Jason_R

IIRC JVR had a deflection chance go off the post.

Disappointing. Another game they get a goal disallowed by inches. Multiple posts. Some great chances turned away. Some questionable calls. But they just aren’t that difficult to play against. They aren’t abrasive.

Yeah if they get run out of their own rink by a team with all these injuries, they’re done.

Well, that might be it for the playoffs.

All true. The most alarming thing in my view is that they are the only legitimate contender in the East that has allowed more goals than they have scored. They are a -3 as of today. Defensively they have been solid, tied for 5th in the conference for goals allowed but they are one of the lowest scoring teams in the East. None of this is a surprise. There is a reason they’ve been on the outside. They’ve tightened up their team defense a bit this year, going from about 3.2 goals allowed per game to under 3. Offense hasn’t been much better, though. This season was always about internal growth. I believe Stevie was in on Thomas and Pettersson at the trade deadline but believes his options would be better in the offseason. I expect he will get one forward this offseason who will move the needle. This season they will scratch and claw to get in.

It was good to get Copp back. It will be better to get Larkin back. It looked like he was a full go at practice and is now a gametime decision. The Boston game was disappointing. They outplayed Boston. They had one goal waved off by a fraction of a second. Swayman stood on his head. Somehow Boston ended up with 1:53 of a two-man advantage AND a penalty shot. I still think Detroit gets in.

The fact that ASP made the team out of camp was partly an indication of how much talent he has, but it was also an indication of a lack of depth at the blue line. Especially now that Faulk is here, ASP needs to go to Grand Rapids, get some heavy ice time, and get some playoff experience.

Pissing off the fan base is inevitable and has already happened. But nobody knows how the CBA situation will work out. Almost anything could happen in a situation like this. I don’t blame Ilitch for not wanting to be the first and last owner to sign a pitcher to a $400 million contract.

I agree that the CBA and potential work stoppage are factors that are influencing this process. If you are Boras, you are advising your client to test the market before a salary cap is possibly introduced. If you are Ilitch, you are not going to bid against yourself in a situation where mega contracts may become obsolete. Finally, I don’t believe for a second that Boras is in charge of Skubal’s decision. One does not become the best in a highly competitive field by being stupid, lazy, or passive. Skubal will make his own decision.

Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t believe the door is closed on Skubal. Call up McGonigle and demonstrate to Skubal that Dee-troit baseball is a serious contender for the foreseeable future.

Ugh. A two minute 5 on 3 and a penalty shot.

A Gold Glove third baseman!?!

Good find. What I expected. They basically got him for half the cost of AQM, and he should be on the field almost twice as much as AQM.

😶