Jeremy Laura: Red Wings Captain vents in post season presser. Will it go any further?

That's tough.

They were sitting in a wild card position if irc, but are you going to give up assets to try to sneak into the playoffs? Why not hold on to assets and plan on getting better? Picking around 10th in the first round is probably better than a first round beatdown.

What year are the Wings in with the Yzerplan?

That's tough.

They were sitting in a wild card position if irc, but are you going to give up assets to try to sneak into the playoffs? Why not hold on to assets and plan on getting better? Picking around 10th in the first round is probably better than a first round beatdown.
- sokosteve

It’s a no win situation at that point. Give up a first round pick or high level asset to lose in the first round. Larkin has tried to carry the team and deal with a lot of it on his own. This may just be blowing off steam and letting leadership know he expects better support going into next season. It’s all speculation but it took guts to address it and was a rare show of the hand. Hopefully this opens communication channels internally. I appreciate the drop in, thanks for stopping by!

What year are the Wings in with the Yzerplan?
- Hockeyfan39

You’re looking at a duality. Boston finally fell off this year. TB and FLA have 3 cups between them and 5 SCPO appearances. Toronto is a points machine. Montreal had the opposite post 4 nations reaction that Detroit did, and Ottawa lit it up. So 5 teams in this division got into the playoffs. Will TB fall off at some point? Florida? I wish there was an easy answer. Before the teardown started, the team was mocked for getting in and losing in the first round. The first round drafting was horrid with only Larkin and Rasmussen surviving. Going to be watching ASP closely through GR playoffs. IF Lombardi can contribute in a similar way to Kasper (put him on the wing of Larkin and Raymond) and Kane seems to want to come back. 17 of Kasper’s 19 goals were after the coaching change. Debrincat’s back checking stepped up, please remove Copp once he’s healthy and bring in a top 4 Dman. Still the toughest division but you give yourself a chance. Another wretched first half and the team is screwed. That’s the best I can project.

This video is not going to age well. He is the captain and needs to act like one. Look what Montreals captain said to his GM don’t make a move we like our locker room. Larkin threw his team mates under the bus. He should know that to improve the team the team needs to show it’s ready to make a push. The last three years they went backwards in March leaving Yzerman with no reason to add players and only to lose assets in the rebuild. Larkin has a no movement clause in his contract this year so he is not going any where unless he asks to go. Next year that changes, and I would say that Dylan is not untouchable. If the right players were offered and if it makes the team better and younger move him. Yes, Larkin is a very good hockey player, yes he gives everything he’s got but the constant whining is starting to wear on me, as much as the constant losing is wearing on him! Stevie traded a very good and popular Martin St Louis from Tampa and that worked well!

Hey, Jeremy.....finally made it home a touch after mid-night.....good to be home, but already wanting to be back in Ireland.

I'm actually glad to hear Larkin express his thoughts. No doubt that the same feelings were expressed within the lockerroom as well, so feel it's a concensus. The fact is that more COULD have been done, but as you stated; the cost didn't make sense.

The fact is, we have a good prospect pool and will have some really solid kids coming in quickly. But, again, the fact remains that right now, there's no 1 player on this team that is generational, or close to it. That player would push us over the edge and get us the heck outta the "rebuild". Now, do we HAVE to have a Marner, or like player? No, but by NOT having someone like that, ALL the guys on the ice would have to be above average....and we don't have that (e.g., Holl, Petry, Tarasenko, etc...). That puts more pressure on the kids to excel immediately - no time to "learn" how to play in the NHL, if that makes sense.

It's good to see the frustration being expressed. The Captain needs to hear it, but I think he knows he needs to be better as the GM. Hearing it coming from Larkin, he has to know it's coming from the team as a whole. Of all the years of UFA moves, THIS year is no-fail; we cannot afford another few years of sub-standard vets collecting a pay check and merely checking the box. The grace period that The Captain had, is ending, it feels like.

