Confirmed with Link: Wings Fire Lalonde and Hire Todd McLellan

[Run the Jewels]

The PP has been very good.

It's literally the only part of the team that's actually good.

Dumping Boughner is a bonus, because even I could score on that PK.

I never understood the love for Bob, there's nothing to suggest he's a good coach despite a long track record.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

The three game win streak is faulty logic and concerns me to be honest. There are six teams between us and the second WC. Winning three in a row isn’t doing much when you have to pass by so many teams.

This team needs 61 points in its final 48 games to match last year. To be a WC team Detroit probably needs 65 or so points in the final 48 games. There is nothing about this roster that makes me think such a heater is even remotely possible.

I'd expect this team to do 45ish points in the last 48 games. The last stretch of the schedule is brutal for Detroit with 10 of the final 15 games being on the road.

 

[sepster]

Without further personnel moves. I do believe there is room for improvement with the current roster provided the right direction and systems are provided by the new staff.

One, figure out a way to get more offense out of Berggren, Veleno, Kane, Tarasenko, and Compher. Those guys are capable of providing it, they've done it in the past. To watch the Wings offense this season it just feels so stifled, it goes beyond losing Ghost, Fabbri, Perron, and Sprong. I think it's legitimate to wonder if the directive from Yzerman to be better defensively caused Lalonde and Boughner to focus the system and players so strictly on defense that it killed their offense. The Wings look slow and create NOTHING off of the rush, and I believe a lot of that can be contributed to demands in defensive play. The Wings have worse GA results than the defensive systems deserves simply because the Wings are playing in the defensive zone 70% of the game. Every team in the league would have terrible defensive numbers if they spent that much time defending and not playing offense. If McLellan can figure out a better way to balance the offensive/defensive demands, then this roster will look better on the ice.

Two, get the role players to be physical. This could be a tough ask. It's an element that has been sorely missing from the Wings' play since the days of McCarty, Draper, Maltby, and Drake. Rassmussen, Copp, Fischer, Veleno, and Motte need to make the game miserable for the opponent. What that means, is to be on top of the opponent to a frustrating degree and to HIT with a PURPOSE. No more just bumping into a guy and thinking you're hitting someone. No more skating at a puck carrier and then peeling away once the guy passes the puck away. It means hitting to dislodge a player from the puck, hitting to knock a player out of the play, hitting to make the player feel it. When opponents hit Larkin, Raymond, Debrincat, and Berggren they're getting knocked down and knocked out of the play. They take a LOT of abuse on a game-by-game basis. That is NOT happening to the Wings' opponents. It is beyond time for that to change.

If McLellan can get these two things worked out, then this team could improve without additional roster moves. I do believe that the personnel on the roster is better than the current results. We'll see how much better.

On Rassmussen, in particular, for as much as I rag on him and think he's a total disappointment for what he brings to the game, I would tell him that he has an opportunity for a permanent (or, as permanent as things can be in professional sports) role in the Top 6 provided he understands why he is there. And the why is to be a physical bastard to play against. You hit everything that moves and hit it hard. You dig for pucks along the boards and then go plant your ass in front of the goalie. When someone crosschecks Raymond in the lower back, you fight that guy. When someone boards Larkin, you fight that guy. When an opponent is taking runs at our guys, you fight that guy. End of story. You do that and you'll keep being put on the ice. Don't do that and you are of no use.

Last thing, I know a lot around here a really down on the roster itself, but I'm going to place a little more blame on Lalonde. From what I have been told from the locker room, the team is in a pretty dysfunctional state right now. To end the year last season and through training camp this season, the team was in a really good spot. When the start of the season began as rough as it did (the offense being non-existent. Losing games) the team has started to fracture. Not due to personalities but because the players are frustrated and disappointed in the lack of success. Where this comes back to Lalonde, is that as the locker room is struggling, the coaching staff was keeping with the "everyone stay calm, stick to the plan, things will come together" message even though the players saw that that wasn't happening. The coaching staff was bringing no intensity and players were playing like it. A swift kick in the ass, some intensity, and real demand for performance will go a long way with this group.

 

[schuelma24]

I'd expect this team to do 45ish points in the last 48 games. The last stretch of the schedule is brutal for Detroit with 10 of the final 15 games being on the road.

yeah, I think they could legitimately play better the rest of the year and still end up in 5th position in the lottery. As you say, their schedule is brutal the rest of the way.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

It's literally the only part of the team that's actually good.


I never understood the love for Bob, there's nothing to suggest he's a good coach despite a long track record.

Boughner has a track record of running a good PK and was always above league average. This season was an anomaly for him.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

This is the first time I've thought Yzerman looked or sounded frazzled in a press conference.

That was hard to watch. Like watching someone's panic attack or something.

