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I can't comment on this, because I have absolutely no idea what this is supposed to mean. I think you were trying to say something intelligent in a smart-ass sort of way? Please don't bother responding.

You get that from one quote? He's not motivated because of his big contract? I think Zetterberg is overly optimistic in a lot of the quotes I read from him in the press, but in principle I agree with him. The Wings are a puck possession team. When that's working, being "fancy" is the right play. But when they're off, it suddenly seems cute and lazy. It's not that simple to just say they were being too cute with the puck. My main thing is when the puck possession isn't working, particularly when they're being aggressively forechecked, they need to be able to transition to a successful grinding game like Babcock is talking about. It's why in a lot of their off games, the 3rd and 4th lines ending up looking the best because they tend to play that style anyways. When the skill play isn't working, their persistence in trying to rely on talent does seem like they're not willing to compete highly to win.

Here's a stab at it:

Skate em till they Puke Babsy!!

See you talk about how Howard has "no chance" on any of the goals he lets in (the many times he lets in 4 goals a game) because of the bad D mistakes. Well, here is game 6 against Dallas from 2008 and you look at all of those saves Ozzie manages to make on "no- chance" shots to keep his team in the game. I find it halarious that certain Wings fans find it impossible to see that Howard is not going to win it all for the Wings when he lets in 4 goals a game practically; it seems this year the Wings are only guaranteed to win if they score at least 4 or 5 goals! That tells me that Howard is not doing his job as goal keeper because goalies should be able to provide saves for his team so they can win 2-1, 3-2 on a consistent basis. If we go into the playoffs with Howard, we are doomed it is as simple as that because, in the playoffs, teams are not able to score 4 or 5 goals a game. Oh, and if you like, later I can pull some videos from Howard in the playoffs from last year and how he blew it for the Wings in game 6 against Phoenix, and REALLY blew it in game 3 against the Sharks. Simply put, if Ozzie can get going when he comes back, our best bet for success is with him.

"Oh no, boys, put those away. Pucks won't be necessary for this practice." Worked like a charm for my old team.

Man, only took three replies...

so much more entertaining when teams are actually physical, and willing to drop the mitts. i guess im used to watching the wings ya know......not what i would do to get some of these guys on the wings.....

"There's a way to play to be successful, we know it," Babcock said. "But until we get our head around doing it, we're not going anywhere." "There gets to be a point in your season where you got to decide, if you think you're a championship-caliber team, that there's a right way to play. Unless you get 23 guys doing it the same way and wanting to do it, nothing's going to happen." AMEN Baby! Let's Go! Light a fire Bout Time! http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/03/red_wings_coach_mike_babcocks.html

We have won once in regulation in our last 17 games vs. the West. thats pretty pathetic, especially given the talent on this team.

idc if they pick it up in the playoffs, there are 20,000 fans in the joe everynight that paid to watch them give it their all on the ice.

that is the script a typical Wings fan follows.... "Guys it's only Decemeber..." "...Wait until we're healthy...(with the same guys every year being hurt (seems like it)" "...our powerplay is our enforcer..." "...just wait until the playoffs..." Some years they're right, but if the Wings cannot stop having third period collapses and start playing defense and STOP giving up 4 goals a game, Stanley Cup Champ chances are slim to none and slim has one foot out the door... I only hope that if they fail again, McCrimmon is not back for another season. Remember the old days when the D was so good that "your gramma" could play goalie and win? Those days are gone, Howard can only do so much, he is doing great but gets left out to dry on a nightly basis! Could you imagine Howard on the 1990's and early 2000's squads? He'd be, well he'd be Chris Osgood!

