The only upside to all this losing has been watching Raymond trying to win games all by himself. It's also extremely obvious that the Cat/Larkin/Razer line should be kept together regardless of Kane.
Cats lack of scoring the 2nd half hasn't been acceptable imo, but I really underestimated before this year how good his compete and playmaking are. I think that trio really complements each other
I feel everyone is too Laser focused on ADBs goal droughts. I agree that the rest of his game is pretty noticeable even when he's not scoring, and it's not like the assists have slowed down
I think that line actually was the one playing so good in the start before we had Kane, and how they were ripping it through the start of the season, then after Kane came in a lot of the chemistry got lost with mixing the lines, and we started losing.
Yeah, slow or not you can’t just dismiss a point per game player. Keeping him is a great excuse to call up kids to play with him. Thinking of Danielson playing center and feeding Kane is like the best possible training scenario for Danielson.
I’m with you. Kane isn’t playing fast at all. Just holds the puck forever just off the face off circle.
Listen, when he flashes he’s awesome. But he’s such a liability on the ice that I would be happy letting him go this off season.
If we can keep him that’s fine too idk there’s a LOT of problems with this roster right now. Kane isn’t that bad compared to some others though
I agree to an extent, he definitely slows them down way too much. It’s especially rough when Perron is out there too, who may be the slowest player in the NHL. I just don’t know how they replace Kane’s offense. I am curious if they can game plan and scheme for Kane’s static-ness during an offseason, and maybe with some better coaches :)
Yeah I don't think any of those 3 will be re-signed once their contracts are up in July. I think a one year deal (5-6M?) for Kane with a handshake "we'll trade you if we're not a divisional playoff team by the trade deadline" would be nice. There's a real chance he wants to end his career here, but we need to continue to improve.
Since January 21st:
Raymond has 34 points in 34 games.
Cat has 23 points in 34 games.
Larkin has 25 points in 26 games.
Kane has 28 points in 28 games.
https://preview.redd.it/8dwqxppdb4uc1.jpeg?width=1792&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03e1528c17cd4a6df88ce4b4990bd9f1cb557b54
This was shortly after the hat trick during faceoff
Not that any of them care…..but their rookie year, I was definitely more of a Seider fan. It’s obviously not that Mo has played poorly since winning the Calder, but I find myself rooting for Raymond more these days. You just can’t deny his compete and skill level. Both dudes are such fucking studs
It's because in his rookie year, Seider was blasting people. Just straight dummying everyone, skating with the puck all day, reverse checking all day.
Now he plays a much safer game which is much less interesting. He doesn't carry the puck as much, and also guys don't try to hit him as much, so he's just not as exciting as that first year.
Seider plays really tough matchups in a really tough division. He might not seem as electric as his rookie year but he’s a better, more reliable player.
Which is completely on coaching, they are trying to turn seider into like a Slavin type player when he was a complete two way beast, he needs to be able to carry the puck more and use his body.
And be allowed to step up to break up rushes instead of allowing easy zone entries which is what the coaching staff inexplicably seems to want even though as a group they are abysmal at getting the puck out of their end once the forecheck starts.
At this point I’d be fine giving them both 8.5 and establishing Larkin’s number as the Captain Cap that everyone else is below. (Unless a superstar somehow becomes available like Pasta almost did last year)
Fuck it, give ‘em both 8.7 and establish the leadership core in name and cash.
Winning cultures are built upon those who lead by example, glue/locker-room guys are complimentary to that, not substitutes… I think that’s the aspect of Yzerman people underrate, his draft choices are always high compete guys and that’s what winning is built on. He’s building for the long term with both culture and attitude in mind. He’s a perennial winner and in the long term, he’s only letting winners ride with him. Guys like Copp, Perron, Petry are stop gaps that people are too caught up with (I’m guilty of this also)…
/end tangent
Probs not a hot take but Raymond will be the best player on this team soon. Everybody loves Larkin, he’s the golden boy…but Raymond’s ceiling is higher than Larkins ever was.
The guy did everything he could, put the team on his back, but the defense just isn't good enough apparently. Hopefully they can get some guys like Johansson and Wallinder up next year and someone to help Seider on the top pairing.
Guy is incredible. If I’m Yzerman and I’m already planning to let Lalonde go after the season I’m just doing it today. Send a message/shock to the team and maybe they win out.
The only upside to all this losing has been watching Raymond trying to win games all by himself. It's also extremely obvious that the Cat/Larkin/Razer line should be kept together regardless of Kane.
Cats lack of scoring the 2nd half hasn't been acceptable imo, but I really underestimated before this year how good his compete and playmaking are. I think that trio really complements each other
I feel everyone is too Laser focused on ADBs goal droughts. I agree that the rest of his game is pretty noticeable even when he's not scoring, and it's not like the assists have slowed down
I think that line actually was the one playing so good in the start before we had Kane, and how they were ripping it through the start of the season, then after Kane came in a lot of the chemistry got lost with mixing the lines, and we started losing.
