So Larkin Made Some Interesting Comments.

[FMichael]

I don't know what to tell you if your idea is to deal Larkin. The likelihood of getting equal value back that doesn't involve getting lucky with either picks or kids is slim and none, imo.

I have no desire to trade him.

I think people forget how hard the wings actually played for the majority of the time since the coaching change.

Can always use more...Need to get accustomed to it for a long playoff run (if we ever make it).

 

[Oddbob]

Indeed.

I understand there's only so much Yzerman can do regarding who's available via trade/UFA (and if they want to come to Detroit ie Trouba), but for every reasonable move DeBrincat/Copp/etc he's had his head scratchers Mrazek/Holl/etc.

For those looking to roast DBoss

The biggest annoyance with the Trouba thing and I didn't really want Trouba in particular, was that when that failed he didn't make any other moves at all the entire season. At the deadline he didn't even mention the blueline as a weakness. Instead he mentioned wanting to improve lower end scoring with Smith who used to be able to put the puck in the net a "little' bit.

I would have been fine if they even went the lower end route of trying to get another Walman type player. Not similar player type necessarily, but another defender that maybe just needed a new home as they could have tried out a whole host of different options that at the very least parked Holl in the press box sometimes.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I think getting pushed around by Tampa, Florida, and Ottawa sorta shows this team lacks the physicality needed.

I think we did a little better on the punk test this year, but overall we are a pretty easy team to play against physically.

 

[Production Line]

Much ado about nothing. Yep, Larkin is frustrated, and yep, Y has more patience than Job.

 

[Winger98]

I have no desire to trade him.


Can always use more...Need to get accustomed to it for a long playoff run (if we ever make it).

Neither do I, and I agree. Been pushing for tougher play here most the season.

I just disagree with this idea that seems to get pushed around here that the wings didn't show up after the 4 nations. They didn't get the results we wanted,but they played far better than their record, imo.

 

[SirloinUB]

after watching the press conference his comments seem severely overblown.

What I saw was a guy who has done a lot of heavy lifting, both physically and emotionally, and is disappointed to be on the outside looking in yet again. He’s more sick of this playoff drought than any of us on this forum.
And for the second season in a row his team was on the cusp of snapping it and did nothing to bolster the lineup while some of their rivals added. (Sorry Craig smith, I liked the idea of you instead of veleno but you did absolutely nothing).

I’m okay with that disappointment. One thing that can never be questioned is his compete and desire to win. Dylan Larkin wants it as much as anyone and can compete in big moments as showcased in the four nations.

It seemed to me he came into this interview With the intent to express that disappointment because he brought up the “4th round pick” semi unprompted.

He was asked about the “young guys” which he is sick of talking about when outside of the playoffs again. He understands not trading asp, MBN, 1st or even 2nds, etc which is why he brought up 4ths abruptly while being asked about Kasper/AlJo/Ed.

So many of you want to see more urgency from the GM, well, so does the Captain. That fire is a good thing.

 

[FMichael]

But why would the locker room even be losing sleep over what the GM does? They need to stay in their lane. The leadership needs to refocus everyone on executing the game plan. If that shit is allowed to fester, then you end up with bigger problems. If leadership is encouraging this fruitless speculation, then that's an even bigger problem. On what planet do the players think it's a good idea to tell their GM they don't like how he's doing his job IN THE PRESS?

This is terrible judgement. This is dumb. Are they expecting Yzerman to nod his head and say "now that you mention it, you guys are right and I'm going to change up my plans"? Do they want Yzerman to invite them over so he can put the calls with other GMs on speaker phone? What would anyone be expecting?

Remember when Bert got traded and Larkin was sad? WTF? He didn't die. His friend moved to another city. Normal reaction: "aww man, that sucks. Oh well, I'll be through to visit now and then. Oh, see you this summer where we'll spend our millions of dollars on a fishing trip." Is Larkin cut out for this?

