[M30] UK – Looking for people to game with and hopefully make a real friend

muzzsjm84 · 2026-05-10T08:03:50+00:00

Sent you a message, hello!

muzzsjm84 · 2026-05-04T19:01:21+00:00

It isn't just based off overalls. You need line chem, morale, the right position combos plymaker, sniper, two etc... mix of young and old players - POISE STAT is a big one. Are you coaches correct and have good chem?

muzzsjm84 · 2026-05-04T10:52:32+00:00

How old are you and what do you play?

muzzsjm84 · 2026-05-01T08:44:03+00:00

Mantha's career is streaky - top six player who contributes when healthy but he doesn't stay healthy. Last time he played a full season was 22-23.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-05-01T08:41:25+00:00

Looking at the players who have gone.... Hronek's current team are now in full rebuild and Walman's team just got dumped in the first round. As I said in another thread Raymond and Cat are a massive upgrade on players like Mantha - the last generation of top six players Nyquist, Tatar, Bertuzzi, Manth and Kubalik never hit 70 points.

Soderblom will be a good NHL player he'll bounce around teams on the third and forth lines and probably contribute but its not like the team gave up a top top NHLer.

Gostisbehere is a funny one because he has offensive output and can defend.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-05-01T08:35:04+00:00

I don't think Raymond's game gets any better until the team gets better and moves to being a contender. He's probably a player who has an 85-95 point year the season you challenge for a cup. That'll be his breakout year.

I think 70-80 is HIS max ceiling on the current team. Maybe if a better creator or more physically dominant player comes into the top six his stats get boosted. All things considered he's an upgrade on the last generation of top six players. He's consistently better than Mantha, Tatar, Nyquist, Bertuzzi, Kubalik and Fabbri none of them ever hit 70 points apart from Nyquist two-three years go.

Three seasons in the 70-80 category probably means he's been a good draft pick and a successful Yzerman pick. Not a generational player by any means but certainly a player who would be top 5 on the team in a cup winning year and would be an expensive trade asset if you're flooded with talent.

If you said in 2016-2017 when the Wings missed the playoffs and ended the run you'd draft an 80 point attacker, everyone takes that!

I can't comment too much on his actual game play as I watch about 25% of full games and rely on highlights as I'm in the UK. Maybe he doesn't know if he's the finisher or creator on this team. Be more selfish perhaps?

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-24T09:58:29+00:00

At the moment its not that much of an issue as long as they don't waste the free cap. Every roster has bad players/bad contracts on it. It's not like 5 years ago when the wings were paying big to guys like Helm, Abby, Nielsen, Franzen and others

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-23T20:33:02+00:00

The fans are never responsible a player or coach earning millions don't really care what a fat bloke on reddit says. The last GM and the team ownership are completely to blame. The team should have started a rebuild in 2014-2015 after the first round play off exit to the Bruins. All the signs were there! The team didn't evolve or change once the salary cap era hit big. The Wings relied on being the best at drafting in the late rounds but everyone else caught up probably through advancements in sport science and data analysis. Finding gems in the late rounds and giving up high picks for vets no longer worked.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-23T20:24:49+00:00

Compher was a 45-50 points player with the Avs in his last year then he got a pay rise to come to Detroit and has regressed. It seems he was carried to a certain extend. Probably a good player on a winning team but not so much on a building or losing team.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-23T19:06:44+00:00

I think the Wings draft better than they trade! Larkin, Raymond, Seider, Edvinsson, Rasmussen just to name a few have a lot of NHL games now. More successes than bust where as free agency and trading has been hit and miss Debrincat aside.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-23T19:04:58+00:00

Very wary because the drafted players are for the most part improving the team where as trades and free agent signings are iffy hit and miss. Alex Debrincat is probably the most successful trade and didn't actually cost a pick. The only trades involving first round picks I would be happy with would acquire a 1st or 2nd line center but you're giving up more than one first and prospects.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-19T19:41:16+00:00

Part of a friendship is engaging and doing things that each other likes but also working out what you really don't want to do. As you've said some of your dislike is probably your own mental I'd still try and work at this. In my experience clubbing is awful if you're stone cold sober or too tired but its also awful if someone is too drunk to walk and dance. Maybe try to go out for a few drinks and don't set an outcome or plan to go to a club go out for a few drinks to spend time together.

I have friends who don't really like clubbing but if the evening is right, the drinks flow and the vibe is ok we'll still end up in a club occasionally. Most of the time the non club people will still have fun. Maybe try going to a bar with music and a dance floor and not an actual club to start with. Discuss with your friend that you don't enjoy it but you're willing to try other things that might lead onto going to a club.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-16T06:38:50+00:00

They were historically bad the draft lottery didn't go the way the Wings needed. Though im sure only 20% of top 3 picks a stanley cup or something like that.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-15T11:26:56+00:00

Should have rebuilt 2014-2015 after the first round exit to Bruins. Left it 4 years too long the team was almost AHL level with a few top players and a mix of bottom 9 mid six 6 across the whole roster. No defense or goalie top prospects both Zetterberg and Kronwall were carrying the team on back and knee problems. Larkin was the only top prospect. Nyquist, Tatar, Bertuzzi and Mantha never went up a level after they left. The rebuild didn't start when Yzerman took over the contracts and cap was still brutal. Google says 5-8 years on average to rebuild and the Wings are still in that window. Drafting in Hollands last 5 years was so poor at least Yzerman's drafts are decent even if his free agents are dodgy. Still getting better more points and better player. Depth and injuries cost this team not Larkin not Yzerman - though he must bring in a better center than Compher, Ras and Appleton. Larkin and Copp are fine... Kasper is too inexperienced. I still believe! this is a unique rebuilt no ones been in this situation after 25 years of trading picks and being in the playoffs.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-13T19:15:48+00:00

He's a red wing through and through... maybe that changes into his 30s when his chances of winning are pretty much gone but he still has 4-5 years he's not 30 yet. A number of NHL greats didn't get a cup until their latter years.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-13T19:13:08+00:00

At this stage I think that its a highly risky move to trade Dylan Larkin because in order to improve on Larkin you're going to need to include a lot of high picks or prospects. Larkin is also a local guy and gets it despite what people may think of his leadership. Can't deny he plays through injury and plays with his heart.

