Does Holland have the courage to tank this team?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

After the loss today I got thinking... we've been a lucky bunch for 20 years or so. We've scarcely had to watch failure (during the regular season at least!). So it got me to thinking... what if we don't have the next Lidstrom, Yzerman, Datsyuk, Zetterberg or even Hudler/Filppula/Franzen in the system right now? What if the Wings really need an injection of cheap but star quality talent.

Now I've carefully observed how most GMs deal with this: they burn the house down and hope a big fat insurance cheque comes in the mail. Sure the family (fans) have to sleep in a motel for a while, but sometimes the new house is ever better! Look at what happened in Washington, Pittsburgh and Chicago. Their GM's were pretty sad sacks. Emotionally distraught, unloved, those teams got thrown over the barrel every trade deadline and taken for all they were worth. Hell, they got passed around like a beautiful but emotionally needy college girl at an all male dorm during freshmen week.

The Caps, Pens and Hawks bravely said "here are my good players take what you want and throw me your draft picks!" for a decade or more. And for the most part they cashed in. The Captials drafted an offensive god named Ovechkin. The Penguins drafted Malkin who won them a Cup on the back of his Conn Smythe ( ) and the Hawks have already been awarded the Hockey Writers Association Memorial Sure-To-Win-The-Cup Award (stolen from the previous media darlings in San Jose).

Even the Lightning have gotten back into the act after their brief flirtation with extended greatness. Stamkos and Hedmen are both studs (even if Hedmen's season is terrible, you expect that from a rookie D-man) and I have a hard time counting LeCalvary out at his age.

Sure, the Maple Leafs have shown GM's how to piss away draft picks but they were stupid enough to float on the line of mediocrity for 40+ years instead of boldly daring to suck balls and tank for a decade like the Penguins and Hawks did.

What do Wings fans have to show for it? 4 measly cups and the longest postseason streak in modern sports. But where is the super young, dynamic talent that gets hockey forums hot under the hood?

Does Ken Holland have the courage to take his hands off the wheel and close his eyes when his card drifts towards the ditch? Hopefully everyone inside will be ok and maybe there's a new mustang on sale on Kijiji for an outrageously low price! I mean he knows a guy who had that same thing happen to him! Surely it can happen again?

Does Ken Holland have the balls to dump gasoline in the back office and leave a lit cigarette on his desk? If he walks out and a fire starts he can build a new, better factory that's not struggling financially this month.

________________________________________________________________________________

_________________

No.

Many people are starting to invoke the hated "Dead Things" name this proud franchise wore in the 70's and 80's.

Shame on you.

Do you know what the difference is between the Dead Things and Red Wings is? Excellence, class and Little Ceasers Pizza. Mike and Marian Ilitch bought the Wings from Lidstrom's ***** (Mr. Norris) in '82. They took season tickets owners to dinner personally to convince them to stick around. They remodeled the entire front office and taught the franchise and fans to be proud again.

Tanking this team for draft picks spits in the face of what Mr. and Mrs Ilitch did in Detroit.

This team should not and will not spit in the faces of their fans by burning the team down and pissing on the ashes so they can have a shot at a lottery pick.

If we go down we go down fighting. Mr. Ilitch was a US Marine for 4 years so I have a hard time imagining him bending over for Mr. Bettman like weaker owners have. He won't burn this franchise down and start over so we can giggle about a "youth movement" and dream of rainbows and puppies. The Wings will build on success while striving to deliver the best product on the ice every year. They won't just say that like every other GM does they'll do it like only a handful of GMs do.

I'm all for youth but I don't want to watch my beloved Red Wings get slapped around like a rented Mule (sorry Johan) for a decade just for the privilege of getting a chance to draft an 18 year old impact player.

[egroen 384]

:beerbuddy:

[South Dakota wings fan 7]

After signing players to lifetime deals, I think it would be nearly impossible to burn the thing down. I posted in the other thread about not making the playoffs that we won't be winning the cup this year. It doesn't mean they aren't going to try to win games. Unfortunately, when you have played the most games of any team over 3 seasons, not to mention the Eurpoean opener, you just can't continue to compete. Kenny will have options this offseason. I think the Hudler mess caused a lot of the problems when they couldn't make the moves they have wanted while waiting for arbitration. Depending on the discount Nick takes if he decides to keep playing, they could have some decent cap room for next season.

I think they would like to bring Eaves back. I think Homer still has a role on a one year deal. Maltby may be given the option to see if he can find a better deal somewhere else or be forced to take on a 13th forward spot next year. I think they like Drew Miller, but his skill level isn't where it needs to be if they are going to upgrade the roster. We haven't really seen enough to make a call on how Williams has played, but I just don't see him fitting into the future plans. To me, this season is shaping up a little like 1999. I think the luck has just run out and they are out of gas. They will be better off in the long run with some roster turnover.

[Z and D for the C 712]

I love you, Drake.

