GoWings1905

I think Abdelkader is more effective at wing so ideally maybe the Red Wings envisioned Emmerton being able to fill the 4th line center spot. He got an adequate chance and it seems pretty fair to say Emmerton doesn't provide much of anything. Now after a full season of seeing Emmerton and adding more suitable players to the mix on the 4th line, there's really no role for Emmerton on the team.

Only reason Emmerton played at all was because he is a center. Seems like the Wings are planning on using Abdelkader more at center, which I don't necessarily like, but it does create a 4th line that will actually be useful this season. Emmerton is the worst player of the glut at forward -- he provides absolutely nothing and likely won't even make the team.

That's a cheap and good deal? Massive overpayment and now you just created a scenario where an already weak top-six just lost two more players.

I was at the game today. Disappointing loss with a chance to win 3 of 4 before heading to Texas. Bullpen is really struggling lately, particularly the big pieces at the back end in Coke, Benoit and Valverde. Benoit hasn't pitched too often, and when he has, he can't keep the ball in the park at all. I am also beyond sick of Leyland continuing to use Boesch/Young 5th and 6th in the order. Peralta, Avila or Dirks should be hitting in those two spots. All three have plate discipline and could drive in runs at a better clip behind Cabrera and Prince than Boesch and Young have been. Infante has been a superb addition, offensively and defensively at second base. Nice to finally get some production from that position.

That was hilarious. Chavez's reaction was priceless -- he really wanted to laugh.

I definitely see your point with Quincey, but he has to establish himself as a top-four player in Detroit and his performance in his return didn't leave me with much confidence going forward. I think a full season with the team will likely benefit Quincey, but I honestly don't see his ceiling being a top-pairing defenseman. He's certainly capable offensively of putting up numbers, though I haven't seen a whole lot from him in his own end that supports playing big minutes against an opponent's top line. I thought Quincey and White especially were both brutal in the Nashville series. I have a lot more faith in Ericsson to be reliable this season than either of those two. The problem right now is the Red Wings don't have enough Ericsson's on defense, as much dismay as that may cause certain people. Bouwmeester doesn't really fit the category of defensive d-man either, but he at least has experience in a top-paring role. If Quincey is indeed going to take on more minutes (which seems like a foregone conclusion) he also needs to sharply cut down on taking bad penalties.

I get the arguments for not wanting Bouwmeester, but this is just silly. He's overpaid, hasn't been productive offensively and will likely cost a lot, but he's way better than everyone on that list with the exception of Kronwall. I have a lot of hope and confidence in Smith turning out to be very good, but Bouwmeester has already established a pretty solid NHL career. Kindl has hardly shown any development, Quincey/Ericsson have been mostly third pairing guys that are going to get tested especially this season in a much larger role. Bouwmeester has played top-pairing minutes for a long time. The Red Wings defense would be much better having Bouwmeester around next season. It's just a matter of whether the asking price is at all reasonable, which I highly doubt to be the case.

Best game of the season yesterday and one of the best I have ever seen as a Tigers fan. The most improbable comeback against a closer the Tigers hadn't hit a lick off all season. Jackson and Infante were incredible and what else is there to say about Cabrera? You knew something special was going to happen when he got to the plate in that situation. Love sweeping the Indians too after the fits they had given the Tigers until this weekend. Get them out of the Central race and focus on catching the White Sox now.

His teammates may know more than us, but "Mule's" own head coach has called him out multiple times for basically the same complaints being raised here. Franzen was getting shifts on the 4th line in a one-goal elimination game. He has a lack of effort problem -- this isn't some obscure issue brought up by a few people. He's the most frustrating player on the team. He's useless when he isn't scoring goals and personally that's what bothers me most watching him play.

I actually like Ericsson, but had a chuckle at the article calling him a "great shut-down defender". He doesn't play in all situations either -- sure, he's the Red Wings best penalty killer but he doesn't get PP time, nor would you really consider sending him out there with a one-goal lead and a minute left. Though, looking at the Red Wings defense heading into the season that last one may actually happen now. That would obviously be massive overpayment too for Bouwmeester.

Delmon Young should never, ever be hitting 5th in the major leagues. If he's going to be on the team and not remotely producing, at least bat him 7th or lower so he isn't ruining the best 3-4 combination in baseball. Minimal power, doesn't drive in runs, never walks and is horrible with RISP. Delmon is a DH and he doesn't even do any hitting.

