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where my Richard haters at?

Those are 4 scoring lines on paper alright. Helm should be switched with AA.

It's nice to finally see Kindl producing points for the Wings.

Playing the young kids isn't what helps them develop. Playing them alongside established veterans who play responsible, smart, two-way hockey is what helps them develop. Putting them next to someone with the vision that Datsyuk has so they can see him in action is what makes them better. You want the burden of providing speed and energy and grit on the younger kids, to be sure, but they need people to learn from, as well. That's why you can't just play the Griffins squad at the NHL level and expect success.

You let Datsyuk make the decision. You tell him you want him back then let him decide. I fully believe he will play at least one season at Cadillac Centre ©.

Glendening and Richards should be switched with Jurco and Pulkkinen

No gdt minutes before puck drop?!? Philly lost to the pens today 4-1, so we're still in a playoff spot for meow. I think the only change in the lineup is kronwall in for marchenko. Here's the Panthers lineup. We'll be facing our old defensive stalwart Jakub kindl, let's hope were finally benefitting from his horrendous giveaways. There's also another familiar face in their lineup... https://youtu.be/6-HR6v8JmiM Maul these kittens. DEJA VÚ!

One mistake. That's the only reason this game is tied right now - the rest of that period belonged to Detroit. Gotta keep it up.

Doest my eyes deceive me? 4 seconds to score on the PP? Thanks, Kindl!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not a power play!

That seems to be the difference more often than not with this team - they generate plenty of chances, but they just don't bury them. The other teams do. Nyquist can't afford to miss the net on his breakaway and Ericsson can't make that mistake. They look great so far but they have nothing to show for it.

Ericsson is trash.

How the f*** do 3 players let Huberderp go right to the front of the net uncontested.

Ericsson is mad because he's made two dumb plays already.

Just got home and ready to watch the wings take this one and bring home them 2 sweet points. Go Wings! Luongo denying Mantha, so close!

Oh this oughta be good. Jiminey jam with a GDT.

Guess they were just messing around in practice? The Wheel Deal ‏@Bill_Roose 32s32 seconds ago The #RedWings lines in pregame: Abdelkader-Zetterberg-Larkin; Tatar-Datsyuk-Mantha; Nyquist-Sheahan-Athanasiou; Helm-Glendening-Richards.

Lidstrom was also still winning Norris Trophies while he was signing 1 year deals. He won it the year before he retired. That is why he was still getting $6.2M per year. I can see Holland still paying Datsyuk whatever he wants, just like Lidstrom (I do remember each we we were all like, "Lidstrom will sign for $4M-$5M, but it was always $6.2M) but hopefully Dats takes that $5M or so, if not, I can see Holland giving him whatever he wants to stay a year at a time. Dats between AA and Mantha would help them tremendously, along with helping Dats extend his career. We have that opportunity now to see that combo, but for some reason Blashill sees AA in a different light than everyone else. He needs to be in the top 6, period. ...fixing this mess starts with Larkin-Z-Abby and AA -Dats -Mantha as your top 6. I'd even question Abby, but we all know that will not change.

I don't mind the move, honestly. I'm not the biggest Helm fan, but it makes sense. He's not the ideal NFP, but he's one of the best guys on the team at getting to loose pucks around the net and creating issues for the oppositions defense. If he's around/behind the net jarring pucks free, it means Mantha's going to have more time to focus on getting open. At this point, AA is going to get the same amount of minutes wherever he's at. It has more to do with special teams than anything else. He strikes me as a guy who does less with more right now, anyway.

I actually really like these lines. I'm not sure about AA on the fourth line, but if Blashill is worried about his defensive game I would trust in that assessment. Bottom line, I think these are our 12 best guys to have on the ice. Maybe I'm the only one around here who thinks so, but I don't hate Richards. He hasn't scored much this year, but every goal he has scored has been timely: Goal One: 33 seconds left in 1st period against Nashville. Made the score 1-0. (Won 5-4 in OT) Goal Two: Few minutes into the second period against Buffalo. Made the score 1-0. (Lost 2-1) Goal Three: Unassisted, second of three goals to take lead against Calgary. Made the score 2-1 (Won 4-2) Goal Four: Halfway through first period against Buffalo. Made the score 1-0. (Won 4-3) Goal Five: Power Play goal halfway into first period against Islanders. Made score 1-0. (Won 4-2) Goal Six: Few minutes before end of second period against Ottawa. Made score 2-1. (Lost 3-2 in SO) Goal Seven: Game-winning goal with one minute remaining against Colorado. Made score 4-3. (Won 5-3). Goal Eight: Power Play goal in garbage time in the third period against Chicago. Made score 1-3. (Lost 5-2). Goal Nine: Game-tying goal with 30 seconds remaining against the Rangers. Made score 2-2. (Won 3-2 in OT). So every goal he scored with the exception of the one against Chicago either tied the game or gave us a lead. Half were the first goals of the game, which we all know is really important for this team. He's also got some game-winning/game-tying goals, and most of his goals are right at the beginning or ends of periods, which help with momentum. It's the exact same role he played in Chicago last year - not a primary goal-scorer, but definitely a supplementary type guy for your bottom six who chips in when we need it most. There's also the fact that outside of the 7 guys who seem to rotate in and out of our top six (Z, D, Larkin, Tatar, Nyquist, Abby, Helm) he's the next leading scorer. He's tied for 4th in +/- on the team. And he has the fewest penalty minutes of anyone who has played more than 30 games for us (fewest on the team except AA, Miller, and some AHL guys). I'm not saying he should have top line minutes or anything, but of our Bottom 6 guys, he might actually be my favorite. He seems to be responsible defensively with the puck, and he's the type of veteran guy that you want your new kids learning from. Good attitude, steps up his game when it matters most, plays two-way, error-free, smart hockey...he seems to me like a player whose game is ten times more complete than Jurco or Pulk. I'd put him in before either of those, for sure. Just my two cents. The lines outlined above are the ones I'd go with. Edit - Some people have also said to swap out Glendening. Now, I don't love how much Blashill uses Glendening, but do you know who the best faceoff guy is on this team? One hint: It's not Pavel Datsyuk.

We should sign Jagr in the offseason. Guaranteed to score more goals than everyone on our team.

Love your first statement. Datsyuk is not going to just drop off and suck. His style of game will enable him to play past forty, and he's going to be able to take over games. Is he scoring less than before? I believe he's still close to a point per game, isn't he? On a team that offense has just given up on. He's going to be effective, not some broken down mule who can't contribute. You sign him.

LOL complete bogus and bologna. How many 39/40 year old FORWARDS make 7 million in this league exactly? Seriously tell me? Datsyuk will re-sign a deal worth his value. I can see him accepting $5 million for 1-2 more years given his drop in production due to his inability to play the full 82 game schedule. Additionally he's making $5 mill this year (not including his bonus) and $ 5.5 million next year (no bonuses) on a $7.5 million cap hit due to his previous years $10 million salary.

You know who has a cup and actually named Henrik? The REAL King Henrik in Detroit. King Henrik. King Hank. King Beard. The Beard.

Smith all day. It should be between Ericsson and Marchenko in my opinion.