That all being said, having no time-line for completing a rebuild is logical because of the extent to which the team needed to be torn down and re-built. But this would've been a better process if the UFAs played out better. Tarasenko was truly disappointing. Petry didn't do much. Holl was a complete and utter failure. The list goes on....

The good thing of all of this is that Larkin showed his emotional committment to this team. Disagreement does not equal disrespect Yzerman and Larkin will talk, I'm sure. Sometimes leaders need to hear the truth, regardless of the social implications. The frustration has to be aired. Leadership needs to know they have to act to fix this. The Todd Father was a good move, should've been done sooner - I think it cost us the season. I'm anxious to see if Larkin's speaking up has a deeper impact......I hope it does.

This video is not going to age well. He is the captain and needs to act like one. Look what Montreals captain said to his GM don’t make a move we like our locker room. Larkin threw his team mates under the bus. He should know that to improve the team the team needs to show it’s ready to make a push. The last three years they went backwards in March leaving Yzerman with no reason to add players and only to lose assets in the rebuild. Larkin has a no movement clause in his contract this year so he is not going any where unless he asks to go. Next year that changes, and I would say that Dylan is not untouchable. If the right players were offered and if it makes the team better and younger move him. Yes, Larkin is a very good hockey player, yes he gives everything he’s got but the constant whining is starting to wear on me, as much as the constant losing is wearing on him! Stevie traded a very good and popular Martin St Louis from Tampa and that worked well!
- Goalie Dad

I think this is going to be talked about way more than Larkin would have thought. He wasn’t the same player after 4 nations and I think he’s been nursing injuries. Raymond indicated he has been nursing injuries. Different topic for a different day, but these mid season tournaments are going to hurt teams and players. Next year could end up badly.
I don’t see it as whining, but I understand where you’re coming from. Larkin has dealt with substandard free agents and zero goalie consistency. One year, Husso’s the guy. Then he falls off. Then Lyon’s the guy. Fell off. Talbot picked up his game after McLellan arrived. There are guys on the team that should be ashamed of how they approach. JV was “unhappy” with his usage so he was sent packing. Losing Walman and Ghost and seeing Petry, Holl, Chiarot just felt cringeworthy. Post 4 nations would have been a good time to bring up a GR player or 2 and see if they could hang. Mazur played 1 shift and got hurt again. Shine got signed but didn’t stick. Watson should have had a steadier gig. Plenty of issues, but Larkin will have to deal with this in every interview through training camp and into the regular season. Not fun

Hey, Jeremy.....finally made it home a touch after mid-night.....good to be home, but already wanting to be back in Ireland.

I'm actually glad to hear Larkin express his thoughts. No doubt that the same feelings were expressed within the lockerroom as well, so feel it's a concensus. The fact is that more COULD have been done, but as you stated; the cost didn't make sense.

The fact is, we have a good prospect pool and will have some really solid kids coming in quickly. But, again, the fact remains that right now, there's no 1 player on this team that is generational, or close to it. That player would push us over the edge and get us the heck outta the "rebuild". Now, do we HAVE to have a Marner, or like player? No, but by NOT having someone like that, ALL the guys on the ice would have to be above average....and we don't have that (e.g., Holl, Petry, Tarasenko, etc...). That puts more pressure on the kids to excel immediately - no time to "learn" how to play in the NHL, if that makes sense.

It's good to see the frustration being expressed. The Captain needs to hear it, but I think he knows he needs to be better as the GM. Hearing it coming from Larkin, he has to know it's coming from the team as a whole. Of all the years of UFA moves, THIS year is no-fail; we cannot afford another few years of sub-standard vets collecting a pay check and merely checking the box. The grace period that The Captain had, is ending, it feels like.

That all being said, having no time-line for completing a rebuild is logical because of the extent to which the team needed to be torn down and re-built. But this would've been a better process if the UFAs played out better. Tarasenko was truly disappointing. Petry didn't do much. Holl was a complete and utter failure. The list goes on....

