The Mystery of The Missed Playoffs Season 9 - 2025 Detroit Red Wings; Off-Season of Change.

[LeftWinger 5,123]

Well, did we find joy in this season? Was it a close call? Are we filled with happiness or frustration? Nonetheless, the Wings are officially out of the running for playoff contention. Right now, they stand 11th from the bottom, with a 2.5% chance of winning the lottery. Should they intentionally lose the final three games to improve their position in the lottery? Should they send Kasper, Soderblom, and Edvinsson to Grand Rapids to assist in their potential victory? Should they trade the first-round pick to bolster the team in specific areas? Does Steve Yzerman sign more vets or change up and go youth this time? What will Patrick Kane do? Which player(s) get bought out? Waived? Traded? Do they keep the pick and draft another player that'll possibly be up in 3-5 years? It's time to start discussing the off-season!

Here are the top 20 prospects according to McKenzie

Also of note, Yzerman has 3 draft picks he has to sign this summer, or they become UFA's

Liam Dower Nilsson - June 1, 2025

Red Savage - Aug 15,2025

Sam Stange - Aug 15, 2025

[Jimmybigrigs69 353]

Been saying it for SEASONS with an S now... but we are again stuck in the mushy middle. Worse, we are not even inching into wild card spots... now we will pick outside of the top 10 instead of top 3 or top 5 (again). 

Its all so tiresome.

The problem is the team literally has no direction. Are we a rebuilder? Are we a potential contender? SY seems to not know (or worse, not care). I have absolutely zero confidence in his ability to do anything of significance this offseason. In fact, I would probably be happiest if he cuts his losses and sheds contracts instead of "loading up" for another failed season...

The roster situation is not good. We can shed Kane, Smith, and Petry this summer... but still we will not be able to make a reasonable pass at a significant impact player (like Marner). Its eerily similar to the late Holland era. Directionless. Handcuffed by bloated contracts. Poor on ice product.

After Xmas Despicable Me got fired... Todd comes in and seemingly saves the season... and then all the wheels on the bus fall off (again). If SY hasnt read the tea leaves, and realized the problem is his roster, and not his coach, by this point, we are so epicly fuqqed... for a while...

This team needs radical, and wholesale change. I think SY is one of the very few sports managers who likely has a leash long enough to admit that to his boss and not lose his job. Does he have the humility to actually do it? We will see. 

When I say radical change, i mean major moves. 

1. Larkin has to go

He's captained a group that continually falls short and dissapoints year after year. He's approaching 30... This isnt a playing days yzerman who wins scoring titles and wins cups late in life... This is a very mediocre run of the mill 1C at best. Illitch and SY have chained us to this poor excuse for a "leader" with his most recent contract, and hes a "hometown" jersey seller... so i doubt the org will have the nuts to move on from him... but again (and we toldyaso) everyone in the room knows we are not delivering a cup while he remains as the teams leader and focal point. I would regain a lot of faith in this org if they nutted up and sat Larkin down this summer and asked him where he wants to be traded. We love you. We appreciate all youve done. But its time for you to go run shotgun to a mackinnon while we retool.

2. Buyouts - Gus, Vlad, and Holl

If we have to watch these three skate out onto Lil C ice this fall I will continue to punish u ppl with Lions threads. Bc that is all I will care about. SY - admit your mistake and send them packing - them remaining rostered will scream of hubris (and poor management).

3. Trade - Rasmussen

Its been a fun experiment. But he is not the product advertised, or even particularly good at being the alternative player we tried to develop him into. Not trading him now - while he still has youth and value - will become another regreted toldyaso so moment in 2-3 years time.

4. Re-sign - no one

Sorry Kaner. You're old and poor definsively. Go relax in your glory years on the next suckers roster. Further, the last thing this team needs is more plugs. Shedding would help more than adding. 

---------------------------------------------

Imagine this scenario:

>larkin agrees to a trade, and we send him to his boyhood fan team the tronna leafs. In exchange we acquire the rights to negotiate with Mitch Marner. Leafs get a solid player with term, and we get a verified superstar they can no longer afford. 

