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Post by howe9scores on Oct 25, 2017 13:11:41 GMT -5
The Wings have floundered ever since Lids retired. KH made a correct statement . . . that he should retire whenever lids quit lacing-up the blades for the Wings.
KH has failed to adapt to the Cap-Era, and continues to make deplorable contract signings.
For the Wings to become Contenders instead of Pretenders - - a major change at the top is a must.
KH's method of building a team are stale and out-of-date. The Wings are still the oldest team in the League, KH only tweaks around the edges, and he made the mistake of hiring a coach who is not ready for prime time.
KH should be replaced with someone with a vision of what it takes to build a Contender in the Cap Era.
A new GM can decide who is the best man for behind the bench.
Firing Blash before KH is gone will not make any significant difference in how the Wings perform nor end-up in the standings.
To me, the Wings are still making too many mistakes on defense, and are unable to consistently put the puck in the back of the net. Nothing new - - it's been their modus operandi for the last five years.
Combine all of the above factors, and you have a recipe for finishing in the bottom third of the Conference.
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Post by PierreC on Oct 25, 2017 13:20:27 GMT -5
ok..let's fire KH
ok...
..can anyone name a replacement ?
As time goes by, i don't see SY coming back home...more and more his home is...Tampa Bay !
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Post by howe9scores on Oct 25, 2017 17:41:45 GMT -5
So, then, Pierre, what do you suggest to improve the Wings? Or, are you satisfied with a mediocre team which KH has assembled with horrible, over-paid lengthy contracts? ??
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Post by PierreC on Oct 25, 2017 18:57:30 GMT -5
So, then, Pierre, what do you suggest to improve the Wings? Or, are you satisfied with a mediocre team which KH has assembled with horrible, over-paid lengthy contracts? ?? I totally agree with what you said. Sorry if it sounds otherwise BUT Who can replace KH right now ? The question is legit...i don't see anyone worthy...maybe Julien Brisebois who is still working for Tampa's farm club in Syracuse. But i don't think the Wings knows anything about Brisebois, since he is french Canadian and the Wings, historically, have never been attracted by french Canadians....
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Post by PierreC on Oct 25, 2017 19:01:19 GMT -5
i also like to see the Wings inquire about Benoit Groulx availability. He is the head coach of Syracuse. I always like the way Groulx builds a team.
...but i'll stop there before i get accuse of being ..."chauvin"...
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Post by howe9scores on Oct 25, 2017 19:25:55 GMT -5
If they fired KH and Blash between now and Christmas it would send a message to the players and fans that the Illitch family is serious about building a contender, and not just accepting the status quo.
Granted, there is not anyone truly qualified that I know of who could legitimately set the tone for a serious run for this season.
In addition, such action provides time to initiate a serious search and evaluation of those who may be available, and getting permission from other owners.
In the meantime, the Wings are not realistically going to accomplish much of anything this year.
Therefore, appoint an interim GM and Coach from those best qualified currently in the organization - - who knows - - they just might get lucky and get results.
But, in any event, sleepy KH and his protege of "deer in the headlights" Blash are beyond redemption.
It is time for a dramatic change in Leadership at the top and behind the bench. The players and the fans have no confidence in either individual.
Otherwise, the same old, same old cliches will come vomiting out of the orifice on their faces. Nothing well done has happened in the Wings organization since they suffered a defeat in the Cup Finals by the Pens.
The fans deserve better than what has been served-up over the last several years.
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Post by number13 on Oct 25, 2017 20:03:50 GMT -5
I honestly wanted them both gone after last season...
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Post by chris on Oct 25, 2017 21:05:04 GMT -5
I honestly wanted them both gone after last season... The fish rots from the head down. You don't want the Holland out, you want the team sold to someone other than the Ilitches.
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Post by number13 on Oct 26, 2017 8:08:34 GMT -5
I honestly wanted them both gone after last season... The fish rots from the head down. You don't want the Holland out, you want the team sold to someone other than the Ilitches. Good point. I don't think the family has the same passion for winning as Mike had. Their passion is for profitability and they can make money putting out a mediocre product. It looks like the fans are getting tired. There are plenty of empty seats at the new rink yet they're still saying sellout or close to it. Unless they have 5000 lower bowl corporate seats sold and they're not showing up which I find it hard to believe.
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Post by howe9scores on Oct 26, 2017 9:59:47 GMT -5
Well, some of you may remember, but I have wanted Sleepy Holland's ass out of the building for the last 4 or 5 years.
Whatever, about all we can hope-for is the termination of the "dynamic duo" ASAP.
