Jeremy Laura: Red Wings Captain vents in post season presser. Will it go any further?

That's tough.

They were sitting in a wild card position if irc, but are you going to give up assets to try to sneak into the playoffs? Why not hold on to assets and plan on getting better? Picking around 10th in the first round is probably better than a first round beatdown.

What year are the Wings in with the Yzerplan?

That's tough.

They were sitting in a wild card position if irc, but are you going to give up assets to try to sneak into the playoffs? Why not hold on to assets and plan on getting better? Picking around 10th in the first round is probably better than a first round beatdown.
- sokosteve

It’s a no win situation at that point. Give up a first round pick or high level asset to lose in the first round. Larkin has tried to carry the team and deal with a lot of it on his own. This may just be blowing off steam and letting leadership know he expects better support going into next season. It’s all speculation but it took guts to address it and was a rare show of the hand. Hopefully this opens communication channels internally. I appreciate the drop in, thanks for stopping by!

What year are the Wings in with the Yzerplan?
- Hockeyfan39

You’re looking at a duality. Boston finally fell off this year. TB and FLA have 3 cups between them and 5 SCPO appearances. Toronto is a points machine. Montreal had the opposite post 4 nations reaction that Detroit did, and Ottawa lit it up. So 5 teams in this division got into the playoffs. Will TB fall off at some point? Florida? I wish there was an easy answer. Before the teardown started, the team was mocked for getting in and losing in the first round. The first round drafting was horrid with only Larkin and Rasmussen surviving. Going to be watching ASP closely through GR playoffs. IF Lombardi can contribute in a similar way to Kasper (put him on the wing of Larkin and Raymond) and Kane seems to want to come back. 17 of Kasper’s 19 goals were after the coaching change. Debrincat’s back checking stepped up, please remove Copp once he’s healthy and bring in a top 4 Dman. Still the toughest division but you give yourself a chance. Another wretched first half and the team is screwed. That’s the best I can project.

This video is not going to age well. He is the captain and needs to act like one. Look what Montreals captain said to his GM don’t make a move we like our locker room. Larkin threw his team mates under the bus. He should know that to improve the team the team needs to show it’s ready to make a push. The last three years they went backwards in March leaving Yzerman with no reason to add players and only to lose assets in the rebuild. Larkin has a no movement clause in his contract this year so he is not going any where unless he asks to go. Next year that changes, and I would say that Dylan is not untouchable. If the right players were offered and if it makes the team better and younger move him. Yes, Larkin is a very good hockey player, yes he gives everything he’s got but the constant whining is starting to wear on me, as much as the constant losing is wearing on him! Stevie traded a very good and popular Martin St Louis from Tampa and that worked well!

Hey, Jeremy.....finally made it home a touch after mid-night.....good to be home, but already wanting to be back in Ireland.

I'm actually glad to hear Larkin express his thoughts. No doubt that the same feelings were expressed within the lockerroom as well, so feel it's a concensus. The fact is that more COULD have been done, but as you stated; the cost didn't make sense.

The fact is, we have a good prospect pool and will have some really solid kids coming in quickly. But, again, the fact remains that right now, there's no 1 player on this team that is generational, or close to it. That player would push us over the edge and get us the heck outta the "rebuild". Now, do we HAVE to have a Marner, or like player? No, but by NOT having someone like that, ALL the guys on the ice would have to be above average....and we don't have that (e.g., Holl, Petry, Tarasenko, etc...). That puts more pressure on the kids to excel immediately - no time to "learn" how to play in the NHL, if that makes sense.

It's good to see the frustration being expressed. The Captain needs to hear it, but I think he knows he needs to be better as the GM. Hearing it coming from Larkin, he has to know it's coming from the team as a whole. Of all the years of UFA moves, THIS year is no-fail; we cannot afford another few years of sub-standard vets collecting a pay check and merely checking the box. The grace period that The Captain had, is ending, it feels like.

That all being said, having no time-line for completing a rebuild is logical because of the extent to which the team needed to be torn down and re-built. But this would've been a better process if the UFAs played out better. Tarasenko was truly disappointing. Petry didn't do much. Holl was a complete and utter failure. The list goes on....