>Ras is sent away for a solid young RHD.

>We buyout the losers

Unfortunately I dont think SY has a big enough peepee for any of this and will likely just add more crap ass players to the roster... honestly i wouldnt be mad if we went back to marc staal-esque moves and took on cap for picks. But its not likely. 

--------------------------------------------

Lastly, I wanna make one more point about the deadhorse walman and fabbri trades, that I thought about the other day...

Its generally accepted at this point that SY was trying to clear cap for Stamkos, but - as reported - pizzabro didnt get back to him in time to approve the signing and we lost the player. No big deal. Im not mad about losing out on stammer. He's been mostly pizz poor for Nash.

However, HOW DA FUQ did you not get approval from ur boss for this move months prior? Did SY literally not start checking who was available in FA until day of??? And why TF are you giving away picks and solid young players to clear space BEFORE getting approval to sign the player you want to do this for???

Im sorry fellow fans - but I really think SY has been a different manager since returning to Detroit. The hunger and dilligence are gone. Hes in retirement mode in a position he knows he can half ass and not be fired from. And hes built a nepotistic office of all his old buddies that are doing the same thing. 

7 years. The savior is 7 years in and has not saved us from, nor accomplished, anything. 

Therefore my radical move #5 is fire yzerman. We are rapidly approaching that conversation and reality. 

Edited April 13 by Jimmybigrigs69

[LeftWinger 5,123]

54 minutes ago, Jimmybigrigs69 said:

Been saying it for SEASONS with an S now... but we are again stuck in the mushy middle. Worse, we are not even inching into wild card spots... now we will pick outside of the top 10 instead of top 3 or top 5 (again). 

Its all so tiresome.

The problem is the team literally has no direction. Are we a rebuilder? Are we a potential contender? SY seems to not know (or worse, not care). I have absolutely zero confidence in his ability to do anything of significance this offseason. In fact, I would probably be happiest if he cuts his losses and sheds contracts instead of "loading up" for another failed season...

The roster situation is not good. We can shed Kane, Smith, and Petry this summer... but still we will not be able to make a reasonable pass at a significant impact player (like Marner). Its eerily similar to the late Holland era. Directionless. Handcuffed by bloated contracts. Poor on ice product.

After Xmas Despicable Me got fired... Todd comes in and seemingly saves the season... and then all the wheels on the bus fall off (again). If SY hasnt read the tea leaves, and realized the problem is his roster, and not his coach, by this point, we are so epicly fuqqed... for a while...

This team needs radical, and wholesale change. I think SY is one of the very few sports managers who likely has a leash long enough to admit that to his boss and not lose his job. Does he have the humility to actually do it? We will see. 

When I say radical change, i mean major moves. 

1. Larkin has to go

He's captained a group that continually falls short and dissapoints year after year. He's approaching 30... This isnt a playing days yzerman who wins scoring titles and wins cups late in life... This is a very mediocre run of the mill 1C at best. Illitch and SY have chained us to this poor excuse for a "leader" with his most recent contract, and hes a "hometown" jersey seller... so i doubt the org will have the nuts to move on from him... but again (and we toldyaso) everyone in the room knows we are not delivering a cup while he remains as the teams leader and focal point. I would regain a lot of faith in this org if they nutted up and sat Larkin down this summer and asked him where he wants to be traded. We love you. We appreciate all youve done. But its time for you to go run shotgun to a mackinnon while we retool.

2. Buyouts - Gus, Vlad, and Holl

If we have to watch these three skate out onto Lil C ice this fall I will continue to punish u ppl with Lions threads. Bc that is all I will care about. SY - admit your mistake and send them packing - them remaining rostered will scream of hubris (and poor management).

3. Trade - Rasmussen

Its been a fun experiment. But he is not the product advertised, or even particularly good at being the alternative player we tried to develop him into. Not trading him now - while he still has youth and value - will become another regreted toldyaso so moment in 2-3 years time.

