GoWings1905

I like Nyquist and Tatar playing together. Would be fun to have them with Helm when Pav and Z get back.

Why did it take Babs a 3-0 defecit to realize Andersson centering the top line was bad and Helm needed better wingers? Probably wouldn't matter much in the outcome, but Helm is the best center on the team right now and he has Cleary on his wing.

Wings have given up at least three goals in four of the past five games now. The defense is entirely healthy too. I think the offense will be decent if the best forwards ever get healthy, but this defense just lacks talent and depth. Jimmy was stealing games to mask the problem somewhat, but they were giving up 40 shots at the time most nights. Oh, Kyle Quincey is the absolute worst of the bunch. Look how bad DeKeyser has been since getting paired with Quincey. He's absolute poison to any defense partner.

Alfie has been great. 32 points in 40 games, where Jagr has 44 in 53. Essentially the same pace offensively and maybe most importantly Alfie gives the Red Wings a right-handed shot.

If Franzen is out long-term, then I think you have to consider adding a goal scorer. I don't know if that's worth the price or completely necessary though if you keep getting production from the young guys and the Euro Twins return. Since Bertuzzi and Cleary have been the primary "net-front presence" on the PP, it might be prudent to pursue a viable option for that role since those two were/are entirely ineffective. Ideally not Steve Ott -- Justin Abdelkader is a better version of Ott already and Ott will require giving up assets. Once the dead weight comes off the books this summer, I believe the biggest need is finding a puck-moving d-man that can give the Wings more offense from back there. I haven't really looked at the potential free agent names, but Holland might have to get creative and make a trade using some prospects.

Andersson can't play on the first line -- he is too slow and provides very little offensively. Move Helm up at least to center Gus and Abby. Then you probably have to swap Miller and Cleary too because Cleary and Andersson together would be quite painful to watch. Love watching the kids play, but enough is enough with having to lose our best players in the process. Thankfully Gus, Tatar, Sheahan and Jurco have kept the season alive with their contributions. The Red Wings struggle enough to score goals and imagine if those guys weren't around to boost the team offensively. No Z, Pavel, Mule, Weiss or Howard. Good times.

I agree. Honestly, I don't even care if Andersson comes back, but the Red Wings probably won't lose him for nothing when Jurco and Glendening don't have to clear waivers. To me personally, Jurco still needs the most development in Grand Rapids. He can cut it in the NHL obviously, but I think Sheahan and Glendening contribute more with their skill sets right now. I would also prefer Sheahan stays up over Glendening.

I really want to believe this, but I just can't fully until it happens when Z, Pavel and Andersson are back. I think Jurco is going to Grand Rapids first out of that group.

You really can't possibly be calling Henrik Zetterberg soft? The guy has more heart and willpower than maybe anyone in the league. Without Z carrying this team for months, the Red Wings probably aren't sniffing anywhere near a playoff spot right now. He has been playing hurt and doing so at a very high level recently. I'm all for being frustrated with injuries, but I don't think Henrik Zetterberg missing games has anything to do with being Swedish.

I was at the game tonight. Tough loss obviously in what should have been an easy two points if the Wings stay focused down the stretch. Something about a two-goal lead at home in the third that this team can't figure out how to secure a win. I said it at the time that I knew the disallowed goal was going to haunt the Red Wings. Not to make excuses because they still were up two at that point, but I think the game is over if it becomes 4-1 there. That was a terrible call as was ignoring an obvious high stick to Tatar that would have given the Red Wings a 4-on-3 for nearly all of OT. Despite that, I feel pretty positive about the home stand. Looking at those five games going in and you had to wonder where the Red Wings might get two wins against those opponents. Yet they managed seven of a possible ten points and played very well outside of the Blues game and the third period meltdown against the Panthers. Riley Sheahan can absolutely not go back to Grand Rapids. Him and Tatar have a ton of chemistry. Sheahan is better than Andersson already, which is unfortunate because Sheahan is likely gone because of Holland's cap management. Jurco could probably afford going back to the minors the most out of the kids. Not that he hasn't been good, but Sheahan and Glendening just bring more to the team right now. I also thought Brendan Smith had a very good game. Would prefer to see Smith and DeKeyser paired together. It's pretty clear whoever gets stuck with Quincey instantly struggles because it seems like even DeKeyser has made more errors of late. Watching the Red Wings is actually very exciting right now. Didn't think that would be possible with so many injuries, but I'm very impressed with the impact guys like Tatar, Nyquist, Sheahan and Glendening are having to keep the Red Wings in playoff contention. It's still imperative to get Z, Pavel and Jimmy back very soon though. A lot of these close losses could easily turn into wins with the Wings three best players all out there together.

At the game and Z isn't out there warming up.

Ken Holland's worst signing ever. I expected it to be a nightmare and it turned out substantially worse somehow. Just glad Sammy is finally gone. No more Bertuzzi last game, maybe no Cleary tomorrow. The roster decisions are finally trending the right direction.

Those lines are terrific. Add Pavel eventually (hopefully soon) and that would be a deep and talented forward group. I don't want Andersson back at this point. I'm genuinely excited about this team seeing the potential of that lineup.

Garbage call. The refs have been atrocious tonight.

Riley Sheahan is awesome. Sorry Andersson, but you can stay away if it means Sheahan keeps playing.

Andersson seems very expendable at this point. He's solid defensively and good on the PK, but is slow and needs speedy wingers to succeed (see Nyquist and Brunner). I think both Sheahan and Glendening bring more to the team already. There's just too many forwards and not enough cap space if the Red Wings ever get healthy to keep the best players around. Z - Pav - Abby Franzen - Weiss - Nyquist Tatar - Helm - Alfredsson Miller - Sheahan/Glendening - Eaves That would be my ideal forward group. It's just a shame because the dead weight (Sammy, Cleary and Bertuzzi) is preventing any roster flexibility.

I like Hossa, but that's a stupid statement coming from a veteran player. I don't want to sound like the Red Wings are flawless characters, but I can't imagine someone like Z, Pavel or Kronner ever coming out and accusing another team of something like that. Professionalism seems to always reside within the Red Wings organization, though Hossa isn't exactly surrounded by models of exemplary behavior in Toews and Kane.

Brendan Smith thought it was May 2013 again and passed it up the middle to the wrong team.

What a game. Love how hard this group competes. They are obviously overmatched most nights right now in the talent department, but they work really hard and are entertaining to watch. Excited to see what the combination of the kids and healthy bodies could possibly do. Beating the Blackhawks is always sweet. Especially when Eddie has to suffer through it live. That clown needs to stick to Blackhawks broadcasts only. He can't put aside his fandom on a national telecast.

Monster! That was going to trickle in.

Eaves! Sometimes you just gotta shoot the damn puck.

Monster is just flailing everywhere outside of the crease tonight. I kinda want to see Eaves go in the shootout. Sometimes the Red Wings try to get too cute and Eaves could just use his effective wrist shot. The Red Wings can't possibly win two shootouts in a row right?

Can't ask for much more out of the Red Wings than that effort. Monster looks rusty, but beyond that hard to be upset with anything the Red Wings did tonight. Really hope they can get the extra point. Let Tatar loose in OT!

Finally! A subtle interference call against the Blackhawks. Of course, now it's just embellishment. Could there be any more bias? It's embarrassing to have this on a national broadcast. Eddie doesn't even try to be objective.

How fun is watching Tatar every shift? The Ref Wings have certainly played well enough to win. Forward lines look like they have some chemistry going outside of Helm's and he has been great by himself.