Jeremy Laura: Red Wings embarrassed as Leafs dominate in 5-2 drubbing.

Eddy was still getting up off the ice from an attempted shot block when that JT pass went by him to Marner.

Eddy was still getting up off the ice from an attempted shot block when that JT pass went by him to Marner.
- HenryHockey

He was back up (barely) and missed his assignment. It was a beautiful play but the team was still leaving one side of the net uncovered. Marner had no one closer to him than Eddy. It happened fast but it was still his play to track. Easier said than done and maybe I’m being too harsh. I accept that if I am. Just watched the replay. I think Edvinsson outplayed a very bad aging D core and is in a spot he’s not really ready for. But he keeps going. I admire that. It’s easy for me to watch the game and “break it down” when it all happens in a blink and I couldn’t lace that kids skates on my best day ever. I appreciate the counter point. My frustration may have me a bit over critical.

Todd Mac said in the post-game there was a lot to do but his focus starting tomorrow would be the defense. For too long, defense was an offensuve term with this team.....methinks that's about to change. Eddy's play has been dropping off for the past few weeks, but watching him.play shows he's trying to save this team by himself.

There's much work to do, but I will say this: Watching the last 10min of the game, the guys were as aggressive as they were in Game 82 last year, and I've not seen that kind of jump from this team in well over a month. This is a good team, deperately needing a steadfast and experienced leader who appreciates what it takes to win. We have that, now. Heck, I even saw Tarasenko body-checking (had to put my contacts in for fear my eyes were playing tricks on me)! Some guys are realizing their days are very numbered.....as they should be.

It won't happen over night but this team will improve. We're going to shed some of the over-priced and under-performing vets, and we'll continue to improve.

And listen, Marner's game play is sublime.....kid's kinda good. A blanket can't cover him! But, to H's point, Eddy was on his butt......because he was trying to do too much, Marner saw it and took advantage of it....that's what the good players do. I'd take a run at him in UFA, but I don't think he'll be there,Tronno's gonna extend him at a big price.

Todd Mac said in the post-game there was a lot to do but his focus starting tomorrow would be the defense. For too long, defense was an offensuve term with this team.....methinks that's about to change. Eddy's play has been dropping off for the past few weeks, but watching him.play shows he's trying to save this team by himself.

There's much work to do, but I will say this: Watching the last 10min of the game, the guys were as aggressive as they were in Game 82 last year, and I've not seen that kind of jump from this team in well over a month. This is a good team, deperately needing a steadfast and experienced leader who appreciates what it takes to win. We have that, now. Heck, I even saw Tarasenko body-checking (had to put my contacts in for fear my eyes were playing tricks on me)! Some guys are realizing their days are very numbered.....as they should be.

It won't happen over night but this team will improve. We're going to shed some of the over-priced and under-performing vets, and we'll continue to improve.

And listen, Marner's game play is sublime.....kid's kinda good. A blanket can't cover him! But, to H's point, Eddy was on his butt......because he was trying to do too much, Marner saw it and took advantage of it....that's what the good players do. I'd take a run at him in UFA, but I don't think he'll be there,Tronno's gonna extend him at a big price.
- mcmastermike1968

I did like hearing players talk about getting more input in game, and the ipad debate is one that’s going to be had more and more. Fantastic tool, but is it pulling players out of the game mentally at times. The coach was definitely at the “one bite at a time” of how to eat the elephant. Using the term “mechanical” and referencing a need for more instinctive play to properly gap up etc. it’s a lot to take in.

It’s been a hard time for the loyal Red Wings fans. I didn’t even watch the third period, which is something I haven’t done but for a few times in my life.

I hope our new coach can figure out how to make VT and PK break out of their slumps. VT has been horrible. I was thinking last night about how good Daniel Perron and Robbi Fabbri were. We really took those two for granted.

It’s been a hard time for the loyal Red Wings fans. I didn’t even watch the third period, which is something I haven’t done but for a few times in my life.

I hope our new coach can figure out how to make VT and PK break out of their slumps. VT has been horrible. I was thinking last night about how good Daniel Perron and Robbi Fabbri were. We really took those two for granted.
- NC_Scott

Mornin', Scott. Tarasenko seemed completely disengaged this season. I'm not sure why, but going from Maurice to Lalonde is a pretty drastic change in "leadership". I'm wondering if Tarasenko is one of those high maintenance dudes who needs someone buried in his ear to push him.....Maurice is known for his fairness and brtual honesty. Todd Mac strikes me as a guy who calls it the way he sees it, so IF VT needs that for motivation.....methinks he's gonna get it. If for nothing else, trade value.

