IrishWing19

I did like when Maltby says "Let's have a good time" and takes a swig of beer before leaving the locker room. Legends.

I did like when Maltby says "Let's have a good time" and takes a swig of beer before leaving the locker room. Legends.

I don't care about his history, his name, his age or anything like that. I care about the team winning and if he can contribute more than at least one other forward, I'm all for it.

If not for a spell of idiocy amongst the draft officials, the Wings would have had him.

I understand that this is a polarising signing, but seriously, what are you going to do? Stop supporting the Wings? What if they prove to be steller signings and help win us the cup this year? Don't necessarily think that disliking someone for their past actions should preclude them from doing well in the future and turning a new leaf. Avery wasn't a d*** when he came here, why would you think Tootoo would be?
There's still a lot of time to sign free agents and we have a lot of pieces to trade if needs be so we're in a pretty strong position on all fronts - have cap space to sign FAs, have pieces to trade, have depth so that trades don't criple us.
I'm still going to support the Wings no matter what and support the players who put on that jersey every night and go out there and give their all to win. If someone does something reprehensible I'll ***** about them letting us down, but if they play good clean hockey and have a real desire to win then I'll love them. Don't knock someone for their past indiscretions, everyone has them and no one wants to be defined by them.

Your post starting with this has nothing to do with Justin Schultz. Comparing Big E to Smith seriously? It's funny all the people who rag on Smith and say you have said forgot what he did with us with limited minutes. But this isn't a Smith or Big E thread now is it?
The Mods here should warn you...

Flip is one of those players who puts up nice numbers, and he's a solid player, but he's never wowed me (or a lot of other people). I would only trade him for a player who is as close to a guaranteed upgrade as you could get. He's a great defensive player, but I just don't see him breaking out like so many people hope for every year. He had a good year this year, but does anyone really see him as a game changer like Datsyuk or Zetterberg? Or even someone like Helm, who can string together amazing plays and change the momentum of a game?
Again, not trashing Flip, he's got great talent and has some great games, but I just don't see him as indispensable if we can get an upgrade for him and a pick or something.

Babcock is making a montrous mistake by not playing Howie against Nashville if he is ready to play. First of all, if Howie can't be thrown into the fire and be expected to perform then he is not a number one playoff goalie. Secondly, there are 4 games left after Friday.... with one of them a back-to-back. Third, players are known to hit that "proverbial wall" about 3 - 6 games after returning from an injury.... Detroit has too many in that category at the start of the playoffs. Fourth, Conklin will lose to the Predators giving the Predators a great chance to finish fourth. Fifth, the defense needs to wake up... they were absolutely horrible in the last Columbus game and all were a MINUS except for Ericsson.... maybe if the defense knows they have to put up a wall in front of Howie that just may wake them up. Sixth, Howie needs to get as many games as possible against a skilled team.... expecially one he will be facing in the playoffs.... correct the mistakes now. Otherwise, everything is pointing to a first round exit by the Wings if Conklin is in goal on Friday and the Wings lose.
What kind of message are you sending to the team when you are afraid of your number one goalie facing a competitor, even if he is not in top game condition? It is a team game and if the team is playing like a team they will give Howie all the protection he needs. Showing fear is a recipe for failure.

Im not happy either but do you want Howie cold and hurting himself for a third time???
Look at the end game. We havent lost against the Preds on Friday, we have more games to play with Howie in net and we need a healthy goalie going into the playoffs.
To risk Howie for the Preds game and lose him to injury for the playoffs is asinine.
We are in the show, set yourself up for the best chance to go the distance. If we were in the bottom seeds where someone is going to be on vacation next week then you play Howard. Since we arent you win the games you can and deal with the losses.
This is PRE PLAYOFF HOCKEY!!!! You make every concession necessary to be healthy for the second season.
Im amazed by the people here that cant absorb the fact that we are in, we need to stay healthy to progress and acting like we are on the bumb is a bit premature.

That is why I stated "if healthy" and "if ready to play". But what Babcock said is that even if he is healthy he will not play against Nashville.
NEWS FLASH..... ANY player at ANY time can get hurt. You don't have to be playing a good team to get injured. In fact, players get injured in practice.... players get injured even when they are not on the ice. Not playing a player because you are afraid they will get hurt in asinine. There is that "fear" again. If you are afraid then pack your bags and go golfing because you won't be playing hockey in May. The playoffs ARE a war of attrition. It is usually the healthiest team hoisting the cup at the end... not necessarily the best. A team can be the healthiest team going into the playoffs and all it takes is facing a team like San Jose or St. Louis at this point and they can hit and punish you into oblivion and there is no way you make it to the finals. IMHO, it is mostly luck.... the luck of having the "easiest road". And right now the easiest road starts by having home ice advantage over Nashville.... so you have to do whatever it takes right now to achieve that.

