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Post by howe9scores on Apr 9, 2017 6:51:23 GMT -5
Red Wing needs . . .
Number One Priority . . . Top Two Dmen who can control the puck at both ends of the rink. Efficient and effective breakout passing are essential fundamentals by the dmen. At the present time, the Wings have a huge weakness in this aspect of the game.
Specifically, a Premier Dman who controls the Attack on Offense (and who is not a defensive liability); plus a Dominant, Physical Dman who intimidates the Opponent neither of which is on the current roster.
Forwards:
Power Forward - - looks like Mantha can fulfil that role with superior scoring ability (hopefully, denting the twine in the back of the net 25 to 30 goals for several years to come).
With AA, Tatar, and Larkin as well as Mantha scoring should take care of itself in all situations including PP and 5-on-5.
Not sure about the Wings Shut-down PK Specialists.
Goal tending will improve with a significant improvement in puck control and efficient and effective breakout passing.
Bottom line - - it must start with Top Two Dmen which are the key missing elements.
If you can’t control the puck in your own end, Goals Against will still be too high.
And if you can’t control the puck at the other end of the ice, goal generation will continue to be pathetic.
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Post by number13 on Apr 9, 2017 10:50:26 GMT -5
Actually I'm going for the low hanging fruit that would have an immediate impact and not cost us a much of anything.
Priority would be to get a new coach. I'd like to think if we had a coach who's head wasn't up his ass that we would be in the playoffs tomorrow. If we had a power-play in the middle of the pack instead of the bottom (pathetic 28th place) we're probably in. If we had a respectable PK we'd be a little better. If we had a coach who knows how to use personnel properly to retain leads we'd be in. I'm not going to go thru 82 games but I know we went to OT 39 times and we were in a shit ton of one goal games that if we won 20% more of those games we're in the playoffs...yes even with the injuries and inconsistent goaltending we'd be in. Having said that we wouldn't be going anywhere but the beauty of NHL playoffs is they are unpredictable once you get in anything can happen. We've coughed up more leads and given up goals all season long in the opening and closing minutes of games and that points to a coach who doesn't have his team ready for battle and doesn't keep them engaged or focused until the horn blows ending the period(s)
The day Nick Lidstrom retired is the day we should have been looking for a true #1 and should have put forth much more of an effort to get Weber or Suter so that is a fairly obvious need to me.
I think we have some decent talent but we're being choked by by overpaying in $ and duration of contracts like Abby and Helms who don't earn their 5 mil.
I'd like to see a purge of players not cutting it, buy out/make trades for Abby, Helm, Kronwall, Ericsson.
Why we extended Glendening to 20/21 is dumb as we have cheaper that 2 million assets sitting in Grand Rapids who ALREADY ARE BETTER PLAYERS HAN THAT SLUG. Sorry I don't give a fuck if he's gritty...he sucks and Detroit has way too much of sucky players in the mix and that includes no goal Sheahan who has 11 assists and a -31 which is apparent that all he is doing is taking TOI away from player who can play the position better and contribute to the better of the team. Big body doesn't matter as he is useless and brings absolutely nothing tot he table other than humor of a guy playing 80 games in the NHL, who gets PP time ans still has zippo goals.
It is going to be a strange off season where we'll lose players to the draft. We need to continue to get faster, stronger and more physical players. I like I see from some of the kids, Svechnikov, Lorito, Nosek etc and like to see them take it to the next level ans make the team out of training camp in the fall.
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Post by Terrible Ted on Apr 9, 2017 14:39:47 GMT -5
Number 13 - - upon reading your comments - - - the vast majority of its contents can be laid to rest at the feet of Holland:
Holland hired Blash (who we all concede was in-over-his-head), but even Blash had to deal with all these long-term contracts Holland laid on the ice rink.
In addition, rookie coaches, especially those from the AHL, are always on a short-leash. In other words, Holland directs the coach to play my guys (the player's Holland signed to long-term contracts).
As a consequence of Holland's decisions, Blash and the Wings were doomed to crash-and-burn.
