What do you think should happen with Derek Lalonde?

[HisNoodliness]

'yeah, I had hoped that by game 20 whatever they were trying to do would sort itself out but either the guys are not good enough to pull it off or what they're being asked to pull off is stupid. Ormaybe it's both.

I do sort of wonder if the original plan was to play that super conservative collapsing shell that we saw the first 5-8 games where we got massively outshot but shoved everything to the outside, but someone got in their ear about playing a certain way win or lose. Around game 10 I thought their game got noticeably more open, or maybe it's just me.

Honestly I think they've looked more open for two reasons. Edvinsson moved to the top pairing and when he's with Mo, one of them can rove more than when they're babysitting Petry and Chiarot on their own lines. Chiarot and Petry are just ineffective so their line leaves holes all over the ice. The third pairing doesn't play meaningful situations.

The second is that it takes about ten games for most teams to really jive and start counter playing their opponents. Everyone realized that we collapse low so they've been using their points more, making longer passes in the zone to force us to move and abuse the space that we give them. When everyone was still in that early season "we just go out there and figure it out" part of the season, they weren't ready to make us look like the scared idiots we are.

 

[JohanFranzenstein]

Blaming the only player who has consistently shown up to play the past month is hilarious. Reminds me of when Babcock made Tatar apologize to the press for not back checking hard enough after like a 3 point game.

 

[Retire91]

If the roster didn't have so many holes 90% of these complaints would not be a thing. A lot of playstyles you need to resort to when you have holes in the roster are not fun play styles to watch. If your car won't start changing the tires is not going to fix the issue. Yzerman is not going to fire his coach unless he becomes the issue once the team actually has a competitive level of talent.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I get that management may feel like we are still in the playoff race (given how close points are), but if you are selling that to the fans you need to make some changes that show you are actually chasing that goal instead of spinning your wheels. If you can't do it through the trade market, your only option is a coaching change. I am well on record in my opinion that we over explain hockey with coaching, That said, there is a limit to everything.

Anyways, just tell me what the f*** we are doing so that I can adjust my expectations.

 

[stillwater]

Yeah, it's a head scratcher as to why he hasn't been let go.

Chicago, no expectations really. Team starts slow, coach fired anyway.

Boston, roster was never going to meet unduly high expectations ... coach with one of the best winning percentages in NHL history, fired.

Detroit ... being outplayed in most games. Players looking frustrated. A penalty kill that's not just the worst in the NHL, but one of the worst penalty kills in history. That's right, historically bad. GM hiding away like Saddam Hussein, nowhere to be found. Lame-duck coach still standing there. Every media outlet in the country discussing him on the hot seat .... but nothing happens.

It's almost like Stevie wants to lose. I mean, what other explanation is there at this point? Certainly not convinced that he's really trying to win. It's a really bad optic for ticket buyers, and all fans alike. Really disheartening. I can't imagine what it must be like for some of these players who are really busting their asses every night of a long disappointing start to the season.

There is no light at the end of the Lalonde Tunnel folks. Yeah, the personnel is not great, but the expansion Washington Capitals, who won only 8 games had a better PK than this group.

Tank, a really solid tank to get them into the top 4 picks in 2025.

 

[Winger98]

There's a pretty real chance that the guys Yzerman wants to replace Lalonde don't want the job. And if we did fire Lalonde and replace him with, say, Boughner or Tanguay, they would be just as much a lame duck coach as Lalonde if we didn't give them a multiyear deal to go with it. Maybe I'm alone on this but neither Tanguay nor Boughner inspire a lot of confidence in me.

I think the hope is that Yzerman can revamp the roster a bit through a couple of deals, but the NHL isn't exactly a trade happy league any more.

 

[stillwater]

Teams are up against the CAP, it's really difficult to work that into deals. Besides, what players on the Wings roster would other teams desire right now? The only ones anyone wants, are the guys that the Wings are not going to trade.

