Leaderboard

They're changing to the practice uniforms because they don't choke in practice. They're hoping it will carry over to the games.

Tootoo did exactly what he was asked of last season, yet the Wings don't appear interested in his services anymore. Don't know what more Holland was expecting from him.

it's the weight of the C that has caused Thornton to underperform.

Because it should be forever reserved for Derek Meech

There is a thread for this in the Griffins forum, but since no-one goes there, and no-one has seemingly seen it, I hope the mods allow this thread to remain. The Griffins did an HBO 24/7 style "behind the benches" series of videos for each round of their playoff run, which are frankly amazing. The production values are incredible and they offer a fascinating insight. The links are for the 2 videos from the finals, but all the previous rounds are linked beneath the videos. Several things spring to mind watching them. Blashill is mini-Babcock. Very cool and proffesional. Ferraro has a mouth and an agitating style to match Maltby, and drops the gloves to boot. Tatar is a VERY confident individual, borderline arrogance and I can see why he rubs some Wings fans the wrong way. He's going to really wind the opposition up. The importance of the veterans on that team. Some round here would I think like every player on the Griffins to be under-21, but its clear guys like Hoggan and Grant were hugely important on and off the ice. Best line of the series - Triston Grant on being complimented on his playoff beard "Thanks, I have my mothers genes"

The San Jose Sharks unveiled their new home and away uniforms today. And if you ask me, they look like cheap practice jerseys. Gone are the shoulder caps, and the stripes around the waist. According to their website... That's right, folks. The Sharks have been classic under-performers because those jerseys just weighed too darn much. So they're using practice jerseys from here on out because that will take them to the next level...

And this is a novelty in the NHL? As I said in the post, way better defenders than Ericsson in NHL history have logged tons of fighting majors. I'm not asking him to fight 15 times this season, but he should be more willing to use his size.

Facts.... they matter. He is actually 5'9" 199lbs and is willing and able to lay out some big hits... you know, the things that strike fear into opposing teams. durk a durk!

A line of Emmerton, Miller and Eaves is about as useless a 4th line as you can have. Very similar players who don't provide anything that a 4th line should have. They don't hit, aren't big guys that will wear defenders down and don't fight. That might be OK when you're talking about a 4th line of Holmstrom, Larionov and Robitaille, but it's fair to say the skill levels don't compare here. As I said earlier, our 4th line has no identity.

He's actually less worthless than our other 4th liners, because he adds an element they don't have. He hits everything that moves and drops the gloves to spark the team. Holland proved last year that he didn't know what the hell he was doing. He signed Sammy to a ridiculous contract, brought in Carlo Coca-Cola (with his injuries), and signed Tootoo, who did what was asked of him, yet still rode the bench (hence a bad signing by Holland). I still don't know what Tootoo should have done differently to impress Kenny. He didn't score any less than our other 4th liners, and was the only guy who showed balls enough to stand up for his teammates. Apparently, Holland and Babcock were expecting something else from him. What that is, I'll never know.

He can hold his own, but he rarely fights. Before anyone cries about him possibly getting hurt, better defenseman than him have been a lot more willing to drop the gloves. He needs to use his size more and challenge people. Especially when our guys are being pushed around (Cough. Bickell and Shaw in the playoffs). I disagree. It seemed like Bickell and Shaw wore the Wings out as the series went on. Those guys played well and forechecked hard. That grit paid off for them. We didn't have anyone really doing that to the Hawks defense on the other side. You can't put three small, soft players on the 4th line and hope they can wear teams down over a long playoff series. Some balance is needed there. Tootoo isn't the biggest guy, but he hits hard and grinds well along the boards. Also, don't forget how the Ducks 4th line totally dominated ours in that series. The Wings have had a useless 4th line for years now. We need to have a better identity there.

Trading any player except Emmerton or flat out waiving Eaves gets them below cap. That's not an issue. If they trade Tootoo and waive Emmerton and Eaves they can sign Cleary for $2 mil. I really don't think Holland wants Cleary back though. He's just not saying that publicly.

And you would know this how? How can you say he would not have any bearing on the outcome....why change something that worked so well right. Yeah I said he was some superman playoff game changer. Lets not pretend that it wouldn't of had any effect either how about that. Some of you must have forgotten how Shaw and Bickell were left untouched when they were skating around having their way with the wings. I'm sorry to burst your bubble cause you sound pretty sure of yourself but physicality with no answer back from the wings had a lot to do with it...not all of it but had a lot. When the hawks turned it on physically and they saw that they could get away with it thats when the tide turned.

Does this mean he can fight to a draw with one hand tied behind his back? I'd rather have Toots for the fighting, thanks. I like E, and I'm glad he can and will throw down when needed, but it's always good to have a specialist on call.

He's not half good either

JUSTICE! ARRESTED!

nah we will drop tootoo and then once the season starts we will see 100 threads talking about how weak we are and why didn't holland get a tough guy...its all buttmans fault blah blah blah. Not saying Tootoo is the toughest,best fighter in the league but he's better than anything we have and he plays his role perfect. I understand we have to get under the cap and all that and we pretty much have no other option because of sammy. Yeah Tootoo wasn't played in the playoffs which was a mistake against the blackhawks since they were beating us down and having their way physically but hey..losing 3 in a row without changing anything is ok for some I guess.

Ha, reminds me of the supergroup Rod Stewart, Elton John and Freddie Mercury were going to form - Hair, Nose and Teeth was the planned name

The sad part of all of this is how many shoulder caps, stripes, and orange accents are now unemployed in the Bay Area.

Cleary isn't even on the team as of right now; please revise

Wouldn't Alfredsson be issued his Wings gear at training camp, which hasn't happened yet? No biggie IMHO.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE! Happyhappyhappy!

As weird as Val Filppula working out at Michigan State with a bunch of current Wings players still in his Wings gear? Just another case of the media trying to make something out of nothing here with the Alfie situation. Will be so happy when camps start & there's actual hockey news they can cover.

Really? I agree that he doesn't care about the logo on his jersey, but his proffesionalism and off-ice work ethic are well known. At 41 he just scored 16 goals in 45 games - more than anyone on the Wings btw. More than Franzen, more than Brunner, more than Z. You can't do that with a bad attitude.

He's a very promising young player but still needs to work on his puck possession.