So Larkin Made Some Interesting Comments.

[SCD]

Team has faded badly for three years in a row.

Feb 25-Mar 25, 2023: 3 wins, 12 losses
Feb 29-Apr 11, 2024: 5 wins, 15 losses
Feb 27-Mar 27, 2025: 3 wins, 11 losses

It's always someone else's fault.

During the past five years, they probably have the best winning percentage after elimination in the league.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

During the past five years, they probably have the best winning percentage after elimination in the league.

Elimination in the final week, elimination on the final day in terms of the last two years makes me doubt that. One of the main reason I respond to this though is because I do love the Gold Plan in terms of determining the draft order. I believe the PWHL has installed it and I would welcome it in a major way in the NHL. Not sure I endorse the inverse in a league as big as the NHL that they did in the PWHL. But for those unfamiliar, it basically determines draft order based on most point accrued after elimination. The worst teams still get eliminated first, but if you have tanked your roster too bad you might not wind up with the #1 overall pick. I dream of this, like I dream of the league going to the three point system standing system we see in Europe.

 

[SlickHands]

I think we need a guy to round out the top 4, but to say we “need another 1D” is wild.

Seider is a borderline top 10 defenseman as of today and Edvinsson has top 10 potential at the position as well.

It's not a matter of disrespect, but the Sabres have had Dahlin for 7 years now and look where that's gotten them. Part of this season's whole problem has been that Seider is asked to do too much, with too little in complimentary support. He needs someone who can take over the PK or someone who can help take the offensive pressure off and I don't think that's a need that's not obvious. We had the worst PK in the league for a reason. And Edvinsson is part of that solution, but you're assuming an upward developmental curve that's not the real norm.

 

[norrisnick]

It's not a matter of disrespect, but the Sabres have had Dahlin for 7 years now and look where that's gotten them. Part of this season's whole problem has been that Seider is asked to do too much, with too little in complimentary support. He needs someone who can take over the PK or someone who can help take the offensive pressure off and I don't think that's a need that's not obvious. We had the worst PK in the league for a reason. And Edvinsson is part of that solution, but you're assuming an upward developmental curve that's not the real norm.

He doesn't need either of those things. He needs a partner that can stand on his own two skates so Mo doesn't have to carry the whole pairing. Mo's splits with Ed vs with Chia are wild.

 

[SlickHands]

He doesn't need either of those things. He needs a partner that can stand on his own two skates so Mo doesn't have to carry the whole pairing. Mo's splits with Ed vs with Chia are wild.

View attachment 1020520

I don't see how that contradicts what I said..... Yes, when we pair our two good defensemen together, they play well. Too bad Cups aren't won with two defensemen...

 

[norrisnick]

I don't see how that contradicts what I said..... Yes, when we pair our two good defensemen together, they play well. Too bad Cups aren't won with two defensemen...

He doesn't need to be taken off the PK or have someone else run the offense. He needs a partner that can actually play.

 

[FMichael]

Wings were on a 2 game Florida swing and fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot.

Walman posted a picture of the Florida beach with the caption ‘On Vacation’.

The players themselves took immediate offense and demanded he take it down because it reflected poorly on the team. He did, but he became an outsider.

He was healthy scratched for the first time soon after this. And eventually became a regular scratch.

I recall a poster on Reddit who claimed to know a roster player had posted just days after last season that Walman was a locker room issue.

At the time I didn't think much of it, but it wasn't long after he was given the boot by Yzerman.

 

[TheClap]

I recall a poster on Reddit who claimed to know a roster player had posted just days after last season that Walman was a locker room issue.

At the time I didn't think much of it, but it wasn't long after he was given the boot by Yzerman.

I know a different poster on reddit who knows that redditor who claimed to know a roster player, and he told me in my DMs that that guy was full of shit.

 

[14ari13]

19 pages!!!

I have already suggested a several times that Larkin will be (too) old when Yzerman gets this team ready to compete. This is obvious.
Maybe Larkin thinks the same and Yzerman should think about it too.

Yzerman puts us in the worst position this season. We are not making playoffs and we are not getting a top 5/10 pick.


PS. I believe my last post was 10 days ago so I don't have time to discuss. Therefore I won't use my time to reply to those who disagree with me, I'll try to fund time to reply to those who agree with me.

 

[SirKillalot]

I just wonder who was the miraclous player, we didn't trade for?

Cozens? And all asks from Buffalo included Kasper. We are not gonna do that kind of trade, it does not make us any better.

Last 42 games of the season - Marco Kasper, 17+13 = 30 points.
Last 42 games of the season - Dylan Cozens, 8+19=27 points.

I wouldn't put too much into a player's first games in a new franchise.
Obviously yes it could worked out much better right away, but not surprised if it takes longer.

That being said though, I like that they identified that maybe what we have in Kasper isn't worse now and can be potentially a good bit better.

