GDT: Game 77: Red Wings at habs 7:00 pm et 4/8/25

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

/agree. Hopefully tank and Gus gone too.

I can’t remember who but someone got me hopeful about a possible Tank rebound next season given his father passed away this offseason. Though thinking he’ll improve I do feel a bit like Charlie Brown running full speed to kick the football Lucy’s holding.

Yeah forgot about Gus. He’s not as bad as Holl but certainly another disappointment.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

Thx Sideburns. Didn’t a bunch of ppl lose they’re accounts recently

totally. i def believe that this is only the second account you've ever had

 

[JoesuffP]

Larkin will eventually ask for a trade and it will make us look back at his career and what was given to him and change the way we feel about him. He was never built for this he was just the only adult in the room

 

[wingsfannnn9191]

The case for moving Larkin would be that he would actually bring value back. If we want to 'rebuild' the rebuild, the only way to do that would be to move a Larkin or Debrincat. Not saying I want to make this move, however there is a case to be made to move these players to get better in areas of need. Even if we manage to rid ourselves of Holl, Tarasenko, Holl; we aren't getting anything in return. We can easily waive any of these players if they are blocking a prospect next season. Furthermore, their contracts are not holding the team hostage. Our salary cap opens up after next season.

Anyone can want to move him but he has a no move clause until the last two years and I can’t see a world where he asks for a trade anytime soon

 

[wingsfannnn9191]

totally. i def believe that this is only the second account you've ever had

K

 

[Air Budd Dwyer]

You need both UFA signings and trades, not just drafts. Two things Yzerman has either refused to do or done very poorly.

Where would Florida be without Forsling, Bobrovsky, Tkachuck and Bennett?

Tampa without Mcdonagh, Coleman, Sergachev?

Vegas without the countless moves they made?

Colorado without Toews, Nikushkin, Lehtonen?

We haven’t been bad enough or lucky enough to draft a true game breaker, and none of our current prospects are likely to reach that level.

Where else is he going to get actual quality secondary scoring/quality top pair or even middle pair D? Its very unlikely to come from these 15th overall picks.

I agree. But I don’t think that this team is at the point to be adding impact free agents yet. We really don’t even know if we have a goalie yet. That’s why I’m saying we have to make sure one of Cossa/Augustine is the guy. At that stage, add impact free agents.

 

[Air Budd Dwyer]

Jesus Christ. Please tell me that you're not okay with that if that's what his plan is.

What other option is there? You cannot build a professional sports team through free agency, not in a capped league. Believe me, I wish the NHL was like the NFL where you can draft guys in the 2nd and 3rd round and they came in and contributed as rookies lol.

 

[DamonDRW]

It's not just about the players...it's leadership and buy in from the ENTIRE team...a team that now has players who should be ready for golf season, going through the wall.

Suzuki went to Highes and Hughes agreed not to trade ANYONE if the team went for broke. Check how many points Suzuki has after the break and how much the entire team has bought into making the playoffs. Players like Armia and Dvorak who use to mail it in are now playing for their lives.

So it's not Yzerman, who is a damn good GM, one of the best, nor the individual players. Syder, Raymond and Larkin are exceptional.

It's leadership and team ready to go through a wall. Period.

Lastly...it was a lopsided game for you guys BUT when teams believe in themselves, they never give up. They will find a way to win.

Your team along with us will dominate in two years....mark my words...

bla-bla-bla. it is simple lack of talent. 2005 Red Wings would win 10-0 against this Montreal team.

 

[datsyukfan]

He’s also 5’8 and I can’t imagine him being a huge impact and not being tossed aside when the playoff comes. Also have to think we have Kasper, danielson coming , nygaard ... raymond,larkin,Soderblom etc.. what if we signed a marner or got an impactful top 6 guy? There’s Only 4 spots on the wing on the top 6

I can be proven wrong but I think there was a reason he got a 4 year deal. If he’s willing to resign 3-4 yrs ok but if he wants 7-8 I can’t see Yzerman giving him that

I totally disagree that he would just get pushed aside. The guy competes his ass off and wins tuns of battles vs bigger guys. He sticks up for his teammates as well.

Hey that would be great to have all those guys turn into good players, I guess 1-2 of them can play on the 3rd line (you are allowed to have good players on the 3rd line).

If Yzerman is unwilling to give him the max term then please have him fired before he gets that opportunity.

 

[Squirrel in the Hole]

I agree. But I don’t think that this team is at the point to be adding impact free agents yet. We really don’t even know if we have a goalie yet. That’s why I’m saying we have to make sure one of Cossa/Augustine is the guy. At that stage, add impact free agents.

We have a goalie, Petr Mrazek!

 

[datsyukfan]

What other option is there? You cannot build a professional sports team through free agency, not in a capped league. Believe me, I wish the NHL was like the NFL where you can draft guys in the 2nd and 3rd round and they came in and contributed as rookies lol.

Who said we are building the team through FA? You have really set the bar low? There’s no excuse for not adding a legit top 6F and top 4D through FA or trade. Have you not been paying attention to the best teams??

