GoWings1905

As bad as those two have been, Kopecky should easily be the first to get the boot.

Agreed. Downey and Darren Helm. The fourth line currently has no energy. Those two guys would fix that immediately.

I am so fed up with our fourth line. They are so awful, it's pathetic. They don't provide energy or any offense. They chase the puck around in their own zone almost every shift and get scored on or take a penalty very frequently. Draper and Maltby have some great memories here, but they aren't remotely productive anymore. Kopecky is one of the worst hockey players ever. Real bad effort tonight from everyone not named Osgood, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Hossa or Holmstrom. I feel bad for Ozzie - that was the poorest defensive effort from a Red Wings team in a long time. The Red Wings have a real problem getting the puck out of their own zone. The defense stood around and watched the entire game. Lucky to get a point. I thought this team had finally put the defensive lapses behind them. Hopefully we'll see some focus on Wednesday and the rest of the road trip. One last thing ... Derek Meech is so much better than Brett Lebda.

Forwards: Datsyuk: A+ Hudler: A+ Hossa: A Zetterberg: A Cleary: A Holmstrom: B+ Franzen: B+ Samuelsson: B Filppula: C- Maltby: D+ Draper: D Kopecky: F McCarty: N/A Defense: Lidstrom: A Lilja: A Stuart: B+ Rafalski: B Meech: B Kronwall: C+ Lebda: C- Chelios: N/A Goalies: Conklin: A- Osgood: C+ EDIT: After tonight, I realized I was far too generous to the members of the fourth line. They have been useless all season and this game further proved the point. The curve is in.

I like Horton a ton, but for Z? They aren't even in the same ballpark. I don't see the benefit for the Red Wings in this deal.

Friday: Columbus @ Washington NY Rangers @ Buffalo San Jose @ Edmonton St Louis @ Vancouver Tampa Bay @ Anaheim Saturday: Carolina @ Boston Atlanta @ Florida Pittsburgh @ Colorado Washington @ Montreal NY Rangers @ Ottawa Toronto @ Philadelphia Buffalo @ Detroit Minnesota @ Columbus Chicago @ Nashville Dallas @ Phoenix San Jose @ Vancouver New Jersey @ Los Angeles Sunday: Nashville @ Chicago New Jersey @ Anaheim St Louis @ Edmonton

Did you eat a sandwich during the photos like Leyland would during an interview?

Brian Campbell starting over Nick Lidstrom sums it all up perfectly. The NHL All-Star Game is a waste of time.

The Red Wings have played far worse against far lesser opponents this season. Nobody beats the Red Wings when they decide to play like they did tonight.

Congrats to Lidstrom and Datsyuk. Both are very deserving All Stars. There is still no chance I watch this joke of an event though.

A rather boring game, but a good effective win for the Red Wings. I will take a few more boring games if it means the Red Wings focus on defense. Pavel is just amazing. I really can't say any more than that. I loved the interview after the game of Pavel telling Trevor Thompson he was preventing him from celebrating Russian Christmas. I think our Red Wings are finally coming around. I bet the rest of the league is thrilled.

I don't agree with scratching Lilja in the least. Rotate Lebda, Meech and Chelios in as the sixth defenseman, but not at the expense of Lilja. Meech and Lebda are redundant - one of them needs to get dealt at the deadline, preferably Lebda since Meech can play forward as well. Anyways, the Red Wings win tonight and I can't see it being very close. Red Wings: 5 (Datsyuk x2, Hossa, Hudler, Holmstrom) Blue Jackets: 1 (Nash) Let's Go Red Wings!

Franzen isn't going anywhere, signed or not. A first round pick doesn't help in the playoffs the way Franzen does.

This further justifies the NHL ASG is a complete joke. I had little interest to begin with and now there is no chance I will be watching.

How can Ozzie get better by not playing? Ozzie needs to get some starts when he feels healthy enough and improve from there. Ozzie isn't going to get his game together by watching Conklin play from the bench. I do think Conklin has outplayed Ozzie, but nowhere near the extent some people make it out to be around here. Winning games is the most important barometer. Ozzie has only lost in regulation twice this season. There's room for improvement from Ozzie and the rest of the team as well. As long as the Red Wings keep getting two points, I am willing to let Ozzie get some starts to build up his confidence.

Kopecky didn't play in the Winter Classic? I hardly noticed the difference from when he actually does dress.

1. Detroit 2. San Jose 3. Calgary 4. Chicago 5. Vancouver 6. Anaheim 7. Dallas 8. Nashville

Fickle. Did you miss last April through June?

Friday: Montreal @ New Jersey St Louis @ Carolina Vancouver @ Atlanta Columbus @ Colorado NY Islanders @ Phoenix Philadelphia @ Anaheim Saturday: Buffalo @ Boston Florida @ Pittsburgh Calgary @ Nashville Ottawa @ Toronto NY Rangers @ Washington Carolina @ Tampa Bay Detroit @ Minnesota Columbus @ St Louis Dallas @ Edmonton Philadelphia @ Los Angeles NY Islanders @ San Jose Sunday: Florida @ Montreal Tampa Bay @ Atlanta Ottawa @ New Jersey Calgary @ Chicago Phoenix @ Anaheim Minnesota @ Colorado Dallas @ Vancouver

DE-TROIT SUCKS!

That doesn't make any sense. How do you expect to keep Hossa, Hudler and Franzen? Then you turn around and say the same scenario isn't possible with Z instead of Hossa. Hossa is going to get about the same as Z as a free agent next summer. Both could get easily get offers of 9-10 million. It's going to be tough enough keeping two of the three of Z, Hossa and Franzen, let alone Hudler and/or Samuelsson. What do you think Hossa is going to sign for that allows the Red Wings to keep all of Franzen, Hudler and Samuelsson? Z is the face of the franchise and the future captain. Holland's first priority is and should be signing Z to a new contract and then letting the rest of the pieces fall in place. I am thankful Hossa decided to play here for a season, but I am not willing to let Z go to keep Hossa around longer. This team won a cup without Hossa already. I would say there is almost zero chance that Z isn't playing in Detroit for the rest of his career.

I'd have to think the Rangers will get the next Winter Classic.

That was an amazing game. The refs tried to ruin the game in the first, but the Red Wings are too damn good for that nonsense. Huds, Z and Hossa dominated. That line needs to stick together - clearly Hudler can handle a second line role and produce. Rafalski was awesome again and Lids was quietly solid as usual. Everything went well for the Red Wings except the penalty kill. I think Draper was on the ice for all four Chicago goals and Filppula for three. Chicago did a great job hosting the event, besides the fact that their fans blow. I liked how the "Detroit Sucks" chants died as quickly as their team's chances of winning today. It was a spectacular event for the NHL and I couldn't be happier the Red Wings spolied it for the Blackhawks and their fans. The Red Wings uniforms were sweet and Babcock was frickin stylish in that hat. I couldn't stop laughing when I saw Babcock in that hat. What a game. That lived up to the hype and then some. That's why the Red Wings are the champs. Blackhawks (still) suck!

Over/under: two shifts for Hudler on the second line?

How would keeping Hossa over Z be any different financially?