Yzerman End of Season pressconference

[Run the Jewels]

Yzerman had all daughters.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I've been pushing the idea of Danielson in the top6 for awhile. I know people want to see a higher point total in GR, but everything I hear about him says he has a mature game and is ready to jump. I want to see us either go with kids or make a move. I'm fine with either, but not happy with neither.

With the Ras draft, I remember getting on board with Vilardi when he was falling, but understood passing because of the injury issues (which have followed him). For some reason I was hung up on Brannstrom. I remember someone being really big on Thomas, and that would have been a helluva pick with hindsight.



The Homer spot was what I had hoped Ras would slide into, yeah.

He has to be a better retriever to be a Holmstrom type. Kasper is basically the Homer on steroids player on our roster. You expect him to come out with 50/50s more than anyone.

It explains why Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Homer were basically impossible to play against and the first analytic darlings. They were so good at offensive zone pressure along with puck retrieval on missed chances or saves. Homer really was elite at just a few things, but my God did he lean into them. I hoped Ras would be, I still think even as a net front guy they don’t always blend into a retriever. I think Ras has gotten better, but not first line placement anymore without showing it on different lines for a bit before elevation.

 

[norrisnick]

He has to be a better retriever to be a Holmstrom type. Kasper is basically the Homer on steroids player on our roster. You expect him to come out with 50/50s more than anyone.

It explains why Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Homer were basically impossible to play against and the first analytic darlings. They were so good at offensive zone pressure along with puck retrieval on misses chances of saves. Homer really was elite at just a few things, but my God did he lean into them. I hoped Ras would be, I still think even as a net front guy they don’t always blend into a retriever. I think Ras has gotten better, but not first line placement anymore without showing it on different lines for a bit before elevation.

He has time. Z - Pavel - Homer didn't become a thing until Homer was 33yo. He was firmly stapled to the 4th line and PP until that point.

 

[ElProfessor]

I did mean brother, thank you.

Yzerman had all daughters.

probably meant brother

 

[Oddbob]

He has the 18th most points in that draft class. Even in hindsight, Rasmussen is a 1st rounder all day and possibly still goes top 15.

Again, he consistently is top 1 or 2 among forwards on this team in hits. I've said it before, if we want more physicality on this team there are several guys that should be on the chopping block ahead of Rasmussen.

Hit stat is misleading, as lots of them are just light bumps. Helm always had a high total, but he wasn't really a hitter. Ras having high hits is one of the biggest misleading stats there is. He is probably one of the softest big guys I can recall in the NHL.

There is a reason a fairly serviceable player was a healthy scratch at the end of last season and then packaged with a 2nd to be traded.

The trade had nothing to do with on ice play (apart from maybe an unwillingness to work hard enough to get back on the ice).

I actually don't think it wasn't working hard enough. I got the impression (from others on this site with inside info) the team and trainers felt he was ready to return and Walman decided he wasn't, which I think is what soured them on him with regards to that. But yeah, something much bigger than that had to have happened for them to pay to get rid of him, when other GMs apparently would have paid to get him at that time.

I don't think there's bad blood. It's respectful. Plus, no player would sign a deal with Yzerman as a GM ever again if he went around airing dirty laundry. We could debate *why* he was moved, I guess, but I honestly feel like Walman is a nonstory no matter how curious we might be about that situation.

There was definitely bad blood from something. Not commenting so firmly at all and also paying to get rid of a player who went for a 1st just months later says it all.

They never developed the net front traits, they never even really tried which is where he got the bulk of his points. He needed to fix his skating but I am not sure he needed to do it without putting on weight.

Rasmussen is the most mismanaged prospect since Brendan Smith in my opinion. There was a player there but we didn’t find it as far as I am concerned and that does happen.

He has developed some solid pro habits to stick around the league. He also will forever be a whipping boy around these parts. If they don’t like him move on from him, I think there are bigger issues, but I am for rolling parts of this roster and I will not complain.

