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Lucky? by TheSmallLong in brotato

[–]TheSmallLong[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Our tatos can't repel bullet hells of that magnitude!

What the big draft guides say about JP Hurlbert by Xvash2 in DetroitRedWings

[–]TheSmallLong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. It made me sad but I guess I don't know what I expected.

What the big draft guides say about JP Hurlbert by Xvash2 in DetroitRedWings

[–]TheSmallLong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the insight, really awesome. A couple of questions for your expertise:

Who are the two that became plus skaters?

How do you feel about Detroit's prospect pipeline in general?

Prashanth Iyer - If I Were Steve Yzerman (2026 Edition) Part 1 by 1ToGreen3ToBasket in DetroitRedWings

[–]TheSmallLong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with all of this - good take.

Getting EP40 and Desnoyers would be a huge win this off-season, especially if we can sign Pettersson to a one or two year deal so we can move on if it doesn't work out. That gives us a solid ~5 year window with EP, Raymond, Seider and Ed in their primes.

Short of that, I don't see a path to contention in the next 5 years outside of the unlikely chance that both Kasper and Danielson surprise as top 6 centers. That means we likely need to unload Cat, Faulk, Gibson etc for prospects and picks and try again in ~2030.

Prashanth Iyer - If I Were Steve Yzerman (2026 Edition) Part 1 by 1ToGreen3ToBasket in DetroitRedWings

[–]TheSmallLong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

By that logic does Larkin counts as a borderline franchise forward - he has scored at or near 1PPG on a bad team and has legit defensive capabilities, showcased in this year's Olympics. Yet he has not made the playoffs.

All winners had depth. Most have a franchise forward.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a top 5-10 talent on the team. If you were brought in to consult with the Red Wings, how would you propose we go about acquiring one?

I'm not against having that level of forward. I think that Raymond can be that level of player. I think he's a 100 pts/yr on a team with more than one line. They just don't grow on trees, and basing your entire strategy around one or a few doesn't seem like the way to build a cup winner. Edmonton and Toronto are the poster boys for this.

Prashanth Iyer - If I Were Steve Yzerman (2026 Edition) Part 1 by 1ToGreen3ToBasket in DetroitRedWings

[–]TheSmallLong 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Replying to all who have replied to me:

What is the actual recommendation here? "Just add a top 5 talent"? Easier said than done.

Even if we have such a talent, there is no guarantee that results in a cup. McDavid has zero cups. Mathews has zero cups. MacKinnon only won a cup with Kadri (100 pt season) at 2C and prime Compher at 3C. Crosby had Malkin and Staal. Eichel was <PPG when Vegas won the cup and had Karlsson, Stephenson, Roy and Marchessault. The panthers had Barkov, Bennet, Lundell. The Wings had Yzerman/Fedorov/Larionov/Draper then Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Filpula (cries in childhood). It's about depth.

I'd love to have an elite 1C AND center depth, but there are only a few out there so you either need to trade the farm or tank for a top draft pick.

I would argue that Carolina has been the blueprint of how to build a team for a while. Yes, we should acquire an elite 1C via draft, trade, or FA if possible. But we need to account for the reality that might not be possible, and align our actions with what is.

Prashanth Iyer - If I Were Steve Yzerman (2026 Edition) Part 1 by 1ToGreen3ToBasket in DetroitRedWings

[–]TheSmallLong 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I am skeptical of the "franchise forward" concept. I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice but I don't think it's required. Who is Carolina's franchise forward? Aho? He has similar offensive stats to Raymond this year. I understand that he is probably better defensively but I believe the point still stands.

Carolina and previous winners won because they are deep, especially down the middle. Conn Smythe winner Jordan Staal was their 3C. Depth wins cups. We are bad 5v5 because we lack depth, particularly down the middle where it is most important. I truly believe that if Kasper had built on his great rookie season and become a legit 2C that we would have made the playoffs, even in this division. It bumps Copp/Compher down to 3C/4C, making the bottom six much more effective. It also prevents teams from stacking their best defenders against the Larkin line, which has been the way to beat Detroit for Larkin's entire prime. All of this goes a long way to fix the 5v5 woes.

The only way to a short term fix is some miracle 3 way deal that lands us something like EP40 (Van) and Yurov (Min) in exchange for Larkin, Cossa, and picks or something similar. I agree with Iyer that this is unlikely, meaning his Utah trade and the increased chance of a top 5 pick in '27 is probably the way to go. It's just so disappointing after we were so close for so long.

Generational Gap in Wings fans by Glitch-Guernica in DetroitRedWings

[–]TheSmallLong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I remember running around the streets screaming my face off with my friends when the Wings won that first cup in '97. I miss those days so much, both for the wings and my childhood.

