Game Thread: Detroit Red Wings (26-21-8) at Washington Capitals (28-24-6) – 21 Feb 2023 – 07:00PM EST

42 comments

1. I’m having a rough start to the week so a Red Wings W and Vrana first game back goal would be a great pick me up

   LGRW!

2. So there’s 3 guys I personally have been interested a lot in our pick range, with an honorable mention to a 4th I’ve heard lots of speculation about being our type of pick. First one, Samuel honzek out of the WHL, I think this guy is great, he has size, great playmaking abilities with a rapidly improving shot and will be responsible defensively. He’s a winger but tbh I seriously think he could be a legit playmaking center. Then after that daniil but, a 6’5 Russian with an elite shot. Skating needs work, but the skill is there. After that dragicivic, a tall RHD out of the WHL, just lighting it up point wise, but defense is a question mark. Still you can teach defense over time, especially with his frame. And then the honorable mention to Oliver moore out of the US prospect system, great two way center, with a lot of untapped offensive potential, but doesn’t have the best size at 5’11.

3. This as close to must win for playofs as they have had on a while. Should be a W. Ovi out, couple injuries more too, they are not playing well (0-3) last three.

4. Anyone know if there’s an update on Ovechkin returning?

5. Welp, time to hate Marchand again. It’s rumored the 2025 All Star game/Draft will be in either Seattle, Detroit, or Edmonton and he commented “lol can’t wait to see how many guys boycott that game.” Scumbag.

6. It looks like Ovi will still be out tonight, for what that’s worth. I’ve been traveling and out of the loop, have there been any Raymond updates?

7. So looks like this year we can lose the rights to our unsigned draftees Jack Adams, Gustav Berglund, Albin Grewe, Mastrosimone, Ethan Phillips, Oscar Plandowski, and Pasquale Zito this year.

   Out of this group do y’all suspect we sign anyone to ELCs? I can see Mastrosimone getting a contract based on his steady improvement and maybe Zito as he was selected by Yzerman late in 21 with a lot of improvement after the lost Covid season, but he’s not exactly lighting up the OHL. After that everyone else seems to have fizzled out.

8. “Big Game”!

   – Wojo

9. I hope this game goes better than Vrana’s first game back last season. LGRW!

10. If anyone is going to the game on Saturday and can snag an extra Razor bobblehead, I’ll gladly pay the shipping and also love you forever.

11. #FUCK PUTIN

12. I’m curious about the chance that Thursday’s game is postponed. About 1.5 hours north, we’re suppose to get 9 inches of snow with ice mixed in. I seen Detroit is suppose to get mostly rain, but this is Michigan after all.

    Should be a fun drive down there if the show goes on.

13. From GR

    UPDATE: We have signed center Riley Sawchuk to a professional tryout for the remainder of the season and to a standard player’s contract for the 2023-24 campaign

    Really seems like horcoff is extremely active with GR trying to acquire players that can help GR with long shot nhl aspirations. Really think Ben Simon is on the hot seat. Probably gets one more year but I’d like to see a change.

14. I was wondering about Vrana and waivers, naturally I went to CapFriendly to figure out the exact rule. Here’s what they say:

    > A player does not need to pass through waivers if the player has not been on the NHL active roster for a cumulative 30 days since last clearing waivers, OR has not played in 10 or more NHL games. CBA Reference 13.2(b) (Despite the CBA reference saying 30 days AND 10 games, the rule is actually 30 days OR 10 games)

    Just to make sure I’m reading this correctly: A player only has to pass through waivers again once they have been on an NHL roster for 30 days **AND** they’ve played 10 games? So theoretically Vrana could play 9 games in 31 days and still not need to clear waivers?

15. Mentions Detroit as a possible team for Meier

    https://www.thefourthperiod.com/trade-watch-list-2023

16. What if the Avs made a play for Bertuzzi at the deadline lol imagine how conflicted they would be

17. Vrana in 😀
    Zadina out 🙁

18. I’m not trying to be a doomer here but when do we get rid of chariot. There’s a real possibility that as early as next preseason he could be the 7th best dman in the org. Maybe it won’t be next year but it’s very likely that at some point the Swedish kids are gonna catch him (hopefully). Our blue line prospects are all in there early 20s and with Matta signed and Walman likely returning this means that if your last names not Edvinsson your gonna be stuck in the minors until your like 25. And that is assuming that chariot can flip the the right side, that still has not been tested. I know chariot isn’t horrible but let’s not kid ourselves, If we wanna compete for cups he cannot be in the top 4. I can imagine chariot tryna break the puck out in the playoffs already, I’m 20 and I think I’d have a heart attack. Let me know what you guys think because to me it seems this guy is being paid 4 mill to block our prospects. Like are you really gonna put 4 mill in the press box if the other guys show better. You would hope so but idk if management could swallow their pride like that.

