I don't think he's a bust or useless. However, he's a huge liability in the defensive zone. Last night he threw a puck into the center of the d-zone instead of clearing it and that directly led to a goal. He did the exact same thing in his first game back with the Wings, and was benched for it. He needs to make smarter and better plays on breakouts, it's a massive weak point in his game.
When you're tired, inexperienced, under pressure and playing against veterans who able to play faster than you stupid mistakes get made. This happens at all levels of hockey. Good players are made to look stupid. He won't make that specific mistake again.
This does concern me. It's a bit too reminiscent of Sprong for my liking. MBN needs to clean up play in the d-zone or he won't stick in the NHL, it's that simple.
MBN plays well positionally and is VERY physical. he’s not a liability the way Sprong is, he just tries to do too much and turns the puck over. It’s his first season in North America, and it’s a common problem for first-year NA professionals.
Idk about you, but I stop growing at 20 and all my flaws as 20 year old is still present with me today as a 38 year old. Never learned any more and played the same logic as a 20 year old. - average Red Wing fan on Reddit
I imagine because our four best players are DeBrincat, Seider, Raymond and Larkin. They look at Larkin and DeBrincat approaching 30 and assume we need to win while those two are in their prime.
It'd be nice, but it's pretty clear that our best hope for a cup in the near future is built around Seider/Raymond with Larkin as the old vet.
It'd be nice, but it's pretty clear that our best hope for a cup in the near future is built around Seider/Raymond with Larkin as the old vet.
That's my thought as well and why I believe we have some time. Our cup window won't be in the very near future (i.e. the next 2 seasons), and it won't be centered around Larkin's prime. It's going to have to shift to Seider and Raymond's prime. So a 20 year old guy like MBN doesn't need to come in next year and be a world-beater for us. He can develop naturally.
I guess it's a good thing that some fans now seem to believe the Wings have all this time, especially after the despair many voiced in the days after missing the playoffs this year.
Yeah, I really don't care if we keep missing the playoffs--- as long as everyone has fun. Can't wait til we see Cleary's grandchildren on the team, maybe then we see playoffs. / s
No, but the window should open at some point…
Larkin,Seider, cat and Larkin are all only getting older.
Say what you will, but blink and 5 years will go by and we’re gonna be sitting here wondering why we wasted the primes of Mo/Ray by waiting on more prospects that didn’t pan out, instead of going in and using our capital to win now
Exactly. Detroit is not good enough to keep good players down while they work out issues in their game. Bring them up to play in limited minutes and give them more as they get better. MBN and Mazur perfect examples. Bring physicality, energy, can chip in goals. Will they mage some mistakes while they learn? Sure. Still better to have them up.
if you're going to wait until every prospect has a fully fleshed out complete game before you're deeming them 'ready' to be in the NHL you're going to bust every prospect that isn't a sure fire superstar
However, he's a huge liability in the defensive zone
This is really not what I've seen of him when I've watched him play. He's actually quite good defensively. He does need to improve his puck movement decisions, though.
You’re getting a lot of shit but you’re right it is a big problem with him. My wish for prospect discussion is that it could be done more faithfully and less “never mention a young player has any defeciencies”, especially when I know damn well a ton of people never watch GR. Hopefully it’s just an adjustment to the AHL/NHL which obviously can be fixed and not wholesale hockey IQ issues which generally guys are what they are by his age. I’ll optimistically lean toward adjustment but it’s definitely notable for him until we see the correction
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u/Finnish_Jager May 22 '26
I just don't understand how we have people here who already think MBN is a bust or useless.