4. Re-sign - no one

Sorry Kaner. You're old and poor definsively. Go relax in your glory years on the next suckers roster. Further, the last thing this team needs is more plugs. Shedding would help more than adding. 

---------------------------------------------

Imagine this scenario:

>larkin agrees to a trade, and we send him to his boyhood fan team the tronna leafs. In exchange we acquire the rights to negotiate with Mitch Marner. Leafs get a solid player with term, and we get a verified superstar they can no longer afford. 

>Ras is sent away for a solid young RHD.

>We buyout the losers

Unfortunately I dont think SY has a big enough peepee for any of this and will likely just add more crap ass players to the roster... honestly i wouldnt be mad if we went back to marc staal-esque moves and took on cap for picks. But its not likely. 

--------------------------------------------

Lastly, I wanna make one more point about the deadhorse walman and fabbri trades, that I thought about the other day...

Its generally accepted at this point that SY was trying to clear cap for Stamkos, but - as reported - pizzabro didnt get back to him in time to approve the signing and we lost the player. No big deal. Im not mad about losing out on stammer. He's been mostly pizz poor for Nash.

However, HOW DA FUQ did you not get approval from ur boss for this move months prior? Did SY literally not start checking who was available in FA until day of??? And why TF are you giving away picks and solid young players to clear space BEFORE getting approval to sign the player you want to do this for???

Im sorry fellow fans - but I really think SY has been a different manager since returning to Detroit. The hunger and dilligence are gone. Hes in retirement mode in a position he knows he can half ass and not be fired from. And hes built a nepotistic office of all his old buddies that are doing the same thing. 

7 years. The savior is 7 years in and has not saved us from, nor accomplished, anything. 

Therefore my radical move #5 is fire yzerman. We are rapidly approaching that conversation and reality. 

I agree with a lot of this! One thing I am mad about is, when is it time to trade a 1st for a player that immediately makes your team better? How many 1st round picks do we need right now? Giving away one in a package, for, lets say a Byram, isn't going to kill our draft capital in the future. Like you said, we'll be picking outside the top 10 again, so yippee! I think if we could package with the 1st, Ras, Berg, maybe a 3rd and/or a prospect like Viro or Tuomisto, it'd be worth getting a player like Byram. I've been off the Rasmussen bandwagon for a long time, he does need to go. He is easily replaceable from within. He doesn't even use his body. Another failed Holland pick. I do give Yzerman credit for his drafting, his 1st round picks are top notch! But again, using one, just ONE, to upgrade your team immediately would not kill them. We need younger, NHL players, under 25, now. That being said, I wouldn't mind if Yzerman threw a bunch of cash at Ekblad, but heck, he's only 29. I actually wouldn't mind if he traded for Stamkos. 3 more years at $8M isn't really that bad considering the cap going up in each of the next three years. I know he has a NMC, but considering that he was inches from signing the same contract with Detroit before Nashville, he'd probably waive it to come here. Send them Rasmussen in a package.

[Jimmybigrigs69 353]

5 hours ago, LeftWinger said:

I agree with a lot of this! One thing I am mad about is, when is it time to trade a 1st for a player that immediately makes your team better? How many 1st round picks do we need right now? Giving away one in a package, for, lets say a Byram, isn't going to kill our draft capital in the future. Like you said, we'll be picking outside the top 10 again, so yippee! I think if we could package with the 1st, Ras, Berg, maybe a 3rd and/or a prospect like Viro or Tuomisto, it'd be worth getting a player like Byram. I've been off the Rasmussen bandwagon for a long time, he does need to go. He is easily replaceable from within. He doesn't even use his body. Another failed Holland pick. I do give Yzerman credit for his drafting, his 1st round picks are top notch! But again, using one, just ONE, to upgrade your team immediately would not kill them. We need younger, NHL players, under 25, now. That being said, I wouldn't mind if Yzerman threw a bunch of cash at Ekblad, but heck, he's only 29. I actually wouldn't mind if he traded for Stamkos. 3 more years at $8M isn't really that bad considering the cap going up in each of the next three years. I know he has a NMC, but considering that he was inches from signing the same contract with Detroit before Nashville, he'd probably waive it to come here. Send them Rasmussen in a package.

