Gallant might not even want to come here. He's likely waiting for a Cup contender to take over. Lane Lambert could be our next Head coach if Yzerman ever fires idiot Blashill. Lane is assisting Trotz on the Island. He and Stevie came up together with the Red Wings. Gallant played on Stevie's wing for years.
- gergeswillems

I know it's always tempting to throw coaching under the bus, but the Wings roster looks better on paper than the results we are seeing, so it's natural to take a hard look at coaching. I don't know much about Blashill, but I know plenty about Gallant. Somebody like Gallant could be a major gamechanger.

Believe they played together for a couple of years in Stevie's early days......Gallant was a beast in his playing days. Guy could shoot & punch with the very best. He took on Tiger Williams one night....THAT was an epic fight. Watched it on the b&w TV in my grandmother's bedroom with Bruce Martin & Sid Able calling the game.....I love me some Gallant....
- mcmastermike1968

You can bet that Gallant-coached team would not roll over. They would not take shifts off. They would be a lot harder to play against. I watched the Detroit dynasty when I first got into hockey - they regularly pummeled my Blues. Even with all of their elite talent, they could still open a can of whoop-ass when needed.

Zetterberg's $6M+ LTIR contract + Rasmussen for ADA ($1.8M retained) and the Sens 4th and 2022 2nd
The $6M+ allows NYR to shop for yet another deal, Raz can play 3rd or 4th line C and net front on the PP
- HenryHockey

So, listen, I am NOT a fan of dealing Ras after seeing him play (I know, AGAIN: "Dang Mike, a couple of months ago you wanted the guy gone!!! WTF?!?!"). Ras is showing and growing. Smith is the player I felt he could be. Cholo's not gotten ANY ice-time (back in GR now, WTF????). So, call me a flipper-flopper, but I like Ras. Deal Cholo for him to get a change in scenery. Hell, I'm anxious to see what Svech can do at this point, if it means getting Fils & Franz off the ice...…

Do you guys see what's happening? After every game, we're talking about what-ifs including guys we previously felt should be dealt because we THOGUTH we had a good team (not a contender, BUT....). WE. HAVE. TALENT.

WE need a coach. That's become crystal clear over the past 10+ games......

I know it's always tempting to throw coaching under the bus, but the Wings roster looks better on paper than the results we are seeing, so it's natural to take a hard look at coaching. I don't know much about Blashill, but I know plenty about Gallant. Somebody like Gallant could be a major gamechanger.
- GalacticStone

It's not just coaching which is preventing the Red Wings from taking the next step. We do have a serious lack of talent on the team. Some very good players are coming but they're not NHL ready yet. Stevie is trying to bridge the gap.

That's why he signed all those UFA's. To compete more. To remove the crutch Blashill has been hiding behind for most of his 6 years here. Blashill has gotten nothing out of this team. I don't care how bad a team is. A good head coach can always make them a little bit better. Blashill is a handicap behind the bench.

He'll never get an NHL head coaching job after Stevie fires him. Maybe he can assist his good buddy John Cooper in Tampa. That team doesn't need much coaching.

Gallant would instill good work habits. Positive reinforcement. He's tough but fair. He's old school. What he wouldn't do is throw his own players under the bus after each game like idiot Blashill does. Gallant would immediately have the players respect because he was a very good player himself. He's been a successful NHL head coach. I don't think the players ever respected Blashill.

Jeff Blashill reminds me of the Wizard of Oz. Lots of huffing and puffing and loud noises. But when you pull the curtain back it's just a bunch of hot air. I ripped this off Craig McTavish who described Brian Burke this way after Burke whined about Kevin Lowe signing RFA Dustin Penner to an offer sheet.

You can bet that Gallant-coached team would not roll over. They would not take shifts off. They would be a lot harder to play against. I watched the Detroit dynasty when I first got into hockey - they regularly pummeled my Blues. Even with all of their elite talent, they could still open a can of whoop-ass when needed.
- GalacticStone

that dude could hit like a freight train and shoot like a mad-man. He was a grinder & shooter. Detroit lacks physicality, but we have some damn good skaters (Larkin, Mantha when he turns on the jets & uses his size, Zadina, Ras, Smith, RYAN - SIGN HIM.....). Common denominator is them being used properly in a comprehensive game plan that exploits their capabilities. Who does that stuff on a team?!?!

It's not just coaching which is preventing the Red Wings from taking the next step. We do have a serious lack of talent on the team. Some very good players are coming but they're not NHL ready yet. Stevie is trying to bridge the gap.

That's why he signed all those UFA's. To compete more. To remove the crutch Blashill has been hiding behind for most of his 6 years here. Blashill has gotten nothing out of this team. I don't care how bad a team is. A good head coach can always make them a little bit better. Blashill is a handicap behind the bench.

He'll never get an NHL head coaching job after Stevie fires him. Maybe he can assist his good buddy John Cooper in Tampa. That team doesn't need much coaching.

