VM1138

Their problems with the faceoffs is one of more baffling traits in this series. But the Sharks are definitely looking like the team to beat in these playoffs. Unless they self destruct and lose the next four games they'll have finally shaken their "choker" status and they just have that look of confidence in their eyes. They'll go all the way this year if the Wings can't climb back into this (which, now that I'm cooling off from last, seems possible if a bit far fetched.) 0-3 to 4-3 has been done before. I know we haven't seen much to think it can happen, but if they take it one game at a time, I believe they can pull this off.

Holland isn't the type to really clean house. He tweaks. I do expect a busy summer, though, but I don't think he'll overreact. He'll improve on defense if he can, though we're not likely to move Lidstrom/Rafalski/Kronwall/Stuart so there's not much he can do in that area. He'll bring in Hudler and add another forward or two while taking a long hard look at the contributions of each player because we're getting backlogged on forwards. There will be a lot of little moves, I expect. Lebda may finally be let go, maybe even Lilja in favor of more effective, young 3rd pairs. Meech will probably be let go for Kindl to come up as the 7th defenseman, I think he's out of options next season. I also expect to get a full-on scoring power forward if one can be found. I think having too many playmakers is hurting this team.

Yeah, the Wings won't be the same without him, and obviously we don't want him to go. But it will be exciting and interesting to see the Wings transition and go after a big name defense man. There are some really talented younger guys out there who could be huge in the next couple of years if we could lure them away from their teams. I think Kronwall and Stuart can handle the top spots for a year or two, then the Wings should go after another player who is good and young enough to spend his whole career here.

He's certainly capable of playing, but it doesn't look like he has the passion to play anymore. I know, I'm no insider and I really don't want to claim to know what anyone feels inside, especially a legend, but has anyone else gotten that impression this year? That it's not his skills that are declining as much as his passion for the game? Many players retire before their skills give out simply because they've done it all and want to spend time with family or pursuing other interests, even the all-time greats. When you devote your life to a game, as important as it seems, your interest does wane after a while.

Hudler isn't THE answer, but he's certainly a key puzzle piece. I expect him to be pretty rusty, and it'll take him a while to warm up, so I just want him to score some goals. He should help a little with the goal scoring, though once we got healthy this year scoring didn't seem to be a big problem. But the depth he provides will help immensely. I still feel we need a guaranteed goal scorer, though. Someone like....Pavelski? Haha.

Howard has been great, but in my mind this season has proven how important it is to have a goalie tandem. Hopefully next season they split the games between Ozzie and Howard. Ozzie can get his crap together hopefully and challenge Howard for the spot. Then we'll be sitting pretty, especially with Hudler and another power forward and maybe some improvement on defense.

I'm tired of hearing people say this. This Wings team isn't soft. They've been outhitting both San Jose and Phoenix. It's their puck control that has gone out the window. They pass blindly and everyone thinks they are Datsyuk and try to carry the puck through three opposing players in the neutral zone at full speed.

Yeah, definitely mixed feelings in my mind. He's either the best coach in the league or the greatest coach in the league. Not sure yet.

I'm not satisfied. I don't care what they've done in the past. I won't jump off the bandwagon and I won't be cracking jokes at the Wings expense like some people do. Every team has a bad season. But I'm not satisfied. To be honest it's going to suck not having bragging rights like we used to. I'm happy with their legacy but this season is NOT satisfying, and there need to be serious changes this summer. Hudler is a start, but I hope Lidstrom takes a serious pay cut to help the team out. If Lidstrom DOES retire (I hope not) they better make a big play for the best defender in the league, whoever they think that is. So I'm still a fan, always will be. I love the Wings organization. But I will not be satisfied with this season. It's not the fact that they lost that will bother me. Its the fact that they didn't even try. In '07 they lost but we were all proud of them for busting their asses. This season, what can we be proud of? Howard was a surprise, but let's face it, goalies have terrible second seasons. Helm was great, like we expected him to be, and Eaves and Miller were pleasant surprises. But what else? Everyone else had near career worst stats. I'm happy they made it into the playoffs, but this team lacks the killer instinct that has made it successful. So no, I'm not satisfied, but I will always be a fan and even an optimist. Next year will certainly be better than this. And who knows, maybe they'll dig deep down and pull out a miracle and upset the Sharks in Game 7.