I dont truly know if its time to trade away a 1st for a NOW upgrade... but at the very least that move would be CLEAR DIRECTION for this team. 

It's fuqqing maddening to me, this fence sitting. 

Again we didnt make the playoffs. Again we sold nothing for futures. And again we are going into an offseason where SY will likely have to pay to get rid of his own trash. It's inexcusable.

I dont know what direction is best. I tend to lean more towards conserving, and acquiring more futures, as long as we arent in the playoffs... but SY isnt doing that, so screw it, why not. Spend the picks. Go all in. Its better than acquiring more mediocre vets and missing the playoffs again... which we all know is exactly what SY is going to do...

Imagine if we had actually sold last year... Walman, thats an extra 1st, now we have MBN and Cole Eiserman. Sprong, Ghostbear, Fabbri, Veleno... thats multiple extra mid round picks. 

This year we could have sold Ras, Berggren, and maybe even pitched getting Kane onto a contender. 

BOYYYYY IT SURE WOULD BE EASIER TO STOMACH SPENDING A 1ST TO GET A BYRAM IF WE HAD, YA KNOW, AN EXTRA 1ST TO SPEND

say it with me folks...

IF WE DONT BELIEVE ENOUGH IN THIS TEAM TO BOLSTER THE ROSTER AT THE TDL THEN WE DONT BELIEVE ENOUGH IN THIS TEAM TO HORDE EXPIRING CONTRACTS EITHER

Im sick of this pathetic team and SYs bullspit these last two years. Are we watching the same teams? We clearly arent ready to compete for anything. The roster is soooo physically and mentally soft. 

After SY gets finished wasting our cap space and picks to get rid of his own roster trash this summer, so he can go shopping for his next round of mediocre plugs all over again, please for the love of all that is holy at least get plugs who have a little sandpaper on them. This team is so easily outworked, pushed around, and soft. Ras = little girl. Eddvinsson = wears sun dresses. For petes sake, the grittiest player on this team is a 5'6" little dwarf man named Debrincat. 

I wonder if its time to hand this team to Draper, or Horcoff, or Lidstrom. Sheit maybe even Fedorov, or someone else not in the org. If I'm Illitch... i just watched you panic sell your coach (likely to save ur own azz) and that worked for about 2 seconds... but in the end it only delayed the inevitable fall, which came, and now youre going into ur 7/8 season here, and still havent delivered me a single playoff birth. If SY isnt seriously being talked about needing to be replaced behind closed doors, i would honestly be shocked. And looking at our contracts I have zero confidence we can make the moves necessary to avoid this same outcome next year... sux to say, but i wouldnt be upset to see the captain dismissed at this point. Shame its come to this.

Edited April 14 by Jimmybigrigs69

[TLGTrico 660]

Larkin is a 2C on a good team.  Every other center on this team is a 3C at best on a good team.  Every bottom six winger on this team is fourth line at best on a good team.  Chiarot is a bottom pairing guy on a good team.  Petry and Holl aren't playing on a good team.  Talbot is the backup on a good team.

[Jimmybigrigs69 353]

1. Jimmy D is 500 years old. Time for him to retire so SY can be promoted to his position of President, much like his colleagues Sakic and Shanahan.

2. Promote Draper to GM. This should buy the team another year or two of honeymoon phase from fans.

3. Use honeymoon window to (partially) tear down this team one more time...

3A. Send Larkin to play with BFF Werenski in exchange for RW Chinakhov + LHD Mateychuk + 1st + 1st

3B. Trade each of Rasmussen and Berggren anywhere, each for a 2nd/3rd.

4. Buyout Holl + Gus + Tarasenko and go full youth

5. Make Kane captain to keep him on

>by moving to prez and installing Drapes as GM Stevie can sidestep the fan outrage that will surely come from trading the precious DBaby. The extra draft capital should be enough for the final push into a new age, along with the rest of our farm. 