No one wants Petry, or Chiarot (maybe, for a late pick) or Gus. No one is going to give up anything of value for a look at Patty Kane, Compher or Copp.

Really unlikely to consider moving Larkin, Raymond, DeBrincat, Seider, Edvisson or Kasper.

That leaves you with the rotting corpse of Joe Veleno, Berggren and Ras. Honestly, how much value to other clubs do those 3 have at this point. They're not suddenly going to turn into stars. Other teams aren't that stupid. Teams are desperate, but not stupid.

You don't have Filip Zadina who everyone thinks you can move for everyone else's best player any longer. Time to smell the coffee.

If Stevie was going to replace Lalonde with Boogie or Tanguay, he'd probably already have done it.

Start out with a new guy, and new assistants. You gotta clean house.

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

They're actually playing recently more like how they have to play to be competitive. Two D pairs that contribute very little offensively, Kane and Compher not playing near last year's level, Tarasenko on a pending retirement tour ... they're just not equipped to trade chances with almost any team. So, low-scoring games that hinge on a few key moments is a best-case scenario.

The PK change is IMO related to personnel change, Motte and Raymond replacing and being much different than Copp/Ras. It actually makes sense to get a lot quicker up front, most good PK forwards are at least decent if not good skaters. There's been more than enough time to fix things, but not all the problem are system related. Wings' four best players gave up a Bruins' PP goal simply through bad execution. Lose faceoff, don't obstruct or pressure the point man, don't do anything to make things hard for the net-front guy. The PK looked better vs. Ottawa than perhaps any game this year.

SY knows he didn't get all the shopping done in the off-season, or had to settle for less than needed. He may have expected the team to struggle. Good trade solutions are not easy to find this early in the season, though even a minor upgrade on D would help. He'd be justified to make a coaching change but if the team is performing pretty much as he expected or at least feared it might, and the players are putting in a good effort, then he may be prepared to let it all play out until near the TDL and act accordingly at that time.

 

[stillwater]

Trouba to the Ducks.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Since Lalonde hasn't been fired yet, my guess is Yzerman is basically throwing the season away. If that's the case, I hope he makes some trades, don't go half way here by holding onto Lalonde but then keep the entire roster intact. If he does that it will be a true WTF scenario.

If we're tanking, let's tank. One top 5 pick in 34 years is some f*&^ing bulls%$t.

 

[Zetterberg4Captain]

Since Lalonde hasn't been fired yet, my guess is Yzerman is basically throwing the season away. If that's the case, I hope he makes some trades, don't go half way here by holding onto Lalonde but then keep the entire roster intact. If he does that it will be a true WTF scenario.

If we're tanking, let's tank. One top 5 pick in 34 years is some f*&^ing bulls%$t.

Agreed

And naked those deals now not in late Feb...dont need useless wins getting in the way...

So long Kane, Lyon, Petry, Motte, Veleno

Debrincat-Larkin-Ray
Tank-Kasper-Berggren
Soderblom-Compher-Ras
Fischer-Copp-GR Goon

SE-Seider
Chariot-Gus
Holl-Johansson

Talbot
Husso

 

[RedWingzz]

Since Lalonde hasn't been fired yet, my guess is Yzerman is basically throwing the season away. If that's the case, I hope he makes some trades, don't go half way here by holding onto Lalonde but then keep the entire roster intact. If he does that it will be a true WTF scenario.

If we're tanking, let's tank. One top 5 pick in 34 years is some f*&^ing bulls%$t.

This is exactly what he is doing, throwing away the season.

So as a fan, what is the point in supporting a team who's manager himself isn't even interested in winning? If this is a wasted season why watch? Yzerman needs to make a public appearance and say something here. It's a kick in the nuts to everyone that supports this team if he is full on not doing anything. If it is in fact ANOTHER throw away season (year 9 no playoffs, this is getting RIDICULOUS) he needs to at least man up and explain to the paying customers what the "YZERPLAN" is.

