Jeremy Laura: Red Wings vs. Buffalo pre game thoughts

WHAT WAS THE BIG REVEAL? I must have missed it.

WHAT WAS THE BIG REVEAL? I must have missed it.
- HenryHockey

It’s a quote in a seperate LaLonde video. I’m trying to time stamp or clip it and making sure I’m not misunderstanding what he’s saying. The gist of the comments was Detroit’s power play and goal scoring last year and if the team could get back to the higher rankings they saw. The answer was a version of, “no, and we might not want to”. He adds to that the need to improve in other areas. It just struck me that of course they need to give up fewer goals, but in particular having a power play be more potent or higher levels of scoring shouldn’t be completely abandoned.

The reason I’m still going over the comment goes with a comment someone I trust made about the Walman trade along with speculations on Ghost. If Ghost was willing to come back, did the Seider and Raymond negotiations mess up the available budget while the player wanted a definitive answer, or did they actually move on from players that boosted the power play with a focus on D zone performance and the result so far has been less than stellar? Trying to understand and get some confirmation on if that’s what was implied

This nonsense about Walman rubbed someone the wrong way, Walman celebrated his own goals, etc...None of that matters one bit. He was a legit 3-4 guy on a weak team or 5-6 guy on a contender. And instead of shopping him, we wasted a 2nd to dump him. We just saw a team give up a 3rd for Maatta. Surely they would have done the same, if not more, for a better player like Walman. So I personally don't care what story they spin...it was an idiotic move.

As for Ghost, he likely wanted to be paid as a PP QB. But since we had a log jam of trash - Holl, Petry, Chiarot, Maatta - and wanted to make room for Edvinsson, they let him walk and decided to spend the cap on Tarasenko and a bizarre raise for Joe Veleno.

This is why I said all summer that we'd regress badly. Fighting for that playoff spot was a combo of incredible luck down the stretch and an awful group of teams that took 8th place with a pathetic 91 points. Most years are 95-100.

I look at this as a must win game, not only for the boys in red and white, but the coaching staff as well. They have had some time off to practice so no excuses today.

This nonsense about Walman rubbed someone the wrong way, Walman celebrated his own goals, etc...None of that matters one bit. He was a legit 3-4 guy on a weak team or 5-6 guy on a contender. And instead of shopping him, we wasted a 2nd to dump him. We just saw a team give up a 3rd for Maatta. Surely they would have done the same, if not more, for a better player like Walman. So I personally don't care what story they spin...it was an idiotic move.

As for Ghost, he likely wanted to be paid as a PP QB. But since we had a log jam of trash - Holl, Petry, Chiarot, Maatta - and wanted to make room for Edvinsson, they let him walk and decided to spend the cap on Tarasenko and a bizarre raise for Joe Veleno.

This is why I said all summer that we'd regress badly. Fighting for that playoff spot was a combo of incredible luck down the stretch and an awful group of teams that took 8th place with a pathetic 91 points. Most years are 95-100.
- HockeyBuzzed

I agree on Walman, and what I heard had nothing to do with it. If they had a problem with “the gritty”, they wouldn’t do a bobble head of it. The reason I embedded the Ian White video goes with the insane reasoning I heard about. I’m trying to confirm, but it’s been uphill. Regardless, there was supposed to be a push for stronger D zone coverage and that didn’t happen. The Trouba fiasco has some stink on it. One thing I do think is that the Seider and Raymond deals cost the team the ability to make some signings. Not the $, but the time it took. The team knew they could waive Holl, Husso and possibly Copp and Maata could have been moved sooner to keep Ghost. Regardless, I haven’t heard anyone credible say Walman’s “attitude or personality” was the issue. I’ve heard guesses, but no one with a source to back it up and the bobble head seems to squash that. They wouldn’t promote something they hated

I look at this as a must win game, but only for the boys in red and white, but the coaching staff as well. They have had some time off to practice so no excuses today.
- Goalie Dad

If there was any indication the team would make a coaching change, I’d take the loss today. Yzerman swapped Boucher for a lawyer from Lansing and it turned out ok. Anyone know a good hockey loving lawyer?