Debrincat - Kasper - Raymond

Mazur - Compher - Kane

Soderblom - Copp - Chinahkov

MBN - Danielson - Watson

Chiarot - Seider

Edvinsson - AJo

Mateychuk - ASP

[LeftWinger 5,123]

Speaking of Eiserman, man, how can we pry that kid out of Long Island? Do they have any bad contracts they want gone?

Also, Jacob Truscott has signed with the Griffins. A 2 year deal. I expect a Dominic Shine type situation coming up when he proves he's ready for the NHL. He'll replace Chiarot sometime next season I predict.

Also, keep an eye on Tampa prospect Isaac Howard, he is returning to MSU for his senior year and has yet to sign a deal with Tampa. They have until Aug 15, 2026 to get him inked or he'll become a UFA. I feel if they think that he won't sign in Tampa due to no room for him to play on the LW, he just may be traded. Time to make a good ol' boys trade between Brisebois and Yzerman? I mean, we did retain salary on Gourde in order for them to re-acquire him, maybe it's time to pay us back!

Edited Monday at 10:47 PM by LeftWinger

[Jimmybigrigs69 353]

52 minutes ago, LeftWinger said:

Speaking of Eiserman, man, how can we pry that kid out of Long Island? Do they have any bad contracts they want gone?

Also, Jacob Truscott has signed with the Griffins. A 2 year deal. I expect a Dominic Shine type situation coming up when he proves he's ready for the NHL. He'll replace Chiarot sometime next season I predict.

Also, keep an eye on Tampa prospect Isaac Howard, he is returning to MSU for his senior year and has yet to sign a deal with Tampa. They have until Aug 15, 2026 to get him inked or he'll become a UFA. I feel if they think that he won't sign in Tampa due to no room for him to play on the LW, he just may be traded. Time to make a good ol' boys trade between Brisebois and Yzerman? I mean, we did retain salary on Gourde in order for them to re-acquire him, maybe it's time to pay us back!

I remember @The 91 of Ryans mocking me for starting a Truscott thread a while back lol... WELL WE GOT OUR MAN ya dirty lobster fisherman!

I don't know that you, I, or the Wings are going to be that impressed with Truscott. Sure he's a former 5th round pick and played a top role for UofM, but that Wolverine program has also fallen off a bit under Brandon Naurato. There's a reason he only got an AHL deal. I suspect he's more of a Lashoff than a Dekeyser...

However he seems like a real character guy. Multi year captain at UofM. Got his degree. Is pursuing graduate school. Won the HCA "unsung hero" award this past season. And Naurato talks pretty glowingly about his leadership on and off the ice. I could see him with an A or a C on his chest for the Griffs pretty quickly, but might never win a contract from the Wings. That said, im certainly rooting for the kid.

-------------------------------------

I like your idea about Isaac Howard. Howard was a beast for MSU this year. And all the Tampa fans are discussing trading him with their lack of roster spots for him and him not signing his ELC to recommit to MSU for another season. 

It may be a trade that is easy to work. Brisebois and SY's close relationship... Nightingale being a former Wings AC... his wings teammates in Savage and Augustine at MSU...

TBL needs cost controlled RHD and draft picks....

To TBL: RHD Anton Johansson + Detroit's extra 3rd from NYR (TBL doesnt have a 3rd)

To DET: The negotiating rights to RHD Nick Perbix + LW Isaac Howard

Anton Johansson has impressed since arriving to the Griffs this year with 5 pts in 9 games from the backend. Traditionally a more large (6'4") stay at home Dman. Detroit wont need him with Seider already established and ASP coming up behind him, but he might be perfect for Tampa. A prospect they can actually use, unlike Howard. Perbix has quietly been very good for tampa, but they cant afford to keep him, so hes going to hit the market this summer anyway, and would be a great young placeholder until ASP is ready. And Brisebois certainly prolly wants some draft capital. We have an extra third. They have no thirds. Sure Howard was basically a high 2nd - but thats the price for only negotiating rights.

