Of Red Wings-related note this morning:
- The Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons weighs in on the Red Wings’ coaching change:
There has rarely been any doubt about Todd McLellan’s ability to coach hockey. But what’s been happening with the strange roster that is the Detroit Red Wings is more than fascinating. McLellan has this rather ordinary Wings roster playing at a 127-point pace in his first 20 games behind the Detroit bench. When Derek Lalonde was fired as Wings coach, he had Detroit playing at a 72-point pace. Still not sure the Wings will maintain this and be a playoff team, but McLellan’s start is close to remarkable and he is the latest example of why you fire coaches in mid-season.
Continued; I still don’t know whether the Red Wings will make the playoffs, but this season started so poorly that I just want the Wings to be relevant to playoff conversation for the rest of the season…
2. Sportsnet’s Michael Amato, who focuses on fantasy hockey, notes Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin’s resurgent play under coach McLellan:
Perhaps no one has benefited from Todd McLellan’s hiring more than Dylan Larkin. The Detroit Red Wings forward has exploded since McLellan was named head coach, scoring 24 points over the past 21 games. Larkin and Lucas Raymond are becoming a dominant pair and whoever is playing with them is a must-roster. Marco Kasper is the one taking advantage right now and keep an eye out if anyone else gets bumped up to Kasper’s spot.
3. And finally, Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz discusses whether each and every one of the NHL’s 30 teams should “buy,” “stay” or “sell” as we approach the March 7th NHL Trade Deadline:
Detroit Red Wings: Buy
In the first quarter of the season, the Red Wings looked like they were in the middle of what was going to be another wasted season in a seemingly endless rebuild. But replacing head coach Derek LaLonde with Todd McLellan has given the entire roster a spark, and now they find themselves in a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Yzerman has taken a slow approach to this rebuild and has wanted to build a serious contender instead of a team that just simply makes the playoffs and loses.
That is fair.
But you also have to actually get into the playoffs at some point before you can take that next step toward contention.
The playoffs are right there for the taking.
They could use scoring depth. They could use defensive help. Your team has turned its season around and given itself a chance to compete. Give them some help.
Continued; again, I’m sticking by Steve Yzerman’s philosophy here:
If the Red Wings can add someone who will be a long-term fit, that’s great, use some assets to add. But if the Wings can only take part in the rental market, there’s no reason to waste a top prospect or a 1st round pick upon a “reinforcement” when the Wings are one of something like 7 or 8 teams battling for 2 playoff spots, with Detroit facing the most difficult remaining schedule in the league.
I would like to see the Red Wings add, certainly, but I don’t want them to blow significant assets into the wind for the sake of making the windmill turn.
