The Yzerplan to Date

[LeftWinger 5,130]

Ok, this is probably going to be a long post, I am going to try to cover all the drafts, signings and trades that Yzerman has made since he came home. I think once it is done up to date, we will see that he has moved us much closer and faster to glory than Holland could ever had dreamed of. With that being said I will start with what Holland left us with his last season. YEAR ONE

2018-2019 Red Wings:

Record: 32-40-10 (74 points), Finished 7th in NHL Atlantic Division

Detroit Red Wings hire Steve Yzerman as GM and VP 4-19-2019

5-01-2019 : Signed C Joseph Veleno to a three-year, entry-level contract.

5-05-2019 : Signed D Dylan McIlrath to a two-year, $1.4 million contract extension.

5-28-2019 :  Signed D Oliwer Kaski to a one-year, entry-level contract.

6-22-2019 : The Buffalo Sabres acquired a 2019 fifth round pick (#143, Filip Cederqvist(LW)) from Detroit Red Wings for 2019 sixth round pick (#177, Gustav Berglund(D)) & 2019 seventh round pick (#191, Carter Gylander (G)) 

2019 Draft:

7-01-2019 : Signed C Valtteri Filppula to a two-year, $3 million contract. Signed D Patrik Nemeth to a two-year, $6 million contract.  Signed G Calvin Pickard to a two-year, $1.4 million contract.

7-14-2019 :  Signed D Moritz Seider to a three-year, entry-level contract.

8-14-2019 : The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired a 2020 fourth round pick ( #116, Eamon Powell (D)) from the Detroit Red Wings for Adam Erne

10-06-2019 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Alex Biega from Vancouver Canucks for David Pope

10-23-2019 :  Waived D Jonathan Ericsson.

10-28-2019 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Brendan Perlini from the Chicago Blackhawks for Alec Regula

11-06-2019 : The St. Louis Blues traded Robby Fabbri to the Detroit Red Wings for Jacob De La Rose

11-30-2019 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Eric Comrie from the Arizona Coyotes for Vili Saarijarvi

12-09-2019 : Waived D Madison Bowey.

12-12-2019 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Kyle Wood from the Carolina Hurricanes for Oliwer Kaski

12-18-2019 :  Waived G Eric Comrie.

2-21-2020 : Acquired D Cody Goloubef off waivers from Ottawa Senators.

2-23-2020 : The Edmonton Oilers acquired Mike Green from the Detroit Red Wings for a conditional 2020 fourth round pick (conditions weren't met, we kept the #107 (Bednar) pick) and Kyle Brodziak

2-24-2020 : Acquired LW Dmytro Timashov off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2-24-2020 : The Edmonton Oilers acquired Andreas Athanasiou and Ryan Kuffner from the Detroit Red Wings for Sam Gagner, 2020 second round pick (#45 traded to LA (Brock Faber (D) for #51 (Theodor Niderbach) & 2020 4th (#97 Sam Stange) and 2021 second round pick (traded NYI (#52 Atu Raty) along with Richard Panik for Nick Leddy on 7-16-2021)

2020 Seasons stats:

Record: 17-49-5 (39 points), Finished 8th in NHL Atlantic Division 

Significant step backwards, did we try to tank? Either way, this was expected with the mess Holland left and Yzerman trying to patch holes.

2020-2021 Season

4-29-2020 : Signed LW Mathias Brome to a one-year, two-way contract worth $925,000.

8-24-2020 : Signed C Robby Fabbri to a two-year, $5.9 million contract extension.

9-26-2020 :  Acquired D Marc Staal and a 2021 second-round draft pick from the New York Rangers (traded to Dallas (Artem Grushnikov) along with #23 (acquired in Mantha deal) (Wyatt Johnston)) and 2021 5th (Ottawa #138 (Jack Barr) for 2021 1st (#15 Sebastian Cossa)) for future considerations. It is unknown what the future consideration were.