The good thing of all of this is that Larkin showed his emotional committment to this team. Disagreement does not equal disrespect Yzerman and Larkin will talk, I'm sure. Sometimes leaders need to hear the truth, regardless of the social implications. The frustration has to be aired. Leadership needs to know they have to act to fix this. The Todd Father was a good move, should've been done sooner - I think it cost us the season. I'm anxious to see if Larkin's speaking up has a deeper impact......I hope it does.
- mcmastermike1968

With the timing, Larkin for sure opened the curtain a bit. If someone gets interviewed right at the time emotion can take over. Hockey still has the remnants of the “sacred room” but it’s dissipating. The hope from all of this is positive momentum. Copp, Tarasenko, Motte, Holl, Gustafsson all have to at least be feeling the disappointment. It’s not subtle from the fan base or the pundits. This Grand Rapids run that starts a week from today could elevate the status of players. I’m going to do a video, but Buium saw his numbers climb over Wallinder, Andersson is a beast and the two will run into a scrum. Lombardi, even in limited action, was tied for 3rd in goals with 19 in only 44 games played. Dries led with 25g in 65 games. Danielson is turning a corner. Soderblom is back with the team and has NHL minutes under his belt. Watson is there to help stir the pot. Looking forward to it for sure!

Management's continued "wait for next year" plea has bred appathy in fans, sponsors and players ... Larkin's clip is a mirror image of Ryan O'Reilly's frustration before exiting Buffalo. I'm, not suggesting Larkin's agent will issue a trade request, but its something Larkin must be considering.

SY's desultory nature as GM is flawed. This worked in TB, but its unfeasible here. Simply waiting for unheralded prospects to develop while irrationally imagining elite FA signings is unacceptable. Larkin has spoken - The players have been heard. Management needs to present a feasible rebuild outline to the leadership group ASAP.

Dressing room discord also engenders frustration. A player(s) on the roster has previously been disliked and/or shunned by former teammates. Management must identify and prune any potential cancers.

Not something you want your captain to come out publicly with, but I do get his view point

Guy has played 10 seasons already and only 5 playoff games so far.

Just seems like something he should've discussed privately with the GM.



I do get it from Yzerman's standpoint though, do you force a trade when it was going to be a dog fight just to get in?

With that being said Yzerman will need to get this team in next year. Whether he makes some moves this summer or sees how the first few months go with the younger players before making moves, he'll have to do something in the next 10 months or so to make sure he's giving the team enough on the ice to make it.

Management's continued "wait for next year" plea has bred appathy in fans, sponsors and players ... Larkin's clip is a mirror image of Ryan O'Reilly's frustration before exiting Buffalo. I'm, not suggesting Larkin's agent will issue a trade request, but its something Larkin must be considering.

SY's desultory nature as GM is flawed. This worked in TB, but its unfeasible here. Simply waiting for unheralded prospects to develop while irrationally imagining elite FA signings is unacceptable. Larkin has spoken - The players have been heard. Management needs to present a feasible rebuild outline to the leadership group ASAP.

Dressing room discord also engenders frustration. A player(s) on the roster has previously been disliked and/or shunned by former teammates. Management must identify and prune any potential cancers.
- Jackie Daytona

I don't think there is anything wrong with waiting to see how guys develop over the summer, but if guys aren't developing as fast as you think then you have to bite the bullet and make trades.

This video is not going to age well. He is the captain and needs to act like one. Look what Montreals captain said to his GM don’t make a move we like our locker room. Larkin threw his team mates under the bus. He should know that to improve the team the team needs to show it’s ready to make a push. The last three years they went backwards in March leaving Yzerman with no reason to add players and only to lose assets in the rebuild. Larkin has a no movement clause in his contract this year so he is not going any where unless he asks to go. Next year that changes, and I would say that Dylan is not untouchable. If the right players were offered and if it makes the team better and younger move him. Yes, Larkin is a very good hockey player, yes he gives everything he’s got but the constant whining is starting to wear on me, as much as the constant losing is wearing on him! Stevie traded a very good and popular Martin St Louis from Tampa and that worked well!
- Goalie Dad

Larkin has a full NO-MOVEMENT clause throughout his contract. He will make the decision to go if that happens. And I would not blame him if he decides to move on from a sinking ship!

