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I prefer these. They came with cups.

OK FINE I'll do it myself I'd sign Semin to a contract just so I could see him do that again.

Really? Multiple times in many threads people have placed most of the blame on Babcock, saying he fought for Cleary to be here. Babcock is obviously a fan. Cleary is fearless and goes to the net like few players on the Wings do. Multiple times it's been cited that Babcock, the players, and Holland wanted Cleary back. But Holland is the one ultimately responsible for the roster. Also, please don't circumvent the profanity filter.

Only a sith deals in absolutes

While some people are less than thrilled about the Red Wings' off-season, I think there should definitely be some optimism about the Griffins right now. The team is stacked, IMO. Leaves me wondering just where players fit in, and who will be going down to Toledo. I'm curious about what some of you think regarding the line combinations, and who will split time between GR and Toledo. These would be some of my preferred lines: Jurco-Miele-Pulkkinen (assuming Alfie signs) Nosek-Nestrasil-Mantha (could swap Nosek-Nestrasil at center) Hoggan-Porter-Callahan (chippy line, but could use a shooter, perhaps?) Athanasiou-Ferraro-Campbell (great speed, Campbell brings size/grit) As far as forwards go, I'm just not sure guys like Tvrdon and Frk will crack the line-up, hence why I have Campbell on that 4th line. If Frk could somehow outplay a few guys, I wouldn't mind him on that 3rd line, but I think GR's pretty deep on the right wing. I also wouldn't mind swapping Mantha with Callahan, at least until Mantha gets the hang of the pace in the AHL, but I can see people thinking that being "stuck" on a line with Hoggan and Porter might hinder his offense. On the back end: Ouellet-Paetsch (stable pairing, can eat minutes) Evans-Sproul (Evans will balance Sproul out nicely) Backman-Marchenko (seems like a very solid pairing - could work ahead of Evans-Sproul) I almost wish they had one less veteran here, to allow for Jensen to be paired with one of them on the bottom pairing. I would love an Ouellet-Sproul, Backman-Marchenko top 4, but Evans and Paetsch don't allow for it. This is what I think will pan out on defense. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

They keep recycling the same teams over and over. It's getting old.

If those men were playing in today's game with increased speed and size they'd be strapping on those helmets faster than you can turn Frazen into a girls name. Besides, there were undoubtedly what you refer to as "sissies" then too, we just don't know everything about every player 50 years ago.

******* awesome. Between Jimmy and Monster (and even Mrazek) we've come a long way from this:

I think the difference between the two is Babcock has taken Holland's makeshift/transitional/mediocre/insert your preferred term rosters and kept them competitive. Babs certainly has his faults, but how many coaches get last year's version of the Red Wings into the playoffs at all given the circumstances? I have gotten on Babs in the past for his stubbornness and certain personnel decisions, though in reality he has done exceptional work and last season was probably his best coaching job to date. I don't want to turn this into another bash Holland thread, but I think the track record since 2009 speaks for itself. That's why the general manager has taken more heat than the head coach. Babs can only coach up the players he's given so much.

Yeah, it'll help that we've got top six talent (Tatar, Jurco, Sheahan) on good contracts and occupying the third line. That's huge for depth. I'd be absolutely thrilled if we had that depth plus somebody to occupy that top line wing who can score 20 and play big minutes (Alfie could score 20 but couldn't handle the top line minutes). Maybe Helm will be that...but I'm not sold on it yet.

Haha, no I caught it. One goal in 23 games to close a season plus a no-show in the playoffs four years running just doesn't meet my standards for a goal-scoring winger. Maybe in a complimentary sense, but the Wings clearly can't rely on Franzen for consistency.

No, we have Franzen, didn't you pay attention to what he said?

I picked up a copy of Destiny and NHL 15 for XB1 at lunch today. Now I stare at the clock for another 3 hours....

And that sums up the entire prequel trilogy.

It is not exactly a friendly environment in Europe either. This is just a bad idea and it could turn sour really quick.

Semin is not, and never was the answer. That guy who did the Wings AMA on reddit (take it for what it's worth) indicated that the Wings were interested in signing a certain Russian winger a few years back (some say it could have been Radulov, but it was most likley Semin) and when they asked Datsyuk if he would babysit/workwithhim, Pavel gave a big fat NO. Even if that's all made up I still don't want him. Semin would last exactly one season, if that, with Babcock. Franzen actually plays defense, despite what his detractors here will tell you.

Having been to many a football (sorry, soccer) game here in England, and then seen the contrast at Rugby games, I am tempted to classify most football fans as hooligans, but I shall refrain. That being said, I tend to feel that segregating home and away fans breed hatred and animosity (at least it does here in my experience). Most fans spend most of the game exclaiming profanity towards the referees, or other fans, or the teams. Contrast to the many games of rugby i've seen, where fans are freely integrated, and convivial with each other. The same I've seen at the 10 or so NHL games i've seen in the states and canada. I also went to a Swiss National League game a few years back and they were chanting the entire game. It's nuts. Personally I prefer things the way they are right now, and am against segregation, but that's only due to my previous experiences here. Whether they would turn into that if its tried in the NHL, who knows

Only on LGWs can a “Cam Fowler Skated at Wings Practice Today” predictably spiral into a trade/Quincey hate thread.