HOCKEYTOWN GUT CHECK - Winged Wheel Podcast - Mar. 31st, 2024

Grand Rapids Griffins x WWP Hat + Game Tickets: offer.fevo.com/grand-rapids-g...
Somehow, the Detroit Red Wings are still in this.
Tune in as we first discuss Detroit's ugly loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, including a poor game from the entire team & James Reimer, struggles from Petry & others, Kane & Czarnik being sick, Mickey Redmond & Ken Daniels being the only entertaining points, & more (4:35). Next, Lalonde's squad's shootout loss to Barkov and the Florida Panthers, including Dylan Larkin's injury & heroics, DeBrincat's tough game, Petry, Seider & the defense's key errors, Alex Lyon coming up big, Fabbri scoring, & more (12:20).
After that, a look at Yzerman's squad's upcoming schedule & the NHL's Eastern Conference Wild Card playoff race, as none of the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, or the New York Islanders have put the Red Wings out of it (24:30).
Next, discussions on the recent performances & blame that can be assigned to players like Jeff Petry & Alex DeBrincat, how much the entire roster (including Raymond, Walman, or other key players) can be blamed, & more analysis on a record-poor March (35:00).
We then jump to the Grand Rapids Griffins' success led by Dan Watson, Sebastian Cossa, Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson, Jonatan Berggren, Carter Mazur, Marco Kasper, & others as they clinched the playoffs (47:00).
Finally, a look across the NHL & beyond as we discuss Matthews, McDavid, MacKinnon, Kucherov, Fedorov, & more (53:55) before we take your questions and comments during our Overtime segment (1:01:45) - enjoy!
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[@alexmcclain93]

I think the progress made this year us often overlooked. This season will be looked at as one of growth, a year from now. Proud of the boys.

[@captbloodbeard]

March was even worse than December. We went 3-9-2 in March and 5-9-1 in December. I don't know why, but this stretch has been one of the most painful stretches to watch since getting swept in the 95 Cup Final by the Devils.

[@gothaminsanity]

I can only see 1 scenario to end the season: Everything comes down to an OT game in Montreal and Detroit needs 1 point to clinch Here we go Wild style pulling the goalie and gambling on a 50/50

[@GeneralWAITE]

I'm hoping they're following the 2 months on and 1 month off strategy. So they should be on for April and hopefully May.

[@DefectiveSquash]

Petry is a career -127 Holl is a +88 its crazy Holl isn't even getting a look

[@hockeyinalabama]

I'm for a youth movement, but I hate who they will obviously replace. Bring in Edvinsson? Hell yeah. To replace Holl or Petry, right? No, Ghost or maybe Maatta. Kasper or Danielson? Ok. To replace Copp (roster spot - not necessarily depth spot), right? No, Sprong or Perron. Are Ghost, Maatta, Sprong, or Perron being gone tanking the team? No. But it would be nice if you could replace the bigger problems with the youth. Now, this could change with somehow getting rid of a Holl, but the likeliness is not there.

[@jessecoonce1363]

Agree. All the players that are easiest to move on from due to expiring contracts, or minimal term left with reasonable cap hits are not the biggest issue. They ultimately do need to get some youth in somehow, but a number of those larger UFA signing the past 2 offseasons are brutal and they will have a hard time moving those players without retaining and/or giving up assets.

[@lbt782]

You guys should block all saying Stevie or the coach is on the Hot seat. Some folks never can grasp more than 1 way to think. You would think we re in last place the way some are talking. I am so glad I have perspective to actually enjoy the fact this team is better and still improving. Think of what the preseason predictions were. Folks were just hoping to be a playoff team. I don't see this team underachieving. I think they are right where we should be considering our talent. Keep on building and we can get there and stay awhile!!!

[@Wladyslaw.Malenko]

de Brincat has been to the Mantha school of consistency. Shows why he fell down the lineup in Ottawa

[@npolansky9959]

Hell, DeBrincat has trouble staying upright.

[@nirvanaguitar]

I'm sorry, I just don't see how Lalonde isn't on a hot seat right now.

[@albedz7759]

Bring on the draft profiles, boys! Also, how many young guns realistically get brought up next season, like 2-3?

[@MS-ij1tq]

Thanks!

[@WingedWheelPodcast]

Thank you! 🙏

[@npolansky9959]

Every time I think about loading blame on Lalonde I'm reminded that he didn't construct this team. Like, what precisely is the Yzerplan?

[@karlheinzvonkroemann2217]

Some people just don't understand what Stevie is doing. Long term success is the Yzerplan. I love his drafting, concidering what Bettman's draft rules left to us. I expect a lot of improvement next year. Like I always say, Stevie is our Achilles. Our mythological Superhero. He's put this team on his back too many times over his playing career to doubt he'll be be successfull as our GM. You younger people that didn't see this man play every day for 20+ years in the Red and White, you really missed something special. He was one of the greatest hockey players and leaders in NHL history. Make that sport'[s history. He is universally respected all around the Hockey world. Whatever happens this year, next year I fully expect to see the Wings in playoffs. He's not responsible for the NHL's stupid draft rules, That's all on Bettman.

[@klompsauce]

LGRW 🐙🐙🐙🐙

[@sponny4109]

the crazy thing is i prefer to be chasing philly over the capitals now

[@timeout9768]

I'm more interested in the Wings upcoming entry draft picks than seeing this mediocre teams hunt for a playoff spot that will go absolutely nowhere.