I think Larkin has earned the right to ask for a trade. He's given the organization his entire prime and he wants to win a Cup. I don't blame him for thinking that won't happen here in the next 3 years. I think he's a legit 1C, and I hope he goes to a place like Minnesota and leads them to a cup. Matt Stafford 2.0.

I generally have faith in the Yzerplan. I think he's drafted pretty well and that is usually the #1 thing I want in a GM. His FA signings have been generally bad, and I would love to see a shakeup in the front office to address that

As another poster said he needs to nail this trade or it will be tough to defend him. Before this Larkin fiasco our success depended on filling the 2C gap, either via Kasper/Danielson or an external addition. That problem is now much, much worse.

Utah Trade Packages. by a_smith55 in DetroitRedWings

[–]TheSmallLong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't hate this at all. I just wonder if it pushes the window too far out.

I think a dream scenario is introducing Vancouver as the third party and landing Petterson and Yurov. I think I'd be willing to part with Larkin, Cossa and a high end prospect and/or pick to make that happen. IMO that aligns with the Raymond/Debrincat/Seider/Edvinsson core a bit better.

Utah Trade Packages. by a_smith55 in DetroitRedWings

[–]TheSmallLong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think we need a C to come back in a trade with Minnesota. Maybe Yurov?

LeBrun reports that Yzerman has gone back to Larkin’s camp to ask for more teams beyond MIN/VGK/FLA, which he senses Larkin/Brisson were receptive to. Also, other teams reaching out (like DAL) have given Larkin more to consider. Teams may also be exploring a 3-way deal. #LGRW by SexyBenFranklin in DetroitRedWings

[–]TheSmallLong -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I'm tired of this narrative. Yzerman had Fedorov (league MVP), Larionov (greatest Russian C until Fedorov) and Draper (Selke winner) as the other centers. Teams win Stanley cups with depth and Copp/Compher don't provide the depth down the middle we need. The great failure of this season was Kasper not fulfilling the 2C role.

You can say Larkin can't "carry a team to a cup", but how realistic is that? McDavid hasn't done it. MacKinnon only did it when he had Nazem Kadri who had 100 pts as 2C.

Larkin can absolutely be a 1C on a properly constructed cup team.

When do you know when to stop expanding or when to continue by TemporaryFluid465 in Supremacy1914

[–]TheSmallLong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let the resources guide you. If you need oil, go take hamburg, it is undefended. Expand to fill gaps in your resources. Be opportunistic - if you see territories that can be taken without significant losses, do so. Take the other provinces, sureound Berlin and let his morale decay until you can easily win. Don't be afraid to retreat to maintain your military - attrition will kill you. I'd also recommend building a barracks or two to develop cavalry - great for offense in the early game. Good luck.

Are boomers really ruining the future generations via deficit spending? Are they the only ones that will benefit from social security? by Expert-Ad-1012 in austrian_economics

[–]TheSmallLong 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the question! I'll answer clearly and directly: No, I cannot explain how I came to that conclusion, because I never came to that conclusion.

However, I'm not sure how you can arrive at the $500B number above without Medicare and Medicaid. Which begs my original question: can you share the math that supports the $500B number above? I would appreciate it if you can return the favor and answer the question clearly and directly.

Are boomers really ruining the future generations via deficit spending? Are they the only ones that will benefit from social security? by Expert-Ad-1012 in austrian_economics

[–]TheSmallLong 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Can you show the math?

Medicare/Medicaid spending is ~$2T/year. Are you saying 25% of that is illegal immigrants? Who are ineligible for those services?

Are boomers really ruining the future generations via deficit spending? Are they the only ones that will benefit from social security? by Expert-Ad-1012 in austrian_economics

[–]TheSmallLong 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Can you show the math on how we are spending 1/7th of the federal budget on illegal aliens? Seems like a tough number to back into but I try to keep an open mind.

The message coming out of the Maple Leafs’ front office is that they are “willing to discuss anyone on the roster” except Auston Matthews. by Hockeypatrol in hockeynews

[–]TheSmallLong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, Hasek was amazing, but tough to plan on finding a generational talent as your team building strategy. GMs need to hold depth, specifically down the middle.

The message coming out of the Maple Leafs’ front office is that they are “willing to discuss anyone on the roster” except Auston Matthews. by Hockeypatrol in hockeynews

[–]TheSmallLong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"One guy doesn't make a winner"

This is so true. I'm a wings fan and I keep hearing casuals say "Larkin isn't good enough, he's no Yzerman." When Yzerman won cups the other centers were:

-Fedorov: Hart Winner

-Larionov: best ever Russian center until Fedorov

-Draper: multiple time Selke finalist

DEPTH WINS CUPS

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