kipwinger

Pretty awesome to be making GDTs for a Red Wings season I'm actually excited about. This will be a fun game. Columbus is a very very beatable team but they've got enough individual skill to really test our defensive systems if we aren't sharp. Plus it's a first look at Fantilli, who somehow fell to 3rd overall in a draft that still makes no sense to me. I'll update with the lineup when it's posted. LGW!!

You expect Kane to score like that playing a half seasons after coming off major surgery and no training? Optimistic.

My point is that you’re talking about a guy in his mid thirties, who didn’t score a point per game last year, who had surgery in the offseason, and didn’t participate in training camp or played competitive hockey at all this season (and isn’t expected to for months). At this point you’re just paying for his name. Compared to a 23-24 year old player coming off a respectable rookie season who (given aging curves) is more likely to to improve this year than regress.

At this stage of his career is Kane really THAT MUCH better than Berggren offensively?

In a vacuum I agree. I think that line would kill. But if your third line is Sprong-Veleno-Kane then either Fabbri and Perron move to the 4th with whomever as center (bumping Fischer and Kostin out of the lineup) or you move on from Fabs and DP. Both of those dudes are pretty beloved in the locker room. In theory neither of those things would matter THAT much, but it's starting to seem like we're catching lightening in a bottle here and I'd be really nervous about changing the chemistry of the team (unless we falter at some point).

The rumor mill is hot and heavy with talk of Patrick Kane "keeping an eye" on the Red Wings as we're starting strong. After seeing how fast and aggressive and strong our team is playing, and how all-in our team is on defense, is anyone else thinking maybe he'd be a bad fit? Even if his hip surgery was wildly successful and he's back to something close to a top end player, isn't his style of play all wrong for a team like what we're seeing on the ice?

Most SHL teams have a strong incentive not to invest in North American talent unless the player is going to be around a while. In that league each team is only allowed a few non-Swedish players so they use those spots wisely, rarely taking a North American skater unless they're willing to sign a couple year deal. Many people don't know this because during the pandemic guys like Rasmussen, Veleno, Seider, Zadina, all played in Euro leagues. That was the exception and I think in most of those cases the leagues waived those contract limits in order to showcase their leagues using really high end NHL prospects.

Yep, I definitely liked Dvoraky. Still do, just maybe not as much as Nate and ASP lol

I think those are fair, and I'll take the other side of the coin. I think all three of those guys do all three of those things. Just maybe not for our team. You've also failed to consider that players often outperform expectations as well. The range of outcomes you've listed above includes only "fail" and "meet" expectations.

Zadina is the same dude he ever was. He's been on the ice for loads of goals against, he's riding an unsustainably high shooting percentage, and his team is losing every night. Handing losers top line minutes without making them earn the ice time is always a bad idea.

Wouldn't that entirely depend on the expectations? Or are you say two of three will not meet expectations regardless of what those expectations are?

Veleno wasn't a top ten pick. Unless I'm misunderstanding you.

Another goal for Axel Sandin Pellikka today, this time in Champions League play. This time scoring in transition at even strength. You love to see it.

Correction, we've got a bunch of Swedes in the organization.

Tonight will be Danielson's 4th game back in the WHL. He should be dominating but...he isn't. One point through three games is not what you'd expect from someone his age playing at that level. I'm sure he's disappointed at being sent down and all but he's hardly the first top ten pick to be sent back to juniors and continued lackluster play may portend a bigger issue with injury/attitude.

Cross your fingers for a Vancouver collapse. He's held off signing a new contract with them in order to see how their season goes. If they're trash he's as good as gone and you'd have to think we'd be a top destination for him considering we can afford his salary, we've got tons of trade chips, we're a good team, and we've got about 2,000 Swedes on the roster.

Wasn't that always the projection for him? I remember KRsmith always imagined him as a 2C but I think most folks around here figured he had 3C upside at his peak.

I gotta say, Veleno's pass on the Gostisbehere goal was a thing of beauty. That was a really heads up play. I'm really encouraged by Veleno dating back to the end of last season.

My first three predictions are coming along nicely so I'll add one in the spirit of fun. Elias Petterson is traded to the Wings at the deadline for a package that includes Berggren, Kasper, our 1st round pick this year. Wallinder may also get added in.

This dude has NHL defenseman written all over him. I think he's going to be a longer term project for sure, but I love his tools and attitude. He's just gotta learn to defend. This was a solid 2nd round pick that I didn't think much of at the time.

Bro, c'mon. Columbus ain't Tampa or New Jersey.

Kostin took a few as well. Good fight.

Gudbranson is a tough dude and Kostin got him a bunch there. Love it. Kostin is 100% that dude.

Our PK is awesome so far this season. Compher is a HUGE addition.

We looked...not great...in the first period. But pouring it on now.