Your Rebuild Opinion? Next Move Coming?

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

This is a translation from a Russian interview just a few weeks ago. Buch seems to still be in communication with the Wings and interested in playing in the NHL, even if that means time in the AHL first:

Red Wings' Buchelnikov Expresses Readiness for AHL Transition - The Hockey Writers Red Wings Prospects Latest News, Analysis & More

In this interview, Red Wings' Buchelnikov talks about his plans with the Red Wings, his chemistry with Derek Barach, and much more.

thehockeywriters.com

I'm not worried about whether Detroit will lose him. Just curious how well his game (given his build) will translate to the NHL.

And that's why teams swing at picks.

You 'think' said player could become something. Right or wrong, they still swung.

It's a fair assessment.

 

[13to40]

im already over mcclellan . lalonde looked bad because of the roster losing ghost-perron-walman-fabs . then mccl like you said got the new coach bump making him look better. and im not a fan of brass/coaches ripping players to the media . totally over the old canadian gruff barking coach way

I’m leaning more in the other direction and think this group finally needs a “real old school coach”.

I wouldn’t at all have minded them bringing Babs back to finish the year in all honesty. McClellan worked out fine. I think these players need to start being held accountable for not only the good, but the bad that comes with being a pro athlete.

I don’t think this team is as far as most think to taking the next step and when that next step happens, a coach with a winning pedigree will be required.

Line match ups are crucial and I feel like we as a fan base haven’t been able to appreciate it as much for over a decade…

 

[SirKillalot]

What upside. He is 24, and has been an injured 20 ish pt player when he plays. We gave up on Zadina far quicker than this.

Yes, he is 24. Not 35. There is possibilities for him to become better and stabile by environment change and opportunity.

Example Reilly Smith and William Karlsson were bottom six or rejects and got that.
Kirby Dach can do the same.

He has three seasons of when playing, 135 games and 72 points.
The others okay he was on third line or bad team.

Yes has he been injured a lot and currently had another surgery?
Yes.
Does he have the potential to blossom if he can put that behind him?
Yes.

Are we in a position where we need to find gems here and there for a lower price?
Yes.

Kirby Dach fits all that and is on shorter contract, so even if he doesn't work out I would much rather try that than keeping Compher on this roster. Cause if one can get Dach in the right direction, one is gaining an asset on the cheaper end of what we got to pay to get him at the moment.

It would be a fairly low risk / high reward thing. Even if he just end up stabilizing as 3C or winger, he brings more offense than Rasmussen as long as the health gets on track.

 

[SirKillalot]

im already over mcclellan . lalonde looked bad because of the roster losing ghost-perron-walman-fabs . then mccl like you said got the new coach bump making him look better. and im not a fan of brass/coaches ripping players to the media . totally over the old canadian gruff barking coach way

This group definitely needs something pushing accountability on them.
But, not in a Torts kind of way.
McClellan done great in the pressers. A little bit of truth is what this group need to stop blaming everyone else.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

This group definitely needs something pushing accountability on them.
But, not in a Torts kind of way.
McClellan done great in the pressers. A little bit of truth is what this group need to stop blaming everyone else.

Important is every player in their end of year press conferences spoke in good terms on Todd and what he brought to the team.

Now that will change overtime, but he stayed popular in San Jose because of the relationship with the GM and the players they had in the room for the most part. I can see that happening here.

 

[Run the Jewels]

This group definitely needs something pushing accountability on them.
But, not in a Torts kind of way.
McClellan done great in the pressers. A little bit of truth is what this group need to stop blaming everyone else.

Well said. And totally agree on Torts, who is probably cooked at this point anyway.

 

[13to40]

Yes, he is 24. Not 35. There is possibilities for him to become better and stabile by environment change and opportunity.

Example Reilly Smith and William Karlsson were bottom six or rejects and got that.
Kirby Dach can do the same.

He has three seasons of when playing, 135 games and 72 points.
The others okay he was on third line or bad team.

Yes has he been injured a lot and currently had another surgery?
Yes.
Does he have the potential to blossom if he can put that behind him?
Yes.

Are we in a position where we need to find gems here and there for a lower price?
Yes.

