GoWings1905

Strader is a good replacement, but it won't be the same without Emrick. I don't get the claims that Emrick gushes over Crosby. If anything, I have always thought of Doc to be very fair and particularly complimentary of the Red Wings. I could do without that clown McGuire though.

I agree with you that Chelios should dress. Lebda is a completely different story. You mention that the game is a selling point for the NHL, but do you think a casual fan is going to notice that Brett Lebda is missing? Lebda doesn't deserve to play just because he is from Chicago. If it was important to him, he should have gone out and played half as well as Lilja has this season. Two points are always valuable, January or not. I don't think it is a pointless game in the standings given the way the Red Wings and Blackhawks have played of late. I don't see the Blackhawks fading in the Central anytime soon and the Red Wings sure haven't played great hockey to justify dressing an inferior player like Lebda over Lilja even for one game. For a team lacking any desire on most nights, what would it say to scratch Lilja, one of the few players putting forth a consistently solid effort?

I am not going to answer for NFM, but what evidence do you have that supports your argument that Lilja shouldn't be playing?

Who gives a crap what Blackhawks fans do? They chant "Detroit Sucks" when their team hasn't won a championship in nearly 50 years. It isn't Babcock's job to please the local boys nor to create a so-called better atmosphere for the game. There are two valuable points on the line in Thursday's game. Lilja without question will and should be playing.

Is Chelios really "wasting" a spot any more than Lebda is?

Benching Lilja is an absurd idea. Lilja has been the Red Wings most consistent defenseman this season, while Lebda has been mostly unreliable defensively. Chelios should play and Lebda should sit out if Lidstrom is healthy enough on Thursday. This is more than a showcase game for the NHL. It could very well be for first place in the division depending on what happens tonight. Babcock has no obligation to dress players based on sentimental reasoning.

This is a big game. Chicago is going to show up to play and hopefully the Red Wings do likewise. I can't see the Red Wings beating the Blackhawks without Lidstrom, but I am completely fine with being proven wrong. Blackhawks: 5 (Kane x2, Havlat, Byfuglien, Versteeg) Red Wings: 3 (Hossa, Cleary, Holmstrom) Let's Go Red Wings! Maybe we can get a San Jose-like effort tonight.

Cleary has found a way to produce still. Filppula is essentially used in the same situations as Cleary, who played a good chunk of the season with one eye. I don't think the calls to trade Fil are really fair yet, but he has been a major disappointment compared to expectations and his strong playoff run. The Red Wings have plenty of forwards that can kill penalties and are solid defensively. Fil needs to step it up on offense. Kopecky on the other hand...

Not to come across as a jerk, but have you followed the Red Wings organization? There is no chance the Red Wings get rid of Draper or Maltby on anything but their own terms. A huge reason the Red Wings have won four championships in 11 years is the loyalty presented to the players from the Ilitch family through the rest of the front office. Players want to play for and stay with the Red Wings because it is the epitome of a first class organization. I would rather see Darren Helm right now too, but it is not realistic to suggest the Red Wings are going to waive two parts of the team that have played a role in four championships.

I don't want Sammy to be sick, but hopefully the opportunity presents some line combinations worth keeping. Z, Franzen, and Sammy wasn't working. Z now has two wingers that will hopefully get him going again. Cleary deserves to play in the top six anyways. Meech, Helm, and Maltby would be a better fourth line, but it appears Kopecky is here to stay sadly. I don't like the Red Wings chances against Chicago in either game if Lidstrom doesn't play. That's obviously a major loss against the hottest team in the NHL right now.

Smith would be a great pick as well. At some point the Lions need a quarterback worth a crap in the NFL. Stafford has all the tools to succeed as a professional. It would be tough to see the Lions pass on a talent like Stafford.

Matthew Stafford for starters anyone?

I'd rather read that than "Can we panic now?" threads from so-called fans of the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

The calendar showing April and Darren Helm.

Finally ... a win in a bowl game.

Lips Of An Angel - Hinder

^ How did you come to that conclusion in either case?

Z is going to make more than Datsyuk and probably Lidstrom. I don't think anything under seven million per season is even a realistic number for Z.

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

Please Red Wings, if there was ever a game to finally play with full effort and for 60 minutes, this is it. Everything says the Sharks should win this game tonight, but I have a feeling the Red Wings are going to show up and make a statement. I wish Chelios was playing over Lebda, but hopefully it won't make a difference. Lebda isn't strong enough on the puck to contend with the Sharks forwards. Here's to the defending champs playing like they want to win. Red Wings: 3 (Datsyuk, Hossa, and Z) Sharks: 2 (Pavelski, Clowe) Let's Go Red Wings!

There is no reason Darren Helm shouldn't be a Red Wing right now. Kopecky and Hossa can still be best friends even if Kopecky is a scratch.

That's a good point and I really hope you are right. I have my doubts though as the Red Wings have been just as lazy in front of Conklin on defense as they have for Ozzie. I am not sure anything will force the Red Wings out of their poor habits except some roster changes or a major losing streak. They are bored with the regular season and it's showing.

Get well soon Ozzie. I don't know why most people are so excited about Larsson or Howard possibly being called up to the Red Wings. The Red Wings defense is garbage - that is hardly an ideal situation for two goalies with zero and minimal NHL experience to be stepping into. Losing Ozzie isn't going to suddenly cure giving up three or four goals each game. If the Red Wings don't play with some effort tomorrow night, it won't matter who is in goal.

I agree with most of your post, but Helm is neither a Euro, nor soft.

I would say no to the goalies and absolutely to a change on the fourth line. There's not much we can do about the goalies. They will get better when the defense does. Jimmy Howard isn't going to solve the problem at the moment. I posted this in the GDT last night, but our fourth line is useless. Darren Helm needs to get called up immediately. Kopecky is awful. I love Draper and Maltby, but they have been far from impressive this season. The fourth line should provide energy. The Red Wings fourth line does just the opposite - they spend the whole shift chasing the puck in their own zone. Helm is too good to be playing at Grand Rapids, while current players on the roster aren't held accountable for their poor play. This team currently needs energy and Darren Helm brings that every shift. Bench Kopecky and play Helm.