I remember every single person saying the wings were gonna be the worst of the bunch lollll

just a reminder that 80% of the channel viewers voted for the habs to be in last place in the Atlantic and Detroit to be 7th. ain't that something

The wings are basically where I thought they would be this season, competing for a playoff spot and able to be competitive against some of the top teams.

One thing I've learned from these rebuilds is you never declare the rebuild over.

Something i've been saying since Yzerman got hired, is the Red Wings should be making meaningful playoff runs when we stop paying Justin Abdelkader.

You forgot about Sandin-Pellika as a wings first round pick!

I love having Seider on the Wings! He’s a real good defenseman. And he’s only going to get better!

Yzerplan is looking great! Can't wait to see our young studs crack the line up. really rooting for mazur and kasper to take their next steps. love both the grit those guys have that I think this team really needs. Not to mention our other great prospects. Like Ed, soder, danielson, Pelikka, Cossa, Augustine, Lombardi. I'm sure not all these guys are gonna be hits but they all have huge potential and even if just a few of them take off we will be in great shape here soon.

I love when people say the yzerplan is failing. He’s done so much with this team considering the dumpster fire it was before he arrived. Then they kept getting shafted in the draft lottery every year. While some teams picked 1st multiple times In a five year span. The offense has turned into one of the best in the league. You just gotta hope some of those defensive players we drafted make a step up then this team is looking scary. Also play husso less and Lyon more

I don’t think there is a way to account for how empty the prospect pool was in Detroit, and certainly Holland drafting Zadina over Hughes was mind boggling. As far as Seider, he’s got another gear. It might take longer, but he’s made some plays that are at the Hughes/ Makar level. He’s had to focus on defense more because our goaltending and defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed.

Yzerman inherited a mess from Ken Holland. It took at least two years before the rebuild officially started. Can’t have a rebuild started with dead money to Abdelkader and Nielsen. Also can’t have prospects who aren’t playing up to their potential, wish Zadina the best in San Jose.

I was worried going into this year for the Sabres. I wanted to be excited, but I knew the reality and everything I feared happened basically. Thompson cooling down/injury, Quinn injury, Skinner slow down and Levi had only 7 NHL games on him and was 21. I also think they are all young and this can happen. I mean the Leafs broke their playoff drought and went to the bottom of the league for a year and then climbed back up. I just know they need to address defense and have an established goaltender that's around 25. Both right now are back ups at best and this team only wins when they play like it's 3 on 3 all game and creates chances by playing an on the fly risky game. I also think people do not realize how Anderson would come in and win a game at a key time last year. That alone makes up for about 5 less wins right now.

With the Sabres, I still feel patience is the key word. They're still the youngest team in the league. Those teams tend to not do well. For a reason. While everyone was sure they would make the playoffs this year, I wasn't. I knew a setback could occur. It's difficult to explain why so many players are having "worse" years than last year, but it happens. I don't think it's coaching. Or at least, deserving of the majority of the blame. Levi has been decent, but not ready to be the guy yet. UPL has continued to improve, that's promising. I think his ceiling is as a 1B, not a #1. Tbd. Power definitely needs to improve, mostly defensively. He's too young to worry about, yet. Thompson appears to be the real deal, but he does get injured a lot and I wonder if that will be his Achilles heel. Some of it is just bad luck, he's taken slapshots to the gloves a couple times already this year. Cozens will rebound, I feel. He plays well, but never have I seen someone not get the payoff as much as he, this year. Quinn has looked really good, much more than I expected. Benson is just raw talent. The mental part of his game is so superior to the average 18 year old, it's incredible. The farm has several prospects looking for time in the top 9. The question is, who gets demoted next year. Top 2 lines look pretty set. Mittelstadt is on the third line. Expect Benson to stay there. Greenway??? One of the few guys with size, does he go? Tough decisions ahead for Adams. He has LOTS of ammo for trades if he wants to shake things up. I might trade a forward for a young defensive defenseman. Samuelsson is kind of the only guy on the team in that role. He misses time every year. I don't know if I go after a goalie though. I don't like what is available and I'm not convinced the solution isn't already in house. Patience. At least for one more year. ;)

LGRW!!! Detroit was expected to be on the bubble, that's precisely where they are, theyre on the up and up.

