Red Wings VP Jimmy Devellano on Fan 590: Wings fans should lower expec

[wingfan1991 221]

ya i was listening live and i was a bit taken to hear the comment that we will be happy to make the playoffs and then go from there... i dont think there are 8 "better" teams then this wings team.. no chance. but watching them play since the start sometimes makes me wonder, wtf is going on?!?!?! the confidence in watching this team play is just not there.. even when they have a lead always in the back of mind saying they still will somehow blow this lead.. and usually does happen. never was that feeling in my head.. cant really explain it.

[Electrophile 3,554]

you're some internet retard.

Not too familiar with "irony", are you?

[Dominator2005 558]

Jimmy Develano

Still don't like this offseason moves by Holland...

Goalies: Anderson was there, pretty cheap in my opinion... We need SOLID goalie who can challenge Osgood...

Def: Why Holland didn't went after Boynton or Montador... veteran RIGHT hand defensmen, gritty, able to play on 2nd PP unit.

Forwards: Holland should have traded Hudler rights away... Let Abdelkader play on 3rd line full time... Instead he signed Williams...

Our DEF sucked last season - nothing was done to adjust it.

Our OFF was great last season - this season is good but not great.

Our PK sucked last season - nothing was done to adjust it.

Our goaltending, well I don't want to discuss about it - this season is our goaltending is inferior...

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Why should I lower expectations? The Wings still have a very talented roster, they are simply underachieving. There is a diffirence between being bad from not giving it 100% every night (which the wings are doing), and just plain having lack of talent. The Wings will have an off year, but I still think we should at least expect a top 5 seed in the West, and a 2nd round exit at the very least. Take away the two games in Sweden, and we are 3-1-2, and both of those overtime losses could ahve easily been wins if not for brain cramps, lack of effort, and Brett Lebda. We took down what is supposed to be a powerhouse in Washington, and also gave Chicago a loss. The Wings are a better team then they have been showing, and nothing anyone will say will make me believe otherwise.

[FedorovMan91 1]

I think we will still make the playoff but not more than the 2nd round. Be honest, it would be ridiculouis the Wings will win the cup by these defenses. I think we will finish around 7th or 8th in the Western conference.

Last alomost 20 years, the Wings have been the best team but everyone knew the one time would surely come that the Wings find a tough time. This year must be the year. I am not expecting anything from this season. What I am hoping is our young players grow and develop in a quick time and play well together with our core players.

[Electrophile 3,554]

I think it's refreshing that someone in the higher-ups with this organization has the balls to at least say the truth - that the team has some shortcomings and flaws and that maybe things aren't going to be oh-so-rosy all the time. It's better than the alternative. That is to say, the dog-and-pony show some organizations put on to distract the fans from seeing that something's wrong.

Edited October 24, 2009 by Electrophile

[sureWhyNot 19]

for someone in the organization to say that is very disheartening. If your a team thats used to playing at a certain level, the fans and media will begin to expect that. When you come out and put on several embarassing preformances and then have the audacity to tell the fans to "lower expectations" is apalling.

i really liked devellano until this.

Haha. Wow. I am happy someone came out and say it. Hell, the people on these boards who have more or less said that we are simply not as good as we were have been dubbed "whiners", "fake fans", etc.

It will be interesting to see how those who refuse to see the change in Detroit's prowess this year react to Jimmy V's statement. Will they call him names too?

[sureWhyNot 19]

Perfectly stated and I agree 100%

Are you seriously agreeing that Jimmy V is a bandwagon fan?

[ShanahanMan 473]

Thank god, now all the blind optimists will at least start reconsider what they're saying. I'm glad Jimmy D just said it like it is. I still think the season should be considered a success if we simply make the playoffs.

[TheOwl 77]

We should have lower expectations? I don't think so. The core of the team is still here. How can the guy say a team with Datysuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Lidstrom and Rafalski will "struggle" to make the play-offs. It's insane. Many would say the 4 aforementioned players are in the top 10 in the league in terms of forwards and defensemen. Fair enough without Franzen, this team won't get 50 wins, that was a huge loss.

But the fact remains, Detroit is losing games because of bad defense (partially bad goaltending). For a team referred to as one of the best defensive teams, we are in the bottom of the league in nearly every defensive stat. We spend more then anyone on D-men, and we lose games because of poor defense.

