Jeremy Laura: Did the Wings take Swings for players? The short road out of Eden

If Stone and Hertl are back for the SCPO then the Knights have exceeded the cap by $14.7M!!!
Totally legal.
Maybe make it that they can only exceed it by $10M

I don't think that would be fair to the small market teams. But it is grossly unfair to them now.

If Stone and Hertl are back for the SCPO then the Knights have exceeded the cap by $14.7M!!!
Totally legal.
Maybe make it that they can only exceed it by $10M

I don't think that would be fair to the small market teams. But it is grossly unfair to them now.
- HenryHockey

Take a look back at the Lightning. One of the cups had them over by around 10 if not more. Blackhawks didn’t have Kane until after cap lifted. They’ve figured out this loophole and the players are magically ready right after it lifts

I'm just as frustrated as the next reader. The last 4 games....I said "rudderless", which methinks is accurate. Lalonde's a good coach, but he needs to be better in a few areas we addressed previously. Defense is still a gaping hole at times, bith the D-dudes and the team D. This isn't news to us, and as you said" "SCPO would be an unexpected surprise". All of the afore-mentioned rings true. And we're literally screaming for a Cup run. This year won't be it.

If we make the SCPO this year, I don't foresee making it past the 1st round, nobody does. But, here's the thing: our offensive output is top10 in the league, PP & PK are greatly imprived, the numbers speak for themselves. This is a GOOD team that's taken a big step forward. Some questionable moves? Yup. Who's left from Holland? Veleno, I can't recall the others (belueve there's 3, correct me please). Holland held off tearing it down for whatecer reason and lumped cash on guys who should've been driving the Zamboni vs playing NHL hockey. Look at the dumpster-fire that is EDM....Holland made a major move yesterday: Troy Stetcher!! Remember him with the Wings??

Point is, our original desire for this team was to take steps forward. CHECK. SCPO? Well hell yes that'd be nice. But now we know what the focus should be for the UFA/RFA period. Holland destroyed this club for several years through horrible nepotism and refusal to admit defeat. The bulks if the affects of his tenure are gone, this is The Captain's team... He said he was looking for improvement and that's what we got. CHECK.

But what chafes my Underoos is that this team CAN be impressive in the SCPO....but someone needs to nut-up and take freakin' charge in Larkin's absense and the coach needs to adjust on-the-fly....

I seriously do live being a Wings fan, bury my in a Vladfy jersey, please...but this team's got to step it up....they're MUCH better than they're playing right now

I'm just as frustrated as the next reader. The last 4 games....I said "rudderless", which methinks is accurate. Lalonde's a good coach, but he needs to be better in a few areas we addressed previously. Defense is still a gaping hole at times, bith the D-dudes and the team D. This isn't news to us, and as you said" "SCPO would be an unexpected surprise". All of the afore-mentioned rings true. And we're literally screaming for a Cup run. This year won't be it.

If we make the SCPO this year, I don't foresee making it past the 1st round, nobody does. But, here's the thing: our offensive output is top10 in the league, PP & PK are greatly imprived, the numbers speak for themselves. This is a GOOD team that's taken a big step forward. Some questionable moves? Yup. Who's left from Holland? Veleno, I can't recall the others (belueve there's 3, correct me please). Holland held off tearing it down for whatecer reason and lumped cash on guys who should've been driving the Zamboni vs playing NHL hockey. Look at the dumpster-fire that is EDM....Holland made a major move yesterday: Troy Stetcher!! Remember him with the Wings??

Point is, our original desire for this team was to take steps forward. CHECK. SCPO? Well hell yes that'd be nice. But now we know what the focus should be for the UFA/RFA period. Holland destroyed this club for several years through horrible nepotism and refusal to admit defeat. The bulks if the affects of his tenure are gone, this is The Captain's team... He said he was looking for improvement and that's what we got. CHECK.

But what chafes my Underoos is that this team CAN be impressive in the SCPO....but someone needs to nut-up and take freakin' charge in Larkin's absense and the coach needs to adjust on-the-fly....

I seriously do live being a Wings fan, bury my in a Vladfy jersey, please...but this team's got to step it up....they're MUCH better than they're playing right now
- mcmastermike1968

I think you put that all very well. It’s tough because the step up needs to come within the group. LaLonde isn’t Torts or Roy. He’s not going to peel the paint and get everyone to focus and buy in. Not that it’s always necessary, but someone needs to be legitimately frustrated enough to ask for more. That’s not unreasonable, I just don’t see it coming from the staff.

I think you put that all very well. It’s tough because the step up needs to come within the group. LaLonde isn’t Torts or Roy. He’s not going to peel the paint and get everyone to focus and buy in. Not that it’s always necessary, but someone needs to be legitimately frustrated enough to ask for more. That’s not unreasonable, I just don’t see it coming from the staff.
- Jeremy Laura

Wholly agree with the coaching observation. I think Blue can back me up on this: In high performing organizations, sometimes shock is required to move said organization toward the goal. In my Army units as a Lieutenant, I was that someone. As a Commander, I rekied on my senior enlisted and 2d in charge to set the mentality. That way, if the "old man" threw a fit, they knew it was serious.

Someone may need to throw a fit... FAST.

Overall as Wings fan, it must be good to see them sniffing playoffs again.

Loss to the Yotes should be a nice reminder though not to get complacent. They just gotta keep playing .5800 hockey and they willl be fine.

I would love to see Detroit sneak in and match up with an original six.

Overall as Wings fan, it must be good to see them sniffing playoffs again.

Loss to the Yotes should be a nice reminder though not to get complacent. They just gotta keep playing .5800 hockey and they willl be fine.

I would love to see Detroit sneak in and match up with an original six.
- hockeyaddict89

Thanks for that drop in! Yeah, AZ game looked sloppy and borderline lazy at times. I love original six matchups. My amazing wife got me pucks with all the original 6 logos and some other paraphernalia. The only matchup that seems to still have borderline “strong dislike” (trying to be kind) is when Boston goes into Toronto or Montreal or vice versa. For Original 6, that still stirs the pot in a big way!

This team looks like a bunch of overrated, overpaid losers. This team was up 8-10 points on all teams fighting for the wild card spot. If they lose it they are truly a bunch of losers and that coach needs to be fired as soon as they are eliminated. I hope I am wrong and this team and lalonde make the postseason

This team looks like a bunch of overrated, overpaid losers. This team was up 8-10 points on all teams fighting for the wild card spot. If they lose it they are truly a bunch of losers and that coach needs to be fired as soon as they are eliminated. I hope I am wrong and this team and lalonde make the postseason
- saintdog19

Bad news for you but they are going to continue to lose most games until Larkin is back from injury. No coach can make Copp, Ras, Fabbri or Veleno into a productive top 6 center even for a few weeks. None of them can produce the offense needed for a top 6 center. That isn't Lalonde's fault just like he can't turn Petry or Holl into decent top 4 RD.

I said it before that two players this team can't afford to lose is Larkin and Seider. They don't have anyone that can step up and replace them even in the short term.