Wings fan here. Really thought Sens and Sabres would be neck and neck with us this season. Thought NJ would be better too. I think Yzerman knew he needed vets to make the playoff push and so far, pretty good? On this current run at least, Kane out could hurt but we were playing well without him before he came. I think we sneak in and are definitely ahead of Buf and Ott -- a big thanks to their fired GM for Debrincat too which helped big time! LGRW! p.s. Hey Shannon...would you consider doing a Detroit Lions video for the entertainment guy? Would love to see your take on them FINALLY winning a playoff game in 30+ years??? 👍🏻😁

Detroit also drafted Axel Sandin-Pelikka 17th overall in 2023! Very excited for the prospect! Keep up the good work!! ❤❤❤

Wings, beat the Leafs and currently in the first wildcard spot. If by the end of January they continue to maintain a playoff spot or within striking distance. We may be there in a long waited playoff spot in April.

you cant just have a billion young players on a team and hope that it works (buffalo) you need a blend of experience and youth and good coaching

No mention about Pellika and Peterka? They are also top picks and I think they will be great players.

Detroit is looking pretty good so far. Buffalo and Ottawa are not looking good.

The Wings look ahead of schedule right now but I have a couple of reservations about the bigger picture year to year between the age of the roster and generally having lacked any long term stability in net since Jonathan Bernier or Jimmy Howard. Making the playoffs this year would be a bonus but it still feels like a big work in progress with so many important prospects in development. To me it's more a question of what happens over the next year or two with the Cossa/Augustine/Edvinsson/Kasper/Danielson wave of prospects that'll determine if the Wing truly get over the top.

I see a lot of my fellow Wings fans remark about Edvinsson and Berggren (for example) being in Grand Rapids with confusion and frustration, and I feel like a lot of them either forgot the strategy we used with prospect development, or are too young to really remember that strategy being used. So it feels good to see someone who at least acknowledges it, even if you're not a fan. Let the kids over-ripen in GR before bringing 'em in full time. They'll get here, just be patient.

Detroit beat Toronto and we’re in the 1st wild card right now LGRW 🐙🐙🐙🐙

I’ve only been following the NHL since the 2019-20 season, really getting into it during The Pause. I vividly remember there were 7 teams that didn’t make it into the expanded playoffs: New Jersey, the California teams, and these Atlantic 3. And while the Kings and Devils have broken through since, I was sure one of these three would have joined them by now. Since then I have learned more about each team, their histories and current rosters, but a part of me always sees them as their own mini-division or something😅

Detroit. The team where you go, “Oh, THAT’S where that guy is playing now” That being said Steve has made it work.

The Red Wings have money to spend at the deadline, it will be interesting to see what Yzerman can add for a Wildcard push if they get back to playing like they were at the start of the season. With Augustine, Danielson and Pelikka looking like solid recent draft picks, might be the last season to say Detroit is in a rebuild.

I don't get why people are so hard on Stützle... he leads the team in points, at a point per game (which is better than his career average) - and most importantly, he's 22!

THG's Classic Winter set! Great idea! 🏒🧊🥶

Thank you for this analysis Shannon 👍 And the makeshift set is ok but I'm itching to rearrange the frames on the wall behind you 🤣

Seider may be the best two way defenseman in NHL. If can drive a powerplay and contributes tremendous amount of hits and blocks like no other PP quarterback in the league.

Datsyuk leaving back to Russia and thriving in the KHL when he wasn't over by any NHL standards must have offended Holland, because had Datsyuk remained on a short 2-3 year contract, the Wings would have obliged and taken him and thus the need for a rebuild would have been less obvious. They still played really amazingly in that last year they've made the playoffs with mostly what was depth players back 3-4 years before, I remember watching that DET-CHI playoff and man guys like Zetterberg were giving every ounce of their body strength they had left and they lost it by a hair. Datsyuk would also have attracted AAA level wingers to sign with Detroit still too. I understand being homesick and Pavel had every right to go where he pleased but damnit he was far from over.

