Jeremy Laura: Red Wings win streak snapped at 3, lose in OT to Kings

the positive is that Detroit still has points in 4 consecutive games

You see this as a positive and i see it as a negative. They need to keep pace with the Sens, Wild, Kings and Devils for that bottom slot. Granted they do have a couple of more games played than those teams but still...not like those teams are likely to win all those games in hand they have.

You see this as a positive and i see it as a negative. They need to keep pace with the Sens, Wild, Kings and Devils for that bottom slot. Granted they do have a couple of more games played than those teams but still...not like those teams are likely to win all those games in hand they have.
- dcz28

From a development standpoint I do. The lottery has thrown everything upside down. The top 3 picks last year went to teams who finished better than the bottom 3. It’s a long season. Detroit is still looking at a huge mountain to climb this year

From a development standpoint I do. The lottery has thrown everything upside down. The top 3 picks last year went to teams who finished better than the bottom 3. It’s a long season. Detroit is still looking at a huge mountain to climb this year
- Jeremy Laura

I know finishing last doesn't mean you get the top pick but it does mean a top 4 pick for sure with giving you better odds at the top pick. Some of the other bottom feeders do have players they can trade to get more picks and prospects too which could make them even worst to end the season. Wings don't really have any UFAs to trade worth anything and trading some of those guys could actually make the Wings better.

As i have said before, i do want the young guys to do well but i want this team to keep losing for that top 4 pick (hoping for a top 2 pick for Lafreniere or Byfield).

Name 1 team in the last 10 years that won a cup without a top 4 pick in their lineup. Last team to do it if i'm correct would be the Wings and even though they didn't have a top 4 pick on that team, they did have Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom that likely would be top 4 picks in their draft years if it were to be redone now.

Wings need that game changer and although you can sometimes get those later in the draft, you have a much better chance at getting it at the top of the draft. Lafreniere would give their top 6 a massive boost even if they still needed a good 2nd line center. Byfield would give them some much needed depth at center to eventually roll out Larkin, Byfield, Veleno/Ras down the middle. Hell this team has enough holes that they could use all 4 of Lafreniere, Byfield, Askarov and Drysdale from this draft.

Do you think the Blues had a game changer on their roster when the won the cup last year ? I don't.

Do you think the Blues had a game changer on their roster when the won the cup last year ? I don't.
- Iago

ROR. his all around game makes a huge difference

I know finishing last doesn't mean you get the top pick but it does mean a top 4 pick for sure with giving you better odds at the top pick. Some of the other bottom feeders do have players they can trade to get more picks and prospects too which could make them even worst to end the season. Wings don't really have any UFAs to trade worth anything and trading some of those guys could actually make the Wings better.

As i have said before, i do want the young guys to do well but i want this team to keep losing for that top 4 pick (hoping for a top 2 pick for Lafreniere or Byfield).

Name 1 team in the last 10 years that won a cup without a top 4 pick in their lineup. Last team to do it if i'm correct would be the Wings and even though they didn't have a top 4 pick on that team, they did have Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom that likely would be top 4 picks in their draft years if it were to be redone now.

Wings need that game changer and although you can sometimes get those later in the draft, you have a much better chance at getting it at the top of the draft. Lafreniere would give their top 6 a massive boost even if they still needed a good 2nd line center. Byfield would give them some much needed depth at center to eventually roll out Larkin, Byfield, Veleno/Ras down the middle. Hell this team has enough holes that they could use all 4 of Lafreniere, Byfield, Askarov and Drysdale from this draft.
- dcz28

High picks certainly help. I believe Mantha and Larkin are both game changers. Seider may be as well. Athanasiou has potential. Part of the process is growth and development. On the flip side, Edmonton has had several high picks and can’t make the playoffs. It’s important but the team has to carry you there

ROR. his all around game makes a huge difference
- Jeremy Laura

Not to mention some guy named Tarasenko. Then they also had Pietrangelo (top 4 pick by the way) eating up minutes and their goalie that came in and turned their season around from bottom to Stanley cup winning team in Binnington.

Blues have a lot of talented depth to boot to go with their core. The fact they were able to trade Fabbri for a 4th line role player speaks to their scoring depth. To say there was no game changers on the Blues is crazy. They might not have a Crosby or McDavid type of player from a draft but they do have game some game changers to go with the quality depth. It also took them a long time to build to that point with a lot of trades and signings to round up their lineup.

High picks certainly help. I believe Mantha and Larkin are both game changers. Seider may be as well. Athanasiou has potential. Part of the process is growth and development. On the flip side, Edmonton has had several high picks and can’t make the playoffs. It’s important but the team has to carry you there
- Jeremy Laura

I don't disagree with Larkin and Mantha. AA could be if he becomes more consistent and that might have to wait until he actually has a good offensive center to play with and defensemen that can actually hit him with a pass in full stride instead of putting it too far ahead/in his feet/behind him. As for Seider well i'll wait until he proves to be a good NHLer before thinking he can be a game changer.


Edmonton is kind of a special case. They did have a lot of 1st overall and top picks although one of them did become a bust (Yakupov) and another one (Hall) was traded for a young defenseman (Larsson) that to me will never be a game changer. For years they kept adding offensive forwards while never addressing their defense. They have added to the defense now with Bouchard and Broberg to add to Nurse and Klefbom. They still need some scoring depth and good bottom 6 guys along with a freaking goalie. Holland should be able to handle adding the depth they need but given his trading track record, they might have to wait until he can either draft it or sign it as UFAs.

And down on the farm...

Griffins win 5-2 against Rockford Ice Hogs (CHI Blackhawks affiliate). Zadina with 2 assists and Valeno with an assist. Pearson with 2 goals. Wings recalled Ericsson. Heck I'd much rather keep McIlrath in Detroit on the bottom defensive pairing. He will at least clear the crease when needed and protect our top players from all the cheap, dirty stuff we use to see happen to Zetterberg and Datsyuk.