Jeremy Laura: Praise for the “every day” players

Can't believe Larkin is 26 this summer. I'm getting old...

Using a 6th overall pick and ending up with a bottom 6 winger is a total failure. You can sugarcoat it and say that being a regular NHL player is an achievement. It is. 99.99% of kids don't make it. But you can sign bottom 6 forwards every summer or find them on waivers. Look at Erne, Namestnikov, Gagner. Very easy to find guys to fill those roles without blowing a 6th overall pick.

Thank you, Jeremy. The last half of the season will determine, for some, who remains a Red Wing and who is sacrificed for futures. May Stevie put together a plan to upgrade LD and C before next season. I still have hope for a hockey trade this deadline.

Thanks for dropping in, Jeremy!!! AWESOME to see you and hope you're doing well. Again, any time you drop in is a blessing for the blog, and (hopefully) theraputic for you.

There are some good players on the roster. Are they the best? Nope. There's much work to be done, on that we can all agree. There are some kids that just straight-up show up every day; you gave a great list. Guys like Fabbri, Namestnikov, Ned....they're character guys who just don't quit. That mentality needs to permeate the roster, and players who come in need to have that type of drive. Not thinking The Captain would bring in scrubs......and am hoping that the TDL & FA bring some decent moves that further the rebuild. Drafting needs to be on-point. Opinions vary on who (and it's still early....), but I've read that this is a very deep draft. That's good news.

Listen, knowing exactly what type of career someone will have when they're drafted is ludicrus. No one knows what we'll get. All we can do is hope that who we draft can be developed and bear fruit. Zadina generates a lot of discussion, as expected. He's yet to turn it on. 2d-guessing is natural, of course. But, the harsh reality is ya gotta dance with the one who brought you. NO ONE can tell what a kid will do when they're in the OHL, or college. Much of what I've read (andmany commentator's opinions) is that Zadina has changed his game to be more defensive. I harken back to the change in The Captain's style of play when Bowman came on-board. To synopsize; there was a bow-wave change in players, mentality, attitude of leadership & players, etc... A cultural change. That's needed in Detroit. We're improving in some areas, but falling behind in others. There's no balance or off-sets in improvement; (e.g., GF improves, but GAA grows, need improvement in both areas, etc...), there has to be some sort of corresponding improvement.

Changing culture is hard work. Leaders need to imprint their mentality on a team, but the team has to accept the change. Those that buck the system need to be dealt with accordingly. The science of Change Management is pretty static; the art of Change Management is what's key. I like what I see thus far; anchors are being set free, energetic kids are coming in, etc.... We know this is going to take time, no one knows for sure how long despite expert opinions. The thing I worry about is losing talent as we try to naviagte the rebuild. How long do we have Larkin & Lil Bert?? Those are things that do have an impact on how change is implemented, I'd think. I just wonder, truly, how miuch longer? I'm surprised to see that we're close in the WC standings, which is a good sign. Gotta put a team together that can last a full game AND turn up the heat in the 3d period....right now, it's like the 3d period is some sort of vast unknown universe that no one wants to explore. And, of course; what about coaching? Waiting patiently to see how this plays out....

Take care fo yourself, Jeremy. If you need anything, you know how to get ahold of me......

There are a number of LD defenders that have one year left on their contracts that can be targeted as placeholders this summer or even this TDL. Orlov, Sandheim and Ghost are among the top. Shattenkirk, Weegar, Graves and Soucy are also among that group. I am thinking any FA's will be highly sought after and maybe for a couple of picks the Wings could pick up one of these temporary improvements at LD.

Can't believe Larkin is 26 this summer. I'm getting old...
- Only_A_Ladd

Shoot, I can remember The Captain's 1st season...I watched Gordie play in the '80 AS game.....AND actually attended a game at The Olympia 'Course, SOME folks here have even more "I was THIS old...." stories. But, to your point; it is staggering to think the kid's going on 8 years in the league.....

There are a number of LD defenders that have one year left on their contracts that can be targeted as placeholders this summer or even this TDL. Orlov, Sandheim and Ghost are among the top. Shattenkirk, Weegar, Graves and Soucy are also among that group. I am thinking any FA's will be highly sought after and maybe for a couple of picks the Wings could pick up one of these temporary improvements at LD.
- HenryHockey

I'd be nervous about sending any picks to obtain a stop-gap player. For my $$$, it'd be worth getting someone who has longevity at a reasonable price, and fits The Cpatain's profile of a suitable player for his vision of the rebuild. I think Ghost is about done, but he was SO good in his day. Not sure of the list of availabe/pending LDs out there, but am hoping anyone coming in doesn't cost a lot and can actually be part of the rebuild.....