The whole losing 100 goals from Hossa, Hudler and Sammy is asinine. Leino, Bertuzzi, Williams and an improved Flipulla should be putting up 80 goals a year total. I hate this losing Hossa excuse. We did good last season with a terrible defense, they played awful. The reason we are losing now isn't because Hossa is gone, it's because the D is lazy. Simple as that.

[gcom007 1,465]

We should have lower expectations? I don't think so. The core of the team is still here. How can the guy say a team with Datysuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Lidstrom and Rafalski will "struggle" to make the play-offs. It's insane. Many would say the 4 aforementioned players are in the top 10 in the league in terms of forwards and defensemen. Fair enough without Franzen, this team won't get 50 wins, that was a huge loss.

But the fact remains, Detroit is losing games because of bad defense (partially bad goaltending). For a team referred to as one of the best defensive teams, we are in the bottom of the league in nearly every defensive stat. We spend more then anyone on D-men, and we lose games because of poor defense.

The whole losing 100 goals from Hossa, Hudler and Sammy is asinine. Leino, Bertuzzi, Williams and an improved Flipulla should be putting up 80 goals a year total. I hate this losing Hossa excuse. We did good last season with a terrible defense, they played awful. The reason we are losing now isn't because Hossa is gone, it's because the D is lazy. Simple as that.

Wow, for once I really agree with you. At least for the most part. I think our goaltending's been fine considering how utterly pathetic the defense has been. I think we have more than enough firepower to win games if Osgood continues to play like he has (which I think has been pretty solid) and the D gets even just a bit better.

I really think another relevant factor in the early struggles is simply the fact that we do have many new faces and quite a few rookies. The team will continue to gel as time goes on and the rookies will keep maturing. October doesn't mean s*** far more often than not. I really am not worried about this team yet.

This is my worst case scenario: Lilja doesn't come back and we are unable to get a deal done to improve the D. At this point, I think we'll lose to Chicago whenever we would face them in the playoffs. We don't have the firepower to win the Cup with the D we have now minus Lilja. I think we could easily go to the conference finals, but we'd likely lose to Chicago who will easily outscore us with our D and less potent offense.

For a "transition" year, it's hardly a bad one, and I still think Holland will strengthen the D even after we get Lilja back. If we have Lilja and another rock-solid 3rd pairing defenseman, and if we stay healthy, look for the Detroit - Pittsburgh Stanley Cup Finals Trilogy to end with a victory parade in Detroit.

[Carman 387]

I really respect Jimmy D. for his honesty. This team isn't going to set regular season records, but with the experience and talent they should be in each and every game. He didn't say we should lower, just suggested that we should take a second look at our expectations. We still have a good team, just not a dominate team. Osgood isn't the type of goalie to carry teams through regular season's by himself, Lidstrom is aging and can only do so much, we have new/rookie players that have to step up and play very important roles, this certainly isn't a year that you can be 100% confident on what they can accomplish.

That said we still have a playoff team, and a very experienced one at that. I wouldn't bet against the Red Wing's that's for sure, it should still be an exciting year.

[Stiffy 0]

This stuck out for me:

" I don't know how I can put it any other way than to be truthful; you can't lose those types of players and have the record we had a year ago. We are going to have to work very, very hard to be competitive, and to make the playoffs. That's the truth."

and

"The way Kenny Holland describes our year, and he has warned our ownership and our people, is, this is a year of transition for the Detroit Red Wings. We haven't had a year like this, maybe, Roger, in nearly 20, but it is a transitional year because of the cap, because of the people that we have lost, and, uh, our goal now is to try to compete and make the playoffs, and then..."

All that was more important to me than the "lower expectations" thing. So, it is official. It is a transition year. Interesting days ahead and maybe some hard days, but I can see this management team putting something really good together in the next few years.

Maybe the "working hard" issue comes to play. Given this, it seems Wings management will be looking at who works hard and who doesn't. Seems fair to me.

[cirov19 1]

No, we should not lower expectations. There are no excuses for sucking. I still expect to win.

[ShanahanMan 473]

No, we should not lower expectations. There are no excuses for sucking. I still expect to win.

So do Toronto fans.

