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Forums :: Blog World :: Jeremy Laura: Post draft and free agency thoughts
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Jeremy Laura
Detroit Red Wings
Location: MI
Joined: 01.26.2016

Oct 12 @ 11:21 AM ET
Jeremy Laura: Post draft and free agency thoughts
gergeswillems
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Malkin wants to be The Man, ON
Joined: 02.01.2016

Oct 12 @ 12:22 PM ET
I think things are finally looking up for this Red Wings team. We were all excited when Stevie became Red Wings GM. He's been very honest with the fans. He told us his first year was to evaluate and he's done that. My only complaint is keeping Blashill around to coach this team but I understand why he's not making a coaching change right now. I don't think Blashill is the long term solution behind the bench.

I've recently nicknamed Yzerman "Stop gap Stevie." Because that's essentially what he's doing. Signing UFA's to cheap short term deals to buy time for the young guys. His team will be built through the draft. Just like he did in Tampa. That's why he said it'll take time. I'm fine with that as long as there's progression. Stevie will flip alot of these players at the trade deadline and stack more draft picks.

Yzerman has also said he wants to compete. Because he knows that any successful team builds in stages. A team doesn't learn how to win overnight. You need good talent added to really improve. The players Stevie signed are placeholders until the future nucleus arrives.

This Red Wings team will be better next season by way of addition through subtraction. Losing Howard, Abdelkader, Green, Daley actually helps not hurts. Yzerman is clearly stressing character. Buying out Abdelkader shows he doesn't want any passengers on this team who only care about collecting an NHL pay check. Character matters.

I don't think this Red Wings team competes for a playoff spot next season. But I don't see them finishing near the bottom of the standings either. I think they'll surprise alot of teams next year and bank alot of points just by not being taken seriously. I'm looking forward to next season. For the first time in a long time I'm actually optimistic.

I see what Yzerman is doing and I like it. An actual rebuild is taking place. Not Kenny Holland's fake rebuild on the fly bullpoop. I'm looking forward to how Yzerman makes it all come together.
Jeremy Laura
Detroit Red Wings
Location: MI
Joined: 01.26.2016

Oct 12 @ 12:28 PM ET
I think things are finally looking up for this Red Wings team. We were all excited when Stevie became Red Wings GM. He's been very honest with the fans. He told us his first year was to evaluate and he's done that. My only complaint is keeping Blashill around to coach this team but I understand why he's not making a coaching change right now. I don't think Blashill is the long term solution behind the bench.

I've recently nicknamed Yzerman "Stop gap Stevie." Because that's essentially what he's doing. Signing UFA's to cheap short term deals to buy time for the young guys. His team will be built through the draft. Just like he did in Tampa. That's why he said it'll take time. I'm with that as long as there's progression. Stevie will flip alot of these players at the trade deadline and stack more draft picks.

Yzerman has also said he wants to compete. Because he knows that any successful team builds in stages. A team doesn't learn how to win overnight. You need good talent added to really improve. The players Stevie signed are placeholders until the future nucleus arrives.

This Red Wings team will be better next season by way of addition through subtraction. Losing Howard, Abdelkader, Green, Daley actually helps not hurts. Yzerman is clearly stressing character. Buying out Abdelkader shows he doesn't want any passengers on this team who only care about collecting an NHL pay check. Character matters.

I don't think this Red Wings team competes for a playoff spot next season. But I don't them finishing near the bottom of the standings either. I think they'll surprise alot of teams next year and bank alot of points just by not being taken seriously. I'm looking forward to next season. For the first time in a long time I'm actually optimistic.

I see what Yzerman is doing and I like it. An actual rebuild is taking place. Not Kenny Holland's fake rebuild on the fly bullpoop. I'm looking forward to how Yzerman makes it all come together.

- gergeswillems

Very well put G. Between “addition by subtraction” and new personnel, he made some major shifts in mentality.

The best VP I worked for said, “my job is to take away your excuses. If you have what you need and can’t do the job, I know it’s not an issue of support but one of capability”. Last years roster was brutal. If Blashill can’t do better with what’s in front of him, Yzerman can be confident in his next decision. I do believe a change is inevitable, but the GM gives players and staff an opportunity for success. Impressive way of doing business
dcz28
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Ottawa, ON
Joined: 08.20.2006

Oct 12 @ 12:37 PM ET
I like that Yzerman kept everything on 1 or 2 year deals. Having a lot of cap and roster flexibility going forward as the core of the team gets built is a great thing.

