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Larkin - Datsyuk - Mantha Nyquist - Zetterberg - Abdelkader Tatar - Athanasiou - Jurco Sheahan - Richards / Glendening - Helm

Basically this.---- Anyways remember when Babcock scratched Mike Modono aka one of the best if not the best American born hockey fall of famer. Blash should at least have the balls to scratch Nyquist or Ericsson.

I didn't see the game last night, but a 7-2 loss pretty much speaks for itself. At this point, I don't really care if they make the playoffs because they're going to suck anyway. This team needs a makeover like a Kardashian needs attention. I don't care which side of the bench gets shaken up, maybe both need it, but laziness and entitlement are some big issues here.

I really like those lines. Gotta get AA more minutes, Tatar plays well with jurco and I think that line would play really fast. Hopefully pav would get Larkin going.

And Tatar first on the team in running around like a 10 year old with ADD and choosing to skate through 3 defenders instead of passing to a wide open teammate. Richards is mostly useless, top point getter for the bottom 2 lines is like being the tallest Munchkin in Oz. Points aren't everything, and in the case of Tatar and Nyquist the benching is a wake up call to pull their heads out of their behinds and play the way they can.

I'd agree with you on Tatar. He's been one of our best players this year. But he and Nyquist have both spent much of the year in the bottom 6, and they're outperforming Richards by a lot. Richards 5v5 scoring rate is the worst on the team besides Miller and a few guys that only played a few games. He's been doing well lately, so I wouldn't expect replacing him to do much, but probably wouldn't hurt. Glendening has also been playing well lately, but I'd take him out as well.

Listening to Kronwall and Blashill repsonses after the game, then listening to Zetterbergs was kind of disappointing. Z just seemed to brush this game aside. Props to the media for asking some very tough questions that needed to be asked. Kronwall and Blash both talked about the lack of communication on the ice and it being a huge problem. Blash also hinted at some players being inserted into the lineup, hopefully Jurco and Pulks in for Nyquist and Tatar.

I think most people would even argue against Smith being THAT much better. The point was almost every player on our team is having a worse year than last. Nyquist Tatar Sheehan Glending Kronner Ericsson DK (only because he was so good last year) Z Dats (probably because of the surgery and age) Helm Abby You would think in a system where Blashill makes a commitment to each player to help them have their best personal season that SOMEONE would standout. However, this was a strong argument FOR keeping Babs since he seemed to get the most out of everybody. The point being, maybe the Ceiling for all our guys has already been reached. I honestly don't know but I'm sure it's a bit of a combination of mediocre players and a bit of a setback in coaching.

This team has no character. Lucic/Backes is kind of player that this team needs. 20 years ago, we had one of the best NHL team and still couldn't win over Avs. Having smart guys managing that team, they've made a trade which changed face of Detroit and gave us 3 cups : Shanny trade. Kenny has no balls to make a trade... He's the problem here

I'm confused, we have struggled to score goals all year...our style is still the same, if anything we are worse offensively under Blashill.

If our playoff hopes depends of unsucces of other teams then we don't deserve playoff spot.

I sent Matt a tweet and he's fixed it. Great job as always Matt!

You're starting to sound like Bill/Miller, if you hate Nyquist so much just make a thread about him and contain it in there. Nyquist/Tatar definitely are not the next euro twins, but they are still very good third line wingers. Its annoying how quickly people will just turn on a player. In all honestly, I doubt Holland signs Qunicey, Helm, Richards or Miller. I could see him maybe signing one, but I would say the chances of all four coming back area pretty slim especially Richards.

Smith is definitely better than the forums generally believe. Overall this has been a pretty good year for him so far.

I will too... I mean, not punch you in the face, but myself... we will both be falling down at center ice. We don't need this sort of player, I prefer a decent team with players I can be proud of, win or lose.

I'm with you on Backes, but I will punch my own self in the face repeatedly at center ice and delay any game from starting if we sign the piece of s*** that is Lucic.

Pav gets the Lidstrom treatment. He can sign as many 1 year contracts for however much he wants until he decides he doesn't want to play in the NHL anymore.

You can't seriously still be advocating getting rid of Datsyuk are you? He is still the best player on the team at the age of 37 and leads the team in points per game virtually every season. He certainly won't decline that much in the next couple seasons that he won't be more than capable of filling the 3rd line center spot... When you're talking about veteran presence, and players that the kids can learn from, there aren't two better players than Pav and Hank. I want them around as long as possible for Larkin, Mantha and company to soak up as much as they can, while they can... Regardless, if Datsyuk does want to sign a new contract (I think he will), he absolutely should.

The more I look at it the more I think he hasn't even SIGNIFICANTLY declined... 65 points in 63 games last year.... Corsi for % 60.6 last year to 59.3 this year. Fenwick is actually higher this year. This year is an outlier because he didn't have a training camp or any sort of summer conditioning... You really can't even count this year against him because he was at such a disadvantage. I think Datsyuk will have a better year next year than this year. So as far as "Fixing the mess" is concerned I don't think he should even be in the equation as far as issues are concerned.

Datsyuk is too smart to decline too much more, and even if he loses another step you can just slide him over to the wing with larkin or aa. Having him to mentor Larkin/Athanasiou/svech/mantha/etc is important and a great asset to have. Like a player/coach. Sure, injuries could be a problem, but having pavel effing Datsyuk help teach the incoming core for 50-60 games a year is still 50-60 games a year that one of the best hockey minds to ever play the game is rubbing off on the youngens. Unless he falls of a huge cliff, I don't see how this is even debatable.

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 ©.

Datsyuk is twice the center any of our young guns are and likely will be. His vision is ridiculous. I would not he opposed to having him somewhere on top 9 even at age 38. Why would you want a team with a bunch of 19 and 20 something year olds who have never made past round 1of the playoffs or even seen a playoff game when you could potentially keep one of the most experienced and skilled centerman to guide them? I highly doubt Dats will ask for as much as you think he will. If he wants to stay for "cheap" he will. There's no reason not to sign him if we can. Anyways we all know the Wings would re-sign him in a heart beat so this topic of Datsyuk is useless regardless. So say what you gotta say.

Not re-signing Datsyuk is a dumb idea. I'm sorry, but it is. He doesn't take minutes away from kids, he makes them better.

Having a guy like Datsyuk center someone like Mantha, Larkin , AA is huge for their development. Something the Oilers never had the luxury of doing. This time for rookies is very delicate for their confidence going forward

Lol Datsyuk is still the best player on the team. These young guys can learn a lot from him. He plays for the Wings as long as he wants to imo. As soon as he feels he's in the way of a better player I'm sure he'll know to retire but right now he's our best center and will most likely be our best next year and probably the year after if he wants to stay. People aren't noticing he's been playing phenomenal this stretch? His leadership by the way he plays is inspiring to the team trust me. These young guys see Dats taking slap shots and being physical for the sake of the team it makes them go out there and give what he does. His lead by example style of leadership is legendary and works wonders