VM1138

Does anyone know if the Wings medical staff has changed recently? I know that they, like every other aspect of the Wings organization, has been hailed as cutting edge, best of the best. But do all these crazy injuries have anything to do with maybe a less than stellar med staff replacing the old one, or is it just crazy bad luck like it seems?

Technically there are two teams, I think. But I think the Wings' injuries count more because our injured players were pretty much all in the top tier of players.

The difference between Lebda and Lilja is this: Lilja has always been a solid defender who sometimes made glaring mistakes. Usually he would make up for them later int he same game. Over the years Lilja's mistakes have grown smaller and his value (blocking shots, etc.) have increased. Lebda was always fast and started out as a pretty promising young defenseman. Over the years his mistakes have become more careless, more obvious, and more disastrous while his value on this team (his speed) has all but disappeared as he finds himself in the wrong places all the time. In my opinion, anyway. I can't wait for Franzen to come back. Of all the injuries this year, he's the one that hurt us the most. He's the most reliable scorer on this team the last 3 (well, two since he's been out all but what, three games this season) seasons. He started off on a tear. With him on this roster a lot of those games we lost we would've won and a lot of those games we got shut out we would have scored at least one. I think he's a catalyst for this team, and his injury this year really shows how good he's become. Kronwall is valuable too, and a good replacement for Lidstrom in two years, but I think Franzen is the key to winning this season. If he's healthy, the Wings can win the Cup. If he's injured again...

What are you talking about? Everybody sucked. How was goaltending not key? Hardly any of those goals should have gone in. Had Osgood not let any goals in we still would have lost 3-0. Everyone was a part of this lost. Everybody sucked. Every single person. Osgood is just the most disappointing because he wanted a chance to show Babcock what he's got. And I'm an Ozzie fan. This was a disgusting loss. No other word for it. 7 times shut out? Embarassing. Are we overreacting? Maybe, maybe not. This is the same old song and dance all season. The optimists can't pretend it's just injuries or that we'll get better, they've had all season to improve and they haven't really. The pessimists also can't say the season is over. The one thing this team is is unpredictable and inconsistent. That could get them into the playoffs or it could make them lose.

I have to disagree. Franzen can be coutned on for at least a point a game. We may still show no passion as a team, but we won't be getting shut out anymore. I have faith in Franzen.

If only we played really good teams for the rest of the seasno, maybe then we'd have a chance to catch up and make playoffs. Who wants to bet if the Wings lose tonight all the teams in the hunt around us win?

This is pretty standard this season. The bad thing about pulling Howard is that having Ozzie in isn't going to help. Ozzie can't score goals (well, he can but it shouldn't be counted on. )

How predictable. Count on the Wings to not show up against a crappyt eam... Oh and another injury. Every time they give us something to cheer about...

But I think we're definitely the worst hit when you consider the talent level of those injured.

Some could argue though that Lidstrom, being one of the best players at his position year in and year out is different than Yzerman, who was not in the top tiers of his position at the end of his career. Lidstrom's stats have dried up, but positionally I haven't seen anyone better this season. The guy is brilliant on the ice, which earns him a 4 million 1 year MINIMUM.

I think that all this talk about Howard is justified, the kid has proven a lot of us (including me) wrong. The kid has talent. But I need to remind everyone of a few things: 1) Goalies are famous for being unreliable. How many times have we heard of the hot young rookie goalie (or just a young goalie) having an all-star, amazing season only to become a has-been the rest of his career, totally disappearing? 2) We don't know how he'll respond to the playoffs (if he plays). Howard could have shut outs for the rest of the season and I still wouldn't be willing to count on him as the goalie of the future. But that may be just my lack of confidence in most goalies.

He'll probably get to ref the FInals.

Can't wait for him to come back.

I think you guys have documented every instance of Babcock publicly smiling, haha. You know, not only are we lucky to have really funny and talented players and a successful (overall) team every year, but we have a pretty cool coach, too. I can't think of too many coaches in the league that have a following like Babcock does...or his style.

Good to hear Hudler is interested in coming back, even though nobody said that. You just know that calling your ex-GM of the team you're still under contract to to wish a happy new year and say you don't know what you'll be doing next year means "I want back in." Despite the drama over Hudler's departure, I would gladly take him back.

The point is, I think, that the Wings are fully taking advantage of the other teams mistakes. You can't win if you don't do that. The other teams may not make those mistakes often, but if they do they will pay and that is how you win games.

Not only was it a smart move by Cleary, it showed he's not a coward. He could have ran, turtled, but instead he just held Setoguchi off. Cleary is a very smart player, his team wouldn't gain by fighting, certainly not worth re-injuring a not completely healed shoulder. Out of all the options Cleary could have done, he did the smartest for the team and for his image.

Ozzie's here to retire. Seriously, where do people come up with this? Whyw ould you get rid of a proven, winning playoff goalie just beacuse your rookie is playing hot? It's not like Ozzie is taking up much cap space anyway.

I'm more concerned with actually making playoffs. This is a playoff team, we'll go far IF we make playoffs. But since the team dropped the ball early on, the destiny of the team is out of their hands. They now have to wait for other teams to lose in order to make it.

I'm more concerned with actually making playoffs. This is a playoff team, we'll go far IF we make playoffs. But since the team dropped the ball early on, the destiny of the team is out of their hands. They now have to wait for other teams to lose in order to make it.

It really doesn't have any bearing, no. Game 7's are usually a crapshoot. Could go either way. He didn't coach us out of the Game 7 and he wasn't outcoached, so I don't see why those losses would reflect badly on him. Just luck of the draw. The fact is, he's gotten teams there more than anyone else in the league right now.

I remember reading a week or two ago that he had an unspecified "setback."

I think the players often get frustrated with Babcock, but that's what happens with all the best coaches. He'll be successful and with the team for a really long time. Right now he's putting up numbers among the best. Best coach in the league, best coach of the decade. He's got at least one more cup coming with the Wings, probably one or two after that. Whena ll is said and done, he'll be up there with Bowman as the big coaches in Red Wings history.

The Hawks would have to trade a lot of talent to clear room for Kovie. Atlanta may be worried about losing Kovie for nothing, but they're not going to straight up trade for Phaneuf. There are plenty of other options that they could get more out of than a slightly above mediocre defenseman making a lot of money.

As long as we make playoffs the Wings will be fine. It'll be a battle, but once we're in, we'll be in high gear and other teams better watch out. It always ends best for the Wings when everyone counts them out (see 07, 08).