VM1138

The more I think about this, the more I think Andersson gets sent down for the regular season. If he really wants to stand pat it's one of our only options.

I wonder what sort of ratings a Red Wings-Chicago Stanley Cup Final would bring.

Hopefully Sammy isn't our top 6 acquisition. We really need one bonafide top 6 scorer. Other than that, I think this team could be really good. Our defense was plenty good enough in the playoffs that while it could be better, it's not priority one. Give us a scorer, Holland, and I'll be happy.

I don't think he'd take another offer. He seems to be having a lot of fun, which means he probably likes our system and coaches, and seems like he has bought into changing his game. If he went elsewhere he'd have to readjust all over again.

I think it is too early to assume we will stand pat. For all our progress, we still have glaring weaknesses that the rookies can't fill. Nyquist anf Brunner were great...but as third liners. I think our supporting cast or "core" is there, but there us no doubt we need a better top 6.

I think he just prepares each off season as if the roster stays the same. He probably doesn't know if Flip is staying, but he prepares for him to stay I'm sure.

I want him to stay...if he stays on the fourth line. He is a good character guy. Like Homer. He can put up numbers but he is a liability for his line often. We have too many guys and he may be a goner, but maybe he could hang around as a 13th forward. That would be ideal. Easy on his body, but we still could use him for leadership.

Brunner seems like a great teammate, too. He's got a great attitude. If you have a fairly young guy with a lot of potential talent, a good work ethic and a good attitude, you keep him.

You know, I'm not a Franzen critic, but I'm glad someone else thought about maybe putting him on the third line. He'd score more consistently, he's decent at defense, and could do a lot of damage from there. Assuming, of course, we can get a reliable scorer to replace him on the second line.

Nyquist and Andersson sent down? At least one of our teams will win a championship now.

He isn't consistent, but he still contributes. Keep him, just don't rely on him to carry the team.

He is easily replacable. I know he gets points but it seems like he kills any offensive momentum. Is like to see a scoring winger and a new center brought in.

Let's hope the Kings and Bruins make the finals. And that Flip is gone and we get a legit scored or two. I think our defense will be okay, but our offense needs help.

I fail to see how being disappointed about losing a series in which we were up 3-1 is whining or entitlement. Maybe we weren't supposed to make playoffs, but once we're up by that much, we were supposed to win. I'm not angry or calling for anyone's head, I'm just deflated. This shouldn't have happened, upstart or not.

Good season, yada yada, it's clear this team needs offense. I should feel proud but I'm just annoyed they blew a 3-1 lead and become just another victim of the Hawks.

And no surprise that O'Halloran was in. But even without the refs, the Wings couldn't complete passes, broke down defensively, and had little real offense. They had a good second period but weren't dangerous otherwise. The Hawks were. I'd say they got outplayed in two games in a row. The Wings can still win this series but they will need to be dangerous offrnsively. Datsyuk and Zetterberg need to have big games.

What I don't understand, is why aren't his minutes being shortened? It seems like Quincey and Smith play the most. Quincey has been good, but good Lord Smith is a liability. He tries to improve. But he's mentally weak. He behaves like someone who thinks he sucks. His head hangs, he looks miserable all the time out there. He needs someone to teach him confidence and mental stability on the ice.

Frustrated. Wings had this series and now have to rely on luck. Hawks are back to outplaying us, we have no response. Could win, but the Wings appear to have lost that fighting spirit. Hawks have every imaginable advantage. Is be prouder if the Wings hadn't collapsed.

The kid is like a yo-yo, and that gets him a lot of slack from bipolar fans. He screws up and looks generally bad, and then next shift he makes a beautiful pass or uses enough pressure to get some offense going or slaps one home. He's going to be good, he just needs to learn to settle the heck down.

Datsyuk actually has been a slightly, tiny bit disappointing this series. I don't know if it's his focus on defense, but he just hasn't been quite as dazzling with the puck. Still making solid plays, but it'd be nice to see him take over the game again.

They sat back. There was zero pressure and they gave Chicago so much space. Uncharacteristic of them. I expect that to change, but am naturally worried now that Chicago has momentum. We don't want tgis to go seven.

Flip has killed all but a small handful of offensive opportunities this playoff run. He has been terrible. We can find a better second line center.

Worst game of the playoffs? I hope this is just a fluke and they haven't forgotten how to play hockey. It will be a miracle if we get another shot before the game ends, let alone goals.

Wings look disorganized and frustrated. That is disheartening. The cynic in me knew it was only a matter of time before Toews got on the board. I hope we didn't wake up the giant we've all been told about. Have to try real hard not to be bipolar about this. I just feel like giving Chicago back their confidence and swagger and momentum is bad for the Wings. Score on the power play, limit Smith, and then I feel a win coming.

I don't like the comparisons of Edzo and Redmond, even though Mick made it himself. Mick can be biased sometimes, especially when it comes to the reffing, but he rarely takes things personally like Edzo, and he rarely has any kind of animosity toward the other team. Edzo takes an interception like someone just shot his dog and will refuse to compliment good plays sometimes. The other guys are annoying only because they stick to the same formula every game. Random trivia about players' childhoods and awkward phraseology which usually sounds like a double entendre. But otherwise they know their stuff.