The good thing of all of this is that Larkin showed his emotional committment to this team. Disagreement does not equal disrespect Yzerman and Larkin will talk, I'm sure. Sometimes leaders need to hear the truth, regardless of the social implications. The frustration has to be aired. Leadership needs to know they have to act to fix this. The Todd Father was a good move, should've been done sooner - I think it cost us the season. I'm anxious to see if Larkin's speaking up has a deeper impact......I hope it does.

This video is not going to age well. He is the captain and needs to act like one. Look what Montreals captain said to his GM don’t make a move we like our locker room. Larkin threw his team mates under the bus. He should know that to improve the team the team needs to show it’s ready to make a push. The last three years they went backwards in March leaving Yzerman with no reason to add players and only to lose assets in the rebuild. Larkin has a no movement clause in his contract this year so he is not going any where unless he asks to go. Next year that changes, and I would say that Dylan is not untouchable. If the right players were offered and if it makes the team better and younger move him. Yes, Larkin is a very good hockey player, yes he gives everything he’s got but the constant whining is starting to wear on me, as much as the constant losing is wearing on him! Stevie traded a very good and popular Martin St Louis from Tampa and that worked well!
- Goalie Dad

I think this is going to be talked about way more than Larkin would have thought. He wasn’t the same player after 4 nations and I think he’s been nursing injuries. Raymond indicated he has been nursing injuries. Different topic for a different day, but these mid season tournaments are going to hurt teams and players. Next year could end up badly.
I don’t see it as whining, but I understand where you’re coming from. Larkin has dealt with substandard free agents and zero goalie consistency. One year, Husso’s the guy. Then he falls off. Then Lyon’s the guy. Fell off. Talbot picked up his game after McLellan arrived. There are guys on the team that should be ashamed of how they approach. JV was “unhappy” with his usage so he was sent packing. Losing Walman and Ghost and seeing Petry, Holl, Chiarot just felt cringeworthy. Post 4 nations would have been a good time to bring up a GR player or 2 and see if they could hang. Mazur played 1 shift and got hurt again. Shine got signed but didn’t stick. Watson should have had a steadier gig. Plenty of issues, but Larkin will have to deal with this in every interview through training camp and into the regular season. Not fun

Hey, Jeremy.....finally made it home a touch after mid-night.....good to be home, but already wanting to be back in Ireland.

I'm actually glad to hear Larkin express his thoughts. No doubt that the same feelings were expressed within the lockerroom as well, so feel it's a concensus. The fact is that more COULD have been done, but as you stated; the cost didn't make sense.

The fact is, we have a good prospect pool and will have some really solid kids coming in quickly. But, again, the fact remains that right now, there's no 1 player on this team that is generational, or close to it. That player would push us over the edge and get us the heck outta the "rebuild". Now, do we HAVE to have a Marner, or like player? No, but by NOT having someone like that, ALL the guys on the ice would have to be above average....and we don't have that (e.g., Holl, Petry, Tarasenko, etc...). That puts more pressure on the kids to excel immediately - no time to "learn" how to play in the NHL, if that makes sense.

It's good to see the frustration being expressed. The Captain needs to hear it, but I think he knows he needs to be better as the GM. Hearing it coming from Larkin, he has to know it's coming from the team as a whole. Of all the years of UFA moves, THIS year is no-fail; we cannot afford another few years of sub-standard vets collecting a pay check and merely checking the box. The grace period that The Captain had, is ending, it feels like.

That all being said, having no time-line for completing a rebuild is logical because of the extent to which the team needed to be torn down and re-built. But this would've been a better process if the UFAs played out better. Tarasenko was truly disappointing. Petry didn't do much. Holl was a complete and utter failure. The list goes on....