 

[schuelma24]

Boughner has a track record of running a good PK and was always above league average. This season was an anomaly for him.

From what Yzerman said, it was more McLellan wanting to bring his guy than anything against Boughner.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Without further personnel moves. I do believe there is room for improvement with the current roster provided the right direction and systems are provided by the new staff.

One, figure out a way to get more offense out of Berggren, Veleno, Kane, Tarasenko, and Compher. Those guys are capable of providing it, they've done it in the past. To watch the Wings offense this season it just feels so stifled, it goes beyond losing Ghost, Fabbri, Perron, and Sprong. I think it's legitimate to wonder if the directive from Yzerman to be better defensively caused Lalonde and Boughner to focus the system and players so strictly on defense that it killed their offense. The Wings look slow and create NOTHING off of the rush, and I believe a lot of that can be contributed to demands in defensive play. The Wings have worse GA results than the defensive systems deserves simply because the Wings are playing in the defensive zone 70% of the game. Every team in the league would have terrible defensive numbers if they spent that much time defending and not playing offense. If McLellan can figure out a better way to balance the offensive/defensive demands, then this roster will look better on the ice.

Two, get the role players to be physical. This could be a tough ask. It's an element that has been sorely missing from the Wings' play since the days of McCarty, Draper, Maltby, and Drake. Rassmussen, Copp, Fischer, Veleno, and Motte need to make the game miserable for the opponent. What that means, is to be on top of the opponent to a frustrating degree and to HIT with a PURPOSE. No more just bumping into a guy and thinking you're hitting someone. No more skating at a puck carrier and then peeling away once the guy passes the puck away. It means hitting to dislodge a player from the puck, hitting to knock a player out of the play, hitting to make the player feel it. When opponents hit Larkin, Raymond, Debrincat, and Berggren they're getting knocked down and knocked out of the play. They take a LOT of abuse on a game-by-game basis. That is NOT happening to the Wings' opponents. It is beyond time for that to change.

If McLellan can get these two things worked out, then this team could improve without additional roster moves. I do believe that the personnel on the roster is better than the current results. We'll see how much better.

On Rassmussen, in particular, for as much as I rag on him and think he's a total disappointment for what he brings to the game, I would tell him that he has an opportunity for a permanent (or, as permanent as things can be in professional sports) role in the Top 6 provided he understands why he is there. And the why is to be a physical bastard to play against. You hit everything that moves and hit it hard. You dig for pucks along the boards and then go plant your ass in front of the goalie. When someone crosschecks Raymond in the lower back, you fight that guy. When someone boards Larkin, you fight that guy. When an opponent is taking runs at our guys, you fight that guy. End of story. You do that and you'll keep being put on the ice. Don't do that and you are of no use.

Last thing, I know a lot around here a really down on the roster itself, but I'm going to place a little more blame on Lalonde. From what I have been told from the locker room, the team is in a pretty dysfunctional state right now. To end the year last season and through training camp this season, the team was in a really good spot. When the start of the season began as rough as it did (the offense being non-existent. Losing games) the team has started to fracture. Not due to personalities but because the players are frustrated and disappointed in the lack of success. Where this comes back to Lalonde, is that as the locker room is struggling, the coaching staff was keeping with the "everyone stay calm, stick to the plan, things will come together" message even though the players saw that that wasn't happening. The coaching staff was bringing no intensity and players were playing like it. A swift kick in the ass, some intensity, and real demand for performance will go a long way with this group.

The way they can squeeze an ounce more offense from this lineup is by improving the horrendous forward line combinations. As an example, Motte on the 1st and 2nd line at times this year was shades of Blashill playing Helm or Glendening with Larkin. However, when Blashill did that it was due to a total lack of talent on the team. Lalonde doing it was poor personnel management.

Once the team builds better chemistry and learn to trust their new coach I expect some of the problems like lack of intensity to work themselves out.

NOW What I'd like to see is Detroit spend a 2nd or 2 3rds for a 4/5 defenseman that can be a steadying presence. David Savard, Luke Schenn, someone like that. Also a good 2nd/3rd line tweener winger would do wonders for this team's depth right now. Zucker is a pending FA and has 9 goals 23 points on that trash-ass Buffalo team. Hell, maybe even look at trading our 1st (top 5 protected) for a kid like Mason McTavish. He's a pending RFA that will want a big deal. His shot and versatility would be a huge boon for this team moving forward.

I'd LOVE to see Gustafsson and Tarasenko dumped, and Kane traded for something of value. They don't bring anything to this team except slow skating and poor defensive coverage.

From what Yzerman said, it was more McLellan wanting to bring his guy than anything against Boughner.

Yzerman can say that, and I can smell the bullshit through my TV screen. Boughner was brought in to do a job; improve the PK to above average to great, because that was his reputation. (Multiple seasons with 85% on the PK)

Detroit's PK under him was in the 60s.

