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I don't doubt he'd be able to do it with the proper PP time, but I'm not sure he'll get it. Most of his 23 points were ES, but so were Smith's - to push to that 30-35 point mark, he'd need consistent time on the PP, I think. I hope Smith gets his proper shot on the PP this year, as I think that's where his value lies. Kronwall and Kindl are mainstays, as long as Kindl's in the line-up, and I think the team has enough forwards who might play the point on the PP. I guess we'll see, but I think that DD's talents should be more focused on minute eating and the PK next season, while some of the more offensively inclined guys should work the PP. Just my two cents.

I have mixed feelings about this. Personally, I love the Joe. It has so much character, history and the sight lines (IMO) are great. Even in the upper deck it feels like you're on top of the action, and the standing room areas are superb. While the idea of a new arena is also exciting, I can't help but feel it will be another generic, state of the art place where everything is overpriced and you have to bring binoculars to the game.

I don't think anyone is "over rating" Callahan, but I for one would be pissed if we lost him to waivers. No one is saying that he is the next big thing, just that he could be a great 4th line grinder in the mold of a Maltby. I love the kid and I hope he steals a full time spot on our crowded 4th line sometime this season...

I can only be an improvement to the area, and I am sure the local fans will love it. I am very happy that I got to attend a few games at the epic and irreplaceable Joe Louis Arena. I loved every second of the games I attended there and felt privileged as a fan to be there. Sentiment aside, the Wings deserve the best. I hope this new arena is just that.

"I think we need to let our young people grow. We signed enough players to buy our kids time in the minors. We have four d-men who are going to play here eventually and probably be upgrades on our roster. How much time do they need? We don’t know the answer. [ . . . . ] I didn’t like us in the playoffs last year against Boston, but we like what we have coming. And we like our kids. So the biggest thing is not to rush it. We could really use some puck-moving D. Well, we just happen to have some puck-moving D in the minors. Big guys that can skate. When are they ready? We’re sure not going to rush them, but if they’re capable of taking jobs they’re getting the jobs." - Babcock, from the interview Let's be honest - the Wings aren't in really bad shape. We've spent the past few seasons "retooling" in the sense that we've kept our core intact and kept the streak alive while also building up a very impressive stable of very promising young players like Nyquist and DeKeyser and Mantha and Mrazek and Sproul and Ouellet and Jurco and Athanasiou. The "youth movement" we've been waiting for is already happening; it's a slow drip rather than one great big swell. We're not rebuilding, not looking to tear everything down and ice a roster with 20 kids. We want what every Cup contender boasts these days: quality veteran leadership (with at least two elite franchise players at the top of the totem pole) and a small army of young studs on early, affordable contracts. And we're in a position to have that very soon. I hate the Quincey and Cleary re-signings. I hated that we brought back Samuelsson. I hated that Nyquist was stuck in Grand Rapids at the start of last season and that Jurco's going to get the same treatment this coming season. But, all things considered, this stuff isn't a big deal. What's important is that we're steadily building up to that kind of roster that can truly compete for the Cup. Again, I think that roster is within reach, we just have to be patient and not do anything really, genuinely, hugely, dangerously stupid. For example, as much as I want a Mike Green on this team, I do feel that moving, say, Nyquist for him would be really, genuinely, hugely, dangerously stupid, or at least close to it. Even if he were to have a great season, do you suppose he re-ups with us? I wouldn't be surprised if he were to re-sign with the Caps, giving them both Nyquist and Green. But I digress. Point is, it's going to be ok, maybe. I'm generally extremely cynical about the state of the Wings, but if I'm being objective, I like us, and I think we're only going to get better over the next two or three years. Mantha will save us all.

Addresses FAs, Cleary, contract extension, Detroit as a destination, and the best players playing. https://soundcloud.com/georgeums/mike-babcock-speaks-to-detroit-sports-1051-thursday-july-17-2014

This is probably the last trivia I'll do. It's also my favorite one I've done so far. Basically, you have to name each team's all time leader in goals, assists, goalie wins and penalty minutes. I thought this would be the hardest test, but I did really good. Got 114/120 right. Some of the ones were impossible. I typed in the name of every goon, enforcer, thug and criminal I could think of, and still couldn't come up with the Rangers all time PIMS leader. Blues' leader in goalie wins was a tough one also. Anyway, enjoy. Hint: If you're having a tough time with the PIMS one, just think of power forwards of the 90's. That one worked pretty well for at least three of the teams on there. https://www.sporcle.com/games/Ben/nhl_team_leaders

I think they see the direction the team is headed.

Quincey isn't a bad contract, it's only for 2 years. Niskanen and Orpik, are bad contracts.

Thankfully Holland will have no input in building the arena or it would come out looking like a pizza hut.Im not thrilled about this because 2 years ago i was married on the ice in Joe Louis. Its going to be sad if they tear it down and we cant go back to where we were married.