10-06-2020 : Red Wings buyout Abdelkader contract

2020 NHL Draft

Day 2 draft day trades:

10-7-2020 : The Los Angeles Kings acquired 2020 second round pick (#45 (Brock Faber)) from the Detroit Red Wings for 2020 second round pick (#51 (Neiderbach)) and 2020 fourth round pick (#97 (Stange))  

10-7-2020 : The Minnesota Wild acquired 2020 third round pick (#65 (original Sharks (Daemon Hunt))) from the Detroit Red Wings for 2020 third round pick (#70 (Eemil Viro)) and 2020 fifth round pick (#132 (Alex Cotton))

10-7-2020 : The St. Louis Blues acquired 2021 seventh round pick (#198 (Ivan Vorobyov)) from the Detroit Red Wings for 2020 seventh round pick (#203 (Chase Bradley))

10-9-2020 : Signed RW Bobby Ryan to a one-year, $1 million contract. Signed D Jon Merrill to a one-year $925,000 contract. Signed D Troy Stecher to a two-year, $3.4 million contract. Signed G Thomas Greiss to a two-year, $7.2 million contract. Signed C Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year, $4 million contract.

1-09-2021 : The Red Wings claimed Christian Djoos off waivers

2-14-2021 : DeKeyser was waived by the Detroit Red Wings 

2-21-2021 :  Nielsen was waived by the Detroit Red Wings 

3-03-2021 : Filppula was waived by Detroit

4-09-2021 : The Colorado Avalanche acquired Patrik Nemeth from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2022 fourth round pick (#129 (Maximilian Kilpinen))

4-10-2021 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired David Savard from the Columbus Blue Jackets for Brian Lashoff. The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired David Savard from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2021 fourth round pick (#128 later traded to Vegas (Jakub Demek) along with #38 (Daniil Chayka) for #36 (Shai Buium))

4-11-2021 : The Montreal Canadiens acquired Jon Merrill from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2021 fifth round pick (traded to Dallas (Jack Bar)) and Hayden Verbeek

4-12-2021 : The Washington Capitals acquired Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings for Richard Panik, Jakub Vrana, 2021 first round pick (dealt in Cossa deal) and 2022 second round pick (#52 (Dimitri Buchelnikov))

4-16-2021 : Raymond signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. The deal will begin with the 2021-22 season.

2021 Season Stats:

Record: 19-27-10 (48 points), Finished 7th in NHL Central Division

Slight improvement, especially since it was another shortened season.

2021-2022 Season:

5-20-2021 : Jonatan Berggren signed a three-year, entry-level contract

7-16-2021 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Nick Leddy from the New York Islanders for Richard Panik and 2021 second round pick (#52 - from Edmonton (Atu raty))

7-21-2021:   The Seattle Kraken acquired Dennis Cholowski from the Detroit Red Wings in the expansion draft

7-22-2021 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Alex Nedeljkovic from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2021 third round pick (Originally Vegas pick acquired in Tatar trade (Holland deal) #94 (Aidan Hreschuk)) and Jonathan Bernier

2021 Draft

Draft Day Trades:

7-23-2021 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired 2021 first round pick (#15 (Cossa)) from the Dallas Stars for 2021 first round pick (#23 (Wyatt Johnson)), 2021 second round pick (#48 originally Rangers in acquired Staal trade (Atrem Grusnikov)), and 2021 fifth round pick (#138 originally Ottawa pick acquired via Montreal in Merrill trade (Jack Bar))

7-24-2021 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired 2021 Second Round Pick (#36 (Buium) from the Vegas Golden Knights for 2021 Second Round Pick (#38 (Chayka)) and 2021 Fourth Round Pick (#128 (Demek))

7-24-2021 : The Vegas Golden Knights acquired 2021 fourth round pick (#102 (Jakub Brabenec)) from the Detroit Red Wings for 2021 fourth round pick (#114 (Red Savage)) and 2021 fifth round pick (#155 (Oscar Plandowski))

7-28-2021 : Suter signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract.  Oesterle signed a two-year, $2.7 million contract. 

