The Buck Stops WHERE? With WHOM?

[OldTimeWinger 8]

Although two games does not represent a season … wait, hold on … with the Wings it does. The two road games against Toronto and Boston provide fans – and DRW brass – with a clear picture of this team’s caliber, character and commitment. It’s damn ugly. My question: On April 10, who is held responsible/accountable for the unmitigated disaster?

 

Surely, a proud, historic, 11-time Stanley Cup champion – about to unveil a new home (even if named after pizza) -- will NOT turn a deaf ear to the team’s painful and glaring shortcomings. On April 10, who gets called into the boss’s office, told to box up their personal possessions and escorted to the exit?  (After all, hockey is a business!)

 

Jeff Blashill. Remember he coached many of these players in Grand Rapids, had great respect for Mike Babcock and his philosophy  and the transition would seemingly be seamless. Blashill would be able to coax and coach more from the young players like Tatar, Nyquist, Mrazek, etc., etc., to ensure the Red Wings’ success into the future. Wings’ GM Ken Holland told the Detroit News in May 2015: “He [Blashill] seems to have something, he wins wherever he goes. He wins. Why does he win? When I look at Mike Babcock, I see similarities in Jeff. Making players accountable. A tremendous work ethic. Passion. Having a plan. He has experience.”

 

And what about Holland? There was something genuinely disturbing seeing news clips of him from this week’s  GMs meeting in Boca Raton, FL., opining about various tweaks that might be made for the betterment of the game when he couldn’t (and some would say hasn’t) made changes to improve his own team. Since 1997, he has been at the helm, amassing  an 825-408 record (just regulation wins and losses) and a .669 win percentage.  Since the 2012-13 lockout, 148-112 and .569%. Since January 1, 2017, 9 – 13 (including the two miserable games against the Leafs and Bruins). On agreeing to a four-year extention to Holland’s contract in 2014,  Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch said, "Ken is regarded as one of the premier executives in the National Hockey League and has been instrumental in the success of the Red Wings over the last two decades … extremely pleased that he will continue to lead our hockey club over the next four years. "

 

Now that many of us are no longer  “extremely pleased,” I wonder how President and CEO Chris Ilitch and Sr. VP Jim Devellano feel. Perhaps, someone from the intrepid Detroit news media – Freep’s Helene St. James, News’s Ted Kulfan or MLive’s Ansar Khan – should ask. The follow-up question: Who will be held responsible/accountable?

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Blashill should have been gone 3 months ago. I wouldn't be shocked if he gets another year.

I don't think there is any way Holland gets fired. I think he finishes this contract and either retires or moves up the ladder next summer. I just hope they don't simply hand the job to Draper or Martin when it happens, but I'm afraid they will.

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[kickazz 5,459]

2 hours ago, DickieDunn said:

Blashill should have been gone 3 months ago. I wouldn't be shocked if he gets another year.

I don't think there is any way Holland gets fired. I think he finishes this contract and either retires or moves up the ladder next summer. I just hope they don't simply hand the job to Draper or Martin when it happens, but I'm afraid they will.

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Or Holland gets a contract extension

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Top to bottom so ownership.

[The Secret 304]

I don't think we need to throw everything out to start from scratch. The buck HAS to stop with Blashill being run the eff out of town. I truly believe that with a real coach this team will play much much better. Again, not cup contending better but not the pigswill of the league. This is a young team with speed and some goood talent the would be hard team to play against with a real coach.

More important then missing the payoffs in humiliating fashion... If Blashill is not let go and replaced with an experienced coach then it could stunt what little future we have right now. With everyone not named Zetterberg driving their careers in reverse already I am afraid that the longer Blashill is around he may stunt the growth of the kids we have.

I'm indifferent on Holland unless he doesn't get rid of Blashill. Holland gets a few mulligans because he has done way more great things for this team then bad.

[AtlantaHotWings 974]

What if they had replaced Blashill 2 or 3 months ago and the new coach got them into the playoffs? I am old but if memory serves me right as we still had a shot in December to make the playoffs Look at the Bruins won what 7 of the last 10 after a coach flip. if that had happened  Kenny wouldn't have been a seller and we woudl be whining that the Wings weren't progressing to the new era. 

Sometimes as much as it hurts a swift kick to the nether regions is required to get your mind focused. This season has been that kick. Now if Holland goes into the fetal position then shame on ownership for not DEMANDING action.  

Going to be soooo weird that there is no hockey in Detroit after April 10 this year.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Ownership has to be more hands on and demand things being changed because status quo isn't wings style.

