Learn2LuvIt

No. Soft. Euro's.

I will say though, as highly touted as Zadina was/is, I'm pretty surprised that he is taking so long to establish his dominance down on GR. Today, I'm a bit disappointed. Fan shock that he didn't make the Wings team after camp is proving to be unfounded. He couldn't play on this team right now without looking highly exposed. Still very, very hopeful. Just thought we'd see some dominance fairly quickly after the hype he was given.

Agreed. If you move your feet and keep skating, more often than not, shooting lanes open up. He's not doing this. He's just floating. He's an easy cover for the opposing D right now. Frustrating.

But do you believe that Coach Q with 22 years of NHL coaching experience, 3 Stanley Cups, and 18 playoff appearances would be totally clueless on how to go forward with this younger team? Like is Blash, with his few years of NHL experience and 1 playoff game win the only guy in the world that knows how to coach a younger, rebuilding team? I think Coach Q would be just fine. Actually, more than fine. Again, I won't be upset if we don't get him, but I believe you always go out and get the very best if available. If he did come here, he'd be fully aware of what he was walking into. It's not like he'd be surprised at training camp and bail. If we COULD get him, I'd likely do it under a long term deal. Last point - it may be a lot easier and quicker to rebuild if you have a coach with a proven track record of winning cups, handling superstars, etc. to attract top players to come play for the Wings. I don't think Blash gets any players in a frenzy with all of his hockey cred.

Great points and I agree to some extent. However, coaching and staff don't go against your cap. So when a good coach becomes available, I think you have to seriously consider. If Coach Q came in under the following it may work: Stevie will be GM next year. Assertions that EVERYTHING will be done to rebuild as quickly as possible, and that he'll get superstars within a few years. Long term deal. World class hockey town and fans. Original 6 team. Great, I mean GREAT money. It may work. Blash is doing as advertised BUT nothing more. He's doing some good things with our youth and development. However, when he was hired, I do believe the expectations were that he was going to do more than just be a great developmental coach to our younger players. I believe he was expected to do bring these young guys along and put a competitive NHL.team on the ice. He has not done this. Not entirely his fault do to many personnel issues/retirements/bad signings. I wouldn't be upset if we didn't make a run at Coach Q, but I'd seriously consider it. Good coaches are not easy to come by. Lastly, I believe Babs would have taken the Toronto job regardless if they were coming to the tipping point of going from a rebuild to being really competitive. $50 million reasons why he likely did this. Toronto threw a Brinks truck at him..why...cause good coaches are hard to find. They don't go against your cap, and if you can get them and they align with your vision for the future of the team, you go out and get them.

Ouch! In collegiate or minor league sports, this would NOT be good for the players in this video. However, in big time pro-sports, with your top players involved (e.g. Duchene), I think this will actually come back and not be good for Marty Raymond. It's unfortunate that players can in some ways dictate staff (e.g. see Tyronn Lue formerly of the Cavs), but I can see this being the first domino of his departure from the Sens. More than enough evidence on this video to claim "he's lost his squads" (PK and PP) and not being effective.

I love his game and heart. He has many intangibles. I'm liking his game a lot more than Mantha this season. To me, Mantha has become Robert Lang. Floater. Waiting around to play offense. Against the Oil the other night, he was not good. i saw on multiple occasions him neglecting to engage in a battle for puck possession. Eye test = uninspired.

Yep, great points. It did work in Chicago and Tampa, but totally understand it's a slippery slope. I'm just getting tired of being at the bottom of the league, but not far enough at the bottom that without genius/luck drafting, improving our team is very limited. I'm kinda in a "get busy livin, or get busy dying" mentality. I want to win of course, but just feeling like we'll back to being a playoff team if we commit to a rebuild and put our cards on the table, and commit to our youth movement. Even if we are really bad for a few years. The league is now built for parity, and without a lot of luck and low draft picks turning into absolute studs (not one of them, but multiple), this is really the most effective way to get back to winning. I think our fan base and level as a city that is extremely loyal to our Wings will ultimately prevail. IMO..I don't see a lot of Wings fans walking away from this team after a few horrendous years if we all are aware we are in a rebuild mode. My worst case scenario for this year would be to: win enough to still be somewhat in the playoff picture come the trade deadline. Then we make a stupid move and try and upgrade the team with a veteran on a short term deal, while trading away either young players showing promise, or low draft picks (or draft picks in general). Then we miss making the playoffs in the last two weeks of the regular season. Best case scenarios for this year would be: 1. Start off the year hot. Young players starting to impart their identity on the team. We continue to win and play well. No trades made at the trade deadline. We make the playoffs as a 6 seed. Our young team known for their speed and out hustling other teams shocks the world and makes it to the SCF. Ken Holland announces the night we are eliminated that he's moving up to the front office to take over Jimmy D's position. Stevie Y is at this game and next to Holland as he announces this news. Kenny states their will be a press conference the following week to announce the Wings new GM. (The first part of has already played out, and we are not making it anywhere close to the playoffs...this option 1 is out). 2. We are a bad team through the whole year. However, we are committed to our "rebuild" and playing our youth through the entire season. From the good stretches to the outright horrendous losing streaks. We trade a few of our veterans at the trade deadline for draft picks and also get a few young players who show promise. Our young players get vital experience and bond together as a team committed to improvement the following year. Kenny announces retirement with Stevie Y next to him, and same as above, states that new GM will be announced the following week. We get Jack Hughes, and a few other young studs in the draft (including a top D prospect) in the draft.

I would agree. However, I think WHEN you get the right pieces in place and are ready to get out of "rebuild" mode, actions like firing your entire coaching staff and replacing your GM can be big indicators to your team and fans that that the "rebuild" is over and you're expecting to win/make playoffs/win a cup.