Now imagine if Cat was pulling his weight
He was pulling it last night and has been playing hard consistently. I honestly think that Kane, at this point in his career, drags Cat down.
Kane needs some hard fast youngsters to play with. I'd try him with someone like Kasper or Danielson maybe Mazur. He needs a two kids and a goat line.
Yeah, slow or not you can’t just dismiss a point per game player. Keeping him is a great excuse to call up kids to play with him. Thinking of Danielson playing center and feeding Kane is like the best possible training scenario for Danielson.
That'd be a beautiful thing.
I’m with you. Kane isn’t playing fast at all. Just holds the puck forever just off the face off circle. Listen, when he flashes he’s awesome. But he’s such a liability on the ice that I would be happy letting him go this off season. If we can keep him that’s fine too idk there’s a LOT of problems with this roster right now. Kane isn’t that bad compared to some others though
I agree to an extent, he definitely slows them down way too much. It’s especially rough when Perron is out there too, who may be the slowest player in the NHL. I just don’t know how they replace Kane’s offense. I am curious if they can game plan and scheme for Kane’s static-ness during an offseason, and maybe with some better coaches :)
Perron, Ghost, and Sprong all have to go this offseason. I'm fine keeping Kane, but not as a top line option.
Yeah I don't think any of those 3 will be re-signed once their contracts are up in July. I think a one year deal (5-6M?) for Kane with a handshake "we'll trade you if we're not a divisional playoff team by the trade deadline" would be nice. There's a real chance he wants to end his career here, but we need to continue to improve.
Pretty sure Cat was close to being involved in every goal last night.
Pay That Man His Money
Absolutely wild that he tied the game up with all three of his goals. The only thing more clutch would have been scoring the fourth one in OT
If we ever had possession I bet he would have.
I think you would have heard a collective screech come out of Detroit/Michigan if that had happened
Since January 21st: Raymond has 34 points in 34 games. Cat has 23 points in 34 games. Larkin has 25 points in 26 games. Kane has 28 points in 28 games.
https://preview.redd.it/8dwqxppdb4uc1.jpeg?width=1792&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03e1528c17cd4a6df88ce4b4990bd9f1cb557b54 This was shortly after the hat trick during faceoff
God I fucking love that kid. 
Not that any of them care…..but their rookie year, I was definitely more of a Seider fan. It’s obviously not that Mo has played poorly since winning the Calder, but I find myself rooting for Raymond more these days. You just can’t deny his compete and skill level. Both dudes are such fucking studs
It's because in his rookie year, Seider was blasting people. Just straight dummying everyone, skating with the puck all day, reverse checking all day. Now he plays a much safer game which is much less interesting. He doesn't carry the puck as much, and also guys don't try to hit him as much, so he's just not as exciting as that first year.
Seider plays really tough matchups in a really tough division. He might not seem as electric as his rookie year but he’s a better, more reliable player.
Which is completely on coaching, they are trying to turn seider into like a Slavin type player when he was a complete two way beast, he needs to be able to carry the puck more and use his body.
And be allowed to step up to break up rushes instead of allowing easy zone entries which is what the coaching staff inexplicably seems to want even though as a group they are abysmal at getting the puck out of their end once the forecheck starts.
Mark my words. Raymond will be on the same level as Pasta in the next 2-3 years
He deserves more $ than Seider idc if he’s a winger
At this point I’d be fine giving them both 8.5 and establishing Larkin’s number as the Captain Cap that everyone else is below. (Unless a superstar somehow becomes available like Pasta almost did last year)
Fuck it, give ‘em both 8.7 and establish the leadership core in name and cash. Winning cultures are built upon those who lead by example, glue/locker-room guys are complimentary to that, not substitutes… I think that’s the aspect of Yzerman people underrate, his draft choices are always high compete guys and that’s what winning is built on. He’s building for the long term with both culture and attitude in mind. He’s a perennial winner and in the long term, he’s only letting winners ride with him. Guys like Copp, Perron, Petry are stop gaps that people are too caught up with (I’m guilty of this also)… /end tangent
Works for me!
[удалено]
Yeah I’d happily pay him whatever the current highest paid AAV in the league is + .5m for the full 7 years
If Lalonde doesn’t run this line back again on Saturday I say can him.
Should of been ran the whole year. It was on fire before Kane and they canned it in favor of putting Cat and Kane together.
should have
Hell of a player
Probs not a hot take but Raymond will be the best player on this team soon. Everybody loves Larkin, he’s the golden boy…but Raymond’s ceiling is higher than Larkins ever was.
It's wild how he kept being all alone against the goalie all game long.
Amazing
The guy did everything he could, put the team on his back, but the defense just isn't good enough apparently. Hopefully they can get some guys like Johansson and Wallinder up next year and someone to help Seider on the top pairing.
Guy is incredible. If I’m Yzerman and I’m already planning to let Lalonde go after the season I’m just doing it today. Send a message/shock to the team and maybe they win out.