Kirby Dach fits all that and is on shorter contract, so even if he doesn't work out I would much rather try that than keeping Compher on this roster. Cause if one can get Dach in the right direction, one is gaining an asset on the cheaper end of what we got to pay to get him at the moment.

It would be a fairly low risk / high reward thing. Even if he just end up stabilizing as 3C or winger, he brings more offense than Rasmussen as long as the health gets on track.

Did you watch Dach play when healthy this year for the Habs?

I don’t think you’d be much happier swapping him for Compher. Very lateral move. Will cost assets for nothing.

I rather keep the mundane Compher who we know what to expect from him, than trade an asset away to get Dach who is very injury prone and did not at all impress last season when he was in the line up.

Seemed like a player who doesn’t have a high IQ. Watched him live quite a few times (being from Montreal) and he never impressed.

I think the chances of him blossoming to what you hope are slimmer to none unfortunately and at the end of the day I much rather use that asset in a larger package for a player who holds more value.

 

[RabidBadger]

I’m leaning more in the other direction and think this group finally needs a “real old school coach”.

I wouldn’t at all have minded them bringing Babs back to finish the year in all honesty. McClellan worked out fine. I think these players need to start being held accountable for not only the good, but the bad that comes with being a pro athlete.

I'm in full agreement on your point but I don't think Babs is necessarily the best example to emphasize it. There's a difference between a red-ass coach (McClellan) and a dumbass coach. Babs firmly falls into the latter category.

 

[Oddbob]

Yes, he is 24. Not 35. There is possibilities for him to become better and stabile by environment change and opportunity.

Example Reilly Smith and William Karlsson were bottom six or rejects and got that.
Kirby Dach can do the same.

He has three seasons of when playing, 135 games and 72 points.
The others okay he was on third line or bad team.

Yes has he been injured a lot and currently had another surgery?
Yes.
Does he have the potential to blossom if he can put that behind him?
Yes.

Are we in a position where we need to find gems here and there for a lower price?
Yes.

Kirby Dach fits all that and is on shorter contract, so even if he doesn't work out I would much rather try that than keeping Compher on this roster. Cause if one can get Dach in the right direction, one is gaining an asset on the cheaper end of what we got to pay to get him at the moment.

It would be a fairly low risk / high reward thing. Even if he just end up stabilizing as 3C or winger, he brings more offense than Rasmussen as long as the health gets on track.

He is 24 and has never shown any real greatness to his game. If he had, that changes things. Some players can get going later on, I don't see it from him. He didn't just have a bad offensive season, he was terrible defensively as well.

 

[USAHockey97]

At this point in the rebuild, I’m not sure where they go. I see them peaking as a middle pack playoff team. The 13th pick is likely to be another mid-six forward or bottom four pairing defenseman that will take a few years to get there.

No one is banging down the door in the prospect pool outside of maybe ASP. Are there prospects possibly ready? Yes, but more as depth pieces. I continue to see the Wings prospect pool as loaded with depth and why they are rated high. Quantity of players.

Cossa looks ok at best but goalies are up and down as they develop so not sure there. Augustine hasn’t played a pro game yet but looks promising.

Raymond and Seider are the two elite players on the Wings right now. I’m not including Larkin as I’m mostly looking at the young core and prospects. Edvinson has a chance to become this too. Kasper maybe but I’m not sold yet.

The Wings are still lacking high end, elite talent at forward. Getting through the draft is probably out now, so FA or trades is the only way. That said, wings would have to give up a key piece to get one so, I’m inclined to say FA is the best chance they’ve got. Someone like Marner would be a big boost but he would be later 20’s, and like Larkin, would have less prime years left.

So my thought is RFAs. I know the cap is going up and it sets a bad precedent, but if the Wings could possibly steal one elite talent from a cap strapped team, perhaps that is more beneficial? Getting that player would have more impact then the next two or three years of 1st round picks in the 12-15 range.

 

[Perratrooper]

Sorry if this is the wrong place, but would Wings fans have any interested in one or all of Wood, Lehkonen, and/or Girard? To my eye you have a lot of cap space coming up and these players could potentially help push Detroit over the layoff line. Girard is still only 26 so he could easily fit in with a long term plan as well.

