Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan has had a lot to say over the last few days. Brutal losses and late game collapses this early in March have filled the fanbase with dread. The Atlantic division is as close as it could possibly be for the Red Wings. In a visibly frustrated post game press conference, McLellan took a few of his players to task on their effectiveness on the ice.
"Right now, for us, I think we have some players that are playing well, and we have some guys that are just jerseys," McLellan said. "What I mean by that is that they're wearing jerseys, they're skating around, they're eating up minutes, but we need more. We just flat out need more."
Who are the "jerseys" McLellan was referring to in that interview? And - more importantly - what can be done about these players moving forward with just a handful of games left in the season?
Jersey number 1: Michael Rasmussen
No player has been quite as ineffective on the ice as Michael Rasmussen this season. Rasmussen's last point came over 22 games ago, when he provided a goal on January 5th against the Ottawa Senators. If the Red Wings haven't begun serious talks about Rasmussen, they need to start as soon as possible.
Rasmussen has seen a measurable drop in his ice time this season. It's his second lowest behind his rookie year. His 14 points on the season rank near the lowest in scoring on this roster. His defensive metrics have continued to plummet. As of right now, his trade value is at the lowest it's been in quite some time. Unfortuantely, with Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp's injuries, Rasmussen will be asked to step up and play tougher minutes until one or both centers return.
Red Wings jersey number 2: J.T. Compher
Like Rasmussen, Compher has seen a measurable drop in both ice time and production throughout the year. This season is his worst to date: with 20 points in 65 games, Compher is on pace for a 25-point season. He's scored four points in his last 20 games, which, while an improvement over Rasmussen, is still terrible when his salary is put into consideration.
Compher makes $5.1M over the next two seasons and carries a modified no-trade clause. A 25-30 point fourth-line center with limited trade control is a recipe for disaster. Compher, now 30, is steadily approaching the period of time where NHL players begin their career decline. If he continues at this pace, his minutes and production will continue to drop.
Jersey number 3: A complicated answer
This is where things become open to interpretation. McLellan's comments were 12 days ago, meaning they could have very well been referring to Elmer Soderblom, who has since joined the Pittsburgh Penguins. They could also, however, refer to a more complex answer: Patrick Kane.
At 37 years of age, Kane has performed admirably. He's got 37 points in 50 games and seems like he can still product at the NHL level. But his days of Hart-winning play are long, long behind him. His defensive lapses have increased. His speed has lost a step. Most importantly, the power play has all but dried up with him on the top unit.
Sooner or later, the Red Wings will need to find a replacement for Kane. It doesn't seem like the flashy forward is able to keep up with the tumultuous pace of the top-six anymore. Despite his point production, his defensive output has decreased to a pace where his linemates have to cover for his mistakes. When looking past the stat sheet, Kane's production looks worse for wear.