I'd be nervous about sending any picks to obtain a stop-gap player. For my $$$, it'd be worth getting someone who has longevity at a reasonable price, and fits The Cpatain's profile of a suitable player for his vision of the rebuild. I think Ghost is about done, but he was SO good in his day. Not sure of the list of availabe/pending LDs out there, but am hoping anyone coming in doesn't cost a lot and can actually be part of the rebuild.....
- mcmastermike1968

Well the Captain will have to do something because the prospects are not ripe enough yet. LD is a very sought after position right now, the only other position that is more heavily sought after is C! So either way the price will be high!

Thoughts on looking at someone like Keller if the Yotes retain some of that $7m? If they're truly looking at saving money he is young and fits the timeline, just an awful contract.

Most of the 3rd & 4th line players on NHL teams are made up of guys who were goal scoring studs in amateur hockey. I don't think it's fair to give up on Zadina & Veleno yet. If you look at that draft, among forwards, who has done significantly better who was taken after Veleno? I think one forward has more points than him. After #6, hindsight says Farabee would have been a better pick, but among forwards, who else? You could argue they could have taken Hughes or Miller, but we still wouldn't have gotten goal scorers up front.

Using a 6th overall pick and ending up with a bottom 6 winger is a total failure. You can sugarcoat it and say that being a regular NHL player is an achievement. It is. 99.99% of kids don't make it. But you can sign bottom 6 forwards every summer or find them on waivers. Look at Erne, Namestnikov, Gagner. Very easy to find guys to fill those roles without blowing a 6th overall pick.
- HockeyBuzzed

Which forward would you have selected at #6 who became a top 6 winger?

Great recap and hope for the future - both short and long term. I believe a different voice behind the bench would go a l o n g way. These guys need to hear a ton of positives and play to win rather than play defensively in a tight game. Don't take the pedal off the metal!!!!

Well the Captain will have to do something because the prospects are not ripe enough yet. LD is a very sought after position right now, the only other position that is more heavily sought after is C! So either way the price will be high!
- HenryHockey

I wholly agree; it's ugly out there trying to fill gaps. Hard to say what should be done or how. Throw in the complexity of a rebuild.....

The good thing is we have a good deal of cap space. The bad thing is we're trying to entice someone of high quality, fits the profile, and has longevity to come to Detroit...already knee-deep in a rebuild, etc...

Which forward would you have selected at #6 who became a top 6 winger?
- bluelineenforcer

Welcome to my point. I don't take any winger at 6th overall unless I feel I'm getting Kucherov, Kane, etc...Particularly in our organization which another time was devoid of centers and d-men. In 2018 it was widely expected that the top 5 picks would be Dahlin, Svech, Tkachuk, Zadina, Kotkaniemi. Pick your order among those forwards. So Detroit at 6 would have a trio of d-men to choose from - Hughes, Bouchard, Dobson. I was lobbying for Hughes, but any of those 3 would be a wonderful asset to have right now. Arizona picked Hayton at 5. Zadina dropped to 6. And we probably panicked thinking he would never be available. Thanks for making my point on wingers!

Which forward would you have selected at #6 who became a top 6 winger?

If Zadina didn't fall, we probably end up with Hughes or Bouchard...at least those were the rumored picks for the Wings going into that draft. I think the only reason they picked a forward there was Zadina fell to them.

Not likely to happen but i'm hoping for Lindholm and either Hertl or Trocheck to be signed in the off-season. That would fill the Wings biggest needs and take some heat off the younger players.

Unless the Wings win the lottery (which is highly unlikely), i don't think they will draft high enough to get an impact center in this draft...especially one that might be ready to step in right away.

Hertl or Trocheck are proven and would drop Suter down to 3rd line center where i think he belongs. Lindholm would provide Seider with a good partner instead of someone Seider has to carry like DeKeyser. If Edvinsson makes the team he could start on the 2nd pair with Hronek so Lindholm would take pressure off of him to be the top guy on the left side right off the bat.

If Yzerman can't or doesn't address those needs, we will likely see more of the same as we did this season. I also hope he would change the coaching staff but i doubt that happens until Blashill's contract runs out.

Not likely to happen but i'm hoping for Lindholm and either Hertl or Trocheck to be signed in the off-season. That would fill the Wings biggest needs and take some heat off the younger players.

Unless the Wings win the lottery (which is highly unlikely), i don't think they will draft high enough to get an impact center in this draft...especially one that might be ready to step in right away.

Hertl or Trocheck are proven and would drop Suter down to 3rd line center where i think he belongs. Lindholm would provide Seider with a good partner instead of someone Seider has to carry like DeKeyser. If Edvinsson makes the team he could start on the 2nd pair with Hronek so Lindholm would take pressure off of him to be the top guy on the left side right off the bat.