Here's where you're missing some very relevant context. Yzerman spent a huge chunk of that money on lousy players. Even if I set aside this silly implication that the GM used free agency to quiet a captain behaving like a fussy toddler, there's a big difference between the claim of injecting over a hundred million into a product and the reality of how well you spent the money.

Here's the player list:
* Perron
* Chiarot
* Gostisbehere
* Holl
* Copp
* Sprong
* Kane
* Compher
* Fischer
* Husso
* Lyon
* Reimer
* Kostin

Kane worked out extremely well. I can tolerate having acquired Perron, Chiarot, Ghost, Copp, Sprong, and Lyon. The rest were borderline trash. That's an abject failure rate of nearly 50 percent.

If all of these guys worked out then the team wouldn't be bubble team but around top 4.
Have to expect some not working out.

Worked out:
Kane, Perron, Fischer (according to his role)

Okay-ish:
Copp
Ghost
Lyon
Husso (his overall time with the franchise, it had ups and lows)
Reimer
Sprong

Didn't work out:
Compher (to expensive for the production)
Chiarot
Holl
Kostin

 

[fedoroviselite]

I wouldn't put too much into a player's first games in a new franchise.
Obviously yes it could worked out much better right away, but not surprised if it takes longer.

That being said though, I like that they identified that maybe what we have in Kasper isn't worse now and can be potentially a good bit better.

If all of these guys worked out then the team wouldn't be bubble team but around top 4.
Have to expect some not working out.

Worked out:
Kane, Perron, Fischer (according to his role)

Okay-ish:
Copp
Ghost
Lyon
Husso (his overall time with the franchise, it had ups and lows)
Reimer
Sprong

Didn't work out:
Compher (to expensive for the production)
Chiarot
Holl
Kostin

Copp is most definitely in didn't work out

 

[SirKillalot]

Copp is most definitely in didn't work out

Well the team fell apart after he went out, so yes he has been okay. Would like to have gotten more out of him points wise, but he is for the most part just overpriced which was always expected.

 

[Henkka]

Well the team fell apart after he went out, so yes he has been okay. Would like to have gotten more out of him points wise, but he is for the most part just overpriced which was always expected.

I really think Andrew Copp is more important for this team than his on-ice effort. He got by far most votes on that Athletic player survey, who could be the "best next coach" of Red Wings players. He could be really important teammate to make everybody else around better.

We'll need more of his kind of off-ice guys, and that's what those placeholders should be. The kid core can learn the right things from them, and then take the torch later on.

But also, that PK collapse to early season level, after some small improvements Trent Yawney made, it happened right after Copp was injured.

 

[Lampedampe]

This is the same guy that made those comments about Walman, right?

I'd definitely consider stripping him of the C, this team just gets too down on itself and I'm starting to see why.

 

[FMichael]

I know a different poster on reddit who knows that redditor who claimed to know a roster player, and he told me in my DMs that that guy was full of shit.

Oh - you know George too ?

 

[Snuggs]

Well the team fell apart after he went out, so yes he has been okay. Would like to have gotten more out of him points wise, but he is for the most part just overpriced which was always expected.

It's funny how he was actually useful this year quitely with DeBrincat/Kane, and on the PK. Only other Center who could be counted on in the circle besides Larkin.

He's not "worth" the money but was better/more useful than JT Compher.

 

[sepster]

This is the first time I heard that, not that I hear much but never saw it mentioned in any other thread or the endless pages of Walman, Yzerman, Red Wings BS on the main forums. I would think there would have to be more to it?

Then you must have missed it because it has been brought up multiple times. Was it THE reason he was moved? Probably not, but it was a part of the whole.

 

[sepster]

It's not a matter of disrespect, but the Sabres have had Dahlin for 7 years now and look where that's gotten them. Part of this season's whole problem has been that Seider is asked to do too much, with too little in complimentary support. He needs someone who can take over the PK or someone who can help take the offensive pressure off and I don't think that's a need that's not obvious. We had the worst PK in the league for a reason. And Edvinsson is part of that solution, but you're assuming an upward developmental curve that's not the real norm.

How many "1Ds" do you think teams have? How many "1Ds" do you think exist in the league? If you actually mean the Wings need another D capable of playing on the 1st pair or in the Top 4, then yes, I think everyone, including management, agrees. But, if you are suggesting the Wings' MUST go out and acquire and actual 1D, that's highly unlikely, if not completely unrealistic.

 

[SlickHands]

How many "1Ds" do you think teams have? How many "1Ds" do you think exist in the league? If you actually mean the Wings need another D capable of playing on the 1st pair or in the Top 4, then yes, I think everyone, including management, agrees. But, if you are suggesting the Wings' MUST go out and acquire and actual 1D, that's highly unlikely, if not completely unrealistic.

