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Babcock's pretty honest in his post game assessments. He often says things like "we weren't prepared and that's on the coaching staff" or "we flat out weren't good enough and we deserved to lose" when they're applicable. He just didn't see the game the way you do. And, I don't think you want honesty - you want someone to s*** on the team because you're frustrated (as we all have been.) That wouldn't be constructive and hence Tortarella and Ron Wilson are unemployed.

And you know what happened to Jim Mora after that rant? His team continued to lose, and he ended up getting fired at the end of the season. Alot of good that did. Similar could be said for John Torterella. You want honesty? Why? He's just a coach. He's not running for president. It's not his job to make fans feel good after a loss. Frankly, I could care less what he has to say as I'm just mad that they lost. That's all that matters. No amount of, "we need to do this!!", "this guy sucks" ,"this guy's a schmuck", "I guarantee we'll win the next one" is going to change that. Anyone can talk a good game. Who cares? Games are decided on the ice, not during press conferences.

Careful what you wish for. The Maple Leafs would gladly take him off our hands. Just go to their boards. It's "we need Babcock this" "Babcock for coach" that. Honestly, what do you want to do? Call people names on tv? Who cares what he says in front of the camera? Unless you have the ability to crawl inside his head, or were in the locker room, you have no idea what's going on behind the scenes. His job is to coach the players, not ensure the fans in front of the camera that he's motivating the players. I'll take Babcock's polished and general responses in front of the camera over some hothead who blows his top in front of the camera, calling out guys, causing discontent in the locker room, and having guys demanding trades. For coaches, that's usually the quickest way out of a job. Seriously, what did you want him to say? We sucked? I quit? We'll win the next one? What?

So you basically think players don't appreciate fans and don't actually care about them. There may be a couple like that but I'd bet any amount of money most of them are sincere in thanking fans. I've been holding off on posting in this thread but it keeps popping up so here goes. I've been lucky enough to watch my team win 4 Stanley cups and make the playoffs 23 (soon to be 24) straight seasons. I don't feel like I deserve better than that. In fact I am grateful for getting more than fans of other teams get. So what if we've had a rough few years lately, rebuilding while still making the playoffs is a great accomplishment and I am happy to be a part of it. Anyone who thinks otherwise IS spoiled.

Eva was right all along.

Preach! This team is mentally fragile right now. For better or worse, it's the makeup of the group and it's what we have to work with for the rest of the season. How do you think calling out specific players or dumping on their performance would go in the locker room? Trust our coach to coach. He's not your d*** therapist. Babcock was dead on: We played a poor first period. Then we played a good second and third period. But their goalie stood on his head one too many times and we took some bad bounces and so we lost by a goal in a game that we probably deserved to win. That's how this league goes sometimes. And no amount of coaching or "brutal honesty" is going to change that. Look, this team is fighting, and they look a LOT better now than they did two weeks ago. We have, by far, the easiest path to the playoffs of the remaining teams in the East who are battling, and the most talent. We've been pretty badly bitten by the injury bug, and our core guys are gassed after a long 82 game season. This is what happens in the NHL. And yet, despite all of that, this rebuilding squad is going to make the playoffs. Again. The sky is not falling. The world will spin on. And Detroit will be in the big dance once again. Will we win? Probably not. But give it a few years and look out, because we'll be on top of the world. Again. And I'll be d***ed if we don't shock a few people in the meantime. So let's all calm down, take a deep breath, and just appreciate that we have three intense, meaningful games left to close out a nail-biting and incredible regular season. If you can't be happy about that, then just stop watching. We'll be here when you get back.

Not such a bad game. Looks like we're back to playing some pretty good hockey. Considering the that it was a back to back, it was a good effort. 1st wasn't so good and cost us. Mrazek was solid. Datsyuk makes such a difference. It's been a rough stretch, but these last 2 games have been encouraging that we're getting back into form. Some other thoughts: Nyquist and Tatar are struggling in their first full season. That should have been expect, I guess. They've been great at times, but it's hard to keep that up for 82. Time for the vets to take us down the final stretch (Z,D,K,Z, Helm, Abby, Howard, Cole) It would be big to get back Abby and Cole (I wish Mule as well, but isn't at all likely). Finally, I like Zidlicky more and more. I'm starting to think we need to sign him for next year.

Cole needs to be back next game.

