GoWings1905

Agreed, but his focus right now seems to be largely aimed at his other team. He wants a World Series more than anything.

Wait, Cleary, Abdelkader and Samuelsson playing major roles doesn't inspire confidence in you?

The Hawks own the Wings at the Joe lately. I may just pass watching this on DVR.

No Z should really boost the anemic top-six. I wish Nyquist would get an opportunity there.

It is baseless. Your claims of Bouwmeester's supposed lack of heart just stems from your dislike of him. Bouwmeester plays a different style that enables him to attain that consecutive games streak. That doesn't mean he isn't engaged -- it would be tough to hide an effortless player for 25 minutes every game, so he is clearly doing something well to earn that ice time. Franzen's own coach has called out his wavering intensity. It isn't just some wild assertion by a few people here.

Bouwmeester lacks enthusiasm, yet he has played in over 600 consecutive games in the NHL? He has flaws, but that particular argument is baseless. Lack of emotion doesn't mean a player has no desire. Again, Bouwmeester has always been a reserved figure on/off the ice.

Exactly. The free agent class is very weak, especially on defense. Plus there's always the threat that the players you do target don't sign with Detroit. Bouwmeester doesn't hamstring the club financially if there's nothing else available to spend the money on.

Bouwmeester has always been reserved. I think the lack of emotion being used against him is overblown. You don't play 25 minutes per night in the NHL for years without having urgency. Nick Lidstrom avoided contact too. That's just how Bouwmeester plays the game. He's a reliable, puck-moving d-man on a bad contract. I think he's worth the risk for the right price.

I like Kronwall a lot, but it is somewhat peculiar that people criticize Bouwmeester for many of the same shortcomings Kronner has displayed.

Not many instances where you want a weekend to go by quickly. This is definitely one of them.

I don't think that was griping at all -- just stating a statistic and the reality of the situation really. The Red Wings have trouble scoring goals. While I agree the injuries have played their role, it's quite obvious that this team has needed a goal-scoring winger for many years. Samuelsson and Bertuzzi coming back doesn't change anything. Really since Hossa left, the Red Wings top-six has become stagnant and aging. The only solutions have been stopgap veterans that shouldn't be in that role. I guess we should all just smile and pretend it isn't an issue instead.

Yes! Thrilled this got done now and the possibility of JV leaving the Tigers is gone. Don't have good feelings about Cabrera's looming free agency with two massive contracts already on the payroll. However, there's a World Series to be won before that becomes a concern.

He's overpaid -- that isn't my argument. There were many other moves which perpetuated the situation in Calgary as well.

Definitely agree with you. I just don't see the Red Wings playing both at the expense of the players you mentioned. Nyquist is getting wasted on the 4th line too. He probably needs more time to develop, but a small skill player on a line with Emmerton and Tootoo seems like a waste to me. Especially, as you mentioned, the top-six certainly could use a boost from other options. Tatar didn't fare much better with 3rd line treatment mostly, but he still managed to produce offensively. The Red Wings have to explore something different on the two top lines. If there was confidence Filppula could carry his own line offensively, then that allows you to at least consider putting Pavel and Z together. Right now neither is getting any support from their wingers consistently. Samuelsson coming back isn't the answer either. Holland either has to make a move for a goal-scoring winger or give Tatar and Nyquist an opportunity there soon.

Very puzzling. I like Nyquist, but Tatar was far more impressive during his time in Detroit. I would prefer Tatar back up playing instead of Nyquist right now. Tatar needs a shot with Datsyuk.

5-2 on the two combined road trips is pretty damn good. Started and ended poorly, but otherwise they came out strong during the roughest portion of the schedule. Expecting a much more entertaining game on Sunday.

So many turnovers in their own zone. It was bound to end up in the net as a result at some point tonight.

Franzen gone. Would anyone have noticed if it wasn't mentioned?

I gotta admit Jagr is somewhat intriguing. Filppula and Franzen aren't doing enough. Then you have Abdelkader, Cleary, Miller, Samuelsson, Bertuzzi all playing up there too at times. I don't expect a Penguins calibre top-six, but man somebody that could score goals consistently would be really nice.

We desperately need a goal-scoring winger. Z and Pav just have nothing to work with. Filppula and Franzen really need to step it up.

Damn it. Kindl has been great lately. I hope this isn't too serious.

Calgary had lost in the first round four consecutive seasons before Bouwmeester's arrival. The inability to retool was in place already. It just continued on in Bouwmeester's time there since. I don't know how Bouwmeester is supposed to control poor management decisions.

I don't think the connection between Bouwmeester and his teams missing the playoffs is really fair at all. He has played for Florida and a Calgary run franchise that has no plan besides to linger in mediocrity.

Resulting in a trip to Toledo to start the season. I'm personally fine with it. If Rondon isn't ready, no sense in hampering his development by having him struggle in the big leagues all for the sake of needing a "defined closer". I think closing games and the save stat are way overrated generally in baseball. Leyland wants defined roles, but I don't think it is necessary right now with the pieces the Tigers have in the bullpen. The Tigers can go by committee for awhile until Rondon fixes his control issues or they could take a shot with Brian Wilson maybe in a few months. My preference would be to see Dotel/Coke based on potential matchups in the 9th. Either would scare me probably as much as Valverde did exclusively closing games, but I think they could be sufficient against righties and lefties respectfully. I don't want Benoit there because of his penchant for giving up HR's and he has been very reliable in the 8th inning. Use Smyly/Villarreal to chew up multiple innings, Al Al/Downs in the 7th. I honestly don't believe the bullpen is all that rough, despite the overhwhelming nervous energy they seem to have drawn throughout Spring Training. The 25-man roster is set. As expected, Don Kelly beat out Berry and Santiago "won" the infield job over Worth. Don't like either decision, but if the two final roster spots are the biggest complaints heading into Opening Day, things are looking pretty good.

I think that as well. Besides Helm, there's nobody injured right now that I am itching to have back. Bertuzzi would be OK for size and creating space, but he's still very streaky and ideally shouldn't be playing with Pavel Datsyuk. Quincey will be nice to push White out of the lineup again. Samuelsson and Colaiacovo I never wanted for starters and don't care if either comes back.