Internal Bounce Back Candidates

[SirloinUB]

For the millionth time, I think Copp was great this past season, and the team fell apart without him. He's gonna continue to be a good shutdown 3C and penalty killer.

Personally banking Tank can put it together this offseason.

I agree. I included him because I think the injury makes me wonder how he will come back next season. It took him some time to ramp up after his previous core surgery

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

How about none of them?

Copp’s injury is going to be more impactful than other people expect.

Compher was hot to start in 2023-24 but has been mid at best since the start of 2024.

Tank is washed.

Ras is what he is.

Holl is a bottom pair AHLer.

Gustafsson is a top pair AHLer.

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

Picked JT, Tank and Gus

Compher I am pretty sure played most of tge season injured, his faceoff wins fell off dramtically and seemed to lose a step…could have been a core muscle…but pretty sure he was playing through something. I figure he will be 3/4 C depending if Todd keeps Marco at 2C

Tank struggled most of the year, he truly missed having a good offseason, and I expect a much better season next year, even if it’s not with the wings, if with the wings, he’ll be the 3RW and with Copp as the 3C.

Gus will still be Gus, but a steadier version with hopefully a more consistent partner or two. If SY doesn’t bring in another RHD, it may well be that Gus splits the year with Al-Jo and ASP, as those two should take turns at the 2/3RHD

 

[SirloinUB]

Zero Votes for Holl was expected. He really does seem like buyout material.

I'm probably a little surprised that Compher is getting as many votes as he has. If he is mostly on the 3rd line again I doubt he will much an increase in production. He probably has a decent enough two way game were he can be better without a a ton of production. Idl like to see him crack 50 points.

 

[Winger98]

Zero Votes for Holl was expected. He really does seem like buyout material.

I'm probably a little surprised that Compher is getting as many votes as he has. If he is mostly on the 3rd line again I doubt he will much an increase in production. He probably has a decent enough two way game were he can be better without a a ton of production. Idl like to see him crack 50 points.

Yeah, if we keep Kasper at 2C, it's hard to see Copp or Compher put into a spot where the realistic expectation should be more than 30 points. Maybe one of them shifts to a wing spot in the top, but I think all of us are hoping for better options there.

 

[SirloinUB]

Yeah, if we keep Kasper at 2C, it's hard to see Copp or Compher put into a spot where the realistic expectation should be more than 30 points. Maybe one of them shifts to a wing spot in the top, but I think all of us are hoping for better options there.

I do think we need to unload 1 forward and 1 dman if we want upgrades.

Buyout Holl and Tarasenko seem like the top option to me.

Copp and Compher often feel redundant but its hard to pick who makes more sense to move. Compher being our only right shot center isn't ideal but Copp's game seemed like it was at a higher level last year and he strikes me as more of a swiss army knife. I think they could return some value in a trade, even if limited.

No doubt, Yzerman has lots of options.

 

[heyfolks]

None of the above

• Andrew Copp - Terrible signing. nothing to bounce back from. He is what he is and he isn't what he was said to be.
• JT Compher - He is what he is.
• Michael Rasmussen - Mr. Glass and Mrs. Soft had a child. This is him. He can get no better, only worse. I would trade him before Tarasenko. This softee is under contract for 3 more years at $3.2M. He won't throw another check until 2028. I want him gone.
• Vlad Tarasenko - A gold watch take a chance deal. He'll be waived.
• Justin Holl - In the annals of bad signings, he has a place. A real head scratcher of a signing.
• Erik Gustafsson - Gots for Gus was a bad idea. He sucks.

e of the above.

 

[Coach Reggie Dunlop]

Rasmussen is the only one that makes sense as a possibility. He scored 33 points in 75 games the year before this last one, and all of our depth scoring was down this past year. I think he can get back to being a 30 point player if we get some better puck moving defenseman and a training camp getting away from Lalonde.

 

[Redwing66]

I’d give up our entire draft to rid ourselves of the entire list.

 

[Oddbob]

We have a number of players with contracts in place for this year and in some cases additional years. I'm just wondering who we think can bounce back from a tough year?

I think Copp is a good example that some of these Vets have more to give. He had a slow start in his 1st season with the Red wings but overall put together a decent year, a very rough 2nd season, and then bounced back in the 3rd season until a pec injury shut him down. I think the coaching change benefited Copp but he also played better himself.

Currently we have the following players who struggled or ran into injury trouble and I'm wondering who can bounce back. I put forward the question because I don't think it's realistic to expect all of these names to be gone this summer, so we will need one or more of these guys to be better next year. I'm looking at the following names:

• Andrew Copp: He had a solid year until his Pec injury, but based off his recovery timelines from his core muscle surgery, could a slow start be on the table?
• JT Compher: He was better than Copp in the 23-24 season but really struggled last year. He is only 30 so he should have some gas in the tank. Can he be better this year?
• Michael Rasmussen: He'll never live up to his draft slot but had 3 years right around the 15 goal, 30 point mark. 24-25 was arguably his worst hockey as a Red Wing.
• Vlad Tarasenko: He was a poor fit, and imo, a panic by Yzerman looking to add some depth scoring. Last summer was also a roller coaster for him with his father passing the same week he won the Stanley Cup with Florida. With a more focused summer, familiarity with the city/organization, could he bounce back?
• Justin Holl: Bounce back is probably generous given that he has never looked great but coming into a contract year and the narrative that follows him around, I would think he is highly motivated this summer.
• Erik Gustafsson: Possibly another panic move by Yzerman last summer, he's had an inconsistent career. He put up some good numbers at the World Championships.

I'm sure some of you would like to vote "no one", and prefer all of these guys are punted. It is a valid thought, but I left that option out of the poll because piling onto these guys isn't productive, nor an interesting conversation. Practically speaking, we need to bet on/keep some of these guys around because it's highly improbable that 6 players can be successfully jettisoned anyway.
Also, eternal negativity isn't my style

So, let's hear it, of this group, who would you bet on having a decent/bounce back year in 2025 - 2026?

Piling on Holl is what keeps this board afloat!

 

[Oddbob]

Yzerman. I'm ready to be hurt again this summer.

He hasn't skated in a while, so he might be rusty. That said, he could suit up this season and be a better d than Holl, even while playing center.

 

[RRhoads]

I think several players could bounce back, some more than others, just from of a full pre season with McLellan alone.

Other than that, I see that Tarasenko and Compher might bounce back, and I hope they do. I just don't see a place for Tarasenko on this team.

 

[FMichael]

My absolute last season having hope and faith that Ras can be more than he's showed so far.
He did seem to attack the net with the puck more this last season than years before... Maybe he's starting to figure some things out.

I doubt it…He’s slightly more useful than Veleno…Outta that list I gotta go with Copp and Compher, but not gonna hold my breath.

 

[FMichael]

None of the above

• Andrew Copp - Terrible signing. nothing to bounce back from. He is what he is and he isn't what he was said to be.
• JT Compher - He is what he is.
• Michael Rasmussen - Mr. Glass and Mrs. Soft had a child. This is him. He can get no better, only worse. I would trade him before Tarasenko. This softee is under contract for 3 more years at $3.2M. He won't throw another check until 2028. I want him gone.
• Vlad Tarasenko - A gold watch take a chance deal. He'll be waived.
• Justin Holl - In the annals of bad signings, he has a place. A real head scratcher of a signing.
• Erik Gustafsson - Gots for Gus was a bad idea. He sucks.

e of the above.

I’d give up our entire draft to rid ourselves of the entire list.