Florida: Tkatchuk, Bennett,Reinheart, Forsling (literally their foundation) all through trades

Vegas: Eichel, Stone, Petro, Hertl through trade and FA

Washington: Chychrun,Dubois, Roy trades and FA

There’s a lot more teams that have added talent through trade or FA. You can’t just draft and have a full team of homegrown guys especially when there is no way we are going to be picking top 3-5 because we are too good already

 

[datsyukfan]

I agree. But I don’t think that this team is at the point to be adding impact free agents yet. We really don’t even know if we have a goalie yet. That’s why I’m saying we have to make sure one of Cossa/Augustine is the guy. At that stage, add impact free agents.

Then trade Larkin and Cat bevause those guys aren’t gonna be legit starters for what 3-4 years. Hell yzerman has already signaled that Cossa will be back in the AHL by getting Mrazek. The time to be aggressive and take a swing or two in FA/trade is right now. Use our young talented guys that are pushing into the NHL as our depth and allow them to move up as the Compher,Copp,Chiarot type guys contracts expire

 

[Air Budd Dwyer]

Who said we are building the team through FA? You have really set the bar low? There’s no excuse for not adding a legit top 6F and top 4D through FA or trade. Have you not been paying attention to the best teams??

Florida: Tkatchuk, Bennett,Reinheart, Forsling (literally their foundation) all through trades

Vegas: Eichel, Stone, Petro, Hertl through trade and FA

Washington: Chychrun,Dubois, Roy trades and FA

There’s a lot more teams that have added talent through trade or FA. You can’t just draft and have a full team of homegrown guys especially when there is no way we are going to be picking top 3-5 because we are too good already

We’ve just seen too many guys in sports have a career year and get paid (Copp) then underperform. I’m always leaning away from signing big money free agents. And you’re right but look what Florida gave up for Tkachuk. We don’t have anyone on the level that Huberdeaueuaeua (however you spell it) was coming off that season. I don’t have it in front of me what was given up to trade for the other players or how much they’re paid but I assume most people here would oppose it lol (we are the give away nothing to acquire everything fanbase).

Then trade Larkin and Cat bevause those guys aren’t gonna be legit starters for what 3-4 years. Hell yzerman has already signaled that Cossa will be back in the AHL by getting Mrazek. The time to be aggressive and take a swing or two in FA/trade is right now. Use our young talented guys that are pushing into the NHL as our depth and allow them to move up as the Compher,Copp,Chiarot type guys contracts expire

I’m actually all for seeing what could be got for Larkin if Yzerman were to shop him. I think he’s a good player but he’s by no stretch of the imagination untradable.

 

[SoupGuru]

I remember when Eichel got traded to Vegas where he could "just be a dude". I hope Larkin gets that same opportunity on a contender.

 

[Winger98]

Honestly the thing that would have me most disappointed in Yzerman is if next season Holl plays even one game for the Red wings.

We tend to get hyperbolic here on the forums but Holl is genuinely staggeringly bad and is a rare case where an AHL Dman actually couldn’t do worse.

I think Lageeson (sp?) was worse and had to be sheltered more. Put Holl in GR and he's 1st pair guy, unless they want him to stabilize a second pair just for depth. That said, we should upgrade on him. I'd let ASP take that spot and see if we can sign Pionk or Ekblad to partner with Ed.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

I think Lageeson (sp?) was worse and had to be sheltered more. Put Holl in GR and he's 1st pair guy, unless they want him to stabilize a second pair just for depth. That said, we should upgrade on him. I'd let ASP take that spot and see if we can sign Pionk or Ekblad to partner with Ed.

I wondered about Lagesson but admittedly hadn't seen him play much. He's really worse than Holl? oof.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

I agree. But I don’t think that this team is at the point to be adding impact free agents yet. We really don’t even know if we have a goalie yet. That’s why I’m saying we have to make sure one of Cossa/Augustine is the guy. At that stage, add impact free agents.

Probably an unpopular opinion but I think Talbot with Mrazek as backup is an improvement and good enough for now.

Overall this year Talbot gave the Wings a chance to win most nights. Unless you have someone like Hellebuyck that's about the best you can hope for in today's league.

I'm not a big Mrazek fan but hopefully he can come in and play lights out in the backup role. He seemed to struggle carrying the mantle of starter.

 

[wingsfannnn9191]

I totally disagree that he would just get pushed aside. The guy competes his ass off and wins tuns of battles vs bigger guys. He sticks up for his teammates as well.

Hey that would be great to have all those guys turn into good players, I guess 1-2 of them can play on the 3rd line (you are allowed to have good players on the 3rd line).

If Yzerman is unwilling to give him the max term then please have him fired before he gets that opportunity.

Yzerman isn’t going anywhere whether debrincat stays or goes

 

[HabsAddict]

Yzerman is good in the draft he’s not a good GM. I don’t see us being dominant at any point in near future because we don’t have an elite talent, and we won’t be picking high enough to get one and the GM refuses to use picks and prospects to acquire one

He should basically be all in on Marner. I’d honestly make him the highest paid player in hockey if that’s what it took. Ya it’s an overpay but cap is skyrocketing and they have great deals for Larkin, Raymond, seider.