This nonsense about Walman rubbed someone the wrong way, Walman celebrated his own goals, etc...None of that matters one bit. He was a legit 3-4 guy on a weak team or 5-6 guy on a contender. And instead of shopping him, we wasted a 2nd to dump him. We just saw a team give up a 3rd for Maatta. Surely they would have done the same, if not more, for a better player like Walman. So I personally don't care what story they spin...it was an idiotic move.

As for Ghost, he likely wanted to be paid as a PP QB. But since we had a log jam of trash - Holl, Petry, Chiarot, Maatta - and wanted to make room for Edvinsson, they let him walk and decided to spend the cap on Tarasenko and a bizarre raise for Joe Veleno.

This is why I said all summer that we'd regress badly. Fighting for that playoff spot was a combo of incredible luck down the stretch and an awful group of teams that took 8th place with a pathetic 91 points. Most years are 95-100.
- HockeyBuzzed

Yeah Ghost waited out to sign a whopper of a deal. As far as PP paid defenseman go he is probably top tier. A whole 3.2M a year 😂😂😂

Or maybe, just maybe, Yzerman decided that he wanted the defense to focus more on defense and less on transition and offense. Just a heads up since you clearly have no handle on what’s going on with the Red Wings - they are rebuilding.
Yes having a year of success is still good for a rebuild because you’re prioritizing winning as a team, great for development and team building.

I think Edvinsson will at some point be the PP quarterback - I know you love Ghost but maybe developing while rebuilding isn’t actually such a bad idea? Food for thought there.

Yeah Ghost waited out to sign a whopper of a deal. As far as PP paid defenseman go he is probably top tier. A whole 3.2M a year 😂😂😂

Or maybe, just maybe, Yzerman decided that he wanted the defense to focus more on defense and less on transition and offense. Just a heads up since you clearly have no handle on what’s going on with the Red Wings - they are rebuilding.
Yes having a year of success is still good for a rebuild because you’re prioritizing winning as a team, great for development and team building.

I think Edvinsson will at some point be the PP quarterback - I know you love Ghost but maybe developing while rebuilding isn’t actually such a bad idea? Food for thought there.
- optimus-reim

I don't love Ghost. I said he likely wanted to be paid based on running our PP. Didn't say he deserved it or would get that elsewhere. He has a niche skillset and not many teams were looking for that. So when Detroit wouldn't sign him, he went looking for the best he could get. Who knows he may have taken less for a chance to win.

But your theory that they wanted to focus on improving defense and having less "one-dimensional" guys like Ghost. Hmm, defense is a team concept right? Not just the six guys who play the position. So they bring Kane back when your theory is to improve team defense? They sign Tarasenko? They sign Gustafsson, who is basically a cheaper version of Ghost? None of that adds up.

They didn't want to pay Ghost and figured Gustafsson could do the same job for less. The cap savings from that swap, and the cap savings from Walman allowed us to "upgrade" from Perron to Tarasenko, and "upgrade" from Reimer to Talbot. Why not just bring back Sprong instead of Tarasenko and use those savings to improve the defense?

This nonsense about Walman rubbed someone the wrong way, Walman celebrated his own goals, etc...None of that matters one bit. He was a legit 3-4 guy on a weak team or 5-6 guy on a contender. And instead of shopping him, we wasted a 2nd to dump him. We just saw a team give up a 3rd for Maatta. Surely they would have done the same, if not more, for a better player like Walman. So I personally don't care what story they spin...it was an idiotic move.

As for Ghost, he likely wanted to be paid as a PP QB. But since we had a log jam of trash - Holl, Petry, Chiarot, Maatta - and wanted to make room for Edvinsson, they let him walk and decided to spend the cap on Tarasenko and a bizarre raise for Joe Veleno.

This is why I said all summer that we'd regress badly. Fighting for that playoff spot was a combo of incredible luck down the stretch and an awful group of teams that took 8th place with a pathetic 91 points. Most years are 95-100.
- HockeyBuzzed

Walman was dumped before FA day because Y thought he had a player coming in from another team, most likely Trouba, which did not happen and Y ended up with egg on his face.
Ghost wanted a raise on his $4+M salary and term. He got his term but much less salary for a contender. There was good and bad in this deal but he went to better team.
Gus was a bad signing, and the team will suffer with that one. And so far Tarasenko is not panning out, hopefully it is just a slump but he is not any better than Fabbri.
So far it seems that Y is patiently waiting for his prospects to ripen. The only one he has traded is Gibson, and he got another prospect, Jesse Kiiskinen 19, who has 16 pts in 18 games for Liiga, and another 6 pts in 6 games for Finland in International play, and that 2nd he gave to SJ for taking Walman. So, Y did retain something good in that terrible Walman trade.