I think the Wings will get blown out less and be in games more but i still see this team as a high lottery team. A lot of things would need to go right for them to be out of the basement. Hopefully a couple of the UFAs to be have career years or good seasons and it gives the Wings prospects and picks at the deadline.
DRW1991
Detroit Red Wings
Joined: 07.05.2016

Oct 12 @ 12:52 PM ET
I'm a big fan of the short term deals he made. I also do not think he is done. Tampa is in cap hell and needs to make moves, not sure what they will be but I'd have to think Yzerman is keeping his eye on them.
Jeremy Laura
Detroit Red Wings
Location: MI
Joined: 01.26.2016

Oct 12 @ 1:01 PM ET
I like that Yzerman kept everything on 1 or 2 year deals. Having a lot of cap and roster flexibility going forward as the core of the team gets built is a great thing.

I think the Wings will get blown out less and be in games more but i still see this team as a high lottery team. A lot of things would need to go right for them to be out of the basement. Hopefully a couple of the UFAs to be have career years or good seasons and it gives the Wings prospects and picks at the deadline.

- dcz28


That is perfectly put my friend. A far cry from last years brutality but still a ways to go. Thanks for this
Jeremy Laura
Detroit Red Wings
Location: MI
Joined: 01.26.2016

Oct 12 @ 1:02 PM ET
I'm a big fan of the short term deals he made. I also do not think he is done. Tampa is in cap hell and needs to make moves, not sure what they will be but I'd have to think Yzerman is keeping his eye on them.
- DRW1991


Good point on TB
HenryHockey
Season Ticket Holder
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Gwinn, MI
Joined: 01.26.2020

Oct 12 @ 1:24 PM ET
Stevie helped build the cap hell TB is in and he'll help them to get out of it, for a price!
Sven22
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Joined: 12.24.2007

Oct 12 @ 1:31 PM ET
I'm pleased with the work Yzerman has done so far. As I said in the last blog, no big impact players (except arguably Greiss) but a lot of very competent, middle-to-the-bottom-of-the-lineup NHL regulars on short-term, team-friendly deals.

Last year's team had tons of guys playing regular minutes who I think were, at best, no better than a run-of-the-mill AHL callup (and in some cases much worse). Abdelkader, Nielsen, Ericsson, Daley, Ehn, Perlini, Erne, Bowey, Howard.

Yzerman got rid of most of those guys, and the only guy he brought in that I would consider sub-replacement-level is Marc Staal. But he also got a 2nd rounder in that deal without giving up anything, and with any luck Staal will be confined to the third pairing if not healthy scratched for much of the season.

I do think this is still one of the worst teams in the NHL. Probably not the flat out worst (hello Ottawa), but they should be in a good position to add another top-6ish draft pick next summer. They'll also have tons of roster flexibility due to all the expiring contracts (again), tons of "rental option" guys to flip at the deadline, and plenty of capped-out and expansion-draft-vulnerable teams to exploit.

Man, it's nice to have someone with an actual plan in charge.
Wingdings
Season Ticket Holder
Detroit Red Wings
Location: London, ON
Joined: 07.28.2018

Oct 12 @ 2:48 PM ET
If Stevie Y’s year of observing has resulted in these significant changes, what could he possibly have seen behind the bench To not have made a change there as well ... and, isn’t Gallant still unemployed ??? Just saying
gergeswillems
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Malkin wants to be The Man, ON
Joined: 02.01.2016

Oct 12 @ 3:06 PM ET
If Stevie Y’s year of observing has resulted in these significant changes, what could he possibly have seen behind the bench To not have made a change there as well ... and, isn’t Gallant still unemployed ??? Just saying
- Wingdings

There's so many vets on the Red Wings right now that replacing Blashill with Gallant would make sense. I just want Blashill gone. Which means he'll be staying. For now. Unfortunately.
Jeremy Laura
Detroit Red Wings
Location: MI
Joined: 01.26.2016

Oct 12 @ 3:35 PM ET
If Stevie Y’s year of observing has resulted in these significant changes, what could he possibly have seen behind the bench To not have made a change there as well ... and, isn’t Gallant still unemployed ??? Just saying
- Wingdings


I agree a change should be coming, but keep Yzerman’s comments in mind. He was adamant that Blashill didn’t have the team in place to be able to have success. He’s modified the lineup heavily. The leash just got a lot shorter. It’s not to say that there won’t be a change soon, but Yzerman has taken last year’s excuse away. He’s provided much stronger lineup that shouldn’t be “humiliated” on a nightly basis.
Jeremy Laura
Detroit Red Wings
Location: MI
Joined: 01.26.2016

Oct 12 @ 3:36 PM ET
There's so many vets on the Red Wings right now that replacing Blashill with Gallant would make sense. I just want Blashill gone. Which means he'll be staying. For now. Unfortunately.
- gergeswillems


I would love Gallant, but he may not be Yzerman’s “guy”. Whatever system the GM has envisioned will be reflected in that selection. It will be exciting to see what changes continue to be made
GalacticStone
Tampa Bay Lightning
Location: Supercharged engine powered by high octane butthurt
Joined: 01.29.2013

Oct 12 @ 3:56 PM ET
Yzerman is in a position to take Tampa to the cleaners, if he wishes. It might have been part of his long-term "Yzerplan" to begin with. The guy is like a chess-player with his GM game.

