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Bert has been great, Zadina is progressing nicely, Mantha was having a breakout season, Hronek keeps getting better, and Larkin is heating up after a sluggish season with extra focus on D. Blash has been great handling those guys. Neither are underachieving. It's all the aging vets who aren't doing anything. It's the lack of NHL quality D and mediocre Howard that has killed us most of the season. None of that is Blashill's fault.

Exactly, look at Toronto during the first half of the season. A WAY better roster was sitting outside of the playoff picture because the team quit on the coach. That's not the case with Blash. We suck because we don't have enough talent, not because the coaching is bad. That said, I like Laviolette and Gallant as replacements. I think it's important for management to indicate to the fans, and more importantly the players, that they're aware that the season was a MASSIVE struggle and they're doing everything they can to find a remedy. I probably wouldn't be saying this if there were no talented coaches on the market, but there are at least two (including one top coach in Laviolette) who have already proven they are as effective as one would hope Blashill becomes.

In the end, I believe we're getting either Lafreniere, Byfield, or Stutzle

Like, if Yzerman wants Gallant, I think that's cool. I like how Gallant-coached teams play. Outside of that, I'm all for seeing what Blash can do with a competent roster. Once there are expectations of improvement and the team fails, THAT is when the coach should be replaced. Blash is great at getting an effort out of the guys, despite only winning 12 games. I've seen teams quit on the season with better records.

Agreed...We need a new group of coaches...Hopefully Grand Master Y has contacted those 3 you've mentioned in letting them know that there could be employment opportunity in the Motor City.

put it this way, I cannot wait to see what they do under a new coach. Maybe Steve can woo Jon Cooper here if he is not interested in Gallant or Lavs. If Bylsma takes over, I fear we will have more of the same.

I'm just convinced in the fact that we'll drop 2, or 3 spots no matter what...Then Buffalo/Chicago/Toronto/etc will jump several spots. Stutzle is climbing in the ranks...Me thinks Grand Master Y will nab him if the Wings don't pick 1st, or 2nd overall.

Agree about Blashill...Not so sure I'd give up on Cholo just yet. There's always a decent chance he could flourish with Gallant/Laviolette running the show...The only way I'd move him would be if there was a sense of an overpayment.

I don't know why you're making the best player available argument when I already agreed with it. After Lafreniere and Byfield, the jury is out on the rankings. Nobody agrees, because those players are close. If they are that close, it's wise to draft center or d. Teams don't give up high end centers or dmen. A trade can be made for a good right-handed winger literally any time. Caps had Kuznetzov and Backstrom down the middle. Blues also had Pietrangelo leading the blueline. I'm not saying a winger can't be the best/second best player on a team. I'm just saying the teams who are elite down the middle tend to keep that contender window open far longer than anyone else. Tarasenko got hurt long term. Blues are still trucking along comfortably. If it was O'Reilly who got hurt, their season would be a lot tougher. Again, not a knock on Tarasenko. It's just easier to get help on wing than down the middle. Pens lost Crosby for a long time. They stayed an elite team because they have another top center in Malkin.

I'd be cool with this, although Drysdale wouldn't be my first choice at 4th. This team needs a skilled center (or Lafreniere) baaaaaaaaaad.

That's because everyone is padding their stats against Detroit

It's not really that he improved. Basically everyone in the league is scoring more than they did a few years ago. Largely as a result of the changes with the goalies. Did people NOT notice that all of a sudden half the league had career years all at once?

I agree with the top 3. I'd prefer one of the Swedish bros over Rossi / Askarov though.

It'll be like Ice Hockey for the NES, icing an entire team of fatsos.

Which is why the whole "I want a guy like Kassian on my team" is silly I actually want a guy like Tkachuk on my team.