VM1138

Not to be a pessimist, but I don't think we're a lock for the playoffs this year. Injuries or not, it's been a lot of games now and nothing has changed. There's still no defense, only this year our offense isn't clicking as well as in the past, either. I don't think the Wings have won more than 3 in a row, adn we need to go on a few substantial winning streaks of more than 3 games to make up any ground before the race starts getting away from us. I have faith we can do it, but it's not nearly as assured as people thought it would be. Every aspect of the Wings game is subpar. I think the best thing we can say is that something is missing from the team. Not just injured players, but they're missing that intangible. Whether that can be fixed through trades or what, I don't know.

I'm wondering if it would really hurt that much to put Abdelkader on a line with Datsyuk for a game, just to see how it works. We're struggling anyways, and isn't this point in the regular season for experimentation? I know that he's probably not ready yet, but it couldn't hurt to haev him up there for a game. You never know where a spark will come from. For all we know, Datsyuk could be what Abdelkader needs to really come into his own, just like Datsyuk played with Hull. This isn't a long-term fix (in all liklihood) but A) it can't hurt. B) The upside could be huge. C) It's really the only option we have without screwing up the 2nd and 3rd lines that are actually functioning. D) It would put someone who can actually hit on the top line. E) Bertuzzi could get sent down to the 4th line where he would play against the other teams 4th line and actually might score a few. We might be better balanced this way and be more effective. EDIT: I have to admit though this was sparked by NHL '10. I was having scoring troubles and I put Abdelkader up with Datsyuk and they've been tearing it up. But really, is it such an out there idea?

Its a delusion many fans fall under. Look, I don't see toughness as this teams problem. Stuart and Kronwall are two of the best hitters in the league. Helm hits everything that moves, even Eaves is getting there. May fights. Ericcson hits and swings people like Perry around like rag dolls. Our problem is scoring, goaltending and defense.

A Lidstrom-Ericcson pairing could be hugely successful.

I'm not sure beating a s***ty team in a shootout is something to be rpoud of. I missed the game due to work, but it sounds like they're still not escaping that funk. And now with Kronwall out? Will this team even be able to field a full roster come playoffs (if we make it?)

That shows over 500 games played. Far cry from 10.

Not very original but it's still better than the ones they have now.

The Speed Line makes me think of the Two Kids and a Goat line from '02 and '03. They make Draper better and he makes them better.

I would bet money that the Wings will be making a splash before the trade deadline for an impact player, but Bert and Williams are here to stay. Like people have mentioned: nobody wants them and they're on one year contracts. Maybe Williams could be packaged with a better player in exchange for a single player on another team that just needs a bit more scoring, but unlikely.

We know there will be a trade sometime this season, it's just a matter of time...

There's just a lot more of them in Anaheim. That's what happens when you put hockey in a non-hockey market and throw in a bunch of goons.

So let me get this Federov conspiracy theory straight: The Red Wings, the first team that broke through the iron curtain to bring Russians over here, somehow were prejudiced against them and refused to let them play as well as they could, even if that meant the team would lose games? What has he been smoking?

I'm not sure how it works when Toronto calls on a disputed goal, if they have ultimate say or what, but it seems like "intent to whistle" could only be decided by the ref. Therefore, Toronto could not tell him that it was his intent to blow the whistle way too soon.

It's not a conspiracy. It is just gross incompetence. We need to be able to challenge or review goals. Refs should not be God out there. I'm betting it has something to do with awful training and inconsistent messages from the ref HQ. Like any business, inconsistency and incompetence is generally caused by inconsistent messages and incompetent handling of situations by the top brass. Oh, and the fact that utter incompetence is rewarded with Stanley Cup finals jobs.

As an historian I am absolutely interested. Honestly I wouldn't use them, but these being available would be very useful for sports historians or video editors.

If they can stay healthy, I don't think being tired will be too much of a factor. They'll start slow a few games but get into it as it goes on. Add to that home games and "easy" teams for the most part, the Wings should come out of this with points and confidence.

Shanahan still had game, it's a shame he had to go out like that. He's a legend.

Here's a radical thought: What about a 6 minute OT, with the first 3 minutes a powerplay for the home team and the second half for the away team? EDIT: But you play the whole 6 minutes, so it's like a shootout, but with the whole team in play, more fitting with "team sport." Of course, this would only be in the regular season because it's a bizarre, radical twist. But it might work.

Yeah, I agree. I still don't think Howard has a future with this team. He's playing just good enough for now. Maybe he's just increasing his trade value. I hope he breaks out and turns into an all-star goalie, I'm just not getting too excited until I see him start to improve his rebounding, positioning and mental strength.

No, no no, ties are the worst. Shootouts are horrible ways to end games, I agree, but ties were even worse. I think the points system should be simplified to no points for an OT loss. You either win or you lose.

Really? We hear nothing but about how Cleary, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Draper, Rafalski, Datsyuk, and yes, even Kronwall lead this team. Those are the core leaders from various articles I've read over the years. Any one of them would make a great Captain, but Zetterberg is basically outranking them all at the moment. This team is stacked with leaders. I'd say out of that group the top dogs are Lidstrom, Zetterberg and Draper.

I bet a lot baseball players need this for those high-stress, up-tempo situations.

I agree about the "___ Sucks" chants. I wish American sports had more creative chants. But seriously, Chicago just has issues. That guy said it's not okay anymore now that they don't suck? It wasn't okay when they sucked, either. Regardless of their skill level it still makes the fans look like jealous kids with an inferiority complex. But hey, the Central Division (St. Louis and Chicago especially) have really bizarre obsessions with the Wings.

It's not the frequency of injury, it's the fact that Zetterberg has a recurring back problem that tends to end careers more quickly than the ocassional foot problem.

Not to pick a fight, but Datsyuk is going to have a much longer career than Zetterberg. Zetterberg is much more beat up. Picking who will be Captain 10-13 years from now is a little silly, considering how many players are going to come and go.