Gallant would instill good work habits. Positive reinforcement. He's tough but fair. He's old school. What he wouldn't do is throw his own players under the bus after each game like idiot Blashill does. Gallant would immediately have the players respect because he was a very good player himself. He's been a successful NHL head coach. I don't think the players ever respected Blashill.

Jeff Blashill reminds me of the Wizard of Oz. Lots of huffing and puffing and loud noises. But when you pull the curtain back it's just a bunch of hot air. I ripped this off Craig McTavish who described Brian Burke this way after Burke whined about Kevin Lowe signing RFA Dustin Penner to an offer sheet.
- gergeswillems

Cooper was gifted a contender roster with elite pieces. He's grown on me over the years, but I still think a trained monkey could at least make the playoffs with Tampa's roster. Picking line combinations out of a hat would be better than a lot of teams. So I don't think Tampa's coaching is valid to make comparisons with.

You are right about Gallant and respect. He would have it from the players. Vegas F-ed up by letting Gallant go.

that dude could hit like a freight train and shoot like a mad-man. He was a grinder & shooter. Detroit lacks physicality, but we have some damn good skaters (Larkin, Mantha when he turns on the jets & uses his size, Zadina, Ras, Smith, RYAN - SIGN HIM.....). Common denominator is them being used properly in a comprehensive game plan that exploits their capabilities. Who does that stuff on a team?!?!
- mcmastermike1968

Exactly. Detroit has players with size, but outside of one or two guys, you never see them use their size to physically punish opposing teams. You need at least two or three guys out there who make opposing benches a little more hesitant to act the fool. The Detroit dynasty wings would have sicc'ed somebody on Tampa after that 3rd or 4th goal - a fight would have broken out and the momentum might have changed.

It's not just coaching which is preventing the Red Wings from taking the next step. We do have a serious lack of talent on the team. Some very good players are coming but they're not NHL ready yet. Stevie is trying to bridge the gap.

Blashill has gotten nothing out of this team. I don't care how bad a team is. A good head coach can always make them a little bit better. Blashill is a handicap behind the bench.

Gallant would instill good work habits. Positive reinforcement. He's tough but fair. He's old school. Gallant would immediately have the players respect because he was a very good player himself. He's been a successful NHL head coach. I don't think the players ever respected Blashill.


- gergeswillems

OK, compliment time, G:
There are times when you nail things down with specificity that surpasses human comprehension ("you write good n smart").

we do have some good players on this team....We suck on the D-line & in net (Griess is a good goalie, we agreed on that when he was signed). So I do slightly disagree with "We have a serious lack of talent…". It's there, and I do like how you added the caveat, good call & observation.

Blahell couldn't get a pig out of a wet paper bag. 6 years of epic failures & excuses is enough. Gallant is old school and sometimes that's the best school (given consideration for some changes) as long as it's (exactly like you said): "...tough but fair..."

I think the players did have cautious respect for Blahell when he 1st came to us. But lost any modicum of respect when he started crying about "lack of talent…." and the rest of his sob-story. That damaged Detroit's reputation in the league and amongst players. The Captain coming in is helping polish a turd, but the final step is a coach with a damn. I think you outlined it all COMPLETELY above, G. Damn good analysis, my friend.

Cooper was gifted a contender roster with elite pieces. He's grown on me over the years, but I still think a trained monkey could at least make the playoffs with Tampa's roster. Picking line combinations out of a hat would be better than a lot of teams. So I don't think Tampa's coaching is valid to make comparisons with.

You are right about Gallant and respect. He would have it from the players. Vegas F-ed up by letting Gallant go.
- GalacticStone

Dude, we actually have that in Detroit. The "trained monkey" is Blahell & the team went to the play-offs in his 1st season with Babcock's team! That's too funny, dude!!!

Some of the guys on this blog have been screaming for GG since I started coming on here......seems to be an epidemic of Gallanting

Exactly. Detroit has players with size, but outside of one or two guys, you never see them use their size to physically punish opposing teams. You need at least two or three guys out there who make opposing benches a little more hesitant to act the fool. The Detroit dynasty wings would have sicc'ed somebody on Tampa after that 3rd or 4th goal - a fight would have broken out and the momentum might have changed.
- GalacticStone

I refer you to:

"The Grind Line" ooorrrrrrr…………"The Bash Brothers"

Lord how we miss that.

Exactly. Detroit has players with size, but outside of one or two guys, you never see them use their size to physically punish opposing teams. You need at least two or three guys out there who make opposing benches a little more hesitant to act the fool. The Detroit dynasty wings would have sicc'ed somebody on Tampa after that 3rd or 4th goal - a fight would have broken out and the momentum might have changed.
- GalacticStone

Jeremey pointed that out very eloquently in a blog a few back. We were man-handled by...well EVERY team we played thus far. I guess Erne got a bit gruff as did Mantha at the end of the game last night (I'd already turned out as I was driving home from work). Smith is a big body as is Rasmussen. The problem is, if Mantha throws hands and gets hurt (again...Witkowski broke Mantha's hand with his head....), we lose that skill. We need some pipe-layers, if ya know what I mean.

