Detroit Redwings Downfall

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Am I crazy to think if the Wings had Hronek playing all year instead of Holl they'd be in a playoffs spot today? ASP is a great prospect so I'm not saying the trade was bad but it might have set back an already long rebuild a year or 2.
 
Am I crazy to think if the Wings had Hronek playing all year instead of Holl they'd be in a playoffs spot today? ASP is a great prospect so I'm not saying the trade was bad but it might have set back an already long rebuild a year or 2.
I think Hronek gone is a good thing. But the d this season could have been

Ed seider
Walman Hronek

no Petry, no holl. No Asp too.
 
Am I crazy to think if the Wings had Hronek playing all year instead of Holl they'd be in a playoffs spot today? ASP is a great prospect so I'm not saying the trade was bad but it might have set back an already long rebuild a year or 2.
It's not out of the realm of reason, but again many people believe there is not enough substance to the Wings rebuild to matter in the future. In that case, what good does Hronek elevating them to a playoff team really accomplish? Still not a true contender, slightly increasing draft position while still attempting to accrue assets, hampering cap maneuverability (although Yzerman's FA spending's have accomplished that all on their own). I would still argue the move reset, not setback, the timeline. For those that do not watch the Wings much, there was talk from at least Mickey Redmond, that the arrival of Seider and Raymond had moved the rebuild up a couple years. Perhaps management had hoped that to be the case as well.
 
I think Hronek gone is a good thing. But the d this season could have been

Ed seider
Walman Hronek

no Petry, no holl. No Asp too.
Could have. Sure. But Yzerman wasn't going to pay Hronek $7M+ and he paid to get rid of Walman. So... not really a could have, no.
 
When do you think Asp and one of Cossa/Augustine will be difference makers in the NHL? Big difference between playing in NHL and being established as a difference maker and leading your team on Cup runs. Eg. Seider, Larkin and Raymond have become difference makers in the NHL.

Maybe Asp comes in like Makar and maybe one of those 2 goalies come in hot like Wolf... not a bet I'd want to make for 2025/2026 though. Best case next year IMO is they have good rookie seasons and Kasper takes a step. But sophomore slumps can suck too! Big difference between being a great prospect and being a great NHL player.

If you are referring to my post, then you are taking it out of context. I said "start" to make trades and going hard in the UFA market.

I never said that is when they start winning cups... it's GO time to start making appropriate moves to fill holes to try to become a perennial PO team.

That's probably Yzerman's rebuild timeline. I think when one of Cossa and/or Augustine hit and prove to be a legit starter, it's GO time. I think that is when you start seeing Yzerman being more aggressive in trades and UFA signings.
 
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If you are referring to my post, then you are taking it out of context. I said "start" to make trades and going hard in the UFA market.

I never said that is when they start winning cups... it's GO time to start making appropriate moves to fill holes to try to become a perennial PO team.

Why is year 6 not “go time” to be a perrenial playoff team?

For the record, I did not expect Detroit to be in Cup contention by now. But in the NHL, literally half the teams make the playoffs. It’s not special.

That should be the absolute bare minimum requirement by the end of year 6, regardless how how bad things were when he got here.
 
Am I crazy to think if the Wings had Hronek playing all year instead of Holl they'd be in a playoffs spot today? ASP is a great prospect so I'm not saying the trade was bad but it might have set back an already long rebuild a year or 2.
Does Hronek come with Hughes to drag him around the ice by the hair?
 
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Why is year 6 not “go time” to be a perrenial playoff team?

For the record, I did not expect Detroit to be in Cup contention by now. But in the NHL, literally half the teams make the playoffs. It’s not special.

That should be the absolute bare minimum requirement by the end of year 6, regardless how how bad things were when he got here.

I think Yzerman is locking down the stars to bargain contracts. I think Raymond and Seider's contract will prove to be some of the best in the league. I think the goal is to also sign Edvinsson to a long term bargain contract. Through good contracts and locking up the core, that's how you build a contender. You will attract big name UFA when the time comes. The time isn't now.

