Things you would like to see for 2015-16 Season

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Kronwall - Green

Dekeyser - Quincey

Marchenko/Smith - Ericsson

We keep our best pairing (D and Q). Ericsson plays on third pair where he's less likely to make errors. Smith would be his offensive compliment. Kronwall and Green just raise havoc on top line.

EVERYBODY WINS

Except possibly the Wings.

On the top pair against top lines Green may wreak havoc but possibly not the kind you're looking for. Green played 19 minutes a game for the Caps (good for 5th in TOI/game) and 2:45 of that was on the PP. He also started in the offensive zone 60% of the time. If he were on the top pair I'm guessing we'd all be pining for the good ol days when Ericsson was there.

Anything could happen and I'm guessing he will be asked to do more on the Wings, but I don't see him on the top pair. Like Helmethead posted, middle pair seems likely, with a ton of PP minutes.

[Ekmanc 586]

This Ericsson hate is reaching ridiculous levels.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

This Ericsson hate is reaching ridiculous levels.

Admittedly he didn't have a great season, but overall I agree. I'm hoping his finger injury only hampered his training last season and didn't permanently damage his game. He's playing a bit over his head on that top pair but usually does a good job. Hopefully he rebounds this season.

[kickazz 5,459]

Except possibly the Wings.

On the top pair against top lines Green may wreak havoc but possibly not the kind you're looking for. Green played 19 minutes a game for the Caps (good for 5th in TOI/game) and 2:45 of that was on the PP. He also started in the offensive zone 60% of the time. If he were on the top pair I'm guessing we'd all be pining for the good ol days when Ericsson was there.

Anything could happen and I'm guessing he will be asked to do more on the Wings, but I don't see him on the top pair. Like Helmethead posted, middle pair seems likely, with a ton of PP minutes.

I may have been half serious on that post.

But you are right, Green on top line defeats the purpose of his use.

[Dabura 12,232]

I may have been half serious on that post.

But you are right, Green on top line defeats the purpose of his use.

For what it's worth:

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2015/07/23/new-red-wings-coach-jeff-blashill/30604193/

I just talked to [Green] the other day. I went back and watched a bunch of his shifts, and he’s my kind of player in the sense that I like a defenseman who can move the puck. And as I said when we signed him, the best defense is getting back the puck and moving it out of your zone.

And I think he does that very, very well.

So, I don’t tend to look at what players can’t do. Now, we certainly want to get better in areas that they need to get better at.

I always judge players on did they make more positive plays than negative plays ...

So, I’ve had this conversation with Mike: I want to be able to play him against the other team’s best players. I think that’s the kind of ice time he can demand. ... And as long as all those negative plays aren’t going in our net and he’s creating more positives than negatives, then I think he’ll find his way to lots of ice time.

An important point that the folks over at Winging It In Motown made back when we signed Green: over the course of his career, Green has rarely (arguably never) been paired with someone as defensively sound as DeKeyser is. So, when people point to those Mistakes Mike Green Makes, I'm not sure that's entirely fair. Dude was paired with Tim Gleason in these most recent playoffs. Tim freaking Gleason! Oh, and about last season: Green isn't really a Barry Trotz defenseman. Brooks Orpik -- a bad defenseman who gets a pass because he's big and mean and slow, not unlike Tim Gleason -- warms the cockles of Barry Trotz's heart. Green? Not so much.

There's also this:

http://public.tableau.com/views/HEROv2-D/Dashboard1?:embed=y&:loadOrderID=3&:display_count=yes&:showTabs=y

That's an exceptional HERO chart. Compare it to Erik Karlsson's:

http://public.tableau.com/shared/FTSM69TMW?:display_count=yes

It must be noted, of course, that Karlsson plays the minutes you'd expect of a two-time Norris Trophy winner (in terms of not just ice time but also quality of competition and zone starts). Only a few other defensemen in the NHL/world could perform so well in such a demanding role. Point being, Green's chart is surprisingly similar to Karlsson's, but Green has had it a little easier. Still, Green's chart 1) is very impressive and 2) suggests he could hold his own as a top pairing defenseman.

And then there's Tim Gleason:

http://public.tableau.com/shared/QNQFQ6JN3?:display_count=yes

And good old Brooks Orpik:

http://public.tableau.com/shared/BSDJWKK5D?:display_count=yes

Not that our D group is anything to brag about. (Which I'll probably address in a forthcoming post.)