The Red Wings are quickly becoming relevant again. Rock bottom is in the rear-view mirror now, and the Lightning will have to worry about this new Detroit squad in another 2-3 seasons, maybe sooner if lady luck lends a hand.
Wingdings
Season Ticket Holder
Detroit Red Wings
Location: London, ON
Joined: 07.28.2018

Oct 12 @ 5:00 PM ET
There's so many vets on the Red Wings right now that replacing Blashill with Gallant would make sense. I just want Blashill gone. Which means he'll be staying. For now. Unfortunately.

Could it be this simple .... Yzerman and Gallant already have an agreement, but to save the Ilitch’s a few $$, they let Vegas pay Gallant till camp opens ???
gergeswillems
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Malkin wants to be The Man, ON
Joined: 02.01.2016

Oct 12 @ 5:20 PM ET
There's so many vets on the Red Wings right now that replacing Blashill with Gallant would make sense. I just want Blashill gone. Which means he'll be staying. For now. Unfortunately.

Could it be this simple .... Yzerman and Gallant already have an agreement, but to save the Ilitch’s a few $$, they let Vegas pay Gallant till camp opens ???

- Wingdings

I thought previously Yzerman and Gallant had a deal in place after Vegas fired him. I was wrong about that. It was wishful thinking on my part. I don't know. I keep hearing Yzerman saying how great Jeff Blashill is and the great job he's doing. You'd think he just won the Stanley Cup and was named coach of the year. Yzerman is a great poker player. I have no idea what he's thinking.
Datsyuks_Dangle
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Cumberland Mountains, TN
Joined: 01.20.2012

Oct 12 @ 5:24 PM ET
I like that they brought in some veteran players, and the younger kids are going to have more time to develop. They don't need to be thrown into the NHL on a team that finished dead last the previous year. I like the additions, minus maybe Staal, but we will see where it goes.

Injuries will happen also, so having more options is a positive thing, and pushing out turnover machines like Bowey, and the low risk guys like Perlini shows that they aren't going to sit on their hands and say it is what it is.

I'll repeat the same words as already stated so far, if it's a new GM, cleaning the slate a bit, bringing in some new players, Blashill needs to go. It's time for a new direction with the coaching and a more experienced and NHL successful head coach. I've lost faith in Blashill.

I have a gut feeling that Ryan is going to be like our experience with Vanek, he's hungry and he wants to get his game back in order after getting his life together. He will get minutes and play with a few younger, and fast players. Maybe a 40 point season from him is optimistic, but I can see it happening.

I think a Greiss Bernier tandem looks better than Howard Bernier. Greiss knows what this team is and with the utmost respect to Yzerman, he wants to be here, he wants to be part of this development. He can steal games, and i've always liked him as a goalie. I didn't want to invest a ton into a goaltender for a lot of money long-term when we might not be playoff bound for 3-4 years plus.

Overall happy with the draft, and the free agency, the team will look different in December and i'm excited to see them play again.
HenryHockey
Season Ticket Holder
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Gwinn, MI
Joined: 01.26.2020

Oct 12 @ 5:30 PM ET

Isles wanna move Boychuck, anyone here wanna see him w/ the Wings? And for what price? Realistically.

I always liked his game, but he is a bit long in the tooth and seems to be more injury prone. He is still serviceable, so there is that, I am thinking the most you might get with him is the 2 2nds they just acquired from the AVs.
gergeswillems
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Malkin wants to be The Man, ON
Joined: 02.01.2016

Oct 12 @ 5:31 PM ET
Isles wanna move Boychuck, anyone here wanna see him w/ the Wings? And for what price? Realistically.

I always liked his game, but he is a bit long in the tooth and seems to be more injury prone. He is still serviceable, so there is that, I am thinking the most you might get with him is the 2 2nds they just acquired from the AVs.

- HenryHockey

Better attach a 1st and Bode Wilde. Otherwise I'm not interested. 2 years left at 6 mil AAV.
Wingdings
Season Ticket Holder
Detroit Red Wings
Location: London, ON
Joined: 07.28.2018

Oct 12 @ 6:12 PM ET
I thought previously Yzerman and Gallant had a deal in place after Vegas fired him. I was wrong about that. It was wishful thinking on my part. I don't know. I keep hearing Yzerman saying how great Jeff Blashill is and the great job he's doing. You'd think he just won the Stanley Cup and was named coach of the year. Yzerman is a great poker player. I have no idea what he's thinking


Seriously - what if Stevie Y and Gallant have a deal. The remainder of 2019-2020 was such a sh&%show anyway, so they let Gallant take a vacation, Vegas pays him, then they pull the trigger on Blash as camp approaches - please please please let this be the case.