To those saying well a new coach would magically fix things ...Babs barely got this team into the playoffs and needed the last or second last day to do it.

The simple truth is there are more holes than talent on this team and no coach is going to change that but getting someone like Hitchcock, Tippet or Gallant goes a long way in terms of demanding effort and respect from the players. if some guys think Babs was tough man they would be in for some culture shock with Hitchcock.

To me the timeline will be determined by the pick the wings are getting. Patrick would be awesome but the guy isn't that stud McDavid, Eichel and Matthews are.

Anyhow I hope ownership is really pissed about that mess, I would be if I'd be paying 70 million, add all the over the top luxuries...And then you get this without any top talent, embarrassing.

I think this off season will show us what type of owner Chris will be.

[Jedi 1,865]

1 hour ago, AtlantaHotWings said:

Going to be soooo weird that there is no hockey in Detroit after April 10 this year.

Haven't had much hockey after then in the last few years anyway...

To me, both Holland and Blashill need to go.  Holland is very obviously in over his head in the Salary Cap world, and I'm sincerely hoping he walks after his contract is up next year.  Blashill has seen significant player regression in his 2 years here.  Obviously, much of that lies on the shoulders of the players themselves, but the coach has to be responsible (read: Held Responsible) for that regression as well.  The roster is too talented to be playing as poorly as we are playing.

It's too bad Montreal jumped on picking up Claude Julien.  Would have liked to see him have a chance with this roster.

[ChristopherReevesLegs 7,022]

28 minutes ago, Jedi said:

Haven't had much hockey after then in the last few years anyway...

To me, both Holland and Blashill need to go.  Holland is very obviously in over his head in the Salary Cap world, and I'm sincerely hoping he walks after his contract is up next year.  Blashill has seen significant player regression in his 2 years here.  Obviously, much of that lies on the shoulders of the players themselves, but the coach has to be responsible (read: Held Responsible) for that regression as well.  The roster is too talented to be playing as poorly as we are playing.

It's too bad Montreal jumped on picking up Claude Julien.  Would have liked to see him have a chance with this roster.

I'm still holding out for Hitch. A boy can dream...

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

2 hours ago, Jedi said:

Haven't had much hockey after then in the last few years anyway...

To me, both Holland and Blashill need to go.  Holland is very obviously in over his head in the Salary Cap world, and I'm sincerely hoping he walks after his contract is up next year.  Blashill has seen significant player regression in his 2 years here.  Obviously, much of that lies on the shoulders of the players themselves, but the coach has to be responsible (read: Held Responsible) for that regression as well.  The roster is too talented to be playing as poorly as we are playing.

It's too bad Montreal jumped on picking up Claude Julien.  Would have liked to see him have a chance with this roster.

This roster is not "too talented" to be playing poorly.  The roster sucks on paper and on the ice.  

[kliq 3,755]

1 hour ago, GMRwings1983 said:

This roster is not "too talented" to be playing poorly.  The roster sucks on paper and on the ice.  

I dont buy this. Every player has a ceiling and a floor, and pretty much every player we have is closer to their floor then their ceiling.

Not by any stretch am I saying we are contenders or anything, but this team is too talented to be playing this poorly.

4 hours ago, frankgrimes said:

To me the timeline will be determined by the pick the wings are getting. Patrick would be awesome but the guy isn't that stud McDavid, Eichel and Matthews are.

Eichel and Matthews should even be spoken of in the same breathe as McDavid, this is why Eichel is being referred to as overrated. The gap between these two players is tremendous.

As far as the other two go, who knows if Patrick is going to be at their level, way too early to tell. I see Colorado or Arizona getting him anyways, but if we get lucky and get that 1st pick, that could fill a huge hole for us and give us some flexibility with Larkin and AA as trade bait for a 1A d-man.

[kickazz 5,459]

I don't think our roster is better than it was in 2014.

We had younger Datsyuk and Zetterberg, hall of famer Daniel Alfredsson, younger Kronwall, Franzen, younger Howard.

We no longer those players or have a fraction of those player's skill levels. Larkin, Mantha are not better than Alfredsson or Franzen. Not even older versions of those guys. 

We need a player and a personell change imo.

Rid the coach, rid some players, draft good ones. 

Edited March 10, 2017 by kickazz

[sputman 1,268]

5 hours ago, ChristopherReevesLegs said:

I'm still holding out for Hitch. A boy can dream...

It would not surprise me if Hitch was brought in. He's of the Scotty Bowman mold and could potentially turn things around if he wants to work for another 5-10 years. 