7-29-2021 :  Witkowski signed a two-year contract.

7-30-2021 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Mitchell Stephens from the Tampa Bay Lightning for 2022 sixth round pick (traded to LA #169 (Jared Wright))

7-31-2021 : Bertuzzi (back) signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract

8-10-2021 : Vrana agreed to terms on a three-year, $15.75 million contract 

8-19-2021 : Red Wings buyout Frans Nielsen contract

12-14-2021 : Robby Fabbri signed a three-year, $12 million extension

1-19-2022 : The Red Wings claimed Gemel Smith off waivers from Tampa Bay 

2-18-2022 : Gemel Smith was placed on waivers

3-06-2022 : Olli Juolevi was claimed by Detroit from Florida off waivers

3-20-2022 : The Los Angeles Kings acquired Troy Stecher from the Detroit Red Wings for 2022 seventh round pick (#212 (Brennan Ali))

3-21-2022 : The St. Louis Blues acquired Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski from the Detroit Red Wings for Oskar Sundqvist, Jake Walman, and 2023 second round pick (#42 (Andrew Gibson))

3-21-2022 : The Dallas Stars acquired Vladislav Namestnikov from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2024 4th Round Pick

4-24-2022 : Edvinsson signed a three-year, entry level contract

2022 Season Stats:

Record: 32-40-10 (74 points), Finished 6th in NHL Atlantic Division  

5-16-2022 : Pontus Andreasson signed a one-year contract

5-22-2022 : Steven Kampfer signed a one-year deal 

6-09-2022 : Elmer Soderblom signed a three-year, entry-level contract 

2022 Draft:

7-8-2022 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Ville Husso from the St Louis Blues for 2022 third round pick (#73 (Aleksanteri Kaskimaki))

7-13-2022 : Marco Kasper signed a three-year, entry-level deal

7-13-2022 : Copp penned a five-year, $28.125 million contract. Maatta agreed to terms on a one-year, $2.25 million deal. Chiarot signed a four-year, $19 million contract. Kubalik signed a two-year, $5 million contract. Perron signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract.

7-25-2022 :  Hagg agreed to terms on a one-year, $800,000 contract.

8-10-2022 : Walman signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract

8-26-2022 : Zadina signed a three-year, $5.475 million contract extension

11-23-2022 : Detroit claimed Magnus Hellberg off waivers from Seattle

12-19-2022 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Michael Del Zotto from the Florida Panthers for Givani Smith. The Anaheim Ducks acquired Michael Del Zotto from the Anaheim Ducks for Danny O'Regan.

12-23-2022 : Amadeus Lombardi signed a three-year. entry-level contract with Detroit.

1-18-2023 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Jasper Weatherby from the San Jose Sharks for Kyle Criscuolo.

2-16-2023 : Olli Maatta signed a two-year, $6 million contract extension

2-28-2023 : Jake Walman agreed to terms on a three-year, $10.2 million contract extension 

3-01-2023 : Dylan Larkin signed an eight-year, $69.6 million contract extension 

3-01-2023 : The Vancouver Canucks acquired Filip Hronek and a 2023 fourth round pick (#105 (Ty Mueller)) from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2023 first round pick (#17 original Islanders (Axel Sandin Pellikka)) and 2023 second round pick (traded to Nashville (#43 (Felix Nilsson)) for #47 (Brady Cleveland) and #147 (Kevin Backer))

3-02-2023 : The Boston Bruins acquired Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2024 1st round pick (possibly going to Ottawa in Debincat deal) and a 2025 4th round pick

3-03-2023 : Alex Chiasson signed a one-year contract

3-03-2023 : The St. Louis Blues acquired Jakub Vrana from the Detroit Red Wings for Dylan McLaughlin and a 2025 7th round pick

3-03-2023 : The Minnesota Wild acquired Oskar Sundqvist from Detroit Red Wings for a 2023 4th round pick (#117 (Larry Keenan))

3-09-2023 : The Arizona Coyotes acquired Steven Kampfer from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations

3-28-2023 : Carter  Mazur agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract

2022-2023 Season Stats:

Record: 35-37-10 (80 points), 7th in NHL Atlantic Division

Again, slight improvement, more kids playing and more assets acquired.

