Jeremy Laura: What is the water mark for Wing’s success in 23-24?

Just feels like they have enough to make a push for the post season. I am willing to bet that Buffalo, Detroit and Boston are fighting for the wild card spots at the end of the season.

I asked this in the Bruins' forum space, and separately to a good friend of mine who is a lifelong wings fan: "Do you have confidence that Lalonde is the coach that gets you there?". I truthfully dont know enough to answer that.

Now that Bergy has retired, maybe they would like to have a versatile guy like Copp be their 2C.

Copp + Reimer or Lyon for Debrusk + Swayman

Now that Bergy has retired, maybe they would like to have a versatile guy like Copp be their 2C.

Copp + Reimer or Lyon for Debrusk + Swayman
- HenryHockey

Give us our 1st round pick from the Bert trade back too if thats the case.

Just feels like they have enough to make a push for the post season. I am willing to bet that Buffalo, Detroit and Boston are fighting for the wild card spots at the end of the season.

I asked this in the Bruins' forum space, and separately to a good friend of mine who is a lifelong wings fan: "Do you have confidence that Lalonde is the coach that gets you there?". I truthfully dont know enough to answer that.
- dothedougie

That’s pretty much where I am. I’m looking to see (hoping to see) Raymond have a good year. Ghost should be able to help the power play. I got to talk to Chelios a bit about Scotty Bowman. I guess Scotty can be quirky, a bit abrasive, etc. LaLonde seems too nice (that sounds bad). The room needs to get unified and angry in the most constructive way possible. I guess Yzerman could peel the paint but the locker rooms were still hallowed ground back in the day

That’s pretty much where I am. I’m looking to see (hoping to see) Raymond have a good year. Ghost should be able to help the power play. I got to talk to Chelios a bit about Scotty Bowman. I guess Scotty can be quirky, a bit abrasive, etc. LaLonde seems too nice (that sounds bad). The room needs to get unified and angry in the most constructive way possible. I guess Yzerman could peel the paint but the locker rooms were still hallowed ground back in the day
- Jeremy Laura

Just seems like they got support in the exact areas they need it. They got DeBrincat, should help take some pressure off of Raymond (assuming they dont play on the same line). Hopefully a full year out of Fabbri. Defense additions are what they are, but if they play as an inspired unit I could see this team making the post season.

Also a lot of youth knocking at the door. There is a lot to look forward to. Wings need the post season. They have been gone from it for too long.

Just seems like they got support in the exact areas they need it. They got DeBrincat, should help take some pressure off of Raymond (assuming they dont play on the same line). Hopefully a full year out of Fabbri. Defense additions are what they are, but if they play as an inspired unit I could see this team making the post season.

Also a lot of youth knocking at the door. There is a lot to look forward to. Wings need the post season. They have been gone from it for too long.
- dothedougie

Won’t make the playoffs but on the outside looking in. I’ll just wait for all the negative nellies to come out. They have usually come through by now to burst everyone’s bubbles and spread their negativity, however, maybe sleeping in today from a long night of playing video games or whatever basement dwelling losers do.

That’s pretty much where I am. I’m looking to see (hoping to see) Raymond have a good year. Ghost should be able to help the power play. I got to talk to Chelios a bit about Scotty Bowman. I guess Scotty can be quirky, a bit abrasive, etc. LaLonde seems too nice (that sounds bad). The room needs to get unified and angry in the most constructive way possible. I guess Yzerman could peel the paint but the locker rooms were still hallowed ground back in the day
- Jeremy Laura

Debrincat pretty much replaces Kubalic's goals + some on top of that, maybe.
Is that gonna be enough to jump over 2 good teams like Sens and Sabres to even get close to the Wild Card?
Ghost and Holl do not help in keeping the puck out of our own net, like at all.
Compher is just another Copp

Not sure they are close, like one of the "pundits" somewhere said, outside of Debrincat, they are all serviceable players, but serviceable players don't get you into playoffs.

Just feels like they have enough to make a push for the post season. I am willing to bet that Buffalo, Detroit and Boston are fighting for the wild card spots at the end of the season.

