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I think people are too easily dismissing just how inexperienced these kids are. When a rookie plays well at 14 minutes, that does not necessarily mean he will play even better at 19+ minutes. You have to consider the lines matchups and their defensive responsibilities. Part of the reason for relying on the vets is not just nostalgia. They've got years of experience that have led to better defensive and coverage instincts. The fact is they're more trustworthy shift after shift on a given night. That's not to say the young guys are bad in any way, just inexperienced. Babcock values players who won't screw up and cost the team goals, even when they're not producing much. With this many young guys in the lineup it's about finding the right balance. It's not as simple as "he scored playing 14 minutes so he should get 19 minutes and score more."

I'm so glad Tatar turned out to be awesome as a big f*** you to babcock. esteef

Yup could be earning the spot or spreading the scoring around or injuries or line matchups, or linemates and chemistry or stupid things he said to the press last year or he's struggling with his father's health/death. Frankly I would believe any one of those before I believe Babcock would irrationally hate a player and possibly put that before his team.

Same as we need this year. Big forward that can score and a second pairing puck mover who's better than Smith. That's it.

i make my move when she looks at me more than two times within 10 minutes

Sorta like irrationally loving a player(s) and possibly putting that before his team? esteef

Abby plays top line all the time. Does that mean he's held in higher regard than Alfie?? No. It's about roles and spreading out the scoring between three lines.

If you base it on a few months or a few weeks ago, I think you'd have to be a bit skeptical , understandably so. But Sammy is on waivers, Bert sat out and Cleary was scratched. Not sure what else you can ask for. The kids played quite a bit yesterday and with good reason. All these guys have been bringin' it night after night. At the beginning of the season, we really didn't know what we had with these guys. Now we know. Mike Babcock wants to win above all else.

Projecting Monster in net even with Howard coming off the IR, we'll know for sure closer to game time. Time to bounce back and forget about the Florida game, Wings dominate this one 6-1. GO WINGS!!

I've always loved Gaborik, and for the right price (significantly less than he makes now) I'd still take him. But honestly, I'd like to see a Jeff Carter/James Van Riemsdyk type of guy. Those two aren't going anywhere, but you get the idea.

So is it making him earn his spot or spreading the scoring around? I can't keep track. All just the same Babcock media lip service. Playing Bert and Cleary over Tatar was stupid from day one and that's been painfully apparent to everyone except Babcock for quite some time. esteef

Huh? If anything Babcock is partially responsible for the player he has become because he has made him earn his ice-time. As it should be with all young players.

Maybe Franzen plays? Give me a break. I get it, he doesn't play hard every game. He still scores around 25 goals a year. You don't just bench that. That's ignoring that because of cap and roster reason, they can't keep Jurco, Glendening, and Sheahn up if everyone is healthy.

I don't think a budget team like Nashville is going to cough up 28 million for 2 years of the new contract and then deal Weber. It just doesn't make sense.

I agree with your point, however I'm not particularly interested in "blaming" anyone. It's not therapeutic for me to point fingers. The roster could have been managed better, and the coaching could be better, but immaterial right now. We've got a team that could (and should) go on a run down the stretch. There's no reason for this team to miss the playoffs. Add a puck mover to the second pair (moving Smith to the third and Kindl off the team for good) and a scoring winger with some size and there's no reason we shouldn't compete for the Cup. But to do so requires that tough decisions be made. Moving the right combination of vets, prospects, young guys, and picks. How deftly Holland does that will say a lot more about his talent than all the FA singings in the world. Likewise, how well Babs can coach a young team that doesn't coach itself (like he's had since he joined the organization) will say a lot about his talent as well.

Our injury list is down to a single column! Go Wings. 65 minutes of hard hockey! If you only need 60, that's even better. You can be hard for the other five minutes doing whatever you want as a reward for only needing 60 during the game. Intermissions do not count in this time, nor does the warm-up or any time when the puck is not in play, unless it's in the netting and no one knows where it is. Wings win 3-1 Tatas, GusGus, and Tinky all score just because it sounds so darn cute. Gustafsson scores for the Flyers just because it would freak Wings fans out because people would think that it's Gustavsson. The end.

Well, the blame is passed from one to the other in different circumstances. It is on Babcock when he can pick and choose who he wants to play and he picks incorrectly. It is on Holland when everyone is healthy, and we have to send down guys who make the team better because he kept signing a bunch of guys we didn't need.

This is just like every other Babcock cliche. It's not saying much to say "the best players will play" when there's no competition for jobs at the moment. Bring Dats, Z, and Weiss back and there will be, and I'd be amazed if "the best player played". He might as well say, "the best player (who can effectively alleviate cap constraints) will play". Which is no different than two months ago when Tootoo and Eaves were waived. Talk is cheap. It's time for Holland and Babs to actually DO SOMETHING to prove that "the best players will play". And that doesn't mean waiving Sammy either.

its the other way around. Its Colorado who turned down that deal...with good reason. Bourque is lazy, the Habs just want to get rid of him. Id love to see Parenteau with the Wings, but i don't know why Colorado want to trade him. Why should they make any trade the way they are going right now ?

Ya didn't wanna work .... Click on the rumors topic on top then click on read more where parenteau is mentioned and it then lists redwings Ottawa and montreal as teams interested

Andersson is not as good as Sheahan. Sheahan might get sent down but hes gonig to be back in soon. The wings are going to move some bodies out, I know its Holland but theres no way they dont make room for some of these kids. Andersson will have some trade value, he could be used in a package for sure or just get a third or 4th rounder for him and put Sheahan in the line up. Your team improves and you aquire an extra pick in the draft. At 6'2, 24 years of age and some solid minutes on a good PK I dont see how a team like Edmonton doesnt at least be interested in Andersson.

I thought it was a different approach and probably a learning lesson for the league. Don't understand all this irrational hate. It was still an entertaining game and had much better than conditions than our Winter Classic. Many players stated the ice was better than even a few NHL arenas. Players, their families and the fans of those teams seemed to really appreciate and enjoy it and it's great exposure for the sport in California.

I'd keep Sheehan over both Sheahan and Andersson.

Howard has been better lately. Gustavasson's numbers aren't that much better, despite his win-loss record, and the last 5 games he's given up 4 goals 3 times and 3 in another game. If the Wings weren't scoring, they could have easily been 1-4 in those game. In the meantime, Howard has given up 3+ in 4 of his last 11 games and got a L or OTL in 3 games where he allowed 2 or fewer.