Management's continued "wait for next year" plea has bred appathy in fans, sponsors and players ... Larkin's clip is a mirror image of Ryan O'Reilly's frustration before exiting Buffalo. I'm, not suggesting Larkin's agent will issue a trade request, but its something Larkin must be considering.

SY's desultory nature as GM is flawed. This worked in TB, but its unfeasible here. Simply waiting for unheralded prospects to develop while irrationally imagining elite FA signings is unacceptable. Larkin has spoken - The players have been heard. Management needs to present a feasible rebuild outline to the leadership group ASAP.

Dressing room discord also engenders frustration. A player(s) on the roster has previously been disliked and/or shunned by former teammates. Management must identify and prune any potential cancers.
- Jackie Daytona

So you think Detroit has "unheralded prospects". The Wings farm system is one of the top rated in the NHL. You must not have much insight into their top prospects. Here's what they have: Sandin-Pellika, Cossa, Augustine, Lombardi, Wallinder, Buchelnikov, Tuomisto, Danielson, Biuum, Brandsegg-Nygård, etc... I'm willing to bet more than half of these guys will be bonaide NHL players.

I've been watching Detroit's farm team for many years in GR... and this is the best collection of top talent prospects they've had in two decades easily. Yzerman was not going to give up these young assets or a 1st round pick to squeak in the playoffs just to get walloped in the first round... it would have been foolish to ship them off and lose them. Several of these guys are NHL ready right now.. and they'll get their chance to prove it in camp next season. Let's see what they can do before you pass judgement on them.

The Wings roster will be very different next year. That doesn't mean guaranteed success... but the injection of talented youth should help this team substantially. Especially now that LaLonde is no longer coaching... the team has a better opportunity to move forward.

So you think Detroit has "unheralded prospects". The Wings farm system is one of the top rated in the NHL. You must not have much insight into their top prospects. Here's what they have: Sandin-Pellika, Cossa, Augustine, Lombardi, Wallinder, Buchelnikov, Tuomisto, Danielson, Biuum, Brandsegg-Nygård, etc... I'm willing to bet more than half of these guys will be bonaide NHL players.

I've been watching Detroit's farm team for many years in GR... and this is the best collection of top talent prospects they've had in two decades easily. Yzerman was not going to give up these young assets to squeak in the playoffs just to get walloped in the first round... it would have been foolish to ship them off and lose them. Several of these guys are NHL ready right now.. and they'll get their chance to prove it in camp next season. Let's see what they can do before you pass judgement on them.

The Wings roster will be very different next year. That doesn't mean guaranteed success... but the injection of talented youth should help this team substantially. Especially now that LaLonde is no longer coaching... the team has a better opportunity to move forward.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Dude, ALWAYS enjoy reading your insights on GR....I'd venture to say you're the resident expert.

Wholly agree with sacrificing kids to be destroyed in a 1st Rd SCPO match-up; nowhere near worth it. Do I want to be in the SCPO? HECK. YES. BUT, it's got to be with a viable team. I'd think, correct me if I'm way off on this, 2yrs to make it, 3yrs to be SCF viable. Now, I do have reservations about that, but I think it more realistic. I think, if we pick up3 of the GR kids, and having The Todd Father setting up schemes vs adjusting 1/2 way through the season, we'll be WC2 viable.

So, answer this for me: Considering what you've seen, who's the 3 most-NHL ready? (Mark his words, y'all, he knows of which he speaks! Seriously.)

As Jeremy stated Yzerman wasn't about to give up a player like Kasper or a number one draft pick at the trade deadline for the slim possibility of sneaking into the playoffs this year, so he had better build a playoff team next season.

Dude, ALWAYS enjoy reading your insights on GR....I'd venture to say you're the resident expert.

