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This is so good it almost deserves a thread of its own How many caught that Z is mocking Nyquist a little??

It's zombie Datsyuk... Well Nyquist is from a fairly well off family in southern Sweden where they have a small mansion and land and horses and stuff so Nyquists nickname within the Swedish group of the wings is Horse polo Gustav!

The reluctance to use Smith on the PP is a little frustrating given how bad it is right now. Not that he'll necessarily be the solution, but could it hurt? Babcock used to put Hudler out on the PP at the point. While Hudler may have been more responsible with the puck, him being the last guy back meant if the Wings turn the puck over near the blueline it's a guaranteed breakaway because Huds is so slow. Could Smith really be that much worse? Smith did average over a minute per game on the PP in his 34 games in 2013 so it's not like Babcock has never put him out there. Whatever the reservations are I'd hope that at some point he gives Smith a chance to prove him wrong.

I like the idea of trying Smith on the PP point (I mean, what could it hurt) but it's not going to work unless Babs' is going to let him use his wheels to make plays. Utilized in that way Smith could be dangerous. Utilized in the traditional "point shot-rebound-goal" strategy I think he's not much of an improvement because he's got a decent wrister, but not a noteworthy one timer. But again, Babs would have to let him wheel and deal to be effective, which I can't see happening. I also agree with you that there's not really a problem with trying him on the PP despite his defensive gaffs. Subban and Wisniewski are two players who come to mind who are awesome on the PP despite being shaky defensively (at times). I'm not sure why we can only use guys who are defensive studs...though I suppose that's not too different than the rest of our game. At times I think we're so petrified by the thought that the other team might get a scoring chance that creating any of our own becomes a secondary priority.

I posted it a few pages back, but here it is again. http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/610384

I didn't get to see the game but I have to seriously question why people are jumping on the defense now, when they've been the strong point all season. Yes, they need to score more, but the whole team does. Unfortunately, I don't think players just magically gain the ability to stop hesitating when they shoot the puck, or to start thinking creatively with the puck. Babcock has created such a defense-focused team that every player who comes here has their offense reduced to unacceptable levels. There needs to be a middle ground or a balance between offense and defense. I don't like that we've become the Minnesota Wild of the late '00s.

Niskanen, like Frank said was offered more by Washington. Erhoff wanted more term which Holland wouldnt give (plus IMO he is hoping to have a career year in Pit and then cash in next year like Niskanen). When you say players took less, this comes from a report by I believe Ansar Khan regarding the Boyle/NYR. While the Wings did reportedly offer more money in total, they offered less per year. (3 years/12.5million @ 4.16million per, opposed to 2 years/9 million @ 4.5million per. Plus, Boyle reportedly wanted to play with St. Louis again, and he thought NYR had a better chance at a cup this year. Though i'm sure if Holland threw at him 3 years at 15million Boyle would have taken it.....but he didnt. Robidas reportedly signed in TO because it puts him closer to family, but I never heard how much Holland offered him. Holland did make offers, but I he didnt appear to throw insane amounts at these players like other teams did (again, ala Wsh/Orpik).

Niskanen: got more from Washington and had some connections there Ehrhoff... Wanted 5 years Holland offered 4

Cause none of the guys we just drafted could possibly pan out.

I'm not going to say I like the Quincey contract because I don't, but at the end of the day its for two years, and really has no effect on this season.Niskanen's contract is for 7 years, and Orpik's contract is for 5 years. Orpik's contract was actually ranked the worst in all of hockey in an article I read recently.

To be fair, nobody except Red Wing brass, the players themselves, and the agents know what was actually offered. I'm sure if Holland wanted to throw ridiculous amounts of money (see. washington/Brook Orpik) he could have signed some guys.

I think it was actually the organization's plan to have Blashill spend a with year Babcock and learn all the systems and then take that to GR so that the transition for call ups would be easier. I don't think it was a demotion at all - I get the feeling it was planned all along. I admit there's some personal speculation, but so is yours - I never heard anywhere that Blashill was considered a weak assisstant.

DD has a big shot from the point, is a good skater, and is very responsible. He's fine on the PP. Too many people get stuck on labels like "He's a defensive defenseman" while ignoring what a player actually does on the ice. I'm not suggesting Smith shouldn't get time on the PP also. Just stating that DD is competent and will improve with experience.

Z and dats won't be reliable top centers after a few more seasons. They have too many durability questions. I could see both playing for a long time like selanne - high level but not carrying the team on their backs.

Just finished rewatching the game and some things to note: - the PP is still atrocious call up XO and see how it goes - clear the damn crease we didn't do it against the Habs and it cost us, we didn't do it against the Flyers and it (again) cost us. There is a reason why other teams are pushing, crosschecking other players out of there ..if the goalie can't see the puck he can't make the save ! Goose needs to find a way to react the tighter defense and adjusted systems when he is on the ice, everyone knew opponents would make an effort to figure out how to defend against Goose, Tatar ..now it's their turn to react. It's also very obvious that we can't count on the veterans to bail us out in every game anymore, so a more balanced pressure point on the shoulders of more players would be nice.

thing is - today we need a scoring winger (we have some in the pipeline)- but in a couple years that is all we will have and we won't have top 6 centers.

Gross.

2 goals on 10 shots. If Howard was in net people would be trying to crucify him.

Did you quote the wrong article? No where in there does it say babs hates Smith

I disagree, Tatar has been getting plenty of ice time, 5th amongst Red Wing forwards (right around where he should be), behind Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen and Nyquist. Tatar hasn't impressed me a whole lot so far this season, he's a good player, but seems to be trying to do too much out there. He needs to simplify his game. Also, Weiss absolutely should be in the lineup, and I think he will be a mainstay by next month.

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.

Damn predsfan. That sucks man. But I'm glad to hear you're alive.

3 comments deep and nobody has mention that Glendening isn't a defenseman yet. He's a center.

I agree with you on the Blashill versus Babcock point. Blashill may very well succeed in the NHL but it's a grass is always greener situation . As for Babcock's true feelings about the team and his job, who knows. I don't expect him to comment publicly if he were unhappy or considering other opportunities. There is the chance he may want to challenge himself with a new team. And something like Toronto would definitely be a challenge but also an opportunity for greatness on his part if he turns that team around. Personnel changes rarely happens in this order but I think Holland is the one running out of ideas, not Babcock. Plus there isn't really a coach I'd pick over him.

Another one of these ridiculous threads.... everytime Babcock farts there seems to be more speculation that he is not happy (even though he says he is) and he is going somewhere (probably Toronto because they are already planning their Stanley Cup Parade). The other hilarious thing is that folks believe that replacing a battle tested and proven winner/veteran/warrior/genius (Mr. B-cock) with a green eared but eager rookie (Blashill) is somehow going to ward off massive debilitating injuries to key players, improve goalie consistency, prevent hall of fame legends from ever retiring, strengthen backup goalie's groinal area, add testoterone back into the balls of mules AND be that which attracts every key free agent to want to sign up for all of this (deep breath) will undoubtedly improve things. Babcock + Holland + Health + Experience = Success wait and see