2015-2016 ... 41-30-11 for 93 points (0.567 %)
2016-2017 ... 33-36-13 for 79 points (0.482 %)
2017-2018 ... 30-39-13 for 73 points (0.445 %)
2018-2019 ... 32-40-10 for 74 points (0.451 %)
2019-2020 ... 17-49-5 for 39 points (0.275 %)

5 tries, 5 turds.
Stevie - just get this done already before someone else inks Gallant !!!!!
Such hope after the draft and Free Agency, such a sh&% coach sapping said hope
gergeswillems
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Malkin wants to be The Man, ON
Joined: 02.01.2016

Oct 12 @ 6:16 PM ET
Seriously - what if Stevie Y and Gallant have a deal. The remainder of 2019-2020 was such a sh&%show anyway, so they let Gallant take a vacation, Vegas pays him, then they pull the trigger on Blash as camp approaches - please please please let this be the case.

2015-2016 ... 41-30-11 for 93 points (0.567 %)
2016-2017 ... 33-36-13 for 79 points (0.482 %)
2017-2018 ... 30-39-13 for 73 points (0.445 %)
2018-2019 ... 32-40-10 for 74 points (0.451 %)
2019-2020 ... 17-49-5 for 39 points (0.275 %)

5 tries, 5 turds.
Stevie - just get this done already before someone else inks Gallant !!!!!
Such hope after the draft and Free Agency, such a sh&% coach sapping said hope

- Wingdings

Blashill has been hiding behind the "no talent" crutch for quite some time now. I don't buy that. I just don't think Blashill is a bonafide NHL head coach. His NHL track record proves it. I'm sick of the excuses, goofy faces, Tony Robbins rehearsed catch phrases (poke and hope) and canned cliches. His creepy Mike Babcock voice. I wonder what his real voice sounds like?

Throwing his players under the bus to the media. Mixing his lines up pretending he's Scotty Bowman. Basically just failing at everything he tries. Just go away Jeff. You've stolen enough money from the Red Wings. Rewarding failure sets a bad precedent. Losing, losing and more losing is all Jeff Blashill knows how to do. Come on Stevie. It's time to torpedo Blashill out of Detroit!

Ok back to reality. Jeff Blashill isn't going anywhere because apparently he's doing a GREAT job. Not good. GREAT. That's Steve Yzerman saying this.
Jeremy Laura
Detroit Red Wings
Location: MI
Joined: 01.26.2016

Oct 12 @ 7:02 PM ET
Seriously - what if Stevie Y and Gallant have a deal. The remainder of 2019-2020 was such a sh&%show anyway, so they let Gallant take a vacation, Vegas pays him, then they pull the trigger on Blash as camp approaches - please please please let this be the case.

2015-2016 ... 41-30-11 for 93 points (0.567 %)
2016-2017 ... 33-36-13 for 79 points (0.482 %)
2017-2018 ... 30-39-13 for 73 points (0.445 %)
2018-2019 ... 32-40-10 for 74 points (0.451 %)
2019-2020 ... 17-49-5 for 39 points (0.275 %)

5 tries, 5 turds.
Stevie - just get this done already before someone else inks Gallant !!!!!
Such hope after the draft and Free Agency, such a sh&% coach sapping said hope

- Wingdings


Gallant was close to getting some other gigs. I honestly think if Yzerman had wanted to pull the trigger he would have before the draft. He’s gone off the board drafting, he may well do the same with a coach
HenryHockey
Season Ticket Holder
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Gwinn, MI
Joined: 01.26.2020

Oct 12 @ 7:39 PM ET
Are the Wings gonna help Vegas now that they are $7M over the cap??? We have anyone that wants some Shmidt!!
HenryHockey
Season Ticket Holder
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Gwinn, MI
Joined: 01.26.2020

Oct 12 @ 7:44 PM ET
Are the Wings gonna help Vegas now that they are $7M over the cap??? We have anyone that wants some Shmidt!!
- HenryHockey
How about a Jon Merrill for a Nate Shmidt, straight up!!!
gergeswillems
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Malkin wants to be The Man, ON
Joined: 02.01.2016

Oct 12 @ 8:53 PM ET
How about a Jon Merrill for a Nate Shmidt, straight up!!!

- HenryHockey

Schmidt to Vancouver for a 3rd Rd pick.
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