Git er done kenny

[LeftWinger 5,123]

1 hour ago, Jimmybigrigs69 said:

TBL needs cost controlled RHD and draft picks....

To TBL: RHD Anton Johansson + Detroit's extra 3rd from NYR (TBL doesnt have a 3rd)

To DET: The negotiating rights to RHD Nick Perbix + LW Isaac Howard

I was thinking Berggren and their 4th back to them for just Howard. If they want a RHD, I'll give them Tuomisto.

BTW Wings win 6-4 tonight vs. Dallas. I watched the 3rd period, where the hell was that team through March? Ugh!

Edited Tuesday at 01:56 AM by LeftWinger

[LeftWinger 5,123]

The Wings now sit at 12th overall. Their final 2 games are against Jersey and Toronto, two teams that are in the playoffs and might not care too much about losing to the Wings. I don't see them climbing into the top 10 unless they move up in the lottery. It's time to move that pick for a player to help this team. If that is before the draft or at the draft, it's time. Moving one 1st round pick for an impact player will not hurt this franchise in the draft moving forward. You might even score a young talent that'll step right in, forget the vets. Acquire a younger forward that will help turn this franchise around, picking 12-15 this draft is not going to do that anytime soon.

Buyout Tarasenko and Holl, trade Rasmussen and Berggren, throw the kitchen sink at Mitch Marner.$13M+ minimum! Get Ekblad here, even if it cost $8M+! Those are the only 2 UFA's I wanna throw money at. ( I am sure there are more out there that would help, but these two are tops on my list.)

[AtlantaHotWings 1,124]

1 hour ago, LeftWinger said:

The Wings now sit at 12th overall. Their final 2 games are against Jersey and Toronto, two teams that are in the playoffs and might not care too much about losing to the Wings. I don't see them climbing into the top 10 unless they move up in the lottery. It's time to move that pick for a player to help this team. If that is before the draft or at the draft, it's time. Moving one 1st round pick for an impact player will not hurt this franchise in the draft moving forward. You might even score a young talent that'll step right in, forget the vets. Acquire a younger forward that will help turn this franchise around, picking 12-15 this draft is not going to do that anytime soon.

Buyout Tarasenko and Holl, trade Rasmussen and Berggren, throw the kitchen sink at Mitch Marner.$13M+ minimum! Get Ekblad here, even if it cost $8M+! Those are the only 2 UFA's I wanna throw money at. ( I am sure there are more out there that would help, but these two are tops on my list.)

Curious if you waive both Holl and Tank and no one claims. If they refuse to report to the Griffins then what? Do we get cap relief if they essentially "quit"? 

[LeftWinger 5,123]

19 minutes ago, AtlantaHotWings said:

Curious if you waive both Holl and Tank and no one claims. If they refuse to report to the Griffins then what? Do we get cap relief if they essentially "quit"? 

I suppose if they refuse to report, Yzerman might be able to "waive them for purposes of contract termination." We've seen that done a few times in the NHL. I do believe someone would claim Tarasenko, but Holl has been waived this season a couple of times, and has cleared. Waiving him saves the team $1.15M, so they'd be on the books for $2.250M still. If they bought him out, it would cost them $1,133,334 for 2 years totaling $2,266,668. So I guess the decision is which is best for the team, $2.25M against the cap for one year, or $1.133M for each of the next two years... I say just buy him out if nobody wants him, in two years the cap with be $104M compared to $95M next season, the extra $1.133M wouldn't hurt them whatsoever. That way you are just done with him.

In Tarasenko's case, a buyout would cost $1,583,334 in each of the next 2 seasons, or a total of $3,166,668 compared to waiving him (if he cleared) costing them $3.6M for all of next season. Again, in 2 years the measly $1.583M even coupled with Holl's $1.133, totaling $2.716M is peanuts against a $104M cap.

I think Holl is more likely to get bought out than Tarasenko, but hopefully neither of them are in the organization next season. He'll need to cut cap somewhere if he wants to pursue ANY high end UFA.