At the end of the day, Lalonde lost the room. It was brutally evident over the last few weeks, but goes back a way. Kane's lost a step but he's devastatingly accurate with his passing. I think he'll come out of his shell and will start clicking and being an on-ice leader.

Todd Mac's going to demand leadership and accountability. Guys are going to start taking each other to task and owning thier failures. Lalonde was notorious for a quiet room, Perron wasn't one to stay quiet so I'm wondering if he was seen as a boat-rocker. Regardless, as I've said before, the room needs voices, but they have to be the right voices. Perron's play wasn't the best, but he was a leader. Mo, Kane, Talbot, Larkin.....those guys strike me as those voices now.

Coaching changes give rise to guys standing up and taking a more vocal leadership role. Now, more than any time since 2015, we need leaders. Larkin is the captain, but like Mac said, he's shouldered more than his fair share.

Gonna take a bit of time for the change to really hit, but it's gonna be a better team.

It’s been a hard time for the loyal Red Wings fans. I didn’t even watch the third period, which is something I haven’t done but for a few times in my life.

I hope our new coach can figure out how to make VT and PK break out of their slumps. VT has been horrible. I was thinking last night about how good Daniel Perron and Robbi Fabbri were. We really took those two for granted.
- NC_Scott

In all honesty, going from watching Sandin-Pellikka at the WJC U20 to the Wings game was like having a great dinner then getting a bar of baker’s chocolate for dessert. I like the talking points and there was a different “feel” to the post game but with less than 24 hours to get a bead on the gig, I have to take a step back and let the process play out for a couple days. If I weren’t blogging (still a huge honor) I probably would have turned it off as well

In all honesty, going from watching Sandin-Pellikka at the WJC U20 to the Wings game was like having a great dinner then getting a bar of baker’s chocolate for dessert. I like the talking points and there was a different “feel” to the post game but with less than 24 hours to get a bead on the gig, I have to take a step back and let the process play out for a couple days. If I weren’t blogging (still a huge honor) I probably would have turned it off as well
- Jeremy Laura

It was a brutal watch, as has it been for quite some time now. But I did get to see Mac engaging more and more on the bench with players and coaches. You could see the wheels turning vs vacant stares into an endless void.

It's going to take a while, no doubt. But the mentality on the bench felt like it was changing. Maybe I'm being too optomistic, but I could see things starting to change. Was still pissed because of the lackadaisical effort in the 1st 2 periods, BUT.......

It was a brutal watch, as has it been for quite some time now. But I did get to see Mac engaging more and more on the bench with players and coaches. You could see the wheels turning vs vacant stares into an endless void.

It's going to take a while, no doubt. But the mentality on the bench felt like it was changing. Maybe I'm being too optomistic, but I could see things starting to change. Was still pissed because of the lackadaisical effort in the 1st 2 periods, BUT.......
- mcmastermike1968

I think we saw more communication from the coach at the bench in one game than we’ve seen this entire season. It was constant. That in itself feels like a turn toward a better direction.

Good morning back at you. I’ve definitely been sad at the state of the wings. I bet if Todd can’t turn the ship, you’ll see many wings convinced to waive their nmc, then traded away.

I honestly think they should waived EG and let me pass through waivers so he can regain his game in the AHL. Only VT has played worse.

I predict Todd will be a great coach for players like DeBrincat.

What that game provided was exactly what McLellan needed to see. They played much harder than in recent games, but their defense, as the coach noted, stood out as the priority that needs to be addressed.

Someone pointed out that Eddy was getting up from a blocked shot when Tavares made that pass to Marner for his first or second goal. The point was Marner still wasn't covered. Puck awareness is missing too much from this team, as is the lack of opponent positioning. It would've been nice to see Eddy put his stick in that passing lane, but nobody was there to knock Marner on his butt for being that open.

There seems to be somewhat of a peewee league mentality in chasing the puck around at times. Assignments are missed because of the lack of communication on the ice.

McLellan and Yawney should be able to work those kinks out. However, this season might be a wash with the emphasis being on development for next season's success.