 

[stillwater]

yes

 

[datsyukfan]

Sorry if this is the wrong place, but would Wings fans have any interested in one or all of Wood, Lehkonen, and/or Girard? To my eye you have a lot of cap space coming up and these players could potentially help push Detroit over the layoff line. Girard is still only 26 so he could easily fit in with a long term plan as well.

Me personally I would 100% take all 3. Would I rather have a bigger d-men than Girard.. yes, but at this point we can’t be picky as red wings fans we need good hockey players. Lehkonen would be awesome with Larkin and Raymond imo

 

[Perratrooper]

Me personally I would 100% take all 3. Would I rather have a bigger d-men than Girard.. yes, but at this point we can’t be picky as red wings fans we need good hockey players. Lehkonen would be awesome with Larkin and Raymond imo

I think Girard went from being vastly overrated to vastly underrated. He’s more physical than you would expect and is a very intelligent hockey player, with great skating. If you paired him with Seider I think both would truly flourish.

Of the three I listed, Lehkonen would be the least likely to be moved, however I think there’s a serious chance Colorado considers everything.

So with that being said if there were to be a trade involving all three from Colorado what sort of pieces would Wings fans be willing to give up? In this case I think any picks/prospects would be flipped so an acceptable currency.

 

[SirKillalot]

Me personally I would 100% take all 3. Would I rather have a bigger d-men than Girard.. yes, but at this point we can’t be picky as red wings fans we need good hockey players. Lehkonen would be awesome with Larkin and Raymond imo

It's a dangerous line to become to desperate to just take on players to "just make the playoffs"-attitude.
We need better players yes, but not get stuck in long term contracts that have a bigger chance of going sideways.

In Girard's case. I like him if he can continue to play effectively. He is on the smaller side and need to play smart, but when he does he is good. Though if not can get injuries and be dominated physically.

I think Girard went from being vastly overrated to vastly underrated. He’s more physical than you would expect and is a very intelligent hockey player, with great skating. If you paired him with Seider I think both would truly flourish.

Yes he is smart and good skater. If he continue that path I would be open to taking him.
Idk if I would want him with Seider, maybe more with Edvinsson as I would want Seider to be utilized and do more offensively himself. Girard can do that with Edvinsson.

Only thing is if ASP takes the level well, I'd expect him to go with Edvinsson.
And in such case, there might not be a need for Girard, as I think one more physical defensive oriented d-man with some puck skills is the way to go.

 

[SirKillalot]

Maybe to knock some sense and seriousness into Berggren...

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

Maybe to knock some sense and seriousness into Berggren...

god forbid someone has a bit of personality right

 

[SirKillalot]

god forbid someone has a bit of personality right

If you are doing well, then yes show as much as possible if you want as you have performances to back it up.
If you hump along without seeing improvement, keep your head down and work.
That's why you don't make the playoffs and blame others. Stop mocking around and do the work first.

 

[Austrianwing]

If you are doing well, then yes show as much as possible if you want as you have performances to back it up.
If you hump along without seeing improvement, keep your head down and work.
That's why you don't make the playoffs and blame others. Stop mocking around and do the work first.

I'm not sure that locker room needs more quiet gloominess. He's obviously the class clown, but I wasn't seeing anything bad there.

 

[stillwater]

If you are doing well, then yes show as much as possible if you want as you have performances to back it up.
If you hump along without seeing improvement, keep your head down and work.
That's why you don't make the playoffs and blame others. Stop mocking around and do the work first.

So, if you have a bad day at work, you should allow it to affect all other aspects of your life? Perhaps go home and give your wife and kids a good beating?

 

[norrisnick]

This fanbase....

OMG Larkin is such a sourpuss debbie downer....

OMG how dare Berggren enjoy banter during practices. Be moar srs bsnss!

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

So, if you have a bad day at work, you should allow it to affect all other aspects of your life? Perhaps go home and give your wife and kids a good beating?

now you get it

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

If you are doing well, then yes show as much as possible if you want as you have performances to back it up.
If you hump along without seeing improvement, keep your head down and work.
That's why you don't make the playoffs and blame others. Stop mocking around and do the work first.

You must be fun at parties.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Maybe to knock some sense and seriousness into Berggren...

Seems like a fun guy, glad he’s got a personality.

 

[Oddbob]

Seems like a fun guy, glad he’s got a personality.

Would rather he was a better player.