VM1138

Missed the game, but I can't be the only one making the connection between McCrimmon and the total lack of defense ever since he came here? In my mind that's the only reason world-class defensemen like Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall and Stuart can so often put in great individual efforts and still come up short. Plus, Howard is looking very average. I hope Ozzie at least played well to justify him getting more starts.

Man, this month has just destroyed the WIngs and stomped on their hearts. Lidstrom is getting farther away from winning the Norris despite still playing amazing, Datsyuk won't get Selke or hit 100 points, the Wings lost their advantage over other teams...All that good work in the first two months...wasted.

That was a really funny clip, I think it's funny how Helm and Abdelakder get "picked on." And Franzen calling Abs his kid, what the hell? These would be a fun group of guys to hang around.

All this talk about call-ups, have people forgotten we've got an extra player already called up? We rotate Eaves-Draper-Miller. Now they can all play. If someone does get called up they'll hardly ever play, if at all.

This has just been a bad, bad, bad, bad month. And it all started so well... At any rate, I think players will step up and the Wings will still come out of this with a winning record during the stretch. I do, however, feel bad for Datsyuk. He was finally getting respect and going to get his 100 point season. Alas, that looks to be elusive for him and he seems forever cursed to come right up to it but never pass it.

I never get to watch him, but he was talked about quite a bit a few years ago, especially when Tampa won the Cup. You're right about them never talking about him, I just assumed his abilities dropped off and he was another one of the countless stars who just disappeared. Sounds like he's still a great player, though.

He probably just owns property in Detroit in case he ever comes back for holiday visits or something. You know, like an expensive hotel because athletes can do that. Honestly, Fedorov acted like a ****** when it came to accepting his role on the team, but as a person I've never heard anything negative about him. Seems like a cool guy.

I'm friends with some Blackhawk fans, good hockey fans but when Detroit gets brought up they get this irrational hatred. Sort of like Wings fans feelings toward the Avalanche back in the day, or Pittsburgh and Anaheim now. The only difference is I'm not sure what happened to cause this eternal hatred. It's crazy intense on their part.

As much as I like Miller, Eaves has been more effective this season. And if we have to pay him a bit more, so be it, he's a hard worker and he's differentiated himself from Miller so far. I'd still like to keep both, though. Next season the lines could look like: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Filpulla-Bertuzzi Cleary-Helm-Abdelkader Miller-UFA/Call-up-Eaves Assuming Modano, Draper and Hudler are gone. Hudler will probably stay if he picks it up, but I don't see how he fits in outside the bottom six. I'd hate to see Helm or Abdelkader stay on the 4th line, though they do provide great energy.

This Classic has all the elements of a wasteful blowout. Rivalry or not, audience size or not, the game could very well suck and then it doesn't matter how many people watch. I believe the Detroit-Chicago Classic still holds the record for regular season viewership?

I know, I think he was getting better right before injury. Not spectacularly impressing, mind you, but probably reaching what we expected him to be. I look forward to his return and hope he can be like Dallas Drake, do nothing in the regular season and then inspire and drive the team in the postseason.

I don't remember Lebda ever playing wing here...unless it was very early on in his stint? At any rate, this could be a good move, as someone else stated. He can't play defense, but he's fast and could probably force some turnovers by pressure.

I hear nothing concrete in that statement. This probably won't happen.

I'm really tired of Wings fans calling the franchise doomed and tearing apart amazing players when they make a mistake. Seriously, most spoiled fans in the world. December is always a bad month, Rafalski comes up huge for us often and rarely gets credit, makes an honest mistake trying to end the game with an aggressive push (something we criticise other players for not doing enough of) and suddenly is worthless. Get over yourselves, people.

Agreed. There was a good scoring chance and everyone went aggressive, trying to end it. It was a crazy bounce back to turn into a 3 on 1 and I don't share the Rafalski hate. Guy has been huge time and again for the Wings. EDIT: I hope they give Ozzie the next start. I'm tired of seeing him play well and then sit for a week.

So disappointing. The Wings hard work earlier this season has just evaporated. I guess it was expected, but I held out hope it wouldn't come to pass. The Wings were amazing the first period, then it was even, and then they just let Dallas take over. 1) Play with more heart, like in the 1st period. 2) Stop taking stupid penalties. And yes, I heard the screamer, it was annoying.

I expect Lidstrom to return, and he'll be paid about what he is now. If the Hudler-Eaves-Miller fiasco keeps going, I can see Eaves pricing himself out of here, not wanting to stay unless he gets paid more than he's worth, unfortunately. And Howard, if he has a dick agent, I can see him pushing for a ridiculous amount of money like every other goalie does and hamstringing the team with a contract.

I will be pissed if they screw this up for Ozzie. Let's go Wings!

Kindl is not expendable. Smith isn't a guaranteed success. We need as many good D-men coming up through the system as possible with Lidstrom leaving.

What you and others say is logical, BUT I've got to think the NHL won't let another work stoppage happen. The NHLPA has much greater leverage because the NHL knows another work stoppage would kill the NHL. What I'm more concerned about is that the NHLPA will get TOO greedy and push to hard, to the detriment of the sport. By all means, get your house in order, NHLPA, but don't bring down the league with demands that are too harsh.

Hockey isn't like football, where if Team A loses to Team C, then plays Team B, who is better than Team C, means Team A must lose even bigger to Team B. Chicago was an uncharacteristic loss and Detroit will bounce back. We all knew December would be a rough month.

This has been the situation with him for a few weeks now. He always seems to be just a bit out of position, or unaware of where the net is behind him and so he leaves too much of it open. He may have a great record overall, but clearly he's not playing well the past bunch of games. Our offense could loosen up a bit if they could have a bit more confidence in him.

I can't believe how hard it's been for them to take a clean shot the past handful of games. Everything is a pass, or hitting a stick, or going straight into someone's skates.

I think Jimmy has fully hit his sophomore slump. Time to give Ozzie starts, seriously. Also, somebody take a SMART shot.

Kopecky is still useless. There's a reason nobody roots for him, not even Chicago fans. He's obviously good enough to play in the NHL and not get sent down, but I'd keep him as a 4th liner, 3rd liner on a bad team. He's benefitted from playing with the Hoss and such.