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Post by redkelley on Oct 26, 2017 16:02:18 GMT -5
Just found this new location for the Forum.
Thanks to Pierre and Chris for stickhandling it.
Some biased comments on the current state of DRW:
1) Thank goodness for Zetterberg!
2) Our defense is pretty sad. Kronwall should have gracefully retired at the end of last year. I appreciate him and he still has a great hockey brain but his hockey body fails him. Conversely, Ericsson has a great hockey body but no hockey brain. The surest way for the opposing team to gain control of the puck is for Ericsson to have it. King of the bad pass. Let's be kind and assume that he's there, not for his hockey brain but for his size and its potential. The problem is that he is 6' 4", 220 lb but plays the physical game like he's 5'4", 120 lb. With apologies due to all 5'4", 120 lb players. His contract is some $4M per year. Ken Holland should be tarred for that one. And feathered too. Mike "Giveaway" Green at least is an offensive force to compensate for his defensive lapses. Daley is an upgrade, so be glad he's there. Dekeyser is adequate. Ouellet is a WIP. Jensen's assets probably slightly outweigh his deficits on this team but the jury is still out. His age suggests that he is now as good as he will get.
3) Goal is worrying. Mraczek lost whatever he had and the coaching staff doesn't seem to be able to get it back. If he's the future, it looks pretty scary right now. Howard is fine for the time being. How long before age gets him?
4) Forwards are running hot and cold. Zetterberg, Glendenning, Tatar, Nielsen, Abdelkadr are all probably as good as can be expected and in some cases better. Larkin is improving, Mantha needs guidance, Athanasiou looks like he is the real deal though confirmatuion of that may be clear by year's end. Nyquist is missing a tool or two but I can't figure out what they are. Helm proves that speed is good but will only get you so far without hands. Frk (what, he couldn't afford a vowel?) is intriguing but I hope that he isn't another Pulkkinen, all shot, no more. I have no opinion yet on Scott Wilson.
5) Coach Blashill is a disappointment. LOts of posturing but poor results. I don't think that the players respect him as they did Babcock.
6) Up and coming: Gotta like Joe Hicketts, Rasmussen, Svechnikov.
Further to all this, I live in Toronto, so I am in considerable pain at this time seeing the Leaves under Babcock and Shanahan icing a young team that just keeps getting better. It hurts so!
Glad to see that that this Forum is being populated by DRW fans. Too bad that there aren't more positive things to post about.
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Post by PierreC on Oct 26, 2017 16:55:53 GMT -5
Welcome back Red !!!
Long time no hear...
Great post again. Spot on opinion that i share....well most of it ! lol
Stick around !
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Post by jimmydickens on Oct 27, 2017 9:46:09 GMT -5
Ken Holland hoards bad players. Jeff Blashill adjusted his coaching style to defer to veterans when he probably should have begun moving younger guys into key roles sooner. Datsyuk and Zetterberg weren’t around that long before Babcock came in and decided they were the top line.
If this team does anything, it will be because of goaltending. Carey Price looked like a dud when he finally broke out. Maybe Mrazek will but his contract is bullshit
Ken Holland’s primary flaw is that he sees no value in moving a bad deal just to relieve salary. That’s where Stan Bowman has become the expert to follow. Holland has only started to do that andnlook: no one Holland moved last season did anything significant. Jiri Hudler is the only Holland draft pick doing anything and that’s just hudler looking like he always did. Filpula still is a disappointment offensively and Yzerman looks bad for that contract.
Your roster is low scoring. You’re not going to easily bring in defense to help scoring. Solution should be to go back to the tried and true strategy of traps and physical punishment. The great detroit teams were built to win by fights, grinding, scoring, and goaltending. Whatever the opponent had. The cap era, especially since 2010, ehhhhh, I guess they skate well.
Moving Sheahan is a good sign but there’s more work to do. Athanasiou, if he plays like he finished, but if he doesn’t...Matt duchene is sitting out there and all that will cost you is money and defense that isn’t doing well for you snyway
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Post by number13 on Oct 27, 2017 15:52:48 GMT -5
Welcome back Red and Jimmy!
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Post by chris on Oct 27, 2017 16:37:31 GMT -5
Holland seems caught between rebuilding on the fly and a total rebuild from the ground up. Always talks about fielding a "competitive" team. Well, guess what, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Chicago among others weren't competitive for a while. They slowly over the years they drafted, developed players and built depth. We're pretty good at drafting but I'm not yet convinced guys like Larkin and Mantha can take us to the promised land.
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