As a wings fan, the way this year has played out is pretty surprising. I thought Ottawa would make the jump. Buffalo seems to just muck everything up, and im salivating at the idea of them selling off Thompson.

The Wings are on the cusp. The East is very very tight with quality teams fighting for spots right now. I think we should definitely not be sellers at the deadline but I certainly wouldn't go all in this year. Playoffs or not, I think we are another year away from having a legit shot at making real noise. Need one of the draft picks we've had to really develop into a special player and I think we're looking great. Augustine and Cossa need more time developing in goal and that's a long long time away.

I find it fascinating the average age of the roster is still 26 but only Seider and Razor are SY draft picks on the roster. SY went with veterans this season, even leaving no room for developed young players like Ed and Burgers. This team has about a dozen prospects who, if they live up to potential, will be ready for pros in the next 3 years. This team is about to get A LOT younger or SY is going to start making a lot of moves.

This is a really good video with the perfect 3 teams for comparison.

We could have had Quinn Hughes. 😢😢

I have a feeling I will be seeing videos like this about Pittsburgh Washington and Tampa in 3 years or so

I see what you mean about us Wings fans overvaluing Seider, but in his defense, he ranks top or near top of the league in difficulty of minutes.

"My idea of fun is different than others." That's why we're here, because you enjoy doing what others would not.

My favorite team are the jets but I really like watching the redwings they're one of my favorite eastern conference teams them and the panthers and lightning

Yzerman has had 7 picks in the first round in his 5 years and 5 look to be incredible with 2 still just waiting to see more and thats while having the worst lotter luck in history

The Sabres have been rebuilding since they drafted Barrasso. I just can’t take them seriously. They’re the Cleveland Browns of hockey. Their fans deserve better.

How do you not mention Axel Sendin Pellika ... he's a STUD in the SHL and if his game translates to the nhl he's got Makar type upside.

Have you done one on the Leafs?

What about Axel Sandin Pellikka for the 2023 draft

I think the systems DJ Smith put in place and the culture he created is partly to blame for the sens woes, but something just seems off with the team and they just can’t manage the puck or play consistently

This year has been atrocious, but I'm still invested in the future of the team. I think they might have to move Chabot so they can get some money on the right side of the D and some off the left side and use the money accordingly towards depth. I'll give the new regime a little bit of time but they need to get something going soon

The sens dont need to blow the whole thing up or restart the rebuild. 1 or 2 trades for veteran shutdown defense will make this a different team.

Go Wings!

I had Sens making the playoffs. Geez.

Sens are tough to watch at the moment. Guess one if the occasions that the roster gets to young.

You need to level the frames on your wall.

I am really excited for Savoie and Kulich in the future. I do not really know much about Ostlund.

as a Buffalo fan we may never make the playoffs again

My father named me after Nicklas Lidstrom... haven't watched the wings since Zetterberg retired lmao

Agreed.. Playoffs coming soon! LGRW

the Sens beat the Flyers in their home opener this season 5-2 and looked dominant. Their D core looked really impressive and Giroux, Tkachuk and others came through with decisive plays to seal the lopsided victory. Being the hockey expert that I am, I was convinced the Sens were going to have a great season and the Flyers were going to have a long season, but at least come away with a top draft pick to help in their rebuild. I am really shocked at this point to have been so utterly wrong on both counts.

Chicagos off season should be very interesting looking at their cap space/depth

Don't forget about Axel Sandin Pellikka

could you make one for montreal and anaheim please.

Interesting to see this considering that Lalonde said that these 2 teams + Montreal will be our real rivals in the coming seasons

Flyers??

