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4 days ago this blog posted that all signs looked like Sandin-Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard were heading to North America after their season was finished. I’d gotten a note from a friend and writer indicating a wish for an early post season end in Sweden. Sandin-Pellikka has eyeballs in the NHL and international level watching for a Dman who broke multiple records in the SHL and has been a standout on the world stage. In short, it’s a coin toss between ASP and Trey Augustine as to who the most exciting prospect not in either the AHL or NHL for Detroit is. Months ago there were a couple of articles out of Vancouver lamenting the loss of the pick.

H2 did a reminder tweet of the possibility that Trey along with ASP and MBN could show up in Grand Rapids. In a conversation with Coach Watts, there was an undeniable enthusiasm about a possible tandem of Cossa and Augustine. This could be a massive boost heading to the post season, and puts an exclamation mark on the conversations in the comments. Many of us (self included) have given thoughts on the predicament of Detroit down the stretch. The attitude vs last season is already down quite a bit.

Though it’s been repeated here, it can’t be stressed enough that a team that had 13 wins and 17 regulation losses became a team with 17 wins and 5 regulation losses after a coaching change. That ability to maintain that level would be a tough climb for anyone. As the league sits in a place with only 50% participation in the post season, the coach swapping is picking up pace each year. Tortorella was removed from his position in Philadelphia, and in the end the teams that spent heavily at the trade deadline will likely see some fallout as only one team can win that dance. With “rumors” of potential revenue retraction (article for another day) the plans that were made moving forward are going to be difficult for some franchises.

For Detroit, there are two teams in Florida, along with Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal that are all either established as post season entries or showing a big move forward. This division is not any easy one for a rebuild, but that’s takes us back to Grand Rapids. Between players like Kasper and Soderblom seeming to take a step forward and a line forming of players in Grand Rapids ready to make for a pre season fight worth watching.

For Detroit, it’s on the team to change the dynamic. Again, McLellan brought a tremendous boost to the club and had there been some consistency from the start it wouldn’t have come down to needing a massive win streak against a brutal schedule. Goal tending has not bailed the team out in this stretch as it did last season, and the PK is just awful. The players have to fight the programming to outscore mistake and return to the basics of solid 2 way hockey with a defense that supports that net minder.

Still, there will be a contingent focused closely on the Griffins and seeing if what they add pays off in the type of dividends that leads to a strong post season. As for Detroit, they will have an opportunity to try and finish strong and need to take it. Find the reason to sell out of season tickets again and energize a fan base hungry for more.

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