Totally. Or...free curly fries if you can name one player from the team.

Hopefully in a few weeks they'll back this down even further to free Curly Fries with every assist. Jack Hughes baby!

These players know the deal. They see and hear what's going on around them regarding being in "rebuild" mode. I think this effects the players mental state and drive to win. Almost as if they are waiting for reinforcements and resigned to the fact that it's widely accepted, even internally, that they are just gong to be a bad team for a while. It's like getting paired with a notoriously bad euchre player...you just realize from the start that your not gong to win and therefore you hardheartedly play, the table conversation has you more interested than the game, and try and be the funniest guy at the table. Oh yeah...and you're constantly having to ask at nauseum "what's trump???" Besides this there is really nothing else to do besides lose.

I feel ya. I don't think I've ever worried that Big E might help us win. Life is strange

This is the future that me wanting to draft Jack Hughes wants.

LOl! Totally valid and great response. Well done sir. I was more alluding to how I felt when we were down/tied late into the game. I never thought "It's Mule time...we got this". Never did. Always had Dats, Z, Lids, Raff, Flipp as my guys who were going to come up clutch. Oh yes, and Brad May. Also, your totally legit on the stats you provide, but there are goals/points that are scored after the GWG. It would be an interesting stat to see how Mule stacks up if we looked at goals scored/points when we were up by more than one goal.

I agree that Mule got (and still get's his share) of bashing. My frustration with Mule is that he was so hot and cold, and many of his points came when we were up by 2-3 goals. I know there are exceptions and certain instances where this wasn't true, but I never saw Mule as being clutch. A goal when we needed it.

Obviously a feeling out of frustration after the regular season start: Trade - Abby, Helm, Gus, Jimmy, and Glendening Trade or somehow get rid of Kronner Get a bunch of draft picks and promising young talent. Young talent who some will pan out, some will flop. Play our young kids every night. Stack this team through picks and the draft so we are in a position in three years to be an elite team for at least five years with a few cups wins. This team, as what's been displayed on the ice thus far, isn't going anywhere. I wish I were wrong. Talking with a bunch of Wings fans last night during the game who argue "the Wings won't do this because there primary concern is selling tickets and filling LCA!" My response: "I think that's underestimating the hockey intelligence of this town and Wings fans. If we are given a clear sign of what they are trying to do with a 100% Youth Movement, I think we are smart enough fans to buy-in and get excited about watching our future. Besides, the Wings were garbage last year and the LCA was nearly full every night (despite the appearance of people in the seats during games). Wings games in this town are an event and a lot of corporations and people with a lot of disposable income will still come down to watch the games and show interest in seeing how this young team develops...oh yeah....and the Jack Hughes "thing"" Yes, i fully understand that this is strictly a business for the Illitches, but I'd be concerned if I were them that fans are going to lose their patience if we don't see clear signs of this team being really good in the NEAR future. Pistons are in dire trouble because their fan base has no hope, or sign of changes that will lead to a solid competitive team. NOTHING. I'm all IN on the future. What I'm seeing now on the ice leads me to dread a ten year process until we are really competitive again. If we are going to suck, let's suck with our eyes wide open and looking at the near future.

Gotcha yo. So would that mean your dope roster could have been even doper if we could have kept a few of these guys (e.g. Kindle, Emmerton, etc.)?

But if we wouldn't had given up all those players,,,,how would the dope roster you put together even be out on the ice?

Totally agree. Next season he becomes an UFA and then we are at zero value other than maybe an advantage to re-sign him. I don't think he's our goalie of the future. Get something out of him and piece the goalie situation together until we confident that we are at minimum a 2nd round playoff team. When the "kids grow up".

I think I've seen this thing before at a Grateful Dead show in 88' at the Greek Theater. Whoa and wow.

Thanks for everything Z!! You gave us everything you had, all the time. So grateful. So many great memories you have given us all. Your PK shift in the 3rd period in game 4 of the 2008 SCF, against the Pens, 5 on 3, will always be the "bar" for what TOTAL SELFLESS EFFORT represents. Thanks again

IMO...I'm thinking he will be offered the Seattle job (IF they get a team), but he'll decline and head "upstairs" for the Wings in an advisory role (SVP and Alt Governor) . I'm thinking Jimmy D at age 75 might step down. Kenny will be 63 this November, and that would make him 64 by the time his first season with Seattle is getting underway (if the team ramps up by 2019-2020 season). He's got 4 kids who most are still in the area. Really nice home in the area. He has summer vacation home in Ontario which is a fairly short drive (considering) from the Detroit area. I just don't see it. At his age, what he's already accomplished, doesn't need the money, moving literally all the way across the country to Seattle (or at least spend 2/3 of his year away from his home and family). I don't think he will.

I would highly likely assume that the Wings as a $650+-million dollar organization forecast their costs (as does every big time $$ organization) from year-to-year, 3 year, 5 year, 10 year outlook. In my experience, this forecasting with an aggressive stance, and tends to overstate costs and expenses for protection (and for publicly held companies...better odds to "beat the street"). I would guess that they forecast for their team to always be at the top cap $ for their employee cost/expenses. Meaning, they forecast to always be at the cap$. I don't think they make forecast with anything but that as it would leave them in operational position of vulnerability. They understand the huge cash that can/would come with being successful (going to the playoffs/long runs in the playoffs/winning the Stanley Cup)...so to not forecast that they will be at the cap$ would be an error. "We'd like to be successful, but we didn't budget for it"...or "we can't acquire X player because we didn't budget for his salary". I couldn't care less if the Wings are at the cap and I don't think this ultimately effects ticket prices. However, a brand new $850+ million dollar arena is a different story when it comes to ticket/concession prices.

Passing the bad contract around until he finally ends up with a really bad team that's willing to stomach the production vs. the money$.