Ever have a real life experience ie a job where the boss is a dumbf*** and micromanages everything into shit?

These are human beings like you and I - they just happen to be real gud at hockey and make lots of $$$.

They too have to deal with bosses/co-workers/etc.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Or maybe , if it is possible trade Larkin for top pair defansman , trade Cat and bring prospects. This way you are tanking , but not for long, no more than 2 more years.by that time Edvinsson, Seider and Raymond will be in their prime and we have chance for top prospect in 2026

I still don’t like that idea. Since we drafted Larkin in 2014 these are the centers drafted 2015 to now that are scoring around his pace or higher over the last 4 years.

Hughes
Pettersson
Eichel
Matthews
Stutzle
Aho
McDavid
Thompson (though he’s more of a winger)
Thomas
Suzuki
Johnston
Hintz
Hischier
Strome (lol)

I expect Celebrini, Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson to be in that 70+ point range in the near future. And maybe one of Danielson or Kasper.

These guys aren’t exactly easy to find.

 

[SoupGuru]

I'm sure Yzerman effects tough

Ever have a real life experience ie a job where the boss is a dumbf*** and micromanages everything into shit?

These are human beings like you and I - they just happen to be real gud at hockey and make lots of $$$.

They too have to deal with bosses/co-workers/etc.

Oh sure. But I don't go to the press about it.

 

[FMichael]

Oh sure. But I don't go to the press about it.

But are you part of an organization that holds press conferences via social media and expects you to answer questions and account for your performance?

It's not like DBoss went ahead on Twitter and started shit - he's just answering questions at his exit interview.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Red Wings lineup in 2019 during Yzerman's first season:

View attachment 1019461

Also ANYONE could have improved on that roster. Holy f*** that was a bad team.

 

[FMichael]

Neither do I, and I agree. Been pushing for tougher play here most the season.

I just disagree with this idea that seems to get pushed around here that the wings didn't show up after the 4 nations. They didn't get the results we wanted,but they played far better than their record, imo.

I honestly feel different about this teams' performance after the Tournament...Prior to they appeared to be 'legit capable' (after firing Lalonde and McLellans 1st few weeks on the job) and looked great...Afterwards it's like they regressed to what they were while Lalonde was behind the bench

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

I still don’t like that idea. Since we drafted Larkin in 2014 these are the centers drafted 2015 to now that are scoring around his pace or higher over the last 4 years.

Hughes
Pettersson
Eichel
Matthews
Stutzle
Aho
McDavid
Thompson (though he’s more of a winger)
Thomas
Suzuki
Johnston
Hintz
Hischier
Strome (lol)

I expect Celebrini, Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson to be in that 70+ point range in the near future. And maybe one of Danielson or Kasper.

These guys aren’t exactly easy to find.

My bad.

 

[FMichael]

Also ANYONE could have improved on that roster. Holy f*** that was a bad team.

That gif from 'American Gods'?

Great show!

 

[Pizza!Pizza!]

Reading the first couple of pages on this thread reminds me why I stopped posting here. Its weird that everyone here is a Red Wings "fan" when we all have such different opinions about the organization.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I think we did a little better on the punk test this year, but overall we are a pretty easy team to play against physically.

We have been since 2015

 

[JoesuffP]

Mtls GM built a playoff roster in under 3 years from total teardown rebuild..

If DL is getting shi..on ok fine, but why not the guy who intentionally and deliberately built the current roster and bench staff?

Montreal is not a good hockey team have higher standards

 

[JoesuffP]

Ya’ll aspire to be Montreal and Ottawa tier teams we can do better guys

 

[JoesuffP]

If ya’ll could name a player Yzerman should have drafted instead his entire time as red wings GM I would entertain the discussion but he hasn’t missed in every key draft

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

I’m okay with that disappointment. One thing that can never be questioned is his compete and desire to win.

