I went to my doctor’s office on Tuesday, and was told that I likely have a viral infection, so the doctor gave me a prescription sinus spray and asked me to “tough it out” for 7 to 10 more days before we do anything else health-wise. That was not the news I or Aunt Annie were hoping for, but it is what it is, so there’s that.
Otherwise…
–It appears that the Dylan Larkin situation is at least beginning to reach its conclusion, and all we really can do is hang on for the ride. Over-speculating and panicking about the inevitable break-up doesn’t help us manage our fears or anxieties; buying into the people who are posting click-bait stories about the situation doesn’t help, either. The few insiders who we should all really trust, and the Wings’ media corps, will tell us what we need to do, and, in the interim…We all wait.
–My thought about Simon Edvinsson needing to be signed before December 1st (any player who signs after December 1st is ineligible to play in the NHL without clearing waivers this season) isn’t gonna be popular, but here it is: if he cannot or will not re-sign with the Wings in a month, I’d tell him to go play for Frolunda for the rest of the season. I wouldn’t trade Edvinsson, period, no matter how appealing some trade situations might seem to be. As far as I’m concerned, Edvinsson would always be the best player in any trade, and if you’re giving up the best asset, you lose the trade every time you make it. He’s a truly special top-pair defenseman, and those players cannot be replaced by prospects and picks, so I’d manage the asset by writing off 2026-2027 and hoping that my team could work out a deal with Edvinsson for next year.
–I enjoyed the hell out of Michal Postava’s dominant start against the Oilers, but I tried very hard to take it with salt. Postava is clearly pretty NHL-ready, but one dominant performance, even against McDavid, Draisaitl, etc. doesn’t mean that it’s time to trade John Gibson or Daniil Tarasov just yet. The Wings will have more goaltending injuries, and as Trey Augustine is still getting his feet wet at the professional level, I’d keep Postava in the #3 spot until he fully unseats one of the Wings’ top goaltenders over the course of more than one game.
–I pretty much expected the Wings to start at the “new-age .500,” as Ken Daniels said the other night, so the Wings’ 5-4-and-3 record does not concern me after 11 games played. Given that they are missing a key driver of play in Marco Kasper and now Albert Johansson on defense, holding their own and earning some shootout wins are more important than dominating hockey games in October, especially given that Gibson is a notoriously slow starter, and that the new core is coming together now that Larkin’s been playing at 75-85% of his true potential since the start of the season. The penalty-kill has to improve dramatically, of course, and soon, but I’ve been relatively happy with the Wings’ overall efforts (for the most part) over the first 11 games, and “it’s a start” for a team with both personnel issues and a team floating within a sea of distractions is OK by me.
–Along those lines, yes, the Red Wings are going to “lose” the Larkin trade, because he’s probably the best player part of the trade, too, but it’s evident that the relationship between player and team cannot be salvaged. Edvinsson is a different player in a different stage in his career at only 23, and that’s why I’d play hardball with him until he capitulates and re-signs for a Brinks truck’s worth of money. Larkin’s like the ex with whom you parted on amicable terms (eventually), who’s still living in your apartment because you and he split the lease that expires in at the end of October, and you’re still in the same residence even though the romantic relationship is over.
–I know this sounds funny, but it’s going to be weird to see Patrick Kane in a Blackhawks sweater this evening. His three years with the Wings were so instructive in terms of both teaching the younger players that “rink rats” who are always trying to improve their game are the ones who last the longest in the NHL, and Kane also gave the Wings some “swagger” back, and those things were invaluable lessons for a young team that needed some positive reinforcement. I hope he doesn’t do well against Detroit tonight, of course, because I am no Blackhawks partisan, but I do wish him well overall.
–And one more thing: as soon as the Wings have 7 healthy defensemen again, I’d send Axel Sandin Pellikka to Grand Rapids for his own sake. He should be playing hockey regularly once Albert Johansson is healthy again, and if ASP is in the AHL, that’s okay. He’s getting to the point that sitting doesn’t benefit his development (yes, he can still develop into a star defenseman, but not if he’s sitting in the press box), so let’s see him play, please, Detroit management.
Okay, I’ll keep it short as there’s likely to be more news popping up soon. Take care, everybody. As soon as I can sit up and blog, I’m going to be back at work.