 

[TheOctopusKid]

Mc


Every press conference you can't hear the questions, it's frustrating.

I don't know how the Wings "press room" is - some facilities have amazing world class press rooms on pair with a White House, etc. - others throw pipe and drape and a fold out table with a tablecloth and it's nothing but a glorified storage closet but the camera is a tight shot on the speaker so you wouldn't know that's literally nothing but a room where they store extra pads.

Depending on the room and how quickly they set up - etc etc. - they have a wire mic on the table for the main speak and that runs straight into the soundboard. If they set up multiple mic, those all go into a mult box and then to the board for the broadcast.

This a stupid way to say - chances are they threw this setup together, they don't mic the press chairs because they'd have wires everywhere and have to manage a bunch of things. So they are left to either a) use a wireless mic that they pass around to get sound b) use grip and a boom mic and they swing it around to the person speaking, or c) use a shotgun mic and point it at the dude asking the question and still get terrible quality

Chances are - that's a multifunctional room that has a pretty basic setup and certainly not high end audio runs that are permanently installed (think like post-game Lakers or TNT stuff), and they threw together a basic setup and that was that

 

[sepster]

The way they can squeeze an ounce more offense from this lineup is by improving the horrendous forward line combinations. As an example, Motte on the 1st and 2nd line at times this year was shades of Blashill playing Helm or Glendening with Larkin. However, when Blashill did that it was due to a total lack of talent on the team. Lalonde doing it was poor personnel management.

Once the team builds better chemistry and learn to trust their new coach I expect some of the problems like lack of intensity to work themselves out.

NOW What I'd like to see is Detroit spend a 2nd or 2 3rds for a 4/5 defenseman that can be a steadying presence. David Savard, Luke Schenn, someone like that. Also a good 2nd/3rd line tweener winger would do wonders for this team's depth right now. Zucker is a pending FA and has 9 goals 23 points on that trash-ass Buffalo team. Hell, maybe even look at trading our 1st (top 5 protected) for a kid like Mason McTavish. He's a pending RFA that will want a big deal. His shot and versatility would be a huge boon for this team moving forward.

I'd LOVE to see Gustafsson and Tarasenko dumped, and Kane traded for something of value. They don't bring anything to this team except slow skating and poor defensive coverage.



Yzerman can say that, and I can smell the bullshit through my TV screen. Boughner was brought in to do a job; improve the PK to above average to great, because that was his reputation. (Multiple seasons with 85% on the PK)

Detroit's PK under him was in the 60s.

I'd love to see several rosters moves, but I'm just trying to go with what we know right now. The Wings have a new coach with this roster. What can he accomplish?

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I'd love to see several rosters moves, but I'm just trying to go with what we know right now. The Wings have a new coach with this roster. What can he accomplish?

Not much. Losing with structure vs. losing without structure is still losing. The fact of the matter is depth on the 2nd and 3rd lines is completely missing this year, and we need another shutdown defender.

 

[Hobnobs]

Not much. Losing with structure vs. losing without structure is still losing. The fact of the matter is depth on the 2nd and 3rd lines is completely missing this year, and we need another shutdown defender.

I wouldn't mind losing with structure if we played some of the kids in a few of those losses. Have a rotation of Chiarot, Petry and Holl play with Johansson and Wallinder (and/or any other kid that seems ready to try out the bigs). Waive Gustafsson and Lagesson.

 

[dalem177]

Welcome back to Motown, McLellan!

If they do go on, say, a three-game "new coach" heater, am I allowed to call it a "Hot Toddy"?

 

[ShakenNotStirred]

The three game win streak is faulty logic and concerns me to be honest. There are six teams between us and the second WC. Winning three in a row isn’t doing much when you have to pass by so many teams.

This team needs 61 points in its final 48 games to match last year. To be a WC team Detroit probably needs 65 or so points in the final 48 games. There is nothing about this roster that makes me think such a heater is even remotely possible.

I don't see us going 30 wins or whatever either, BUT we could get 25 and play the spoiler to a team like Ottawa at the end of the year. We are already going down, let's make it fun and drag some people down with us.

 

[better Red than Dead]

Well we went from Uncle Fester hairstyle to an Eddie Muenster one, is that alone has me encouraged

 

[1878rgw]

I like the part when he talks about physicality around 8.20

 

[sepster]

Not much. Losing with structure vs. losing without structure is still losing. The fact of the matter is depth on the 2nd and 3rd lines is completely missing this year, and we need another shutdown defender.

Yzerman said it at the presser today, but even going into the season, I agreed that this roster COULD be on par with last seasons. Different players with different roles but capable of being equally effective.