Thus, the primary outcome of all these blunders from the time that Stewart left for the Sharks, Raf retired, and the big cahuna, Lids retired.
What did the Wings esteemed Executive VP and GM execute in improving the team: "tweaked around the edges" with cheap, FA players, and then relentlessly repeated "I like our team."
Please, what a joke for over eight years of continuous decline.
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Post by chris on Apr 9, 2017 15:18:50 GMT -5
Number 13 - - upon reading your comments - - - the vast majority of its contents can be laid to rest at the feet of Holland: Holland hired Blash (who we all concede was in-over-his-head), but even Blash had to deal with all these long-term contracts Holland laid on the ice rink. In addition, rookie coaches, especially those from the AHL, are always on a short-leash. In other words, Holland directs the coach to play my guys (the player's Holland signed to long-term contracts). As a consequence of Holland's decisions, Blash and the Wings were doomed to crash-and-burn. Thus, the primary outcome of all these blunders from the time that Stewart left for the Sharks, Raf retired, and the big cahuna, Lids retired. What did the Wings esteemed Executive VP and GM execute in improving the team: "tweaked around the edges" with cheap, FA players, and then relentlessly repeated "I like our team." Please, what a joke for over eight years of continuous decline. I think maybe "the streak" meant more to the organization than we realize. I still like Holland but now we need to see what he's made of. If he keeps Blashill I'm probably off of the Holland bandwagon. I agree with everything Shawn said about him.
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Post by howe9scores on Apr 9, 2017 15:39:26 GMT -5
Chris,
My comments are focused on what it takes over the next five years to hopefully get the Wings get back to a legitimate Cup Contender, not a bubble team or even worse a bottom feeder. In fact, it may take longer than five years.
As far as the overdone cliche about making the playoffs of "anything can happen." Basically, that is myth promulgated by under-performing GMs who want to maintain their jobs.
It rarely happens where an underdog goes all the way and lifts the Cup.
As Terrible Ted stated - - the Wings have been sliding into this abyss for eight years.
In my estimation, KH is not the man to lead the Wings back to the promised land.
He, and Blash, have one year left on their contracts - - I have resigned myself to the fact that KH will at least play-out that string.
Blash may also last until the end of next season; however, it would not surprise me if another stumbling start out of the gate would not precipitate an early exit from behind the bench.
But even if Blash were relieved of his duties at the present time, why would any coach of experience and positive reputation would even consider signing on the dotted line given the fact that the Wings are not even close to prime time competitiveness, and are anchored down by numerous, deleterious contracts.
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Post by PierreC on Apr 9, 2017 22:49:34 GMT -5
to see Gallant in the building tonight made me feel good..maybe he is the next coach. And SY look MUUUUCHHH better in Red... Geeez bring the guy back home...
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Post by newfiewing on Apr 9, 2017 23:07:50 GMT -5
Gallant and Stevie Y....now that's a combo I could get behind!
Not likely on either count but it sure would be nice to see guys who will be true to their own principles and beliefs.
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Post by number13 on Apr 11, 2017 13:00:12 GMT -5
We're doomed...Blashill will return. I sure as hell hope he has a real short leash
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Post by PierreC on Apr 11, 2017 13:20:27 GMT -5
We're doomed...Blashill will return. I sure as hell hope he has a real short leash Your quick on the gun Shawn..it was confirmed just a few mins ago.. why confirm the guy so quickly ?? If a good coach gets available later we are doomed !!
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Post by number13 on Apr 11, 2017 13:59:53 GMT -5
I don't want to wish bad luck but if we start the season going .500 to mid November then I'd fire him but Nov 15. Kenny isn't going to fire anyone anyway. He's saying that he'll be aggressive trades...what? What was the last solid trade we're we got a asset we really needed?