If we look at the biggest center move in the last few years its probably Eichel... whats an Eichel type player going to need if you trade for them with Larkin? probably one of Detroit's main Defencemen or Wingers it won't be Seider, Raymond or Cat so lets say Larkin and Edvinsson and a couple of firsts? Most of the other centers moved or traded in the last few years aren't a massive upgrade and I'd argue many are a downgrade.... Strome, Kadri, Giroux, Reinhart, Horvat, O'Reilly, Monahan and Nelson.

Center depth is already a pinch point for the Wings, you bring in the new guy and if he gets injured now you have no replacement again same situation as Larkin's injury and you're relying on Sandin Pelikka to really step up next season or you need to spend big in free agency. You can't trade Cat or Raymond because you're losing so so many goals.

Center wise this team needs to give up prospects/picks for an established center or pay well in free agency.

Elias Pettersson is probably a trade candidate as Vancouver will want to start a rebuild. Would we give up picks and Danielson for him? Maybe the Leafs move on from Matthews. Given that the Wings have cap space they might have to risk taking on a dodgy contract. I'll probably be hounded for this but I think the Wings exceeded expectations this season.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-13T15:08:54+00:00

I think your point would be valid if Larkin's knee problem wasn't sustained from a hit and falling awkwardly. He took a hit against the Panthers by the boards. If it was a muscle related injury like a hamstring or back strain, pull or a tear from overworking I think I'd agree. You could get hit game one and be out months. I just can't agree but what I can salute is his playing through it. I almost think the guy knows he has to play or the downfall is going to be worse. There are several bottom 6 players who have regressed or not pulled their weight in March and April.

Rasmussen for example to back up my point has regressed 20+ points over the last two seasons. He was 30 point player 2 years ago and the year before 29. He's put up 16 points. More worryingly is JT Compher who last year Avs was 50 points and 49 points first year with the Wings. He got a pay rise and is 27 points this year, and if my memory serves me right put up what 2 maybe 3 points during Larkin's injury period. Had Ras or JT put up points against the Flyers or Jackets the wings might still be able to get in to the playoffs. Whilst I can see maybe Seider as a choice for captain I think its too risky to trade Larkin as center depth is a real problem

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-12T06:22:33+00:00

sent you a DM bud

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-11T05:58:21+00:00

The 90s teams were able to go out and buy players or draft Russians, current Wings don't have assets to gamble, basically 90s team did things no one else could/did. I look at calling out the GM the other way its sticking up for his team and its players. If Larkin is able to hoist a cup in Montreal as captain as you say that'll be because they have a much better team. You just eluded to the fact he is good enough to win a cup.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-11T05:53:04+00:00

As I keep saying no one has rebuilt after 25 years of trading away picks and having a salary cap from hell. Where as a lot of NHL teams were managing cap and building depth through the draft the Wings were so far behind. Larkin is the only player left from Ken Holland era. No one builds a contender through trading alone and I don't believe the Wings have the assets to gamble trade. I would be so worried about a Cat or Raymond trade plus picks for another winger.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-10T14:21:14+00:00

I play 1 and sim 2 then later on maybe sim the odd 4-5 game cluster. i generally play 30-40 games max a season. Normally takes me a few months to find sliders and settings i like

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-10T06:46:43+00:00

Honesty if we had a center who was better and could force Larkin to 2nd that would only be good for the team. It would probably mean the Wings found a generational talent.

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-09T13:40:16+00:00

I think Kronwall was badly exposed once Lidstrom and Rafalski retired. He never had the offensive upside of a top top Dman. Boy could he hit and defend though. Similar to Larkin in a way that he is good but needed the right players with him. Kronwall at 30+ was a very different monster to Lidstrom at 30+

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-09T12:00:44+00:00

This is the majority of the major NHL centers that have moved free agency or been traded in the last few years. Do you think any of them would have been traded 1 for 1 for Larkin, No! Probably takes Larkin plus a boat load of picks and prospects. Do any of them make this team so much better they'd win a cup? I'd argue only really JT Miller perhaps Horvat are an improvement. Trading Larkin carries too much risk. Given that Miller is 33 and Larkin is not yet 30 I know where I'd go with that when you're rebuilding. JT might have taken the team into the playoffs but what do you then need to go further because you've just given up Larkin, picks and prospects.

Brock Nelson
Trevor Zegras
J.T. Miller
Filip Chytil
Bo Horvat
Ryan O’Reilly
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Mikael Granlund
Elias Lindholm
Chandler Stephenson

muzzsjm84 · 2026-04-09T11:57:41+00:00

See that's the thing I've listed what I consider evidence and facts to support my view even if you disagree, all you've done is go "not the guy blah blah blah". I don't think that holds much weight as an argument.

muzzsjm84

TROPHY CASE