I absolutely think we can question that. He played harder and better for Team USA than he did for the Red Wings this season. And, yeah, he got hurt, but it was his decision to go. That makes it his problem, and he shouldn't be pointing fingers at anyone else. If he's upset with missing the playoffs, he should look in the mirror first.

And that's not even getting into the mess that the locker room clearly is. It's his job to manage that, and it's gone to shit. He has not been a good captain, and that doesn't seem to bother him very much.

So, yeah, maybe he skates hard, but I wouldn't say he's tried real hard in other respects. He clearly thinks some aspects of his role are actually just someone else's problem. Which explains this "the buck stops everywhere else" type response.

EDIT:

Not to mention, total leadership 101: you don't get to freak out in front of those you are leading, or you will no longer be able to lead them. You have to project a sense of sureness and strength, and Larkin sure as f*** did not do that. He undermined his own authority by virtue of undermining Yzerman's authority. Now everyone is going to wonder what the plan is, and if they should believe in it—especially if Larkin does not. You can't just undo that. Maybe he didn't mean to, but it's done.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Nobody here is giving Larkin a free pass, but at the same time if you're holding him solely accountable based off his comments is silly.

If Yzerman wants to sink this ship the 1st order of business would be to move Larkin who yet is our best player and it's not even debatable...As far as I know there's no center out there that's available (and willing to come to Detroit) via trade, or UFA that could come in and do better.

I am seriously baffled by people calling Larkin our best player. Have none of you ever watched a game? Raymond and Seider are 10x more important to Detroit and this year Debrincat was better too.

 

[JoesuffP]

I’d like to know what injury Larkin had that made him lose every key faceoff and stop back checking. Got punked by bad centers man I was embarrassed watching him get outplayed by Dylan strome last year in the most important games of his career. Then do it again this year. Man Marco Kasper outplayed him for the second half of the year the bar couldn’t be any lower for him and he fails over and over again and the sad sack bullshit in every interview get him all the way out of here. You are not the type of player to be talking shit and Yzerman is too smart to bend over for this fool

 

[JoesuffP]

Larkin is the Bradley Beal of the NHL

 

[FMichael]

I am seriously baffled by people calling Larkin our best player. Have none of you ever watched a game? Raymond and Seider are 10x more important to Detroit and this year Debrincat was better too.

Pass what it is that you’re smoking with the rest of us…After that - please elaborate how more important 2 wingers with less on ice responsibility are to this franchise than our #1 centerman...Maybe in a few more seasons Seider will be our top guy on the team, but make no mistake - DBoss is still our top guy.

 

[FMichael]

I absolutely think we can question that. He played harder and better for Team USA than he did for the Red Wings this season. And, yeah, he got hurt, but it was his decision to go. That makes it his problem, and he shouldn't be pointing fingers at anyone else. If he's upset with missing the playoffs, he should look in the mirror first.

And that's not even getting into the mess that the locker room clearly is. It's his job to manage that, and it's gone to shit. He has not been a good captain, and that doesn't seem to bother him very much.

So, yeah, maybe he skates hard, but I wouldn't say he's tried real hard in other respects. He clearly thinks some aspects of his role are actually just someone else's problem. Which explains this "the buck stops everywhere else" type response.

EDIT:

Not to mention, total leadership 101: you don't get to freak out in front of those you are leading, or you will no longer be able to lead them. You have to project a sense of sureness and strength, and Larkin sure as f*** did not do that. He undermined his own authority by virtue of undermining Yzerman's authority. Now everyone is going to wonder what the plan is, and if they should believe in it—especially if Larkin does not. You can't just undo that. Maybe he didn't mean to, but it's done.

So how did Larkin 'freak out'?

How did he 'undermine' Yzerman's authority?

Ever think that this all could stem from the management on down? I mean - who hires the coaching staff? Who signs the UFAs? Who is responsible for the roster construction?

This idea that Yzerman is pure and saintly is all fine and dandy, but he's certainly partially responsible for yet another season missing the playoffs.