Jeremy Laura: This used to be their playground - Wings seek fun on the ice again

I keep reading comments from fans calling for a coaching change. Calling for trades. I keep saying, give us one good reason why they should hire a new coach. Give me one good reason why they should trade AA (they can't trade anyone else).

This team needs a star player. The only way they'll get one is by losing. Pittsburgh had to lose to get Malkin, Crosby & Fleury. Chicago, LA, Edmonton, Tampa, etc., all had to lose. It's what you have to do in the salary cap era. Holland trading away young players to fill gaps to keep the playoff streak alive set them way back. Look at all the young kids that played so well the last time they made the playoffs. Their veterans were decimated by injuries, and the Wings were forced to bring up a ton of GR players. They played well, made the playoff and the future looked bright. Guess what...only one of those players is still on the team.

Losing doesn't guarantee a top pick. I wouldn't be surprised if NJ adds a 3rd in four years. I wouldn't be surprised if Chicago goes on another run of top picks. Next year is the deepest draft since 2015 and a top three pick should get you a franchise player, perhaps even a top five pick. They have a ton of dead weight coming off the books, their farm system is being rebuilt and they've got some good players who will be solid NHL players for quite some time. Now they just need to lose and add a few true 1st line players and true, 1st line defenders. Yzerman has patience, but most fans don't.

I keep reading comments from fans calling for a coaching change. Calling for trades. I keep saying, give us one good reason why they should hire a new coach. Give me one good reason why they should trade AA (they can't trade anyone else).

This team needs a star player. The only way they'll get one is by losing. Pittsburgh had to lose to get Malkin, Crosby & Fleury. Chicago, LA, Edmonton, Tampa, etc., all had to lose. It's what you have to do in the salary cap era. Holland trading away young players to fill gaps to keep the playoff streak alive set them way back. Look at all the young kids that played so well the last time they made the playoffs. Their veterans were decimated by injuries, and the Wings were forced to bring up a ton of GR players. They played well, made the playoff and the future looked bright. Guess what...only one of those players is still on the team.

Losing doesn't guarantee a top pick. I wouldn't be surprised if NJ adds a 3rd in four years. I wouldn't be surprised if Chicago goes on another run of top picks. Next year is the deepest draft since 2015 and a top three pick should get you a franchise player, perhaps even a top five pick. They have a ton of dead weight coming off the books, their farm system is being rebuilt and they've got some good players who will be solid NHL players for quite some time. Now they just need to lose and add a few true 1st line players and true, 1st line defenders. Yzerman has patience, but most fans don't.
- bluelineenforcer

I think you're talking the year after next year (2022 draft) with Savoie, Wright and Lambert. All three are looking exceptional.

I keep reading comments from fans calling for a coaching change. Calling for trades. I keep saying, give us one good reason why they should hire a new coach. Give me one good reason why they should trade AA (they can't trade anyone else).

This team needs a star player. The only way they'll get one is by losing. Pittsburgh had to lose to get Malkin, Crosby & Fleury. Chicago, LA, Edmonton, Tampa, etc., all had to lose. It's what you have to do in the salary cap era. Holland trading away young players to fill gaps to keep the playoff streak alive set them way back. Look at all the young kids that played so well the last time they made the playoffs. Their veterans were decimated by injuries, and the Wings were forced to bring up a ton of GR players. They played well, made the playoff and the future looked bright. Guess what...only one of those players is still on the team.

Losing doesn't guarantee a top pick. I wouldn't be surprised if NJ adds a 3rd in four years. I wouldn't be surprised if Chicago goes on another run of top picks. Next year is the deepest draft since 2015 and a top three pick should get you a franchise player, perhaps even a top five pick. They have a ton of dead weight coming off the books, their farm system is being rebuilt and they've got some good players who will be solid NHL players for quite some time. Now they just need to lose and add a few true 1st line players and true, 1st line defenders. Yzerman has patience, but most fans don't.
- bluelineenforcer

It certainly boils down to accurate assessment and expectation. With what the team currently is and has, there’s not a lot you could do to “shake things up” without giving up on future assets or causing other issues.