I asked this in the Bruins' forum space, and separately to a good friend of mine who is a lifelong wings fan: "Do you have confidence that Lalonde is the coach that gets you there?". I truthfully dont know enough to answer that.
- dothedougie

Buffalo and Detroit both have plenty of prospects in the pipeline so if either team goes for it and trades some of that to get better..... the decade plus playoff droughts may be over!

Ghost & Holl and Clifton & Johnson dont exactly resemble 2nd pairing Dmen on a good team

85-90 point team.

Outside shot at the playoffs if they have a top 10 PP and PK.

85-90 point team.

Outside shot at the playoffs if they have a top 10 PP and PK.
- Feds91Stammer

This.

Buffalo and Detroit both have plenty of prospects in the pipeline so if either team goes for it and trades some of that to get better..... the decade plus playoff droughts may be over!

Ghost & Holl and Clifton & Johnson dont exactly resemble 2nd pairing Dmen on a good team
- DEDDIE

Fair point. Not exactly what you would call additions that add a 'wow' factor. I just think they added enough to sneak in should the play of rookies improve and you get some meaningful contributions from the vets.

As Feds had pointed out, 85-90 point team. Wildcard spot if they PP and PK improve a decent amount this year. Gut feeling for me is they will be buyers at the deadline (nothing flashy, just some depth probably).

85-90 point team.

Outside shot at the playoffs if they have a top 10 PP and PK.
- Feds91Stammer

"Hey, wanna jump on the bandwagon, Mike?" "Why, yes....yes, I do!"

Think this is a spot-on analysis, concisely expressed.

Now, things COULD change, but this just feels like a team built to push a bit further, see if some veteran pieces might fit in for a year or 2, and for some to build up numbers for interest at the TDL.

Lottery-bound......

"Hey, wanna jump on the bandwagon, Mike?" "Why, yes....yes, I do!"

Think this is a spot-on analysis, concisely expressed.

Now, things COULD change, but this just feels like a team built to push a bit further, see if some veteran pieces might fit in for a year or 2, and for some to build up numbers for interest at the TDL.

Lottery-bound......
- mcmastermike1968

If I had to take a guess at the plan Stevey Y has put in place, it just reminds me of a slightly modified version of what he did in Tampa. He wants a team that will consistently make the playoffs for many consecutive seasons. Seems like he is willing to tinker and risk not making it for the sake of a slight improvement, followed by more tweaking. Kind of a frustrating model.

Even if the wings dont make it this season, I expect that when they do they will not be one of these hot and cold teams that make the playoffs for one or two years, then miss again the following season. It will be consistent. Flood gates are about to open for this team, and they will be hard to stop.

I think 90 points is a fair estimate. Could push higher if a couple of the youngsters take a significant step and DeBrincat has a big year. Kane is still out there...

I think the special teams have the potential to be much better... especially the PK. Several of the players they brought in were already penalty killers on their last teams. While Yzerman only added one elite player (Debrincat), that may help take some pressure off Raymond. I think JT Compher is an upgrade over Copp (pushed down to the 3rd line where he belongs). On defense, Holl is still an upgrade over Lindstrom (who belongs in the AHL at best). Having a solid bottom six is still critical for a good playoff run as we've seen in Tampa year after year. I think Yzerman is following that same model.

Ghost along with better bottom six forwards may help improve the PP as well. Let's face it... Zadina, Erne, Fabbri, Veleno were / are dead weight. I think Kostin and Fischer will add some muscle / grit and add at least as much or more offense than the dead weight bottom 6 players they had. We'll see... but I'm optimistic. I like almost every move Yzerman made with the exception of the Holl contract. I think the team is deeper than last year.. at least moderately deeper IMO. Hope they can stay healthy. Really hoping Edvinsson and/or Kasper can get in the lineup and make a difference.

I think the special teams have the potential to be much better... especially the PK. Several of the players they brought in were already penalty killers on their last teams. While Yzerman only added one elite player (Debrincat), that may help take some pressure off Raymond. I think JT Compher is an upgrade over Copp (pushed down to the 3rd line where he belongs). On defense, Holl is still an upgrade over Lindstrom (who belongs in the AHL at best). Having a solid bottom six is still critical for a good playoff run as we've seen in Tampa year after year. I think Yzerman is following that same model.

