back right now. Nice to see it all come together. Especially when you know the team has the talent to knock it outta the park.

Reckon that's another source of my personal frsutration, DRW/ WE are a good team. Better than we've shown. Anyway....

Spring in MI is amazing. Growing up on the farm, the smell of fresh cut sweet clover, the robin's blue eggs, the explosion of flowers.... but, yeah fall in MI is nothing short of incredible.. I miss it, especially with the pine pollen covering every square milimetre of space in SC. My charcoal gray Chevy Blazer is yellow, looks like a wasp :/

We are going to get better. There's no doubt. The CORE group of guys have what it takes. They need to learn how to hammer it down like CAR, Vegas, FLA....those guys skate like the wind all game. Hell, I bet they shower skating like crazy! We CAN get there. Got the right balance and nothing's impossible. We just need that mentality & determination. Learn how to win emphatically, not by luck....

We're gonna be ok....have faith!!!

A Happy Easter to all!!!!
- mcmastermike1968

Happy Easter to you as well! And yes, the apple blossoms especially always get me this time of year. When my family moved due to some scary circumstances, we lived next to an orchard for years. We had about a dozen apple trees and the neighbors had a pear tree. The smells were incredible. Second only to the lilac festival on Mackinac Island. If you haven’t walked the island for that, it’s amazing.

As for the team, you’re absolutely right. If they leave everything on the ice and it goes the other way, fine. Some of the players look lost. We’ve heard of one extension (Rasmussen) and one potential rejection (largely unreported except by rumor mills) in Berggren. But, there may well be players who already know they won’t be back. Regardless, finish well. I have infinitely more respect to people who crawl over the finish line than those who stop to a walk 10-20 feet before it. It’s not hard to see who seems to care in all of this. You’re still wearing the logo, let that mean something.

Zach Aston Reese is called up to fill illness holes. Well, that says it all about DRW nonexistent depth now doesn’t it.

I wrote six weeks ago, the only way this team was making the playoffs, was to back in with help. Now they can’t even do that properly.
Yzerman did nothing at the trade deadline for two reasons possibly three.
One, lipstick on a pig is still a pig. Two, the prices were too high and he refused to give up top draft picks and prospects keeping his powder dry. I tip my hat to him for that. And the third if applicable, Yzerman took some heat last year for moving Bertuzzi and Hronek at the deadline, when some dreamers honestly thought the team was a SC contender. The third reason is no doubt redundant because Yzerman doesn’t care what anybody else thinks and good for him because Yzerman is the boss.

Some fans may be jumping the gun in wanting to fire Yzerman and
Lalonde & Co. Let Yzerman have more time to create a winning team. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but there should be significant improvement in the coming year, then re-evaluate.
As for “ Losey “ Lalonde and his misfit coaching staff, a house cleaning is definitely in order. “ Losey “ just isn’t getting the job done. He’s another Blashill and we all know how that horror story played out.

As for the so called future talent in Grand Rapids, I’ve been disappointed too often in the past to get excited this early. I still remember the busts from the past. Even the 20-25 goal,scorers who disappeared even if they were lucky enough to make the playoffs.

How many Stanley Cups are on this list?
Names like;
Ehn, Ernie, Jurco, Smith, Sheahan, Zadina, Nyquist, Gallant, Barton, McIsaac, Mantha, Svechnikov, Athanasiou, Abdelkader, Bowey, Bertuzzi, Tuomisto, Johansson ,Mastrosimone, Petruzzelli, McIlrath, Sproul, Russo,Jensen, Tatar, Mzarek, DeKeyser, Cholowski, Pearson, Ericsson, Kaski Kindl, Brunner, Emmerton, Quincy X2, Brunnstrom, Mursak, Andersson, Puilkkenin, Ferraro, Ouellette, Legwand, Glendening, Lashoff, Eaves, Weiss, Primeau, Murphy, Dale McCourt, Miller, Eric Cole, Nosek.
AND HOW COULD WE FORGET THE BEACH BALL FOUR;
Joey Macdonald, Thomas McCollum , Jimmy Howard, Magnus Hellberg

My wonderful Dad, who I lost last year at 98 yrs, was a staunch DRW fan for eighty years. So, I was brainwashed very early in life. Dem Bums the DRW have been my team all of my life. When we finished putting up a headstone a few years ago, Dad had pictures of himself and my dearly departed Mom on the stone.
Dad asked me what I wanted next to my name.
I have a twelve inch Winged Wheel proudly inscribed on the headstone.
It matches the one on my heart. Win or Lose Dem Bums FOREVER.