We really supposed to tune in to game after game and support a team that is purposely not trying ? (and no, I don't mean the on-ice product, I'm sure they are trying even though most nights it looks questionable)

 

[connellc]

Frankly, I don't mind a throw away season, as long as we do it right. Tanking to get solid top 5 pick was what we should have done years ago, but I'm fine with it if we bring in a potential impact player. To me, Yzerman comes under fire next year, and Lalonde has already proven that he's not NHL caliber.

 

[SimonEdvinssonAtSix]

This is exactly what he is doing, throwing away the season.

So as a fan, what is the point in supporting a team who's manager himself isn't even interested in winning? If this is a wasted season why watch? Yzerman needs to make a public appearance and say something here. It's a kick in the nuts to everyone that supports this team if he is full on not doing anything. If it is in fact ANOTHER throw away season (year 9 no playoffs, this is getting RIDICULOUS) he needs to at least man up and explain to the paying customers what the "YZERPLAN" is.

We really supposed to tune in to game after game and support a team that is purposely not trying ? (and no, I don't mean the on-ice product, I'm sure they are trying even though most nights it looks questionable)

How many more times does the man need to spell it out?
Patience to build through the draft.
Prospects take 2-5 years to develop. So placeholders are signed in the meantime. Top UFAs don't want to come to Detroit so you pay a premium for your place holders (Copp, Compher, ect.)

Look at the expiring deals then look at current prospect development. The plan is so stupid simple to see. TikTok brainrot the lot of ya I swear.

 

[DavidpauseReinbacher]

If the roster didn't have so many holes 90% of these complaints would not be a thing. A lot of playstyles you need to resort to when you have holes in the roster are not fun play styles to watch. If your car won't start changing the tires is not going to fix the issue. Yzerman is not going to fire his coach unless he becomes the issue once the team actually has a competitive level of talent.

This

Trouba to the Ducks.

Dodged a bullet. While the leadership is needed and missing especially with cats like Larkin on the team but Trouba seems to be publicly pmsing and seems distracted all year. He probably done as a top 4 guy.

 

[sepster]

This is exactly what he is doing, throwing away the season.

So as a fan, what is the point in supporting a team who's manager himself isn't even interested in winning? If this is a wasted season why watch? Yzerman needs to make a public appearance and say something here. It's a kick in the nuts to everyone that supports this team if he is full on not doing anything. If it is in fact ANOTHER throw away season (year 9 no playoffs, this is getting RIDICULOUS) he needs to at least man up and explain to the paying customers what the "YZERPLAN" is.

We really supposed to tune in to game after game and support a team that is purposely not trying ? (and no, I don't mean the on-ice product, I'm sure they are trying even though most nights it looks questionable)

This is a sterling example of an "entitlement" mentality.

Why watch a team that's not progressing exactly as YOU demand it should? Because you are a fan of the team and the journey, both the ups and downs, is all part of the process.

Do you know how many one-step-forward-two-steps-back rollercoasters I witnessed during the 80s and 90s before the Wings finally broke through? I was delusionally heartbroken when the Wings lost in back-to-back years to the Oilers. Then losing to Toronto in game 7 and San Jose in the 1st round were devastating. And when the Wings lost to Colorado in '96 I really thought that might have been it and the Wings window for winning might be closed. Well, turns out I was dead wrong. Turns out that all of the coming close, then falling flat, only to triumph in the end made the entire journey that much more enjoyable. And then, when the Wings finally did break through, they were the best franchise in the league for over two decades.

You want to bitch and moan and bail now because the team isn't what YOU want to see? Fine, Karen, go root for someone else. You really think Yzerman is throwing the season away either on purpose or by accident? You think progress is always linear? You think you are owed some sort of explanation while the job isn't finished? These entitlement posts are so whiny, so childish, so maddeningly annoying its unbearable.

