Update - Ahanasiou out 2-3 weeks with LBI.
MAYBE this year will be better than the last. The Counting Crows song spins in my head as the bitter truth of the worst season in more than 30 years heads toward the halfway point. With only 9 victories in 40 games, Detroit is on pace to finish the year with fewer than 50 points. It’s quite possible that there may be a few more victories down the stretch as players see the light at the end of the 19/20 tunnel. Last year, there was an infusion of scoring that planted the seeds of hope as both Larkin and Athanasiou finished with 30+ goals. So far, there is no evidence that anyone will hit that mark again. Tyler Bertuzzi has 14 goals and has been the steadiest contributor for Detroit. His recent All Star nod feels like the right choice. It’s a shame not to see Larkin down there again (though he could possibly be voted in still) but Tyler has been a steadying presence and hard worked night in and night out. Many congratulations to #59.
In Detroit’s last contest, Bernier gave the team something they haven’t had on many nights. His solid performance gave the Red Wings a chance and helped them stay in the game. The offense dried up with only Fabbri scoring on a (beautiful) deflection. Tampa Bay outshot the Wings nearly 2-1. If Detroit had been able to combine the offensive contribution they saw vs the Panthers and the goal tending against the Lightning, that would be a fantastic game to watch! Alas, it was not to be. Tonight, Detroit will face San Jose, a team that tends to have similar goaltending issues as Detroit. Brett Burns may well be the player to watch with 1 goal and 4 assists in the past 5 games. San Jose will need to make up some ground quickly to see a post season birth. They are 8 points out of a wild card spot, but would have to pass 5 other teams. Vegas, Vancouver and Arizona occupy the top 3 spots in the Pacific, which seems to be the weaker division in the West. Winnipeg and Calgary are currently in the wild card spots. The jumble of the West may well be decided by injuries, as any team that goes on a losing streak could quickly find themselves at the bottom. Expect the Sharks to play for their season tonight, especially against the lowest rank team in the league. No one wants to lose that game.
The next 42 games will see Detroit make decisions that will shape next year’s roster. Trades, expiring contracts and a top 5 pick (hopefully top 3) will all have an impact on the 20/21 roster. With 20 expiring contracts, there are almost no indications of extension talks at this point. Yzerman has a plan, it’s just being tightly guarded at this point. I fully expect to see Bertuzzi and Mantha extended at the same time (and with a similar number). My hope is to see Fabbri extended as well, but it may be a “show me… deal of 1 or 2 years. He’s certainly impacted the team with 10 goals in 32 games. Athanasiou remains a question mark. Until there is an extension or a trade, speculation will continue to abound. Pittsburgh just lost Jake Guentzel and Buffalo is without Jeff Skinner. Both teams have shown interest in A.A. In the past. I, naturally, expect Edmonton to be poking around but Holland won’t be parting with a 1st round pick at almost any cost this year. The Oilers are just outside the playoffs at this point, and losing a potential lottery pick (they have ridiculous luck) would be disastrous.
Once the WJC is concluded, expect to see some player movement. Yzerman and co are scouting and talking with other management groups. I doubt it was a benefit to Joe Veleno to suffer a 1 game suspension for head butting, but it’s still a lesson learned for a young player. Veleno’s season has mirrored Zadina’s first AHL year. The space on the ice is simply not there, and it is difficult to make plays. I feel certain that Joe will learn from this and have a similar turn around next year.
It’s hard to believe that only half the season has gone by with as many losses as Detroit has been handed. This is every bit of the pain Ken Holland described when talking about a “total rebuild…. The push to qualify for the post season was based on fans not having an “appetite… for the tear down process. Unfortunately, you can only kick that can so far down the road. This has been a season of paying the piper, as it were, and Detroit may still be in the red.
Rest assured, there will be reason for optimism after game 82 is over. as January picks up, the countdown is on for the trade deadline and acquisition of additional picks and prospects will be the focus. Pujuljarvi is still out there and, with having sat an entire year, seems destined to be moved at some point. Carolina and Buffalo could well be moving defensemen. Interestingly, Darnell Nurse is due a fairly significant raise in Edmonton. The team would be foolish to lose him, but will need to make some roster adjustments. Having cap space and contract space could soon pay off.
Have a happy and safe new year! Thank you to everyone who has support this blog, I am truly grateful to each and every one of you. I look forward to 2020 and what changes will come.