I honestly...I don't know. He showed so much potential but since then we haven't even seen a glimmer. He's made no improvements the entire year and just doesn't seem to make the smart play ever. Maybe some day he will improve, but I'm beginning to see him as another Meech. A guy we thought could one day be good, but who just flatlined and is now...well...he is what he is. Hopefully next season we'll see some kind of development from him, whether it's playing more physical or making better passes.

Wow...I hate to give up faith...but I seriously don't see how the Wings can win a game this series. It's embarrassing and the Sharks are the worst divers I've ever seen...but damn if the Sharks didn't kick it up to a whole other level. They are doing to the Wings what the Wings do to other teams. Not to mention adding Williams and Lebda to the lineup isn't a move for success. The Wings just had their best chance of the series to win a game and they choked. They weren't fast, they didn't skate like they cared, they had a lot of near misses and Howard was just terrible. I hate to use this excuse but the Wings just looked out of gas. I'm already envisioning the off-season moves. I hate that the season is ending, I really do. I got used to those long runs and bragging rights but this isn't like '07 when we could be proud of them even in losing. This series was theirs for the taking and they reverted back to '03-06.

You know...that did actually make me feel better. It sort of vindicated my thoughts (and the thoughts of many around here). The players must be ready to come out twice as hard and twice as disciplined just to make sure. It will be an epic Game 3.

I'm surprised Weiss is third behind Datsyuk and Zetterberg. One never, ever, ever thinks of any of the Florida players, but he must be pretty good.

Keys to winning the series: 1) Stop Pavelski. That is all. The man is a one man wrecking machine to Detroit's hopes and dreams. That being said, I want him to be a Red Wing. Real bad.

The only good thing is that with all this garbage the Wings still only lost both games by one goal. I expect big games 3 and 4. Detroit is fully capable of taking over this series.

The Wings played well. The series is really even play-wise. Howard has been great, Datsyuk is amazing but you can't do much playing half a game on the PK and having terrible, terrible luck. They do need to hold onto the puck more, though. They seem to lose it really easily.

This was the first game I stopped watching. It was so damn frustrating. I turned it off when they called the "too many men" penalty. What a fake game. But no, even the refs screwing the Wings would have been okay, but then of course the Wings had to have the worst luck in the world and have Lidstrom's stick break, leading directly to an easy goal for the Sharks. Right now the only way I see the Wings getting back in this series (despite playing well overall) is winning both games at home IF they can shut down Pavelski. But even then San Jose still has home ice advantage and suddenly that seems a factor. What a cluster****, so angry right now at the way this series is being called.

But...that IS a healthy Williams.

Once he leaves he's likely gone forever. No matter how much he loves the Wings organization, he'll be starting a career of his own. What are the odds that Holland's retirement will coincide with a year when Yzerman's contract somewhere else is up? He's not going to finangle his own contracts in the hopes that maybe it'll be perfectly timed with an opening at the Wings. But I wish him good luck wherever he goes, but as much of a legend as he is, Holland is THE legend among GMs and under no circumstances would I let him or Nill go.

I wish he would start scoring, but it's hard to criticise a guy who has a point in every single game so far.

I can't think that would be a good career move for Stevie. Yeah, he may be the GM but all the politics around that place is going to doom any GM from the start. Aren't they still run by a board of people who don't care about hockey or know anything about assembling a team? He needs to go somewhere that will give him some actual control over how the team is made up.

Looking at players whose careers are close to ending, I'd say Lidstrom and Osgood belong up there more than Fedorov or Shanahan, as much as I like all of them. Lidstrom is a no-brainer, Osgood has the stats but for some reason never had the respect he deserved and probably won't get retired. Out of the current bunch I see Datsyuk and Zetterberg being potential number retirees, but by then they may want to stop retiring everyone's numbers, haha. They may end up deserving it, but if one goes they both should and 2 might just be too many. A few more decades and half the available numbers will be retired at this rate!

Williams is already gone, barring an unfortunate injury. Even then Babcock might go with 11 forwards instead of Williams. Or give another Black Ace some valuable playing time. Maltby is a question mark. My gut says he retires, just because of his surgery and Holland might encourage him to retire to free up room. Politely, of course, and respectfully. Miller and Eaves will be re-signed. Lidstrom taking a pay cut (hopefully) will free up enough money for at least one new free agent, though the free agent selection is pretty sparse. The bad thing about the "New NHL" is that free agent signings and trades are hardly blockbuster anymore.

Bizarre 3-0 deficit hurt the team. Without it the Wings could have easily won this game. Despite the loss and some really good Sharks chances, I don't feel particularly threatened by them. Wings in 6.

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