Yzerman does very few media “scrums”, but never stops working. I also feel like he gives as genuine a “take” as you can get from a GM who won’t show his hand. He, at this point, is bent on keeping the 9th and 17th picks. Everyone will have a different take on what that means, for me it speaks to a value in the first round. I believe Detroit will get a defenseman with one of those, but many will (rightly) disagree. I think the draft stock on Dmen is being undervalued by 2 factors. People are very high on forwards in the first round, and there is some pressure to pull kids from the US and Canadian programs.
That may sound “conspiratorial” but it’s plain economics. Money flows into programs that produce first round picks. With the recent announcement of Bell Media’s cut of 1,700 jobs, dropping Leaf’s Lunch, and Bally bankruptcy (plus Disney is in serious trouble, more for another time. Investor call coming). ESPN has already had 2 rounds of layoffs this year and more than a half dozen in the past 10 years. The NHL needs consumer confidence, injection at all levels of hockey development, and stability. The shut down era draft saw a big boost in Collegiate route drafting (in part due to limited scouting, in part to really good players committing to U of M).
Anti-international sentiment (particularly toward Russia) is creeping into the dialogue in that way that it’s somehow not offensive now, but would be under different circumstances. I do feel bad for a kid of Russian descent that has nothing to do with any of the current “mess” because they may well be asked about those situations as much as hockey.
Yzerman does spend some time talking about the trip to Sweden and a reporter asks if they think that really “grows the game” or has an impact. A very subtle cue as to talking point. remember, the international series games had been largely applauded several years ago when they started. And yes, there are people wearing Winged Wheels in Sweden, Norway and Switzerland (and probably a few more in Germany).
There is increasing pressure to get the numbers up across the board. I walked through cup final vs NBA final and regular season numbers. (Height of over 2 million views for cup, 13 million views for NBA) and the NFL Sunday Night Football regular season getting 18 million views (with 10 million on Monday night) compared to between 700k and 800k for NHL and around 2 million for NBA regular season.
I’m hesitant to bring this up because I know what the comments section is going to look like. Debrincat appears to have Detroit on a list of 6 or so preferred teams. If that happens, it would feel like somewhat of a shock. Ottawa has him slated for arbitration and will be looking for a significant return. There are more than a few of you who want more size/strength and that’s not Debrincat’s game. I love the kid, but I think between rights acquisition cost and actual dollars his agency will push for it’s just a very tight fit. Never say never, but feels like a stretch.
I am still happy with having Kubalik (good pick up). He and Seider both were in contention for IIHF player of the year in post season international play. After digging into Copp’s numbers, I’m less keen and wasn’t covering during his signing. There was a battle for his services after the post season. Still, he’s never broken 20 goals in the regular season, Larkin has eclipsed 30 3 times and there’s some sentiment amongst the comments that he’s not a first line center. If that’s the case you look at the money tied up in those two centers and what we face in construction. Paying a ton of money for a winger right now (meaning at this point of the rebuild) feels like a rough ordeal.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»