Welp, guess we should start this one.
Guess we can start by talking about the upcoming IIHF World Championships that begin this week. Red Wings should have some decent representation. So far on the preliminary rosters:
USA: Max Plante, Justin Faulk
Canada: Emmitt Finnie, Cam Talbot
Germany: Moritz Seider (Captain)
Sweden: Lucas Raymond, Albert Johansson
Should be some fun to see some of the Wings on the ice, on top of ones playing for the Griffins in the playoffs.
What do we need to do to get this team in the playoffs Davicus? Is their a real path for that? I would really enjoy watching them in the playoffs for the first time in my life.
I also paid for a year subscription to that new Detroit Sports Network which has the Redwing games included. I plan to watch many more of their games this year.
Sure. They aren’t far off.
IMO, they need another Top 6 center and a Top 6 wing. They need another wing who can regularly contribute with Larkin and Raymond on their line (preferably a scorer who isn’t scared to shoot since Raymond seems more prone to pass than shoot a lot of the time). And someone who can center Cat and Kane (assuming he is back). It can’t be Copp. I’d rather see Kasper get playing time with productive wings on the 2nd line than see Copp be one of the worst centers in the league again.
Then, you have to look at your bottom 6. 4/6 of these guys CAN’T be Copp, Compher, Rasmussen, and Appleton. There is no production to be had there. If I had my way, I’d be making line 3 a kid line and giving them plenty of time something like Finnie-Kasper-MBN. And letting the 4th line be something like Appleton-Copp-??? (I’d rather see someone else brought it than either Compher or Rasmussen). IMO, Compher and Rasmussen shouldn’t be on this roster if the Wings are serious about making the playoffs next season. They are black holes and neither one cares.
Defense? I think they’re pretty much set heading into next season:
Ed (will be getting a hefty raise)-Seider
Chairot-Faulk
AlJo-ASP
Can the wings add two Top 6 players to push their mediocre guys into bottom 6 roles? We’ll see. It’s a tough ask. Going to have to give stuff up to get stuff. But that’s how I’d approach the offseason. Too many guys on this team just provide the minimum and produce nothing. IMO, if all 4 of Copp, Compher, Ras, Appleton are on the roster to start the year, the team is cooked.
Thank you for the awesome response.
Agree with @davicus, the wings aren’t far from just being able to make the playoffs. But actually competing and becoming a contender? I feel like they are light years away.
You watch teams like Florida the last couple years, Montreal, Carolina, Colorado, they play at a different level. The wings have no identity - they aren’t aggressive and tough to play against, they aren’t overly skilled and able to skate circles around people, and they fold easily under pressure.
I’m getting kinda sick of this word grit since it’s so overused now, but if the lions have grit then the wings are the antithesis of grit.
So yeah, they need better players. They almost made the playoffs this year. But if they did they would’ve been the first team eliminated, and they are a number of quality players and experience away from being anything more than a first or maybe second round pretender team.
Yes, all true, but I would take it at this point
Me too! I would love to see what playoff hockey looks like and I just don’t care enough about other teams to watch them in the playoffs.
I can respect that point of view 
It’s been a long time!
I feel like if we had a little more speed and toughness, and a lot more fight, we could’ve been similar to Philadelphia this year. They found a way to elevate their play when it mattered, and even though they eventually got outclassed by a very good Carolina team, I respected their game
Playoff hockey is awesome. Most games are intense and fast paced, it’s a different game than regular season.
Unfortunately, watch a few minutes of any playoff game now and then when you see the wings play, you’ll know what I mean
If you want to see some good playoff hockey, turn on the Montreal Buffalo game on now, 2ndperiod is almost over and it will be a hell of a 3rd period. It’s in Montreal so not much better of a playoff crowd and atmosphere!
I didn’t see this until this morning. I fell asleep very early last night.
Thank you anyways though. That was very thoughtful.
Red wings have some money. I think there will be some moves this year. I can see a top 6 forward and a top.dline added .
Worst boss I ever had loved to talk about GRIT, he had none but boy did he love to throw that word around at staff meetings. Every time Dan Campbell says it I have PTSD. 
The avalanche wild game tonight should be good too, although I think Colorado is gonna wrap that series up tonight. I think it’s going to be Carolina vs Colorado in the finals.
Hahaha at least Dan Campbell can back it up! But yeah it went from a lions thing to now, everybody says it. We need a new word.
My old coach used to say “intestinal fortitude”. Maybe I’ll say that. Doesn’t quite roll off the tongue like grit though lol
Minny was up 3-0 in the 1st against the AVS
Lost 4-3 in OT and are out 4 games to 1
Colorado and Carolina looking good at the moment. Extra rest can be crucial in the later rounds.
If Montreal buffalo go 7 games, Carolina is going to have about 10-11 days off which is ridiculous. That can work both ways at times but is a huge advantage for them
