VM1138

I think it really is just that Weiss is a turnover liability. Weiss works hard, he just isn't defensively sound and we all know that that is Babcock's first priority, even over scoring.

This is the first time I can remember that I'm not optimistic about the playoffs. I just don't see us making it out of the first round this time. I hope I'm wrong.

I don't know. I think Oullette is out of options after this year.

I'd like to see Marchenko brought up for the playoffs. Gotta get playoff experience sometime. And only him and Pulkinnen will be new to the whole playoff thing so it shouldn't be too risky to give him a chance.

Kindl and Smith haven't panned out. Ericsson has been a decent profit considering where we drafted him. He should probably be traded but he isn't a bust. We kind of need all three of Marchenko, Sproul and Oullette to turn out great because trading for defenseman of quality is nearly impossible these days. And we have to admit that they will all need to be in the lineup soon, so Holland needs to make space.

I hope Smth doesn't play ever again. We have Marchenko who can fill the void with less brain farts, even though he's still a prospect.

Montreal is a good team but they're not some juggernaut. Without Price they're average. But with our lack of a diverse attack, stellar goaltending could kill us. I think we'd be better off with a high scoring team like Tampa that lacks defense and goaltending for the first round.

Ugly as sin but at least the team made it in. Now, let's hope they don't get massacred.

Remember when the playoffs didn't come down to the final two games of the season? Those were the days.

Why. The. Hell. Is Smith. On the ice. With Minutes. To Go.

I can't decide if he replaces Jason Williams or Lebda yet. If we don't make playoffs, yes, he does.

Wow, Babcock actually argued to have Sheahan serve it instead of Smith? What the hell?

Haha, the Montreal announcers just said "that's a whole other level" of stupidity, basically.

If Smith just cost us the playoffs with that BS, I swear to God he needs to be gone next year.

Ottawa is up 2-0 and the game is almost over. Somehow we have to get a break tonight.

I love that Datsyuk has turned on beast mode lately. Zetterberg disappeared, Datsyuk stepped up to carry this team. Love it.

That just reminds me how fragile our hold on the playoffs currently is. Not a lot of room for error here.

One thing is certain: there will be some kind of shakeup. How often have we tried to put together good lines only to have one or two players make one line totally garbage. We can have two-and-a-half or three good lines and the other one is always terrible because of some random player who doesn't quite fit somewhere. If Babcock returns, we'll need to move Weiss because he's usually the odd man who can't play in the bottom two lines. If he leaves, Weiss should stay and be used as the 2C where his skills benefit the team the most. Zetterberg-Datysuk-Abdelkader Nyquist-Weiss-Cole Tatar-Sheahan-Pulkinnen Glendening-Helm-Miller Some players are going to have leave, even if we don't want them to. Not really any room for the kids unless they are bottom six talents. I'd hate to see Mantha or someone play on the fourth line and go nowhere. Weiss is a big question mark. He puts up points, but can he be a 2C like we need? If not, he needs to be moved for a bonafide 2C. Sheahan and Helm don't cut it. We've got so many freakin' centers. On defense I'd love to see: Kronwall- New Guy Dekeyser-Marchenko Quincey-Zidlicky I think that'd be a hell of a setup, if the New Guy is a bonafide top 2 defenseman.

Only thing I can think of is that Babcock feels we will make playoffs no matter what, and he's trying his best to rest some of our better players without actually having them sit? If not, his dedication to hard working, low skill players over skilled players who aren't defensive dynamos is going to be our undoing. It has been for a few years now.

Ottawa is going to be crushed f they don't make it.

There's really no point in awarding a loser point. I get that they are afraid of ties, but if they eliminate the loser point suddenly coasting and potentially losing doesn't look so good.

That third line looks like garbage, though. Blech.

I think whatever is bothering him is a new injury. His surgery, from what we've heard, completely erases his history of back injuries. So if he's hurt it's a fresh injury, not a nagging one that he's dealt with for years. Motown1043 had it right, though. We could always rely on late season beast mode from Zetterberg, and the fact that he's so quiet is unsettling. Hopefully he'll find that next gear soon.

Meh. I know he's had a better year in Grand Rapids but I just don't see Ferraro ever making the jump to the NHL permanently. Hopefully it doesn't hurt us having him up.

On a healthy team, I wouldn't mind seeing them as a third line. The factor that really prevents that is we still don't have a 2C if we move Zetterberg. Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Abdelkader Franzen-Weiss-Cole Tatar-Sheahan-Nyquist Miller-Glendening-Helm Also, I'm not sure how I feel about Weiss on a second line. It's where he's supposed to be but his giveaways might be a nightmare on a line with Franzen. But Cole knocking people around and driving the net could have good results. I also don't really like Helm way down on the fourth, but where else would he go? I suppose you could put Weiss down there and put him on the third instead of Sheahan. But alas, Franzen isn't coming back this season most likely.