We need another top line defenseman. We've had the absolute worst PK in the league 2 out of the 4 years Mo's been here, and haven't been much better at even strength. You act like I'm calling for Makar?

 

[JoesuffP]

People are underestimating that nobody wants to come play for Detroit right now. Yzerman had to overpay and take what he could get to fill holes. It’s not like he had a list of defensemen and Holl was at the top. The hope was this roster could get us to respectability and in turn more attractive to FA

I understand you don’t just give guys away like Larkin cause they annoy you but I’m siding with Yzerman every time. Larkin didn’t pick this team up from the depths of despair the management did

 

[Run the Jewels]

People are underestimating that nobody wants to come play for Detroit right now. Yzerman had to overpay and take what he could get to fill holes. It’s not like he had a list of defensemen and Holl was at the top

Agree for the most part. Yzerman wasn't going to hand out 7 year, $50 million contracts like they were candy. He gave the team a shot at the playoffs through his free agent signings. They weren't amazing or anything, but the team got within a game or two of the playoffs each of the past two seasons.

Anyone suggesting he should have been active at the trade deadline should be embarrassed. Look at how this team bottled the playoffs over the past three seasons.

Feb-Mar 2023: 3 wins, 12 losses
Feb-Apr 2024: 5 wins, 15 losses
Feb-Mar 2025: 3 wins, 11 losses

My guess is if we don't lose Copp we probably make the playoffs this year. At least Kasper took his opportunity and ran with it. The young guys are all trending quite well and have a lot to look forward to, regardless of how much precious Dylan whines like an entitled toddler.

 

[JoesuffP]

Agree for the most part. Yzerman wasn't going to hand out 7 year, $50 million contracts like they were candy. He gave the team a shot at the playoffs through his free agent signings. They weren't amazing or anything, but the team got within a game or two of the playoffs each of the past two seasons.

Anyone suggesting he should have been active at the trade deadline should be embarrassed. Look at how this team bottled the playoffs over the past three seasons.

Feb-Mar 2023: 3 wins, 12 losses
Feb-Apr 2024: 5 wins, 15 losses
Feb-Mar 2025: 3 wins, 11 losses

My guess is if we don't lose Copp we probably make the playoffs this year. At least Kasper took his opportunity and ran with it. The young guys are all trending quite well and have a lot to look forward to, regardless of how much precious Dylan whines like an entitled toddler.

It’s funny cause the same people complaining about Yzerman doing nothing at the deadline would be twice as mad if we missed and had traded Kasper for Cozens

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

People are underestimating that nobody wants to come play for Detroit right now. Yzerman had to overpay and take what he could get to fill holes. It’s not like he had a list of defensemen and Holl was at the top. The hope was this roster could get us to respectability and in turn more attractive to FA

I understand you don’t just give guys away like Larkin cause they annoy you but I’m siding with Yzerman every time. Larkin didn’t pick this team up from the depths of despair the management did

I definitely think some people underestimate that. The Wings signing a lot of guys from Michigan isn't some marketing ploy. It's a reason they choose the Wings over other teams, to play for the team they grew up watching and be close to family.

I think the Holl signing was the worst FA move by Yzerman as GM, but agree it's not like Holl was his top choice. If he did he wouldn't have traded for Petry. That doesn't excuse how bad the signing ultimately was, but gives it some context.

I tire of the complaints like not signing Trocheck instead of Copp. It overlooks the "free" part of free agency. They have freedom to choose where they're gonna sign. And agree that as the team gets better hopefully it's a more attractive destination.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

People are underestimating that nobody wants to come play for Detroit right now. Yzerman had to overpay and take what he could get to fill holes. It’s not like he had a list of defensemen and Holl was at the top. The hope was this roster could get us to respectability and in turn more attractive to FA

I understand you don’t just give guys away like Larkin cause they annoy you but I’m siding with Yzerman every time. Larkin didn’t pick this team up from the depths of despair the management did

I rarely agree with you, but the above is very true. I have heard from multiple agents that it isn't the destination that it once was. Players absolutely charge premiums to sign with bad teams. If you are going to get your teeth kicked in night after night, it needs to be worth your while.

 

[Run the Jewels]

It’s funny cause the same people complaining about Yzerman doing nothing at the deadline would be twice as mad if we missed and had traded Kasper for Cozens

100%. Yzerman would have been within his rights to sell at the deadline like he did in 2023, and in that case at least Dylan would have a case for whining about gutting the team. Instead Yzerman gave the team a shot to win another game or two, but of course they couldn't do that.

Point to the Copp injury, express excitement about the development of Kaser and Edvinsson, that's what leadership looks like. Instead Larkin decided to whine about the 4th round draft pick in this upcoming draft. I'm embarrassed he's the DRW captain, I hope fans boo the s**t out of him on opening night.