Where did Yzerman go wrong with the rebuild?

[Pavels Dog]

If all Stevie does is hit on only his first rounders this team is stuck in mediocreville until Larkin drops off, then we're looking at tanking for a 1C. Let's do a projected roster with the first rounders:

(DBC) - Larkin - Ray
'25 pick - Danielson - MBN
? - Kasper -?
(Mazur) - ? - ?

Ed - Mo
'26 pick - ASP
(AlJo) - ?

Cossa
(Gus)

Looks like a bubble team to me even with 4 players not acquired in the first round. Also explains why I keep saying Danielson has to be a homerun for this team to make the playoffs.

I don't see that makes sense though. Are you expecting a bonafide #1C to come out of the later rounds for us?
The placement of the questionmarks are positions that would be nice to fill with some late round picks, but they are in depth roles. That's not difficult to find in FA or via trade, and we already have guys playing those roles that you for some reason deleted.

 

[Gniwder]

I don't see that makes sense though. Are you expecting a bonafide #1C to come out of the later rounds for us?
The placement of the questionmarks are positions that would be nice to fill with some late round picks, but they are in depth roles. That's not difficult to find in FA or via trade, and we already have guys playing those roles that you for some reason deleted.

Yeah, and the team is mediocre. It will continue to be mediocre unless a late round pick turns out to be a homerun, and I'm not seeing it will the current crop of prospects. Stevie needs a Robertson/Datsyuk/Z/Benn/Palat type pick in order to get deep in the playoffs.

Mind you, I liked Plante/Becher/Buch picks, just need more of those instead of Cleveland/Phelan/James/WHipple etc. I don't think any of those I've mentioned are gonna be game breakers. I suppose Finnie is really tearing it up now though.

Based on that lineup, I'm almost certain Stevie goes after a center in the first round this draft. He's gotta start planning for Larkin's decline 3 or so years from now.

 

[Henkka]

Yeah, and the team is mediocre. It will continue to be mediocre unless a late round pick turns out to be a homerun, and I'm not seeing it will the current crop of prospects. Stevie needs a Robertson/Datsyuk/Z/Benn/Palat type pick in order to get deep in the playoffs.

Mind you, I liked Plante/Becher/Buch picks, just need more of those instead of Cleveland/Phelan/James/WHipple etc. I don't think any of those I've mentioned are gonna be game breakers. I suppose Finnie is really tearing it up now though.

Based on that lineup, I'm almost certain Stevie goes after a center in the first round this draft. He's gotta start planning for Larkin's decline 3 or so years from now.

Why are thinkin like this? Why it has to be a low round pick?

Four of our 1st rounders aren't on the team yet. MBN, Danielson, ASP, Cossa. Those will make the REAL jump. Low rounders are just wild cards as well as getting decent UFAs.

 

[Ulysses31]

guess some ppl half glass empty types, pretty optimistic here. got 2, maybe 3 (asp) 1st pair D. whose to say aljo aint a 4d that could pair with asp or seider if break up ed seider. buium, wallinder, tuomisto potenital to b solid bottom pair d. chance wallinder or buium better than bottom pair

since sy havent hit for certain on a F besides raymond but still a lot of runway. some players b late bloomers. even a guy like ras or berg have more potential imo

then cossa n trey gonna b huge in net

 

[Henkka]

People are desperate crying after offensive players, but this team is drafted through defence and goaltending.

That will also be the future identity.

 

[Ulysses31]

People are desperate crying after offensive players, but this team is drafted through defence and goaltending.

That will also be the future identity.

think like preds a decade ago the floor but hopefully better enough to win a cup

 

[Winger98]

think like preds a decade ago the floor but hopefully better enough to win a cup

which is why people are really wanting to see just one more game breaker up front, and why the preds kept trying to trade for one. I really like apparent future makeup of the Wings, though.

 

[RED WINGS STOMP]

For those who expect a big time prospect to tear it up right away, look at Connor McMichael's progression with the Caps.

Could be something similar with Kasper and Danielson, where they need a season or two before busting out.

 

[The Zermanator]

If all Stevie does is hit on only his first rounders this team is stuck in mediocreville until Larkin drops off, then we're looking at tanking for a 1C. Let's do a projected roster with the first rounders:

(DBC) - Larkin - Ray
'25 pick - Danielson - MBN
? - Kasper -?
(Mazur) - ? - ?

Ed - Mo
'26 pick - ASP
(AlJo) - ?

Cossa
(Gus)

Looks like a bubble team to me even with 4 players not acquired in the first round. Also explains why I keep saying Danielson has to be a homerun for this team to make the playoffs.

You have zero basis for making the assumptions you're making here.

- Raymond and Seider aren't even done developing yet.
- Edvinsson already looks great 35 games into his NHL career and the sky is the limit for him.
- ASP is trending to be a very special player too.
- Cossa has the potential to be a brick wall, especially behind the defense that is shaping up.
- We have no idea what Danielson, Kasper, and MBN will become, but they all have great potential.

Raymond and Seider are already monsters, and still with room to improve. Cossa is coming along great. ASP is coming along great as well. Those are 4 very big pieces right there.

A team with 3 monsters on the back-end, a monster in net, a monster on the wing, a monster at centre (Larkin), along with a high quality supporting cast made up of Danielson, Kasper, MBN, and Debrincat does not strike me as a mediocre team.