I remember at the beginning of the season all of the overly loud, optimistic sens fans and almost everyone in the nhl saying Detroit would be the worst of the 3. I think most people just didn’t pay attention to the 3 rosters top to bottom.

Sabres are currently in their 4th rebuild of the Pegula era (since 2011). All 4 Gm's entry level with no Previous experience. All 4 previous coaches Pegula hired never got another head coaching job.Ditto previous GMs. Current Coach and GM will probably join this list. Sabre fans deserve a Stanley Cup. Ownership does not. A segment of the fan base is worried the team would be sold and moved, but as we saw in 2003 Bettman will not allow this team to relocate. Congratulations to the Sabres expansion cousin Canucks. A complete rebuild in less than a year. Meanwhile the defenceman the Canucks dumped on the Sabres is earning a NHL salary in the AHL.

My one big concern with where the Wings are going is that we're already pushing to be a playoff team, but we have so many young players that need to get NHL time. Yzerman signed a bunch of guys that will hopefully push this team over the edge and into the playoffs...are we going to completely upend that next year to plug in Edvinsson, Berggren, Mazur, Danielson, etc.? I mean, I want to see those players and what they can do. They're part of the future. But that kind of roster shakeup is going to make it hard to make the playoffs again. And we can't spread these guys out over several years, they're all similar ages. You forgot to mention Sandin-Pelikka. He looks like he could play in the NHL next year, he's that skilled.

Whats with the Seider remark? He's an absolute stud and only getting better

Dylan Larkin is one of the best players in the NHL. 🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙

Melnyk screwed us over so bad it’s honestly impressive

As a Wings fan, I agree with Seider being looked a little higher by Wings fans than what he actually is. He’s still a really good player, but it seems as though he’s regressed just a bit from when he first came in. Kind of seems lost at points and just doesn’t look dominate like the first year. Like said, he’s still an amazing player but something just is off a smidge.

Seider for sure isn't overrated. His numbers would be so much better, but no matter who he is paired with he's on the ice with the other teams top line as someone still new to the league.

The Detroit Lions won their first playoff game in 32 years... maybe the Red Wings make the playoffs for the first time in the post-Datsyuk era

Brady is on pace for 40 goals tho

Axel sandin pelika 17 overall for the wings last draft

When you consider The Wings could have Valardi instead of Rasmussen it's sad.

Buffalo Needs a Rebrand

Sabres are just pure depression

A lot of credit has to go to Stevie Y. I don't think there is any doubt Holland left him a real mess.

Great analysis.

I think that the Red Wings' early season hot start got slightly derailed by the Patrick Kane signing (despite his own solid showing). Basically, the initial juggling of lines/players that his arrival on the ice necessitated, somewhat upset the team's cohesion for awhile. Now though, things have settled down and things are really starting to click at times e.g. that sizzling second period against the LA Kings. Alex Lyon's strong recent form in net, has effectively helped the Wings to right the leaky ship somewhat. However, despite the fact that the team is getting goals right across their lineup, they are still woefully inconsistent when it comes to their overall 'D' efforts. Possibly, if they can just cut the 'shots against' figure down e.g. the eyepopping 47 shots on net that they conceded to the Oilers, last week, then their stats in this key area may really improve. As regards the 'X' factors ahead, well, you always have to say the continuing fitness/health (or otherwise) of Dylan Larkin, easily ranks No.1. Honestly speaking, when he signed that 8-year contract, I too (like Shannon, here) thought that it was a pretty fair and sensible one, financially speaking. However, I also had -- and have -- some genuine concerns about how well it will actually age, going forwards, given DL's at times seemingly 'fragile' nature. On the plus side, there are a host of good players and prospects bubbling under in the Detroit system: Soderblom, Cossa, Danielson, Mazur, etc. Yes, the long-term future is looking bright in Hockeytown, for sure🌞🏒🥅! Let's Go, Red Wings🎯!!!

The city of Buffalo has just about had enough of the Pegulas. Their era of ownership has been nothing short of a complete disaster, and the fans are out of patience after witnessing the incredible letdown that has been the first half of this season.

