Get it done. 

Sorry for the posting delay today.  I could not fall asleep, finally at 5am I hit the lazyboy and was out like a light.  Woke up at 1130am, Whew.

from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,

If you think youre confused by the consecutive dismal performances the Detroit Red Wings were turning in at Ottawa the last two days, imagine how puzzled Detroit GM Steve Yzerman must be.

With the NHL trade deadline just three days away, hes still not certain whether hes a buyer or a seller.

After the Ottawa shenanigans turned in by his team, Yzerman just might be leaning toward the latter objective.

Back-to-back games in Canadas capital on successive days were going to be statment games for the Red Wings and their pursuit of a place in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

A statement was certainly made. Its that this team isnt ready for prime time.

continued

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

The Detroit Red Wings have lost three in a row in regulation, including a pair in Ottawa by a combined score of 12-3. The ugly performances against the Senators were a sharp contrast to how well the Red Wings had been playing during a 7-1 run prior to this skid.

Coach Derek Lalonde maintained perspective following Tuesdays 6-1 loss at Canadian Tire Centre.

I give the guys a little credit in the fact that about 11 games ago, they put a number on what it would take to get us back in (the playoffs race); it was 9-3, Lalonde told Bally Sports Detroit. If we get Thursday (at home vs. Seattle), were 8-4, just one off that.

Of course, a missed opportunity, especially with the way weve been playing of late, where we were in the standings. But it goes back to what got us into this race. We just need to take care of our game and thats something we did not do these past 48 hours.

Defensive breakdowns and poor special teams were their undoing in Ottawa.

The Red Wings went 1 for 12 on the power play in the two games (8.3 percent); after going 9 for 31 in their previous nine (29 percent). The Senators went 4 for 12 on the man-advantage (33 percent), after Detroits previous nine opponents went 3 for 24 (12.5 percent).

I just think special teams on the whole, unfortunately it deflated us, Lalonde said. We went 0 for 8 (on the power play Monday) and we lost momentum off it. It just took us off our game. Five-on-five game OK, but again, lost special teams and gave them easy offense. Its something we havent done all year, the breakaways, the odd-mans. Weve taken a lot of pride in that as a group, and weve gotten away from that probably over the last two games.

continued

I don't think Larkin would fetch 7years x $9mil on the open market. Detroit fans love him, and rightly so, but not that many people outside of Wings Nation have strong feelings about him. I think Stevie knows that, too, and will play chicken with him like he did with Stamkos, if Larks keeps holding out for that much.

Larkin has faded a bit here, I know its only been a few games, but we got overly excited for a few games as well including the ASG. 

I kinda want  Stevie to stick to his number, and not set precedence of paying UFA money to existing players, setup the culture of hometown discounts for those who want to be part of what is being built.

Larkin likely doesn't get a max deal with a team on the rise or contending, maybe he gets one from some longer term rebuild if that's what he wants to be part of his entire career both here and his next stop, instead of being part of the arc up as the Captain of his home town team and what that might mean for him in this town long term.  There's value in the cache of being captain of the Wings for his career here, if he leaves, never having won, never having played a playoff game, Seider will take his C and he'll be just another guy that played here.