 

[Austrianwing]

This is a sterling example of an "entitlement" mentality.

Why watch a team that's not progressing exactly as YOU demand it should? Because you are a fan of the team and the journey, both the ups and downs, is all part of the process.

Do you know how many one-step-forward-two-steps-back rollercoasters I witnessed during the 80s and 90s before the Wings finally broke through? I was delusionally heartbroken when the Wings lost in back-to-back years to the Oilers. Then losing to Toronto in game 7 and San Jose in the 1st round were devastating. And when the Wings lost to Colorado in '96 I really thought that might have been it and the Wings window for winning might be closed. Well, turns out I was dead wrong. Turns out that all of the coming close, then falling flat, only to triumph in the end made the entire journey that much more enjoyable. And then, when the Wings finally did break through, they were the best franchise in the league for over two decades.

You want to bitch and moan and bail now because the team isn't what YOU want to see? Fine, Karen, go root for someone else. You really think Yzerman is throwing the season away either on purpose or by accident? You think progress is always linear? You think you are owed some sort of explanation while the job isn't finished? These entitlement posts are so whiny, so childish, so maddeningly annoying its unbearable.

'94 still stings for me, lol. :/

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

This is a sterling example of an "entitlement" mentality.

Why watch a team that's not progressing exactly as YOU demand it should? Because you are a fan of the team and the journey, both the ups and downs, is all part of the process.

Do you know how many one-step-forward-two-steps-back rollercoasters I witnessed during the 80s and 90s before the Wings finally broke through? I was delusionally heartbroken when the Wings lost in back-to-back years to the Oilers. Then losing to Toronto in game 7 and San Jose in the 1st round were devastating. And when the Wings lost to Colorado in '96 I really thought that might have been it and the Wings window for winning might be closed. Well, turns out I was dead wrong. Turns out that all of the coming close, then falling flat, only to triumph in the end made the entire journey that much more enjoyable. And then, when the Wings finally did break through, they were the best franchise in the league for over two decades.

You want to bitch and moan and bail now because the team isn't what YOU want to see? Fine, Karen, go root for someone else. You really think Yzerman is throwing the season away either on purpose or by accident? You think progress is always linear? You think you are owed some sort of explanation while the job isn't finished? These entitlement posts are so whiny, so childish, so maddeningly annoying its unbearable.

Great post. For a lot of fans, they've never experienced a Red Wings team that wasn't a playoff team. There's definitely some entitlement that comes with that.

As you point out there were so many ups and downs before that while coming out of the Dead Wings era. Not that they had a chance, but the Goose Loonies incident and losing to the Oilers. Trading Adam Oates. Trading Adam Graves. All the drama with Bob Probert. Feeling like the Wings were finally going to win the Cup only to get crushed by the Devils in '95. Those are just a few to add to your list.

 

[RedWingzz]

This is a sterling example of an "entitlement" mentality.

Why watch a team that's not progressing exactly as YOU demand it should? Because you are a fan of the team and the journey, both the ups and downs, is all part of the process.

Do you know how many one-step-forward-two-steps-back rollercoasters I witnessed during the 80s and 90s before the Wings finally broke through? I was delusionally heartbroken when the Wings lost in back-to-back years to the Oilers. Then losing to Toronto in game 7 and San Jose in the 1st round were devastating. And when the Wings lost to Colorado in '96 I really thought that might have been it and the Wings window for winning might be closed. Well, turns out I was dead wrong. Turns out that all of the coming close, then falling flat, only to triumph in the end made the entire journey that much more enjoyable. And then, when the Wings finally did break through, they were the best franchise in the league for over two decades.

You want to bitch and moan and bail now because the team isn't what YOU want to see? Fine, Karen, go root for someone else. You really think Yzerman is throwing the season away either on purpose or by accident? You think progress is always linear? You think you are owed some sort of explanation while the job isn't finished? These entitlement posts are so whiny, so childish, so maddeningly annoying its unbearable.