I actually thought he did well his rookie season when they actually put him net front and he looked somewhat promising. Then that offseason, there was talk from the coaching staff and Yzerman about wanting to turn him into a better defensive player and I remember thinking that was a really dumb idea.

Ras needs the Holmstrom boot camp. Ras is better at most things that held Homer back (skating and defensive awareness). If Ras could work on screen/tip timing and maybe soften the touch of his hands a bit he could still become a plus asset in the top 6. Homer didn't sniff more than 12-13min TOI until his 30s. Ras is the same age now as Homer was going into the '98-'99 season.

I don't think you could teach anybody to be willing to take as much back abuse as Homer took nowadays. They went to town with the crosschecks on him and I doubt many players today would want to take that much abuse.

Why does the organization have any draw with UFA'S? A rebuilding team not in a tax shelter state is not gonna have a draw on good UFA'S.

For the most part the only thing that the team can draw is guys from Michigan that want to play close to home. Or in addition too the above mentioned we only get interest from players that can't get a contract anywhere else that are questionable if they can even play at the NHL level any longer.

I just got outta work so I will respond to posts earlier in the thread after I get home. But this one was easiest to respond to.

Having young exciting players like Ray, Mo, Ed and Kasper can be a draw for UFA's. A few years ago as Steve said, we were not at all a destination, but that can change with more exciting youth.

 

[odin1981]

Having young exciting players like Ray, Mo, Ed and Kasper can be a draw for UFA's. A few years ago as Steve said, we were not at all a destination, but that can change with more exciting youth.

I'm not in disagreement with what your saying but until RW's start consistently getting in the playoffs they won't be a team that garners much attention from the top end ufa guys. At least from the players who want to win. The guys into just the $, will always go to where the cash is best.

Anyone know where I can find the full video? I checked YouTube and can’t see it anywhere ... don’t agree with most of what he says just wanted to see if there were more phone calls from the fans

Find it funny how fans were expecting miracles from this team in 6 yrs when holland left us larkin Berggren rasmussen zadina. Horrible job in signings and hated tarasenko copp compher contracts day 1 but most fans I recall were overjoyed as if we had signed a star player ... anyways if anyone knows where it’s streamed I’d appreciate it

Why would you credit anything Valenti says on hockey? He follows baseball, football, and basketball somewhat. And knows Jack shit about anything else. Especially hockey.

How is it out of touch to know that great centers, like the Wings have had in the past (the four you mentioned), are required to compete for championships and also recognize that Dylan Larkin is NOT a great center? I have said for years that Larkin would be a phenomenal 2C but is a below average 1C.

This is sort of a chicken or egg situation. Larkin is complaining that the team needs more help to make the playoffs, yet if the Wings 1C (Larkin) was an elite (or even above average) 1C, they quite possibly could be in back-to-back playoffs years right now.

He has always been a #1 center from year3 onward in his career. His problems is this franchise except for his rookie year was always tanking/rebuilding. And he isn't a elite #1. But that's all.

Your second paragraph is just incorrect. The team never has had the appropriate depth to be a playoff team. Last year we had everything fall right for them to get their. But they couldn't convert on that chance. This team isn't built to compete in the playoffs yet. Over the next 1-2 years when the bridge vets drop of is when the playoff window will set in.

Well you would expect your number one center to score more than 70 points a year.
One could give Datsyuk a little bit of criticism for some years, others he didn't play the full 82 games.

You would expect your number one center to be point per game or better. Which Larkin has been around that for four of his seasons. The others he hasn't. Some can be put on the team and linemates not being good enough, but at the same time if you are a good player you should manage to do more yourself and drive your numbers. He hasn't to that degree.

Here is the thing, they drafted him with the goal of him being the number one center.
Doesn't mean it was a bad pick because obviously he has done quite well. But I certainly think one could have gotten more out of him and I think most would agree with that.

