Where did Yzerman go wrong with the rebuild?

[SirKillalot]

Interim fix??? Were close to bottom of the standings lmfao ... we're winning squat next 2 seasons lets be real

We were never going to win anything the next two seasons unless there is a miracle where multiple top level UFA guys sign in Detroit.

We're on a good track. Kids are developing. It's going a little slower than my liking, but the team is taking form year by year, adding pieces to the team.
We are going to have a good hockey team, we'll build our own Brayden Point, Victor Hedman light or what not. It's coming.

 

[wingsfannn919191]

We were never going to win anything the next two seasons unless there is a miracle where multiple top level UFA guys sign in Detroit.

We're on a good track. Kids are developing. It's going a little slower than my liking, but the team is taking form year by year, adding pieces to the team.
We are going to have a good hockey team, we'll build our own Brayden Point, Victor Hedman light or what not. It's coming.

Ya no big free agents go to july 1 anymore and no ones coming here . That's why I say we push for young guys with upside like cozens,mctavish etc... if they're actually available

And we have no choice but to wait for the kids to get experience . 2026-2027 is the year ... unless our prospects bust and then it's another 10 yrs of pain

 

[SirKillalot]

Ya no big free agents go to july 1 anymore and no ones coming here . That's why I say we push for young guys with upside like cozens,mctavish etc... if they're actually available

I agree in theory. Though it seems like Yzerman is a bit hesitant to do so. Or at least hesitant to trade for someone with some warts or perceived negative history like Chychrun or Jiricek for example.
At the same time, we need a forward with a high pick so I get not trying to get Jiricek with a 1st.

 

[wingsfannn919191]

I agree in theory. Though it seems like Yzerman is a bit hesitant to do so. Or at least hesitant to trade for someone with some warts or perceived negative history like Chychrun or Jiricek for example.
At the same time, we need a forward with a high pick so I get not trying to get Jiricek with a 1st.

As cool as jiricek would have been with seider and pellikka on the right side it's not a need we need to chase

For defense I'd target k'andre miller or preferably hague who has cup experience both are like 25 and big bodies and would be here longterm

But ya I'd prefer a forward but if somehow yzerman could land a mctavish(doubt hes available like weekes mentioned) as well as hague I'd be a happy camper

Kasper Larkin raymond
Debrincat mctavish -
Buchelnikov Danielson compher
Rasmussen copp -

Edvinsson seider
Hague pellikka
Wallinder chiarot
Johansson

Something like this if the kids can make the roster would be something I'd like to see . Youth movement have to make it sooner rather than later

For ones not seeing mazur hes someone who could have some trade value I'd be willing to part with. Like him but see him as a bottom 5 guy and that lineup doesn't even Include likes of lombardi nygard still in the system

For fun

2026 1st top 10 protected +mazur + buium + something else for mctavish

2025 2nd + berggren + something else for hague

 

[SirloinUB]

How much better is Detroit if they signed Kadri instead of Copp?

I believe they were signed the same summer? Kadri makes about 2M more per year, is 4 years older and signed for 2 years longer. He also seems to be a superior player.

At the time, Kadri would have been the higher risk, higher reward player and that seems to be holding true.

Personally, I don't think I would take a redo on that but I do think we have a better player if Yzerman went after Kadri instead. Kadri, while the superior player, probably doesn't move the needle enough and being 4 years older with 4 years remaining probably would have been a worse fit for when this team can really start competing.

 

[Oddbob]

How much better is Detroit if they signed Kadri instead of Copp?

I believe they were signed the same summer? Kadri makes about 2M more per year, is 4 years older and signed for 2 years longer. He also seems to be a superior player.

At the time, Kadri would have been the higher risk, higher reward player and that seems to be holding true.

Personally, I don't think I would take a redo on that but I do think we have a better player if Yzerman went after Kadri instead. Kadri, while the superior player, probably doesn't move the needle enough and being 4 years older with 4 years remaining probably would have been a worse fit for when this team can really start competing.

