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Detroit Redwings Downfall

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Let’s be real, if any of you have ever played anything competitive, you know it’s tough to lead and be 100 percent all the time when you know you can’t trust your team. Anyone who’s actually been the best or one of the better players know that the responsibility of carrying a limp team is difficult mentally.
 
Sol said:
Let’s be real, if any of you have ever played anything competitive, you know it’s tough to lead and be 100 percent all the time when you know you can’t trust your team. Anyone who’s actually been the best or one of the better players know that the responsibility of carrying a limp team is difficult mentally.
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Yes but taking responsibility is part of it. Even if the team sucks you take that on too. It's better to come from a more positive place than a blame place which is what taking responsibility is a lot of time in this situation. You gotta get some momentum somewhere and sometimes it's from the captain busting his even ass when his team sucks and maybe you start to get more from the rest.
 
JohanFranzenstein said:
It has been discussed ad nausem on the Wings board. Half of us believe he should step up and lead his team better, the other half believes he's right and Steve should've added at the deadline.

I fall into the former group.
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Both things can be right. And Larkin shouldn't be airing this publicly.

I've been critical of Nick Suzuki in the past. Didn't feel he was playing to where he could be and doubted his ability to become a real number one. But he stepped up big time last year. This year the GM refrained from selling at the deadline because Suzuki asked him not to deal players away. The GM challenged Suzuki to get the team into playoff contention and he did just that. Other than Lane Hutson the rest of the team really faltrered in the last dozen or so games but Suzuki carried the team.

It's weak sauce for Larkin to go up there and whine about this, especially since he really didn't step up down the stretch. It reeks of deflecting blame and excuse making.

Doesn't mean he's wrong. Doesn't mean Yzerman couldn't have done better. But this is not something he should be whining about publicly. Larkin is perfectly capable of putting a team on his shoulders as Suzuki did. He should just shut up and do it. And if he can't, he should keep these kinds of discussions behind closed doors.
 
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Nothing burger. He made one comment in his entire media availability about not getting additions at the deadline. Who cares.

Kane had the same media availability and said basically.. hey its on us, we were in a good spot and the group we had was confident. Larkin being frustrated isn't surprising, he has been the face of the franchise for a rather poor stretch. He will get over it and isn't getting traded. Move on.
 
JohanFranzenstein said:
It has been discussed ad nausem on the Wings board. Half of us believe he should step up and lead his team better, the other half believes he's right and Steve should've added at the deadline.

I fall into the former group.
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Not really about whether he is “right” or not in my opinion. It’s great he wants to win, but should a guy who himself isn’t exactly performing great himself be shifting focus to the front office instead of what’s happening on the ice?

It’s not that he’s wrong. It’s just not the most “professional” of mindsets for a captain.

And before I hear about how “he was just being honest”. Yes, I know. And that’s great. But being honest does not make one immune from criticism for the content of said honesty.

He’s loading a ton onto the FO just in that one quote. Saying they didn’t “gain any momentum” and “were down about it” for the remainder of the year in terms of not being aggressive at the deadline. So their attitudes would have been better if they had made a move or two? Is team “attitude” not largely Larkin’s responsibility (along with the coaches) as the leader?
 
Even if it's right, it's bad leadership to say it within your role as the captain. You have to be conscious of how your actions are going to reflect on the organization itself, especially when you're doing a press conference like that.

It's not horrendous as far as PR black eyes go, but it's not good, either. And it definitely makes you wonder if this is part of what is holding this team back.
 
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A lot of Yzerman's tenure with Tampa was glorified because of Al Murray's scouting.

His tenure in Detroit has been very subpar with bonedeaded moves like Husso, Compher, Ben Chariot etc.
 
cmon Dylan, I know you've only played 5 playoff games in your career, which were in your rookie season. But say the right thing for your ruggedly handsome GM please
 
I don't get why people are mad at Larkin he is a star player who puts up goals and points, is good defensively and plays the right way.

He is also on a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 9 years and is in his prime. He should be mad.
 
Larkin really needs to stop sounding like someone is holding his puppy hostage. Being a leader for the team, that kind of attitude permeates the lineup. Time and time again most broadcasters note that the bench just slumps and lowers their heads whenever something doesn't go their way. They need to be their own agents of change and start playing like professionals and stop coming up with reasons as to why you aren't getting to where you wanted to go. All that time from when McLellan was hired, up until March, was the same team. So there should be no excuse why, when you are playing almost .700 hockey, that you can't at least go .500 in March and have secured your playoff spot.

It really is as simple as that. They could have finished a game or two under .500 for March and still be in the Playoffs...but that dumpster fire of an effort is all on them. Yzerman doesn't need to bail them out right now. They need to learn to play like pros.
 
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Don't blame him, he's wasted his entire prime behind the "Yzerplan" and hasn't sniffed a playoff game.
 
eojsmada said:
Larkin really needs to stop sounding like someone is holding his puppy hostage. Being a leader for the team, that kind of attitude permeates the lineup. Time and time again most broadcasters note that the bench just slumps and lowers their heads whenever something doesn't go their way. They need to be their own agents of change and start playing like professionals and stop coming up with reasons as to why you aren't getting to where you wanted to go. All that time from when McLellan was hired, up until March, was the same team. So there should be no excuse why, when you are playing almost .700 hockey, that you can't at least go .500 in March and have secured your playoff spot.

It really is as simple as that. They could have finished a game or two under .500 for March and still be in the Playoffs...but that dumpster fire of an effort is all on them. Yzerman doesn't need to bail them out right now. They need to learn to play like pros.
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he always sounds like that. very monotone, borderline depressive personality. Probably dosnt spark or fire up the troops
 
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JohanFranzenstein said:
It has been discussed ad nausem on the Wings board. Half of us believe he should step up and lead his team better, the other half believes he's right and Steve should've added at the deadline.

I fall into the former group.
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As a Wings fan I'm on the fence...While Yzerman has had varying results via trades/free agency there is not much to pick from since not everyone wants to play in Detroit...On the other hand Larkin (while he needs to step it up) has been by far the best player on this team for several seasons and it continues to struggle with no hope in sight.
 
This was already discussed in the existing Red Wings bashing thread.

Or is there a quota of Red Wings bashing threads that must be met since the other one finally got closed?
 
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nowhereman said:
Vancouver would be all over that. But their biggest trade chip is a defenseman and the Wings don't really need to bolster the backend with more youth.
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Yes, after moving JT miller (instead of that organizational rash of Petterrson), Boeser leaving soon in FA and Hughes potentially walking (as alluded to by Rutherford this week , coupled with the fact it’s Canada, I’m sure Larkin would love to go to Vancouver.
 
On one hand, I like seeing players speak their mind a bit more, rather than coming out with the same robot answers all year. However, I really don't like the excuse from Larkin in this case. It essentially boils down to "even we knew we weren't good enough" and I don't really like that sentiment from a captain
 
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