Yzerman End of Season pressconference

[Rzombo4 prez]

And you're asking others to "stop piling on"? I mean how many times do you have to post this before everyone gets that this is your chosen narrative? We get that you feel this way.

Is he "soft" simply because he made a comment about the trade deadline?

I mean, I've seen Larkin play probably more than 200 times live. He isn't "soft". He's a lot of things, but he isn't soft. He lacks the hockey sense to be a truly great player and he whines to the refs and dives too often ... acts like he just scored the winning Stanley Cup goal in overtime of Game 7, even if it's just a November game against Columbus.

He does things that rub me the wrong way.

But, he is emotional, always has been, always will be. Obviously, he wasn't the only guy in that room who felt like the team could have used a boost at the deadline. It's not Dylan Larkin's job to build an unbeatable Dynasty ... that's up to Steve Yzerman. It's Dylan's job to win hockey games ... and he didn't accomplish that after the 4 Nations high. It happens.

I mean, in his whole career, you could never have pointed to Dylan as the reason the Wings just weren't good enough. This whole narrative of him being some kind of turncoat because he expressed an unpopular opinion is frankly sickening.

Yzerman is allowed to not appreciate Dylan's opinion. Frankly, I don't agree with Dylan's opinion. But, it doesn't make him "soft" because he expressed an opinion.

I think you'll see Dylan reverse back some of what he said here as the summer comes and goes.

He isn't going to be traded because he said what he said. That's ridiculous.

I am not sure that "soft" is the right term for this, but Larkin has never been able to put the team on his back and manufacture a win when the team has absolutely needed a win to stop the bleeding or stop a further slide. I consider this some sort of commentary on mental fortitude. When absolutely called on, he has never played so well individually that his teammates couldn't help to raise the level of their game and produce a win. I am not saying it is easy, I am not saying that everyone can do it, but I see it as a sign of big leadership quality.

For the record I think Larkin is much, much better than his critics make him out to be and the single most important player on this team at the moment. I also think it won't be nearly as easy to improve this team this summer as the big Larkin supporters think it will be, thus heightening the probability for further conflict with the front office.

 

[SirloinUB]

Man, the world would be a better place if more people could accept that individuals can have equally valid but opposing views while not turning it into a problem.

Larkin isn't a "softy" or a "bad captain" for expressing disappointment over not adding at the TDL.

Yzerman isn't wrong to say "our best players needed to be better."

Both are true, Neither means there is a meaningful problem at hand.

 

[Winger98]

In what world was he projected to be a 3rd line center?
He was always a steal at his draft position.

He should have been better. Larkin hasn't reached his full potential and he might never will.

Jeff Finley labeled him "helm with hands" on draft night. Others said that if everything went right, he could be a Ryan Kesler level center. Considering Larkin has matched Kesler's points in nearly 300 fewer games, I think Larkin blew that projection out of the water.

 

[KJoe88]

I believe this team makes the playoffs next season.

I think they’re all pissed and it shows. Sometimes it’s really that simple.

Larkin isn’t going anywhere and he doesn’t want to leave… he just wants to win. It’s growing pains. Shitty season ended up with shitty words spoken. It happens.

 

[Winger98]

Some of you really know how to turn much ado about nothing into a much bigger story than it is. They didn't directly attack Dylan, they were talking about the room as a whole getting down often and not being able to recover quickly. They mentioned more than once that you don't need a letter to be a leader. Todd than directly mentioned Ben Chiarot and Petry when talking about this issue, which means they may be part of the issue. That is what I took from this, not that Dylan is the main issue, but the room has a lot of guys who get down and can't get going again, which is troubling to hear. Steve also mentioned needing more from Mo and Ray with regards to this, so maybe they aren't quite ready to be main leaders yet.

The rest of it, both gave some good answers, but I really hated the mention of Gus and Tank having played at least decent, when they were both bad. I don't even agree with Steve that Tank deserved more pts, I actually think he deserved less based on the effort I saw most nights. He wasn't snake bitten at all, he simply was doing mostly nothing most of the time.