Exactly. The wings blow a 3 goal third period lead, and he is making up excuses like that? And this is the heir to the captaincy? Doesn't sound good at all, oh well I guess those big contracts will do that too you

yep

Is anyone else tired of reading "things will be different in the playoffs", etc? I know I sure am. These games do matter, regardless of all the people that say they don't. There is absolutely no excuse for the loss last night. When I left for work, they were up 4-1. I got to work and turned on the tube and saw it was a shootout! I couldn't believe what I was seeing! Then I saw the highlights of how the game got tied up.....well, I'll keep my thoughts on that to myself. After the 3rd period meltdown against the Kings, I figured that would have been enough of a wake up call to make sure that didn't happen again. Boy was I wrong. I can see one or two meltdowns a season...every team has them over the course of 82 games. However, this Wings team is flopping like that way too much to not be very concerned. Instead of finishing off an easy win against a conference and playoff foe, they chocked hard and let the Coyotes accumulate 2 more points to their playoff position. Every game against a Western Conference playoff contender is very important, especially this time of year. I can't for the life of me understand how a team as talented as the Wings can be so great one night, then suck so horrible the next. There is absolutely no dispute that the Wings may be one of, if not the most talented team in the league right now. Obviously there is something going on, aside from coaching like everyone seems to blame, in which the Wings are lacking severely this year. Call it drive, chemistry, heart, whatever. Whatever it is, it's not present right now. And if the Wings have any desire to be a Cup contender (which is certainly debatable from their play this season), they better sit down and reevaluate some things or this is going to be a VERY short playoff run. That game last night was beer league horse s*** if I've ever seen it. I love the Wings and want them to do well as bad as everyone else, but that game last night left me the most disgusted I've been regarding a Wings game is a very long time. I'm going to end my disgusted rant with a quote from Babcock regarding last night. I think it sums it up quite perfectly: "There gets to be a point in your season where you've got to decide if you think you're a championship-caliber team. There is a right way to play, and unless you get 23 guys doing it the same way, nothing is going to happen."

In the description it says 'accidentally' as the only person by him is his own player, at least from this clip I can't say this was an accident.

I'd call or email FSN Detroit directly here to see if they can get you to whoever puts that all together: FSN Detroit 26555 Evergreen Road, Suite 90 Southfield, Michigan 48076 248.226.9700 fsdviewerinfo@foxsports.net and best wishes to your sister

am i correct that its extremely entertaining?

how can you not blame mccrimmon? comparing to 07-08 salei is an upgrade over chelios and ericsson is a upgrade over lebda. everyone else is just 2 years older. theyre just playing ******* sloppy bulls*** hockey.

That's my biggest beef with him. He's 6'5" 220 lbs, but doesn't use it to his advantage nearly enough. He needs to watch game tape of Pronger to model himself afer. Yes, I'm serious.

We're too old, and we're nowhere near consistent enough right now to make a real Cup run. Shake up needed in the summer? Bet your ass.

Probably a no icing indication rather than no goal.

That's certainly one way to look at it if it doesn't support someone's particular player they are rooting for. The bottom line is there are a great number of games, shifts and minutes played. All the players who may be in contention for a Norris are up against the same obstacles. There's a large enough sample population over the course of a season that makes +/- a useful indicator. Simply micromanaging it by saying it doesn't take a second to second look at who each player is playing against makes me think your assertion is Nick is playing against the best of the best all the time while the other candidates get all their ice time against hacks. All the Norris candidates, whomever they end up being, have played against tough opposition. Any attempt to explain away Nick's poor +/- this year b/c it doesn't reflect generously on him is trying to sweep unseemly evidence under the rug. We're not playing well defensively and Nick has been a part of that. Is he the main culprit? No. But it's been endemic of the entire team this year to a level we're not quite used to. Nick has always played against the best of the best. Hasn't seemed to hamper his +/- in the past like it is this year. So you can't just say its no longer a useful stat b/c it reflects poorly on him now. Maybe you've always felt that way, I don't know. I just happen to disagree with your contention that it's useless.

Ill give you a dollar if you take Larry Murphy dollar hot dog sign and get on TV.

It may not be 100% his fault, but not only did the numbers tank after McCrimmon got here, he was also renowned for being a terrible defensive coach in Atlanta. Those are two HUGE coincidences. It wouldn't hurt to replace him. Also, for all our talk about complacency among the D-core, is that not one of the signs of a weak coach? They set the tone for the players.