2023 Off Season thus far:

2023 Draft

6-29-2023 : Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin were traded to the Detroit Red Wings from the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday in exchange for future considerations.

Draft Day 2 Trades:

6-29-2023 : The Nashville Predators acquired a 2023 2nd round pick (#43 (Felix Nilsson)) from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2023 2nd round pick (#47 (Brady Cleveland)) and 2023 5th round pick (#147 (Kevin Bicker))

6-30-2023 : Kailer Yamamoto contract bough out.

7-01-2023 : Klim Kostin signed a two-year contract. James Reimer signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract. Justin Holl signed a three-year, $10.2 million deal. Alex Lyon signed a two-year, $1.8 million contract. Daniel Sprong signed a one-year, $2 million contract. JT  Compher signed a five-year, $25.5 million contract. Shayne Gostisbehere signed a one-year, $4.15 million contract.

7-02-2023 : Christian Fischer signed a one-year, $1.125 million contract.

7-03-2023 : Filip Zadina was placed on waivers for purpose of contract termination.

7-08-2023 : John  Lethemon signed a one-year, two-way contract 

7-09-2023 : The Detroit Red Wings acquired Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators for Dominik Kubalik, Donovan Sebrango, a conditional 2024 1st round pick, and a 2024 4th round pick.

There were a lot of minor league transactions I did not include, along with a lot of recalls and waivers and demotions. If you look at what Holland left us compared to today, the Yzerplan is working, and working well. I predict we will be in the playoffs this season.

Please feel free to add to this things I may have missed. Thanks for reading this all!

Edited July 10, 2023 by LeftWinger

[F.Michael 4,590]

All this data reminds me of the Zadina fanboys on various sites would post as to how analytics/advanced stats showed him in a favorable light.

That said - Yzerman is doing alright - regardless of what the vast majority of opposing fan bases have to say...99% of them are ignorant bastards.

[town123 231]

Great post Lefty.... love the effort

[Jonas Mahonas 1,872]

I'd say Yzerman is doing a great job.  I love his "S H I T or get off the pot" mentality.  The only thing I will always be on his case about is the common sense stuff.  He's a good hockey mind, but he goes brain dead with the easy stuff.  STRENGTH TRAINING - GET A DEPARTMENT, ALREADY.  Seriously tired of our sissy boy Euro squad getting tossed around.  Simon Edvinsson was 1 inch away from an ACL tear from some nobody running his knee last year, and the team does NOTHING about it.  Walman gets banged around 4 straight times, and Seider does NOTHING about it.  That has got to stop.  If there's one thing Bowman did that Yzerman SHOULD remember = bring in Shanahan and ship out Primeau and Coffey to toughen up the team.  It's time for Yzerman to get his guys in fighting shape.

[bIueadams 776]

Dcat is our Tavares moment

[Lesteraction 1]

When it comes to living with dignity and freedom, then you need to know about Nelson Mandela. I’ve gathered the best and most Inspirational Nelson Mandela Quotes in one place with a new style for you. I hope you’d love it.
 

[town123 231]

Lester sucks monkey d**k.....  d**t ban me

[diehardredwingsfan58 164]

Considering that garbage that Yzerman inherited from Ken Holland. The team is definitely heading in the right direction.

[13dangledangle 968]

3 hours ago, diehardredwingsfan58 said:

Considering that garbage that Yzerman inherited from Ken Holland. The team is definitely heading in the right direction.

I’m not sure most people outside of Detroit’s fan base are fully aware of what kind of s*** show Yzerman actually walked into.  Amazing to see how much hate he was getting before the DeBrincate trade too.  I think hes done an amazing job even without that, but obviously he hit a home run bringing him here. 