HAPPY & HEALTHY EASTER. FANS

Fire Lalonde This team is the most lazy uninspired team I have ever seen. They may not be the most talented but are outworked every game for which there is no excuse. Buying into the every continuous rebuild is loser talk. This is the same nonsense that leadership of Buffalo keep telling there fans. It’s a rebuild LOL

We haven’t scored any goals in 2 of the last 3 games and our genius in charge is bringing up the sniper Aston Reese. Sad. Bergeron is better than half this team and never gets a chance. Fire Lalonde

Zach Aston Reese is called up to fill illness holes. Well, that says it all about DRW nonexistent depth now doesn’t it.

I wrote six weeks ago, the only way this team was making the playoffs, was to back in with help. Now they can’t even do that properly.
Yzerman did nothing at the trade deadline for two reasons possibly three.
One, lipstick on a pig is still a pig. Two, the prices were too high and he refused to give up top draft picks and prospects keeping his powder dry. I tip my hat to him for that. And the third if applicable, Yzerman took some heat last year for moving Bertuzzi and Hronek at the deadline, when some dreamers honestly thought the team was a SC contender. The third reason is no doubt redundant because Yzerman doesn’t care what anybody else thinks and good for him because Yzerman is the boss.

Some fans may be jumping the gun in wanting to fire Yzerman and
Lalonde & Co. Let Yzerman have more time to create a winning team. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but there should be significant improvement in the coming year, then re-evaluate.
As for “ Losey “ Lalonde and his misfit coaching staff, a house cleaning is definitely in order. “ Losey “ just isn’t getting the job done. He’s another Blashill and we all know how that horror story played out.

As for the so called future talent in Grand Rapids, I’ve been disappointed too often in the past to get excited this early. I still remember the busts from the past. Even the 20-25 goal,scorers who disappeared even if they were lucky enough to make the playoffs.

How many Stanley Cups are on this list?
Names like;
Ehn, Ernie, Jurco, Smith, Sheahan, Zadina, Nyquist, Gallant, Barton, McIsaac, Mantha, Svechnikov, Athanasiou, Abdelkader, Bowey, Bertuzzi, Tuomisto, Johansson ,Mastrosimone, Petruzzelli, McIlrath, Sproul, Russo,Jensen, Tatar, Mzarek, DeKeyser, Cholowski, Pearson, Ericsson, Kaski Kindl, Brunner, Emmerton, Quincy X2, Brunnstrom, Mursak, Andersson, Puilkkenin, Ferraro, Ouellette, Legwand, Glendening, Lashoff, Eaves, Weiss, Primeau, Murphy, Dale McCourt, Miller, Eric Cole, Nosek.
AND HOW COULD WE FORGET THE BEACH BALL FOUR;
Joey Macdonald, Thomas McCollum , Jimmy Howard, Magnus Hellberg

My wonderful Dad, who I lost last year at 98 yrs, was a staunch DRW fan for eighty years. So, I was brainwashed very early in life. Dem Bums the DRW have been my team all of my life. When we finished putting up a headstone a few years ago, Dad had pictures of himself and my dearly departed Mom on the stone.
Dad asked me what I wanted next to my name.
I have a twelve inch Winged Wheel proudly inscribed on the headstone.
It matches the one on my heart. Win or Lose Dem Bums FOREVER.

HAPPY & HEALTHY EASTER. FANS
- GeoffY

Man, I am so sorry about your dad. In his lifetime he must have seen just about everything happen in terms of technology, and just all the incredible things we take for granted. Nothing replaces the time you got to share, and I hope that one day you’ll have a moment with this sport you shared with him where you know he would have been incredibly happy to celebrate with you. Those moments transport us to those amazing times that lifted the whole city/state and fans everywhere.

We haven’t scored any goals in 2 of the last 3 games and our genius in charge is bringing up the sniper Aston Reese. Sad. Bergeron is better than half this team and never gets a chance. Fire Lalonde
- saintdog19

we don't have Bergeron. it's Berggren. And don't blame auto-correct! When you do it more than once, it's your fault! Gotta pay attention to the details, like you have been telling the Wings coaches!

