It was a quiet July 4th in the NHL, as the American version of Independence Day coincided with cottage pursuits north of the border.
But one rather bizarre item stood out: Steve Yzerman, who has been GM of the extremely well-funded Detroit Red Wings since 2019, still doesn’t expect them to be a playoff team.
“I expect us to be a comparable team, although the players might be better fits as far as their roles,” Yzerman told reporters Thursday(opens in a new tab) of team’s outlook for this season. “I think we’re in that group of teams that if we stay healthy, our goaltending is good, and some players outplay their expectation, we might get in. Or you might just miss by a point on the last game of the season.”
I don’t know, that’s probably a realistic assessment given the other teams in their division and yet another July of meh moves by the franchise legend, but it’s just odd to see. The self-proclaimed “HOCKEYTOWN” (sure, sure…) franchise is now in its longest-ever playoff drought — which is saying something considering how absolutely terrible (and poorly attended) that team was in the 1970s and early 1980s before Islanders vice-architect Jimmy Devellano took over.
It’s just a weird look for a Original Six franchise that, when it’s riding high, fancies itself as the 1A center of the hockey universe. To see a franchise fixture like Yzerman helm this period of Wang-Snow-esque perpetual rebuilding makes it all the stranger.
This spring the Red Wings just missed out on the second wild card behind a bad Capitals team and a flawed Islanders team. Their moves thus far look like an “everyone will get a little bit better” approach, which is probably good for the Islanders as they take a “hope everyone doesn’t get a little bit older” approach.
Looking at things in early July, these teams may be in a group of bubble teams chasing the wild card spots again, which should be even harder now that New Jersey has addressed its goaltending.
Meanwhile…
There are a few significant NHLers that seem to still be rumored to be on the trade block. The Mitch Marner buzz may have quieted down — some say new coach Craig Berube wants to see what he can get out of him, and he has a full NTC anyway. Nikolaj Ehlers sounds like he’s more likely to be traded out of Winnipeg, but they have time to identify the ideal partner for that. The 28-year-old Dane has one year left and a limited NTC on his deal at $6 million before he becomes a UFA.
- The Isles could use another top-six winger. [THN]
- he Hurricanes signed Jack Roslovic, recently of the Rangers and Blue Jackets, on a one-year deal as they patch together repairs after several free agent departures. [TSN]
- Once sought-after in Arizona, then overpaid and bought out in Vancouver, then revived for a year and a Cup in Florida, Oliver Ekman-Larsson is excited to be in Toronto and get four years: “I wanna play until I am super old and they carry me off the ice.” [Sportsnet]