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I feel like the Wings have been stuck in this weird place for the last few seasons. Not enough talent to play puck possession, not enough speed and size to play dump and chase. They've been stuck in between. I'm not sure what their system or identity is.

buls***, a lot of us did

Several things: 1) Our passing ability has really gone down the tube since 2009 2) The inability to quickly turn a neutral zone turnover into an odd man rush the other way 3) Way to many shots from the perimeter 4) When in a good shooting position, the tendency is to make an extra pass or having to make an extra stick handle instead of releasing a good, hard and quick shot 5) Way to many players who do not put their shoulder down and go hard nose to the net and at worse can draw a penalty against a player who has been beaten 6) Way to much line juggling and several players who seemingly make it a 5 on 4 on the ice when they are out there 7) The lack of someone who is selfish and will shoot every chance they get (you could argue a pure goal scorer here) 8) The power play has become very stagnant and not enough moving parts...need to simplify it and just have someone bombing away from the middle on the back end 9) Way to many times do we give the puck away to easily in the D zone causing more energy to be spent trying to retrieve the puck 10) Lack of a killer instinct when the opponent has had most of its life taken out of them...one example was the game against Chicago last season when they had the lead and then took a boneheaded penalty with 2 mins to go and lost in a shootout 2-1 Rant over

I don't think Alfie is playing poorly as much as the puck just isn't going in. Weiss is struggling. Franzen is being himself. There still isn't a pure goal scorer on this team. Thomas Vanek anyone? I can dream can't I? Ken Holland says "Sorry, but I signed too many guys that I can't get rid of."

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest more Nyquist wouldn't hurt.

There are a few reasons why our offense is struggling right now. First, in years past we've always been a league leader (or nearly league leader) in defensive scoring. With Lids, Kronwall, Rafalski, and before that Schneider we always had d-men who put up good point totals. We don't anymore and our GAA suffers because of it. Secondly, Babs needs to stop being experimental with our lines. We already know who our centers are going to be down the stretch, and we already know who three of the top wingers are going to be. Let them play where they're supposed to and start forming chemistry. This mix and mash s*** has got to stop. Finally, we need to sort out what we expect out of guys and where they fit on the team, if anywhere. At some point we've got to get past the point of "competing for a spot" and get guys in the positions they've earned so that they can form some chemistry. Having more than enough players competing for jobs is good in training camp, it's bad when you're a month into the season. At this point I'd like to see something like this... Alfie-Dats-Bert Zetterberg-Weiss-Franzen Tatar-Andersson-Abby Cleary/Miller-Glendening-Tootoo I don't want Dats and Z separated permanently. But I also don't want Alfie and Weiss together until they are both VERY comfortable with the system, I don't want two guys learning the system on the same line at the same time. I feel that Dats would work well with Alfie in order to get him going, and Zetterberg would work with Weiss for the same reason. Also, when Helm and Eaves get healthy this would all be reevaluated but until then, I like this the best.

However don't have the tvs in the same room facing each other. If you do that you end up creating a black hole taking you to another dimension where Cleary signed with the Flyers over the summer.

No. You will need both HBO and Sportsnet. You have to have one channel on in one room and the other in another room. They will then combine signals and project the 24/7 program onto your living room wall. That's the only way I know of to make it work.

Franzen 2 goals in 11 games (both on the PP and both against the Avs) Weiss 2 goals in 11 games Alfredsson 1 goal in 11 games Those are the top 3 guys the Wings need producing after Z and Dats, and they have 5 goals between them. Then throw in our $3 million fourth liner Samuelsson and it's more capspace that was supposed to be providing goals but isn't. As I mentioned in the GDT, Franzen hasn't even managed a shot on goal in the last two games. His last SOG was against the Coyotes.

I agree but im not just talking about a net-front guy im talking specifically about re-directing pucks, which we suck at. It helps having more accurate defenseman but you still have to be able to tip a puck and not just block a goalies vision.

