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Yzerman’s post TDL call as Detroit’s only move was to get Kostin to a place where he hopes to have more ice time. The tweet above suggests that the Wings were in talks regarding Erik Johnson, but Yzerman only mentioned a search for a forward that would take on the role Kostin was supposed to play. The team did a call up for Berggren and that was it.
Before last night’s game, this blog along with other writers warned about taking Arizona “lightly”. The first period was as bad an example of not showing up as you can see. Whatever the mindset was, it was way off. Moving Veleno to the top line has not been a successful experiment but the team hasn’t recalled a center. Tonight’s exhibition could be the toughest of the trip as Vegas was wheeling and dealing. Another example of a team well over the cap once LTIR players are brought into the fray. A loophole the league leaves in place when the cap is lifted.
For the other part of the title, The Eagles made a 2 disc album called “Long Road out of Eden”. It was the one concert I made it to before Glenn departed. The song is highly politicized, but makes a decent point. Going from the good times to the bad and looking in the rear view mirror while it happens shows the chaotic landscape. For Detroit, the team is a short bump away from the playoffs with no discernible direction right now.
It’s not really about the playoffs, it was about steps forward. Go back to my writeups early in the season and the playoffs were always gravy. Likely a one and done scenario. The moves that brought in Kostin and Holl were painfully bad. Half of that has been addressed. Lyon, at the beginning of the calendar year, was keeping the team in games. He’s not a good run recently but there hasn’t been much defensive help either.
If this team really is in a place where no one is getting ahold of the room to at least prepare them and help reset and refocus then the onus would be on coaching/management for not having more leadership in the room. Larkin is obviously the “engine”, but we’re just not seeing anyone step up. Last night was a cold cup of coffee but not a one off by any means. It was simply the game where fans and pundits thought the team needed hit the brakes and restructure into a defense heavy road game. It was not that at puck drop.
However things end for the season, the leadership and decision making (along with roster management) need to be front and center. I’m not sold on LaLonde as a coach that can rally the troops. However, this is Yzerman’s pick. A fan last night had a #19 jersey that says “Yzerplan” as it was clear a bit of fabric was attached. That was shown during the pregame. I doubt that fan felt great.
Yzerman has built a cup winning team. He’s been on 3 of them as a player. The task in Detroit was exacerbated by the delay in breaking things down along with poor drafting. To wit, not many of Holland’s picks are in the organization any more. The GM has shown the ability to build and this year saw some steps forward. The trip down is a treacherous one and seems to have a team struggling to come together to finish well. We’ll see what tonight’s contest brings, but a lot of optimism has been shed for a good finish to the season.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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