You said it yourself. "I did not expect Detroit to be in Cup contention by now"

Then proceeded to say "playoffs are not special".

That tells me you just want the team to make the post season because A). you are impatient, or B). ego.

Yzerman probably doesn't want to make the playoffs because it gives him better draft positions by missing. He's building for a prosperous future, not for gimmick one-and-done come April.

That being said, Wings are already competing to make the playoffs. Missed by 0 points last season, have been in and out of the wildcard since a coaching change, when they looked like they were drafting top5.

I think it is pretty spectacular what they've done this season. Each season they are getting incrementally better. They are improving in front of our eyes. You just refuse to see it, because you want to make the playoffs, despite saying "playoffs aren't special". You need little man syndrome bragging rights.

I'm a fan of how good Yzerman is doing at rebuilding this team. This team is finally fun an exciting to watch, and the kids are doing amazing things. More kids are coming. The future is bright!
 
When do you think Asp and one of Cossa/Augustine will be difference makers in the NHL?
We should be getting a lot of answers on Cossa and ASP within the next calendar year. And if none of them are making a positive NHL impact by 26-27 at the latest they're probably not the answers we want.

The question becomes, how much more do they have in them to leap especially when the teams around them are improving and getting better themselves or are already at a contender/ near contender level?

I don't doubt Detroit can be better but do they have the centre depth, do they have the drive for the next level? I don't think they do.

Seems like a loop to me.
In the end I think it always comes back to what your view is of the talent they have upcoming. ASP and Buchelnikov are breaking records. Plante had a fantastic freshman season in the NCAA, Danielson is heating up in the AHL, Kasper is one of the NHLs best rookies the last few months, Edvinsson is already a monster, Cossa and Augustine are two the best goalie prospects in the world.. the idea that there isn't lots of help coming doesn't vibe with me. Of course, you are free to believe differently.

Am I crazy to think if the Wings had Hronek playing all year instead of Holl they'd be in a playoffs spot today? ASP is a great prospect so I'm not saying the trade was bad but it might have set back an already long rebuild a year or 2.
I think Hronek gone is a good thing. But the d this season could have been

Ed seider
Walman Hronek

no Petry, no holl. No Asp too.
The problem with keeping Hronek is that it's not about 1 season. He's on an 8 year deal at a 7+ mil cap hit. They needed to decide if he was a core part of their rebuild or not.

Why is year 6 not “go time” to be a perrenial playoff team?

For the record, I did not expect Detroit to be in Cup contention by now. But in the NHL, literally half the teams make the playoffs. It’s not special.

That should be the absolute bare minimum requirement by the end of year 6, regardless how how bad things were when he got here.
It's never been harder to make the playoffs in the NHL. It's arguably one of the most difficult leagues in the sporting world to make the post-season in, between the amount of teams, the low % of teams that make it, and the inforced parity of the salary cap and draft lottery.

Saying it's the bare minimum by "year 6" is just a completely made up thing. You can believe that if you want to, but lots of teams fail that test, all the time. Most of the best teams in the league today have failed that minimum requirement on the way towards becoming a great team.
 
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funny how 2 to 4 points probably will decide for most people if this season was a massive failure or hige success.

myself as a fan, obv hope they make it but will b happy if they play hard till the end.

kasper looks like another SY homerun, future is bright.

Yup. Wings rookies combine are top 4 or 5 in the entire NHL in scoring among rookies. Kasper is a big part of that. Soderblom has also contributed in short time on the team so far.

Yzerman's drafting is looking pretty damn good.
 
funny how 2 to 4 points probably will decide for most people if this season was a massive failure or hige success.

myself as a fan, obv hope they make it but will b happy if they play hard till the end.

kasper looks like another SY homerun, future is bright.
I didn't think they would make the playoffs with the scoring lost in the offseason. But seeing Kasper, Edvinsson, Johansson, and Soderblom contributing is all I could really ask for of a team that will live or die on it's drafting.

