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

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland disagrees with Devellano’s assessment. Holland says the reshaped roster is still talented enough to contend for the Central Division Title for the ninth straight season and 13th time in 15 seasons.

Ken says basically the same thing as Jimmy D, actually Holland promises less. However, look how much better he sells it!

My problem with Jimmy D is the way he said it. Ken is telling both the truth (wings competitive in our own division) and is still being positive.

All Devellano is doing by being blunt is ruining peoples hopes.

[cupforwings 138]

He's at it again:

linky

wow, jimmy... "a miracle"? think about how insulting and disheartening that has to be to the players... Holland is right on with his statement.. the wings are not going to just breeze through this year, but they are still a legit central division/playoff/stanley cup contender... I still think they will win the central and will make it to the western conference finals... i mean we are 2 pts back from the "GREAT" blackhawks, with our rocky start... thats kind of a crappy statement by jimmy

[Echolalia 2,961]

I wonder if this is a publicity stunt to fire up the team, or maybe even the fans?

Edited November 4, 2009 by Echolalia

[dat's sick 1,002]

He's at it again:

linky

"Detroit has been a top-four-seeded team the past 17 postseasons, winning three Stanley Cups and finishing as the runner-up last season for the second time during its dominant stretch."

....

not only is it a miracle if we make the playoffs this year, now we've only won 3 Cups the last 17 years? Man, things really are bad. I guess Hudler took that 4th ring and brought it over to Russia.

[RedWingsRox 614]

Folks, he's just being honest. Hard to argue with the facts.

As for 'miracle' comment. If he meant it would be a miracle for us to get home ice advantage throughout ... again, you have to agree. In fact, we didn't earn it last year, San Jose (had they not been knocked out in round 1) had the #1 spot. We just lucked out. Realistic assessment to me. I don't want management to always paint a rosy pie in the sky opinion.

[Seraph 240]

I guess the question people need to ask themselves right now is if through the years they've been a fan of the Red Wings, or a fan of winning.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Folks, he's just being honest. Hard to argue with the facts.

As for 'miracle' comment. If he meant it would be a miracle for us to get home ice advantage throughout ... again, you have to agree. In fact, we didn't earn it last year, San Jose (had they not been knocked out in round 1) had the #1 spot. We just lucked out. Realistic assessment to me. I don't want management to always paint a rosy pie in the sky opinion.

Actually it's pretty easy to argue about facts...

For example... you forget that Boston beat us last year as well.

Telling fans to lower expectations isn't non-rosy sky... it's a horribly bad interview.

Edited November 4, 2009 by CaliWingsNut

[TheWestWing 71]

I let the earlier remark go though I really didn't care for it. My guess was he was expressing his own frustration also.

But now? Just STFU Jimmy! Even your team now HAS to disagree with you in public. Besides Kenny, we have this:

'Veteran Kirk Maltby then walked from the weight room toward the player’s lounge, stopping to look at and talk about the dry-erase boards that have the Red Wings in an unfamiliar position.

“Guys need to look at it,†Maltby said. “But we have to keep things in perspective because we’ve only played 13 games. If it was a ’73’ up there instead of ’13,’ it would be a different story.

“I’m not going to question what Jimmy D thinks about us at this point, but I don’t think it’s going to take a miracle to repeat in the division.â€

Perhaps Mr. Head Pizza or whoever really runs that place should have a talk with Jimmy D. Or perhaps its just time for him to go. 28 years or summin is a long time. Not sure what current responsibilities he has, but if we're putting all this new blood on the ice.....

[Carman 387]

Jimmy D is a magician he is the main reason for all of Detroit success he is the one that taught Holland, he is the one that drafted Yzerman,he is the one who hired the scouts, he is the Detroit Red Wing's. He knows what he is doing and for any of you so called fans to tell him he is wrong for saying that is in my opinion completely ridiculous.

[RedWingsRox 614]

This is what Maltby said:

“I’m not going to question what Jimmy D thinks about us at this point, but I don’t think it’s going to take a miracle to repeat in the division.â€[/i]

This is what Jimmy D said:

“We’re going to have to fight just to make the playoffs and it’s going to be a grind,†said senior vice president Jim Devellanno, the first person owner Mike Ilitch hired when he bought the team in 1982. “To get home-ice advantage would be a miracle. A miracle.â€

I think Maltby misunderstood the miracle comment. I think Jimmy D is right, it will be a miracle to get home-ice advantage throughout playoffs. Division winner (if we can even win it) obviously doesn't = home ice advantage.

[BlueMonk 102]

Obviously a ploy to motivate the team. Hopefully, it works. They looked sharp last night, that's for sure.

[rage 24]

I let the earlier remark go though I really didn't care for it. My guess was he was expressing his own frustration also.

But now? Just STFU Jimmy! Even your team now HAS to disagree with you in public. Besides Kenny, we have this:

'Veteran Kirk Maltby then walked from the weight room toward the player’s lounge, stopping to look at and talk about the dry-erase boards that have the Red Wings in an unfamiliar position.

