Season Predictions

Kasper on the top line? 🤔

Can't put Raymond and Berggren on the same line. They'll be manhandled.

Perron won't be on line 3. He'll likely ride shotgun to Larkin with Cat on line 1.

Sprong over Fischer. Petry over Holl. Rasmussen 2LW.

If Kasper isn't in the top 6 he should be in the AHL.

You can move Kasper down and Raymond up, doesn't change either line's rank.

I can see Perron on the 2nd line, but not the 1st. This 3rd line is pretty interchangeable with the 2nd line but again wouldn't change my rankings.

Sprong and Fischer will be deployed based on who they're playing, I don't think either of them plays the full 82, but I could see Sprong AND Fabbri getting more games than Kostin and Fischer. If you swap them out it probably improves my 4th line ranking and lower scratched players ranking.

I wouldn't pair Ghost and Petry, but if they did, it would probably lower my rankings for 2nd and 3rd pair.

Again 3rd and 2nd line are pretty interchangeable, but I think Ras and Copp play well together so 2nd line of: Ras - Copp - Raymond and 3rd line of: Burger - Compher - Perron would again not change my rankings.

I don't see anything wrong with Kasper playing the season in Grand Rapids. Yzerman wants his players to earn their spots.

Difference between Yzerman and Holland is simple. Holland believes tie goes to the vet. Yzerman believes tie goes to the young guy.

It's not like these young guys are being blocked by All Star players. If they're as good as they believe they are then they should beat them out for roster spots.

Larkin played on Zetterberg's wing when he started playing in the NHL, which I think is an easier transition than trying to slot him in 2C. I also think out of all the guys I have slotted in LW, it's very possible he could be the best of them all coming out of the preseason. I agree with what you're saying about Yzerman though, he's as patient as they come, and I think keeping Kasper in the AHL would allow them to slide his contract another year.

IIRC Larkin only got an opportunity to make the Red Wings that season because Datsyuk was Injured? Larkin took advantage of his opportunity. It certainly didn't hurt playing with Hank Zetterberg.

Red Wings seem to be employing a "death by 1000 paper cuts" mentality. They lack stars so they'll try to beat opponents with depth.

Copp and Compher are there so there's no need to force young Kasper into a role he's not ready for. I'm very high on both Kasper and Mazur and feel their compete levels may get them to the NHL sooner than later.

Most of these vet players are placeholders. Yzerman wants to compete now while slowly replacing these vets 1 by 1 with his young studs. I can clearly see Yzerman is thinking 3-4 years from now for everything to come together. Might happen in 2-3 years even.