Leaderboard

Here's to a quick and successful rebuild

Yzerman may as well still be captain. Lidstrom, while a great player, wasn't much of a captain. He was simply next in line for the "C" due to his on ice abilities and being with the team since The Streak began. The year he won the cup as captain, i'd say Z was more integral to the championship run as far as leadership goes. Not saying Lids didn't play a big role as well, but out of it all, the moment I recall most is Z killing off that late third period 5 on 3 frustrating the hell out of Crosby or anyone else who touched the puck. But while Z has better leadership abilities than Lids did, he doesn't come close to Stevie. Playing the entire 2002 cup run on one leg says it all. Pretty well any other player would have packed it in.

This is a no brainer. Hitch should be a Red Wing.

Good opportunity to get one of the better coaches in the league. Wont happen though "we like our team"

If Hitch got fired because stl struggle, Blash should be imprisoned with out parole. ps. and Holland to be put in Siberia labor camp,

Is it in a free fall because of the players or how they're used? We say it every GDT, where's Mantha, AA why is Ericsson out there, why not XO or Sproul? Why is DD out there to start OT, why isn't AA or Mantha on the PP? Why is disney.com in the top 6, why isn't Sheahan or Nyquist or Tatar sitting to "get the message." While I'll agree that we don't have superstars, but great coaches bring out the best in what they have. It sounds simple, but, going with our current lineup, our lines should be: Larkin-Z-Mantha AA-NIELSEN-VANEK Nyquist-Helm-Tatar Jurco-GLenny-ABby. No way in hell should AA, Mantha or Larkin see bottom 6 ever again! And they all need to be on the PP units!

There´s good interview with Mrazek in czech newspapers, I´ll try to translate, but excuse my english if required , ehehe.. http://hokej.idnes.cz/petr-mrazek-rozhovor-0t2-/nhl.aspx?c=A170131_173557_nhl_ald Q: Petr, how do you do? And I don´t mean it as a formal phrase. M: Everybody know how do we stand and it´s affecting my performance and team as well. If we were performing by our best, we wouldn´t be last in our division. But the league is quite balanced, sometimes we loose the game by one, two goals.. But in a fact, it´s exactly like it was predicted in pre-season (to miss the play-off for the first time in last 25 yrs) Q:What´s the reason? Psychics? M: No, it´s not about psychics. There are certain things in the team which must be changed. And then - once these changed..when team is rebuilt.. it will be once again Detroit as used to be. [edit: certain things instead of some things, which could maybe change the meaning] Q: Many teams felt to their knees when rebuilding. Is Detroit right now just waiting for it´s end? M: Yes, every team is rebuilding time to tome and now it´s Detroit´s turn after 20 years of non-rebuilding. And maybe lot of people were expecting Wings continue like this. But, let´s see Chicago, Boston, Pens - they sacrified play-offs to rebuild. And now it´s our turn. Also US journalists must understand that it´s the time. If we want to have some real future and play for top position, something must be done right now. Q: ..and if not? M: Then we can easily play the middle of the table and it should be nice-looking. But, we still didn´t make it to the second round in last three years, so obviously it was not so good. [actually, this one doesn´t make any sense in original] Q: But lot of critics out there. You´re a goalie, you are visible the most. M: That´s about psychics, but I have no issue with that. That´s my strong point, I can easily throw it off me and go on. I don´t mind bad matches. Nothing is really bothering me, not even stuff local writers are writing here. Then you can see it in CZ, translated. But I have a feeling they are trying just to turn me on. But I don´t care. Q: Now you can explain something. Like the story on mlive.com, that you declined to stay longer on the training. "Is he turing to be a bad guy", was the journalist asking. M: If that guy has asked me, I would anwer him. But he heard something, met me, but was like nothing happened. I woudn´t had an issue to explain that and chat. Only coaches know. It was optional training, in playing day, I was there for 45 minutes. Guys who´re not playing stay on the ice, rest is going to home. Q: Media speaking also about your trade. M: Yes, Helene St.James from Detroit Free Press mentioned that. Of course, everyone could be traded. But I will be 25, and if they want to rebuild the team, I wouldn´t expect young players to be traded. Most likely they will be trading the older ones. But in the other hand, it´s still a bussiness. Nothing is going to happen if I´m traded. No tragedy, but challenge in new team. Q: Third point..your new contract. ´He has a new contract and he´s not trying hard anymore´, they´re saying... M: Yes, local journalist making a story of it, trying to poke the players. These are critics opinons, but these who do understand hockey - played hockey, they know how it´s working. Last year, I was without a contract and I was playing good, nobody gave a note. If you´re in a good team, you´re good too. If you´re first in division, all the stats are nice. When you´re last, it´s visible also. Q: Are you changing your style currently? M: it´s not like I´m changing it, but adjusting it. We´ve got to react on how NHL has changed. Game become faster with young players, but these are not only skating up and down, but playing the puck very well, hence we´ve been working on positioning. Trying to be more aggressive, to read the game better, when go out and when stay back. I have new goalie coach and I must say that I´m feeling much better than last year. I´m more sure and faster. Q: Isn´t that sort of paradox? M: No, it´s based on the whole team. Our best guys have twelve goals after fifty games. It´s like it is. There are worst teams that us, but not under fire like we are. It´s because we´re in Detroit and it´s the Hockeytown. Q: Coach Blashill speaks with you? What´s your relationship right now? M: Well, I would say that we had good relationship back in Grand Rapids. Other players would say the same. Now it has changed little bit, but I don´t want to go deeper. Q: There was a free weekend during All-Star game, did you have a chance to relax? M: Oh yes, I was to Florida with Sara (gf, voleyballlist Sara Olivovova), she´s preparing there for a season there already. There was also David Pastrnak, Voracek, Pavelec, so we relaxed. We didn´t speak about hockey. Q: Okay, now the question NHL players don´t like during the season, but I´ve got to - what about you and world championship? M: NHL is a priority, but the reality is obvious. We´re not close to even think about play-offs. I´d glad to go there, if I´m invited, for sure.

