Confirmed with Link: Wings Fire Lalonde and Hire Todd McLellan

[OldnotDeadWings]

It's a bit naive to think Lalonde wasn't saying some of the same things Todd is saying. It's mostly Coach Talk for Media 101. A variation of the "just go out there and play hockey" line is said by close to 100 per cent of new coaches for struggling teams, and many coaches who are about to be fired and have run out of more concrete solutions or are tired of giving anything but pap to media flunkies. Last season the players didn't seem afraid to make mistakes, they made tons of them

The main problem IMO was that it was going to be necessary to get a lot better defensively if the team was to push for a playoff spot, but roster construction and coaching approach did not mesh or exposed the limitations of a first-time head coach. A change had to be made for the same reason most coaching changes are made, a new voice and a clean slate was the only way the season might turn around. It helps that the new voice has the instant credibility that Todd brings, but we're seeing the same bump in play and player energy that usually happens with a new coach even if it's just an interim hire. All of a sudden the things that seemed so difficult look a lot easier, main reason being the players get tuned into proving themselves to the new coach and ensuring they still get ice time and opportunity.

The challenge will be not just to sustain it, but win enough for it to make a difference this season. That's unlikely IMO without the GM also not being afraid to make a mistake and bringing in a key player or two. That could be what he is trying to do if there's anything to the Cozens' rumors and he could be looking at other players the right age or even a low-cost D vet upgrade. If he didn't care about this season he would have let Lalonde take them down to a better Draft slot. Firing Lalonde was the easy part of the solution, doing something about the roster in-season is the hard part.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

It's like night and day, Fester sucked life out of this team.

i think part of it is that mclellan came in with no expectations. the season was lost, might as well go out there and have some fun

it'll be very interesting to see how the team plays next year if we flirt with a wildcard spot this year, yzerman swings a big trade at the draft, and makes a splash in free agency with one or two of the big names

 

[schuelma24]

I know it’s early and we’ve got the new coach bump, but this is looking like a team that’s going to get far away from a top 6 or top 8 draft pick and be in the mushy middle. The 2025 draft isn’t super impressive outside of the 10 to 12 range for me.

If I were the Wings GM I’d look at moving the pick with some protection) to improve the team that extra 5%.
Which players might be available? Preferably guys no older than 26. Is the focus more on 2C or a 3D?

I think we're still likely looking at 5-8 than 10-12 just based on the remaining schedule. Even if they sustain this level of play, the schedule gets brutal really quickly.

But .. to answer your question, I think the top priority should be getting a solid 2nd pair LD signed for the contention window. Get that done, and you have rock solid top 4 to build on.

I'm still relatively optimistic Danielson or Kasper can eventually be a solid 2C.

 

[Zetterberg4Captain]

I think we're still likely looking at 5-8 than 10-12 just based on the remaining schedule. Even if they sustain this level of play, the schedule gets brutal really quickly.

But .. to answer your question, I think the top priority should be getting a solid 2nd pair LD signed for the contention window. Get that done, and you have rock solid top 4 to build on.

I'm still relatively optimistic Danielson or Kasper can eventually be a solid 2C.

My opinion...a top 4 LD would be easier to sign in free agency...if I were SY my goal via trade is a under 26 top 6 forward with skill(ideally a center)..

Skilled/dynamic young forwards is what the organization lacks more than any one other attribute/player

 

[schuelma24]

My opinion...a top 4 LD would be easier to sign in free agency...if I were SY my goal via trade is a under 26 top 6 forward with skill(ideally a center)..

Skilled/dynamic young forwards is what the organization lacks more than any one other attribute/player

Yeah I didn't read the post close enough lol. If the scenario is a trade, I agree with going after a forward. I'm kind if penciling in getting a LD via FA this summer.

 

[HisNoodliness]

I know it’s early and we’ve got the new coach bump, but this is looking like a team that’s going to get far away from a top 6 or top 8 draft pick and be in the mushy middle. The 2025 draft isn’t super impressive outside of the 10 to 12 range for me.

If I were the Wings GM I’d look at moving the pick with some protection) to improve the team that extra 5%.
Which players might be available? Preferably guys no older than 26. Is the focus more on 2C or a 3D?

I think we're still likely looking at 5-8 than 10-12 just based on the remaining schedule. Even if they sustain this level of play, the schedule gets brutal really quickly.

But .. to answer your question, I think the top priority should be getting a solid 2nd pair LD signed for the contention window. Get that done, and you have rock solid top 4 to build on.

I'm still relatively optimistic Danielson or Kasper can eventually be a solid 2C.

I would prioritize 2C personally. I'm pretty confident that Seider, Edvinsson and ASP can make up the core of a cup competitive defense. Hopefully we manage to produce a functional second pair defenseman out of our prospect depth. If not, finding one in free agency shouldn't be that hard. We can worry about the third pair once the rest of the team is put together.

I like Kasper and Danielson but unless one of them significantly outperforms the way I'm currently projecting them (2/3C tweeners), I don't feel confident in a Larkin- Danielson- Kasper center core. Let's take an average result, and say that Kasper ends up as an average 3C, and Danielson as an average 2C. That center core is good enough to make it into the playoffs and lose in the first two rounds every year.