Edited July 17, 2023 by 13dangledangle

[bIueadams 776]

1 hour ago, 13dangledangle said:

I’m not sure most people outside of Detroit’s fan base are fully aware of what kind of s*** show Yzerman actually walked into.  Amazing to see how much hate he was getting before the DeBrincate trade too.  I think hes done an amazing job even without that, but obviously he hit a home run brining him here. 

It's true - he needed multiple years just to offload Holland's garbage. We are still sitting on the Abby buyout. But I would say the 2022 offseaon was the firsst shift in a real direction.

He's signing stop gaps still, but he's also signing stop gaps he knows he can flip at the deadline. He's being smart and avoiding full scorched earth - like Edmonton and Buffalo did - but also not commiting to term. He's relying on his scouts to find top5 players in the top20. Smart - and playing to advantage.

[13dangledangle 968]

1 hour ago, bIueadams said:

It's true - he needed multiple years just to offload Holland's garbage. We are still sitting on the Abby buyout. But I would say the 2022 offseaon was the firsst shift in a real direction.

He's signing stop gaps still, but he's also signing stop gaps he knows he can flip at the deadline. He's being smart and avoiding full scorched earth - like Edmonton and Buffalo did - but also not commiting to term. He's relying on his scouts to find top5 players in the top20. Smart - and playing to advantage.

He really is doing it the smart way.  He’s appeasing ownership and fans (somewhat) by icing a better hockey club every year by means of his own picks really working out and acquiring these stop gaps like you said with full intention of moving them for picks and truly better pieces without handcuffing the future at all.  A lot of GMs are out there playing checkers, this Yzerman mother f’r is playing chess

Edited July 17, 2023 by 13dangledangle

[bIueadams 776]

22 minutes ago, 13dangledangle said:

He really is doing it the smart way.  He’s appeasing ownership and fans (somewhat) by icing a better hockey club every year by means of his own picks really working out and acquiring these stop gaps like you said with full intention of moving them for picks and truly better pieces without handcuffing the future at all.  A lot of GMs are out there playing checkers, this Yzerman mother f’r is playing chess

And it insulates his young players. They can now join a team this isn't great - but also isn't complete garbage. And they can learn the life from guys like Staal, Sundqqvist, Ghostbear, Etc.

Like you say, it also appeases the fans and ownership.... even if we know deep down Justin Holl and Bejn Chiarot arent going to bring us to the promise land. At least it feel like we're trying.

But the biggest part for me is - you can't do this strategy unless your scouting iss VERY good. Obviously SY is confident in his own scouting and his staffs. If you are not you would have to go full scorched earth and pray forr a McDavid to save you. Instead we are going to take Seiders at #6 and Kaspers and #8.

I also like thiss - beccause when we are back on top - NO ONE is going to be able to say we didnt earn it. We had no lottery luck, nothing handed to us, but the Wings are back and kicking your ass because we are jusst plain better than you.

[AtlantaHotWings 1,124]

Yzerman is doing this rebuild in an under promise over deliver type way. He refuses to say the word playoff ....lol

[Jonas Mahonas 1,872]

One thing that is noticeable is Yzerman filling needs.  We had the following holes going into the draft and UFA: 1LW, 1C, 1RW, 2RHD, G.  He filled 3 of those holes, and still left cap room for the team to use in the coming years.  The Vrana mishap was a bigger set back than most people realize.  That 1LW spot was filled had he worked out.  Zadina/Mantha picks by Holland didnt work and Yzerman gave it his best shot to fix that.  But he will have to fix that through the draft/ufa/trades now.  Not an easy task.  Hoping Lombardi and Danielson turn out to be electric.

[Rick D 390]

On 7/15/2023 at 12:08 PM, Lesteraction said:

When it comes to living with dignity and freedom, then you need to know about Nelson Mandela. I’ve gathered the best and most Inspirational Nelson Mandela Quotes in one place with a new style for you. I hope you’d love it.
 