As I've got some time on my hands and figured that doing so would be enjoyable, I've jotted down my opinions on player performance thus far. Enjoy the read. Justin Abdelkader: B. Abdelkader's role is to crash, bang, retrieve pucks, and score where he may, and he has done a fair job of it. He may be better suited to the third line, as he continues to have trouble producing elsewhere. Daniel Alfredsson: A-. It took Alfie a few games to get comfortable, whereupon it quickly became apparent why this guy is a lock for the Hall of Fame. He excels on offense, is scrupulous on defense, and positively exudes poise. Now he just needs to start scoring goals. Joakim Andersson: B+. Faceoffs and defensive play are Andersson’s roles, and he has been performing those admirably. His play in his own zone, already quite good last season, has shown marked improvement in the current campaign, and he has become a mainstay on the penalty kill. He’s committed to defensive play in a way that few players are. Unfortunately for him, he spent quite a bit of time on that abomination of a 3rd line with Bertuzzi and Cleary. As was shown in the game against the Sharks, he performs better on a shutdown line. Look for him to continue improving as he matures. Todd Bertuzzi: C+. Three points just isn’t good enough for the role Bertuzzi plays. He certainly tries his hardest, and he’s still got a lot of talent, but his age is showing. While it’s possible that he’s not being optimally used, it’s clear that he’s no longer able to generate much offense of his own accord. Daniel Cleary: D. Cleary has been virtually invisible when he isn’t falling down or making a mistake. He’s still got all the heart in the world, but his play is even more dismal than it was last season. He has been utterly ineffective on offense---Babcock seems to have recognized this, as Cleary’s power play time per game has dwindled to almost none---and even the famously hard-nosed element to his game seems to be absent now; for example, he currently ranks below even Johan Franzen in hits and blocked shots. I can’t say what he contributes behind the scenes, but right now he’s taking up a spot in the lineup that could be far better utilized by any of several other players. Datsyuk: A+. Datsyuk performs as well as he is able: that is, at a level matched by exceedingly few professional hockey players anywhere. He is capable of feats unmatched by anyone, and never gives less than 100%. He is truly as a fine wine, growing only better with age. Danny DeKeyser: A. Truly a gem, DeKeyser plays with poise and ability generally reserved for players with ten times his level of experience. He has demonstrated his ability to ably play top minutes in any situation, and this with only 22.5 games of NHL experience. DeKeyser is performing splendidly, and it’s entirely possible, perhaps probable, that he has not yet even sniffed his full potential. Patrick Eaves: N/A. Patty is hopefully on his way to recovery, though it’s unclear if he’ll have a spot on the team whenever he does return. Cory Emmerton: C-. Anything that Emmerton can do, Glendening can do better. Emmerton is simply mediocre at everything he does, and he does not work hard enough to compensate. Barring a string of injuries at center, Emmerton's days with the Red Wings are almost certainly over. Jonathan Ericsson: A. Ericsson has grown from a mistake-prone, boneheaded youngster into a rock-solid shutdown defenseman. While it would be great if he’d learn to better use that giant slap shot of his, he certainly does his job well as it is. Johan Franzen: C-. It’s plainly obvious at this stage that Franzen is held back from stardom only by his refusal to exert himself. His excellent performance in the game against the Avalanche is a microcosm of his very substantial talent and ability, both of which will continue to go unused so long as he continues to float. One can only hope that he will someday soon find reason to reform his attitude. Luke Glendening: B. Glendening brings a lot of energy and speed to his game. Though he's a bit undersized, it's clear he's got a future as an effective NHL grinder ahead of him. Whether or not that will be in Detroit is as yet unclear. Jonas Gustavsson: A. Monster let in a couple of stinkers during his three-game run, but he was excellent in sum. Though his troubles have always centered on consistency rather than talent, it’s nevertheless good to know that the team has a capable backup. Darren Helm: N/A. As with Eaves, he’ll hopefully be able to play again soon. Unlike Eaves, he has a guaranteed spot when he returns. Hockey analysts rightly refer to Helm as a difference-maker. Jimmy Howard: A. Howard has thus far been as rock-solid as he was last season, or perhaps even better. He hasn’t yet let in a single bad goal. Jakub Kindl: B. Two seasons ago, Jakub’s future with the organization was very much in doubt. Not so anymore, as he has developed into a fine bottom-four defenseman and continues to improve. Hopefully he’ll find that offensive touch one day. In the meantime, he’ll remain a very viable and cost-effective option for the third pairing. Niklas Kronwall: A. Few if any complaints can be made about Kronwall’s play thus far. He has performed quietly and ably as the team’s #1 defenseman, as befits his well-earned position as one of the mainstays of the team. Brian Lashoff: B. Far from his often bungle-filled showings of last season, Lashoff has performed very ably thus far. He’s unlikely ever to contribute much offense, and he’s best kept away from top opposition, but he has been consistently making the correct plays in the defensive zone. At the very least, he’ll remain an affordable third-pairing option. Drew Miller: C. While nobody expects Miller to be highly visible, he is rightly expected to be at least somewhat visible, and he has thus far been neither. Perhaps this can be blamed on his linemates---he has played very well in the past with the likes of Eaves and Helm, neither of whom are currently available---but better things were expected of him when he was awarded his new contract. Xavier Ouellet: N/A. One game isn’t enough to form an opinion from, though his performance therein was very encouraging. Kyle Quincey: B-. Yes, Quincey isn't flashy, and yes, he doesn’t produce offensively, and yes, he probably wasn’t worth the 1st that was given for him, and yes, he hasn’t done as well as anyone---management included, most likely---had hoped. However, this doesn’t mean that he’s a total loss, and he has stepped up quite nicely in the three games since Kronwall’s injury. Hopefully this will continue. Mikael Samuelsson: D+. Just about nobody wanted Samuelsson to be on the team this season, management included, and for good reason: he just isn’t a worthwhile component. He did, amusingly, score the first goal of the season, but his very questionable utility has seen him in and out of the lineup since. He’s not the sort to make glaring errors, but he’s also not particularly good at anything. Brendan Smith: C-. “Frustrating” is the best word to describe Smith’s performance so far. It is plainly apparent that he has a very substantial level of talent. It is just as obvious that he lacks entirely the poise to go with it. His best two games of the season have come when he was not paired with Quincey; whether or not the two of them simply bring out the flaws in each other, it’s clear that Smith has a lot of maturing to do. Tomas Tatar: N/A. Like Smith, Tatar has got a lot of talent. Unlike Smith, he’s got the poise and confidence to go with it. Also unlike Smith, he’s not being given much of a chance. Hopefully this changes; he deserves a proper shot now, not later. Jordin Tootoo: C+. Tootoo brings a lot of energy and verve to the ice, and lays out everything he’s got on every shift. Unfortunately for him, whether or not he’s the best use of a roster spot is open to question. Stephen Weiss: C-. Weiss hasn’t been nearly good enough, plain and simple. He performs decently in the defensive end and on the penalty kill, but he has been generally invisible, and his speed and ability have been nowhere on display. This can be explained away somewhat by his unfamiliarity with the system, but he’s got to turn his play around soon if he’s to justify the very substantial investment made in him. Henrik Zetterberg: A+. Truly a worthy successor to Yzerman and Lidstrom, Zetterberg brings it all every game.