Edited August 13, 2015 by Dabura

[kipwinger 8,756]

HERO charts are adjusted for usage FYI

[joesuffP 1,746]

I would like us to trade for Big Buff at the deadline. We have a butt load of young NHL ready defensemen with no room. Pile them up for Buff and try to resign him. If we can't, we at least cleared some space and were a serious contender

[Dabura 12,232]

HERO charts are adjusted for usage FYI

I'd thought they were, but I wasn't sure. I'll take your word for it!

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

How about this trade? Mantha a 1st Oullette and Smith for JVR and Phanief with 1.850 salary retained

I feel like Toronto would take that when I look at what they gave Kessel up for.. That's more than fair I bet we make a deadline acquisition this year but I think it'll be for a big forward not a defenseman.

[amato 3,210]

How about this trade? Mantha a 1st Oullette and Smith for JVR and Phanief with 1.850 salary retained

I feel like Toronto would take that when I look at what they gave Kessel up for.. That's more than fair I bet we make a deadline acquisition this year but I think it'll be for a big forward not a defenseman.

It could just be that he wants to see him in training camp at least before getting rid of him but Babcock seems like he'd prefer to not trade Phaneuf.. obviously it's not 100% his call but I think they'll hold onto him until the trade deadline at least. I would love to see jvr in a wings jersey though!

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

If we could get JVR for Tats I'd do it

[Helmethead 235]

I wouldn't.

[kipwinger 8,756]

If Jeff Blashill really means it when he says " I don’t tend to look at what players can’t do. Now, we certainly want to get better in areas that they need to get better at. I always judge players on did they make more positive plays than negative plays ..." then Brendan Smith is by no means a lock for that sixth defense spot. Ya know, given that the only thing he seems to really excel at is "not being Jakub Kindl".

Edit: Also, a little tidbit from Khan:

"Coach Jeff Blashill has indicated he might play Helm on the wing on the third line, centered by Luke Glendening".

Edited August 13, 2015 by kipwinger

[number9 3,297]

If Jeff Blashill really means it when he says " I dont tend to look at what players cant do. Now, we certainly want to get better in areas that they need to get better at. I always judge players on did they make more positive plays than negative plays ..." then Brendan Smith is by no means a lock for that sixth defense spot. Ya know, given that the only thing he seems to really excel at is "not being Jakub Kindl".

Edit: Also, a little tidbit from Khan:

"Coach Jeff Blashill has indicated he might play Helm on the wing on the third line, centered by Luke Glendening".

Why wouldn't he want Luke's RHed shot on the RW? This guy is worse than Babcock

[kipwinger 8,756]

Why wouldn't he want Luke's RHed shot on the RW? This guy is worse than Babcock

I think we can all agree that there's only one man who can put an end to all the madness?

You guessed it...

[Dabura 12,232]

If we could get JVR for Tats I'd do it

Ew, no. Tatar is more skilled, more dynamic, a better possession player, three years younger, coming off a 29-goal season, hasn't hit his ceiling, and will cost a couple million less against the cap for the next couple of years. And we'd be giving him to the Leafs, which I'm sure would never come back to haunt us in any way, shape, or form. Also: no to Phaneuf, who sucks and has one of the most insane contracts in the league. I'm pretty sure acquiring him was Babcock's idea.

Speaking of Babcock, I think we might have to embrace the possibility that the way Babcock was doing things was, in some cases, not necessarily the way they should've been done. (Not that this will be a new concept for anyone.) For example, we look at Glendening as a fourth-line shutdown center, and maybe for good reason. But, at the same time, he scored twelve goals last season. Maybe he'd be more valuable to us with more o-zone starts, a slightly more favorable quality of competition, and better linemates?

The thing that really has me thinking is the HERO charts for our defensemen. Look at this:

• DeKeyser
• Ericsson
• Green
• Kindl
• Kronwall
• Quincey
• Smith

(Appropriate responses include "Woof," "What the actual ****," and "KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!")

To me, the fact that Kindl's chart looks the way it does (very little ice time despite very impressive numbers) begs the question: Has Mike Babcock actually been holding this team back? Or, maybe a better question: Was he a bad fit for this D group?

I'm reminded of something Craig MacTavish said in an interview last year:

The GM and the coach, it’s always a difficult relationship because there are always two different thoughts. There’s winning and there’s small picture and big picture. The coach is trying to win the next game. The manager is trying to win the Stanley Cup. He’s got a bigger picture view, so instead of having guys that don’t necessarily have much upside, but they can execute, those would be the guys the coach would want in. The manager would want guys that aren’t quite at the level of these other guys, but they have significant upside. It’s just growth potential.

