Jeremy Laura: The one (well, two) thing(s) Detroit needs in order to compete

Prediction: Detroit is going to be the most improved team in the entire NHL next year, assuming there is a next year.

They will still finish bottom five.

Prediction: Detroit is going to be the most improved team in the entire NHL next year, assuming there is a next year.

They will still finish bottom five.
- Sven22

I think that is well put. You’ve been on the lookout for an LD, right? I thought I remembered you talking about that

AA brought 2 2nd round picks. Mike Green brought mailing it in most nights and being content with cashing a paycheck. Made of more glass than Ben Bishop is. But this Red Wings team will be better because they certainly can't be any worse.

The long layoff has me worried. Way too much time off. They lack the talent to survive this. They could really struggle out of the gate and in a shortened season that's not a good thing. Abdelkader, Ericsson, Daley and Howard being gone is worth at least 10 more wins. 👍

Oilers' Neal and Broberg, for Cholo
Happy reunion Kenny!!!

AA brought 2 2nd round picks. Mike Green brought mailing it in most nights and being content with cashing a paycheck. Made of more glass than Ben Bishop is. But this Red Wings team will be better because they certainly can't be any worse.

The long layoff has me worried. Way too much time off. They lack the talent to survive this. They could really struggle out of the gate and in a shortened season that's not a good thing. Abdelkader, Ericsson, Daley and Howard being gone is worth at least 10 more wins. 👍
- gergeswillems

Man, how did I screw that up?!! Thanks G. I’ll make the edit.

I am worried, for sure, but the work ethic of Larkin, Bert and Mo is so strong. I know some guys get way out of shape and hope they can just play catch up. These guys are scrimmaging a lot (I think up in Troy if you want to go stalk). That being said, what worries me the most is injuries. You have to develop those bumps and bruises with the high level contact. We could start a betting pool on who puts on the most pounds....if we were horrible

Oilers' Neal and Broberg, for Cholo
Happy reunion Kenny!!!
- HenryHockey

I love you man, you make me smile.

Man, how did I screw that up?!! Thanks G. I’ll make the edit.

I am worried, for sure, but the work ethic of Larkin, Bert and Mo is so strong. I know some guys get way out of shape and hope they can just play catch up. These guys are scrimmaging a lot (I think up in Troy if you want to go stalk). That being said, what worries me the most is injuries. You have to develop those bumps and bruises with the high level contact. We could start a betting pool on who puts on the most pounds....if we were horrible
- Jeremy Laura

There's a big difference between skating shape and hockey shape. I think it's a valid concern. I don't doubt Larkin's work ethic. But these guys haven't played in real games since March. I don't care how good you are. It has to affect you..

Oilers' Neal and Broberg, for Cholo
Happy reunion Kenny!!!
- HenryHockey

When it comes to Ken Holland...would this trade really surprise anyone?

I agree, but won't some of the NHL be in the same situation (I got the teams that were in the "play-offs" had some extra ice time....ok, maybe more than "some"....)? We're not so out of touch as to look at this roster and say "vanDAM straight we're Cup contenders!", but your assertion that the removal of Abby, Howie, and Daley adding 10 wins to the W column is about right....I just think that, overall, those teams that played in the "play-offs" will have some serious drop-off. Spot-on to say there's is a difference between skating shape & hockey shape, but watching the "play-offs" this year, seemed like a good number of players were already mailing it in anyway. I dunno, I just think that the Wings are much better off this year than the last few........with one major exception:

JEREMY: I'd opine that you missed one very crucial area that DET needs an upgrade: COACHING! Blash is a good guy, great facial expressions, and regurgitates the company line better than any NASCAR driver I ever saw interviewed: "Yeah, the ole Red Wings, Little Cesar's #20-21 ran good today. Boys in the AHL stepped up their game. Seemed we just couldn't skate well enough to get a good pass going, then we got behind in the D zone and the wheels fell off for a spell. But, ya know, we just keep fighting through this. Them boys been steppin' up the ole compete level...I know the folks are pulling for us. Wanna thank the fans …." blah blah blah