Bernier? Is that you?

[kipwinger 8,755]

How's everyone feeling about the Yzerplan after the offseason? I'm enthusiastic, but I'd be curious to hear what others think.

• Tear down Holland's mess. Check
• Hit on early and late round draft picks. Check
• Manage the cap, including maintaining flexibility and weaponizing it for picks. Check
• Trades, big and little. Check.
• Savvy free agent signings to plug holes and flip for more draft capital. Check

Aside from winning the draft lottery I'm not sure how he could have done anything more.

[MotorCityRedWings 1]

Looking forward to the season. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that way.

[bIueadams 776]

2 hours ago, kipwinger said:

How's everyone feeling about the Yzerplan after the offseason? I'm enthusiastic, but I'd be curious to hear what others think.

• Tear down Holland's mess. Check
• Hit on early and late round draft picks. Check
• Manage the cap, including maintaining flexibility and weaponizing it for picks. Check
• Trades, big and little. Check.
• Savvy free agent signings to plug holes and flip for more draft capital. Check

Aside from winning the draft lottery I'm not sure how he could have done anything more.

Hes only made a few mistakes so far.

1. Letting Svechnikov go to soon

2. Trading Regula for Perlini

3. Drafting Cossa over Wallstud

Those are the big ones IMO. But hes more than made up for that by drafting Seider and basically robbing the Blues blind of all their talent. 

[marcaractac 3,963]

5 minutes ago, bIueadams said:

Hes only made a few mistakes so far.

1. Letting Svechnikov go to soon

2. Trading Regula for Perlini

3. Drafting Cossa over Wallstud

Those are the big ones IMO. But hes more than made up for that by drafting Seider and basically robbing the Blues blind of all their talent. 

1. Svech was never the same after his injuries. His luck in the league since has proven letting him go was not a mistake. 

2. There was a short period of time this wasn't looking too good, but seems like an irrelevant move at this point. Regula might become an NHL regular at some point, but doesn't seem like he'd be anything outside of replaceable. 

3. The jury is still out on this one. In the end, both likely end up as really good number 1 goalies in the NHL.

[kipwinger 8,755]

Just now, bIueadams said:

Hes only made a few mistakes so far.

1. Letting Svechnikov go to soon

2. Trading Regula for Perlini

3. Drafting Cossa over Wallstud

Those are the big ones IMO. But hes more than made up for that by drafting Seider and basically robbing the Blues blind of all their talent. 

There are no GMs that make zero mistakes, so if those are his worst transgressions we're in good shape. Svech, at best, would have been a third line winger, Regula looks like a depth defender (I thought he'd be better), and Cossa still projects as a starting goalie (even if he doesn't end up better than Wallstedt). He's made no glaring mistakes and has some considerable "wins" to his credit (e.g. mid to late round drafting, the Debrincat trade, the Walman trade).

I guess you could say the Chiarot and Holl contracts are "mistakes" but neither of those deals block any young guys from playing time and it's not my money, so I don't think they're all that bad. If guys like Wallinder and Edvinsson can't (eventually) beat out Chiarot or Holl for a spot on the team then they're not ready to play in the NHL anyway.

[The 91 of Ryans 3,019]

3 hours ago, kipwinger said:

How's everyone feeling about the Yzerplan after the offseason? I'm enthusiastic, but I'd be curious to hear what others think.

• Tear down Holland's mess. Check
• Hit on early and late round draft picks. Check
• Manage the cap, including maintaining flexibility and weaponizing it for picks. Check
• Trades, big and little. Check.
• Savvy free agent signings to plug holes and flip for more draft capital. Check

Aside from winning the draft lottery I'm not sure how he could have done anything more.