Didn't like that they are thinking of bringing Lyon back, which means the same tandem as this year and it stunk a lot of the time.

Not really a fan of bringing Kane back either, as he will be another year older, coasts a lot, and when he isn't putting up pts, he is a huge liability at 5 on 5.

The media asked zero questions about the D as a whole when it is easily the weakest spot on the team. Same at the deadline, there was no talk about improving this spot. I also disagree with Steve that he couldn't have made a move at the deadline to improve the D. There were definitely players that could be had for little that bump him out of the lineup. Didn't need to be a blockbuster, but something.

I think Tank was misused for half the season. The guy just isn't effective on the left side, but Lalonde refused to move him down the line up and to his right side. McLellan refused to do it for a bit, too, but not nearly as long. Regardless of side, I never thought Tank was dogging it and I thought he did seem a bit snake bit. Reminded me of Robitaille that year he scored 11 goals for us. Clearly not the machine he was, but also not catching a lot of breaks to get going.

With Gus...he's a $2m third pair D. It would be nice to have had someone better, but I don't think he was worse than what he was paid, if that makes sense. I think it would have helped to not have been paired with Holl.

 

[Frk It]

Jeff Finley labeled him "helm with hands" on draft night. Others said that if everything went right, he could be a Ryan Kesler level center. Considering Larkin has matched Kesler's points in nearly 300 fewer games, I think Larkin blew that projection out of the water.

I can’t think of many players we’ve had who have gotten squeezed more out of their natural ability.

Imagine if guys like Mantha or Athanasiou did that.

 

[ShakenNotStirred]

Does this mean the mythical Larkin internal cap will be no more?

 

[dalem177]

Mantha

 

[better Red than Dead]

I want to have higher hopes for the team after the presser, but hearing the GM and HC give very positive comments about Holl and Gus was disappointing.

We can call out Larkin for once popping off frustration to the media? Ok, fine with that, but at the same time can the Wings brass STOP protecting the vet plug trash on the roster! Both players need to go, and now I have a bad feeling both will be back.

I keep hearing this complaint but how are they to respond? Dump on them? What does that do to their trade value?

 

[Winger98]

I can’t think of many players we’ve had who have gotten squeezed more out of their natural ability.

Imagine if guys like Mantha or Athanasiou did that.

some folks might not like it, but I think this is part of the reason you draft guys with intangibles and why we keep seeing our 1st round picks do well.

 

[dj4aces]

Yzerman needs to atone for the fact that he was solely responsible for hiring Unclef***ingFester.

I'm not sure what you expected, really.

Was Lalonde the right man for the job? Looking back, he seemed to throw shit at a wall and hoped something stuck, so no he wasn't. But who would we have reasonably hired instead? Much like free agent players, free agent coaches also have that ability to pick where they land as well. Watching how Torts quite literally gave up in Philly, could you reasonably say you'd have rather had him instead? I'd take Lalonde a hundred more times before ever taking Torts.

So, do I blame Yzerman for Lalonde? No. Will I blame Yzerman when McLellan eventually loses the room, as coaches tend to do? Also no. I understand the impulse to blame him, but zoom out and take a big picture look around. Our choices were limited, and we weren't gonna attract a coach like Maurice to this team, not the way it looked in 2022-2023.

 

[deca guard]

WINGWHEELPOD CHIMES IN

 

[FMichael]

I'm not sure what you expected, really.

Was Lalonde the right man for the job? Looking back, he seemed to throw shit at a wall and hoped something stuck, so no he wasn't. But who would we have reasonably hired instead? Much like free agent players, free agent coaches also have that ability to pick where they land as well. Watching how Torts quite literally gave up in Philly, could you reasonably say you'd have rather had him instead? I'd take Lalonde a hundred more times before ever taking Torts.

So, do I blame Yzerman for Lalonde? No. Will I blame Yzerman when McLellan eventually loses the room, as coaches tend to do? Also no. I understand the impulse to blame him, but zoom out and take a big picture look around. Our choices were limited, and we weren't gonna attract a coach like Maurice to this team, not the way it looked in 2022-2023.