[@montanastranger]

Pretty much where I'm at. Most of the players seem to be done with season as well.

[@vivid_prizm]

Give me Tij Iginla

[@user-rw9rs6di9n]

Really glad to us to do the reverse this year of the past five year or so trend of winning a bunch of games after they were out of the playoffs. Can’t get it right either way. Ick! Have a chance to track down Philly maybe, but still sick over the many opportunities wasted to really grab ahold of a playoff spot.

[@Jim-yh5uj]

The games are getting tougher and players like Debrincat are disappearing.

[@vivid_prizm]

We aren’t ready for playoffs. I think let the kids cook on a playoff run in GR and try to get Iginla (trade up for him if you have to) If we keep losing and somehow get lucky enough to move up in draft get Demidov if possible. We need real difference making Left shot forwards who have speed and skill

[@dj4aces]

Early on, it was mentioned that we need top-6 and top-4 talent. 100% fact. That's the number one reason why I never got so invested in the idea of playoffs, and why *we were all warned* for the second year in a row before the season to not expect playoffs. No, starting the season with Edvinsson and Berggren wouldn't have changed that, and if we miss the playoffs this season, it won't be because we didn't have a full year of Ed and Berg. Yes, we have a few good players in our top-6, including an aging superstar who still manages to outplay others we've thrown into top-6 roles, but we're lacking in top-6 forwards. Yes, we have Seider, Walman has been good most of the year, and Chiarot hasn't played like crap, but we're lacking in talent on D two more D would bump Chiarot down to third pair, and probably Walman to second pair. Edvinsson has been good, but he's not at that level yet. We have needs, and hopefully Stevie can fill those spots this offseason. But for the love of the Gods, when the man upstairs tells us to not expect playoffs, maybe we as a fanbase should just listen to what he says, rather than get pissed off when we go on losing benders like we did in December and March. Calling up players who are still cooking in the system won't fix what ails us, and dumping Lalonde won't either. The only things that will is continued good drafting and a few star signings and/or trades.

[@jessecoonce1363]

After the past 2 offseasons I really hope Yzerman doesn't try to fill those holes with more overpaid and underwhelming UFA's. The Kane signing was great, the rest have mostly sucked.

[@nk7570]

Philly's remaing sxhedule is beyond easy though. :(

[@cgossman2]

They did just get smoked by the Blackhawks

[@sportsfix6975]

I don't mind Philly,

[@jwt6577]

"Yzerman can see..." Can he? Are you sure? I have serious doubts.

[@michaelschultz1125]

With the way this team has totally collapsed, I don't see how anyone can say that they made progress this year. They had a hot streak for a while, but they have fallen apart since and look like a team praying for a tie. DeBrincat may be one of the most overpaid players in the league.

[@Broncosbrown9]

Ive got a fun hypothetical. Would you rather the Griffins win the calder cup final and the wings not make the playoffs? Or the griffins lose in the first round and the wings do make the playoffs?

[@Broncosbrown9]

I know the answer is the second one for 99% of wings fans but I am interested in which would be more beneficial for the franchise long term

[@MrTigerfan09]

Am I the only one that thinks Lalonde should have pulled Lyon in OT on the PP? The season is hanging in the balance, you already have your point, go for it all. Slam the gas down

[@bar383]

if you pull the goalie in ot and get scored on you dont get the loser point. just ask minnesota

[@bryanries2666]

But in that scenario, don't you lose the point if the opposition pots the empty netter though?

[@captbloodbeard]

Yes, you lose the point if you get scored on, but the reason they've done it twice in Minnesota is because getting that second point is way more important than losing the loser point, if that makes sense. It's a save the season type of moment. I don't think its something that should be done unless the situation is right, like it was both times for Minny. Them getting scored on just means their playoff hopes are dead now, it put them to rest. Better that then whatever the hell Detroit has been doing this past month. I suppose the two teams are quite different, even if their point totals are equal. Minnesota is a team the coach believes in that has been playing very well and just had a terrible start and has been without their captain all season, Detroit is not and has been playing like the company that has the ad on their jerseys.

[@bryanries2666]

The jersy ad, while a funny coincidence, has nothing to do with it. They've looked like hot garbage for 7 seasons until this year so...

[@captbloodbeard]

@@bryanries2666 I didn't say the ad had anything to do with it, just using their industry as an adjective to describe the way they sometimes play

[@codyrichardson6348]

Newsy and yzerman should be ok the hot seat

[@apexpredator7536]

Lalonde is on the hot seat for me. There should be no excuse why the teams advanced metrics are SO bad. The team is talented enough to win, they've proved that. But Lalonde consistently does not have his team ready to play and makes baffling lineup decisions

[@Bulltrapaskslap]

Ras playing bad just feels so horrible and gives me such severe ptsd. Also larkin jump turning his back to the shooter like a mite player is what got him hurt. Dude really just needs to stay away from the front of the net 😂

[@marcoericadrian]

I love Mo but I am tired of everyone giving a pass to Seider no matter what he does. that first goal was absolutely his fault and no one mentions it. Seider should have completely blown up Ekblad when he looked down at the puck but looked afraid of him. that was a perfect time for him to make a statement considering the way Ekblab was being a prick out there

[@Bulltrapaskslap]

He's looking horrible sense interviewing with Trevor about "easy to fix mistakes"