We haven’t scored any goals in 2 of the last 3 games and our genius in charge is bringing up the sniper Aston Reese. Sad. Bergeron is better than half this team and never gets a chance. Fire Lalonde
- saintdog19

Bergeron retired and never played for the Wings

Berggren isn't coming back up or the Wings can't send him back to GR without clearing waivers. Griffins qualified for the playoffs and a good playoff run is more important for the prospects than Berggren playing on the 4th line for a few games with the Wings.

Firing Lalonde won't change anything. Getting rid of him doesn't change the fact they don't have a good top 4 on defense especially behind Seider on the right side. Petry was -3 last game. Holl is no better option. Ghost provides offense but sucks on defense. Edvinsson isn't bad but he does make mistakes. This is the same reason that bringing in another goalie won't change anything either. All the goalies the Wings have had the last few seasons all start off well but end up with their confidence destroyed after a while so unless you bring in Hasek in his prime it won't matter.



The other main problem with this team is the lack of offensive depth at center behind Larkin. We saw first hand how bad it is when Larkin got injured. Kasper or Danielson might change that but who knows when they will be ready to contribute or even if they will be able to be top 6 centers at this point.

Those are the problems that really need to be fixed along some some more physicality and toughness to this soft roster.

we don't have Bergeron. it's Berggren. And don't blame auto-correct! When you do it more than once, it's your fault! Gotta pay attention to the details, like you have been telling the Wings coaches!
- HenryHockey

You got me there

Bergeron retired and never played for the Wings

Berggren isn't coming back up or the Wings can't send him back to GR without clearing waivers. Griffins qualified for the playoffs and a good playoff run is more important for the prospects than Berggren playing on the 4th line for a few games with the Wings.

Firing Lalonde won't change anything. Getting rid of him doesn't change the fact they don't have a good top 4 on defense especially behind Seider on the right side. Petry was -3 last game. Holl is no better option. Ghost provides offense but sucks on defense. Edvinsson isn't bad but he does make mistakes. This is the same reason that bringing in another goalie won't change anything either. All the goalies the Wings have had the last few seasons all start off well but end up with their confidence destroyed after a while so unless you bring in Hasek in his prime it won't matter.



The other main problem with this team is the lack of offensive depth at center behind Larkin. We saw first hand how bad it is when Larkin got injured. Kasper or Danielson might change that but who knows when they will be ready to contribute or even if they will be able to be top 6 centers at this point.

Those are the problems that really need to be fixed along some some more physicality and toughness to this soft roster.
- dcz28

Bergeron retired and never played for the Wings

Berggren isn't coming back up or the Wings can't send him back to GR without clearing waivers. Griffins qualified for the playoffs and a good playoff run is more important for the prospects than Berggren playing on the 4th line for a few games with the Wings.

Firing Lalonde won't change anything. Getting rid of him doesn't change the fact they don't have a good top 4 on defense especially behind Seider on the right side. Petry was -3 last game. Holl is no better option. Ghost provides offense but sucks on defense. Edvinsson isn't bad but he does make mistakes. This is the same reason that bringing in another goalie won't change anything either. All the goalies the Wings have had the last few seasons all start off well but end up with their confidence destroyed after a while so unless you bring in Hasek in his prime it won't matter.



The other main problem with this team is the lack of offensive depth at center behind Larkin. We saw first hand how bad it is when Larkin got injured. Kasper or Danielson might change that but who knows when they will be ready to contribute or even if they will be able to be top 6 centers at this point.

Those are the problems that really need to be fixed along some some more physicality and toughness to this soft roster.
- dcz28

Totally wrong firing the coach shows and tells the players that losing is no longer acceptable and that hardwork is a must. This coach personifies laziness , soft, don’t care mentality which is passed on to the team. Hard work can make up for talent yet every game this team is never ready to play and is outworked and looks lazy most nights.

