Of Red Wings-related note this morning:
1. Fox Sports Detroit posted a belated clip of Henrik Zetterberg discussing the Wings’ 3-2 loss to Columbus on Friday:
2. You’ll have to excuse me for calling this a logical fallacy. I respect Keith Gave to no end, but the former Free Press scribe and The Russian Five author took an easy way out with this Twitter comment:
It worked in 98 and 08 because of the players. Check this team’s roster: Below average to average, at best. With Z on his last legs, they have no difference-makers. Not one. Rebuild under way will take years. Stanley Cup champs again? Maybe ’28. https://t.co/UTF8RjFQMG
— Keith Gave (@KeithGave) March 10, 2018
Larkin. Mantha. Athanasiou. Rasmussen and Cholowski on the way. A bunch of goalie prospects down the line, and so many “sleeper picks” that at least one or two of them has to develop into a good player.
The rebuild probably will take a couple of years, but the right free agent signings, restricted free agent re-signings and solid hits in the draft will accelerate the rebuild. I just don’t believe that the Red Wings are in for an Edmonton or Toronto-like decade of pain.
That’s just, like, my opinion, man, but I believe that the prospects will eventually take over, and I believe in their potential.
3. And in the coming attractions department, one Red Wings team is holding a “Zombie Night” tonight…
? Are you ready? The puck drops for Zombie Night at 7:15 p.m. tonight.
Tickets: https://t.co/ryaQncdREI pic.twitter.com/3Asyi7ELMr
— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) March 10, 2018
We’ll have three special guests for our puck drop tonight:
➡ Arthur Suydam, CURRENT comic book artist for ‘The Walking Dead’
➡ Ming Chen & Mike Zapcic from ‘Comic Book Men’All three are appearing at Fantasticon at the Seagate Centre on Saturday, 3/10 and Sunday, 3/11. pic.twitter.com/sDXAiI8LHK
— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) March 10, 2018
And the Grand Rapids Griffins are on the road this evening:
We’re on the road to visit the @WBSPenguins tonight at 7:05pm. Catch the broadcast live on @AHLLive, @WOODRADIO or follow along on your #Griffins app. #GoGRG #GRvsWBS pic.twitter.com/1kcKhTueth
— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) March 10, 2018
The Wings’ alums are in Brighton today, too:
A beautiful day for some hockey! Puck drop is scheduled for 12:45 pic.twitter.com/dIYdIGPpNw
— DetroitRedWingAlumni (@RedWingAlumni) March 10, 2018
I think Gave is right. Even if Larkin et al are difference makers (I think Larkin is , the rest, not so much), Gave doesn’t say out of the playoffs until 28, he says SC champions then. We have way to many holes to fill. So even if we draft a #1 d this year and Cholo is a top pair they are probably at least 3 years from approaching their potential, maybe more. We still need a #1 center, and have the aging vets on terrible contracts. So 20-21 season I think they can actually play meaningful games in March. 22-23 I expect them to be a playoff team, but not a serious contender— maybe 24. And that is with them hitting on drafts and current youngsters being difference makers. If not, it will be like Gave says. Hello Edmonton/Toronto.
+1 for the Lebowski reference.
You’re very optimistic George. I’m a little more skeptical. Hope you’re right. I believe Cholowski will be a decent NHL player but not a true first paring guy.
A timeline? Have to wait and see.