Hes cold.... Obviously you missed that and your 1 million pnt font sig proves that you are not the one to comment on why our #1 goalie isn't playing on Friday.
Babs doesnt want Howie in if he didnt have a warm up game prior. I dont blame him in the least.
Yes any guy can get hurt, are you just gonna throw in your only starting goalie and risk him when we already are gonna go to the playoffs?
I read half of the first sentence of your reply before realizing you are completely clueless...
Point being WE NEED A GOALTENDER TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP.
I spared everyone the half screen font.

What does the team do when Ericsson returns?
Will he play forward for the remaining of the regular season?

Thank you for feeding the trolls =/

all these things that are "no big deal" now will come back to bite them in the playoffs.
you know, like...hudler and bertuzzi being two of the worst top-6 forwards in the league? everyone cool with that?
that's no problem when you beat the worst team in the league that just gave away half of the decent players they had.
but when the wings are going out in round 2 yet again? well, at least we know what to expect.

they played a terrible 50 minutes and then got a couple goals, the first being incredibly lucky.
does that change the piss-poor effort? the abysmal special teams? hudler being generally awful?
i hope teams aren't planning on taking shots at datysuk, because this team won't win a playoff game without him.

Actually, it sounds like Greg Sherman (Avs GM) knew that the Bolts might end up flipping Quincey, as he said that Yzerman brought up the idea of a 3 team trade when they were working out the details of Downie to Colorado.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/did-avalanche-know-yzerman-turning-kyle-quincey-detroit-035306655.html

That was an insult? He called you a child, which by all previous posts and reference to yourself would be a pretty realistic accusation.

so exactly what was your problem with my statement? i don't want holland to sit on this cap space when the team has obvious needs to address.
do you disagree with that?
or did you want to insult me again? i'd report those posts to a mod, but oh, what a surprise...you are one!

i have a NMC, sorry.
the team has no needs, right? sure.

don't get your hopes up, pal.

It's less than two weeks away, get excited. I'm a fanatic of the series and i'm thrilled that Mass Effect 3 is almost here, with the inclusion of multiplayer i'm anticipating an epic conclusion in a deep narrative experience.
For those who weren't aware, the demo is available now for download on the Xbox Marketplace and on PS Network. It's free so even if you don't think this is your type of game, try it anyway. The entire series is worth playing through because it's truly a game like nothing else out there and continues to impress. Mass Effect 2 was a masterpiece and deserved all of it's recognition for Game of the Year.
Let the countdown begin, everything and anything Mass Effect post it up here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs7kix6_8Ks

Babcock gets it.
It seems when this team is losing (which isnt often now but in the past) they continually try to keep skilling their way around the rink even when it isnt working. WHich is very frustrating to watch.
I still think if this team had a bit tougher bottom 6 and replaced guys like Emmerton or Miller who try to do the skill thing and cant play physical very well at all (especially Emmerton)the wings would be better off. Its not impossible to find guys who can play hockey and be tough to play against. Its not about finding a Milan Lucic, but there are guys out there that could play as much as Miller and Emmerton and be just as effective while providing the ability to set a physical tone. Kenny should be looking at Gaustad, Moen and Prust this offseason.
There are other options and as much as people hate Tootoo, he has been playing great hockey and could be that physical spark Detroit needs.
Daniel Winnik or Cody Mcleod could be good as well.
I will say that the D is probably one of the more physical in the league actually and is pretty good in that regard now but the forwards need something. Any those guys above on the fourth line could help, or putting Shane Doan in the top 6 could as well.
I know I'm gonna take heat for suggesting Tootoo because I know how everyone feels about him but hes already got 13 points and plays a very physical game. He also hasnt done anything cheap this year. He hit Miller but he was driving to the net hard.
EDIT: -2 already LGW doesnt take long to disappoint. I'm assuming this is about what I said regarding Tootoo. Do any of you take the time to realize hes actually only 6 points off of what Abdelkader and Miller produced all of last season.
The guy seemed to really turn the corner as a player instead of just a goon out there but oh well, you guys think what you want haha

Highlight of the preseason
, the injury to Mursak definitely put a dampener on things, here's to a speedy recovery.

Words can't describe how horrible this is.

Words can't describe how horrible this is.