If Yzerman can't or doesn't address those needs, we will likely see more of the same as we did this season. I also hope he would change the coaching staff but i doubt that happens until Blashill's contract runs out.
- dcz28

Swinging for a top flite FA is not an option for this non-contender. Stevie would have to do a massive over-pay to attract those stars. He might have a chance with Lindholm, maybe. That is where a trade would probably become more likely to fill a LD or C.

Using a 6th overall pick and ending up with a bottom 6 winger is a total failure. You can sugarcoat it and say that being a regular NHL player is an achievement. It is. 99.99% of kids don't make it. But you can sign bottom 6 forwards every summer or find them on waivers. Look at Erne, Namestnikov, Gagner. Very easy to find guys to fill those roles without blowing a 6th overall pick.
- HockeyBuzzed

Kinda funny that you use Gagner as a point of reference there....just sayin'.

Kinda funny that you use Gagner as a point of reference there....just sayin'.
- Beergu

I don't get your point. Gagner was another pick that went horrible. He's now a fringe NHLer that would not be employed by most teams in the league. Guys like him can be acquired or added for peanuts every year.

I don't get your point. Gagner was another pick that went horrible. He's now a fringe NHLer that would not be employed by most teams in the league. Guys like him can be acquired or added for peanuts every year.
- HockeyBuzzed

He was a 6th overall pick, is all. And as much as people like yourself trash on him, there were only 7 or so other players in that draft year that have put up more points in the NHL than he has.

The 6th overall pick in the 2 years earlier than him were Derek Brassard and Gilbert Brule, the two years after were Nikita Filatov and OEL. Now, that can just mean that the Oil and Columbus sucked at drafting, or that the 6th pick isn't as sure as you are making it out to be.

Swinging for a top flite FA is not an option for this non-contender. Stevie would have to do a massive over-pay to attract those stars. He might have a chance with Lindholm, maybe. That is where a trade would probably become more likely to fill a LD or C.
- HenryHockey

It has to be an option. If they don't draft the center, trading for one could be costly and it isn't like there are lots available for trade all the time. The only other option is to do what the Wings have done for years and sign guys like Nielsen, Filppula and Suter hoping they can somehow play above what they are and be a good top 6 center. That hasn't been working and they need a real 2nd line center. This team is a long term injury to Larkin away from being a bottom feeder again.

Trading for a top pair left dman won't be cheap either. Not a lot of teams have those to spare and if they do, they won't be giving them away for spare parts unless they are massively overpaid. Just look at what Arizona is rumored to want for Chychrun (good young roster player, a top prospect and a 1st round pick).

UFAs only cost money and cap space. Lindholm will likely be one of the top UFA on defense if he hits the market so he likely won't be cheap. Hertl and Trocheck will cost but all 3 of those guys have proven they can be what the Wings need them for unlike the cheaper options the Wings have signed the last few years or what they likely could get for cheaper this summer.

Like i said, i doubt this will happen but those holes need to filled if the Wings ever hope to take another step forward and be a playoff team. If they don't fill them, they will continue to be a team too good to draft a top player and not good enough to be a playoff team so they will stay in limbo as an average team at best.

Lots of buzz about Vancouver wanting to move players. Just dreaming here but Boeser & Garland to Detroit for ????????????

Lots of buzz about Vancouver wanting to move players. Just dreaming here but Boeser & Garland to Detroit for ????????????
- Tee56

Larkin and Bertuzzi, that is all we have to offer.

It has to be an option. If they don't draft the center, trading for one could be costly and it isn't like there are lots available for trade all the time. The only other option is to do what the Wings have done for years and sign guys like Nielsen, Filppula and Suter hoping they can somehow play above what they are and be a good top 6 center. That hasn't been working and they need a real 2nd line center. This team is a long term injury to Larkin away from being a bottom feeder again.

Trading for a top pair left dman won't be cheap either. Not a lot of teams have those to spare and if they do, they won't be giving them away for spare parts unless they are massively overpaid. Just look at what Arizona is rumored to want for Chychrun (good young roster player, a top prospect and a 1st round pick).

UFAs only cost money and cap space. Lindholm will likely be one of the top UFA on defense if he hits the market so he likely won't be cheap. Hertl and Trocheck will cost but all 3 of those guys have proven they can be what the Wings need them for unlike the cheaper options the Wings have signed the last few years or what they likely could get for cheaper this summer.

Like i said, i doubt this will happen but those holes need to filled if the Wings ever hope to take another step forward and be a playoff team. If they don't fill them, they will continue to be a team too good to draft a top player and not good enough to be a playoff team so they will stay in limbo as an average team at best.
- dcz28

I don't see top flite UFA's coming to a team that does not have a shot at at the cup unless they are massively over-payed. Example: Dougie Hamilton. . Wings are a couple years from attracting stars that will play for what they are worth and that really want to be here.