Wholly agree with sacrificing kids to be destroyed in a 1st Rd SCPO match-up; nowhere near worth it. Do I want to be in the SCPO? HECK. YES. BUT, it's got to be with a viable team. I'd think, correct me if I'm way off on this, 2yrs to make it, 3yrs to be SCF viable. Now, I do have reservations about that, but I think it more realistic. I think, if we pick up3 of the GR kids, and having The Todd Father setting up schemes vs adjusting 1/2 way through the season, we'll be WC2 viable.

So, answer this for me: Considering what you've seen, who's the 3 most-NHL ready? (Mark his words, y'all, he knows of which he speaks! Seriously.)
- mcmastermike1968

The three most ready in GR IMO in order are: Sandin-Pellika, Wallinder (elite skater), and Tuostomo. I'd also say Cossa is ready for back-up duty in Detroit. You could add Mazur in that group, but he just got injured again in his first game in Detroit a few months back.

Management's continued "wait for next year" plea has bred appathy in fans, sponsors and players ... Larkin's clip is a mirror image of Ryan O'Reilly's frustration before exiting Buffalo. I'm, not suggesting Larkin's agent will issue a trade request, but its something Larkin must be considering.

SY's desultory nature as GM is flawed. This worked in TB, but its unfeasible here. Simply waiting for unheralded prospects to develop while irrationally imagining elite FA signings is unacceptable. Larkin has spoken - The players have been heard. Management needs to present a feasible rebuild outline to the leadership group ASAP.

Dressing room discord also engenders frustration. A player(s) on the roster has previously been disliked and/or shunned by former teammates. Management must identify and prune any potential cancers.
- Jackie Daytona

Larkin’s “I gave up on the season and stopped scoring because I wanted my GM to exchange the future of our team for a temporary fill-in or two during a massive sellers market where nearly every team overpaid for disposable players” will probably not go over too well with the team he’s supposed to be leading.

Larkin’s “I gave up on the season and stopped scoring because I wanted my GM to exchange the future of our team for a temporary fill-in or two during a massive sellers market where nearly every team overpaid for disposable players” will probably not go over too well with the team he’s supposed to be leading.
- bluelineenforcer

I couldn’t agree more. Dylan’s statement took a shot at both his General Manager and his team mates. I think this might come back to haunt him. Dylan needs to look in the mirror as well, his production in March after the four nations tournament was brutal and certainly didn’t make Yzerman think this is the year we give up a young player or high draft pick because we are clicking and my captain is leading the way.
Why would anyone throw away what we are building to over pay for a 30 something rental?
Larkin should know the business side of his profession and a trade at the point for what needed to go out for little return made no sense this year.

The three most ready in GR IMO in order are: Sandin-Pellika, Wallinder (elite skater), and Tuostomo. I'd also say Cossa is ready for back-up duty in Detroit. You could add Mazur in that group, but he just got injured again in his first game in Detroit a few months back.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Sweet, D-men rising! I'd watched some of Tuimisto and really impressed. He seems like he's got the chops to be more of a top of the o-zone wall, good skates & lateral movement but also brings some toughness. Wallywas really more of a "Who the heck is THAT guy?!?!?" When he was selected, but the reports I read on him focused his foot-work being toward thetop of the class, with a good chance of elite if he could adapt and improve an already quality......quality. You know what I mean..... I saw some PP clips of GR when he was on-ice and thought at first he was a F walkin' the line.

I'm frankly nervous about Augy. The whole NIL and losing rightsis going to start hitting teams, and there's not too much that can be done to stop it. My ideal set-up is Cossa 3G this year, 2G next with Augy in GR, then 1G and Augy as the BUG ultimately being a 1-2 punch in net that this has never had (very myopic opinion, of course). I think Mazur comes up to the big club in the Fall ....I truly hope this is going to be the year of the kid. What I really get squishy over is anything dealing with UFA, The Captain needs some serious Pro Scout help, we've been dog-poop in that arena......as has been described by almost everyone whose dropped in to the blog will attest.

