Jason_R

Sewell and Hutchinson were pretty obvious. Charlie Campbell had them high on Gibbs. I feel like in 2024 a lot of the buzz was with Quinyon Mitchell who went two picks early and left them with Arnold. I think most people were matching Detroit with defensive ends last year but they picked Tyleik Williams. The draft is a crap shoot and Brad has a history of surprising people.

I’m sure Larkin has been less than 100%. I suspect Raymond has. But my sense is that Yzerman is safe regardless. As I have said before, I think his rebuild timeline ends when Copp, Compher, and Rasmussen contracts end. I would bet he and Ilitch have discussed this.

Rasmussen is still on the team because of his contract rather than because of his size. This is part of the culture problem with the team. Some guys are stuck behind him and Compher, the rest are stuck with them. I also thought it was a bad message to extend Chiarot for so long. His job was to hold down a spot until the kids were ready. You’re telling me it’s going to be another three years before Tuomisto or Wallinder are ready? The message seems to be that Stevie is running the team not to lose, and in this sense the players seem to have bought in.

I’m not trying to will this into existence BTW, but you have Charlie Campbell and Daniel Jeremiah both reporting that Detroit is eyeing Proctor. Most mocks have Proctor going in the mid-20s.

I agree with your first paragraph but I still think something isn't adding up. McLellan has gone further than I've ever seen a head coach go in calling out his players for lack of effort and heart. But it hasn't amounted to anything. I don't know, maybe it is as simple as the young kids see veteran players who aren't producing getting pencilled into the lineup every night, so the young kids internalize that there is no room for them to "win" a job, they just have to not lose one. I'm not sure about the roster construction. Yes, the team has relied on a lot of smaller players, but the team has some big players who just play small. Yes, Soderblom, also Rasmussen. But they have plenty of guys who are big enough to finish checks and just don't. There is clearly a culture issue. I'm only half joking here, but I think Mac should bring in Dan Campbell for the exit interviews because this team is missing grit.

I found Wheeler's piece weird because he said, "He doesn’t have obvious starter talent or size, but I could see him getting there or at the very least becoming a solid, reliable tandem goalie," while also saying that he almost ranked him over Cossa. Then he had Bear ranked over Danielson, MBN, and Finnie which had me wondering whether he is simply over-rating a prospect who has not yet shown himself in the NHL. But the elephant in the room here is why it seems that prospects and veterans come to the Wings and struggle, or leave the Wings then flourish. There is too much of a culture of not making mistakes and not enough of a culture of playing with 100% effort on every shift.

Now it’s 4-4? They’re not bad when they play with urgency.

Way too many guys leave Detroit and look like different players.

🫣

This shouldn’t make me as happy as it does.

Yes, we have watched as the Lions acquire players with a plan for their development and then (in many cases) develop the players according to that plan. We have seen the Tigers appeal to players because their analytics team gives them strategies for improvement. Players on the Red Wings seem to be managed not to make mistakes. It seemed like TM was trying to break this trend after he arrived and maybe he still is by calling out players for their intensity. But I just don’t see any offensive creativity, spontaneity, or enthusiasm outside of Kane and Debrincat.

Don’t tell me he wouldn’t be an upgrade over at least four guys.

Well, Holland didn't even hit much in the first round, but you are right that Yzerman had a lot of picks that have amounted to nothing. Undoubtedly scouting needs to be scrutinized but what are they doing or not doing to develop these players?

If I recall correctly, that is the second hat trick they’ve given up this week.