GoWings1905

Funny how Jurco looks much better on a line with other actual NHL players. Helm's continuous placement in the top-six is nuts, though. If we want someone to skate around real fast, call up Athanasiou since he might actually finish some chances.

Blash is taking a page out of the Babcock book of stubbornness. One goal in five periods before he mixes it up. Plus a month of Helm and Richards doing nothing on Datsyuk's wing and they somehow remain there every game, but Jurco is stuck with the 4th line.

So much for Howard having trade value. Now he's just an expensive backup.

Losing is one thing, but man this team is so damn boring to watch on top of it. Besides Larkin and occasionally Tatar and Nyquist, there's very little to get excited about anymore. Z and Pav are shells of their former selves now. The Wings aren't retooling on the fly like Holland claims. They are just treading along in mediocrity seven years in a row.

Agreed. Anything would be better than wasting Pav's final few years with Helm on his wing. I would definitely like them to at least give Mantha a look sometime this season.

I hope Mantha is the prospect coming up for the games on Sunday and Tuesday. I don't want hear the nonsense from Blashill either that there's no spot for him in the top nine to play. You have Darren Helm and Brad Richards with their five goals combined both playing there.

I am by no means opposed to trading Howard if the right deal came along, but I think it would be foolish to do it at any point besides next summer. First off, I don't think the Red Wings believe Mrazek is the guy -- at least certainly not yet. Howard has been just as good as Mrazek, and the better goalie of the two, lately. Why mess up what has been the strongest part of the team so far? I think it's pretty clear Mrazek will likely be the future starter, yet he still has never played an 82-game schedule. There is going to be inconsistency yet, he's more prone to injury playing all the time and what's the Wings backup plan if you trade Howard this season? You are basically a groin pull away from an AHL goalie or someone off the waiver wire. I just don't believe it makes any sense to move Howard at the deadline. If he continues to play well (which I believe he will), you get the best of both worlds. A really good goalie tandem to run out this season and Howard has trade value next summer. Holland already botched his chances with Stamkos anyways. He gave Justin Abdelkader seven years, has a large group of free agents next year and too many prospects to all keep around. His asset management is pitiful right now.

Gave up four goals to Buffalo two weeks ago, so maybe that script doesn't fit?

Really? Focusing on that one attempt on a breakaway in OT when Howard was the only reason they got to that point. Sure, it looked bad, but how about Smith coughing up the puck? Or Tatar letting a guy behind him in that situation? That's the thing that puzzles me about the vocal Howard crowd -- there's always this unrelenting attention to one moment and the 63 minutes prior gets ignored. He's never going to be great in the shootout or flashy like Mrazek and somehow that's held against him. Blown leads have occurred with both goalies in net. Mrazek lost a third period lead in three consecutive starts recently. Howard also has the superior stats in the past five starts between the two. But he's lazy because of one goal in overtime in a game he stopped 36 shots. Howard is playing as well (if not better) than the first half last season when he made the ASG. I like both goalies and if the playoffs started tomorrow, I would prefer Mrazek starting. That being said, there is a complete double standard with fans who write their own narratives against Howard.

Put Helm in Ferraro's place. I think he's probably too good for the 4th line, but I don't know who else you move out at this point.

I think Larkin's plan is to ultimately wear #17 and the #71 is just temporary since Richards grabbed it, but he's probably only going to be here maybe one year. Anyways, so pumped for tonight. Most excited I have been for a Wings season since probably 2009. New coach, the youth movement, potential to be good this season and the foreseeable future make it a fun time to be a fan. LGRW!

I don't know if I would use the term average, but I agree with the premise. Z isn't big, doesn't skate particularly well and never possessed high-end skill like Pav. That's not a knock on Z by any means -- I think that's why so many of us love him (myself included). He really does compete at a level that I have seen few athletes match.

I know it's more complex than just keeping Larkin up, but that debate should take about three seconds.

For real too.

Good choice, Babs. You get to coach that scumbag instead of Larkin.

I hate Kronwall and Ericsson together in all scenarios. They just don't complement or make each other better at all. I really wish they could find a way to break up that pairing for good.

I know it's their thing and all, but Larkin doesn't need ripening of any sort. That kid can play in the NHL right now.

Yes Babcock, your team could have scored this much if you didn't suck the life out of every game.

The article was really lazily written. Used the familiar refrain of the Red Wings are too old and that accounts for the injuries. Except Pav is the only player over 30 currently injured.

I'm also in the Red Wings are a "Kronwall-partner d-man" away from serious contention. I know Holland's forte isn't trading, but there has never been a better opportunity to be bold than now. You have Z and Pav on the downside of their careers (yet both still contribute in big ways), an insanely deep prospect pool, one of the best goalie tandems in the league. The only missing piece is a top four d-man. The Wings are in a position to contend now without selling off their key components going forward like Larkin. Realistically, there just aren't enough spots to go around as it is. If you can win another cup with the Euro Twins around without mortgaging your future, you have to take advantage of that window. Because truthfully "rebuilding on the fly" has gone quite a bit better than I think anyone in the organization even imagined. They don't have it to tear it down completely or wait on this wave of prospects to fully hit because the group this season is pretty damn good as it is.

Imagine if the score was reversed...

Oh look, O'Halloran screwed the Wings even in the pre-season. Shame for Larkin because that was going in regardless of Bertuzzi.

Sorry Mick, but if Landon Ferraro is playing over Pulkkinen, someone made a poor decision.

He didn't definitively rule it out. It was more typical Holland speak -- they would prefer Larkin start in Grand Rapids and play a lot, as opposed to limited minutes in Detroit. Which I don't disagree with that stance, but if Larkin is good enough to make the team, I have faith Blash will use him properly.

Well, I would say the future might work out pretty nicely for the Red Wings. Larkin just stands out every time he is on the ice. I really believe he makes the team with Pav and Helm out.