Lalonde was pretty bland after his 1st season in Detroit - fair enough...After season 2 it was pretty evident that he wasn't working out...Yzerman could've removed Lalonde and have hired McLellan last summer...That's where I blame Yzerman.

 

[dj4aces]

Does this mean the mythical Larkin internal cap will be no more?

To be completely honest, I was violently opposed to those who believed such a thing existed in the first place. With the cap rising considerably over the next few seasons, I expect at least one, if not more, player to be signed at a higher AAV than Larkin.

 

[Geezer WC]

I don't think its well beyond reasonable expectation for that draft spot. I think its fairly good and I agree you can say you hit on it, but beyond reasonable expectation would be 90 points+ player. Which, with all the backing Larkin has on this team part of the forum, maybe he should have reached that at some point.

Personally I think he needs to be better. He needs to play with more force. It's not a ton of times you would say Larkin did some kind of "power move" which in my opinion I think he has the skills to do. Its like he is afraid to stick out too much.

You must hate Ras to no end I guess. Not that I am a fan at all of the guy.

 

[ColdToiletSeats]

All I know is Todd is Alpha as F***

(and that's what we need)

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Finally got to watch the Steve and Todd show

Really like Todd's straightforward demeanor and prioritization of accountability for everyone involved this season, literally. He's definitely the right coach for us now. He's also damn right about the team pissing away many points down the stretch. Be mentally tough, or suffer the consequences of losing

I appreciate Steve just giving straight business answers, or either thinking out his answer if he didn't have something right off his head. Not to mention I liked him saying that if Dylan wants to come out and say what was said between the two of them, he can go right ahead

Steve and Todd seem to be cut from the same cloth ideologically. Good to see them bounce off one another if the other is better suited to respond to questions. You get the sense that they're on the same page and with an offseason + training camp + full season to work with our new coming on-ice product + the learned failures of the past seasons, they understand that lying down when things get tough isn't going to earn you a playoff spot. You hope, at least *cough* #71 *cough*. I get it though, dude has not played playoff hockey since he was 19 years old. Still though

From what I gather, everyone is fed up with losing obviously. However in not really a toxic way at all, everyone has to pull their own weight and that's likely understood by all parties (assuming Yzerman/Larkin behind closed doors did indeed go well). This appears to be lighting a fire under the asses of all involved. I'm optimistic (well, aren't I always lol?) that drives a better result next season, whatever our team looks like. Let's make some ballsy trades Steve

I'll tell ya, I'm just glad we are not Vancouver right now...

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

It's really interesting reading the Kings fans p***ing and s****ing all over Anze Kopitar, a guy who is much better than Dylan Larkin can ever hope to become. Even when Detroit makes the playoffs, we know who Larkin is, he's not going to magically become something else at the age of 29.

The guy who kicked your dog? You seem to be pretty unhinged on this topic. We know he won’t be good in the playoffs, we cannot even build a team to get in.

News flash Yzerman, both St Louis and Montreal added guys playing in their top 4 in season. I would have welcomed a Newsy firing in November and a trade in December as well, particularly one that brought in a top 4 D. Armstrong also managed to bring in a top 6 power forward and dman for less than Tank and Gust in the off season…

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Finally got to watch the Steve and Todd show

Really like Todd's straightforward demeanor and prioritization of accountability for everyone involved this season, literally. He's definitely the right coach for us now. He's also damn right about the team pissing away many points down the stretch. Be mentally tough, or suffer the consequences of losing

I appreciate Steve just giving straight business answers, or either thinking out his answer if he didn't have something right off his head. Not to mention I liked him saying that if Dylan wants to come out and say what was said between the two of them, he can go right ahead

Steve and Todd seem to be cut from the same cloth ideologically. Good to see them bounce off one another if the other is better suited to respond to questions. You get the sense that they're on the same page and with an offseason + training camp + full season to work with our new coming on-ice product + the learned failures of the past seasons, they understand that lying down when things get tough isn't going to earn you a playoff spot. You hope, at least *cough* #71 *cough*. I get it though, dude has not played playoff hockey since he was 19 years old. Still though

From what I gather, everyone is fed up with losing obviously. However in not really a toxic way at all, everyone has to pull their own weight and that's likely understood by all parties (assuming Yzerman/Larkin behind closed doors did indeed go well). This appears to be lighting a fire under the asses of all involved. I'm optimistic (well, aren't I always lol?) that drives a better result next season, whatever our team looks like. Let's make some ballsy trades Steve

I'll tell ya, I'm just glad we are not Vancouver right now...

