Jeremy Laura: Red Wings recall Watson and Rafferty, was that the right choice?

Who needs to see what the prospects can do until they are out of waiver exemption. Just bring up guys that have no future with this team.

This completely feels like a boneheaded Ken Holland type of move. Bring up old veterans who are not likely to make any difference. Good grief... we have top level prospects... PLAY THEM. See what they can do and how they can help the team.

It honestly doesn’t matter at this point. Pack it in, get a draft pick and mirror this season next year. It’s the Red Wing way now.

It just goes to show you that it really does not matter now. Ya leave the yutes in GR so they play more! And reward the vets with a little more money for choosing the DRW organization.

Just a completely frustrating end to the season. For me, the season itself isn't a let-down, it's how we came back from 4N. This off-season's going to be interesting.

I'm torn on what to do, here. Part of me says give a few kids some games - then Mazur comes to mind. Another part of me says keep GR stacked for a deep play-off run - that team may very well be a buzz-saw and win the whole thing, and the kids need that. It's adifficult balance for which I have no solution because I am trulytorn.

Gus wasn't fitting in, but ran a half-decent PP. Tarasenko is acomplete disappointment, expected so much more from him. Like I said; post-4N stinks, and there seems to be no solution. There needs to be a few guys who are released, and some spots open for competition in camp. Letting the kids over-ripen may not be how we need to do business. I think that's an antiquated way of running a team and we lose kids after their ELX because 2yrs of it will be burnt in the "A"

Let's see how this plays out. Seriously rooting for GRG!!!!!!

Just a completely frustrating end to the season. For me, the season itself isn't a let-down, it's how we came back from 4N. This off-season's going to be interesting.

I'm torn on what to do, here. Part of me says give a few kids some games - then Mazur comes to mind. Another part of me says keep GR stacked for a deep play-off run - that team may very well be a buzz-saw and win the whole thing, and the kids need that. It's adifficult balance for which I have no solution because I am trulytorn.

Gus wasn't fitting in, but ran a half-decent PP. Tarasenko is acomplete disappointment, expected so much more from him. Like I said; post-4N stinks, and there seems to be no solution. There needs to be a few guys who are released, and some spots open for competition in camp. Letting the kids over-ripen may not be how we need to do business. I think that's an antiquated way of running a team and we lose kids after their ELX because 2yrs of it will be burnt in the "A"

Let's see how this plays out. Seriously rooting for GRG!!!!!!
- mcmastermike1968

I think the climb is so steep because of the return performance and the start of the year. What Todd accomplished was unreal for this group. It had people genuinely in shock that had sworn no coaching change could make a big dent. In terms of overripening, I do think the organization has made a big shift away from that. Raymond at 19, Seider would have but played overseas after an 18 year old season in GR due to a unique situation etc. still, at 20 Seider climbed to the top spot and took it. Edvinsson is grabbing attention, they wanted Sandin-Pellikka but allowed him to do one more year in Sweden. They really wanted Brandsegg_Nygaard but he was “NHL or Sweden”, wouldn’t do Grand Rapids for whatever reason. At this point with this climb and the hardest schedule in the league, it is an interesting scenario. Grand Rapids can duke it out to the post season far more easily than Detroit. It’s the question as to whether that group success is more beneficial to those players vs. a long shot try for Detroit that gets longer as Montreal has started to look to lock it down. I look forward to starting a season under Todd and think prospects will have a wide open shot to take jobs and put people on waivers. Personal opinion of course.

Maybe Finne comes to GR, his season ends tonight in Kamloops.
Finnie won most of the team awards of course with 54games,37goals,47assists for 84points 26PIM
Looking really good for a 7th rounder!

Maybe Finne comes to GR, his season ends tonight in Kamloops.
Finnie won most of the team awards of course with 54games,37goals,47assists for 84points 26PIM
Looking really good for a 7th rounder!
- HenryHockey

Very possible and very true. Nice drop, thanks H2

I think the climb is so steep because of the return performance and the start of the year. What Todd accomplished was unreal for this group. It had people genuinely in shock that had sworn no coaching change could make a big dent. In terms of overripening, I do think the organization has made a big shift away from that. Raymond at 19, Seider would have but played overseas after an 18 year old season in GR due to a unique situation etc. still, at 20 Seider climbed to the top spot and took it. Edvinsson is grabbing attention, they wanted Sandin-Pellikka but allowed him to do one more year in Sweden. They really wanted Brandsegg_Nygaard but he was “NHL or Sweden”, wouldn’t do Grand Rapids for whatever reason. At this point with this climb and the hardest schedule in the league, it is an interesting scenario. Grand Rapids can duke it out to the post season far more easily than Detroit. It’s the question as to whether that group success is more beneficial to those players vs. a long shot try for Detroit that gets longer as Montreal has started to look to lock it down. I look forward to starting a season under Todd and think prospects will have a wide open shot to take jobs and put people on waivers. Personal opinion of course.
- Jeremy Laura

Fair points, all. I don't like the old "leave 'em 'til they're collecting a pension" mentality,for sure. And very true about the tide's turning. I was hoping a couple of kids would shine to such a level that they'd get some NHL ice-time, but I'd almost think at this point we keep GRG competitive. They already lost E-Sods & Mazur - vital players both, not sure it's worth the risk. Am watching this closely... Either way, I honestly think this will be a dang near 40% new team next season...

Now, I'd venture that minus 1 or 2 posters here, everyone wanted a coaching change as far back as last year. Probably even further back than that. For some reason, 4N killed momentum, no clue what,why, or how. Regardless, pulling the trigger behind the bench and bringing Yawney in as part of the deal was the right move. I'm a Gallant fan, as are several others here, but the ToddFather's going to work out. One of the things I'm wondering about this collapse is whether or not the team kinda plateaued because of the paucity of true talent, and we just ran outta runway. The veterans ran outta steam, the kids are trying to carry too much of the load because relying on the vets is failing, and the ToddFather's schemes are too much for the vets to handle. Just spit-ballin' but we see some of the same issues year in and year out. The only common denominator is the old farts draggin' us down.

We. Have. Talent. This team is slowly turning a corner. Jettison some of the under-performing guys and re-load......