The good thing of all of this is that Larkin showed his emotional committment to this team. Disagreement does not equal disrespect Yzerman and Larkin will talk, I'm sure. Sometimes leaders need to hear the truth, regardless of the social implications. The frustration has to be aired. Leadership needs to know they have to act to fix this. The Todd Father was a good move, should've been done sooner - I think it cost us the season. I'm anxious to see if Larkin's speaking up has a deeper impact......I hope it does.
- mcmastermike1968

With the timing, Larkin for sure opened the curtain a bit. If someone gets interviewed right at the time emotion can take over. Hockey still has the remnants of the “sacred room” but it’s dissipating. The hope from all of this is positive momentum. Copp, Tarasenko, Motte, Holl, Gustafsson all have to at least be feeling the disappointment. It’s not subtle from the fan base or the pundits. This Grand Rapids run that starts a week from today could elevate the status of players. I’m going to do a video, but Buium saw his numbers climb over Wallinder, Andersson is a beast and the two will run into a scrum. Lombardi, even in limited action, was tied for 3rd in goals with 19 in only 44 games played. Dries led with 25g in 65 games. Danielson is turning a corner. Soderblom is back with the team and has NHL minutes under his belt. Watson is there to help stir the pot. Looking forward to it for sure!

Management's continued "wait for next year" plea has bred appathy in fans, sponsors and players ... Larkin's clip is a mirror image of Ryan O'Reilly's frustration before exiting Buffalo. I'm, not suggesting Larkin's agent will issue a trade request, but its something Larkin must be considering.

SY's desultory nature as GM is flawed. This worked in TB, but its unfeasible here. Simply waiting for unheralded prospects to develop while irrationally imagining elite FA signings is unacceptable. Larkin has spoken - The players have been heard. Management needs to present a feasible rebuild outline to the leadership group ASAP.

Dressing room discord also engenders frustration. A player(s) on the roster has previously been disliked and/or shunned by former teammates. Management must identify and prune any potential cancers.

Not something you want your captain to come out publicly with, but I do get his view point

Guy has played 10 seasons already and only 5 playoff games so far.

Just seems like something he should've discussed privately with the GM.



I do get it from Yzerman's standpoint though, do you force a trade when it was going to be a dog fight just to get in?

With that being said Yzerman will need to get this team in next year. Whether he makes some moves this summer or sees how the first few months go with the younger players before making moves, he'll have to do something in the next 10 months or so to make sure he's giving the team enough on the ice to make it.

Management's continued "wait for next year" plea has bred appathy in fans, sponsors and players ... Larkin's clip is a mirror image of Ryan O'Reilly's frustration before exiting Buffalo. I'm, not suggesting Larkin's agent will issue a trade request, but its something Larkin must be considering.

SY's desultory nature as GM is flawed. This worked in TB, but its unfeasible here. Simply waiting for unheralded prospects to develop while irrationally imagining elite FA signings is unacceptable. Larkin has spoken - The players have been heard. Management needs to present a feasible rebuild outline to the leadership group ASAP.

Dressing room discord also engenders frustration. A player(s) on the roster has previously been disliked and/or shunned by former teammates. Management must identify and prune any potential cancers.
- Jackie Daytona

I don't think there is anything wrong with waiting to see how guys develop over the summer, but if guys aren't developing as fast as you think then you have to bite the bullet and make trades.

This video is not going to age well. He is the captain and needs to act like one. Look what Montreals captain said to his GM don’t make a move we like our locker room. Larkin threw his team mates under the bus. He should know that to improve the team the team needs to show it’s ready to make a push. The last three years they went backwards in March leaving Yzerman with no reason to add players and only to lose assets in the rebuild. Larkin has a no movement clause in his contract this year so he is not going any where unless he asks to go. Next year that changes, and I would say that Dylan is not untouchable. If the right players were offered and if it makes the team better and younger move him. Yes, Larkin is a very good hockey player, yes he gives everything he’s got but the constant whining is starting to wear on me, as much as the constant losing is wearing on him! Stevie traded a very good and popular Martin St Louis from Tampa and that worked well!
- Goalie Dad

Larkin has a full NO-MOVEMENT clause throughout his contract. He will make the decision to go if that happens. And I would not blame him if he decides to move on from a sinking ship!