Edit: And that's not even considering what guys like Augustine, Mazur, and Wallinder (and others) will become, if anything.

 

[SantosHalper]

Trotz: 'I'm going to start our rebuild plan' if Preds don't get going
Interesting....

Who should we go after? Im thinking Forsberg, Josi or Saros would work too. Age/contract wise Forsberg or Saros would make the most sense.

1st 2025
1st 2026
Berggren
Veleno

for Forsberg
--------------
1st 2025
2nd 2025
2nd 2026
Cossa

for Saros.

 

[norrisnick]

Why... would we trade two 1sts for a 30yo forward making $8.5M? Or would we let Trotz undo his Askarov blunder trading for a guy that's working on the worst season of his career after having the worst season of his career last season?

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

Trotz: 'I'm going to start our rebuild plan' if Preds don't get going
Interesting....

Who should we go after? Im thinking Forsberg, Josi or Saros would work too. Age/contract wise Forsberg or Saros would make the most sense.

1st 2025
1st 2026
Berggren
Veleno

for Forsberg
--------------
1st 2025
2nd 2025
2nd 2026
Cossa

for Saros.

So glad you aren't the GM no offense but these deals are terrible...

 

[wingsfannn919191]

People are desperate crying after offensive players, but this team is drafted through defence and goaltending.

That will also be the future identity.

Might be the future but we won't win without some breakout offensive stars in the mix. Think yzerman forgets he was an offensive player (yes turned 2 way but can still put big numbers) as well as fedorov and Shanahan

If we're not going to finish with another top draft pick this year we should try to look at struggling teams like buffalo and anaheim and make a play for someone.

Zegras on the top line with Larkin and raymond can be something and his lack of product should bring his cost down. Doubt yzerman will make a move though but I think he can be a ppg guy

 

[Twinger]

I cant help but see this team as an Islander/Wild/(make playoffs and get dumped)and best case Nashville of the past type team.

We have the some solid pieces but I just dont know if we have that next gear in terms of players or coaching. I have a very hard time seeing Lalonde coaching in the playoffs

If were building a Defensive team we wont know for 2 or 3 more years.

Whatever we're doing we will need some draft luck (every team does)

 

[Gniwder]

For those who expect a big time prospect to tear it up right away, look at Connor McMichael's progression with the Caps.

Could be something similar with Kasper and Danielson, where they need a season or two before busting out.

Well they also sent McMichael back down to the AHL for a year in his D+4 season. Kasper is on his D+3 season.

What's driving his scoring is that the Caps put both Protas and McMichael on the wing, not center. McMichael is playing with PLD and Wilson. It's not like he came out from nowhere, he scored almost 1 goal per game in the OHL his D+1 season. Last 2 full NHL seasons (plus one in Hershey), he was playing center. Bottom 6 center in his first season IIRC because they had Kuz, Eller, and Backstrom for half a season. It's hard to rack up points playing bottom 6 center.

I already suggested putting Kasper on the wing with Compher and Ray. He's guaranteed to at least get some assists because Ray can shoot, and Kasper would probably be the team's best forechecker if he shifted to the wing, and fast enough to get back defensively. He can play the role that Bert played, but without shitting the bed defensively like Ambertuzzi.

Getting off topic, but I'm really surprised at how well the Caps collection of spare parts and castaways are gelling together. Carbery has some out of the box thinking with his lines. Protas plays center only on PK while playing top line wing. Wilson bumped down to second line. Split up his top 2 defenders, getting production from his 4th line.


We'll see how it goes when Ovie cools down. Can't imagine he's gonna keep scoring at this pace. Everything he shoots goes in.

 

[SantosHalper]

Why... would we trade two 1sts for a 30yo forward making $8.5M? Or would we let Trotz undo his Askarov blunder trading for a guy that's working on the worst season of his career after having the worst season of his career last season?

To complete the trade and what's the problem? PPG player that makes 8.5 and whos signed through his prime years, i'll take that.

I'd rather take Forsberg than Saros but people here been quite vocal about improving our goalie situation. Just an idea....

So glad you aren't the GM no offense but these deals are terrible...

What's the point to start hoarding picks now? Realistically Wings will be picking in the middle of the pack in the next draft's, those players won't play a game in NHL until 2029/2030. Where Forsberg would have helped Wings win hockey games. And chances getting a PPG player with those picks are slim to none.

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

To complete the trade and what's the problem? PPG player that makes 8.5 and whos signed through his prime years, i'll take that.

I'd rather take Forsberg than Saros but people here been quite vocal about improving our goalie situation. Just an idea....

What's the point to start hoarding picks now? Realistically Wings will be picking in the middle of the pack in the next draft's, those players won't play a game in NHL until 2029/2030. Where Forsberg would have helped Wings win hockey games. And chances getting a PPG player with those picks are slim to none.

He is old. If I'm giving up all that I want a player back in Raymond and Seiders age range. Forsberg makes the playoffs for the Wings and maybe win a round. By the time we contend he is like Kane.(age wise) and Forsberg isn't even available. Nashville just made big splashes in FA they aren't trading him for picks unless they go full rebuild which would be the exact opposite of their reasoning 3 months ago...