Jeff McCowen

DC Spartan, Michigander. Views and expressions are my own. Retweets are not endorsements, simply interests

[Josh Berg @JoshBerg0611]

For those that are missing what’s going on with the #LGRW let me summarize to the best of my abilities what I believe to be happening with the team and current situation.

- Elephant in the room is the obvious Dylan Larkin trade request. Larkin did not get along with Steve Yzerman and I think that in part led to the trade request (as well as lack of winning and playoff appearances during his tenure) but the limited teams Larkin, at the time, was wanting to go to were 3 teams with little cap flexibility and little assets to help Detroit in a trade (rumored to be Vegas, Minnesota, Dallas).

- The Red Wings strip Stevie Y of the general manager title, don’t hire a replacement and elevate him to a senior advisor role hoping that could settle things with Larkin, Larkin shows up to cap nursing an injury, expands his trade list from 3 to 8 ish teams and does not revoke his request but is willing to participate in team activities and ultimately play during the season if he’s still with the team.

- The Red Wings wait TWO months after letting go of Steve Yzerman to hire an INTERIM GM in Shawn Horcoff back in early September. During this time the organization not only had nobody to help facilitate a trade for Larkin but also negotiate contracts with free agents both internal and external.

- Because of this the Red Wings had a quiet offseason with the only major changes to the roster being trading Sebastian Cossa to Utah and adding Viktor Arvidsson to the middle six.

- During this time the team was supposed to not only be negotiating a trade with Larkin, but trying to extend young defenseman Simon Edvinsson as a restricted free agent.

- Edvinsson did not entertain offer sheets during the offseason, did not request a trade and does want to stay in Detroit on a long term deal. HERE is the issue though

- Red Wings owner Chris Illitch has not committed to Horcoff being the long term general manager of the club… he’s the interim… which means (at least how I view it) he does not want an interim GM making long term decisions for the franchise. Which would include a long term contract on Edvinsson or a Larkin trade facilitation and every move would have to go through ownership approval.

- The confusing part is with the rising cap situation… a long term team deal for Edvinsson will age better for Detroit than a short term deal would because they would have him locked up at a set term under the CURRENT cap restraints as the cap increases versus having to pay more when the cap continues to rise. If you bridge Edvinsson you’re putting yourself at risk of having to pay him above market value TWICE before he hits UFA status as opposed to just paying him market value once on a long term commitment through the prime of his career.

- With Edvinsson he WANTS to be there. He showed up to camp without a contract, skated with the team all offseason and training camp while unsigned. And because of the Red Wings dysfunction from top down… they have a young up and coming star unsigned back in his home of Sweden instead of in the lineup opening night and a disgruntled (former captain) still on their roster.

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@thespybrief Almost like humans as a species are like any other animal on Earth with a natural instinct to protect your own, proactively conquer others, and produce as many heirs as possible to ensure specie survival. Who’d have thunk?

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@m_bultman Jesus wings…if he wants a long term deal give him a long term deal…lock him down for 5-6 years already and allow the salary cap to turn that into a freaking discount by year 2. Why is this so freaking hard to grasp? Kids a stud and only gonna get better with experience. 🤦‍♂️

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@colton_pouncy 3 future Head Coaches in one tweet.

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@DavidHarns Apparently punched 57 in the nuts to get him off but that’s offsetting at worst

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@thespybrief How one of them was born into the slums of St Nevis and read himself into the classics and eventually becoming the first Sec of Treasury before age 35, creating the economy we still know today still astonishes/inspires me. But the man couldn’t hold his temper worth a damn 😎.

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@thespybrief Guess China’s good with US & Australia robbing Chinese ships henceforth. Good to know.

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@thespybrief That graphic should put a fork in any chance in future for Kamala for a national office…hell….even local Cali office.

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@tim_c_23 I’m just grateful that the Wings are no longer sponsored by a local waste management company.

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@JeffMaconi Just a cycle of life in NASCAR. Kyle & Kurt Busch went through it, Larson certainly did of the more recent group. Go back to DW, Dale, etc. All made their names by pushing boundaries and others comfort zones. This is a GOOD thing.

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@Graham_Couch He was down before fumbled at half yard line fumbled and still at half yard line. Should have been 3rd and goal from 16

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@DavidHarns Half yard shy and fumbled ball. Should have been 3rd and goal from 16

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@BrandonthaChamp Missing Eric Snow before Cleaves

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@m_bultman Elite broadcast crew….simply THE best in the NHL….just wish we could transport the teams from 1980s-2012 for them to cover for us. Grim Reaper doing color on a Probert fight from late 80s would be hilarious. Then again he’d have been IN the fight. 🤣

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@danorlovsky7 Correction….155 snaps in a 5 day period. 😳

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@AcctKyle Rick’s
Harpers
Where the hell is Fieldhouse?

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@SteveBmSu @stavvybaby @AGretz Yall need to head down to Jackson to get yourself a Chic fil a spicy chicken sandwich 🤣

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@thespybrief Florida Man’s been upstaged by Florida Woman…..need to step up their game 🤣

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@_MarkDell The hilarity is that Rose didn’t even graduate from UM…graduated from Maryland. Only calls himself Dr because of his “honorary doctorate” from a school he only attended for a few years. 🤣

[Jeff McCowen @JeffMccowen]

@scottcwheeler @TheAthletic @domluszczyszyn @TheAthleticNHL How are the Wings NOT in “No Man’s Land”? Even an optimist would say their prospects are 2-3 years from pushing them into contention.