DickieDunn

Could have been an NHL player but he was more interested in partying with puck bunnies and blaming the Red Wings for not promoting him. Playing 900 minor league games isn't much of an accomplishment, either.

He also said that with Larkin and Mantha they're a couple years into it. I disagree that it necessarily takes that long every time though. At least not if the GM is worth a damn. If by some miracle they get Doughty, Karlsson, or another elite D and Mantha and L:arkin develop into a potent 1-2 punch at forward, all the Wings will need is a decent supporting cast. They have part of that now. The issue will be if they have the cap room with the albatross contracts Holland handed out like candy on Halloween.

he's won EVERYWHERE HE'S BEEN HE'S A FER SURE GOOD NHL HEAD COACH WAY BETTER THAN DAT BUM BABCOCK!!!!!11!!1 At least according to the people who went all in on him. I had concerns. Yeah, winning at the lower levels is a prerequisite for getting a chance at the NHL, not a reason to keep a guy around when he's floundering. Consider him, sure, but you have to do due diligence. Holland didn't. It blew up. It's not a guarantee, but how often does a team win the Cup without that triumvirate? And when the Hawks were winning Cups, Toews was one of the best in the league, plus they had Hossa helping out Kane and Toews.

No, a mediocre 4th liner for a pick. By your logic getting McIlrath as a throw in was one of the best moves in the history of the NHL because he was a 10th overall pick.

He probably told Holland he's not playing for an idiot coach anymore

Holland's MO has been re-sign his own players unless they refuse to come back, and give them a contract at, or sometimes even over, the max of what they could expect on the market. Nobody was likely to pay Abdelkader that much for 7 years, Helm might have gotten a contract similar to what he signed here, Dekeyser probably wouldn't have gotten any more, and Glendening certainly wouldn't have. Until there is evidence that he's changed, or a new GM is brought in and actually does things differently, I'm going to expect that trend to continue.

No, I don't think they even considered any other coaching candidates. Yes, this roster isn't spectacular, but it's not as bad as the results the coaching staff is getting out of them. Cup teams are built around 3 players. 2 elite forwards, at least one of whom is a center, and an elite D. You plug in parts around them, and do your best to not overpay the secondary players. Nashville tried to win with 2 elite D and a goalie, didn't work. Apparently Holland is trying to win with a bunch of secondary players, but there's nobody to drive the bus so it's going nowhere. To answer the original question, if he hasn't already he will soon. These guys are smart enough to understand that they should be better, and "work harder" isn't the answer. They need to be smarter, and usage and systems need to be better. All of that falls on the coach to put them in situations they can succeed.

Your argument was Detroit could win because the Leafs blueline is weak. So is Detroit's, and Toronto has more talent and better coaching.

They'll trade OEL to a team that will sign him before letting him go for nothing

Right now this guy would cover more net than anyone the Wings are dressing https://www.hockeyshot.com/HS-Extreme-Shooter-Tutor-p/target-tarp-035.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9uL5_Ozu1wIVCZ7ACh2ZTA8uEAQYAyABEgLQI_D_BwE

right now, neither.

Howard/Mrazek would have to play lights out, the defense would have to play far better as a unit than they have since Lidstrom retired, Zetterberg would have to find the fountain of youth, AA, Larkin, and Mantha would have to be at their very best, Nyquist and Larkin would both have to be on the top of their games, and Blashill would have to actually learn how to be an effective NHL coach, AND the Leafs would have to play under their capability for the Wings to beat them in a playoff series, assuming the even make the playoffs which is looking doubtful. But you're right, saying they have virtually no chance is hyperbole.

At least they have core players like Abdelkader, Helm, Glendening, and Dekeyser locked up long term.

yes Lots of players who could have been replaced easily and cheaply ended up with deals for 4+ years at high salary for what they are.

You say it could happen because Toronto's blueline is weak. What do you call Detroit's? Toronto is better in every spot, including coaching. IF everything goes perfect they could win a playoff series against Toronto. The odds of that happening are about the same as me winning the Powerball.

Ilitch would need to care in order for Holland to get fired.

No. And lose in 6 games instead of 4. That's almost as good as the Cup to Holland.

Kronwall will probably retire, Nyquist and Nyquist will be extended, probably with raises, if they don't want to move on, and the others don't make that much money. Even if they are replaced, the replacements will cost as much or more.

They aren't. Some individual players are better, the team as a whole isn't.

Good has left the building (unless you want them to have the best possible shot at #1 overall). They're now 5th in the Atlantic, every team behind them has played fewer games. Ottawa and Florida could both catch ans pass them with their games in hand. 2 points behind Montreal with one game in hand, 1 point behind Boston, Bruins have 3 games in hand. Of the teams behind them in the East, only Buffalo has no chance of catching them with their games in hand. Edmonton and Arizona are the only teams behind them in the West.

If the Thrashers management had any clue at all they'd have been a success I think. It bugs me that Buttman has done everything in his power to keep the Coyotes in Arizona but as soon as the Thrashers were mentioned as possible relocation team he was like "K see ya." I think in his mind letting the Coyotes move is a failure on his part at this point and he'll insist on throwing good money after bad. Neither Miami nor Carolina need a team. Miami is more of an event town, too many other distractions for a team with a long schedule to draw people consistently. Carolina is just not a hockey market and I doubt it ever will be. Even when they've been good they can't get fans.

Then Avs fans claimed to be the best fan base in hockey because they sold out the arena for an instant winner. How's that attendance now? http://www.espn.com/nhl/attendance Oh, 26th, selling under 85% of their tickets. BTW, why sin't Carolina on the "we need to move this mess" list. They're at 62.4% capacity

Unless Howard or Mrazek start playing like in his prime Hasek and they win every game 2-1 or 1-0 this team is sunk. They have a stretch of games coming up where every opponent but one is ahead of or even with them in the standings. They could easily be 3-8 through those 11 games if they don't start playing better

Good is relative here.