1. Should have taken Sanderson over Raymond

2. Should have taken Wyatt Johnson over either goalie in 2021

3. Should have tanked for one more season 

[kipwinger 8,755]

9 minutes ago, The 91 of Ryans said:

1. Should have taken Sanderson over Raymond

2. Should have taken Wyatt Johnson over either goalie in 2021

3. Should have tanked for one more season 

Both of those players are really good, but so are the guys we took. In any draft there are going to be guys taken later who turn out to be better players than guys taken earlier. That's hindsight. I'd be irritated if he passed on Sanderson or Johnson for someone way off the board, but both of those picks (Raymond and Cossa) were reasonable given our needs and given how highly both of those players were thought of. I'm not mad about either pick. It's not like we're hurting for centers or left handed defensemen now anyway. If we had those two guys instead of Raymond and Cossa we'd be talking about how much we need offense and goaltending right now.

Edited September 6, 2023 by kipwinger

[The 91 of Ryans 3,019]

2 minutes ago, kipwinger said:

Both of those players are really good, but so are the guys we took. In any draft there are going to be guys taken later who turn out to be better players than guys taken earlier. That's hindsight. I'd be irritated if he passed on Sanderson or Johnson for someone way off the board, but both of those picks (Raymond and Cossa) were reasonable given our needs and given how highly both of those players were thought of. I'm not mad about either pick. It's not like we're hurting for centers or left handed defensemen now anyway. If we had those two guys instead or Raymond and Cossa we'd be talking about how much we need offense and goaltending.

Yeah but if you’re picking top 5 you should generally take a center or a D man because those are crucial positions. You only go wing if you’re getting a star. 
Also taking goalies with high picks is risky. 

[kipwinger 8,755]

2 minutes ago, The 91 of Ryans said:

Yeah but if you’re picking top 5 you should generally take a center or a D man because those are crucial positions. You only go wing if you’re getting a star. 
Also taking goalies with high picks is risky. 

Agreed, and I think that's what the Wings thought they were getting with Raymond. A star winger in the Mitch Marner mold. Remains to be seen whether he'll get up in that 80 point range but 57 points as a 19 yo NHL rookie is a pretty good start. If Raymond consistently gets into the 75-85 point range then I'd say he's a more valuable pick than Sanderson. Especially when you consider LD is an organizational strength even without Sanderson.

The goalie is the bigger gamble (as you've pointed out). If Cossa becomes an bonafide starting goalie then I think that trumps a 2/3 line center, but there's obviously a bigger risk in him hitting his ceiling. It was a gamble, but a calculated one. Hard to bet against 6'6 in a goalie. How many goalies like him DON'T make it? He has all the athletic tools PLUS the 1st round pedigree. He's any easy guy to bet on.

[bIueadams 776]

6 hours ago, marcaractac said:

1. Svech was never the same after his injuries. His luck in the league since has proven letting him go was not a mistake. 

2. There was a short period of time this wasn't looking too good, but seems like an irrelevant move at this point. Regula might become an NHL regular at some point, but doesn't seem like he'd be anything outside of replaceable. 

3. The jury is still out on this one. In the end, both likely end up as really good number 1 goalies in the NHL.

 

6 hours ago, kipwinger said:

There are no GMs that make zero mistakes, so if those are his worst transgressions we're in good shape. Svech, at best, would have been a third line winger, Regula looks like a depth defender (I thought he'd be better), and Cossa still projects as a starting goalie (even if he doesn't end up better than Wallstedt). He's made no glaring mistakes and has some considerable "wins" to his credit (e.g. mid to late round drafting, the Debrincat trade, the Walman trade).

I guess you could say the Chiarot and Holl contracts are "mistakes" but neither of those deals block any young guys from playing time and it's not my money, so I don't think they're all that bad. If guys like Wallinder and Edvinsson can't (eventually) beat out Chiarot or Holl for a spot on the team then they're not ready to play in the NHL anyway.

Blashill screwed up his development. Leaving him constantly benched in favor of useless plugs. Giving him next to no playing time when he did play. You can't expect a prospect to develop if you never play them. Maybe he should have been in GR instead, but then that falls on Holland/Yzerman.