“Guys need to look at it,†Maltby said. “But we have to keep things in perspective because we’ve only played 13 games. If it was a ’73’ up there instead of ’13,’ it would be a different story.

“I’m not going to question what Jimmy D thinks about us at this point, but I don’t think it’s going to take a miracle to repeat in the division.â€

Perhaps Mr. Head Pizza or whoever really runs that place should have a talk with Jimmy D. Or perhaps its just time for him to go. 28 years or summin is a long time. Not sure what current responsibilities he has, but if we're putting all this new blood on the ice.....

So now you want Jimmy to be fired? Please, your comments are asinine and completely out of control!

And it's obvious that Jimmy is talking about winning the West. So what if he thinks it would be a near impossible to win the West this year. Most fans would agree if they didn't have their blinders on.

[TheWestWing 71]

So now you want Jimmy to be fired? Please, your comments are asinine and completely out of control!

And it's obvious that Jimmy is talking about winning the West. So what if he thinks it would be a near impossible to win the West this year. Most fans would agree if they didn't have their blinders on.

That's why this board is so well respected by others - have an opine called asinine. If Jimmy is lauded for the successes he's credited with, then perhaps he should also he be flailed for the current team's state. Or is his holiness immune from such?

Perhaps asking for a beheading is a tad harsh, but the architects of the team have to take responsibility to the extent that they cant play the game.

I can't remember a time when Jimmy opened his mouth this much this frequently. Perhaps he did it privately. If this is his idea of motivation as one stated, it's probably also why he didn't do it publicly. I'm not saying He's Lazy and he Sucks, I just think that perhaps the ferrite from the Lester P. may be affecting his chemistry. Or maybe not.

Edited November 5, 2009 by TheWestWing

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Obviously a ploy to motivate the team. Hopefully, it works. They looked sharp last night, that's for sure.

^ This x 100.

Possibly will be harder to win more consistently this season, but it's not like this team is just going to completely go down the tank as they've made postseason play for over 15 years, and I doubt that'll change this year.

Expect high, but be realistic about things.

Not much wrong with what Devellano said IMO. I'm not going to waste my time getting worked up about it or breaking each sentence or word down figuring out what he really meant.

[Broken 16 381]

Guess Jimmy was right...

[Carman 387]

Now if only he could influence a trade to get rid of this Datsyuk choker. Sell him while he stills has value.

[Broken 16 381]

Now if only he could influence a trade to get rid of this Datsyuk choker. Sell him while he stills has value.

That might be going a little far. I honestly believe the core needs rest. Best thing to happen to this team would be for them to miss the playoffs and get the core good and rested for next season... when we have cap space to build around a rested core. That's my hope. Flame away LGW'ers.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Guess Jimmy was right...

What was the lineup like when Jimmy made that initial statement?

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Boy this Devellano character wasn't kidding, huh?

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

This is sadly becoming my mindset more and more.

[kook_10 1,705]

The parade of injuries wasn't complete when he said it, but as of now it seems prophetic regardless.

[stuck in socal 56]

What a prophet. Jimmy, give me the lotto numbers!

[Broken 16 381]

What was the lineup like when Jimmy made that initial statement?

Doesn't matter. At the time he said to lower expectations. Now he might just say forget the whole thing till next season. Let's hope Jimmy doesn't speak to the press anymore this season.

[VM1138 1,921]

That might be going a little far. I honestly believe the core needs rest. Best thing to happen to this team would be for them to miss the playoffs and get the core good and rested for next season... when we have cap space to build around a rested core. That's my hope. Flame away LGW'ers.

What? That's ridiculous, I can't believe how many people here think missing playoffs would be a good thing. If they need rest, sit them once in a while. We're already losing games, put Datsyuk on a lower line for a game (he's trying so you can't bench him), give him less ice time. It's time we make our stars angry, show a little emotion.

[Broken 16 381]

What? That's ridiculous, I can't believe how many people here think missing playoffs would be a good thing. If they need rest, sit them once in a while. We're already losing games, put Datsyuk on a lower line for a game (he's trying so you can't bench him), give him less ice time. It's time we make our stars angry, show a little emotion.

What's ridiculous are fans that think that the players on the team they root for are machines that exist for nothing more than to win games for them. They are human and they are playing a game that knocks your dick in the dirt in one period. They do it for camp, pre-season, an 82 game regular season and the most brutal playoffs in all of sports. The Wings have been on top for over a decade... played more hockey than anyone else... have WON more than anyone else and all you can do is suggest that they have no emotion. Some fan.

With the cap space we will have next year, Kenny will be able to basically push the reset button and compliment the core again. Perfect time to give the core a rest if that is what is in the cards.

On one hand... sure, I'll be disappointed if they don't make it. Then about 30 seconds later I'll be relieved that our core will be 100% ready to go physically and emotionally with cap space. I'd rather not see the walking wounded heading into the playoffs... again. I've enjoyed 15 years of dominant Wings hockey. One season of mediocrity won't kill me.

Edited December 10, 2009 by Broken 16