kipwinger

Counter point, would YOU want to play for Calgary or Ottawa? It's not like these guys are requesting trades out of top organizations. As soon as I had enough leverage to get the hell out of Calgary I would too. Especially if I wasn't from Western Canada.

I genuinely think that the hockey media has owned the narrative forever, and they don't know s***, and that's why nobody knows how to make sense of teams like the Wings. I was listening to a podcast the other day and Max Bultman (and other people from the Athletic) were debating something and Max offhandedly mentioned that maybe having a McDavid type player is actually bad for team building and those other dorks couldn't scoff hard enough. Like, how DARE he impune the notion that superstars aren't all they're cracked up to be. The entire calculus for hockey media is "You've got stars and you shoot alot, ipso facto you're a contender". Except there are tons of examples of that not working. Worse, there are almost zero counter narratives in media. I give Jared Keeso a lot of credit for this. He's the only guy talking about hockey who dares say something like "maybe giving a s*** and not being a p*ssy matters more than being pretty". There are several episodes of "Shoresy" devoted to it. But his show is "fiction" so nobody runs with it. I'd give anything to see hockey media address a few of these questions: If star power matters so much why do even the most legendary players (think Lidstrom) only win a few times in their careers? If statistical modeling can only tell us what we already know (Colorado is good) but not what we don't know (Vancouver is GOING to be better than you think) what value does it really have? If players matter so much why does a team like Vancouver go from terrible to exceptional from year to year with almost no change in personnel? If puck possesson matters so much why do GMs and coaches not just load up their teams with the best possession players they can get? If the draft lottery is such a game changer why haven't Edmonton and Toronto even won a conference title? Why doesn't Buffalo suck? Why is New Jersey regressing as they put more lottery picks into their lineups. IMO these are all super interesting questions that I'd love to read articles about, but nobody working in the hockey media will even ask the questions. Instead we get "Who's the most stylish Maple Leaf".

Not at all. I think Edvinsson is a stud. My rationale is that I don't want to change the roster too much because we're winning and clearly have chemistry. Also, I don't think there's any problem with the left side of our defense. If Edvinsson was a righty he'd be on the team already. Swapping Gudas (for example) with Petry and moving out Holl accomplishes both. It upgrades the right side without moving anybody important off the roster or out of the locker room. Plus adds some defensive acumen and snarl too. Edit: Also, I'll readily admit that Durzi and Andersson are better players than the guys I mentioned. They are. But there are two big reasons I don't want them. First, the cost to acquire them would be significantly higher IMO. Second, stylistically they're more offensive than defensive. We already have one of the top scoring defense corps in the league. I want a guy that can help nail down good teams in the playoffs. Neither Durzi nor Andersson are that guy IMO. Given a choice I like Tanev/Gudas/Kesselring/Barron, in that order.

For sure. I think teams like Edmonton and Toronto would kill for Olli Maatta right now. But that's exactly why I like him on our third pair too. I'm open to moving him, but I think it would have to be a really big upgrade. Personally I'd just like to see us chase an upgrade to Petry on the right side of the 2nd pair and move Petry to the press box. I think Petry has been reasonably good considering his age and what he's been asked to do so far this season, and I'd be thrilled if he was the guy coming into the lineup in the playoffs in case of injury. I just don't think he's got the legs for 20 mins a night anymore. In my ideal world we'd look something like: Walman-Seider Chiarot-Gudas/Kesselring Maatta-Gost Petry

I was thinking about this last night and I'm not sure where to put it, so I'll put it here. But seeing how fundamentally sound we're playing right now makes us a better team in the moment, but it also bodes really really well for the development of our younger guys. I'll give you one example, next game watch our line changes. We ALWAYS get pucks deep, get changed, and make the opposition come 200ft with our forecheckers fresh, in place, and ready to battle. It's like a machine. I watched it last night and it was like clockwork. Even Kane was content to flip the puck deep and get off the ice, he wasn't trying to skate through three defenders to make a one on one play (which rarely works and always leads to chances against). He just flips it deep when there's nothing available, gets off the ice, and lets Veleno, Copp, Fischer, Ras, etc. go to work. So now think about that from a development point of view. If you're Kasper or Danielson and you want a center spot on this team you've got to be better than one of Larkin, Compher, Copp, Veleno, or Fischer and those guys don't f*ck up...ever. They make safe plays, they battle, they win faceoffs, and they don't take risks. That's the standard. Same goes for the wingers. Raymond and Debrincat are "offensive" but you don't see those guys putting the team in a bad spot to try and cheat for a goal (think Mantha, AA, and Bertuzzi here). So if Berggren wants to play in the top six as a scorer the standard is set. In Detroit nobody really cares if you've got sick breakaway moves or whatever (unless you're Kane I guess). They care that you manage the puck and don't put the team in a bad spot so that you can be on ESPN the next day. I'm here for it.