 

[schuelma24]

I like Kasper and Danielson but unless one of them significantly outperforms the way I'm currently projecting them (2/3C tweeners), I don't feel confident in a Larkin- Danielson- Kasper center core. Let's take an average result, and say that Kasper ends up as an average 3C, and Danielson as an average 2C. That center core is good enough to make it into the playoffs and lose in the first two rounds every year.

I'm more optimistic on Danielson than you are. Yes, he definitely needs to shoot more, but he's already showing a lot of playmaking in the AHL all the while doing all the little things of a 200 foot center. But we'll see!

 

[Winger98]

I heard somewhere that cozens might be available

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

I heard somewhere that cozens might be available

only reason i would want cozens is to flip him for pettersson

 

[Winger98]

only reason i would want cozens is to flip him for pettersson

For me it depends on cost. I think he's safely a 50ish point top6 guy. Maybe he can be a 2c, but if he's just a wing, he's a good, big bodied wing. Him next to Larkin and Raymond would be really nice. Or on a line with debrincat could be really nice.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

For me it depends on cost. I think he's safely a 50ish point top6 guy. Maybe he can be a 2c, but if he's just a wing, he's a good, big bodied wing. Him next to Larkin and Raymond would be really nice. Or on a line with debrincat could be really nice.

we have compher at home

 

[Winger98]

we have compher at home

I think Cozens brings quite a bit more to the table than Compher.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

I think Cozens brings quite a bit more to the table than Compher.

2 million dollars a year for 5 years more?

 

[Winger98]

2 million dollars a year for 5 years more?

yeah, I think that upside is there. The hope is that we can unlock the guy who put up 30 goals and 68 points one year. Ideally that would be at center but even at wing, with his size and his increasingly physical game, that's a big add.

Is there risk? Could he end up being just a 50 point guy? Yeah, but that's also why we can probably get him. There's a risk with petterson, too, and his $11.6m cap hit, but that risk is why he's available.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Lalonde was a much worse coach than Blashill.

 

[FMichael]

It's like night and day, Fester sucked life out of this team.

I was skeptical after his 1st season and wasn't surprised from that point on...Just like Blashill he really has no place as a head coach at the NHL level.

Lalonde was a much worse coach than Blashill.

And that says sumthin...I get it Yzerman hired him as an assistant in Tampa, but what did he see in him that would be head coach material

 

[norrisnick]

I was skeptical after his 1st season and wasn't surprised from that point on...Just like Blashill he really has no place as a head coach at the NHL level.


And that says sumthin...I get it Yzerman hired him as an assistant in Tampa, but what did he see in him that would be head coach material

I'm convinced Cooper gave him a glowing review to 1. get him off his bench and 2. sabotage an in-division team.

 

[lilidk]

I think Cozens brings quite a bit more to the table than Compher.

Veleno Larkin Raymond
Cat Danielson Cozens
Buchelnikov Kasper Lombardi
Elmer Motte Watson

 

[FMichael]

I'm convinced Cooper gave him a glowing review to 1. get him off his bench and 2. sabotage an in-division team.

 

[KJoe88]

He was a shitty coach when SY hired him.

Last year was an outlier and I’m pretty convinced the team was coaching themselves up until the last minute in Montreal.

Lalonde was a much worse coach than Blashill

Oof yes I agree. And I very much dislike Blash too but he’s much better as a HC

 

[Dotter]

Tall task, but if TM can get a record of something like 22-18-5 (22 wins, 5 OTLs) out of this team, they should make the playoffs.

And he'd instantly be coach of the year.

 

[norrisnick]

An 83pt team is not making the playoffs...

 

[Pavels Dog]

Tall task, but if TM can get a record of something like 22-18-5 (22 wins, 5 OTLs) out of this team, they should make the playoffs.

And he'd instantly be coach of the year.

Uhhh no, that’s not enough, wouldn’t be close.

They need go something like 26-12-7, that’d give them 93 points. Playoffs are unrealistic as that record shows. We can re-evaluate if the team goes on a heater and picks up like 8-9 wins in a row.

Having a winning record the rest of the way would still be a positive.

 

[Oddbob]

Tall task, but if TM can get a record of something like 22-18-5 (22 wins, 5 OTLs) out of this team, they should make the playoffs.

And he'd instantly be coach of the year.

As pointed out, that won't be close at all to a playoff spot.

 

[Euro Twins]

He carried an extra 1 on his math.

However if the team has a January like they did last year, which mentally they are definitely capable of (new coach, new system that they're instantly buying into, guys are happy and encouraged) well we could actually be talking playoffs in March. We have 14 (yes 14) games in January. A lot of them are very winnable. I think if we can go on a tear something like 10-2-2 or 9-2-3 and we play even just have a record of 15-10-6 offer the final 31 games we can get there.

Larkin wants it bad. New coach, players are bought in, and guys like kane, razor, and seider want Larkin to get into the playoffs again. He needs it.

Let's get those points boys. I don't care how it happens but we need 60ish point s in the final 45 games. That's a 66.7% point total going forward.

I have faith!

Just f***in play hockey