What do you think should happen with Derek Lalonde?

[Run the Jewels]

Does the team look better than a top 10 pick?

Only Nashville and Anaheim have scored fewer goals, so no. But we aren't moving up in the draft lottery. Relying on a top 10 pick isn't going to change the directory of this franchise.

I was told Yzerman is pissed and running out of patience. He is not in "we're still building mode."

If he makes a move soon, whether that is player or personnel related, I wouldn't be surprised.

I sure hope that's the case. The roster isn't this bad.

 

[Baaaaaaaaaaaaah]

I'm torn. I think Lalonde has run his course here. But the majority of the roster is waiver fodder, and that's on some combination of Yzerman UFA stupidity, bad draft lottery luck, and old Holland 2016-2018 draft shrapnel.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Lalonde is in the final year of his contract, and while the team has shown improvement each year it is currently 13th in the conference and is pacing for 77 points, a big step back from last season's 91 points. Do you think Lalonde can get it done, or are you ready to move on?

There’s been more than enough proof he’s not good enough.

Team is never ready

Team is never hungry for the win

The collapse the end of last season should have been enough

We get down two goals and team usually gives up

Never shows any emotion

Always an excuse for the loses

Get him out yesterday

 

[Winger98]

Look at the individual PK stats, not surprisingly, Chiarot is the worst defenseman and Fisher/Compher are the worst forwards. Fester is relying too much on the wrong guys.

Ed and Seider both eat over 2 minutes of PK a game and lead the team. Compher is the first forward, but Larkin is second and Fischer is 6th. At this point I'd run Larkin/Raymond/Ed/Seider as the first PK unit, but who would you run as the 2nd? Maybe Copp/Kaspar/Chiarot/Holl? Try to get some value out of Ras/Veleno there? It would be really nice for that fourth line to contribute something.

 

[Hobnobs]

This team is putrid in several metrics and while the roster isn't very strong it should be around average given the players we have. That is simply on the coaching staff. Whether its Lalonde, Boughner, Tanguay, Varady or a combination of all of them it seems changes needs to be made.

 

[Henkka]

I'm not sure the poor efforts are Lalonde-thing only. This team has missed something else which was there at last season.

Player turnover is tough to make, so maybe it's coaches time to walk.

Just always problematic to find new coaches for a sure upgrade, because usually they are already employed at somewhere else. Don't think it's Watson's time yet.

 

[RED WINGS STOMP]

I agree with Henkka, last year's team had some dawg in them, we had a lot of comebacks last year.

This team hasn't shown any of that this year.

 

[raymond23]

I agree with Henkka, last year's team had some dawg in them, we had a lot of comebacks last year.

This team hasn't shown any of that this year.

I seem to fondly remember Perron, Sprong, Ghostisbehere and even Fabbri being huge parts of that

And we replaced those guys with wet paper bags

 

[Nut Upstrom]

The fan in me who wants to end the playoff drought voted to fire him into the sun yesterday

As I'm starting to think, since we are 3 points out from the bottom of the NHL, we should ride this bad play out and tank for Hagens/Misa. Do what friggen New Jersey was doing and yo-yo back into a playoff spot after bottoming out to get that superstar center

Flaw in your plan is that the league likes Jersey (or likes the idea of a healthy NY/NJ rivalry for years to come) and they actually win draft lotteries.
But its hard to disagree with you: if he's not going to fire Lalonde, ride him to the best draft position we can get.

 

[Gniwder]

Ed and Seider both eat over 2 minutes of PK a game and lead the team. Compher is the first forward, but Larkin is second and Fischer is 6th. At this point I'd run Larkin/Raymond/Ed/Seider as the first PK unit, but who would you run as the 2nd? Maybe Copp/Kaspar/Chiarot/Holl? Try to get some value out of Ras/Veleno there? It would be really nice for that fourth line to contribute something.

The whole point was Compher, not so much Fischer, but I had to put his name in there to be technically correct that Compher isn't the worst though the margin is small. Compher and Chiarot are basically tied for 3rd in PK TOI after Ed/Mo despite being the worst PKers.

Raz is underutilized this season (much lower PK TOI than previous seasons). He has slow feet but long reach, and his PK stats have been good. Joey's PK stats are also good, but in limited TOI. He's got foot speed but doesn't pass the eye test in terms of positioning.

So I'd go:
DBoss - Ray
Raz - Kasper
Copp - Veleno
Compher - Fischer

Kasper makes up for Raz' lack of foot speed, Copp could mentor Joey on positioning. Copp is slow AF, but makes up for it with proper positioning. I like having one fast player on each PK so that there is a SH scoring threat. Reduce Compher's PK TOI, increase Raz and Kasper.

Mo and Ed will probably have to be split up eventually to compensate for the rest of the D sucking ass, both PK and ES.

 

[Retire91]

My gut tells me Yzerman is going to start hitting the trade and UFA market this offseaon and it's going to pick up from there. My honest feeling is still a throw away season. This roster doesn't have enough talent for the coach to matter.

I was hoping it would be an improvement on last season but maybe the silver lining is we get one last sniff at a top 3 before the roster fills out. I really doubt Yzerman makes a coaching change until the talent on the roster would no longer be an excuse.