#1 Coaching

#2 Coaching

#1 Coaching

#2 Coaching
- Tee56

I'll drink champagne on the day Jeff Blashill is axed. 👍

I agree, but won't some of the NHL be in the same situation (I got the teams that were in the "play-offs" had some extra ice time....ok, maybe more than "some"....)? We're not so out of touch as to look at this roster and say "vanDAM straight we're Cup contenders!", but your assertion that the removal of Abby, Howie, and Daley adding 10 wins to the W column is about right....I just think that, overall, those teams that played in the "play-offs" will have some serious drop-off. Spot-on to say there's is a difference between skating shape & hockey shape, but watching the "play-offs" this year, seemed like a good number of players were already mailing it in anyway. I dunno, I just think that the Wings are much better off this year than the last few........with one major exception:

JEREMY: I'd opine that you missed one very crucial area that DET needs an upgrade: COACHING! Blash is a good guy, great facial expressions, and regurgitates the company line better than any NASCAR driver I ever saw interviewed: "Yeah, the ole Red Wings, Little Cesar's #20-21 ran good today. Boys in the AHL stepped up their game. Seemed we just couldn't skate well enough to get a good pass going, then we got behind in the D zone and the wheels fell off for a spell. But, ya know, we just keep fighting through this. Them boys been steppin' up the ole compete level...I know the folks are pulling for us. Wanna thank the fans …." blah blah blah
- mcmastermike1968

Hide Blashill's Tony Robbins tapes. I don't think he'd be able to talk. Nothing can fix the goofy Tourette's faces or the creepy ripped off Mike Babcock voice.

https://youtu.be/g9O-SSIqIZM

https://youtu.be/qqjfLKqU-0U

https://youtu.be/if1AeoHbZ8k

Do we dare relieve TB of Tyler??? It now looks as if no one want s him. I think it best to aim for Killorn. Kilorn + M. Joseph for a 7th

If you wish to take on more cap:
Killer + Paquette + M. Joseph for Helm (1.5M retained)


(M. Stephens might be a better choice than Joseph)

There's a big difference between skating shape and hockey shape. I think it's a valid concern. I don't doubt Larkin's work ethic. But these guys haven't played in real games since March. I don't care how good you are. It has to affect you..
- gergeswillems

I absolutely agree. These guys need those callouses and timing badly. Those first games back could be just a stream of players onto IR.

I agree, but won't some of the NHL be in the same situation (I got the teams that were in the "play-offs" had some extra ice time....ok, maybe more than "some"....)? We're not so out of touch as to look at this roster and say "vanDAM straight we're Cup contenders!", but your assertion that the removal of Abby, Howie, and Daley adding 10 wins to the W column is about right....I just think that, overall, those teams that played in the "play-offs" will have some serious drop-off. Spot-on to say there's is a difference between skating shape & hockey shape, but watching the "play-offs" this year, seemed like a good number of players were already mailing it in anyway. I dunno, I just think that the Wings are much better off this year than the last few........with one major exception:

JEREMY: I'd opine that you missed one very crucial area that DET needs an upgrade: COACHING! Blash is a good guy, great facial expressions, and regurgitates the company line better than any NASCAR driver I ever saw interviewed: "Yeah, the ole Red Wings, Little Cesar's #20-21 ran good today. Boys in the AHL stepped up their game. Seemed we just couldn't skate well enough to get a good pass going, then we got behind in the D zone and the wheels fell off for a spell. But, ya know, we just keep fighting through this. Them boys been steppin' up the ole compete level...I know the folks are pulling for us. Wanna thank the fans …." blah blah blah
- mcmastermike1968

That is absolutely a fair point. The challenge was to try and get just one thing that would make the team competitive. Yes, I agree the coaching isn’t landing, but I’m also certain that we iced a team so lacking in the talent or so often injured that improving the personnel would make an immediate impact as well. The team needs top tier players, especially on defense. Yzerman gave Blashill an improved lineup, and so the spotlight will shift behind the bench even more

#1 Coaching

#2 Coaching
- Tee56

We definitely do, but the squad just doesn’t have the pieces to be competitive. It’s better, but still far off.

