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Not to take things to far off topic, but just adding Larkin, Mrazek (first full year), and Green absolutely raises he bar for me. Those are 3 undeniable improvements. I find it hard to think that someone would scoff at adding a top 6 forward, top 4 D, and a capable (or much more) starting goalie. Yes, Datsyuk, Z, and Kronwall are on the declining side of their careers, but I don't thinkany one of them has declined from last year to a point where they counteract the improvements to the roster. Z's played as well or better than last year IMO, Datsyuk's still powering up. Kronwall's definitely playing worse, but it's not like he's become Ian White out there. As for expectations, it was unrealistic to think that the transition from Babs to Blash would go without struggles. I'm predicting that this was the low point of the season. We have Datsyuk back, Helm's playing better, Starting to find more lines with success, Pulkkinen's an offensive contributor that we didn't have last year, we'll get Richards and Q back at some point. I think the fact that we're where we were last year despite injuries and the transition bodes well for the rest of the season. And Kindl will get better too (see, I can keep it on topic).

Ah yes, It must be those dumb coaches Babcock and Blashill that can't figure out how to stop Smith from skating around like a chicken with its head cut off. It's certainly not Smith's fault.

This is nothing new. He's big and not physical, thus everyone sees him as lacking heart/intensity. He's a good pylon to place in front of the net and clear the crease, but that's about it.

No THIS is a bowled statement

No, this is a bold statement

Cup or Matthews. NO MIDDLE GROUND In unrelated news, I might be bi-polar

It's not LGW man it's just internet forum posting. I'd say LGW is a lot better than HFboards. They had a "Fire Blashill" thread the 2nd week of the season.. There's other few forums out there that have some really extreme posters. At least here, we can all get along at the end of the day.

There was a lot of expectation that we'd be better this year since we added Green, Richards. Also, Pulkkinen and Mrazek being up, Larkin hype and Franzen returning. I still think we will end up better than we did last year. I credit a lot of our early struggles to the team getting used to Blashill's system and finding chemistry with new players. Injuries have also played a part in the struggles. It's also hard to find the chemistry for lines and a team identity when key guys were missing. I'm not too worried about PK numbers - PP, shots, and goals are the problem. As for Kindl, this has been a storyline that people were talking about before the season stated with Babs gone - I don't know that he's fulfilled Z's prophecy yet. He has still made some pretty big mistakes. Also, he was pretty good at the end of last year after spend the couple of games in GR so I can't see this year's good play as a dramatic turnaround. Would have been hard for him to feel confident when he kept getting scratched in years past. Especially for an offensive minded guy, you have to get into a rhythm and feel comfortable out there.

All bs and jokes aside on hating Smith. The guy just makes way too many dumb mistakes to not go noticed. Hence it's easy to make fun of him and call him out. Like Zombo and Joe said earlier. Other D-men make tons of mistakes too, but they usually have an upside that they bring MOST of the time (unlike Smith who has some good plays but a lot more of bad plays). Green is more good than bad. DK has been good in terms of his track record. Lately he's been meh. Hence he gets the benefit of the doubt. Kronwall has arguably been the best D-man since Lidstrom left - although he is also not doing so hot this year. So he too gets the benefit of the doubt. Quincey used to get s*** on for the longest time. Up until last year when him and Dekeyser proved to be our best defensive minded defensive pairing. Even Kindl has been proving that a coaching change was all he needed to bring in the confidence and do better. He's been our best offensive D-man as of late. If Smith could somehow have a consistent breakout performance, I guarantee you people would appreciate him a lot more. I remember I was probably one of the biggest Howard haters out there. Up until his 2013 performance the last 10 games or so to get into the playoffs. Even now I'm not Howie's biggest fan, but I'll always respect that performance. Same applies to Chris Osgood and his 2008/09 performance. He really got a boost from me late in his career. (I absolutely hated him in the mid 90's he was really really inconsistent.)

Haven't seen this posted yet... @AnsarKhanMLive: #redwings have assigned forward Tomas Jurco to Grand Rapids on conditioning assignment. I'm kind of surprised there haven't been more questions / concerns expressed by Red Wings reporters regarding the whole Jurco situation. I know he was having back issues a few weeks ago but was that still an ongoing thing? Is that why he's been scratched every game? I'm hoping that's the case, and he goes down to GR for the next couple weeks, rips s*** up and regains a little confidence and gets going up in Detroit. The kid has way too much skill to be sitting every game. There's no question that it's a confidence thing right now. Hopefully he gets back on track really soon.

I said this in the other thread. It would be nicer if Howard is the one that outplays Mrazek and "edges" him out for this season. Mrazek will be re-signed in 2016 - it's a guarantee. If he becomes the defacto starter NOW, you better bet his agent will be asking for a hefty raise.

Think Blashill has done a pretty good job on this but would like to see Mrazek get more playing time as he has been the better goaltender so far this year.

Hah i know. But that was one of his best seasons. Playoff flop tho.

I love 3 on 3. At least we're good at that!

Lol no.Why do you come on here?

The cap just needs to rise a lot quickly. With these guys getting paid 10M a year the cap is way too low to be reasonable

Why are you so insistent on replacing Miller with Jurco of all people? If we want a player who can't score on the ice, I think the guy who's at least made a career out of the defensive side of the game is the better option.

There is nothing better then a solid 1 - 2 knockout tandem. Share the ice unless one starts out playing the other.... keeps 2 goalie's fresh for the play offs.

Bettman translation - open up your check book, WOW me then we can talk.

If I can swing it I will rent some space on the jerseys

Home teams should wear white Road teams should wear dark No more vertical stripes on any jersey. No ads Make the Flyers and Hurricanes wear cooperalls.

Keep your triple stripes off my winged wheel, dammit!!

Please don't turn our jerseys into billboards like Euro leagues.

When asked how he felt about the game 7 suspension...