I'm sure the Emperor was going to get to this soon, but I relish the opportunity to beat him to this particular punch.  I stayed up last night just in case I had the chance to witness, and listen to, this... From Mark Kiszla, Denver Post.  There’s no sound sadder in pro sports than joy slowly hissing from a deflated crowd when the home team loses a playoff game in the oh-so-sudden death of overtime. After Golden Knights winger Mark Stone found nothing except open ice between him and Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer and hammered the game-winning goal only 50 seconds into the extra period, it felt like a stake through the hearts of 10,495 spectators in Ball Arena.

I'm not sure the exact day, or even year, Steve Yzerman took over as Tampa's GM.  I do know, however, that it coincided with the first day I predicted, and began to publicly beg, that he take over the same position in Detroit. I have a sneaking suspicion that, grammatically, the previous sentence was not effective. I apologize.  The chatter here has increased in volume the last two days, regarding The Captain's decision to extend one Jeffrey Blashill.  I will tell you with zero shame that I was hoping he'd go. I wanted (and still want) Gerard Gallant behind that bench. I'd sell some not so immediate family members for, oh, Barry Trotz.  But, Yzerman made his choice and I--as I may have stated--stand behind any decision he makes 100 percent.  I literally cannot imagine a scenario that would change my stance on that. 

Oh dear.  SY may be a great GM (or not), his free pass for me is expired. From here on - results baby, own your wins, own your suck! That's one of us, just moments ago.  Laying down the law, letting Steve Yzerman know he is...on...the...clock.  Leeway...gone.  Benefit of the doubt? None.  He'd better perform or the pitch forks will be out and the Twitter GM contingent will be out (from behind their keyboards) in full frigging force, brother. Why? Because Steve Yzerman, the best GM in hockey, decided keeping Jeff Blashill for the intermediate, or even short, term is the best move for this organ-I-zation.  It reminds me of Yzerman's first mistake as GM, and this was a big one. Holy cow did he bone this one up. 

I can only imagine a quiet seething.  Earlier in the year, before his recent improvement, when we watched Anthony Mantha float, lend a hapless defensive effort now and again, a passive presence around the next for a guy wh's 6'5, 230 or whatever he weighs.  When I saw that enigma-like performance, I would just wonder what his GM was thinking. I imagine he was seething. Quietly.  Now we know.  Now we know that one Steve Yzerman had made up his mind to move Mantha and move him quickly. Contract or not, improvement of late or not, Yzerman has zero patience for talent that goes unrealized through lack of effort.  

I'm pretty sure that by the end of Tick Tock Kenny Holland's reign, or run, as GM of the greatest franchise in American sports history, I could have been a better GM.  Don't get all sad and angsty about that. It's just my opinion and never once, not ever, have I ever given the impression here or anywhere that my opinion was the gold standard of opinions. I'm just a fan, and I happen to be a fan who believes I'd have been better than Kenny by the time he left.  Opinion. That's all that is.  Belonging to one chubby guy with nothing to back it up. But we also deal in facts here.  Facts matter. So here's one for you: Anyone who doubts Steve Yzerman is stupid. 

Yeah. I've been watching.  And it's been tough.  I'm not talking about the losing. We expected that and I have like 5000 percent confidence in the Rightful GM and what he will do for us and our famililes.  No. I'm not talking about the losing. I'm talking about our Uncle Mike and some revelations that aren't really all that revelatory.  None of us are incredibly surprised that Babcock is, was and probably always been an a-hole of the highest order. If memory serves, it's why we dug him for as long as we did...or at least one of the reasons.

Here we go. Two days after speculation ran rampant regarding Jiri Hudler's status as the legitimate son of one Robert Kraft, Flip Zadina makes his debut in the adopted and long-time hometown of Detroit Red Wing general manager (unofficial) Steve Yzerman.  Most likely Gus Nyquist's last game as a Wing (why play him?), possibly Jimmuh Howard's last game (until this summer, along with Jensen), definitely not Vanek's last (nobody wants him), maybe Glendening's (if Uncle Mike nabs him)...we will see. 

I'm only a fan. Just a fan. I'm going to tell you what I want from a deckplate perspective, a fan's point of view.  I'm going to tell you and it's going to offend a few of you and that's ok. So...Here is what the Red Wings need to do, in order of relevance, timeliness and importance: Lose tonight, Friday and Sunday.  Every period. Every game.  That's important. 

In the event you haven't noticed, the Wings sit dead last in the NHL.   Jersey, Ottawa and Chicago all share point totals (43) but have all played more games.  Somewhere, in a house in suburban Detroit, the Red Wing GM (the secret one) must be sitting and silently hoping, or not so silently. Hoping for more losses. Hoping to solidify our spot as 1 with a bullet in the Hughes sweepstakes. 

Charles Ingalls, after a trip to Mankado or maybe a day in the fields, or even an afternoon downtown spreading optimism amongst the Walnut Grove regulars who had to deal with that Olsen bitch on the daily, would often discuss the NHL standings around the dinner table. 

Carey Price is being punished for opting out of the shrew's skill competition. He'll miss the game before or after the circle jerk but... "It's not a suspension," Bergevin said. "I had a discussion with the League again this morning." That's from NHL.COM and I'm curious, Marc, what you'd call that?  The league is requiring one of your players to miss a game because of a decision that player, or your organization, made. Yet, it's not a suspension?

A matinee affair against the best team in the league not formerly managed by Steve Yzerman, current (but secret) general manager of the Detroit Red Wings. 

Don't think for a second that this is the first sign of abject, absolute decay at the Detroit News, but it's the one that will affect us the most.  Smart guys saw it happening years ago and got out. I know that for a fact.  The Detroit News is dead and nearly buried. The newsroom is a ghost town.  Their beat writers offer nothing more than an AP report. Wojo is the only name left, only because John Niyo's name isn't known the way it should be.  He's awesome.  But the blow to our collective gut is the move of Gregg Krupa from the Wings (and motor sports and a few other ditties) to...metro.  Keep in mind what this means: there will be exactly zero original thought on any sort of consistent basis from any Wing deep digger. None. Khan(!)? No. Kulfan? No. St. James? Please. No. 

As I redolently perused the emperor's samplings from this afternoon, a few items caught my eye and I'll grace you with my views on each of them right now, if you care to continue past the page break. See 19 of you in a matter of seconds. 

It's New Year's Eve. There is hockey in Detroit, as it should be.  I seem to recall a traditional game against the Blackhawks, but I could be wrong on that.  Do I have resolutions? Yes.  My resolution begins with a Y, ends with an N and includes a letter that gets you 10 in Scrabble and isn't a Q. 

You're thinking to yourselves, "does he actually think the Wings are playing the Walnut Grove sisters tonite?" I don't. You're just going to have to stick with me on this. 

By all accounts, one day after losing to Florida at home, missing 1/3 of our team, generally managed by George Burns until Steven Yzerman officially takes over? By all accounts this is the Wings' game to lose. Therefore it's a Trap Game. 

Two weekends ago, I think, Gary gave to me a back-to-back that included overnight travel and a game in Washington against the Cup champs. Now with three days before Christmas?

As Mike Green goes, so go the Wings. Primis pointed it out in the comment section this morning and it's right on. I don't recall ever seeing the Wings so obviously affected by the presence or absence of one player in or from their lineup. Can you? Serious question.

You do realize the Red Wings are 1-78 against goalies making their first career start? The sole victory coming against a non-descript, middling tender from the St. Louis organization in 1988 named Dick. Nobody remembers his last name. I made that up. All of it.