This team has regressed because its core has gotten old. That's what happens to every hockey team on the planet - Detroit fans are just too spoiled to recognize that it has to happen to them eventually, too. The best player on our team is on the wrong side of 35 and dealing with nagging injuries. Our captain is getting there and has even worse back problems. We're also down Franzen, as well as our two big guys (Cole/Abby). What part of "this team is in the middle of a rebuild" don't you understand? This team isn't supposed to make the playoffs, let alone contend for the Cup. It's only because of Babcock and our incredible farm system that we're even in the race at all. If you feel fine throwing that away, then fine. But there's a reason that Babcock would be the biggest FA in the NHL this off-season, and a reason you're not a GM. And thank god for that.

Hey guys I know it is usually bad form to go on other team's boards but as a Caps fan I felt the need to chime in. I look at fan boards of opponents most games to see what they think of the matchup and I gotta say, you Wings fans have a number of great qualities. 1. You complain about officiating about 1/4 of what other fans do, and about 1/10 of what Pens fans do. Yes I know Caps fans ***** a lot also. 2. You guys understand what you are seeing better than about any other fans. I learn interesting stuff reading your posts. I hope we meet in the conference finals. I'll seldom post but I will lurk.

He would never produce in Detroit as he's doing right now. He's good fit for them but wasn't for us. Good luck to him and lets cheer for the actual players that we have

There's about 29 other NHL fan bases (non-bandwagon) who would call this spoiled

If someone needs to be "replaced" than it should be Holland and not Babs.

Dun dun dunnnnnn Illuminati confirmed

I still think it is hilarious some have playoff doubts. IMO the only concern is getting the #3 seed.

I guess we all just hit the juck ******* pott....

I don't think they looked gassed the second and third period tonight. They just had a very well coached quality team in front of them. That should be different with Carolina. Plus opposite to our usual games against bottom feeders I'm optimistic that we will be desperate enough to fight through these games if things don't go our way. Wings showed that kind of attitude the last two games.

There isn't a heterosexual man in the world who wouldn't leave his woman for Jiri Hudler.

Cleary in over Jurco again? I'm not Jurco's biggest fan but if hes not going to play send him down. Cleary is the worst player i've seen put on the wings uniform since the lockout.... hes so irrelevant I dont understand. The whole time hes on the ice you can tell his job is to just get his shift done without screwing up

I'd be willing to bet that when an athlete thanks fans, it's usually to shut them up. I'm willing to concede that I could be wrong, but I don't think I am, and I would make that bet. If you want to keep a running tab on who is giving their 110%, Coach, go ahead. The chances of your list matching up with another person's list is...well...that math sucks because there are quite a few combinations, but it is a finite number. So, please stop with your high and mighty demands to be the only reason a team succeeds.

At this point, I'll take the playoffs for starters. We still have work to do to get in. I'll also take Tampa, because they're Tampa.

Until there is absolutely no doubt in the minds of management and fans that Mrazek is the #1 in Detroit then there's no way they can even think of trading Howard (unless Holland receives an offer too good to refuse). Mrazek is young and confident but when I watch him he looks like Howard did when he first came into the league: talented but prone to rookie mistakes. Howard, on the other hand, is now an experienced veteran who hasn't quite looked the same after a bad injury and needs to get some good bounces to regain his confidence. The shootout win last night could be the start of him turning it around.

Larkin and AA are our top two center prospects. I doubt they'll move one of them to the wing.

This is Red Wing land, where everyone is Captain Hindsight, with his faithful companions Woulda, Shoulda, and Coulda and Holland is a moron for not knowing a player would get hurt.

Blashill is a great coaching prospect, but just like any prospect there is no guarantee he will be successful. Are all of you guys calling for Babcock to leave willing to suffer through the ups and downs of a rookie coach? This is not a top team that's under achieving, in fact up until a couple weeks ago this team was actually over reaching its true potential. The current Wings team is made up of a couple aging stars, a few inconsistent rising stars, and no top paring D-Men. Pav is still a top player, but as much as I like him Z is no longer the same he once was, and neither is Kronwall. Gus is in a major sophomore slump and Jimmy is Jimmy. Getting rid of Babcock will not change the make-up of this team, In fact I think he's done a marvelous job with the team he's got. What has caused the slump of late is not the coaching staff not being prepared (even though Babs is prone to blaming the coaches when the team loses), Its the fact that the players don't come to play every night. If the players don't want to play, I don't care if the coach is Blashill or Bowen the team will not win. The recent team meeting was called not because the coaches have sucked, but because the players have. I know its become the norm in today's sports culture to get rid of the coach when the team struggles, and sometimes a change is warranted, but not in this case. For me the best case scenario, would be Babs staying, Holland finally making a drastic upgrade to the team, and the young guys learn to play with consistency.