GDT: Game 49: Red Wings vs bolts 7:00 pm et 1/25/25

[JediOrderPizza]

Aljo has been super solid, in the Lalonde games I was leaning more towards a Gustav Lindstrom. But you can see him probably be that 20 pt rock type.

Which we def need. If we kept Lalonde we probably waive him eventually and he goes Forsling mode somewhere.

 

[Snuggs]

Johansson's been really good and handled himself well with Guntzel last night, I wasn't sure if he wasn't going to be able to really handled the rough stuff especially in playoffs but he did last night without loosing his cool or affecting his game.

Kasper had a crazy goal, just have Larkin and Raymond keep bopping goals off Kapser. Might not have the best offensive game yet but Kasper is doing better than guys like Veleno/Compher/etc were doing with those same linemates; Let it ride.

Rasmussen hurt at the end... BS. Honestly... you wait till next game, send a leader like Copp out on the ice and handle Kuch... Rasmussen can't really do it it's a huge miss-match. Kuch should prolly even know something's coming. It was bush-league.

 

[Scottgaf1]

The young depth of this team is finally breaking thru. I think lots of credit goes to Grand Rapids coach. Guys moving up have been game ready and are all showing better.

Some of the fringe vets on this team have to be nervous of their job being taken away. That leads to everyone playing better.

 

[lilidk]

If Kucherov don't get one or two games for that I hope
Next time we play Tampa , Ras do something about that.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Why was Soderblom in the minors all year?

He attended the „Austin Watson Bootcamp“ and it worked.

 

[TheOctopusKid]

I feel I made a post ages ago basically saying that AlJo was similar in size and trajectory to Kronwall or some equivalent. I don’t have any concern that he can mix it up or handle the physical aspects of the game. Look up on Twitter “Albert Johansson Hit” - and you’ll see near identical Kronwall level hits from this kid from the SHL and AHL. He is just solid all around and again, what defines him is his head. He makes really smart plays, he doesn’t panic, he can hit a break out, he can hit, he plays positionally sound and actually has an underrated clapper. Hes low maintenance l, plays both sides, and because he’s so well rounded could play with a lot of different partners

Give him the Jensen contact - that 5-6yr deal at 2M a pop. Lock him in to our bottom four the next half a decade now and call it a day. In 2027, we’ll be laughing how valuable he is

 

[Zetterberg4Captain]

He attended the „Austin Watson Bootcamp“ and it worked.

I'd like to call up Watson for the 4th line actually.. waive veleno and send him down

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

Everyone won or at least got a point (Montreal)

It's frustrating

It is frustrating, but at least the wings are not losing ground, a lot of games to be played yet.

 

[Nut Upstrom]

Seider is top 10 in the league in hits among D-men since entering the league. As a U25 player. That is unicorn stuff.
Big hits, reverse hits, simply taking the body, he does it all.

Conclusion from the brain trust on this site? He needs to hit more.

Save the idiot stuff for the main board Ottawa fans. No one is saying what you just accused of us saying.
This was an intense game and a physical game. Expecting a unicorn stud who is top 10 in hits to throw some hits is not as wild an idea as some seem to think.

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

Johansson's been really good and handled himself well with Guntzel last night, I wasn't sure if he wasn't going to be able to really handled the rough stuff especially in playoffs but he did last night without loosing his cool or affecting his game.

Kasper had a crazy goal, just have Larkin and Raymond keep bopping goals off Kapser. Might not have the best offensive game yet but Kasper is doing better than guys like Veleno/Compher/etc were doing with those same linemates; Let it ride.

Rasmussen hurt at the end... BS. Honestly... you wait till next game, send a leader like Copp out on the ice and handle Kuch... Rasmussen can't really do it it's a huge miss-match. Kuch should prolly even know something's coming. It was bush-league.

Feb 8 game, maybe Elmer gets stuck out there on an icing call and they when send Kuch over the boards...Elmer should just take it upon himself to deliver just one big clean open ice Sodaboom hit...he will have a roster spot for years to come...

 

[Snuggs]

Feb 8 game, maybe Elmer gets stuck out there on an icing call and they when send Kuch over the boards...Elmer should just take it upon himself to deliver just one big clean open ice Sodaboom hit...he will have a roster spot for years to come...