[Jimmybigrigs69 353]

I would buyout all three of Tarasenko, Holl, and Gustafsson. Giving us an added savings of nearly $7 million. 

Now we have close to $30 million to spend in UFA this summer. 

At D, go and get Pionk, Ekblad, or Perbix... or even Burns or Savard on shorter contracts if you dont wanna commit to the others. 

At F, go and get Marner, Ehlers, Donato, or Boeser... again if we dont wanna commit get Matt Duchene, Tavares, Jamie Benn, or Marchand. 

We can afford to get 2-3 of any of these players.

I doubt SY feels like he's ready to move a 1st rounder for anything. 

[kipwinger 8,749]

11 minutes ago, Jimmybigrigs69 said:

I would buyout all three of Tarasenko, Holl, and Gustafsson. Giving us an added savings of nearly $7 million. 

Now we have close to $30 million to spend in UFA this summer. 

At D, go and get Pionk, Ekblad, or Perbix... or even Burns or Savard on shorter contracts if you dont wanna commit to the others. 

At F, go and get Marner, Ehlers, Donato, or Boeser... again if we dont wanna commit get Matt Duchene, Tavares, Jamie Benn, or Marchand. 

We can afford to get 2-3 of any of these players.

I doubt SY feels like he's ready to move a 1st rounder for anything. 

At forward I'd target Ehlers and one of Will Cuylle or Lawson Crouse via trade. On defense I'd look at Mason Lohrei from the Bruins. He's a big lefty that is an RFA with arbitration rights. Could be Yzerman's Red Wings version of Sergachev.

[Jimmybigrigs69 353]

6 minutes ago, kipwinger said:

At forward I'd target Ehlers and one of Will Cuylle or Lawson Crouse via trade. On defense I'd look at Mason Lohrei from the Bruins. He's a big lefty that is an RFA with arbitration rights. Could be Yzerman's Red Wings version of Sergachev.

To me, it doesnt seem like he wants to target other teams young players anymore. And I generally agree - this team needs vets. Steady presences who can finally get this team over the hump and stop wheels from constantly falling off...

Like Tarasenko was honestly the right move, and we all celebrated it at the time of signing, but it just didnt work out.

That's okay - but now move on from him and get someone else. 

At EOD I wouldnt be surprised if SY continues down this boring path he's been on... or if there is a major shakeup this summer. He may feel we need a major shake at this point. 

[LeftWinger 5,123]

Berggren scores again. Upping that trade value, or is he finally a keeper? Coach M has him on line 1 tonight.

Edited Thursday at 12:32 AM by LeftWinger

[mackel 760]

1 hour ago, LeftWinger said:

Berggren scores again. Upping that trade value, or is he finally a keeper? Coach M has him on line 1 tonight.

Pure garbage time mirage... all they've accomplished is f%&ing our draft position even more. I hate this team so much.

[LeftWinger 5,123]

10 minutes ago, mackel said:

Pure garbage time mirage... all they've accomplished is f%&ing our draft position even more. I hate this team so much.

They're about to blow a 3-0 lead, so maybe that draft position will be safe 

Well, I guess not. Damn team could've played like this three weeks ago!

Edited Thursday at 02:06 AM by LeftWinger

[Jimmybigrigs69 353]

How have we not develoved a new Holmstrom in the last 15 years???? 

Are all our draft picks really this soft? 

Why is manlet Debrincat the only one brave enough to flirt with the front of the net?

I fuqqing hate what this franchise has become. 

Holmstrom wasnt even big. 6ft. Yet he stood where he was supposed to, didnt complain, and took the cross checks and the punishment like a man... for 15 FUQQING YEARS. 

Ras is 6'500" and he cant be bothered to setup a decent screen for even 1 shift. Fuq you. Get traded. Get off this team. Im so tired of poosy bs hockey.