Seems like Yzerman could reach a mutually beneficial trade with JBB that would only involve players that they wished to get off their rosters and no picks involved..
Why not Tyler Johnson ($1M retained) and Alex Killorn ($.45M retained) and a 3rd for Franz Nielsen $2.625M retained
Tampa gets $5.375M more cap space without giving up a high pick or prospect and has ample cap space to sign Cerilli to a 3x $4M bridge deal and only needs to clear $1M more to sign Cernak to a 2x $2.1M deal. Franz can even be buried for more space or utilized in a bottom 6 role. Stevie gets 2 very serviceable middle 6 players and a space for the new center at 2C. Seems like a win-win!
I know TB people do not want Franz but would you rather sacrifice a high pick or prospect? Would Stevie give up on acquiring a high draft pick for something like this?
or

Do we dare relieve TB of Tyler??? It now looks as if no one want s him. I think it best to aim for Killorn. Kilorn + M. Joseph for a 7th

If you wish to take on more cap:
Killer + Paquette + M. Joseph for Helm (1.5M retained)


(M. Stephens might be a better choice than Joseph)
- HenryHockey

Only if we can get Barre-Boulet and a 1st with TJ. Killorn still has value but it'll likely only cost a 4th round pick to get him.

Seems like Yzerman could reach a mutually beneficial trade with JBB that would only involve players that they wished to get off their rosters and no picks involved..
Why not Tyler Johnson ($1M retained) and Alex Killorn ($.45M retained) and a 3rd for Franz Nielsen $2.625M retained
Tampa gets $5.375M more cap space without giving up a high pick or prospect and has ample cap space to sign Cerilli to a 3x $4M bridge deal and only needs to clear $1M more to sign Cernak to a 2x $2.1M deal. Franz can even be buried for more space or utilized in a bottom 6 role. Stevie gets 2 very serviceable middle 6 players and a space for the new center at 2C. Seems like a win-win!
I know TB people do not want Franz but would you rather sacrifice a high pick or prospect? Would Stevie give up on acquiring a high draft pick for something like this?
or
- HenryHockey

I don't like that deal personally, although a lot of that has to do with the fact that I just don't think TJ is a very good fit in Detroit.

It does improve the team a lot in the short term, for sure. But I really don't like four more years of TJ even at $4m. I fear he would look very, very bad here. A second line with any two of Fabbri, Johnson, Zadina, or Filppula would be abysmal defensively, without having nearly enough offensive pop to offset it.

Killorn at $4m x 3 is probably fair, maybe even good, but still basically a stopgap considering his age.

Of course Nielsen is easily the worst of the lot and getting rid of his contract is no small thing, but he's also only got 2 years left and I feel like the Red Wings can easily ride that out -- much more easily than four years of TJ.

Taking Killorn + TJ would be doing Tampa a massive favor, and I'm not sure I can get behind bailing them out unless we got a genuine high-end prospect with long-term star potential in return. Killorn is definitely a "nice to have" player, but I don't think "getting rid of Nielsen" is a good enough sweetener to buy Tampa out of cap jail.

If Wings deal with Tampa maybe a deal sweetener like Dmitri Semykin or Gabriel Fortier?

We definitely do, but the squad just doesn’t have the pieces to be competitive. It’s better, but still far off.
- Jeremy Laura

I agree with you but no time like the present to change the culture and deliver a new message? Bash can go back to Grand Rapids.

If Wings deal with Tampa maybe a deal sweetener like Dmitri Semykin or Gabriel Fortier?
- Tee56

Barre-Boulet. 👍

I agree with you but no time like the present to change the culture and deliver a new message? Bash can go back to Grand Rapids.
- Tee56

I do agree. This article is part of a series (you’ll see other versions) where each team blogger needed to find one thing to make the team competitive. I narrowed it down to two, but in reality:

New coach and staff
Elite goalie
Elite left side D
Another center at least as good as Larkin

My favorite coach in the league is Barry Trotz. He made Nashville competitive when they weren’t spending money, got Washington to tighten up defensively, and the Islanders got better after losing Tavares. More than that, I’ve heard that visiting former players will form a line outside of his office just to say hi. He is imprinting on people’s lives, beyond the ice. Whatever he’s creating makes players want to skate through walls for him. That is a rare gift in pro sports any more

Barre-Boulet. 👍
- gergeswillems

All these names have me hungry for French/New Orleans quinine. Crawfish pie with etouffe?