Toss in Raymond being a point per game, DeBrincat looking like he is finally comfortable and Seider being the rock as usual.
 
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I didn't think they would make the playoffs with the scoring lost in the offseason. But seeing Kasper, Edvinsson, Johansson, and Soderblom contributing is all I could really ask for of a team that will live or die on it's drafting.

Toss in Raymond being a point per game, DeBrincat looking like he is finally comfortable and Seider being the rock as usual.

These "HF professional couch critics" said Yzerman is underwhelming at drafting, then you look at the roster and see 25% of the starting roster is his picks. That's not even counting Mazur since he got injured on his first NHL shift.

Then look at their pool and they still have a ton more prospects drooling at the mouth to be difference makers on the DRWs; Cossa, ASP, Danielsson, MBN, Buchelnikov, Plante, Lombardi, Kiiskinen, Augustine.

And as of today I would NOT rule out Kasper ever becoming a solid #1 center in the NHL, or an elite #2 center. The kid is already playing #2 center since Copp's injury and is proving he has the chops @ 20 years old.
 
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The problem with keeping Hronek is that it's not about 1 season. He's on an 8 year deal at a 7+ mil cap hit. They needed to decide if he was a core part of their rebuild or not.
I'm glad he's gone. I get the argument but I do see 4 guys in their 20's with good contracts. I also see an affordable core that is much better than what you have today with Petry, Holl and Chariot (who are not inexpensive or young and IMO not that good anymore).

Hronek is at 7 mill and he's 27
Seider is at 8.5 and 23
Ed is 22 and at 1
Walman is 29 and 3.4

Your current top 4 (by TOI) is not much cheaper to my eye and definitely not better.

Ed is 1
Seider is 8.5
Petry is 2.5
Chariot is 4.75

20 mill vs 15 million roughly And you got Holl and Gustaffson eating up another 6 million in your bottom pairs. Yzerman replaced NHL d in their 20's with past their prime D's in their 30's.

I won't lie, I'd trade Nurse, Bouch, Ek and Emberson/Stecher for that in a heartbeat and my team is not in a rebuild.lol

But, again, I'm thrilled Hronek is gone. Yzerman took a step backwards IMO on the D. I do think you'd be a playoff team with that D and I do think that D would've been the difference in making playoffs last season too! And it is okay to have good players in the NHL and good players in development. If Seth Jones can be traded then Hronek at 7 mill down the road can too!
 
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The team is in good shape. Seems like the coaching change will finally activate this roster for next year. As long as Yzerman can move off Holl/Gustafsson and find some more defensively minded d-men to fill those rolls, they should have a playoff team that will actually be competitive in the first round and not just happy to be there. Kasper has shown up, which is a good sign for the other drafted forwards in Detroit's system. Now they just need to develop or get some more goal scoring to go on the 3rd line and they should be set for a long time.
 
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I'm glad he's gone. I get the argument but I do see 4 guys in their 20's with good contracts. I also see an affordable core that is much better than what you have today with Petry, Holl and Chariot (who are not inexpensive or young and IMO not that good anymore).

Hronek is at 7 mill and he's 27
Seider is at 8.5 and 23
Ed is 22 and at 1
Walman is 29 and 3.4

Your current top 4 (by TOI) is not much cheaper to my eye and definitely not better.

Ed is 1
Seider is 8.5
Petry is 2.5
Chariot is 4.75

20 mill vs 15 million roughly And you got Holl and Gustaffson eating up another 6 million in your bottom pairs. Yzerman replaced NHL d in their 20's with past their prime D's in their 30's.

I won't lie, I'd trade Nurse, Bouch, Ek and Emberson/Stecher for that in a heartbeat and my team is not in a rebuild.lol

But, again, I'm thrilled Hronek is gone. Yzerman took a step backwards IMO on the D. I do think you'd be a playoff team with that D and I do think that D would've been the difference in making playoffs last season too! And it is okay to have good players in the NHL and good players in development. If Seth Jones can be traded then Hronek at 7 mill down the road can too!
I'm not even sure what you're trying to say here. Petry was a "trade" as a favor to a long time Detroit ownership associated person. Petry is not in top 4 by toi. This year he has 652 mins played. Ajo is at 754, Holl is at 868, Gus is at 965(who is 4th in D TOI).