They aren't progressing at all though, they are in fact regressing this year.

Where's the progress? A real GM would at least do something to make a statement and let it be known that it's not good enough.

Yzerman on the other hand is scared to make public appearances because he knows the product he has built is absolutely failing.

Be patient? Fine, most of his picks aren't here yet, so let's see what they can do once they arrive. In the meantime though it's ok for the manager to, you know, MANAGE the team. Make a trade, fire a coach, call someone up, waive someone...do something...do ANYTHING.

Yzerman is nowhere to be found, so yeah, I'm getting impatient with the Yzerplan, whatever that is.

If you wanna wait 15 years to watch playoff hockey, you do you man, but I'm getting tired of it and would at least like an explanation from the manager.

How many more times does the man need to spell it out?
Patience to build through the draft.
Prospects take 2-5 years to develop. So placeholders are signed in the meantime. Top UFAs don't want to come to Detroit so you pay a premium for your place holders (Copp, Compher, ect.)

Look at the expiring deals then look at current prospect development. The plan is so stupid simple to see. TikTok brainrot the lot of ya I swear.

Top ufas don't want to come here, so lets block the kids by signing 4th liners to second liner money...what a plan!

There is so much garbage on this roster; from Copp to Compher, to Kane and Tarasenko, Veleno makes too much, Ras is overpaid. All that garbage and I didn't even mention a single defenceman because I don't have to, the whole league knows we have 2 solid young kids and a bunch of overpaid pylons.

 

[Go Wings]

He should have been fired a long time ago.

 

[SoupGuru]

Why doesn't Yzerman just trade Veleno for Draisaitl and a 2nd?

 

[wingsfan17]

Between the roster and Lalonde, this team has zero emotion and leadership.

 

[SimonEdvinssonAtSix]

They aren't progressing at all though, they are in fact regressing this year.

Where's the progress? A real GM would at least do something to make a statement and let it be known that it's not good enough.

Yzerman on the other hand is scared to make public appearances because he knows the product he has built is absolutely failing.

Be patient? Fine, most of his picks aren't here yet, so let's see what they can do once they arrive. In the meantime though it's ok for the manager to, you know, MANAGE the team. Make a trade, fire a coach, call someone up, waive someone...do something...do ANYTHING.

Yzerman is nowhere to be found, so yeah, I'm getting impatient with the Yzerplan, whatever that is.

If you wanna wait 15 years to watch playoff hockey, you do you man, but I'm getting tired of it and would at least like an explanation from the manager.


Top ufas don't want to come here, so lets block the kids by signing 4th liners to second liner money...what a plan!

There is so much garbage on this roster; from Copp to Compher, to Kane and Tarasenko, Veleno makes too much, Ras is overpaid. All that garbage and I didn't even mention a single defenceman because I don't have to, the whole league knows we have 2 solid young kids and a bunch of overpaid pylons.

Read this very slowly,
You
Must
Ice
A
Hockey
Team
While
Your
Prospects
Develop.

 

[cvaicunas]

Between the roster and Lalonde, this team has zero emotion and leadership.

lalonde's demeanor in these post games of late have been increasingly somber. He sounds like he's at a loss for words

 

[RedWingzz]

Read this very slowly,
You
Must
Ice
A
Hockey
Team
While
Your
Prospects
Develop.

Yeah for sure man, so to do that let's give 4th liners 5.5 million just because they are from Michigan .

This rebuild is taking way too long. I'm gonna love coming back and reading all these posts from you Yzerman fanboys in 5 years when we're still not a playoff team. It's honestly so weird to me that fans like you continue to defend it like Yzerman is your uncle or something.

Look at Washington...they didn't even need to rebuild because their manager did a good job acquiring assets and retooling on the fly, meanwhile in Detroit, we haven't made the playoffs since the middle ages, but let's all just be patient and give Yzerman another decade here before we can criticize