I don't know if that was true of the Holland-Babcock dynamic, but I think it's pretty safe to assume it was. I think you could go a step further and say Babcock is the ultimate "win the next game" coach.

It wouldn't surprise me if our D group proves to be more capable under Blashill. Maybe the need to add a top-pairing defenseman isn't nearly as great as we think it is. Maybe it'd make more sense to over-prepare for Datsyuk's decline and/or retirement by targeting someone like Eric Staal. We may be over the cap, but I believe we're poised to make a big move or two. We've got a ton of assets, the young players are all making modest money, there's a ton of money tied up in non-essential personnel (i.e. it probably wouldn't be too difficult or painful to clear up significant cap space in a hurry)...I wonder if Kenny hasn't been eyeing the UFA class of 2016 for some time now.

Edited August 15, 2015 by Dabura

[Rivalred 630]

Ew, no. Tatar is more skilled, more dynamic, a better possession player, three years younger, coming off a 29-goal season, hasn't hit his ceiling, and will cost a couple million less against the cap for the next couple of years. And we'd be giving him to the Leafs, which I'm sure would never come back to haunt us in any way, shape, or form. Also: no to Phaneuf, who sucks and has one of the most insane contracts in the league. I'm pretty sure acquiring him was Babcock's idea.

Speaking of Babcock, I think we might have to embrace the possibility that the way Babcock was doing things was, in some cases, not necessarily the way they should've been done. (Not that this will be a new concept for anyone.) For example, we look at Glendening as a fourth-line shutdown center, and maybe for good reason. But, at the same time, he scored twelve goals last season. Maybe he'd be more valuable to us with more o-zone starts, a slightly more favorable quality of competition, and better linemates?

The thing that really has me thinking is the HERO charts for our defensemen. Look at this:

• DeKeyser
• Ericsson
• Green
• Kindl
• Kronwall
• Quincey
• Smith

(Appropriate responses include "Woof," "What the actual ****," and "KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!")

To me, the fact that Kindl's chart looks the way it does (very little ice time despite very impressive numbers) begs the question: Has Mike Babcock actually been holding this team back? Or, maybe a better question: Was he a bad fit for this D group?

I'm reminded of something Craig MacTavish said in an interview last year:

I don't know if that was true of the Holland-Babcock dynamic, but I think it's pretty safe to assume it was. I think you could go a step further and say Babcock is the ultimate "Win the next game" coach.

It wouldn't surprise me if our D group proves to be more capable under Blashill. Maybe the need to add a top-pairing defenseman isn't nearly as great as we think it is. Maybe it'd make more sense to over-prepare for Datsyuk's decline and/or retirement by targeting someone like Eric Staal. We may be over the cap, but, in reality, I think we're poised to make a big move or two. We've got a ton of assets, the young players are all making modest money, there's a ton of money tied up in non-essential personnel (i.e. it probably wouldn't be too difficult or painful to clear up significant cap space in a hurry)...I wonder if Kenny hasn't been eyeing the UFA class of 2016 for some time now.

Issue with looking at UFA in the future is their status can always change, but k see what you are saying

[kipwinger 8,756]

Taken at today's optional skate. Woohoo!

[Dabura 12,232]

Issue with looking at UFA in the future is their status can always change, but k see what you are saying

Oh, for sure. There are a number of reasons why (possible) future UFAs are voodoo and, as such, shouldn't really factor into your planning and decision-making. Certainly the Wings can attest to this. And yet, Kenny's mostly shrewd management over the past several years has in fact put us in a position to take serious runs at marquee players (Green being one such player), and I doubt that this is purely coincidental.

Look at our situation. All of our young players are making modest money. We'll have the option of walking away from a number of roster players next summer. We have a ton of money tied up in players that, for the most part, Kenny should be able to trade for futures, which would free up cap space. And, of course, we have a wealth of attractive assets in the system. In short, our cap situation is manageable and flexible and we're overloaded with quality assets. If Kenny wants to make some magic, he's put himself in a good position to do so.

Edited August 18, 2015 by Dabura

[kipwinger 8,756]

Another thing I'd like to see for the 15-16 season? The Griffins getting rid of these lame ass black uniforms they just unveiled. Can we all please agree to stop putting black in everything?

Edited August 18, 2015 by kipwinger

[Dabura 12,232]

Another thing I'd like to see for the 15-16 season? The Griffins getting rid of these lame ass black uniforms they just unveiled. Can we all please agree to stop putting black in everything?

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the new look.