I'd like to see the guy get a shot on the team. I don't think anyone's going to mistake him for a 2nd liner, but as has been mentioned by a few others, he could bring a different element to this team. He may not fit on anything but a 4th line in Detroit, but I think he could compliment skilled guys by being a distraction and screening the goaltender. The net presence, piano pulling guys have their place on NHL clubs, too... should he grow into that role. He may not turn into that, but the downside is that he'd fit in as a 4th liner who brings high energy and good tempo.

I dunno, I feel like if Z and D are his linemates and his job is mostly to create space and drive the net, Jurco would be just fine on the top line. That's the thing, though - I'd want him with at least one of Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I wouldn't put him with, say, Franzen and Weiss. I think I'd take Tatar-Sheahan-Mantha over Jurco with Shahan and Mantha because 1) Jurco and Mantha are both best suited for the right side while Tatar is best suited for the left, and 2) Tatar is the possession driver that makes the whole thing (keeping the puck in the o-zone) work. Jurco's size and strength might make things easier for Mantha, though, and I like the idea of Tatar in the top six, as long as he's with at least one of Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Of course, this is all probably moot. Mantha is likely spending most of the season on the farm (a good call) and Cleary's a lock for the first line and Hall of Fame (duh).

I said he was better than Cleary, who is projected as being nowhere in the NHL without his man-crushees. A 4th line agitator/mini-Holmstrom>absolutely nothing. Callahan brings skills that this team has lacked for a while.

You guys are seriously over rating him. He's projected as a 4th line agitator, not a second line scorer.

It'll be called The Octopus's Garden and shaped like Ringo's head.

Before he hooked up with the Hawks though, he made it out of the 2nd round of the playoffs once in 10 years as a head coach. Losing to the eventual cup winner in a first round series doesn't really count for much to me. Babcock took out the 2003 Red Wings in 4 games with a Ducks roster that wasn't exactly stacked with stars and got them to game 7 of the Finals. in 2007 he took the Wings to the Conference finals, losing to a great team and eventual Cup winner in the Ducks . In 2008 he won the Cup In 2009 he went through the Ducks, still a very good team, and beat Quenneville's Blackhawks (the next year's Cup winner), then took the Pens (who people here don't like to admit but were a great team) to 7 games. In 2013 he took the Blackhawks to game 7 OT with a lineup that had no business hanging with the Hawks. I think Quenneville is a good coach, but I still put Babcock a notch above him.

It's obviously opinion at this point but there's no way I'd want Quenneville over Babcock. Sutter maybe. I think Sutter outcoached and exposed the Hawks this playoffs, and Babcock almost did it the previous year with a helluva lot less talent. Here's part of the reason I think Babs is a great coach. http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/539181

Obvious speculation about "damage control" aside, Mike Barwis isn't the Red Wings trainer. He's an outside specialist and (based on my very brief internet search) seems to be pretty well respected and established.

That's a little harsh. Stuart was good for us, but he played for some powerhouse versions of our roster that would've made almost anyone in the 4D spot look good. He was a heavy hitter, but he definitely had his faults and limitations in terms of his all-around ability. DeKeyser's still very young for a top-four defenseman, and he spent most of last season paired with Quincey. He hasn't proven a ton, and yet, he has. Pretty good puck mover, good frame, good mobility, good head for the game, reads plays exceptionally well, has a slightly Lidstrom-esque sense of how to use his body efficiently and effectively - he's a top-four defenseman who plays smart, steady, elegant hockey, and he's only going to get better. We're very lucky (or, if you prefer, fortunate) to have landed him. The biggest knock on DeKeyser is, I suppose, his possession numbers. This piece gives our D corp's Corsi numbers, which reveal that Brendan Smith is actually a pretty strong possession player. Of course, DeKeyser was always facing pretty tough matchups, pretty tough usage, and, again, he was stuck with Quincey. I think if DeKeyser can get a better partner and Smith can get some power play time and the confidence boost that'd come with the point production, that alone would do wonders for our blue line.

Oh god, I remember having to watch those videos in grade 2.

This makes my heart soar, and then I hear the theme from Reading Rainbow, then I feel like I have to go potty. What does this mean, mommy?

I really like the news on Zetterberg. You know, if you're into being positive and stuff.

Ties have a long history in the NHL, but it was changed for a reason. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't look forward to watching a 3 hour game just to see it end in a tie. Also going back to the old tie system, will cause the same issues as a 3 point game, it would allow teams to just hang on for that 1 point.As far as how to end a regular season game goes, you play till someone wins. But with the 3 point game gone it would force teams to work harder so they don't have to play in OT. The only other option I see would be to, first get rid of the loser point and then play a full 20 minute period before having a shootout.

I think the helmet one is dumb. If you're in your own end on a pk defending and someone checks you, knocks the helmet off, somehow you deserve a penalty because you don't want to leave your team even more shorthanded to go put the helmet back on or go back to the bench?