This right here is the epitome of what I am talking about. Expecting ppg+ first line centers. Non elite guys are not ppg annually. You are completely jaded because you got to see 25 years of elite centers and a top 5 all time no questions asked #1D run the franchise. Hell, Yzerman would probably be regarded as a generational center if it wasn't for playing when Wayne and Mario did. Sergei was elite. Hank was elite. As well as Dats outside of maybe his last 2 years when his lower body was breaking down. A quarter of a century of excellence has misguided the fan base on what a normal #1C is.

 

[dj4aces]

There was definitely bad blood from something. Not commenting so firmly at all and also paying to get rid of a player who went for a 1st just months later says it all.

The rumor mill says the only "bad blood" was in the locker room, not in the front office. Stevie's outright refusal to answer questions is out of respect and confidence. No one would want to play for a GM who does.

If one seriously believes Stevie would give away a player AND a draft pick, for zero return, just to spite the player, one really doesn't think much of Stevie or the rest of the front office. But maybe I'm alone in this. Wouldn't be the first time, nor would it be the last.

 

[Snuggs]

Wonder if Yzerman sees the Cooper rumors and thinks... damn.... should waited longer...

I like McLellan but you know how the old boys clubs work in the NHL and Cooper is on a different level.

Cooper supports his locker-room. Doesn't fit in here.

 

[Oddbob]

The rumor mill says the only "bad blood" was in the locker room, not in the front office. Stevie's outright refusal to answer questions is out of respect and confidence. No one would want to play for a GM who does.

If one seriously believes Stevie would give away a player AND a draft pick, for zero return, just to spite the player, one really doesn't think much of Stevie or the rest of the front office. But maybe I'm alone in this. Wouldn't be the first time, nor would it be the last.

Then why did it cost to move him? Locker room issues aren't public or known to other teams, so they would have no reason to need a pick to take him on. Steve wanted him gone quick, which means something big was the reason. This is not just a Steve being silent thing, ala some of his other moves. It also was the way Steve said no and no, very bluntly, you could see there was tension with that question. If it was no big deal, he would have just said nicely, I don't want to talk about it.

 

[wingerdinger]

Plenty to criticize Steve for, pro scouting, how he's slow walked prospects, hiring lalonde ect.

But he hasnt made any panic moves that undermine the long term vision i can respect that.

Hope he starts showing more urgency in building a team that can get into the playoffs next season.

 

[RRhoads]

Probably not as much here on the Wings board, but still some, people tend to underestimate how much all these prospects that Yzerman has aquired are worth. Although not all of them are going to make the NHL, quite a few of them are. Of those making it, not all of them are going to play for the Wings, but they will be good trade capital to aquire an elite player or two.

 

[schuelma24]

Probably not as much here on the Wings board, but still some, people tend to underestimate how much all these prospects that Yzerman has aquired are worth. Although not all of them are going to make the NHL, quite a few of them are. Of those making it, not all of them are going to play for the Wings, but they will be good trade capital to aquire an elite player or two.

Agree - I hope he starts that process this summer. We're already starting to see a logjam on D and as you say, they're not all going to make it.

 

[SirKillalot]

This right here is the epitome of what I am talking about. Expecting ppg+ first line centers. Non elite guys are not ppg annually. You are completely jaded because you got to see 25 years of elite centers and a top 5 all time no questions asked #1D run the franchise. Hell, Yzerman would probably be regarded as a generational center if it wasn't for playing when Wayne and Mario did. Sergei was elite. Hank was elite. As well as Dats outside of maybe his last 2 years when his lower body was breaking down. A quarter of a century of excellence has misguided the fan base on what a normal #1C is.

Federov was above point per game in his prime.
Yzerman was above point per game in his prime.
Datsyuk was above point per game in his prime.
Zetterberg was give or take point per game.

Larkin need to be there. He has the tools to do so.

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

Federov was above point per game in his prime.
Yzerman was above point per game in his prime.
Datsyuk was above point per game in his prime.
Zetterberg was give or take point per game.

Larkin need to be there. He has the tools to do so.

Larkin is clearly at least a tier or more behind every player you mentioned. And several tiers lower in terms of leadership...