If only you said something good about Filppula this just might be my favorite thread ever.

Edited February 7, 2010 by Z and D for the C

[Cern 0]

[SiLkK19 67]

Nice post =)

Edited February 7, 2010 by SiLkK19

[whitewolf406 3]

WELL SAID!!!

[scotzman 29]

Good stuff Drake!

[gcom007 1,465]

Bravo. Well said.

[Carman 387]

But... but... Taylor Hall!! :ranting: :ranting:

Great post, this team doesn't need to tank although I wouldn't mind seeing some bold moves.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

"Gold Jerry, gold!"

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Wait, aren't we tanking now?

Especially now that we traded away our top young prospect for a Norwegian tough guy.

[McAwesome 754]

Spoken like a gentleman, sir.

Even if the Wings do break the longest post-season streak in professional sports this year :fingerscrossed:, the Ilitches, Holland, Yzerman, etc. have too much class to cut and run. There will be some retooling in the offseason, moves will be made that are consistent with the model franchise, and the Wings will be back on top soon enough, even as the media darlings fade into irrelevance again, and who knows, maybe they start a new streak next season.

[55fan 5,133]

<wipes tear away>

I wasn't sure if I should have had "God Save the Queen" or "My Country 'Tis of Thee" running as a soundtrack behind that.

We don't need to tank to get good draft picks. We get guys like Z, Mule, Ericsson (I think he'll pan out in time), and those sort in the draft.

A bit of luck, a bit of scouting, a bit of believing in the people who work for this organization. Throw in a few judicious trades here and there. Add a couple of mid-summer signings.

No reason to tank. Just re-load. Old players will leave in time. Young guys will step up.

We don't throw the torch; we pass it.

[Kwame_Kilpatrick 0]

i agree we dont need high draft picks, we need good scouts, yzerman was not the best rated player in his draft even but he was the only legend, that is what we need to get the most out of picks and we will be a good club, also it will allow us to keep good players if we draft well

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I'm glad we all agree on this! And in the interests of Z and D for the C:

Filppula's been excellent since returning from injury. How impressed am I? I actually bought one of his rookie cards when browsing ebay for hockey cards. I'm not sure what that means yet... but I do think he has the potential to be better than I thought he would be.

If Thornton can put 10 goals and 80 assists up a season why can't Val be the kind of guy who puts 10 goals and 50 assists up? That's a tall order but not out of the question. His pace over the last 20 games or so is 55+ points so maybe he can be a 60+ point guy. I don't see him as a point per game player but with confidence I can imagine him hitting 70ish as a more established player. He likely won't ever be much of a goal scorer due to his lack of finish but that certainly won't stop him from being a very effective Red Wing.

[Green Wing 26]

[Kwame_Kilpatrick 0]

filpulla is already a legend i am 100% happy with him

[McAwesome 754]

<wipes tear away>

I wasn't sure if I should have had "God Save the Queen" or "My Country 'Tis of Thee" running as a soundtrack behind that.

We don't need to tank to get good draft picks. We get guys like Z, Mule, Ericsson (I think he'll pan out in time), and those sort in the draft.

A bit of luck, a bit of scouting, a bit of believing in the people who work for this organization. Throw in a few judicious trades here and there. Add a couple of mid-summer signings.

No reason to tank. Just re-load. Old players will leave in time. Young guys will step up.

We don't throw the torch; we pass it.

I would have gone with "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as the soundtrack

[Broken 16 381]

This thread confuses me. Is there a faction of fans calling for the team to tank? I haven't noticed anyone discussing this.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

This thread confuses me. Is there a faction of fans calling for the team to tank? I haven't noticed anyone discussing this.

Don't be confused just have pride in this team and faith in the management. I thought about how nice it'd be to have Hall and I'm guilty of thinking "why not tank for picks if we can't win the cup?" but this little speech was what was roused up inside of me when I went down that mental path. I shared it in hopes that it'd inspire a bit of pride and confidence in other Wings fans. It's not like we have a whole bunch of great stories to talk about this season other than Howard's surprising play.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Oh and I think the best soundtrack for the OP would be "Hey Hey Hockeytown!" from the golden years of the Yzerman Era

[adubs 8]

Tanking is a complete myth. The Penguins couldn't afford their players, the Hawks had a horrible owner, and I'm not all that sure about the Capitals.

Look at a team like Colorado. They had one of the longest sellout streaks going until they missed the playoffs. Now that they are back in it they are having trouble selling out their building.

No player is going to accept losing because doing so would mean they lose a year of their career and a shot at the Stanley cup.

Edited February 7, 2010 by adubs

[titanium2 867]

It's not like we have a whole bunch of great stories to talk about this season other than Howard's surprising play.

They may not be great stories per se but I think the progress of Eaves, Miller and Helm is quite something to be happy about. I know Eaves and Miller are injured right now but they've played hard.

[titanium2 867]