[Dominator2005 558]

Let's not forget that this was the 1st offseason for Holland without Bowman... Maybe he will look less genius now...

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

People need to get their panties out of a bunch.

Of course we should want to win every game. It's not happening though.

It's realistic though not to expect success like the last two seasons, at least IMO for regular season with 50+ wins and winning your division without breaking too much of a sweat.

Yes I'd love to not be 3-4-1 right now but stuff like this sorts itself out as a lengthy regular season goes along. Everybody in the league is going to have hot and cold streaks.

This team has made the playoffs the past 15+ seasons. They've made the SCF the past 2 seasons. All of these seasons they've had little/no trouble in making the playoffs. Until it is much easier to forecast and more games are played, I see little reason to think differently.

Nothing wrong with what was said and no need to get too worked up or make a bigger deal out of it.

Edited October 25, 2009 by SouthernWingsFan

[Doc Holiday 0]

Let's not forget that this was the 1st offseason for Holland without Bowman... Maybe he will look less genius now...

Bowman is a coach, not a GM.

[Dominator2005 558]

Bowman WAS a coach, not a GM.

Fixed...

For your information: Since his retirement as coach in 2002, Bowman worked as a special consultant to the Red Wings

[talex 1]

To not be happy with things is not to be a bandwagon fan. What is being implied there reminds of those commercials where the guy asks a kid if he/she wants something (like a Pony), gives a real pony to one kid and gives a toy pony to the other, is the other kid a bandwagon pony wanter? No, and like the commercial says even a kid knows a raw deal when they see one. To keep it clear it is not the Wings that are handing out this, it is the NHL. The NHL needed to deliberately weaken teams like the Wings so teams like the Yotes would have any hope of surviving in a place it was pretty insane to force a team in to. I think it is ridiculous to punish fans and owners in an area that will spend the money and support a team so that an area that does not do the same can benefit, the NHL basically said to all fans in those area's go f yourselves, time will tell if it works for them, but in the long run they took the risk that many of those fans say fine I will, and will take their money and interest elsewhere, it a matter is the other markets can make up for that or not.

Anyways, I guess I am a bandwagon fan now as well, and apparently even being a fan through the pre '97 years does not make up for it, but I lost a lot of interest in the NHL after the cap started, the product I saw in last years finals (no not saying the Wings were robbed, just willy nilly calls and floating rules etc made it less than it could and should have been). Due to this my interest has dropped to the point I did not get center ice this year and won't be, did not purchase a ticket pack and I won't be, did not get my annual jersey... I am not deliberately punishing anything either, it's just I do not have the same interest watching my team struggle and knowing had the leaugue not put limits on the front office things would most likely be different, in other words I know that the prodiuct the Wings are putting on the ice is not the best one they could and would have offered up, hard to blame them for it, they still did a hell of a job considering. I will watch some of the free games on tv and probably go to a game or 2 but that will be about it.

Bottom line, If getting the toy pony makes you a bandwagon fan, then I can live with that title.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Scotty was the Wings' GM for a handful of years when he first came to Detroit, most famously orchestrating the Shanahan trade.

As for his post-coaching days, I'm sure he was a useful resource but no one knows his exact role with the club, and it's fair to conclude that Kenny's work is his own for that time period.

[Guest gofish]

To not be happy with things is not to be a bandwagon fan. What is being implied there reminds of those commercials where the guy asks a kid if he/she wants something (like a Pony), gives a real pony to one kid and gives a toy pony to the other, is the other kid a bandwagon pony wanter? No, and like the commercial says even a kid knows a raw deal when they see one. To keep it clear it is not the Wings that are handing out this, it is the NHL. The NHL needed to deliberately weaken teams like the Wings so teams like the Yotes would have any hope of surviving in a place it was pretty insane to force a team in to. I think it is ridiculous to punish fans and owners in an area that will spend the money and support a team so that an area that does not do the same can benefit, the NHL basically said to all fans in those area's go f yourselves, time will tell if it works for them, but in the long run they took the risk that many of those fans say fine I will, and will take their money and interest elsewhere, it a matter is the other markets can make up for that or not.