What is a good reason to hire a new coach????

John Haynes five seasons (fired)
150 - 159 - 45

Jeff Blashill five seasons
143 - 165 - 50

I keep reading comments from fans calling for a coaching change. Calling for trades. I keep saying, give us one good reason why they should hire a new coach. Give me one good reason why they should trade AA (they can't trade anyone else).

This team needs a star player. The only way they'll get one is by losing. Pittsburgh had to lose to get Malkin, Crosby & Fleury. Chicago, LA, Edmonton, Tampa, etc., all had to lose. It's what you have to do in the salary cap era. Holland trading away young players to fill gaps to keep the playoff streak alive set them way back. Look at all the young kids that played so well the last time they made the playoffs. Their veterans were decimated by injuries, and the Wings were forced to bring up a ton of GR players. They played well, made the playoff and the future looked bright. Guess what...only one of those players is still on the team.

Losing doesn't guarantee a top pick. I wouldn't be surprised if NJ adds a 3rd in four years. I wouldn't be surprised if Chicago goes on another run of top picks. Next year is the deepest draft since 2015 and a top three pick should get you a franchise player, perhaps even a top five pick. They have a ton of dead weight coming off the books, their farm system is being rebuilt and they've got some good players who will be solid NHL players for quite some time. Now they just need to lose and add a few true 1st line players and true, 1st line defenders. Yzerman has patience, but most fans don't.
- bluelineenforcer

Uhh anyone talking firing blash or making trades is interested in doing so for the long term future. Nobody here thinks a minor shakeup is going to make this team a contender. Here’s one for you though. Give me one good reason why you wouldn’t fire Blashill right now.

What is a good reason to hire a new coach????

John Haynes five seasons (fired)
150 - 159 - 45

Jeff Blashill five seasons
143 - 165 - 50
- Tee56

Again, it lines up with expectations. If Yzerman had Taylor Hall, PK Subban and some of the other talent and $ in this line up, completely different story.

Uhh anyone talking firing blash or making trades is interested in doing so for the long term future. Nobody here thinks a minor shakeup is going to make this team a contender. Here’s one for you though. Give me one good reason why you wouldn’t fire Blashill right now.
- Feds91Stammer

IF Yzerman has a different coach in my, they may not be available. He’s not going to change just to change. Firing the coach when 20 guys are on expiring contracts and no one feels safe does little to help the room. This team is in complete flux. Yzerman has a very clear view of what he wants things to look like, a temporary coaching change will do little to help anyone

There isn't any coach in the league that is going to work any miracles on this dumpster fire at this point in time. The depth is simply not there. It's going to be a few years before this team can roll 4 lines and be a contender. Besides defense and goaltending... there is huge glaring void up the middle (centers) for this team. This team is not the St Louis Blues which actually had the depth and talent to go on an amazing run after being in the standings basement for half a season. Trading AA or any future core players is extremely short-sighted.

I blame Holland more than anybody else and his terrible asset management the last 9 years. Keeping old veterans and giving away ridiculous contracts in the name of keeping the playoff streak alive. It's delayed this rebuild by at least 3-4 years. The writing was on the wall which direction this team was going several years ago when Lidstrom, Zetterberg and Datsyuk were in the twilight years of their careers. Babcock even cited this as one of the reasons he left Detroit. You simply can't replace that level of talent (superstars) now days unless you're picking in the top 5 of the draft typically.

Again, it lines up with expectations. If Yzerman had Taylor Hall, PK Subban and some of the other talent and $ in this line up, completely different story.
- Jeremy Laura

But I'm trying to understand why people think it would benefit the Wings long-term to gain more wins this year. So they fire Blash & bring in someone else to shake things up, maybe start winning more regularly, then get a pick at say 10-15 next year. How does that help? There aren't many teams with a franchise player picked outside of the top 5.