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Post by Iceman on Apr 11, 2017 14:56:21 GMT -5
Chris, My comments are focused on what it takes over the next five years to hopefully get the Wings get back to a legitimate Cup Contender, not a bubble team or even worse a bottom feeder. In fact, it may take longer than five years. As far as the overdone cliche about making the playoffs of "anything can happen." Basically, that is myth promulgated by under-performing GMs who want to maintain their jobs. It rarely happens where an underdog goes all the way and lifts the Cup. As Terrible Ted stated - - the Wings have been sliding into this abyss for eight years. In my estimation, KH is not the man to lead the Wings back to the promised land. He, and Blash, have one year left on their contracts - - I have resigned myself to the fact that KH will at least play-out that string. Blash may also last until the end of next season; however, it would not surprise me if another stumbling start out of the gate would not precipitate an early exit from behind the bench. But even if Blash were relieved of his duties at the present time, why would any coach of experience and positive reputation would even consider signing on the dotted line given the fact that the Wings are not even close to prime time competitiveness, and are anchored down by numerous, deleterious contracts. Looks like someone was tapping a phone line.
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Post by number13 on Apr 11, 2017 18:07:31 GMT -5
Ask the LA Kings who were an #8 seed and won the cup on their feelings of anything can happen in the NHL playoffs. It is true, plenty of teams favored to win it all have been sent golfing in after rounds 1 or 2 of the playoffs. Reality is it doesn't happen regularly but it does in fact happen
I don't necessarily feel WC teams or 8 seeds can win but if you have solid team, quality goaltending and peaking at the right time...anything can happen. We know first hand on choking early against a weaker opponent who got goaltending and on a roll of sorts
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Post by howe9scores on Apr 11, 2017 20:12:56 GMT -5
Yes, the Kings were the eighth seed that year, but the Kings were not a marginally-talented bubble team.
But before the season began, expectations of a good showing were quite high. They had a solid, talented team at both ends of the rink. However, by Thanksgiving in 2011, the Kings were out of the Playoff picture. The coach was fired.
Sutter was hired in mid-December, and lit a fire under the bench. And with a couple of trades, they eventually went on an endless rampage from about January, 2012 on until they captured the Cup (winning 16 games and only losing 4 games in the four rounds of the Playoffs).
The Kings were not a “Bubble Team,” they had an outstanding number of world class players hitting on all cylinders for the last several months of the season and never let up. They dominated on both offense and defense during that initial span from January til June when they hoisted the Cup.
Two years later in 2013-14 with basically the same team and Sutter as Coach, the Kings again captured the Cup. All the pieces came together in 2011-12: players, coach, and inspirational execution on the ice.
Marginally talented teams which barely slide into playoffs, rarely make it even into the second round of the playoffs let alone going all the way.
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Post by chris on Apr 11, 2017 20:24:12 GMT -5
Jimmy: The obsession with changing a players game from the reason he got drafted in the first place - Yup
News: Tatar is projected to need four-to-six months of rehab, according to GM Ken Holland. Tatar indicated he'd be ready for start of season.
We're always hurt. Whatever happened to conditioning? Did that leave when Draper and Chelios left? Or are we always getting beat up by other teams 'cuz we don't defend ourselves? Did that leave when Shanny left? All of our "big" guys aren't gritty and play like pussies. Abby, Sheahan, Glenny, Erickson, etc. All of our skill guys are supposed to be hard nosed defensive guys.
Notice the pattern here, our big guys can be nonabrasive, polite pussies and get major minutes. Our skill guys have to stick up for themselves, can't be O minded, and get their minutes cut for one minor mistake. And get the crap beat outta them.
It's all so clear ...
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Post by howe9scores on Apr 11, 2017 21:39:34 GMT -5
As I stated above, looks like the Dynamic Duo (KH and his Puppet) will be back to inspire the performance and execution of practically the same team (knowing KH's propensity not to trade or sign any prominent FA).
We, the fans, will get a repeat of the same old song-and-dance routine (including diversions of actions to cover-up their mistakes, and of placing the blame on someone else or injuries).
Speaking of the often-sighted Man-Game Losses to Injuries - - - that is so much BS: Franzen and Vitale will never play another game in the NHL. Between the two, that is 164 games lost every season they are on the Roster.
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