Totally wrong firing the coach shows and tells the players that losing is no longer acceptable and that hardwork is a must. This coach personifies laziness , soft, don’t care mentality which is passed on to the team. Hard work can make up for talent yet every game this team is never ready to play and is outworked and looks lazy most nights.
- saintdog19

Firing the coach should only happen if this is deemed a playoff team and the coach did not lead them there. Obviously Y does not feel that way, he stood pat at the TDL, and realizes this team would not have a chance in the playoffs IF THEY MADE IT!
Another coach coming in for next season might still happen if they could get a proven winner like Coach Q.

Frank Seravalli recently appeared on the podcast where he discussed Vancouver Canucks defensemen Filip Hronek and Nikita Zadorov.

"Hronek is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. Seravalli believes the 26-year-old blueliner has played an important role in the Canucks’ improvement this season. He believes management shouldn’t have any issues paying him an average annual value of $8 million on an eight-year deal.
That would exceed the $7.85 million annually being earned by Quinn Hughes through 2026-27. However, he doubted that the Canucks captain would be upset that Hronek would make $150K more than him per season, pointing out that he’ll likely get $14 million annually on his next contract.
Seravalli believes paying Hronek $8 million per season for eight years won’t hurt the Canucks cap down the road. By 2028-29, the cap should be around $120 million to $125 million. “$8 million is nothing by that point,” he said."

Thinking the Canucks will sign Hronek to a long-term deal to avoid arbitration. I don’t think it’s a problem for them if he’s seeking around $8 million annually. They could quibble a bit over the length of the deal but it will likely come in at seven or eight years.

"Seravalli believes Zadorov’s asking price will be around $5 million annually. He said the Calgary Flames knew his number would start with a five, which made it easier for them to trade him to Vancouver earlier this year. Seravalli doesn’t think the Canucks will re-sign the 28-year-old defenseman."

I also think that the Nucks may not have the space to sign Linholm either. They will have $16M to sign 9 players after signing Hronek. I don't think they want to give Lindholm nearly $9M of that! Maybe they hang on to Myers and sign him to 2 x $3M.
There is also the less likely route of trading Hronek (RFA) and re-signing Lindholm, Myers and Zadorov.
I think Y had the foresight to trade Hronek and not have to deal with his contract as well as the Seider and Raymond contracts at the same time.

Frank Seravalli recently appeared on the podcast where he discussed Vancouver Canucks defensemen Filip Hronek and Nikita Zadorov.

"Hronek is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. Seravalli believes the 26-year-old blueliner has played an important role in the Canucks’ improvement this season. He believes management shouldn’t have any issues paying him an average annual value of $8 million on an eight-year deal.
That would exceed the $7.85 million annually being earned by Quinn Hughes through 2026-27. However, he doubted that the Canucks captain would be upset that Hronek would make $150K more than him per season, pointing out that he’ll likely get $14 million annually on his next contract.
Seravalli believes paying Hronek $8 million per season for eight years won’t hurt the Canucks cap down the road. By 2028-29, the cap should be around $120 million to $125 million. “$8 million is nothing by that point,” he said."

Thinking the Canucks will sign Hronek to a long-term deal to avoid arbitration. I don’t think it’s a problem for them if he’s seeking around $8 million annually. They could quibble a bit over the length of the deal but it will likely come in at seven or eight years.

"Seravalli believes Zadorov’s asking price will be around $5 million annually. He said the Calgary Flames knew his number would start with a five, which made it easier for them to trade him to Vancouver earlier this year. Seravalli doesn’t think the Canucks will re-sign the 28-year-old defenseman."

I also think that the Nucks may not have the space to sign Linholm either. They will have $16M to sign 9 players after signing Hronek. I don't think they want to give Lindholm nearly $9M of that! Maybe they hang on to Myers and sign him to 2 x $3M.
There is also the less likely route of trading Hronek (RFA) and re-signing Lindholm, Myers and Zadorov.
I think Y had the foresight to trade Hronek and not have to deal with his contract as well as the Seider and Raymond contracts at the same time.
- HenryHockey

But others may point out that the Holl signing and to a lesser extent the Petry acquistion might not have happened and we would have had a better team!!!

With the cap projections that are being listed, that in 4 years there will be another 30 million + per team, that sounds like absolute insanity. I’ll go back to what the cap “was supposed to be” when McDavid and Matthews got their deals. “When the cap is around 100 million in a few years these will be absolute steals”. Those players are league changers to be certain. No problem with paying them every penny you have to. But is the cap anywhere close to what was projected at that time?

