Detroit Red Wings Preview: Philosophical Hypocrisy

The Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers face off again. Detroit is coming off a 3-2 overtime loss, and looks to snap a five game losing streak tonight. But there was an interesting answer to a question that hijacks my usual preview style.

On the first two Red Wings power plays last night, there were two notable absences: Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha. This did not go unnoticed:

I try to take the long view when it comes to Jeff Blashill coaching a rebuilding team. I’ve explained before that the Wings left him holding the bag with their organizational philosophy that resulted in poor free agent transactions, bad trades, and so-so drafting. The window slammed shut officially in 2016-17. After that even Ken Holland had to admit the dream was over. Mindsets shifted, Steve Yzerman was brought in, Holland exited, and last year was rock bottom. But through all of this, I have been trying to give Blash the benefit of the doubt. He didn’t just wake up one morning and forget how to coach. He was successful at every stop–including Grand Rapids where he won a Calder Cup with guys he’d eventually coach in Detroit.  There’s also a human element: I can’t imagine what it’s like to day in and day out hear how bad you are at what you do, and I also don’t like people losing their jobs. I get it’s part of the business, but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone who has a family and a livelihood.

Last night, however, gave credence to those who have beating the drum for change on the bench. You can’t sit your two best players on a power play that is sputtering and spends more time chasing the puck than shooting it. And you certainly can’t use this as the reasoning

(video from the Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James):

“I think the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again. We felt like we’d try a couple other guys to give them an opportunity to see how they’d do. When they weren’t getting it done, we went back to Larkin and Mantha and see what they do.”

This logic doesn’t work. And it doesn’t work because for years, we watched guys get ice time who clearly shouldn’t have been out there. Even strength. On the power play. Shorthanded. It took years  for changes to be made.  The stubborn insistence to give the veterans a chance to figure it out because it was a man’s league. Jonathan Ericsson, Justin Abdelkader, and Frans Nielsen are just to name a few. Marc Staal has really struggled at times out there this season and we haven’t seen him scratched in favor of another player.

I hope that something works tonight because for long stretches yesterday, Detroit played well. But they’re creeping ever so close to that eight-game skid they had last year at the beginning of the season. I know they’re missing players. I know it’s a bizarre year. But at some point, the excuses wear thin and it seems inevitable that change will be necessary.