19. HEY.

    lgrw

20. HEY.

    lgrw

21. Man I wish I could be as optimistic about this team as everyone else on this sub is. I don’t know why but I just don’t think the players in the system as it is are a Stanley Cup winning core. Maybe if Larkin stays at this level he’s at the last few games and that’s just his new baseline but I doubt that’s very likely.

    I just really wish this team had drafted a true offensive superstar at some point. I guess they can try and defense their way to success but my goodness that is so boring to watch. I think I’m just tired of watching meaningless hockey and I’m getting impatient who knows.

22. I’m having a terrible time finding our longest shootout ever on the internet. Does anyone know what gane we played our longest ever shootout?

23. Is anyone still tracking light the lamp?

24. Annoyed its Zadina out tonight. Do we utilize sunny netfront on pp2 or something?

    ​

    Edit: Watched the media availability, it is indeed special teams that kept sunny in the lineup

25. [Post-practice Lalonde said](https://twitter.com/DetroitRedWings/status/1628090579748806656) that he doesn’t love pulling Zadina, he’s played well for us, but it was about getting Vrana an opportunity and to see where he’s at. The decision was a numbers thing and Zadina isn’t on any special teams currently. Hagg’s also slotting in for Oesterle and Husso’s in net.

26. https://preview.redd.it/k9e8lwpaimja1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=d7adf36464b00611ba342b53f645bce85f1dd6b8

    Attention everyone. Maggie Moo turns 4 today.

    That’s all, carry on.

27. Vrana will get second unit power play opportunity. Playing with fabs and veleno 5v5.

28. Wallinder assist.

29. [Makar’s suffered two concussions](https://twitter.com/Peter_Baugh/status/1628058759309443073?t=-OecV5Ffteac1bc9WToiew&s=19) in the past 11 days. I don’t know if there’s a better solution to this stuff but it feels like all concussions should trigger a two week shutdown or something. Ever since watching Franzen go through his nightmare it’s hard to see these great players suffer multiple concussions, especially in quick succession.

30. I really want the playoffs, but losing today in regulation would be enough to put a foot back on the tank train

31. Wallinder goal! The boy is hot today.

32. I’ll be at the game tonight! Excited to see Vrana! LGRW!!!

33. Does anyone pay for EPRinkside? I’d love to get a synopsis of this [new William Wallinder article.](https://eprinkside.com/2023/02/21/william-wallinder-has-the-tools-will-he-use-them-to-reach-the-nhl)

34. Playing meaningful games is fun, let’s keep it going tonight.

35. My optometrist is still on the whole mask train. Glad they provide masks since I’m just not in the habit of wearing them anymore.

36. I’ll be there tonight lads! Hopefully we get a good one against the Caps

37. Ladies and gentlemen I’m proud to be cheering on our boys in red from section 107 tonight. I’ll be undercover in enemy territory but LGRW

38. Does anyone know what jacket this is? I’ve been looking for one of these quilted jackets for awhile but can never find one I like (if y’all have any suggestions)

    https://preview.redd.it/jry3i1q8pnja1.png?width=1284&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=88f02caea57df365c0ef251f4d267a38e805f433

39. Almost feels like it’s too early for a game after that western trip

40. Obviously there has been some extremely heated discussion in the vrana lineup threads in terms of who comes out but I’d like to say isn’t it nice to debate actual nhl level players. The 19-20 season we were arguing over de la rose, ehn, hirose hicketts, cholowski biega. It’s good to be back on the rise.

41. I personally think vrana is in the lineup to boost his trade stock a touch and will be dealt at the deadline. The return won’t be great, but hopefully he can boost it.

    I like the guy, but I think there’s too much mystery about his future here

42. luke schenn scratched tonight for vancouver. not expecting us to be big buyers at the deadline but i wouldn’t mind picking him up. our third pair has been pretty uhhh not good lately, plus he can play a lot of minutes if we decide put him in the top 4. thoughts?