Fast forward. The league leaves NBC/Universal for ESPN and Bally. Bally declares bankruptcy and the 220 m was 20% lower this year because that’s all they said they’d pay. ESPN has been doing everything they can to increase viewership but after the Charter battle, the numbers released weren’t good. Around 1/3 of people who have ESPN in their lineup actually watch it. Last month they doubled down and said “at the latest” ESPN (all of it) will be DTC (streaming). The numbers? Anywhere from $30, $50 to $70 per month. Are the 1/3 of people using ESPN going to pay that much to follow that one broadcaster to the streaming platform? There will be other breakdowns but I’m getting sick to death of Seravalli and others throwing these numbers out with nothing to back them up while the viewership stays around or below 700k. March Madness viewership? As high as 9 million for sweet 16 teams.

all this goes back to their drafting. they have to draft better.
this won't turn around until they do.
Example: the last goalie to play in a NHL game that was drafted by this team? Peter Mrazek, he was drafted in 2010.

Red Wings Legend Fedorov Out as CSKA Coach

https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/03/30 ... an-ilitch/

If the Detroit Red Wings were to be looking to make a change to their coaching staff for next season, a very intriguing name is suddenly available.

But others may point out that the Holl signing and to a lesser extent the Petry acquistion might not have happened and we would have had a better team!!!

- HenryHockey

I’ll only say that the prospect of two defenseman at this point in development looking at 8m in the offseason would be problematic. We know Bert thought he could get better money on the open market but it didn’t happen. I don’t know what Hronek would get on the open market if he wasn’t an RFA. But, Vancouver has 13 players on the books for next year (per cap friendly) at an estimated 17m in space. Spend almost half of that on Hronek and things start to get a little tight. Detroit has proven a lack of top 6 depth (unfortunately). If both Hronek and Seider got similar raises, (plus Raymond) things are going to be even worse in that area. I don’t know the exact breakdown of how much you should spend and where, but two D at 8m on a team that may not hit the post season isn’t a great look. Personal opinion of course. Holl deal is bad, Copp doesn’t look great. No clue how they address the summer.

Red Wings Legend Fedorov Out as CSKA Coach

https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/03/30 ... an-ilitch/

If the Detroit Red Wings were to be looking to make a change to their coaching staff for next season, a very intriguing name is suddenly available.
- HenryHockey

My friend and I were talking about him a few nights back. Also about having Lidstrom step in and work with the D. That would be something

But others may point out that the Holl signing and to a lesser extent the Petry acquistion might not have happened and we would have had a better team!!!

- HenryHockey

Final thought. They got Sandin Pellikka with the pick from VAN. Canadian sites are already wondering if that’s going to bite VAN. We won’t know until he gets to the NHL but locking down your 2nd line right D at 8m for 7 or 8 years (expiring at 33+) may not have been the best option for the team

Petry looking rather bad (as usual) No wonder there are 2 teams paying him NOT to play for them! Y needs to buy him out this summer, but it only saves him $.8M next season. He can add Tuomisto for about that much.

Petry looking rather bad (as usual) No wonder there are 2 teams paying him NOT to play for them! Y needs to buy him out this summer, but it only saves him $.8M next season. He can add Tuomisto for about that much.
- HenryHockey

I agree. Perry is playing awful. Also Sprong not playing is another faiyof the terrible coach Lalonde is ability to coach nhl team is non existent. Also I believe Although Yzerman stood pat at the trade deadline which I agreed with at the time because I believed they already were a playoff team being up 10 points . Also when they signed Kane this was like there big move. Coach Q would be a big improvement over dingleberry but I believe Gallant or Berube would be better. Federov would be really interesting

Thank-you Jeremy for your very kind remarks. My Dad was the biggest DRW Fan you could ever meet. And the stories he used to tell about sitting by the radio listening to the wings long before television came on the scene.
I really appreciate your work.

Petry looking rather bad (as usual) No wonder there are 2 teams paying him NOT to play for them! Y needs to buy him out this summer, but it only saves him $.8M next season. He can add Tuomisto for about that much.
- HenryHockey

I’d like to see 2 to 3 buyouts (probably won’t) but I think it’s safe to say about half the D could be shipped out and not missed