That'll start a melee vs making a guy answer the bell. IF... it happens at all it'll be one of our leaders who just skates up and say "hey, we gotta go" or something along those lines, Possibly Rasmussen himself but it's a huge size difference.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Seider is top 10 in the league in hits among D-men since entering the league. As a U25 player. That is unicorn stuff.
Big hits, reverse hits, simply taking the body, he does it all.

Conclusion from the brain trust on this site? He needs to hit more.

Don’t forget shot blocks as well.

Is there a higher scoring defenseman with more blocks and hits in the last 4 years?

Also, THIS is the Johansson I dreamt about whenever I watched him play with Farjestad. Fast, great at retrievals and defending the rush, and doesn’t lose his man. He’s not overhandling the puck and really knows when to pinch now.

Kasper will be tough to deal with at center if the wings can give him a legit scoring threat on his wing in the future. He’s the kind of guy that might only be the 5th or 6th highest scoring forward on a team, but be 3rd most valuable. (Assuming Ray and Larkin are still realgud later)

I want to see Soderblom up with scorers if only for a few shifts. He only played 10:44 while Tank played over 15, and I can’t justify why. A line of Soderblom, Danielson and Berggren sounds like a solid 3rd line to me.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I feel I made a post ages ago basically saying that AlJo was similar in size and trajectory to Kronwall or some equivalent. I don’t have any concern that he can mix it up or handle the physical aspects of the game. Look up on Twitter “Albert Johansson Hit” - and you’ll see near identical Kronwall level hits from this kid from the SHL and AHL. He is just solid all around and again, what defines him is his head. He makes really smart plays, he doesn’t panic, he can hit a break out, he can hit, he plays positionally sound and actually has an underrated clapper. Hes low maintenance l, plays both sides, and because he’s so well rounded could play with a lot of different partners

Give him the Jensen contact - that 5-6yr deal at 2M a pop. Lock him in to our bottom four the next half a decade now and call it a day. In 2027, we’ll be laughing how valuable he is

Will Borgen just got 4 mil. I don’t think we’re getting Johansson at half as much.

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

Any updates on Ras? I hope Kuch is suspended.

 

[Euro Twins]

Lol Seider is the last guy anyone should question the intensity of. Hes been an absolute beast all season crushing guys and blocking everything. He was busy tonight playing shutdown D on Kucherov and Brayden Point, team got a shutout with Seider playing 27 minutes. 5 more minutes than anyone else on the team

Don't you dare bring reason and logic into people trashing their team for winning against Tampa!

We were also in the playoffs last year and then he joined he that went bye bye.

You people are way too complimentary of Johansson. He is not a top 4 d at all. He literally doesn't do anything special. At best without improvement, he will be a bottom 6 defender on a playoff team.

Is bottom 6 different then top 6?

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

That'll start a melee vs making a guy answer the bell. IF... it happens at all it'll be one of our leaders who just skates up and say "hey, we gotta go" or something along those lines, Possibly Rasmussen himself but it's a huge size difference.

If the Bolts want to start a melee with their 1st line out there versus our 4th if Elmer levels Kuch with a clean hit, it might be a good for the wings...let them wear some big boy pants for when play the Sens, the wings need to beat the Sens to move up the standings.

The Wings need to play tougher, they don't need to fight all the time, but they do need to step into people and finish their hits when they get the chance. They do seem to do it a little more, but they need to start owning things better, I hope to see more of it as the more of the yutes start getting embedded.

Answering the bell is one way of showing things, another is for each and every player to go out of their way to simply nail Kuch at every legal opportunity. I think just about every wing player except DCat and Kane are a fair chunk bigger than Kuch, so a more focused bruising game as pay back might be more in line...unless Ras is out long term. The wings only need to turn the puck over to him and then cleanly hit him a few times in a shift, the message will be received and understood...

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

If Kucherov don't get one or two games for that I hope
Next time we play Tampa , Ras do something about that.

The DoPS doing anything about that is about as likely as Ras doing anything about it.

And it’s not like Kucherov would square up and drop the gloves anyway.