Last season, the Top 6 produced. Compher produced as an average 2C. Kane was a PT/game player. Larkin had a great offensive season (for him). I refuse to believe that David Perron was the catalyst for the Top 6 and without him they all fall apart.

Tyler Motte is a better fit for the Bottom 6 than Robbi Fabbri. Yet, this season he looks like he should be in the ECHL.

Tarasenko and Berggren are capable of replacing the offense provided by career journeyman Daniel Sprong.

Gustavsson looks like absolute trash, yet he has been a capable NHL defenseman for years.

Every single player and every single line combo have significantly regressed compared to last season and past track records. Either the coaching staff had lost the plot, or every single player (other than Raymond) coincidentally lost their NHL abilities all at the same time.

 

[stillwater]

This is the first time I've thought Yzerman looked or sounded frazzled in a press conference.

Anger and frustration is what I saw.

Anger that the team is in the position that he'd have to answer these questions at all. he was expecting better... Clearly, his message is that the players are not playing to his expectations ...

 

[ShanahanMan]

Never seen Steve this defensive or aggressive with the media.

 

[SoupNazi]

Well we went from Uncle Fester hairstyle to an Eddie Muenster one, is that alone has me encouraged

The fact that we didn't hire another bald guy is nice.

 

[raymond23]

McLellan feels like a really great fit

Unfortunately this roster is trash and we gotta beg the veterans to even compete hard

Stevie sounded like his usual self, I don’t hear the frazzled, etc some of you are saying

Larkin sounds and looks awful which is understandable but hard to watch and gives me very little hope

 

[Run the Jewels]

Yzerman presser cliff's notes:

• 10-14 days ago is when he started to make a decision to move on from Lalonde. After St Louis it was clear he needed to do something quickly.
• "Our team isn't playing to what my expectations are."
• The players are not playing to their abilities.
• Need good players, but could sense frustration and the will being sapped from players.
• Todd was asst coach during Yzerman's final season. Has remained in contact with McClellan since then, has a good relationship with him.
• Thinks he's a very good coach. Liked how he transitioned LAK from young team to playoff team.
• Looking forward to working with McClellan. Believes he's the best coach available to us right now. Didn't want to go with an interim coach, believes in McClellan and wants to give him enough time to do the job.
• You let the coach make decisions on how the team plays, Steve has his opinions but you gotta let the coaches do the job.
• Todd wanted to bring Trent along, so that's why they let Bob go.
• Will continue to be patient with younger players. It takes patience. Expects younger players to get an opportunity under McClellan.
• Not good enough to win a Cup right now. We're a long way from that, but we're dedicated to get there and so is the ownership group.
• Expectation at start of year: compete for a wildcard spot. Not far off from that (talent wise).
• The plan is that hopefully a different staff can get the players back to playing at the level we expect.
• Open to doing anything that makes the team better.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Yzerman said it at the presser today, but even going into the season, I agreed that this roster COULD be on par with last seasons. Different players with different roles but capable of being equally effective.

Last season, the Top 6 produced. Compher produced as an average 2C. Kane was a PT/game player. Larkin had a great offensive season (for him). I refuse to believe that David Perron was the catalyst for the Top 6 and without him they all fall apart.

Tyler Motte is a better fit for the Bottom 6 than Robbi Fabbri. Yet, this season he looks like he should be in the ECHL.

Tarasenko and Berggren are capable of replacing the offense provided by career journeyman Daniel Sprong.

Gustavsson looks like absolute trash, yet he has been a capable NHL defenseman for years.

Every single player and every single line combo have significantly regressed compared to last season and past track records. Either the coaching staff had lost the plot, or every single player (other than Raymond) coincidentally lost their NHL abilities all at the same time.

Perron lost his skating but he was great for the room. He held people accountable, defended teammates and made sacrifices for the team. Can you imagine Tank crosschecking someone in the face for running the captain? How about Kane sliding to block a shot in the final minutes of a tight game?

Gustafsson was always overrated. Last year Shesterkin had an almost MVP level performance for that team and by default every defenseman on that team looked good. He was trash in Chicago, Calgary, Philly and Washington. There's a reason he's moved so much, and it ain't because he's so highly sought after.

Tyler Motte was always trash and too many people on this board romanticized his game despite the fact that his career high in points in a single seas is 19.

Tarasenko has been regressing for years now and was never a strong defensive performer. His total lack of intangibles made him a poor choice as soon as the ink hit his contract.

 

[stillwater]

Stevie also clearly frustrated by the idiotic, repetitive question from one of the worst sets of reporters that cover any team anywhere. But that's not something new. Imagine having to answer moronic questions from Helene on a regular basis?

 

[cjm502]

This teams spirit is so broken, I hope Todd can bring some life back to these guys. #MakeDBossSmileAgain #100yardstare