Obviously the Wings have been near the bottom of the league in scoring the entire year, but the top of the lineup is still contributing. Is this just a roster/talent issue? Or is there anything that be done to generate more scoring on the bottom 3 lines? There has been some bad luck, Berggren has hit his fair share of posts, and Kasper had a goal called back on a Gustafsson offside, but we are far enough into the year where the lack of depth scoring can't be contributed to luck. I think the lineup is shuffled around too much, but I also understand because none of them seem to be working. What would you guys do? Is there anything to do?

35 comments

  2. I haven’t been paying attention the last couple of seasons. Is this Veleno’s ceiling? Is he permanently on the 4th line?

  3. I would agree that the line-up is shuffled around too much. Looking at this, Kane, Compher, and Tarasenko are underperforming relative to their depth on the team, it seems more likely we’ll get more offense out of them than have guys who are 15 goal/year guys suddenly get better in the second half of the year.

    I think constantly mixing the lines undermines developing chemistry or cuts off evident chemistry.

    Raymond and Larkin can both drive a line, it might be best to give Raymond the 2nd line and put Cat and Kane with Larkin. Raymond-Kasper-Berggren on the second line.

    In theory this gives Compher easier competition to perform offensively, Tarasenko can shoot, and Copp can play wing.

    In all honesty, we don’t have the right combination of players to be consistently competitive and I don’t think Lalonde’s system works to the advantages we do have. Our defense gets caved in all the time and our offense lacks shooting. I would much rather we play a creative, offensive game where we let Larkin, Raymond, Cat, Kane play creative fun hockey, and let Edvinsson join the rush on a more frequent basis. We might lose, but at least we would be fun to watch.

    We need another good D man to round out the top 4 if ASP is what he is supposed to be. We need another center as good as Larkin, and we need a third line with more offensive talent than Ras/Veleno/whoever

  4. Motte and Kasper are outliers here because I’ve seen them create insane plays with no reward

  5. I think after last night the answer is obvious – give elite goal scorer Jeff Petry more ice time

  6. The painful answer is just to get much better players. The skill we do have (Kane) has no help to maximize his abilities because outside of Larkin, Raymond, and DeBrincat there’s nothing else on the team. Our center depth is just awful for creating offense.

  8. I’m gonna get hated on but I’m speaking the truth

    Larkin has been very disappointing. He’s allegedly our 1C in his prime. If he can’t perform like what this sub thinks he is, then his regression in a few years will shock you

    We’re not holding Larkin back. He’s holding us back. I’m sure he had a say in telling Yzerman to step on the gas. We’re doing more harm than good in hoping he’s the 1C of our future

    I’ve been saying it for over 3 years now. Larkin is unfortunately not a 1C

  10. How about shoot the puck waaaayyyy more. That’s what every other team does against us when they beat us. Every game some rookie or 4th liner gets a goal against the Wings (usually first career goal).

  12. Improve the D behind them, tbh. Bad D mean the forwards have to play more defense, and don’t get the puck easily to move forward and play offense.

  13. Put Tarasenko in his correct position, like he has played he full career, and his numbers would likely rebound.

  14. Id be interested to know the cost of Hinostroza. Preds are bad and still refuse to bring him up.

  15. Definitely a combination of system and skill level. Our best player is 28th in points in the NHL.

  17. Put players where they belong. Rasmussen is not a top 6 forward, Berggren has top 6 potential, Tarasenko will be better on the 3rd line, guys like Fischer and Motte are clearly 4th liners, stop breaking up DeBrincat, Larkin, and Raymond

  20. Get depth as the prospects get to the team. Most of the Premier UFA’s aren’t going to want to come to Detroit until they are at least a consistent playoff team. And the Copp and Compher level guys are only gonna be good for like 2-3 years before age regression hits.

  21. Fish-copp-ras should be a staple line, no skill but then can keep possesion in the offensive end.

    Bergren-compher-kasper should be a line, need to give the young guys a decent center to play with.

    Unfortunately that leaves kane-veleno-tarasenko. 88/11 seem to have had their day, but tarasenko shows potential to break through. Veleno needs to lock in or detroit needs to move on.

    Unfortunately there seems to be no replacing fabbri, sprong, and perron with this current roster.

  22. Pull up some youth and get them some experience … Johansson, Kasper should be regulars in the lineup…best two offensive players in GR are Mazur and Buchelnikov…cut Kane & Tarasenko …possibly Holl too

  23. There’s a few $4-5 million players here on pace for about 10 goals. Other teams have players around these salaries who are having great years and may score 30+

  28. Play Raymond on his off side, he played on the LW in the SHL. That allows you to try him with Kane, or try him with Tarasenko (RW, currently deployed as a LW).

    Maybe:

    Raymond-Larkin-Kane

    Berggren – Kasper – Tarasenko

    Debrincat – Compher – Motte

    Ras – Copp – Fischer

  30. Better coaching. I’m dead serious. I find it hard to believe that guys like Kane and Tarasenko have simply forgotten how to score goals.

  31. You can’t get into the playoffs with Michael Rasmussen on the 2nd line. Also most of the team is awful. Lol at Gustafsson.

  33. Wait, I didn’t sleep much last night because I stayed up to watch the Lions game (I’m in Norway, it ended like 2am), but I think I might be hallucinating, I’m seeing Copp on fourth place. I think I should call my physician…

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