I should have written this earlier. I should have written it Saturday night, Sunday morning or yesterday. I should have written it last year or the year before.
This franchise has plummeted.
I'm no hockey beat writer or even a mildly credible blogger. I won't be calling players out "for effort", because I've never once in my mostly adult life been able to look at a television and determine whether the participants in any sport I was watching were easing up, or not giving "full effort." That's BS and it's BS from any reporter or blogger who hasn't played at that level, and I dare say none of us have. Maybe Gregg Krupa, but nobody else.
No. This isn't about the players we have.
We've seen enough from them to know they are not the problem. That's a fairly talented group, or at least more talented then the last 7 games have shown us.
This is a management problem and a coaching problem.
Jeff Blashill would have been fired from any team in the league Sunday morning. That was disgusting.
But not the Wings, boy. Not the Wings. Why? You know why. Blashill, the milque toast, lukewarm, nice Mike Babcock, is Ken Holland's boy, his wunderkind and his effing legacy. Ken Holland brought him along and strung our asses right along with him. Ken Holland fires Blashill and it's his referendum.
Chris Ilitch needs to make a move and make that move right damn now. Everyone must go. Jettison the apathetic, comfortable Ken Holland. Don't let him ride his garbage contract to the last day. He let this team atrophy and he's iced a team that can't fill half of a new stadium. Jesus. That, in itself, should be enough.
What new arena can't fill its seats?
What new arena in an Original 6 city can't entice fans?
Ken Holland's arena. Ken Holland's team, the one that Blashill "likes". Shitttttt.
Chris Ilitch needs to get his checkbook out. Chris Ilitch needs to fly to Tampa with his checkbook in one hand and a kung fu grip in the other, ready to do what's necessary to get The Captain back to Detroit.
I don't care. I simply do not care what you have to say to that unless you agree, then we can talk. Ilitch needs to pay Steve Yzerman whatever it takes, times three. Buy out his contract. Pay the lawyers for the breach. Buy out the house and convince the entire family that Detroit is the place to be, the home to return to.
Yzerman brings the fan base back. Yzerman brings the intense, burning desire to win back. Do you really believe Ken Tick Tock Holland gives a single, solitary shit about winning? Seriously? Since when?
Bring Steve Yzerman back to Detroit and let him spend money on staff. We know the damn budget for skaters has been bent over and brutalized by one Ken Holland. Got it. Open the wallet and let Yzerman spend to his heart's content on the best minds in hockey. Kind of like, I don't know, Toronto did?
Bring him back. At any cost. Immediately.
You think it's impossible? Why? It's just money. I think the Ilitch family has some.
Bring him back and let him have complete and utter control. Absolute control. No interference. General manager and president of hockey operations, Steve Yzerman.
Is he the brightest mind in hockey? Maybe not. But he damn sure wants to win more than anyone else. And, by god, we don't need a genius. We need a competitor with money at his disposal.
Fire Ken Holland. Fire Jeff Blashill. Bring in Steve Yzerman and whoever the hell else he wants at whatever cost he demands.
This BS has gone on long enough.
It's a live blog, MFers. LGRW and do what you have to do, CHRIS.
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