 

[SoupNazi]

All, if you want to quote multiple posts at a time, please click the + Quote button on each post, then scroll to the reply box at the bottom and click "Insert Multiple Quotes" rather than make six or seven posts in a row. Thanks.

 

[SCD]

Our draft window has closed to obtain an elite 1C. Our best scenario is three 2C, which we may have.

 

[izlez]

So a final tally:

Mtl: 41 wins in 86 games
Det: 39 wins in 82 games

Call me crazy, but I think that we can chalk that up to random variance in a long season of professional sports. rather than one is a successful season and the other is a complete failure where you need to fire the GM and trade away the captain

 

[schuelma24]

So a final tally:

Mtl: 41 wins in 86 games
Det: 39 wins in 82 games

Call me crazy, but I think that we can chalk that up to random variance in a long season of professional sports. rather than one is a successful season and the other is a complete failure where you need to fire the GM and trade away the captain

The difference very well could be Yzerman waiting to fire Lalonde too long. The 2 consecutive losses to Montreal were what ended things for Lalonde.

 

[Run the Jewels]

So a final tally:

Mtl: 41 wins in 86 games
Det: 39 wins in 82 games

Call me crazy, but I think that we can chalk that up to random variance in a long season of professional sports. rather than one is a successful season and the other is a complete failure where you need to fire the GM and trade away the captain

Faceplanting in March is a really bad pattern that needs to end. So I'm glad no one associated with the organization agrees with you on downplaying these poor performances when playoff pressure starts to build.

 

[jkutswings]

So a final tally:

Mtl: 41 wins in 86 games
Det: 39 wins in 82 games

Call me crazy, but I think that we can chalk that up to random variance in a long season of professional sports. rather than one is a successful season and the other is a complete failure where you need to fire the GM and trade away the captain

Had Detroit won a few more games, still looking as flawed as they are, then gotten worked in the first round, I wouldn't call that a successful season.

It would be an improvement in one sense, having ended the playoff drought and gotten more from their youth. But 5/10 can be an improvement over 4/10 and still not be satisfactory for this stage of the rebuild.

Success requires more roster turnover. If Holl becomes trebuchet fodder, they work in another kid or two, and also make a trade or decent signing this summer, the 2025-26 season becomes the first opportunity for some real success, because then it will finally feel like the whole thing is moving forward.

Until Detroit takes the off ramp from adding plugs, it all feels like treading water to me.

 

[newfy]

I think you need to get over what you want Ras to be and accept that the bar goes much, much lower and replacing, say, Berggren instead of Ras helps us maximize the physicality on this team. Now if you can bring in Cuylie, Sherwood and McBain (hypothetically).. okay, ya then it makes sense to ship out Ras.

Bringing in only Cuylie while shipping out Ras is kind of spinning your wheels compared to keeping Ras and replacing Berggen with Cuylie.

As for the changes, back in the day every team had a Wilson/Bennett, today, those guys are unicorns in the league.

This is such the obvious answer. Yzerman has come out and said physicality and fighting are making a come back in the NHL, he's going to be looking to bring in some guys that are tough to play against. You don't replace the 6'6 guy with a little bite, over the very soft, more useless players to improve your teams physicality.

Ras isn't a true, mean sob type player. He's a secondary guy that if you have some really mean guys playing with him, he probably plays a little meaner and it makes your team overall harder to play against.

No one views Ramsussen as a physical player and anyone citing hits to make the case is being disingenuous. Wilson is much more physical than Ras will ever be.

I don't think Ras is a bruiser by any means, but he's not a wall flower either. He actually does throw some big hits, and he does consistently throw the body. He also protects the puck pretty well down low. People cant get over the fact of where he was picked nad he gets shit on. He's a perfectly fine third liner.

Saying Wilson is much more physical than Ras will ever be? Yeah, no shit. Wilson might literally be the most physical player in the league right now, and the meanest "good" player since prime Lucic was patrolling the ice 15 years ago. Holding players to the standard of Wilson to be considered physical is going to mean there's 3 physical players in the league at a given time.