Go with a duo of Howard and Coreau and be done with this

This Hitchcock thing is odd. They guy wanted to retire, Blues talked him into 1 more year, Blues fired him, now he wants to coach. My gut tells me that if he wants to continue coaching, it would be a Scotty/Wings '94 type of deal where he wants to be the final piece for a team on the cusp of winning a cup. I can't see a guy going from wanting to retire, to being a part of a re-build. He is 65 and doesn't appear to be a healthy 65.

If you get the first pick in the right year the rebuild can be almost immediate. That is unlike most other sports. The Oilers and Leafs were nothing until they finally got their men that changed things around. I don't think this year is one of those years and we likely wont pick first anyways. Hopefully we can pick up a couple of pieces to the puzzle. The top two seem set with Patrick and Hischier. For me the next group has Vilardi, Rasmussen, and Tippett. Unless Hakan can sell me on Liljegren, he falls to the next group with Mittelstadt, Necas, and Petterson. After that it will be the defensemen dominating with Foote, Hague, Makar, Valimaki, and Heskainen in no particular order. We have a good shot at picking anyone other than the top two.

Let's get one thing straight, this is Suter's tour. He's worked hard his whole life, paid his dues, and now it's Suter's turn. And Suter's not about to let his reign at the top be spoiled by some freak, sideshow clown. Sorry, the beginning of Vokoun's post led my mind this direction.

BRING HITCH TO THE WINGS NOW. That is all.

To be fair, they did but he got hurt.

Haha if Weiss made Cleary money he'd still be around somewhere. And Datsyuk's blood is black.

Exactly. I fully expect Blash to get another season at least. Kenny probably doesn't even know Hitch is unemployed, and if he does, most likely didn't give it a moments attention. Once Kenny gives you a contract, it may as well be a pact for life. He probably signs it in blood.

Hudson Cafe it its!! based on the world famous posters Krsmith17 and Echolalia recommendation. You had me at f**king amazing....LOL

Your unique take on Toews salary has inspired me Frank. As we speak Im taking my still financed 2014 Jeep down to the dealership to trade it in. When he gives me the old BS about the KBB being much lower than the 18K I paid for it, I will inform him that no, it is worth exactly what I paid for it at the time. Winning. Thanks Franky. #teamtoews

I hope Holland has already had converstions with Hitchcock and Blashill..... Hitch to coach and Blashill to waterboy. We need another well known and experienced cock on the bench! A Hitchcock will not be as good as a Babcock but it has to be wooorlds better the the non cock we have now

Hi Christian, Bjorn wore the #25 jersey in his only game for the Redwings. Other than that there may be some old photos of him on the web, not sure about him in his Redwing uniform thou, Maybe there is one of him in his old Kansas City Redwings uniform. I hope you find the information your looking for regards Andy.

From WIIM. Another link there: http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2017/2/1/14457328/quick-hits-bolts-ready-to-move-on-from-bishop-blashill-believes-wings-can-go-on-run That's the latest thing i've read concerning playoffs from Blash. In the last thing I read from Kenny, he was saying he wasn't ready to start selling, playoffs are still very possible if they can get everyone back from injury and put some wins together, they have a good team that has the ability to make some noise, etc, etc. Typical Kenny bulls***. He refuses to admit the team is in huge trouble in a number of ways, refuses to come out and finally say he's committing to a full, proper rebuild, even though most fans want it, and some of the team has said they want it. Probably the only ones who don't are the ones who have the real power to make it happen, and that's frustrating as hell.

Well if his options are Vegas, Isles and Detroit? One would think an Original 6 team with the best owner in all of sports should be the clear number 1 choice right? But if it's true and he doesn't like his GM being too involved might as well forget it because there is no way Holland is taking a backseat. If the Wings don't react to this opportunity they are beyond hopeless at this point sorry.

Well it's much easier to not have to defend when you're too busy scoring #teammalkin

Gotta look out for those psychics The Blash comment is interesting, you're correct. But at the same time a little adversity I think will put a dampen on any professional relationship where people are paid to hold others accountable.

Interesting answer when asked the Blashill question.

How does any of that have to do with him being an amazing captain? Lidstrom is arguably considered by some the greatest defenseman of all time. Nobody is arguing how good he was a player and how long he played. The point is Steve Yzerman as a captain is leagues beyond Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Lidstrom. Also, Lidstrom played 6 years after Yzerman retired lol. Lidstrom was the captain for only 6 years. What did Lidstrom do as a captain that makes him so special? When I think of top captains I think of people like Gretzky, Yzerman, Sakic, Lemieux, Bourque, Messier, Scott Stevens, Mats Sundin, Daniel Alfredsson. These players created a legacy out of those franchises. Guys that helped make their teams something out of nothing. Guys who would play injured and still be the best on ice. Guys who could will their team to a victory when everyone else is ******* up. Scott Stevens was the type of captain that would make an open ice hit, rally the crowd and turn the tide of the game. I question how much poeple actually watched other teams play in the 90s and 00s. I mean I get it, we all love Lidstrom. But he really wasn't that special of a captian. He was good, he did his job and he lead by example. But he didn't do anything that I'd consider as a "holy s***, I want Lidstrom to be my captain" type of thing. When Yzerman scored that double OT goal against St. Louis, he was the talk of the country. Anyways, I really do think that we as fans overrate Lidstrom as a captain. He was a good captain no doubt, but I'd never consider him a top 10 in NHL history. And I would consider Steve Yzerman top 5, if not top 3.