5 on 5: Five Questions on Five Red Wings Topics

This will be a weekly series asking five questions about five Red Wing topics, players, or trends. Here’s the first entry following the Wings mini series with Carolina that resulted in a split. 

So we’re a couple games in—which team will see more of–Thursday’s or Saturday’s team? 

It’s somewhere in the middle.

Through the first half of the first period, I was wondering if this was going to be a repeat of last season. They looked sluggish, outmatched, and though by the end of the period they controlled the puck 54% of the period, the offensive opportunities left a lot to be desired. Once Bobby Ryan scored, however, I felt they came alive a bit. The third period was fast paced and great hockey to watch from both sides–and the Wings, who took leads only to surrender them twice, killed off a crucial penalty, and then scored seconds after their own power play expired.

The positive here is that’s a game that slips away last season. When Robby Fabbri pounded the game winner home off another great feed from Filip Zadina, it was as if a year’s worth of frustration was being slapped into the net. It was refreshing to see them finish the game in that fashion.

So will this be a more tolerable season to watch the Wings? 

Anything (knock on wood) will be better than last season. It was the final gasp of the Cap Mismanagement Era where Ken Holland and company couldn’t “stomach” the idea of a rebuild. Yzerman let it rot and showed it for what it was. Now, with some new faces and a lot of cap space to make more moves down the road, yeah, it’s better. But do I think they’ve turned a corner? Not yet. We’re still probably looking at a lottery pick and the hope that the numbers finally favor the Wings into a top three pick. But let’s enjoy watching the kids get better.

What are the early thoughts on Jeff Blashill? 

Blashill has been successful at every level of coaching. He didn’t just wake up one morning and forget how to run a locker room. But he was put in a tough position when he took over an aging, past their prime, unable-to-admit-it’s-over team. The primary goal for this season is seeing continued growth from the core.

I felt that yesterday was a sign of what could be. They dug in and won a game, captured well by The Athletic’s Max Bultman (paywall). The resolve there is something Blashill has been harping on, and was a massive point of contention last year when the team would essentially get rocked by ungodly scores. (Who can forget the 8-2 whitewashing by the Islanders?)

These type of wins provide hope for a fanbase that is looking for any tangible sign of progress. Now if they go back to blowout losses or guys regress, Blash may be in trouble.

Any chance on Pierre Luc-Dubois or Patrik Laine? 

There’s no way you snag either guy without giving up serious assets. Think Larkin, Bertuzzi or Mantha–which isn’t happening. One outside shot–would Yzerman be willing to listen in on either for Seider? I know this may cause consternation for a moment, but I just don’t see it happening since Seider checks the boxes for an Yzerman blueperint. Adding Dubois does give a one-two punch down the middle, something this team has lacked for a long time.

Speculation doesn’t really matter though because Yzerman works this way–without leaks or tipping his hand. Yzerman will do what he feels is necessary to build the best team possible. And I don’t know how you grab either player without giving up assets he’s not willing to part with.

What is the best case scenario for this season roster wise?

Weaponize the cap. It’s still about the future and while I love watching the team win, there’s a reason Yzerman signed guys to “show me” contracts: enticing contenders with cheap, value guys for a return in prospects or picks. All the while, buying time for the guys who are developing to provide help later on. Don’t get me wrong, Saturday’s game was fun, as The Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James wrote about. But like every other Wings fan, I want to see sustained winning over a long period of time.

This is how it’s achieved in a cap world.