Second, Hronek didn't play well when he was in Detroit, it didn't matter who you partnered with him he didn't do well, he had a bout where he played decently but failed to repeat it. Detroit was not going to pay him 7m a year to be a marginal 4th D. He had no chance he was going to take the top D pair spot as Seider out of the gate was showing him up. I'm happy Hronek is doing ok in Van. Walman it's heavily speculated that there was locker room issues and that is why Yzerman was quick to push him out as soon as he did for whatever the cost.

If you're going to spin narratives, at least align them with what happened and when. ASP wasn't even a thing when Hronek was traded, we had no idea who would be available at that pick, hell we didn't even know exactly what position that pick was going to be.

Back to Hronek, you don't pay a 2nd pair D 7m a year. By the time he was traded, Seider had cemented himself as the top pair D and Hronek played himself off the team for his ability vs anticipated paycheck.
 
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I'm not even sure what you're trying to say here. Petry was a "trade" as a favor to a long time Detroit ownership associated person. Petry is not in top 4 by toi. This year he has 652 mins played. Ajo is at 754, Holl is at 868, Gus is at 965(who is 4th in D TOI).

Second, Hronek didn't play well when he was in Detroit, it didn't matter who you partnered with him he didn't do well, he had a bout where he played decently but failed to repeat it. Detroit was not going to pay him 7m a year to be a marginal 4th D. He had no chance he was going to take the top D pair spot as Seider out of the gate was showing him up. I'm happy Hronek is doing ok in Van. Walman it's heavily speculated that there was locker room issues and that is why Yzerman was quick to push him out as soon as he did for whatever the cost.

If you're going to spin narratives, at least align them with what happened and when. ASP wasn't even a thing when Hronek was traded, we had no idea who would be available at that pick, hell we didn't even know exactly what position that pick was going to be.

Back to Hronek, you don't pay a 2nd pair D 7m a year. By the time he was traded, Seider had cemented himself as the top pair D and Hronek played himself off the team for his ability vs anticipated paycheck.
1742327006916.png


Looks like a clearly defined top 4 when everyone is healthy to me. Top 4D tend to average 20 a night or more? But okay, so your top 4 this season using TOI (which is not how that's done) is:

1742327232540.png


Doing favors for our Detroit Associated friends, paying teams to take good D (Walman) that turn into first round picks.. I'd say these are valid concerns of your GM. Grier did a wonderful GM job with Walman.

And glad you agree that Hronek is not an ASP replacement. That has been my point the whole time.
 
View attachment 994880

Looks like a clearly defined top 4 when everyone is healthy to me. Top 4D tend to average 20 a night or more? But okay, so your top 4 this season using TOI (which is not how that's done) is:

View attachment 994883

Doing favors for our Detroit Associated friends, paying teams to take good D (Walman) that turn into first round picks.. I'd say these are valid concerns of your GM. Grier did a wonderful GM job with Walman.

And glad you agree that Hronek is not an ASP replacement. That has been my point the whole time.
Walman was not a good D or least not one good enough you deal with what ever the other issues that were present. Every team does favors. Have you just started watching sports?
 
The wings will make the playoffs next year and I love the way the team is shaping up. Only question is if they can legitimately compete for a cup before Larkin gets broken.
Which team will they bump out of the playoffs next year?

People had been waiting for Boston to fall out for a while, but it looks like Ottawa is the team taking their spot.

Who will be the faller next year if you think Detroit is getting in?
 
Which team will they bump out of the playoffs next year?

People had been waiting for Boston to fall out for a while, but it looks like Ottawa is the team taking their spot.

Who will be the faller next year if you think Detroit is getting in?
They're deep in delusion. I hate the sens but it's clear you guys have passed them and have a better core
 
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