You guys are the best! Thanks for keeping the comments section rolling! Huge thanks to galactic stone for chiming in from the TB contingent. Good stuff

I haven't watched a ton of Detroit over the last few years, but...huh...

Some positives. I like Mantha, he seems to be a pretty good player. Didn't notice Larkin much- was he playing? (not trolling, legit asking).

Erne..ah... I always liked Erne. He's a great energy player, which isn't exactly a small thing. You need those guys to drive the bus when things are going poorly.

Otherwise... I'll be blunt, I simply don't get what Yzerman is doing. I think, and I could be way off here, is that he wants to bottom the eff out for another couple of years and amass talent. That's fine, but look to Edmonton to how wrong that can go.

Y had Stamkos and Hedman. Two future hall of famers and the second, arguably, the best D-man of his generation. He got a great run of goalies with Bishop and Vasy.

The depth is almost all home grown... so... I need to see a HELL of a lot more out of post-2nd round picks from DET to disway this whole thought that Murray is the real all-star in TBL's front office.

I'm not trying to dump on you guys at ALL. I want DET to be great- the league is better when the Wings are a good team.

I'm just having my classic skepticism of Yzerman coming out again...

Dude, we actually have that in Detroit. The "trained monkey" is Blahell & the team went to the play-offs in his 1st season with Babcock's team! That's too funny, dude!!!

Some of the guys on this blog have been screaming for GG since I started coming on here......seems to be an epidemic of Gallanting
- mcmastermike1968

Gallant just seems like a natural fit - assuming him and Yzerman get along. Two Red Wings greats - one as GM and one as head coach. Yzerman drafts them and Gallant polishes them up. Both of them command respect from players.

I haven't watched a ton of Detroit over the last few years, but...huh...

Some positives. I like Mantha, he seems to be a pretty good player. Didn't notice Larkin much- was he playing? (not trolling, legit asking).

Erne..ah... I always liked Erne. He's a great energy player, which isn't exactly a small thing. You need those guys to drive the bus when things are going poorly.

Otherwise... I'll be blunt, I simply don't get what Yzerman is doing. I think, and I could be way off here, is that he wants to bottom the eff out for another couple of years and amass talent. That's fine, but look to Edmonton to how wrong that can go.

Y had Stamkos and Hedman. Two future hall of famers and the second, arguably, the best D-man of his generation. He got a great run of goalies with Bishop and Vasy.

The depth is almost all home grown... so... I need to see a HELL of a lot more out of post-2nd round picks from DET to disway this whole thought that Murray is the real all-star in TBL's front office.

I'm not trying to dump on you guys at ALL. I want DET to be great- the league is better when the Wings are a good team.

I'm just having my classic skepticism of Yzerman coming out again...
- OzBolts

I think a big part of the Yzerman equation in Tampa was good timing, fortunate drafting, and inheriting two future all-stars and a generational defenseman (as you said). But, the guy also commands a ton of respect around the league, both on the bench and in the offices.

Look at how many teams passed on guys like Point, Palat, and Kucherov. By all rights, none of them should have fallen to Tampa in the draft order. That's a good bit of luck involved there - well that, and some good scouting. Palat went in the 7th round for chrissakes. That's finding a diamond in the rough there and 99% of the time it doesn't work out.

I think a big part of the Yzerman equation in Tampa was good timing, fortunate drafting, and inheriting two future all-stars and a generational defenseman (as you said). But, the guy also commands a ton of respect around the league, both on the bench and in the offices.

Look at how many teams passed on guys like Point, Palat, and Kucherov. By all rights, none of them should have fallen to Tampa in the draft order. That's a good bit of luck involved there - well that, and some good scouting. Palat went in the 7th round for chrissakes. That's finding a diamond in the rough there and 99% of the time it doesn't work out.
- GalacticStone

Palat and Point are marvels of drafting. Gourde, that guy still makes my head spin how we got him (yeah, he's had a few slumps over the years, but his current role is perfect).

And of course, smart trades. Sergy for example.

I really hope some of this starts coming to Detroit.

Anything to make Leafs fans lose some more hair

Signed,
A bald guy

This team won't be going anywhere until they fix the center position and defense.

Best thing would be to get a center to drop Larkin to the 2nd line. Which is why i'm praying for the Wings to win the lottery get Shane Wright in the 2022 draft. Then you have Veleno/Rasmussen/Niederbach or whoever else for the 3rd and 4th lines at center.


This draft, i'm hoping for Owen Power. Wings really need a top pair guy on the left side to pair up with Hronek or Seider. After that they are just missing a 2nd pair lefty. They might already have that with Wallinder/Johansson/McIsaac or someone else they have drafted. If not they could always sign or trade for one.

I'm not worried about the goaltending. They can always sign or trade for one if they can't draft a decent one.

Yes Blashill needs to go too asap. Hell i think the entire coaching staff needs to go. Not sure if Byslma is in charge of the PP or PK but they both stink so if he can't even do that right then there is no way he should be coaching the Wings even as an stopgap should Blashill be fired.