wingsownnhl43

I agree. The line combos still puzzle me. I didnt think Flip and Bertuzzi were all that bad together. I think Miller was dragging down that line. I also think Helm and Cleary could work together. Franzen-Datsyuk-Homer Zetterberg-Filppula-Bertuzzi Cleary-Helm-Williams Eaves-Draper-ABs

I agree. As for the line combinations, much better. Id still like to see Helm and Miller flipped. Helm deserves more of a role on this team.

This season Cleary has his highest PPG average of his entire career. He also has one less goal than he had last season in 20 less games. Again this is people pointing the finger just to put the finger because they done know where to point the finger just because things are going bad.

I dont know if this has been mentioned, but there is a podcast from WDFN 1130 of Art Regner interviewing Mike Babcock where Babs mentions that he talked to Huds over the olympic break and that Huds is disappointed he wasnt selected to play for the Czechs. He also mentioned that he wouldnt be surprised if Huds was skating for the Wings next winter. I was wondering if any of you guys caught this? It'd be huge to get Hudler back next year. This team lacks secondary scoring in a huge way. Getting 60-70 points back in the line up is desperately needed. http://wdfn.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=ShepAndSharp.xml Scroll down and look for "Mike Babcock 3-2" When Mike talks about Hudler, its pretty much at the very end if you dont want to listen to the whole interview.

Good Point. Its impossible to debate how long Hossa plays. What we do know is that it is evident Hossa has no loyalty. I could definitely see him sticking it out just to keep getting paid. That is purely speculation on my part though. Who knows, itll be interesting to see how everything plays out. I do agree with you that we need another top 6 forward however.

When Hossa Is 36 he will still have six years left on his contract. Think about that. You can only sign so many players to long term deals.

Well, to be honest Vancouver has a fortunate situation. They have the Sedin twins, and Roberto Luongo signed for cap friendly deals. They Alex Burrows, Ryan Kesler, and Mason Raymond contracts are absolute steals. They were in a position where they could offer Sammy the contract he received.have let Sammy go too.

Did anybody read what I wrote earlier? Jesus guys, Cleary and Filppulas numbers arent falling short of normal!!!! This thread boggles my mind. Typical sky is falling, who can I blame thread. Here it is again... Dan Cleary. He has tallied 40, 42, and 40 points in the past three seasons. Last season he had 40 points in 74 games. This season he has 29 points in 54 games. Ok, a little math. 40/74 =29/x Cross multiply and divide. If he plays 74 games this season, Cleary is on pace for 45 points. Higher than any of his past 3 seasons. Valterri Filppula has 25 points in 39 games, thats a 50 point pace which is 10 points higher than his career high. Cleary has 1 less goal than he had last season in 20 less games. And Filppula has 5 less goals in 41 less games.

Ill stay consistent. I still dont like him.

Well the way I look at it is that Cleary has 1 less goal than he had last season in 20 less games. And Filppula has 5 less goals in 41 less games. I think you wanting more goals out of them, is asking something that they are not. Trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. They are what they are, and I think they are filling their roles just fine. We would be fine in the goal scoring department if we had been healthy this season and had maybe one more 40-50 point scorer. We just dont have the personal that we had last season.

Well, doesnt this tell you enough? Statistically they are having career seasons? They are playing just as good as they ever have. You're just passing the blame because of where we are in the standings and you just arent exactly sure where to point the finger. Dan Cleary. He has tallied 40, 42, and 40 points in the past three seasons. Last season he had 40 points in 74 games. This season he has 29 points in 54 games. Ok, a little math. 40/74 =29/x Cross multiply and divide. If he plays 74 games this season, Cleary is on pace for 45 points. Higher than any of his past 3 seasons. Valterri Filppula has 25 points in 39 games, thats a 50 point pace which is 10 points higher than his career high.

Ok. Dan Cleary. He has tallied 40, 42, and 40 points in the past three seasons. Last season he had 40 points in 74 games. This season he has 29 points in 54 games. Ok, a little math. 40/74 =29/x Cross multiply and divide. If he plays 74 games this season, Cleary is on pace for 45 points. Higher than any of his past 3 seasons. Valterri Filppula has 25 points in 39 games, thats a 50 point pace which is 10 points higher than his career high. What exactly do you want from them?

