GMRwings1983

Did he say anything about kicking tires?

The only reason we played so well in those playoffs was Howard. He's been average in the other playoffs he's had, and look how that turned out for the team. We don't have enough talent to win without a hot goalie. The Kings looked gassed in 2013. Especially coming off the Cup win. Boston would have murdered us, though.

What Cup could we have won last season?

A team that can barely make it out of the first round once in the last 3 seasons is not underrated. Everyone knows the team is in a mini-rebuild mode.

Emmerton a top two line player.

The last two seasons in a row, the Wings were among the league leaders in man games lost.

There might be something to this. Either that or the strength and conditioning staff isn't doing their jobs. Against team policy. Holland doesn't like any forward over 6'3.

I'm just saying that I'll take a meathead if we can't get a fighter with talent (which I know we won't). Enforcer may be on the bottom of the list, but the top of the list isn't something Holland seems to be able to realistically address. He doesn't have any sway over free agents anymore and neither does the organization. We're not going to obtain a top 6 winger or a top pair defenseman, so what's the use wishing for the impossible. Getting a tough guy would be easy and cheap.

And replace them with skilled players on the top two lines? Holland hasn't proven he can do that well with the salary cap. I'd like a 40 goal scoring winger on the top 6, but it's not going to happen unless it comes from a Nyquist or Tatar. We're not signing anyone soon. Holland loves spending money on 4th liners like Sammy and Cleary, but doesn't spend less money for a tough guy that is cheaper. Oh come on. Every team has had more toughness than the Wings each of the last 10 plus seasons. We're the anomaly when it comes to enforcers, not the rule. There are plenty of tough guys not on waivers, just like there are plenty who are.

Pretty much my argument. Guys like that are easy to find and don't cost much. Our 4th line isn't that talented to lose a roster spot for an enforcer.

Umm..... my post basically said the exact opposite of what you interpreted. I think we need to get a meathead.

We need to replace vanilla midgets with tough North American boys who are unpleasant to play against in a 7 game series. If I was any playoff team, I'd love to play against the Wings. The Wings do have more pressing issues than "toughness", but with our salary cap situation and Holland's inability to lure free agents to Detroit, those other issues won't be addressed, I'm sorry to say. Tough guys are easier to find and are cheap. Yeah, we'd like to have a player like McGrattan but who can score 20 goals. I'd like to have a 6'0 tall blonde and a Ferrari. Doesn't work that way. Holland has to address whatever needs he can actually address realistically. Small guys on the 4th line who don't propose any problem to other teams aren't what's needed. This team gets pushed around too much and needs someone who will actually make fans feel like they're not rooting for a bunch of milksops. There's no excuse not to have a player like that the last 5 seasons, since this team became mediocre. Long gone are the days when we had stars on our 4th line. Holland is making this look much more difficult than it is.

I'd love to have a talentless meatbag on the team the next time we play the Pens.

Serious question. I don't read other hockey boards, so I don't know the answer to this question. Do other forums have as many posters who don't believe fighting and enforcers have a place in the game? It seems like we have many, and I wonder how much of that has to do with Kenny Holland and the Wings philosophy of finishing last in fighting majors every year for the last 10+ years? Seems like the attitude of the team and management has rubbed off to the fanbase. With that said, I know many Wings fans who can't stand that philosophy and root for the team in spite of it.

If McGrattan played for our team, Scuderi would have hit someone like Miller or Cleary instead. At least I would, in his position.

Sounds like another soft euro to me.

I've hated Scuderi ever since his skate blocked Franzen from scoring the tying goal in the waning seconds of game 6 of the SCF. We should hire McGrattan and McIntyre and have them challenge Scuderi each time we face him this season.

Fire the team doctors/trainers/masseuse Bring in the coaches that coached that Korean team in "Best of the Best"

Fedorov was a center and Bure and Mogilny were not good defensively. Or is my sarcasm meter getting worse?

Yzerman was a center. Russian wingers aren't known for defensive play, nor should they. Yzerman was already past 30 when he started winding down offensively to play more defense. Ovechkin's job is to score goals, play hard and lead by example. You don't have to be great defensively to be an effective player or a good leader.

I like this. Reminds me of Slapshot. But people like hockey so much in Calgary that they'll go to games whether team is good or bad, enforcers or not.

Pretty much what others have said. Selanne cries too much and wasn't a top 6 player anymore. If he wanted more icetime, he should have signed with the 2014 Red Wings.

Soft euros play tougher when they have manhood all around them.

My top 20 would look pretty much the same.

Getting rid of the instigator rule would have been nice. So would eliminating the shootout.