[DickieDunn 2,571]

I don't think a hard ass like Hitchcock is the answer. They need a teacher who is good with kids.

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[frankgrimes 1,836]

While I agree this current Red Wings roster isn't very good - a better coach could possible have them competing for the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference.
Part of this team sloppy play is on Blashill...We need a hard-ass-old-school type behind the bench...F**k these millennial twats, and their feelings...Time to get them to be responsible for their $hitty play.

This team is usually outmatched against any team that has something close to a number 1 center, defense or at least a young but very talented core...So basically against most opponents.

Not even Babs would be able to coach them this much, maybe a few more points but given how close the Wings were to missing the playoffs for a few years I'll doubt it. As of now this roster doesn't even have a core and if Howard is gone in the offseason no number 1 goalie...So I really don't see how this team is too talented..It's a bottom 5 team in terms of raw talent.

The league has adjusted to the speedy Larkin now it's his time to adjust. Mantha looks promising but let's wait till next year before putting him on the first line shall we?

That's why I've also said everyone should be available. Of course Larkin and company would cost a lot but you gotta give to get.

[kliq 3,755]

1 hour ago, frankgrimes said:

 

This team is usually outmatched against any team that has something close to a number 1 center, defense or at least a young but very talented core...So basically against most opponents.

Not even Babs would be able to coach them this much, maybe a few more points but given how close the Wings were to missing the playoffs for a few years I'll doubt it. As of now this roster doesn't even have a core and if Howard is gone in the offseason no number 1 goalie...So I really don't see how this team is too talented..It's a bottom 5 team in terms of raw talent.

The league has adjusted to the speedy Larkin now it's his time to adjust. Mantha looks promising but let's wait till next year before putting him on the first line shall we?

That's why I've also said everyone should be available. Of course Larkin and company would cost a lot but you gotta give to get.

 

This is just not true. There is a huge difference between not having a core, and not having a core that you are a fan of. The young core of the Wings is Larkin, Mantha, AA, DD, and Mrazek, you don't just like it. Do they need more? Of course, but like I have said a million times, add Patrick and Trouba and we are looking very good. A fully admit that it is a lot harder said then done, but that would be my goal if I were Holland.

In terms of elite talent, no doubt we are a basement team, as far as overall talent, that's not true. The key is having a good mix. Look at Colorado, they are littered with "elite" talent, look at Edmonton pre McDavid, littered with elite talent, but both were/are garbage. The key to being a good team in the NHL in 2017 is having elite talent (which we dont have) surrounded by good secondary talent (we do have), being coached by a good coaching staff (we dont have). 

Out of curiosity Frank, how many games have you actually watched this season?

[frankgrimes 1,836]

6 hours ago, kliq said:

This is just not true. There is a huge difference between not having a core, and not having a core that you are a fan of. The young core of the Wings is Larkin, Mantha, AA, DD, and Mrazek, you don't just like it. Do they need more? Of course, but like I have said a million times, add Patrick and Trouba and we are looking very good. A fully admit that it is a lot harder said then done, but that would be my goal if I were Holland.

In terms of elite talent, no doubt we are a basement team, as far as overall talent, that's not true. The key is having a good mix. Look at Colorado, they are littered with "elite" talent, look at Edmonton pre McDavid, littered with elite talent, but both were/are garbage. The key to being a good team in the NHL in 2017 is having elite talent (which we dont have) surrounded by good secondary talent (we do have), being coached by a good coaching staff (we dont have). 

Out of curiosity Frank, how many games have you actually watched this season?

You honestly think I'm arrogant enough to think it does matter if I'm a fan of the core or not? Fact is this team can't  have a core when nobody knows who will be here come next season and who will be gone. The thing with Patrick is no team can control it the best they can do is increase their odds as much as they can by losing and catching Arizona or Colorado will be very tough they are that bad.

Colorado is different because one of their young pieces will command a hefty return and if that's includes a bonafide number 1 defenseman - which I doubt - their rebuild could be quick. Edmonton is more than just McDavid they've needed a change in philosophy and more defensive focus they've paid a premium for it but they got it.

To be very honest not a lot because I'm not counting the games where I've fallen asleep as "watched games".  Also I don't feel like wasting my time watching a team that doesn't entertain me because the front-office chose streak over building from the ground up, which is the only way to win in the current nhl.

Edited March 10, 2017 by frankgrimes

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

On paper, I see a roster with one of (if not the worst) defensive corps in the league, no legit number one center, and weak at the wings.  The goaltending was supposed to be solid with Mrazek and Howard, but one guy is hurt and the other is putting up numbers like it's 1993.  