So theyre not good enough because the team is struggling? Cleary and FIlppula are hardly the problem. If you want to blame Zetterberg or lack of depth, go ahead, but come on now.

Honestly, the guy has played just as well this season as he has the past 3 seasons. You guys are just scapegoating now.

I really think you'll understand why we did in about 5 years.

Is Cleary's contract that bad??? Jesus people.

Im obviously exaggerating. However, we wouldnt be questioning whether this team will be in the playoffs if we were fully healthy. So maybe Im not exaggerating. If you think we'd be in this same position if we were healthy this season, please explain.

Yes Zetterberg isnt playing as well as he should, but I believe the line combinations couldnt be any worse. Williams and Cleary simply arent second line players. Cleary can be, but he isnt a point producer. Also, whats Drew Miller doing on the third line?? Zetterberg- Datsyuk- Holmstrom Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi Cleary-Helm - whoever lock and load.

He is what he is. He's capable of scoring 50-60 points and is a great defensive forward. At a reasonable cap hit, whats not to like?

I blame this season solely on injuries. If you look at the numbers from our SC season when we didnt have Hossa, besides Z and D, we had Samuelsson, Hudler, Cleary, Holmstrom, Franzen, Filppula around 40 points. All of which were relatively healthy This season we have Bertuzzi that will eclipse 40 points. Cleary and Holmstrom would if they didnt miss 10-12 games. Filppula has 25 points in 39 games, thats a 50 point pace if he didnt have a lengthy injury. Franzen has 7 points. We've been hit hard with injuries this season and quite frankly if we were healthy, we'd be looking at a 4-5 seed. As for Zetterberg and Datsyuk, Datsyuk has returned to form his last 15 games, but these two are just better together. The only reason you split these guys up is if we are playing Pittsburgh. They are the best duo in hockey. PUT THEM TOGETHER!!! Zetterberg simply isnt going to produce with Williams (a guy that shouldnt be on this team), and Cleary, who is a third line player.

Running these numbers through cap geek, we would have a very balanced line up with the ability to add a 3 million dollar salary at the deadline. I think we're looking pretty good for next season so long as Lidstrom/Holmstrom/Bertuzzi come back willing to take pay cuts. Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Johan Franzen ($3.955m) Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / * Jiri Hudler ($2.880m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) Kris Draper ($1.583m) / * Todd Bertuzzi ($1.500m) / * Tomas Holmstrom ($1.500m) * Darren Helm ($1.000m) / * Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m) / * Patrick Eaves ($0.750m) * Brad May ($0.500m) DEFENSEMEN Brian Rafalski ($6.000m) / * Nicklas Lidstrom ($4.000m) Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) * Andreas Lilja ($1.250m) / Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) GOALTENDERS Chris Osgood ($1.417m) / Jimmy Howard ($0.717m) CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS ROSTER: 22; PAYROLL: $55.018m; CAP ROOM: $1.782m BONUSES: $0.000m

I was referring to next season. I guess you're right though, he'll be 40 at the beginning of the season, 41 come playoff time.

This. If Tiger Woods, a guy who has the most dry/boring personality of any athlete in the history of ever can be the most marketable athlete, then the NHL sure as hell can market anyone they want. This is what annoys me about the NHL They've centered their marketing strategy around Sidney Crosby, but to me there are so many other talented players in the NHL that should be marketed to help this sport grow.

Eaves has won me over as well. Him, Helm, and hopefully Abs can give us what Draper and Maltbs used to. I really think Helm and Eaves have the ability to pop in 15 goals a season in a 3rd or 4th line role.

You know, its funny. Before and up to that playoff series where Lilja handed the Cup to Selanne and the Ducks on a silver platter, I LOATHED Lilja. However, ever since then he has gotten better and better. Although, he still has some giveaways, I think he has progressed into a steady stay at home defenseman. With Lidstrom at 41, Rafalski an amazing offensive defensman but similar defensive skills to LGW posters on this board, Ericsson/Kindl question marks, I think Lilja at 1.25 is a tremendous value. I want him back regardless.