 

[Austrianwing]

Is bottom 6 different then top 6?

I assume it is the exact inverse of the total ordered set of top six defensemen. So, 1 precedes 2 becomes 2 preceding 1, etc.
Same elements, but otherwise =/=.

 

[dalem177]

Watched 1st period. I liked everything. I loved Bloomers going all treetrunk and sending Crozier to the dressing room. I saw Holl make some ... questionable passes but I also saw him pick a pocket or two.

If I didn't already know the outcome I'd be worried that the Wings are getting too fancy with their shots, but they ARE taking advantage of opportunistic shots, so... I think I'd be full of poop.

Ken & Mick in great form.

Thank you post!

On to the 2d!

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

Don’t forget shot blocks as well.

Is there a higher scoring defenseman with more blocks and hits in the last 4 years?

Also, THIS is the Johansson I dreamt about whenever I watched him play with Farjestad. Fast, great at retrievals and defending the rush, and doesn’t lose his man. He’s not overhandling the puck and really knows when to pinch now.

Kasper will be tough to deal with at center if the wings can give him a legit scoring threat on his wing in the future. He’s the kind of guy that might only be the 5th or 6th highest scoring forward on a team, but be 3rd most valuable. (Assuming Ray and Larkin are still realgud later)

I want to see Soderblom up with scorers if only for a few shifts. He only played 10:44 while Tank played over 15, and I can’t justify why. A line of Soderblom, Danielson and Berggren sounds like a solid 3rd line to me.

Elmer has only been up for a few games and the coaches are still going through evaluation cycles...fear not, thy should be shaking things out again shortly as I think they are finalizing the main pairs per line, not just who moves up with them. I think they are trying hard to find a partner for Tank and he was playing 2RW I think, so elevated minutes, if they can get him him going too...life will be easier.

The wings are still playing pretty good, but I do not think Todd is anywhere near the end of tinkering with the lines (F and D). If Ras is out any amount of time, you might see Elmer as the next 1LW for the next audition cycle, but it could still be Burgers on the next one.

I think we'll see Kasper get a crack at 2C with Kane and DCat either the next cycle or the one after.

Elmer was playing both the PK and PP in GR, he will get a chance on both eventually. If Elmer sticks, (I think he will) then the wings will have 4 GR 2024/25 grads on the roster by the 2025 TDL. (I considered Ed to be last year) Elmer does not have a point yet in 3 games, but I do note he his +/- (I hate that stat) is 0 and I recall more than a few defensive zone starts. The Yutes are arriving and contributing.

 

[dalem177]

Is Larks getting Tank's tooth?

 

[newfy]

Seider should hit and shoot more. The team in general should play a more physical game, the chances to win is much better.

I don't want to have a negative discussion about this game. I think the team played hard and earned 2 very though wins. Saying that the best players, Larkin, Seider, Raymond..., can adjust their game is not Debbie Downer whining. For example, when Raymond had his chance, he should have skated a bit in the middle to force the goalie to move and to get a better angle to shoot. Redmond also pointed out this play.

Seider is top 10 in the league in hits among D-men since entering the league. As a U25 player. That is unicorn stuff.
Big hits, reverse hits, simply taking the body, he does it all.

Conclusion from the brain trust on this site? He needs to hit more.

Yeah Seider is top 5 in hits this year for dmen. He just played 27 minutes in a game, matching up against the player with the highest points per game in the entire league and the team got a shut-out. Its absolutely stupid to be in here complaining he wasn't running around chasing big hits tonight when he hadm Kucherov so frustrated he ended up doing that stupid shit against Rasmussen

When they had that big scrum behind the net at the end of the period Seider went flying in there like a dirty shirt. Its such a ridiculous complaint to have

 

[dalem177]

Great game. I want Kooch run hard next meeting. That was a dick move.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Soderblom has the skill, size and strength to have the entire NHL terrified of him. I hope he destroys Kuch next game.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Is Larks getting Tank's tooth?

View attachment 967521

Given the size of what he's trying to pick up I'd guess it's Kucherov's balls.

They should be wearing gloves. I mean, it's one thing to bare hand grab on octopus but that's just unsafe.