Thanks for the insight!!!

Sweet, D-men rising! I'd watched some of Tuimisto and really impressed. He seems like he's got the chops to be more of a top of the o-zone wall, good skates & lateral movement but also brings some toughness. Wallywas really more of a "Who the heck is THAT guy?!?!?" When he was selected, but the reports I read on him focused his foot-work being toward thetop of the class, with a good chance of elite if he could adapt and improve an already quality......quality. You know what I mean..... I saw some PP clips of GR when he was on-ice and thought at first he was a F walkin' the line.

I'm frankly nervous about Augy. The whole NIL and losing rightsis going to start hitting teams, and there's not too much that can be done to stop it. My ideal set-up is Cossa 3G this year, 2G next with Augy in GR, then 1G and Augy as the BUG ultimately being a 1-2 punch in net that this has never had (very myopic opinion, of course). I think Mazur comes up to the big club in the Fall ....I truly hope this is going to be the year of the kid. What I really get squishy over is anything dealing with UFA, The Captain needs some serious Pro Scout help, we've been dog-poop in that arena......as has been described by almost everyone whose dropped in to the blog will attest.

Thanks for the insight!!!
- mcmastermike1968

Agree I as well
Hope it’s the year of youth, there is a lot to
Love about the d-men in the pipe line. On another thought, does anybody think Larkin could be moved? Maybe to Vancouver straight up for a 26 year old Petterson? Thoughts?

Agree I as well
Hope it’s the year of youth, there is a lot to
Love about the d-men in the pipe line. On another thought, does anybody think Larkin could be moved? Maybe to Vancouver straight up for a 26 year old Petterson? Thoughts?
- Goalie Dad

Larkin, to me, wasn't horribly out of line. He was expressing extreme frustration, and could've been more tactful for sure. But to have the fans see the frustration was probably a good thing. NOW, I will say that he's going to have to face the music from The Captain. Yzerman is huge on loyalty and keeping internal things internal, so I expect a good ole butt-chewin', to be sure. But, on the other hand, do you think Larkin maybe said something to Yzerman ("Hey, Boss, listen; fans are getting nervous, let me go out there and let them know we feel it as well...") before-hand?

I've been doing organizational change management for quite a while and have been in situations where leaders sat down to "leak" insights to help ease the struggles, etc.... It's not common, but if it's done properly, the stakeholders get the sense that leadership has some strong sentiments and want to incorporate change for the good of the organization.....kinda working to get more buy-in and let the stakeholders know that there's some commonality, if that makes sense. It's NOT the most-favoured action, mind you, but it can work if implemented properly....

Regardless, there's a growing sense that fans are juuuuuust about done with the wait, and it seems like the players are as well. 'Course, we've all gone back n forth talking about the frustrations, etc... so it's kinda nice to see that our perceptions are shared in the room as well.

Larkin saying that the team was bummed that they didn’t get any reinforcements at the deadline is not an issue in my opinion. Players always want to win. They always want to have the best possible team and lineup. That’s their job. So they’re going to be bummed about standing pat or selling at the deadline even if it’s 100% the correct decision from management’s perspective. I don’t think we necessary have to read this as a rip on Yzerman. You can be disappointed about the circumstances without blaming anyone for what they are.

The bigger concern is the implication (unintentional or not) that the disappointment was at least partially responsible for the late-season collapse. Not being happy about no help at the deadline, I get that. Letting that emotion affect your effort level, big problem.

As for the ultimate result of the season … I mean as frustrated as fans are this is pretty much exactly what many of us predicted way back in the preseason. I expected they’d be a little better defensively (goals against improved from 273 to 259), more than a little bit worse offensively (goals dropped from 275 to 235), and they’d take a step backward overall and miss the playoffs (declined from 91 points and out by a tiebreak, to 86 points and out by 6 points and a tiebreak). Check, check, check. The emotional rollercoaster of big winning streaks and big losing streaks might have made some of us forget, but I don’t think anybody should really be surprised about the end result.