If you have the sources to claim a verbal agreement is in place, it's fair to assume that will lead to a signed contract soon after. Besides, he also reported a verbal agreement of Parise to Pittsburgh and we know now that the Penguins weren't even Parise's second choice. That's 0 for 2 on the two biggest free agents this summer alone. I get the impression that this "insider" may have a few sources that indicate interest on a player/trade and he basically fills in the rest on his own terms. Guys like Dreger, McKenzie don't have to guess what is going to happen because they are reputable enough to actually know first-hand. If you throw out enough scenarios and speculation, some are bound to stick. If he gets the Yandle thing right, then it's a step in the right direction of me taking him seriously. Until then, I don't consider him reliable.

Because Suter didn't sign here the next day?

Same person that claimed Suter had a verbal agreement with the Red Wings. Just my opinion, but I don't consider him reliable overall.

Last year, you could make the case it was arguably the toughest division along with the Atlantic. I think the Atlantic is clearly better going forward now since both Detroit and Nashville look worse while St. Louis and Chicago have been quiet. As of now, one of the few optimistic points I can see for the Red Wings this season is the division is somewhat winnable still. I don't think they are by any stretch the favorite, but if a lot of things go well, they could feasibly have a shot to finish first. The flip side is, I can also envision a scenario where they are fourth. Columbus is obviously going to finish last. The Blues are young, talented and having a taste of what it takes to win in the playoffs may propel them to be better just like it did with Chicago a few years ago. Hitchcock also wears thin on his players very quickly too. Sadly, the Blackhawks are more skilled at forward (especially the top-six) and as mediocre as their defense is after Keith/Seabrook, the Red Wings is just as questionable without Nick and Stuart. Howard is definitely better than Crawford, who only plays well against Detroit for some reason. Nashville had some major losses, but Trotz always finds a way to keep them competitive. They destroyed the Red Wings, so I'm a little reluctant to just write Nashville off because they don't have Suter or Radulov anymore. If I was predicting the order of finish with the rosters today, I would go with: Blues, Blackhawks, Predators, Red Wings and Blue Jackets. IF (and it's a huge if) the Red Wings defense exceeds expectations as a group and Datsyuk/Zetterberg stay healthy up front, then maybe our guys have a chance to climb closer to the top of the division. I just feel the Red Wings margin for error is so incredibly thin with the pieces they currently have in place.

Yeah, because the concept that the organization has been successful previously means they are always right. We all are aware of the success -- doesn't mean it makes this summer any less frustrating. Relying on two decades of brilliance isn't going to keep the Red Wings relevant.

Much like Nick Lidstrom, it's very surprising when Justin Verlander shows he's human.

The Semin can't be the highest paid player on the team angle is silly. Of course he is going to cost more for one year. That is the catch of only signing him for a year. It's hardly comparable to Datsyuk who is playing out a long-term deal. If I'm Datsyuk or Zetterberg, I want the team around me to get better. Remember how pissed Z was talking after the Nashville series? They want to compete and win before their careers start declining. I get not pursuing Doan for multiple years, but Semin for a year is a different story. What else are the Red Wings going to spend their money on now? There's nothing left of impactful players.

That's the part that I can't comprehend at all either: it's only for a year, what does the seven million really matter? There's nothing else out there better the Red Wings can/will spend it on now. If it was three years, then it becomes more of a risk and I understand the apprehension.

I would take Semin any day for one year than Doan for multiple. There's hardly any risk involved and what else are the Red Wings going to do with the cap space? Doan isn't coming here and never was. Semin would have led the team in goals next season. "We kicked the tires, but the cost wasn't a fit."

Hossa is probably my favorite player on another team right now. Honorable mention to Spezza, Girardi, Clowe and Lundqvist.

I think it's just a reflection overall of the players currently on the roster and some of the offensive strategies often used. There are some more common culprits mentioned already (Sammy and Franzen come to mind most for me too), but even players like Filppula and Helm blow a lot of quality scoring chances with their inability to finish. Adding to that, I also believe that a perimeter-oriented team is going to hit a lot of goaltender logos and defenders shin guards because of the area where a good chunk of shots are coming from. Everyone on the Red Wings was drilling Rinne in the chest because everything was directed on net from the perimeter. Lack of pure goal-scorers. Been a problem since Hossa left and still is to this day.

Does it really matter for Columbus seeing Nash six times per year if they could have gotten a better offer? It's not like they would be directly competing with the Red Wings anytime soon. I guess I just don't understand the logic. The Red Wings could have easily matched or bettered this deal with the Rangers. Then again, this is why Columbus has never won a playoff game.

Not that Columbus would have ever traded him to the Red Wings, but that asking price is nothing really. Howson got destroyed again. The Rangers are the best team in the NHL as of right now.

That's a great deal for the Rangers. They couldn't score goals in the playoffs and obviously adding Nash will be a huge boost. Plus they didn't lose Stepan, Kreider or Del Zotto in the trade either. Dubinsky is coming off a terrible season too.