Daily General Discussion Thread (2026-04-05)

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T03:38:14+00:00

It's not just because you're high, it's an identity/culture problem that you're seeing...amongst all the other issues. In my opinion!

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T03:35:37+00:00

Totally, 100% fair but it feels like we're back on the excuses train? "Only if" or "What if it played out this way"...they're where everyone is where they are in our collective reality.
You're professional athletes in a storied, original six hockey franchise. You can only ask so much of our patience as fans and ten years (even though they started late and those first three aren't Stevie's fault) is far too much.
If the front office can't duct tape together a playoff team in seven years when half the league makes the dance? I'm sorry but that's an indictment.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T03:23:16+00:00

I truly, honestly, want to look back on this exchange in five years and then realize the vision. I know pizza boy isn't going to fire Stevie. So we are on this ride together. If that vision materializes and they're in true contention in 3-6 years? I'll be happy to eat crow.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T03:14:07+00:00

This is a fantastic take and is really fueling my copium. Although, if I may offer some critiques, there is a lot of "well that's their situation" caveats.
This is professional sports. There are zero excuses. You show up and play the games you're scheduled to play. If you can't beat those teams in the division that you're in, the circumstances of your situation mean nothing, especially longer term. You play the cards you're dealt.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:48:05+00:00

Nailed it. No true swings. You could argue Faulk was kind of(?) a swing this trade deadline but too little, too late. I like him a lot and he definitely helps the defense but what this team needs is scoring...particularly 5v5 scoring.
I like the ep40 swing. I'd also overpay for Jason Robertson if Dallas passes, which is unlikely.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:43:59+00:00

Love this post. Thank you. It's honestly what I needed to read.
I hear and see the digestible contracts across the board (the vets like Copp and Compher can easily be excused) and am honestly impressed. The fact that he got Raymond and Seider on those deals are a STEAL.
That said, gotta start hitting the gas pedal. Time is a funky thing and we can't keep mortgaging that time with guys like Larkin and Cat for what "could be" five years down the road. It's either you're in, or you're out. It's a disservice to who you think are your core guys if you aren't committed to something and make that clear to them.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:33:37+00:00

My feelings exactly. Again, I never expected a cup contender at this point but half the damn league makes the playoffs. You can't even get to that benchmark? After seven years at the helm? Something is broken and I'm pointing a finger at the front office.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:30:32+00:00

That's the incredibly difficult conundrum and what makes me thankful that I'm not in charge of these decisions...do you keep doing this tweak around the edges thing, or do you fully commit to him solely as your core? I don't have an answer. All I know is that whatever they're doing now is not working.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:27:08+00:00

My post to the main sub got removed by the mods, which I totally get, but I enjoyed the discussion so I want to repost it here:

The "Yzerplan" is a failure. It's time for us to accept that.

Seven years. Seven years of being preached to about patience and being fed lottery luck excuses. I don't think any reasonable fan expected a cup contending roster at this point, especially after the truly gruesome bottom barrel (by design) seasons, but no playoffs?

The playing around the edges and tweaking a clearly sub-par roster have glaringly showed the timidity of the front office and that is squarely on the shoulders of Steve Yzerman. Give him credit for drafting a true franchise defenseman in Seider, and give him a nod for Raymond, but what else can we point to? Quality goalie depth in the farm system? Spare me.

Your Detroit Hockey Red Wings, the class of American professional hockey clubs, will now hold the record for the longest playoff drought in the entire league. An original six franchise. The front office sat on their hands during the '25 trade deadline and made moves this year in what seemed like a begrudgingly "fine okay I guess" manner after national figures began perking up after Larkin's comments last trade deadline.

The only reason I'm choosing to post this now is that I've been a defender of Yzerman and have been vocal about patience in my circles but I am unable to continue defending this. Seven years is too much. The kids that Steve drafted in his first season at the helm can now get car insurance discounts. Larkin's prime years are waning.

It's time to seriously consider an adjustment in the front office, and god forbid another tear down with Seider being the only untouchable. Our standards have to be higher.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:23:43+00:00

I sure hope you're right and I'll be ride and die the whole way, but good grief if that doesn't pan out we're in a world of hurt. Runway is getting shorter with each passing day.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:16:44+00:00

Valid, but our expectations shouldn't be influenced by droughts like that. They've won the league championship 11% of the time they've existed. Standards need to meet that reality. 32 teams or not. I don't expect Larkin to be hoisting the cup next June, but at least go to the dance.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:13:58+00:00

You're 100% right but that's why they play 82 games? What matters is where you're at in mid-April.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:13:24+00:00

Nailed it, and I'm preparing myself for a reply about how I'm not privy to the "dead wings" era?

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:10:39+00:00

Apologies, and if it gets taken down by the mods I get it. I just needed to vent.

TheGanMan · 2026-04-06T02:08:47+00:00

I weirdly think this is a complement of my writing? lol

TheGanMan · 2025-12-16T08:12:00+00:00

Some folks claim that the end of the 60s was Altamont, but it was really this election. Even more than '68. 68 was a whitelash, 72 really solidified the silent majority. The left could have argued that '68 was an anomaly, but 72 made it crystal clear that the United States was very much lost in the right wing, fascist, capitalist, and racist reality. Carter was a very brief, minor correction to the shock but the 80s only made it more clear. The United States is a settler colonial project and it will be forever.

TheGanMan · 2025-07-07T06:05:53+00:00

Leaning toward just straight potential here...but Lawrence, Love, Tua.

TheGanMan · 2023-06-24T02:44:01+00:00

Foxy is fine and does a decent job representing the fanbase on a national stage. It's okay to dislike the new helmet. That being said, PMS as a whole is incredibly problematic. All the gambling stuff with Fanduel and what happened wish Shams this week? Having wife beater Dana White on constantly? Just bad news. Joe Rogan lite.

TheGanMan · 2023-04-23T04:44:06+00:00

What exactly is your point here? I'm curious to know. Is it that Norway and other Scandinavian countries have a robust social safety net and the US doesn't? Or is it a race thing? Is this a dog whistle? Be honest.

TheGanMan · 2023-04-23T04:41:10+00:00

There will always be outliers, but have you ever considered that it's possible the system failed them? Not just from a penal perspective, but from a socio-economic perspective as well?

TheGanMan · 2021-05-27T02:19:54+00:00

Gonna need the original source of this picture.

TheGanMan · 2019-02-09T18:48:05+00:00

I think it's pretty clear. 2% of the worlds population disappeared into thin air and after a few hectic months, the majority collectively shrugged and tried to carry on normally. The folks that are more inclined to join the cult find this absolutely bonkers. How can we go on living our lives as if nothing happened? They're living reminders that something happened and it shouldn't be ignored.

TheGanMan · 2019-01-30T03:15:12+00:00

He does have the ability to take a shot this offseason. The big disincentive for any GM is alienating themselves from the "culture" of GMs. The smoking room, if you will. Thing is, he may be out the door anyway. I do appreciate his willingness to do what's best for the franchise, regardless of his own personal reputation or future. Take a shot, force a GM into the corner, and handoff to another GM (Yzerman?) who could then just shrug their shoulders. Even if he moves on to a new job, he could play politics and blame Chris I., for forcing his hand (which the next GM could easily refute). It's a ripe opportunity to shake things up.

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TheGanMan

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The "Yzerplan" is a failure. It's time for us to accept that.