Boston is a paper tiger. They've only got one more win than we do on the season, but they've got 8 more overtime losses. They play for the loser point, which is smart in terms of banking points and making the playoffs. But they aren't winning games like an elite team.

I'm not suprprised, we're just not really getting scored on at all right now. Giving up three last night was "sloppy" relative to our recent play. When you're only giving up one or two a night its an indication that everyone is doing what they're supposed to for the most part. I could nitpick Gost's puck management a bit at even strength, but I don't think it's relevant given everything else he brings to the table. Like, last night he threw the puck away on the expiring powerplay and almost led to a breakaway against...but then he scored 10 seconds later. So what do I care ya know?

Don't sleep on Johansson. He's really good. I watched him a year ago in GR, and even then came away thinking "that kid can do everything". He's also kinda mean, which I like. But for that reason I think he's likely to be part of trade packages at some point. We don't need any LHD and teams are going to want him. Very solid player though. Reminds me of a Dmitry Orlov or Nick Leddy type of guy.

What I'd love is to have Gudas playing where Petry is, Petry playing where Holl is (7th defenseman) and Holl on another team. Only issue with that is Gudas' contract, which isn't great for the next three years. Yeah, you take the good with the bad from Gost. I agree he's been better than he was early on, but he's always going to have a few goofs. That's just his game at even strength. You tolerate it for the powerplay, and I'm okay with that.

Olli Maatta is having a ridiculously good season, just in case nobody is paying attention. He's been a defensive stud, he's skating well, making plays, and covering for Gost. I'd be really reluctant to move him until the offseason.

100%. I don't think Boston wants any part of us right now.

No argument from me there. I agree with you.

Here's why I have zero respect for anyone in the hockey media not currently employed by Bally Sports Detroit: Despite having the 2nd best record in the league in January 1st, Detroit was consistently ranked in the 14-18 range in all the various power rankings this week. But next week everyone will be riding our bandwagon like they've recognized it all along.

I grew up watching Wings games with my grandpa and think about him often on nights like tonight. I wish he could have seen this game. But not as much as I wish Tyler Bertuzzi could have seen it.

Not sure what was wrong with the Caps tonight. Looked like half their team was suffering from a coke hangover. Oh...wait...nevermind.

I love Christian Fischer. Winning 8-3 and he's out here blocking shots. Can we re-sign this guy or what?

I wouldn't know. NOT WATCHING!!!! Ummmm, is Washington going to pull their goalie or just let him wither and die?

Jesus. Hit the showers Washington, its just not your night.

I assume he's out collecting signatures for his petition to get Seth Barton into the lineup ASAP. Chiarot is killing our playoff chances.

Watching Kane is crazy. Like, I've always known he was really good. But he's WAY better than I ever thought. That pass was unreal. Seider with another huge block and he gets the clear. I don't care if he's only a 1% corsi, I don't want him getting healthy scratched for Wyatt Newpower like some around here do.

Separately I guess. Like, I know Mantha was a big loafer, and I don't miss him, but I also don't really dislike him or anything. Kane's basically scoring goals off other people's bodies at this point. Fabbri didn't have to do anything on that one.

How do we feel about Mantha and Jensen? Like, we know what they are as players but how do we look back on their time as Red Wings?

How could he not be? Ottawa is further along in their rebuild than Detroit.

It was no secret they were looking for a RHD in the offseason. They signed Holl before Petry became a available. You'd have to think they don't sign Holl if they know they're getting Petry.

I heard he's only got a 21% corsi and that he's blocking Andrew Gibson's spot in the lineup.