All enticing prospects, yes, but for now they are just prospects. We can grade the drafting in 5 or so years after we see how many of these guys make the NHL.

You better start changing your outlook, because we don't compete with the Sharks anymore.

Yes, but the problem is that all the voices are dubbed in English.

Only if we start playing better or they will be very painful to watch.

Dan Cleary, Drew Miller, Abs in the top 6 cause he's doing nothing offensively, Weiss hasn't done jack yet and Sammy's contract along with yet again the Cleary signing keepin Nyquist in the minors. So basically our offensive woes are Kenny Holland's fault.

Bad line combinations, underperforming players, useless black-hole plugs like Dan Cleary.

I want to travel into the future and watch these RIGHT NOW.

it blew my mind when he quit on that 6th goal last night. sure your not going to win doesnt mean you stop playing. backcheck m*****f***** fil wouldve done it

They do, it's just pronounced HABAOA.

^ this

Time for John Scott to go. As a supporter of enforcers and fighting, this guy is making an absolute mockery of whats left of the code in the game. First he goes after a skilled player in Phil Kessel in the pre-season of all times, and tries to fight him which is a huge no-no. Then he throws a semi-late, head shot check on a defenseless skill player in a 4-2 game. There's just no room for it, enforcers are supposed to be the hard working, team guys. That is not John Scott, Scott is a joke and nothing more then a cheap shot version of a "goon". Guys like Colton Orr and George Parros don't do this for a reason, if they can get a lick on a skilled guy they take it. But they don't hit him from behind, or put a shoulder to his head. That's not the way it's ever been done. He'll probably get 5 games, he'll cry about how he's really not a dirty player, and then in a month or two he'll do something stupid again to further make enforcers look bad.

Bertuzzi has played well. Let's save our veteran bashing for those who deserve it. I'm looking at you, Sammy.

You should really write professionally. If you wrote a hockey column, I'd read it faithfully. And then I'd write idiotic, borderline illiterate comments.

In case some of you missed it, Kyle Quincey stepped up big time last night against a VERY good hockey team and played pretty damned well. Probably the best d-man on the ice aside from Dekeyser. I have no idea why people are saying he's the most expendable, or that he's holding back Smith's development. The only thing holding Smith back is lack of experience and dim witted decision making, not Kyle Quincey, he's been very good this year. Also, kudos to Jakub Kindl for his minutes last night. While I noticed him turning the puck over A LOT, I had no idea the kind of minutes he logged for the first time in his NHL career. Atta boy kid. Finally, Brendan Smith. Good game. Keep it up.