I like that there is an established urgency, we have been asking that question for a bit. If it took the biggest parts of the organization having a dust up so be it.

 

[Run the Jewels]

The guy who kicked your dog? You seem to be pretty unhinged on this topic. We know he won’t be good in the playoffs we cannot even build a team to get in.

News flash Yzerman, both St Louis and Montreal added guys playing in their top 4 in season. I would have welcomed a Newsy firing in November and a trade in December as well, particularly one that brought in a top 4 D. Armstrong also managed to bring in a top 6 power forward and dman for less than Tank and Gust in the off season…

LOL you are all over the place. Larkin spoke up for the room, Larkin needs to get out, they both now have a sense of urgency. Comical stuff, please keep it coming.

I've kept quiet about Larkin until he decided to display awful leadership. If I was captaining a team that bottled two straight playoff appearances and came across as quite content after last season and went to bat for Newsy after dropping 15 of 20 games, I sure as hell wouldn't be questioning the GM after he added a coach with over 1,000 NHL games coached, a 40ish goal scorer in DeBrincat, an 80 point guy in Ray, a 1D who played the toughest minutes in the league last year, a 2C in Kasper. and a top 3 D in Edvinsson. Whining about a 4th rounder in this upcoming draft is great leadership? That's putting pressure on Yzerman? GTFO with that noise.

But whatever, you'll be sure to find a way to spin it, you always do.

 

[Redwing66]

See if Yzerman and staff actually work this offseason to better the team - pretty poor performance last year. He can be as pissed off as he wants to be with Larkin and fans but he has kept the team in neutral for waaaaay to long, icing mediocre non-performing veterans. If you are going to dick around for another 5-6 years trade Larkin while he still has value and move on from Kane to properly tank.

 

[odin1981]

And lets be honest...DBoss is a damn good player - probably not great and certainly not elite...He's that guy that'll put up 70-80 pts a season (just shy of 1 ppg), be a solid/responsible 2 way player, and has the respect of the locker room.

Why people are dumping on him is truly a

Because wing fans are spoiled after having 25 years of great centers. They expect greatness because we rolled Stevie and Sergei into Henrik and Pavel. Look at how many out of touch folks their are on here attacking Larkin because he "only" produces 70'sh points a year.

 

[datsyukfan]

Yes, and the reason why he hasn't improved as a player. He could have been so much better.
Also, if he was injured to a point where he cannot play at his best, maybe he should have decided to not play and sat out until they figured when he could play at a 100% again.

You’d be calling him soft If he did that

 

[Holden Caufield]

I like that there is an established urgency, we have been asking that question for a bit. If it took the biggest parts of the organization having a dust up so be it.

Agree with this take.

This franchise has been very quietly losing for years and drifting off into obscurity. Nobody seemed to really care if we won. Management, players, coaches and it spread down into a lot of the fanbase.

You got to break some eggs to make an omelette. You can bet both Yzerman and Larkin are aware their performances will be under a microscope going forward.

Pressure and urgency is probably a good thing. Since quiet and indifferent hasn’t proven to be a recipe for anything good.

 

[FMichael]

Because wing fans are spoiled after having 25 years of great centers. They expect greatness because we rolled Stevie and Sergei into Henrik and Pavel. Look at how many out of touch folks their are on here attacking Larkin because he "only" produces 70'sh points a year.

Yup - and people are wondering why he let it be known about how much of a let down it was that nothing significant had taken place prior to the trade deadline...Guy is worn out on being the centerpiece (pun intended) on such an underperforming team for the last several seasons.