Leaderboard

Looking like Monster between the pipes against a slow starting Philadelphia team. I know it's not my most informative GDT but i've been strapped for free time and i'm working on a new format i'll launch by December with more statistics, information, and overall appeal. In the meantime, let's keep the season running strong and LGW!

Thats not that unusual for a defenseman though. Last year Smith had 5 goals in 70 games, in comparison PK Subban had 10 goals in 82 games, Keith Yandle had 8 goals in 82 games. The Weber's and Karlsson's of the world are very rare. At the end of the day most defenseman dont score alot of goals. If they cant contribute with assists, move the puck, and get shots through from the blue line, offensively I'm happy.

Danny D all the way!

Does anyone know who has the locker next to Z? Considering Z probably has a good 4 years left in him I'm saying out next C will be chosen for the 2019-2020 season. C: Nyquist A: Dekeyser A: Abby Nyquist to me is so much like Z in the way he talks and plays the game. Z always looks like a proud dad when Nyquist scores. I feel like he is really being groomed to take over that spot. I don't think Nastasiuk will get an A that early in his pro career. Figuring he spends two years in GR or so. Same for Larkin. He won't spend much if any time in GR, but I don't see him getting an A as soon as he joins the team. If Abby is still around I could see him getting an A. He has improved, always stays out of trouble and like Dekeyser is a Michigan product. That last spot is wide open to me though. Could be anyone from Mantha to Smith to Abby to Glendening.

No doubt C- Dek A- Should be Smith but will be Glendening A- Nyquist

I like Sheahan with Datsyuk better than Abdelkader.

While they're there, is a way the Wings can steal Wayne Simmonds? I've wanted him on the Wings since I watched him with LA.

I want the mule back... That Gus-Z-Mule line is real

Most points from a defenseman on this team is not a great measuring stick. If the wings are going to be contenders the defense needs to improve (as a whole I believe) on transitioning to the offensive zone. I like Smith a lot and he may get there, he is still young.

Babcock and his weird lines. Should've entertaining verse Philly Go wings!!!

As much as I like Helm, one thing I have always noticed about him is it seems like his legs are too fast for his hands. I cant even count the amount of times he gets a break, and then seems to lose the puck and/or falls down.

Maybe smith should be given equal time as him in pp and we will see. Last year. 5 on 5 he had THE MOST points of our defenseman in less time in ice..... And still doesn't get pp time lol

Smith barely contributes to the offense at all, he doesn't score goals and he's not on the PP. How exactly is he an offensive defenseman??

Wings aren't going to hand the net to Mrazek . and Smith is the only solid offensive d-man? Kronwall would like to say something about that.

Smith shouldnt be traded for anyone hes our only solid offensive defenceman. Let alone for eberle..... eberle is one of my favorite players but we would be getting owned here. He is being pushed out the door by edmonton fans, which should be saying something. Also, with regards to howard: Mrazek is almost without a question our future goaltender, but gustavsson is good for maybe 15 games a season, otherwise hes hurt. Do you want to run a tandem of Mrazek + Mcollum with our skeptical defence? We would get lit up. Bad trade ideas.

I guess I was in the huge minority this offseason thinking we had a very good hockey team. Holland, stayed away from overpaying for UFA's, and built a team with a lot of depth. I'm not surprised we're 4-1-2.

All NHL players should be able to take a hard pass, whether you're a center, winger or defenseman. I agree that wingers are maybe a little more likely to receive the hard passes on the breakout, but a center needs to be an option on that breakout as well. Besides, I don't think Helm is as bad as you're implying on receiving a pass. The puck was bouncing around everywhere last night, no one could get it to settle down. I seen Tatar and Nyquist both whiff on pass attempts numerous times last night, as well as other players on both sides. Either way, you cannot attribute him being on the wing, to the reason he couldn't put the puck in the net last night or any night for that matter. Helm creates a lot of those chances with his speed. What was the reason he whiffed on that breakaway opportunity? He just has trouble finishing, plain and simple. If he could finish on just 20% of his chances, whether that be on the wing or center, he would be a much bigger threat.

How many points does Helm have to not score on the wing before everybody realizes he's not good on the wing? If the fact that he blew about six scoring chances last night doesn't convince people that he can't take a pass, I don't know what will. To reiterate. Helm. Is. f******. Terrible. On. The. Wing. Terrible.

Babcock is a funny man Babcock, on why he doesn't try Brendan Smith on power play: "I’m not getting into every detail why I play everyone and why I don’t. That’s the beauty of being the coach. You get to decide. You guys get to speculate why I don’t do things."

gotta say boys, Glendening is making a hell of a case to be considered one of those great role players who wear a letter based on heart and experience. He already has the heart. Once Kronwall Datsyuk and Zetterberg retire, he'll have te experience. I'll throw him and Smith in the mix.

C - Danny D not even a question in my mind A - Abdelkader / Nyquist A - Larkin I'd love to go for the local boys hattrick if all three are staying long enough, they for sure should have a shot at it. Danny is obviously a no brainer

I've been waiting a long time for someone to make this thread. Hands down I believe DeKeyser will be the captain of this team after Z retires. Michigan boy, hell of a player, and he has a great work ethic. Plus he was captain at WMU, I believe, so he's been in the leader role before. C- Dekeyser A- Nyquist A- Smith/Abby I could see Mantha getting an A if he pans out. He composes himself very well for someone so young. Same with Oullet and Sproul. Very excited for the next generation of Wings! Nastasiuk shows a lot of promise as a Draper-type leader as well, imo.

C - Dekeyser A - Nyquist A - Abdelkader

Same here. I think Matts idea for making the highest res in both 16:9 and 16:10 and then people can scale down for lower res versions is the best. Saves Matt some work.

Kindl's problems aren't just offensive. It might be able to overlook them if he were putting up a ton of points, but he still has serious defensive issues. He will bail out of a play to avoid getting hit. He still makes questionable decisions around his own net for someone with his level of experience. He's too quick to chip it off the glass and give the puck up instead of making a play. And he doesn't use his considerable size at all. I've said this many times before but Kindl is 6'3" and 216 lbs. The only people bigger than him on the Wings are Franzen and Ericsson. You'd never guess it by looking at how he plays. Yes a run and gun system might be a better fit for him, but he still needs to be better at getting the puck out of his own end. With someone who is as skilled as he is, his first pass should be his strength but it isn't. He also had a stretch where he was among the best at the team in getting shots through from the point, but that has inexplicably evaporated. Kindl has many lingering issues with his game, and it's not because of a defensive scheme Babcock is employing. It has to do with lack of hockey sense and heart. He's a tools but no toolbox guy.