Ghost along with better bottom six forwards my help improve the PP as well. Let's face it... Zadina, Erne, Fabbri, Veleno were / are dead weight. I think Kostin and Fischer will add some muscle / grit and add at least as much or more offense than the dead weight bottom 6 players they had. We'll see... but I'm optimistic. I like almost every move Yzerman made with the exception of the Holl contract. I think the team is deeper than last year.. at least moderately deeper IMO. Hope they can stay healthy. Really hoping Edvinsson and/or Kasper can get in the lineup and make a difference.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Copp is better than Compher imo. Compher should take the defensive 3c role. But you are right on the special teams. Debrincat and Ghost could help the PP plus Fischer and Holl could boost the PK.

Totally agree with your assessment. For those that think JT is a Copp copy/paste, go on YouTube and watch his highlights…. He has more fight at the net and can score. I think he’ll be 2C, and will have decent linemates depending on if Perron or Raymond chemistry with Larkin and DeBrincat.

Copp is better than Compher imo. Compher should take the defensive 3c role. But you are right on the special teams. Debrincat and Ghost could help the PP plus Fischer and Holl could boost the PK.
- Feds91Stammer

Copp was playing better near the end of the season if I recall. I do hope he can step it up a notch and actually be worth the contract Yzerman gave him. I just feel like Compher can contribute more offensively and he's younger. This team still needs elite talent up the middle which they are still lacking. I don't expect to get another Fedorov, Datsyuk or Zetterberg anytime soon though. Hoping Kasper is the real deal.

Compher gives the team a right handed center in the top six which is important. Copp is overpaid as a 3C, but I think the team's salary structure would allow for it in the short term. He is quite good defensively; an ideal "match up" center.

Copp was playing better near the end of the season if I recall. I do hope he can step it up a notch and actually be worth the contract Yzerman gave him. I just feel like Compher can contribute more offensively and he's younger. This team still needs elite talent up the middle which they are still lacking. I don't expect to get another Fedorov, Datsyuk or Zetterberg anytime soon though. Hoping Kasper is the real deal.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Historically Copp has been better offensively and Compher has been better defensively. Either way hopefully lines 2 and 3 get similar ice time and they will finally be in a spot where they don’t have 2 4th lines.

Historically Copp has been better offensively and Compher has been better defensively. Either way hopefully lines 2 and 3 get similar ice time and they will finally be in a spot where they don’t have 2 4th lines.
- Feds91Stammer

I think the new 2nd and 3rd lines will be better... this team can't move forward with two 4th lines like you mentioned. Yzerman basically replaced 30% of the lineup with this Free Agent spending spree and trade for Debrincat. It will definitely be interesting to see what kind of chemistry comes out of it and how well the special teams perform.. but I'm optimistic for this team if they can stay healthy.

One big question mark for me is Rasmussen. He was having a carreer year when his injury came. His dumb penalties still frustrate me.. but if he continues to improve and uses that big body effectively I thnk he'll make this team better. He really needs to learn to be a net-front presence. He should have taken some lessons from Bertuzzi or have Holmstrom come down to LCA and give him some pointers.

I think the new 2nd and 3rd lines will be better... this team can't move forward with two 4th lines like you mentioned. Yzerman basically replaced 30% of the lineup with this Free Agent spending spree and trade for Debrincat. It will definitely be interesting to see what kind of chemistry comes out of it and how well the special teams perform.. but I'm optimistic for this team if they can stay healthy.

One big question mark for me is Rasmussen. He was having a carreer year when his injury came. His dumb penalties still frustrate me.. but if he continues to improve and uses that big body effectively I thnk he'll make this team better. He really needs to learn to be a net-front presence. He should have taken some lessons from Bertuzzi or have Holmstrom come down to LCA and give him some pointers.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Yeah I’d be fine with Rasmussen if he could stop taking bad penalties.