Why does the organization have any draw with UFA'S? A rebuilding team not in a tax shelter state is not gonna have a draw on good UFA'S.

For the most part the only thing that the team can draw is guys from Michigan that want to play close to home. Or in addition too the above mentioned we only get interest from players that can't get a contract anywhere else that are questionable if they can even play at the NHL level any longer.

I just got outta work so I will respond to posts earlier in the thread after I get home. But this one was easiest to respond to.

People say this all the time getting close to free agency time and it couldn't be less true. There's lots of draws to Detroit. They're an original 6 franchise, they have a state of the art facility and arena. Summers in Michigan are awesome. Toronto/south western ontario produces the most NHL players in the world and its one of the closest cities without having to play in that shit show of media and fans. They have the cap space to pay players. Michigan produces the most players in the States which helps too. Legends everywhere involved with the team etc etc.

The team hasn't been great for years and the greatest American player of all time chose to sign in Detroit as a free agent recently. The draw i\s stronger than you think, and as the team/young players continue breaking in its only going to get better

 

[better Red than Dead]

This is such the obvious answer. Yzerman has come out and said physicality and fighting are making a come back in the NHL, he's going to be looking to bring in some guys that are tough to play against. You don't replace the 6'6 guy with a little bite, over the very soft, more useless players to improve your teams physicality.

Ras isn't a true, mean sob type player. He's a secondary guy that if you have some really mean guys playing with him, he probably plays a little meaner and it makes your team overall harder to play against.


I don't think Ras is a bruiser by any means, but he's not a wall flower either. He actually does throw some big hits, and he does consistently throw the body. He also protects the puck pretty well down low. People cant get over the fact of where he was picked nad he gets shit on. He's a perfectly fine third liner.

Saying Wilson is much more physical than Ras will ever be? Yeah, no shit. Wilson might literally be the most physical player in the league right now, and the meanest "good" player since prime Lucic was patrolling the ice 15 years ago. Holding players to the standard of Wilson to be considered physical is going to mean there's 3 physical players in the league at a given time.



People say this all the time getting close to free agency time and it couldn't be less true. There's lots of draws to Detroit. They're an original 6 franchise, they have a state of the art facility and arena. Summers in Michigan are awesome. Toronto/south western ontario produces the most NHL players in the world and its one of the closest cities without having to play in that shit show of media and fans. They have the cap space to pay players. Michigan produces the most players in the States which helps too. Legends everywhere involved with the team etc etc.

The team hasn't been great for years and the greatest American player of all time chose to sign in Detroit as a free agent recently. The draw i\s stronger than you think, and as the team/young players continue breaking in its only going to get better

players will come here, the amenities and tradition, along with familiarity due to the USNDTP around the corner

 

[SirloinUB]

Hit stat is misleading, as lots of them are just light bumps. Helm always had a high total, but he wasn't really a hitter. Ras having high hits is one of the biggest misleading stats there is. He is probably one of the softest big guys I can recall in the NHL.

And yet, we have 10-11 other forwards on any given night that won't even "bump" into someone.

I'm not hear to argue that Ras some wrecking ball kind of player, just that if we want a more physical bottom 6 there are 5 other guys that should be on the chopping block before him.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

players will come here, the amenities and tradition, along with familiarity due to the USNDTP around the corner

I think the developmental program isn’t talked about enough. We also have a bunch of Americans that move here pre program with our youth hockey teams. Wish that would have helped us with Trocheck, but it might in the future with a few guys.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Plenty to criticize Steve for, pro scouting, how he's slow walked prospects, hiring lalonde ect.

But he hasnt made any panic moves that undermine the long term vision i can respect that.

Hope he starts showing more urgency in building a team that can get into the playoffs next season.

Agreed, with the caveat I would argue that he hasn't slow walked prospects as much as let them play big minutes in the minors so they can better handle the NHL when they make the jump. We all want our shiny new toys asap but I don't think anyone's being held back.