GoWings1905

I dislike when people try to define what a true fan is. Should we all hold hands at the Joe and be proud of lackluster efforts just because we are all Red Wings fans? Everyone makes mistakes, I fully understand that. However, it's a discussion board and there are instances where it's perfectly fine to be upset especially when those mistakes cost the Red Wings a game and one of their teammates a milestone victory he deserved yesterday. It's not like this is the first time Rafalski has turned the puck over or been poor defensively. He's getting paid as a first pairing d-man and I expect a better effort than what Rafalski has shown for that price tag. If true fans can't voice their displeasure with their team's or a player's performance, then there doesn't seem like much of a reason to ever watch sports.

Rafalski doesn't "suck", but I'm sticking by my claim that he's overpaid and the worst defensive d-man on the team. Sure, he's terrific on the point and he usually makes a great first pass out of the zone, but he's very weak defensively. Lidstrom, Stuart, Kronwall and even Salei are consistently more reliable in their own zone and it's really kind of inexcuseable that Babcock would keep going back to the Rafalski/Ericsson pairing so late in a close game. That defense pairing needs to end because both are turnover prone and neither can position themselves well enough defensively to avoid getting pinned in their own zone. The most frustrating part to me about Rafalski is the fact he was unbelievable defensively at the Olympics with Suter against the best talent in the world. However, he has never consistently shown that with the Red Wings to justify six million dollars for some nice breakout passes and assists on the powerplay. I think it's fair to blame the loss yesterday on Rafalski -- his gaffes led directly to the tying and winning goal. Ozzie deserved way better than that effort.

Agreed. I just don't see Babcock going that route.

You picked against the Red Wings? Throw me in the shocked category.

I feel so bad for Ozzie. He had some huge saves and deserved to win. Brian Rafalski is very overrated and overpaid. Six million dollars for garbage defense and turnovers. The only time he looked remotely respectable on defense was with a team USA uniform on. Other than that, he's the least reliable d-man the Red Wings have in their own zone. Why Babcock kept going back to him so late in this game just blew my mind. He is the reason Chris Osgood doesn't have 400 wins right now. Go back to New Jersey Rafalski. No one would notice your s***ty defense and turnovers there.

Worst fanbase in professional sports. Last night especially reinforced that.

I'm not a huge Dombrowski supporter either, but what prospects have the Tigers traded recently that have panned out at all? Jurrjens is the only one I can think of that has done anything in the big leagues. I think this off-season has been overall pretty strong. I don't want Zambrano's contract and poor clubhouse attitude. I wouldn't mind taking a shot with someone like Brad Penny for insurance if Coke and/or Galarraga can't be effective as our 4th and 5th starters.

True, but save percentage is a better indicator and Jimmy hasn't been doing too well lately in that department either. If When Ozzie does well again on Sunday, we need to start seeing him more frequently.

Friday, December 17 Nashville at New Jersey Buffalo at Florida Detroit at Chicago Ottawa at Colorado Saturday, December 18 NY Rangers at Philadelphia Washington at Boston Anaheim at Carolina Phoenix at NY Islanders New Jersey at Atlanta Dallas at Columbus Buffalo at Tampa Bay San Jose at St. Louis Los Angeles at Nashville Minnesota at Calgary Toronto at Vancouver x2 Sunday, December 19 Dallas at Detroit Los Angeles at Chicago Washington at Ottawa Montreal at Colorado

There isn't a forward on the Red Wings roster right now I would want replaced by Kopecky. Remember the fourth line of Kopecky-Draper-Maltby? I can't recall a more useless line. Besides, what does that say about the Blackhawks if they are relying on Tomas frickin Kopecky to produce offensively?

I think Jimmy is nearing or has already surpassed that lately.

To the first part: Yes, the Euro Twins have more than proven to be fine split up and ultimately I think Babcock may go that route again come playoff time depending on matchups and production/lack thereof from Filppula. It's not just my own desires - if Filppula continues to not be capable of producing offensively as a second line center, then the Red Wings need to have Pavel and Hank centering their own line. The Euro Twins are back together because the organization believed Filppula could handle a larger offensive role allowing the luxury of stacking the top line again. Mike Modano signing as the third line center made that even more possible. At this rate, however, I am of the belief Hank and Pavel will still end up on different lines come playoff time. To the second part: I couldn't agree more.

Second line centers make their wingers better. Before we heard Fil couldn't put up points playing with third liners and no powerplay time. I haven't even noticed Filppula in about the past five games beyond making a few too many passes. Franzen and Bertuzzi haven't been overly impressive lately either, but I still notice Franzen generating way more offensively than Filppula. I'd take Hossa back over Filppula and Hudler every day of the week.

What confidence should the defense have in Jimmy? Even if he stops the first shot, they have to be in perfect position to be able to clear the guaranteed juicy rebound.

Come on, there's definitely a huge element of blame that belongs to Jimmy for this loss. It was only 2-0 after two periods and both of the Kings goals to that point were weak. The Red Wings were controlling play and Howard completely ruined any chance of coming back by not stopping anything early in the third. With 90% of the play in the other end, Jimmy at least needs to be solid enough to give the team a chance to keep plugging away at Quick. 5 goals on 25 shots or so is not acceptable.

Agreed. Ozzie needs to start Wednesday. I doubt it happens with Babcock though.

I wish Jimmy could stop the rebounds he gives up so generously like Quick does. We need an ugly goal within the first five minutes or it's big trouble. This is where the Wings' lack of a pure goal scorer really shows. Franzen is just too damn streaky to earn that label.

Agreed. But over the course of 82 games, it is a huge advantage to play against so many subpar teams in the Eastern Conference. I'm not trying to discredit the Pens winning streak; I just don't think when push comes to shove they are a better team than the Red Wings.

Do I really need to justify that the East is a joke? Islanders, Devils, Sabres, Senators, Leafs, the entire Southeast Division besides choking Washington is mediocre at best. The Penguins are a great hockey team, but their point total is going to be seriously inflated at the end of the season because of the competition they face. I think the Red Wings are the best team in the league. They play in arguably the toughest division (Pacific is close) and have just three fewer points than the Penguins with three games in-hand. The Red Wings depth is unmatched and we all know Z owns Crosby.

The East is a joke. The Red Wings are the best team in the league. I don't know how to elaborate beyond that.

I hate this team so much.

Friday, December 10 Montreal at Detroit New Jersey at Ottawa Colorado at Atlanta Carolina at Dallas Tampa Bay at Edmonton Calgary at Anaheim Saturday, December 11 Philadelphia at Boston Pittsburgh at Buffalo Detroit at New Jersey Atlanta at NY Islanders Montreal at Toronto Colorado at Washington NY Rangers at Columbus Carolina at St. Louis Dallas at Phoenix Florida at Nashville x2 Tampa Bay at Vancouver Minnesota at Los Angeles Chicago at San Jose Sunday, December 12 Washington at NY Rangers Vancouver at Edmonton Minnesota at Anaheim

The Yankees better get Lee because the Red Sox are easily the best team in the American League now with both Crawford and Gonzalez. It sucks, but at this point it doesn't really matter what other moves the Tigers make.

I'm a fan of the Wings' current third jersey.

And people wonder why everyone hates the Yankees. Derek Jeter is out of his frickin mind. He doesn't deserve anywhere near $17 million with the numbers he put up last season, nor would ANY other team come remotely close to matching that figure. The Yankees don't have to care, bad contracts don't mean s*** to them. Maybe Marco Scutaro should get $17 million too. His stats were comparable to Jeter's last season.