I’d also have my first round pick this year firmly on the table for a high end F or legit top 2-3 D. They have enough middle of the lineup prospects they have their depth covered easily, but they don’t have the elite piece or 2 needed.

I didn't see a bad Wings team last night, i saw a damn good team play better then one of the hottest teams right now...but lose.

It happens.

I usually check out reaction by other fans and it's normal to see over reactions. In this case, there is nothing warrented to over react. Particularly since we were outplayed.

Moving on...

 

[JediOrderPizza]

Probably an unpopular opinion but I think Talbot with Mrazek as backup is an improvement and good enough for now.

Overall this year Talbot gave the Wings a chance to win most nights. Unless you have someone like Hellebuyck that's about the best you can hope for in today's league.

I'm not a big Mrazek fan but hopefully he can come in and play lights out in the backup role. He seemed to struggle carrying the mantle of starter.

Yeah, what other option is there really anyways? This doesn't block Cossa either if he is ready, I don't think he will be and looking at the free agent market no way would I touch that.

 

[Hockeyfan2390]

What other option is there? You cannot build a professional sports team through free agency, not in a capped league. Believe me, I wish the NHL was like the NFL where you can draft guys in the 2nd and 3rd round and they came in and contributed as rookies lol.

Not solely through free-agency, but that's a major part of it. Building exclusively through the draft with unknown players isn't a winning strategy. You need to acquire established talent to combine with your "what ifs".

It would be great if Detroit's prospects were the next wave of greatness. There is literally zero indication that any of Detroit's prospects other than ASP and MAYBE Cossa will be anything special at the NHL level (if Cossa showed any indication of being something special, he wouldn't be left to rot in the minors for another year while Detroit intentionally acquired Mrazek and his 3.50 GAA to play in 2025-26.)

Filip Zadina, Dennis Cholowski, Michael Rasmussen, Filip Larsson, and Evgeny Svechnikov were all supposed to be high-end talents.

 

[Hockeyfan2390]

I agree. But I don’t think that this team is at the point to be adding impact free agents yet. We really don’t even know if we have a goalie yet. That’s why I’m saying we have to make sure one of Cossa/Augustine is the guy. At that stage, add impact free agents.

So, what is Detroit supposed to do until then? Spin their wheels until 2028? That CANNOT be the strategy. Why should fans care if management isn't going to prioritize winning?

If that's Yzerman's intention, then he needs to be fired and have a GM who will actually start putting some gas on this thing and show some effing urgency brought in.

This isn't the Buffalo Sabres or Minnesota Wild or Ottawa Senators where a single playoff appearance per decade is the norm. That's not the standard here. And Yzerman should know that better than anyone, considering he was a principal part in helping Detroit set the new standard of success in the NHL.

 

[Winger98]

I didn't see a bad Wings team last night, i saw a damn good team play better then one of the hottest teams right now...but lose.

It happens.

I usually check out reaction by other fans and it's normal to see over reactions. In this case, there is nothing warrented to over react. Particularly since we were outplayed.

Moving on...

It hasn't helped matters around here that this has happened a lot since the 4 nations thing. We outplayed a lot of teams, imo, since then and haven't been rewarded for it. After the team just collapsed last year, folks are seeing it as the same thing - though, it's not. The result may be the same, and there is a certain truth to it being the thing that matters the most, but this team has played far better than last season's.

 

[Hockeyfan2390]

It hasn't helped matters around here that this has happened a lot since the 4 nations thing. We outplayed a lot of teams, imo, since then and haven't been rewarded for it. After the team just collapsed last year, folks are seeing it as the same thing - though, it's not. The result may be the same, and there is a certain truth to it being the thing that matters the most, but this team has played far better than last season's.

I hate to use it, but the Four Nations completely halted Detroit's momentum. That's what I was afraid of.

Not to mention, I completely misread what Larkin's performance in the Four Nations was going to mean for the Red Wings. I'd bet most of us thought Larkin was going to continue that momentum coming back to the NHL schedule.

 

[Winger98]

I wondered about Lagesson but admittedly hadn't seen him play much. He's really worse than Holl? oof.

he was noticeably more limited than Holl. At least I thought he was, and I thought we sheltered him more, but we've also had to shelter Holl more and more as this season went along. I'm fine never seeing either in Detroit again after this season.

I hate to use it, but the Four Nations completely halted Detroit's momentum. That's what I was afraid of.

Not to mention, I completely misread what Larkin's performance in the Four Nations was going to mean for the Red Wings. I'd bet most of us thought Larkin was going to continue that momentum coming back to the NHL schedule.

yeah, I think it threw a massive wrench into our season. It also allowed some other teams (Ottawa and Montreal specifically) to totally reset their seasons. Both were losing games like crazy heading into that break, both came out of the break on fire. It just totally screwed us.