Some polite disagreement regarding the specter of Rasmus Dahlin

The Oakland Press’s Pat Caputo penned a column about the possibility of the Red Wings landing Rasmus Dahlin via “tanking” to earn the best lottery odds in the NHL’s draft. Caputo pens a thorough column discussing Dahlin’s “scouting report,” what the experts are saying about Dahlin’s potential and what landing him could mean for the Red Wings, and my biggest problem with this theory is the concept that Dahlin alone could turn around the franchise:

Of course, it would be foolish for this town to get their hopes up too high that Dahlin is coming. Odds are against it. They just increase a bit if the Red Wings continue to lose. The good part is this is a very deep draft, and contains a number of potentially NHL high-caliber, puck-moving defensemen, such as the University of Michigan’s Quinn Hughes, Swede Adam Bovqist, Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson and Ty Smith. None of those names are as familiar as Shaquon Barkley or Baker Mayfield, I know, but there hasn’t been a deeper pool of defensemen prospects for eons, in part because size isn’t as relevant for the spot as it used to be in a less-gritty, more-skilled era of the NHL. Boqvist and Hughes are very skilled but much smaller than Dahlin, who presents all the essential food groups, regardless of era.

Oh, there are high-end forwards such Russian power winger Andrei Svechnikov (brother of Evengy, the first-rounder who plays for Red Wings) and Brady Tkachuk (big, nasty and talented like his father Keith and brother Matthew).

Also, there is Filip Zadina (sniper with similar skill-set as Winnipeg star Patrik Laine).

But Dahlin would be like winning the Power Ball.

Tank Town would become Hockeytown again overnight should the Red Wings be fortunate enough to land him.

That’s just not true. Even landing a superstar in his prime is not going to turn the entire franchise around.

Ken Holland, love him or loathe him, is right when he says that the Red Wings have to draft well and draft well for years to re-stock the franchise.

It’d be fantastic if the Red Wings did end up drafting Dahlin first overall, but there is no player transcendent enough to turn the Red Wings from so thoroughly mediocre to thoroughly elite all by himself, and if the Red Wings land one of the “consolation prizes,” they’re not going to suddenly be elite again, ether.

 

Prospect round-up: Griffins beat Admirals; Euro playoff round-up

In the AHL, the Grand Rapids Griffins opened a crucial week of road games opposite the Milwaukee Admirals on Tuesday, and the Griffins earned a 2-1 victory over the Admirals, getting goals from Matt Lorito and Corey Elkins, as well as a 21-save performance from Tom McCollum.

The Griffins’ website posted a recap:

Continue reading Prospect round-up: Griffins beat Admirals; Euro playoff round-up

Red Wings-Flyers wrap-up: It wasn’t pretty, but the Wings’ first win in 11 games still counts

The Detroit Red Wings snapped a 10-game winless streak over the course of a 5-4 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night, but the Red Wings blew 3-1, 3-2 and 4-3 leads in frustrating fashion, flopping and flailing their way through a difficult 3rd period.

The shootout was fun, at least…

And Evgeny Svechnikov scored his first NHL goal…

Continue reading Red Wings-Flyers wrap-up: It wasn’t pretty, but the Wings’ first win in 11 games still counts

Red Wings-Flyers quick take: shootout win ends losing streak, but 3rd period faltering provides cold comfort

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to snap a 10-game losing streak while battling the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.

Detroit beat the Flyers 5-4 in a shootout, ending their 10-game losing streak, but the Red Wings surrendered 2-1, 3-1 and 4-3 leads en route to a 4-4 tie in a terrible, horrible, no good very bad 3rd period.

Dylan Larkin scored 2 goals and had an assist, Evgeny Svechnikov scored his first NHL goal and the Wings chased Mrazek, but Alex Lyon was excellent in relief and Detroit just plain old got flattened in the 3rd period, reminding us that this team is mediocre at its very best.

9 more games of this.

Continue reading Red Wings-Flyers quick take: shootout win ends losing streak, but 3rd period faltering provides cold comfort

Krupa speaks with Ted Lindsay regarding Zetterberg’s goal-scoring milestone

The Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa spoke with Ted Lindsay regarding Henrik Zetterberg passing #7 on the Red Wings’ all-time goals list:

“I’m so happy about it,” Lindsay said, of Zetterberg’s feat. “He’s a great person and a great hockey player.

“Marks like that are meant to be passed,” the 92-year-old mused. “Records are meant to be broken.”

Zetterberg’s 336 career goals in 1,069 games played for the Red Wings compares to Lindsay’s 335 goals in 862, from 1944-57 and, in his comeback season, 1964-65. Only Gordie Howe (786), Steve Yzerman (692), Alex Delvecchio (456) and Sergei Fedorov (400) tallied more for the Wings.

“He’s maintained himself, heath wise,” Lindsay said. “He’s a physical specimen.

“He loves the game,” said Lindsay, who grew up in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, where he picked up the signal of Red Wings radio broadcasts as a boy and became a lifelong fan. “I think that that’s half the battle, if you love your game.”

Continued

 

Red Wings-Flyers game-day articles: All about Petr

Of Red Wings-related note this afternoon:

1. The pre-game stories today focus on Petr Mrazek, as discussed by the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Sam Donnellon…

“Red Wings fans were always awesome,” he said after Tuesday’s morning skate at the Wings’ brand-new home. “They always cheer for us. If they cheer for me I’m really happy. But I don’t think they’re going to cheer for me tonight.”

Mrazek arrived early Tuesday and chatted with several old teammates. Asked by a Detroit reporter who might have the advantage, the goaltender who practiced daily against the shooters or the shooters who have practiced scoring on the goalie, Mrazek carefully deferred, saying the ebbs and flows of the game itself are likely to dictate that.

“Every game is different,” he said. “I wouldn’t know who is going to have [an] advantage.

Mrazek said he talked to Red Wings left wing Andreas Athanasiou this morning, and concluded: “I don’t know what he’s going to do. Is he going to do the same move he always does or is he going to [do something different]?”

Mrazek was also asked if, after platooning for much of the year, being traded into a playoff race and into a starter’s role had renewed his excitement.

“It’s always fun to be in a group with a chance to make the playoffs,” he said. “It was really good to get a fresh starts, especially with my contract almost up. I’m really excited for the opportunity.”

2. The Free Press’s Helene St. James…

Continue reading Red Wings-Flyers game-day articles: All about Petr

Red Wings-Flyers post-morning skate stuff: On Mrazek and bad ice

The Red Wings and Flyers held their respective morning skates ahead of tonight’s game between the teams (7:30 PM EDT on NBCSN/NBCS Philly/97.1 FM), and Petr Mrazek took center stage both during and after the Flyers’ skate:

So:

Continue reading Red Wings-Flyers post-morning skate stuff: On Mrazek and bad ice