Jeremy Laura: Red Wings overwhelmed in 3rd by Caps, the road just got harder

Another tough loss. They keep giving all they’ve got and don’t give up like we have seen in the past. This team is different, and that starts with the head coach but I think it’s the young guys that seem to be dragging the vets along. We just don’t have enough talent to hang with the top 10 teams in the league. We get worn out and one shift or five bad minutes costs us a game. We need to keep cutting the dead weight and adding young players that can make a difference. We are not that far off. Playoffs might not happen this year, but the future looks brighter than ever.

Another tough loss. They keep giving all they’ve got and don’t give up like we have seen in the past. This team is different, and that starts with the head coach but I think it’s the young guys that seem to be dragging the vets along. We just don’t have enough talent to hang with the top 10 teams in the league. We get worn out and one shift or five bad minutes costs us a game. We need to keep cutting the dead weight and adding young players that can make a difference. We are not that far off. Playoffs might not happen this year, but the future looks brighter than ever.
- Goalie Dad

OK, good take now, but that would not have applied in 2024. The yutes have progressed wonderfully since the new year. Even in GR they did not start winning till Mid-December.
What is also evident is that if the coaching change had happened earlier, that T-Mac would have taken this band of also-rans over the finish line and made the play-offs! But meeting a team like the Caps in the 1st round would have been as far as they would have gone. I have to admit that I was wrong when I said that no coach was going to bring this team close to the playoffs.

In GR... the Griffins have been winning all season. The first month of the season they were already in first place... and they've stayed near the top all season. To say "even in GR they did not start winning till Mid-December" is simply not correct.

Props to their head coach Watson... who despite injuries to key players for extended lengths of time (Lombardi, Mazur, etc..) has still gotten the most out of his entire roster. Losing Soderblom to Detroit was tough along with losing Shine (recalled) for several games. Now we're seeing a lot of the rookies in GR really step up which has been great to see. Their strong team defense is the team's forte and has kept them in the race all season.

In GR... the Griffins have been winning all season. The first month of the season they were already in first place... and they've stayed near the top all season. To say "even in GR they did not start winning till Mid-December" is simply not correct.

Props to their head coach Watson... who despite injuries to key players for extended lengths of time (Lombardi, Mazur, etc..) has still gotten the most out of his entire roster. Losing Soderblom to Detroit was tough along with losing Shine (recalled) for several games. Now we're seeing a lot of the rookies in GR really step up which has been great to see. Their strong team defense is the team's forte and has kept them in the race all season.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Despite all of the injuries and call ups the Griffins have been fairly consistent except for a 2-3 week blip. The pipe line looks strong. I hope Mazur gets healthy and at the very least joins GR for the playoffs as well as Soderblom. It would be great for them to go on a long run. I hope to see at least 2 players graduate full time to the big club next year and a couple others get 10-15 games.

Despite all of the injuries and call ups the Griffins have been fairly consistent except for a 2-3 week blip. The pipe line looks strong. I hope Mazur gets healthy and at the very least joins GR for the playoffs as well as Soderblom. It would be great for them to go on a long run. I hope to see at least 2 players graduate full time to the big club next year and a couple others get 10-15 games.
- Goalie Dad

GR Players ready for their NHL debut:
Lombardi
Tuomisto
Wallinder
Mazur (if he can actually stay healthy)

Overseas:
Sandin-Pellika

Just adding Tuomisto and Wallinder alone will improve the blueline. I'd take these two over Holl and Gustafson on the bottom pairing right now. Sandin-Pellika will also add to our defensive depth. Hoping he will be our next Brian Rafalski. Not many teams have that kind of blue-chip defense prospects coming in their system. Buuim looks like a really good defenseman as well... but he'll probably need another year in GR for sure.

Nygaard needs to be in GR next season. Yzerman really needs to find a way to get Buchelnikov over here from Russia... he really looks good. He's 22 so the time is now.

GR Players ready for their NHL debut:
Lombardi
Tuomisto
Wallinder
Mazur (if he can actually stay healthy)

Overseas:
Sandin-Pellika

Just adding Tuomisto and Wallinder alone will improve the blueline. I'd take these two over Holl and Gustafson on the bottom pairing right now. Sandin-Pellika will also add to our defensive depth. Hoping he will be our next Brian Rafalski. Not many teams have that kind of blue-chip defense prospects coming in their system. Buuim looks like a really good defenseman as well... but he'll probably need another year in GR for sure.

Nygaard needs to be in GR next season. Yzerman really needs to find a way to get Buchelnikov over here from Russia... he really looks good. He's 22 so the time is now.
- Vladdie_Kon1

I agree on all, unfortunately Mazur only played one shift before getting hurt on the last callup. That really stinks. I really want Tuomisto brought up (at least) knowing there are limits but both he and Wallinder could likely grab jobs. Some call ups are awesome and some are overwhelming. After talking to Watson and seeing the growth he got out of that group, even Buium in his first go round, it was way better for them to be in GR at the beginning of the year. It will be an interesting couple of days to see if Detroit does anything before the trip to Vegas

In GR... the Griffins have been winning all season. The first month of the season they were already in first place... and they've stayed near the top all season. To say "even in GR they did not start winning till Mid-December" is simply not correct.

Props to their head coach Watson... who despite injuries to key players for extended lengths of time (Lombardi, Mazur, etc..) has still gotten the most out of his entire roster. Losing Soderblom to Detroit was tough along with losing Shine (recalled) for several games. Now we're seeing a lot of the rookies in GR really step up which has been great to see. Their strong team defense is the team's forte and has kept them in the race all season.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Ok, my mistake...Thanks for the correction.
I think T-Mac has been a much-maligned coach in Edmonton and LA. The only other good coach that gets more undeserved flak has been Gallant. But I am happier with the T-Mac choice than I think I could have been with Gallant.

The Red Wings are just a flawed team, who are not as good as the flawed teams fighting for the two wild card slots. As stated by others posters there may be an influx of younger talent next season, but there too is much UFA dead wood that needs to go.