If there was any indication the team would make a coaching change, I’d take the loss today. Yzerman swapped Boucher for a lawyer from Lansing and it turned out ok. Anyone know a good hockey loving lawyer?
- Jeremy Laura

Only one i can think of would be Ken Dryden but i doubt he's interested in starting to coach at this point in his life.

The only coach i would be kind of interested in is Quenneville. I don't want another new head coach with no NHL experience and he needs to be able to keep players accountable.

Only one i can think of would be Ken Dryden but i doubt he's interested in starting to coach at this point in his life.

The only coach i would be kind of interested in is Quenneville. I don't want another new head coach with no NHL experience and he needs to be able to keep players accountable.
- dcz28

There’s an interesting talent pool if they’re willing to stretch out. Europe has some former NHLers, NCAA, etc. I definitely like Q. What I honestly wonder is, and this wouldn’t take much moving around, moving Lidstrom down to the bench. That’s an internal option that may bring some interest. Regardless the “soft touch” approach is killing me. Paul Maurice peels the paint, no problem. There is a middle ground to be had. We need someone with working systems to compensate for a lack of performers. Sounds awful, but that structure just feels like it’s missing

Walman was dumped before FA day because Y thought he had a player coming in from another team, most likely Trouba, which did not happen and Y ended up with egg on his face.
Ghost wanted a raise on his $4+M salary and term. He got his term but much less salary for a contender. There was good and bad in this deal but he went to better team.
Gus was a bad signing, and the team will suffer with that one. And so far Tarasenko is not panning out, hopefully it is just a slump but he is not any better than Fabbri.
So far it seems that Y is patiently waiting for his prospects to ripen. The only one he has traded is Gibson, and he got another prospect, Jesse Kiiskinen 19, who has 16 pts in 18 games for Liiga, and another 6 pts in 6 games for Finland in International play, and that 2nd he gave to SJ for taking Walman. So, Y did retain something good in that terrible Walman trade.
- HenryHockey

The only issue that keeps coming back on Walman is, he had value. They stapled a pick to him and gave him away. Even if you think you have a deal in place, it doesn’t make sense not to get an asset of some kind.

There’s an interesting talent pool if they’re willing to stretch out. Europe has some former NHLers, NCAA, etc. I definitely like Q. What I honestly wonder is, and this wouldn’t take much moving around, moving Lidstrom down to the bench. That’s an internal option that may bring some interest. Regardless the “soft touch” approach is killing me. Paul Maurice peels the paint, no problem. There is a middle ground to be had. We need someone with working systems to compensate for a lack of performers. Sounds awful, but that structure just feels like it’s missing
- Jeremy Laura

I haven't heard anything about Lidstrom wanting to coach. I think he lives in Sweden too and if so would he be willing to move back full time with his family.

Fester seems like a Dave Lewis type (personality wise) with the difference being that he doesn't have the star power Dave had.

Gustafson playing is reason enough to get rid of Lalonde. Gerard Gallant should be the coach as he has shown in the past to work well with teams to get the maximum out of them.

Gustafson playing is reason enough to get rid of Lalonde. Gerard Gallant should be the coach as he has shown in the past to work well with teams to get the maximum out of them.
- saintdog19

Has Gallant lasted anywhere more than 2 years?

Gustafson playing is reason enough to get rid of Lalonde. Gerard Gallant should be the coach as he has shown in the past to work well with teams to get the maximum out of them.
- saintdog19

Not to defend Lalonde...but he had a top 10 PP last year. Then his boss gets rid of Ghost and adds Gustafsson as the new QB. Just to save some cap space. So will take some time to figure out again. Ghost was in on 29 PP goals last year!

The Red Wings' performance could depend heavily on the contributions of young players like Raymond, Veleno, and retro bowl potential PTO signings, all fighting for spots and roles.