Confirmed with Link: Wings Fire Lalonde and Hire Todd McLellan

[LongTimeDRWF]

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

Still have time to make it interesting, last year at January 1, after 37 GP, wings were 6th in the WC race one game over 0.500 at 17-16-4 and all the teams ahead of them were well over 0.500 (like 5 games over except the bolts at 3 games over).

The only team ahead of them over 0.500 is the Sens, who currently hold the WC2 spot at 4 games over 0.500, the wings play them 3 more times I think.

Way too soon to toss in the towel for sure, lots of divisional games to be played yet.

 

[SCD]

An interesting article yesterday from Kahn entitled "Red Wings' McLellen to Jonaton Berggren: Let it Loose."

Reading some of these articles about McLellen's interactions with our younger players, it sounds like McLellen is taking off some of the defensive handcuffs that have been instilled by Lalonde. All our young players could benefit from this change to help develop their offensive game. I am not suggesting these players can give up their defensive responsibilities and re-live the AA days. It also could mean Yzerman is more interested in seeing what these players have to offer than pushing the win-now mentality.

 

[Euro Twins]

Still have time to make it interesting, last year at January 1, after 37 GP, wings were 6th in the WC race one game over 0.500 at 17-16-4 and all the teams ahead of them were well over 0.500 (like 5 games over except the bolts at 3 games over).

The only team ahead of them over 0.500 is the Sens, who currently hold the WC2 spot at 4 games over 0.500, the wings play them 3 more times I think.

Wat too soon to toss in the towel for sure, lots of divisional games to be played yet.

Yup. Which puts us 4 points behind where we were last year at this time. Considering how March went to the end of the year that 4 points is not really a massive difference compared to last year. And those numbers I pointed out where almost identical to what we achieved last January and then February we went 7-3-0 after our January run. It wasn't until Larkin went down again that we collapsed. And as far as I'm concerned that's a coaching issue. We went 3-9-2 in March. A figure that grows to 3-10-2 including the February 29 game. A better coach could have coached us to closer to a .500 record in that time. Even 6-7-2 would have been huge. Hell 4-9-2 and we make playoffs.

Nothing is locked in yet and more than half the season to go.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Still have time to make it interesting, last year at January 1, after 37 GP, wings were 6th in the WC race one game over 0.500 at 17-16-4 and all the teams ahead of them were well over 0.500 (like 5 games over except the bolts at 3 games over).

The only team ahead of them over 0.500 is the Sens, who currently hold the WC2 spot at 4 games over 0.500, the wings play them 3 more times I think.

Way too soon to toss in the towel for sure, lots of divisional games to be played yet.

Yup. Which puts us 4 points behind where we were last year at this time. Considering how March went to the end of the year that 4 points is not really a massive difference compared to last year. And those numbers I pointed out where almost identical to what we achieved last January and then February we went 7-3-0 after our January run. It wasn't until Larkin went down again that we collapsed. And as far as I'm concerned that's a coaching issue. We went 3-9-2 in March. A figure that grows to 3-10-2 including the February 29 game. A better coach could have coached us to closer to a .500 record in that time. Even 6-7-2 would have been huge. Hell 4-9-2 and we make playoffs.

Nothing is locked in yet and more than half the season to go.

This is why I’m for trading this year’s first if we aren’t going to tank. One good player, a solid D that can help this team move the puck up ice, and they can break into the WC.

 

[FMichael]

I’ve been hanging on to this for a while…Yzerman on Christmas Day…

 

[Euro Twins]

This is why I’m for trading this year’s first if we aren’t going to tank. One good player, a solid D that can help this team move the puck up ice, and they can break into the WC.

I'm %100 on board with trading our *protected* top picks for all stars that move the needle if we start to go on a bit of a run. If we start tanking again in the next month, chalk it up to a lost season and a high draft pick.

 

[DamonDRW]

I'm %100 on board with trading our *protected* top picks for all stars that move the needle if we start to go on a bit of a run. If we start tanking again in the next month, chalk it up to a lost season and a high draft pick.

so basically, let's do good things and don't do bad ones?

 

[FMichael]

I'm %100 on board with trading our *protected* top picks for all stars that move the needle if we start to go on a bit of a run. If we start tanking again in the next month, chalk it up to a lost season and a high draft pick.

I get the whole process of rebuilding and having patience, but at the same time unless we’re drafting guaranteed Seider/Eds/RayRays - how long can we (and Larkin) tolerate being mid pack at best?

If there’s a chance at getting ‘better’ via a trade, or two then I’m all for it.

 

[FMichael]

so basically, let's do good things and don't do bad ones?

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

This is why I’m for trading this year’s first if we aren’t going to tank. One good player, a solid D that can help this team move the puck up ice, and they can break into the WC.

The other item to factor in, Larkin has not been everything to the team this year, so if the secondary scoring ticks up due to improved play, if Larkin starts a burner too, then the wings should make out alright.

It would be nice to add a 3/4 D…