Kadri will age poorly with his style. As is, while having more pts than Copp by 7, he is also a whopping -16 in 31 games. Can he be better and is better than Copp, of course, but I think tagging on 2 more years at more money and him maybe already slowing down is a huge no for me.

 

[SirloinUB]

Kadri will age poorly with his style. As is, while having more pts than Copp by 7, he is also a whopping -16 in 31 games. Can he be better and is better than Copp, of course, but I think tagging on 2 more years at more money and him maybe already slowing down is a huge no for me.

I am with you 100%. I prefer Copp for the reasons you mentioned.

I only ask because for all of the bellyaching about UFA contracts, most of its irrelevant to the actual rebuild. Kadri is the one player I can think of that was available in UFA and would have actually been an upgrade to what we signed. And while he would have been an upgrade over Copp, Im glad we aren't stuck with that contract.

 

[schuelma24]

I am with you 100%. I prefer Copp for the reasons you mentioned.

I only ask because for all of the bellyaching about UFA contracts, most of its irrelevant to the actual rebuild. Kadri is the one player I can think of that was available in UFA and would have actually been an upgrade to what we signed. And while he would have been an upgrade over Copp, Im glad we aren't stuck with that contract.

The contract I currently do not like is Compher - still 3 years on it after this one and so far he looks assy this year.

 

[TheOctopusKid]

I would argue that Kadri's general issue, as it has been his entire career, is he was often criticized for being emotional, immature, inconsistent, etc. The highs were high. The lows were low. More talented than Copp? Sure. I think the Copp pickup had a lot more to do with Copp wanting to come back to Michigan (can't assume Kadri would've even signed here despite the money), was that Copp was a professional and an "A" character guy. I think that is very important to Steve based upon his moves.

 

[gritdash60]

Yeah Kadri ain't the missing piece. Fire Lalonde just to reset the room if nothing else, there is a kinda nice core to work with but it's so obvious the coach has no idea what he is doing. Last year it was run and gun offense, albeit scoring way more than they should have. Now it's non existent offense and still suck defensively. It's not like the roster changed so drastically that this is acceptable.

 

[SirloinUB]

Yeah Kadri ain't the missing piece. Fire Lalonde just to reset the room if nothing else, there is a kinda nice core to work with but it's so obvious the coach has no idea what he is doing. Last year it was run and gun offense, albeit scoring way more than they should have. Now it's non existent offense and still suck defensively. It's not like the roster changed so drastically that this is acceptable.

That's kind of my point. For all the bellyaching about Steve's UFA signings there really wasn't better options available (and I will repeat this team was about 12 mill below the Cap Floor when Copp/Chairot were signed).

 

[gritdash60]

W

That's kind of my point. For all the bellyaching about Steve's UFA signings there really wasn't better options available (and I will repeat this team was about 12 mill below the Cap Floor when Copp/Chairot were signed).

Which big ticket FA has worked out in recent years? Which Wings fan would like to be married to Stamkos for 4 years? Huberdeau for next 6 or whatever?

 

[gritdash60]

Copp seems to be the talking point, so my question is that in what way Wings look like a different team if Copp was signed for 1mil per? Then they go for some bum for 8years and 10mil AAV?

Free agency really is not the way to build a team if you suck in the first place.

 

[Winger98]

W

Which big ticket FA has worked out in recent years? Which Wings fan would like to be married to Stamkos for 4 years? Huberdeau for next 6 or whatever?

Huberdeau was dealt for and then re-signde the summer before the last year of his previous deal. So Calgary still has six more years of his $10.5m cap hit. Toronto is in such good hands hiring Treliving away from Calgary.

 

[Snuggs]

There wasn't a good free agent to sign is what I'm gathering. Not one player worth paying the price to trade for and build around. We're all victims, especially Steve Yzerman. How is he supposed to do his job?

He'll just have to continue to sign trash, stash and repeat till he's fired or gets lucky in the draft.

 

[gritdash60]

Huberdeau was dealt for and then re-signde the summer before the last year of his previous deal. So Calgary still has six more years of his $10.5m cap hit. Toronto is in such good hands hiring Treliving away from Calgary.

Yeah ok Huberdeau was a bad example then. Point still stands.