Buffalo is about half a roster from competing for anything brutal year

It’s just sadness

Yzerman has a long history of swinging and missing on 1st round picks. Connolly, Koekkoek, Namestnikov, Drouin, Howden, Foote in Tampa. Yes, he had some later round picks that worked out well like Kucherov, Cirelli, Point, Palat but if he really knew those players would pan out as good as they are, why did he draft no-name players like Domink Masin, Adam Wilcox, Matthew Spencer, Dennis Yan, etc. etc. etc. ahead of those "draft steals"? A little luck is involved. We'll see if Evidsson, Cossa, Kasper, Danielson work out for the Red Wings

I think this season has been Detroit's version of the NJ 180 turnaround to a lesser degree so far but they still need that next big name signing so they can start solidifying their bottom 6 with prospects rather than free agents they won't be able to keep long term. I think with Detroit it's just the boring answer of the waiting game. Personally I think the team is caple of 3rd in the division if not 1st wildcard.

Ottawa: Previous Lousy ownership brought lousy Management that's produced middling coaching. It rolls downhill here in Ottawa

my prediction for the draft ---buffalo will draft in the top 10 if not the top 5!!!

Buffalo simply cannot put together a winning team

As a diehard Wings fan, I agree with you that our fanbase overrates Seider. Yes he is a 1-2 NHL D man but he can be reckless in his own zone. Still very young and lots of raw talent to refine. I still think Steve made the right pick but wanted to acknowledge your call out about Wings fans!

You sure it was not a retool in Detroit? Seems like a veteran team with a couple young guys. Detroit looks better because they have more veterans. I find no reason for Buffalo and Ottawa being where they are right now. Maybe coaching. I believe both teams have close to all the tools they need.

Buffalo is still the youngest team in the league. Buffalo's goalie tandem is the youngest in the league as well. Maybe a couple key off-season acquisitions and of course the roster have one more year of NHL experience

I'm baffled when people say Yzerman inherited Stamkos and Hedman and built from there. Who did he inherit with detroit?. Nobody. The answer is Nobody. Then people say they are glad he left Tampa. The gm they hired sat next to Yzerman the whole time he was gm there. What are you guys talking about?. lol. It takes at least 6 years to get to a playoff point after inheriting contacts of players who don't even play anymore. Fans only remember the 25 year playoff run and don't have patience. Before that run they sucked for years. Calm down. They will be making deep playoff runs.

man, according to fans, Ottawa was the closest to the cup. what happened? reality set in.

GO RED WINGS!

Yzerman drafts are mostly misses

ottawa thought they were done but they've gotta do a re-tool within their rebuild 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🫣☠

6:31 for Buffalo analysis

Meanwhile, Arizona is actually building a team.

Dylan Cozenz: a career 7% shooter, shoots 14% last season and gets 7x7 from Adams. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Cozens right back to 7% this season.

Im shocked my Wings are ahead of the Sabres and Senators in the standings. Talent wise Buffalo is stacked(Tage, Tuch, Cozens, Skinner, Mittesdalt, Dhalin and Power, Upcoming guys like Quinn, Benson, Peterka, Savoie, Devon Lee) They are head and shoulders above DRW and OTT talent wise. Sens got an all world player in Stutzle and a superstar in Tkachuk, and a bunch of good Dmen. Batherson and Noriss are top 6 guys for them. Detroit we don't even have any super stars. Mortiz is the closest, he's on his way there as a dman. All stars in Debrincat and Larkin. A top 6 guy in Raymond..and aside of Edvinsson in the pipelines not a bunch of exciting prospects. Deff no 1st line forwards. Kasper may pan out as a 3C, if we're lucky Danielson will be a 2C. I like both Buffalo and Sens ahead of us in the rebuild so its crazy to see the standings this season.

thank you doing what you do, you should do this from your original place in the basement or where ever it is even if it is cool. Just put on extra team shirts and pretend your a hockey rink.