[AtlantaHotWings 1,124]

On 4/15/2025 at 1:48 PM, LeftWinger said:

I suppose if they refuse to report, Yzerman might be able to "waive them for purposes of contract termination." We've seen that done a few times in the NHL. I do believe someone would claim Tarasenko, but Holl has been waived this season a couple of times, and has cleared. Waiving him saves the team $1.15M, so they'd be on the books for $2.250M still. If they bought him out, it would cost them $1,133,334 for 2 years totaling $2,266,668. So I guess the decision is which is best for the team, $2.25M against the cap for one year, or $1.133M for each of the next two years... I say just buy him out if nobody wants him, in two years the cap with be $104M compared to $95M next season, the extra $1.133M wouldn't hurt them whatsoever. That way you are just done with him.

In Tarasenko's case, a buyout would cost $1,583,334 in each of the next 2 seasons, or a total of $3,166,668 compared to waiving him (if he cleared) costing them $3.6M for all of next season. Again, in 2 years the measly $1.583M even coupled with Holl's $1.133, totaling $2.716M is peanuts against a $104M cap.

I think Holl is more likely to get bought out than Tarasenko, but hopefully neither of them are in the organization next season. He'll need to cut cap somewhere if he wants to pursue ANY high end UFA.

Thanks Lefty for the in depth explanation. 

[LeftWinger 5,123]

11 hours ago, Jimmybigrigs69 said:

How have we not develoved a new Holmstrom in the last 15 years???? 

Are all our draft picks really this soft? 

Why is manlet Debrincat the only one brave enough to flirt with the front of the net?

I fuqqing hate what this franchise has become. 

Holmstrom wasnt even big. 6ft. Yet he stood where he was supposed to, didnt complain, and took the cross checks and the punishment like a man... for 15 FUQQING YEARS. 

Ras is 6'500" and he cant be bothered to setup a decent screen for even 1 shift. Fuq you. Get traded. Get off this team. Im so tired of poosy bs hockey.

Rasmussen was drafted BECAUSE of his powerplay expertise! That is what Holland explained when he picked him at least. Close in, rebound, tap-ins, special teams specialist. So, Holland saw him as the NEXT Holmstrom. Unfortunately he hasn't lived up to that role yet, and probably never will...

Here are some reviews from his draft year from different scouts.

https://wingsnation.com/news/nation-network-2017-prospect-profile-32-michael-rasmussen

Also, as you can see, the next 4 players taken (even my beloved Tippett! (LOL! I kid, I kid!) have outperformed and outscored him.

even the NEXT three centers taken in the draft after Suzuki have outscored and outperformed Rasmussen.

He really has been a flop compared to his draft day value and analysis. Not as bad as Zadina was, but still, a wasted pick in hindsight. 

[LeftWinger 5,123]

I'll take this result!

[mackel 760]

18 hours ago, LeftWinger said:

They're about to blow a 3-0 lead, so maybe that draft position will be safe 

Well, I guess not. Damn team could've played like this three weeks ago!

3 weeks ago there was pressure... they crumbled... right now they have nothing to play for so the are free wheeling.

18 hours ago, Jimmybigrigs69 said:

How have we not develoved a new Holmstrom in the last 15 years???? 

Are all our draft picks really this soft? 

Why is manlet Debrincat the only one brave enough to flirt with the front of the net?

I fuqqing hate what this franchise has become. 

Holmstrom wasnt even big. 6ft. Yet he stood where he was supposed to, didnt complain, and took the cross checks and the punishment like a man... for 15 FUQQING YEARS. 

Ras is 6'500" and he cant be bothered to setup a decent screen for even 1 shift. Fuq you. Get traded. Get off this team. Im so tired of poosy bs hockey.

Ras is a disgrace. 

[LeftWinger 5,123]

When Marner signs here, does he get to wear #16? That's a tough call.....

 

Watching the game, Toronto looks like they're floating around, being careful, they don't want to get any players hurt by anything!

Edited Thursday at 11:27 PM by LeftWinger

[Motor City Mullets 302]

1 minute ago, LeftWinger said:

When Marner signs here, does he get to wear #16? That's a tough call.....

I'll be shocked if both Marner and Yzerman would entertain the idea of Marner joining the Red Wings.

But no - I don't believe he'd wear Vladdy's number.