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The Daily: Yzerman Expects Better Red Wings Defense; Habs Rebuild

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2 weeks ago

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Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde

General manager Steve Yzerman likes much of what coach Derek Lalonde and his staff are doing with the Detroit Red Wings. But Yzerman makes it clear he wants more from them.

“His overall message seems to be that while things are good and in the improving mode,” Bob Duff writes for Detroit Hockey Now. “The bottom line remains that overall, it still isn’t good enough.”

Here is what Yzerman liked: “I think we competed hard,” Yzerman said. “I thought there was a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of determination among the players.”

“Obviously we weren’t perfect. But the most important thing from my vantage point is that our players are motivated, our players are determined. There’s a good atmosphere within the locker room.

“Part of that is the coaching staff helps foster that or create that. Overall, I’m happy with the direction we’re going, the coaching that we have.”

Here is Yzerman’s concern:  “Ultimately, we gotta become a better defensive hockey team,” Yzerman said. “We have to improve in that area.

“It’s the fundamentals of defending. I’m counting on our coaching staff to work with our players and our players be determined to do that. It’s not necessarily the system, it’s the basic fundamentals of defending that at times this year we struggled with, and we need to address it again.”

 

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

  • Will the Red Wings have enough money to re-sign David Perron? Bob Duff looks at the numbers.
  • Red Wings draft pick Maxmilian Kilpinian has signed with MoDo in the Swedish Hockey League
  • Could Patrick Kane end up back with the Chicago Blackhawks? Nate Brown explores that possibility.
  • GM Steve Yzerman has both praise and concern about the Red Wings’ coaching staff. He wants the team show improvement defensively.

Red Wings Offseason

The Red Wings’ playoff quest fell short, but their Grand Rapids Griffins’ farm team opens their playoff five-game at Rockford Saturday. The Griffins and IceHogs have met in the playoffs only once before, with Grand Rapids defeating Rockford 4-1 in the 2015 Western Conference Semifinal. With several key prospects on the team, the Red Wings are hoping the Griffins have lengthy stay in the AHL playoffs. They want these young Griffins to develop a winning culture.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Goalie Jeremy Swayman revealed his true feelings about the Boston Bruins goalie rotation today.

Montreal: Marc Dumont takes a deep dive on the state of the Montreal Canadiens‘ rebuild.

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski writes it might be time for the Pittsburgh Penguins to move Evgeni Malkin to the wing and bring in another center.

San Jose: What’s the next step for William Eklund and some of the other younger San Jose Sharks players.

 

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Mike Babcock

So let me get this straight.

Yzerman is going to expect the same coaches to get the same players to play defense? 🙄

We know what the problem is Steve, but what are you doing about it?

You’re not offering any actual solutions!

Maybe the problem is the current system the coaches employ?

Or the players?

Maybe we need different coaches and players?

Nah let’s run it back baby! 🙄

What’s the definition of insanity?

Last edited 10 days ago by Mike Babcock
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Mark W

Since Edvinsson and Johansson on GR’s Defense wouldn’t clear waivers, we can expect them to be elevated to Detroit next season.

Tuomisto is playing well and by some accounts could be ready. Holl’s bench seat is likely gone and Petry’s return is question mark.

The coaches have already been given Yzerman’s message about playing better defensively and the team DID it for a good part of last season. Most have proven their ability to do it.

GR depth. Viro and Wallinder are possibilities and Buium could be ready but hasn’t paid his GR dues yet.

That’s SIX possible in-house additions on D who could see ice time in Detroit next season and that doesn’t include new acquisitions that might come along. If the D isn’t doing the job the coaches have options.

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Mike Babcock

No. They did not do it at all.

The D stunk all season and only great goaltending from Lyon made them look better than they actually were.

When Lyon burnt out from playing too many games we saw that cold hard truth.

The D stinks!

You’re painting lipstick on a pig and pretending it’s Maybelline.

Adding 3 rookies on D will not solve the problem.

Only Edvinsson will make them better.

Johansson and Tuomisto are nowhere near his class.

Stop pretending your opinions are facts.

This defense is beyond awful.

Last edited 9 days ago by Mike Babcock
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John Parham

I usually agree with Yzerman but not with this. Too often the players were simply not doing what was asked from the coaches. It was basic defensive positioning and responsibility. At times the team looked motivated but at other times they were lethargic and unfocused. When players are calling each other out for effort it’s usually a problem. I don’t think Yzerman was going to publicly throw guys under the bus so it’s hard to tell what he’s thinking.

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Mike Babcock

This team cheats for offense and isn’t talented enough on D to make up for it.

But a lot of the time it’s self-inflicted.

How many times have we seen Seider fall down for no reason leading to a scoring chance?

Or Petry pass the puck in the middle of his net?

Or fail to execute simple dump outs which lead to goals against or high danger scoring chances?

Why does Ghost refuse to stay in position leading to a on 1s resulting in scoring chances and goals?

Why does Chiarot pretend he’s Bobby Orr and try to skate through the entire team resulting in scoring chances?

They have no clue how to defend!

And most of the time it’s the veteran players who’ve played 10 plus seasons doing it!

When the puck is in our end, why is it always a Chinese fire drill?

Red Wings never have the puck!

They’re always chasing!

It’s unrealistic to expect the Red Wings to have a high shooting percentage next season.

So if we’re still chasing and still not defending, this team can only regress unless Lyon plays Superman again.

Last edited 9 days ago by Mike Babcock
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Mark W

What we THINK we know about next season’s defensive personnel is obviously subject to change in the off-season. Its a leap to assume that it will be the same bunch.

Yzerman has spoken to the need to improve fundamentally on D. We can assume Lalonde got the message. S.Y. saying he’d like to retain Ghost surprised many if the D is going to retool itself fundamentally. Could be a special teams player or could be S.Y. is elevating Ghosts value a bit ahead of a trade but I agree that Ghost was a liability some of the time.

Yzerman said he expects Johansson up in Detroit and Edvinsson is a lock. Lalonde has said he sees the D getting younger so it may well include those obvious two and more.

Some improvement can be accomplished by deletion from the current roster of D-men who habitually give up the puck.

The the goaltender position needs to be addressed as well. Yzerman certainly sees all that if we see it and he’s already acting on it as his opportunities allow during the off season.

Even though the 2023-24 team needs a serious retooling, writing off next season as a mini-rebuild and expecting a fall off, is premature. I prefer to wait and see what sorts of changes are made before going there.

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