Sorry guys, but this team does lack talent, even if they were healthy all year.  Just because some of these players have played well before, doesn't mean much now.  A good player has to be consistent every season and opponents make adjustments to players from familiarity.  

[kliq 3,755]

1 hour ago, frankgrimes said:

You honestly think I'm arrogant enough to think it does matter if I'm a fan of the core or not? Fact is this team can't  have a core when nobody knows who will be here come next season and who will be gone. The thing with Patrick is no team can control it the best they can do is increase their odds as much as they can by losing and catching Arizona or Colorado will be very tough they are that bad.

Colorado is different because one of their young pieces will command a hefty return and if that's includes a bonafide number 1 defenseman - which I doubt - their rebuild could be quick. Edmonton is more than just McDavid they've needed a change in philosophy and more defensive focus they've paid a premium for it but they got it.

To be very honest not a lot because I'm not counting the games where I've fallen asleep as "watched games".  Also I don't feel like wasting my time watching a team that doesn't entertain me because the front-office chose streak over building from the ground up, which is the only way to win in the current nhl.

Your doing it again. When has Holland ever expressed interest in trading Larkin, Mantha, AA, Mrazek or DD? Not knowing who is going to be here is not a Wings thing, its a fan thing. We have a core, you just don't like it.

Not surprised its not a lot, your posting shows this.

Not even going to argue about Edmonton/Colorado, the proof is right there with how pathetic of a franchise Edmonton was pre McDavid, and how pathetic Colorado is right now.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

We know Glendogmillionaire, Abdelkader, Helm, Nielsen, and Ericsson will be here. Nobody is going to want those crap deals. Larkin, AA, and Mantha will also probably still be here.

Zetterberg, Mantha, Larkin, AA, Nielsen, Tatar, Nyquist, Sheahan, Abdelkader, Helm, and Glendening are a good base for a forward corps. Add a legit top line center and a decent coaching staff and it's good to go.

The biggest issue is the defense. The lack of a #1 guy makes everyone else play a role they can't handle, and having Ericsson and one legged Kronwall locks up 2 spots that should be used on cheap players.

Goaltending is a coin flip. Will Mrazek bounce back or is he just another flash in the pan? Howard is what he is. He plays well for awhile them he gets hurt and isn't the same as he was pre injury. You can't count on him to be a full time #1.

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[The Secret 304]

18 hours ago, GMRwings1983 said:

This roster is not "too talented" to be playing poorly.  The roster sucks on paper and on the ice.  

It is too talented to be playing this poorly. The product on paper sucks because of what is happening on the ice. What is happening on the ice, imho, is the direct and immediate result of an inexperienced NHL coach with a system that doesn't even come close to working and a team 2 years into Blashill's tenure that looks more confused, less prepared and hemorrhaging confidence with each passing minute under Blashills lead. Blashill is a bust and a liability to our future.

Think in the past, we have had rockstar lineups that got pwned by (arguably) inferior teams then this. 2005-6 season comes to mind coached by Craig McTavish.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

I've said it before, I'll say it again. It's hard to give 100% all the time when your boss is clueless.

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[Fedorovfan 25]

Hold on............... Mantha a healthy scratch tonight. Blashill calls it a "teaching moment."

 

How about firing Blashill and calling it a "teaching moment?"

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

2 hours ago, The Secret said:

It is too talented to be playing this poorly. The product on paper sucks because of what is happening on the ice. What is happening on the ice, imho, is the direct and immediate result of an inexperienced NHL coach with a system that doesn't even come close to working and a team 2 years into Blashill's tenure that looks more confused, less prepared and hemorrhaging confidence with each passing minute under Blashills lead. Blashill is a bust and a liability to our future.

Think in the past, we have had rockstar lineups that got pwned by (arguably) inferior teams then this. 2005-6 season comes to mind coached by Craig McTavish.

The 2006 Oilers had a better roster than this Wings team. 

I get the idea about underdogs in the playoffs, but when lower seeds win in the playoffs, they do so because of hot goaltending and playing a tight checking defensive style.  This team cannot do either of those things.  

[ChristopherReevesLegs 7,022]

1 hour ago, Fedorovfan said:

Hold on............... Mantha a healthy scratch tonight. Blashill calls it a "teaching moment."

 

How about firing Blashill and calling it a "teaching moment?"

The stealth tank is over. Embrace the tank has begun.

Manthas been losing a lot of board battles lately. Perhaps hes been getting lazy and needs a "break".

If it helps us lose, cool whatever I dont care. Pretty checked out of the season at this point.