Anyways, I guess I am a bandwagon fan now as well, and apparently even being a fan through the pre '97 years does not make up for it, but I lost a lot of interest in the NHL after the cap started, the product I saw in last years finals (no not saying the Wings were robbed, just willy nilly calls and floating rules etc made it less than it could and should have been). Due to this my interest has dropped to the point I did not get center ice this year and won't be, did not purchase a ticket pack and I won't be, did not get my annual jersey... I am not deliberately punishing anything either, it's just I do not have the same interest watching my team struggle and knowing had the leaugue not put limits on the front office things would most likely be different, in other words I know that the prodiuct the Wings are putting on the ice is not the best one they could and would have offered up, hard to blame them for it, they still did a hell of a job considering. I will watch some of the free games on tv and probably go to a game or 2 but that will be about it.

Bottom line, If getting the toy pony makes you a bandwagon fan, then I can live with that title.

excellent post.

[agziolkow 1]

I don't want to hear the excuses from him or other fans. It might be a transitional year, but there is NO need for him to come out and talk to the extreme that he did..especially after game 9. It's early and we still have a lot of talent and a great system.

It's going to take some time for the new/young guys to get used to the system and more importantly it's going to take some time for guys like draper, maltby and filps (who had a great game last night btw) to step up. They were primarily grinders and tertiary scorers. They were the guys who, when they scored, it would go down as an extra added "bonus" to the scoreboard that night. They have the talent to score more, but it'll take some time for them to adjust their style of play to fill their slighly changed roles.

Mr. VP needs to stop talking about next year and focus on this year. When the season ends he can go play the market with all the new money.

Something more appropriate he could have said would have gone something like this: "Things aren't going to come quite as easy this year with the loss of so many goals from the roster. We're going to have to work a lot harder and grind out some much less "pretty" goals..much like our opposition has done against us for years. The situation might be a little different next year with the extra cap space - but we are expected to win in the here and now and that's still our plan."

Oh, and our oh so untalented team did manage to put up 49 shots last night against a streaking team and had some beautiful chances. Anderson won that game for Colorado. Hands down.

[Dominator2005 558]

To not be happy with things is not to be a bandwagon fan. What is being implied there reminds of those commercials where the guy asks a kid if he/she wants something (like a Pony), gives a real pony to one kid and gives a toy pony to the other, is the other kid a bandwagon pony wanter? No, and like the commercial says even a kid knows a raw deal when they see one. To keep it clear it is not the Wings that are handing out this, it is the NHL. The NHL needed to deliberately weaken teams like the Wings so teams like the Yotes would have any hope of surviving in a place it was pretty insane to force a team in to. I think it is ridiculous to punish fans and owners in an area that will spend the money and support a team so that an area that does not do the same can benefit, the NHL basically said to all fans in those area's go f yourselves, time will tell if it works for them, but in the long run they took the risk that many of those fans say fine I will, and will take their money and interest elsewhere, it a matter is the other markets can make up for that or not.

Anyways, I guess I am a bandwagon fan now as well, and apparently even being a fan through the pre '97 years does not make up for it, but I lost a lot of interest in the NHL after the cap started, the product I saw in last years finals (no not saying the Wings were robbed, just willy nilly calls and floating rules etc made it less than it could and should have been). Due to this my interest has dropped to the point I did not get center ice this year and won't be, did not purchase a ticket pack and I won't be, did not get my annual jersey... I am not deliberately punishing anything either, it's just I do not have the same interest watching my team struggle and knowing had the leaugue not put limits on the front office things would most likely be different, in other words I know that the prodiuct the Wings are putting on the ice is not the best one they could and would have offered up, hard to blame them for it, they still did a hell of a job considering. I will watch some of the free games on tv and probably go to a game or 2 but that will be about it.

Bottom line, If getting the toy pony makes you a bandwagon fan, then I can live with that title.

[VM1138 1,921]

Let's not forget that this was the 1st offseason for Holland without Bowman... Maybe he will look less genius now...

Holland did the absolute best he could do in the situation. In fact, he blew most people's expectations out of the water. He can't be blamed for a team not giving a s***.

I don't know what it is. On paper, this team should be fine. They're shooting a lot, but nothing seems to be going in. Everything is just wide, just long, a fluke mistake that the opposition scores on, nobody is hitting, everyone LOOKS good, but isn't putting up good numbers.

It just boggles my mind and if I were coach, I wouldn't know what to do.