marcaractac

For a team that is being built around youth and speed, I cannot for the life of me understand why guys like Mantha, Jurco, and Smith are being scratched every game. Along with guys like AA barely getting ice time. Blash is hampering any energy this team can generate by relying so heavily in old, slow players. He is neutering this teams strengths and it is frustrating to watch. For as stubborn as Babs was at times, he played the kids. When the kids showed they could contribute, they played. With Blash they are buried in the fourth line and barely played.

My biggest fear is Holland wussing out and not trading Howard because of his play as of late.

As far as the Rangers game goes, Mantha and Smith need to be back in. The powerplay died once Mantha was taken out of the lineup. Smith provides energy. But just watch Blash scratch AA and put in Andersson for "experience".

So the Wings called up Andersson.... Please let this be a meaningless call up.

You're comparing a move in the cap era to a move from back when Holland had an open checkbook. If there was a cap back then you can bet your ass Holland would have locked up Lapointe.

They also had nothing to play for in that game. Ending the Wings streak is a big deal. Any team would very likely love to be the ones to do it.

A chance to end the steak? They'll show up.

Watch Blash keep Smith and Mantha out of the lineup again against the Rags.

Of course Blash will wait until it is too late. If it were Mrazek in net giving up two quickies he would have been pulled already.

Should change goalies, if anything just to wake the team up...

Sure, when everyone had wooden sticks and goalies weren't ten feet tall.

If he does leave, that cap hit is very easily moved.

The cap recapture penalty is for the contracts like zetterberg that were signed before the new cba. Dats contract is nothing like that. He might decide he is done. s*** happens. It's not like it is gonna handcuff the team in any way other than the loss of having Datsyuk (assuming he even does call it quits after this season). The league cannot allow stuff like the Clarkson or pronger trades and then suddenly block a Datsyuk trade if he decides to retire. Unless they put something against it in the next cba there isn't jack s*** they could do about it. He gave the organization years of service, played through injuries, was away from his family all the time. More often than not took a huge discount to play here. In the end he doesn't owe anybody anything.

That cap hit would be painfully easy to get rid if. It absolutely would not prevent taking a run at Stamkos if he were to show interest in Detroit. The guy is in his late 30's. If he feels he cannot contribute at the nhl level the way he used to, he should never be judges for retiring. Even if he did play in Russia, it's a very different game than in North America.

You realize if he retires from the nhl he doesn't get paid for the last year on his contract, right? His cap counting against the cap != him actually getting pad that money. As for the cap, if dats leaves, trade him to a small market team in need of getting over the cap without the financial commitment. Dumping that cap hit would be sooooooo easy. There is literally nothing to worry about. To some teams, a cap hit without salary being paid out is extremely valuable.

At this point I'd like to see Philly keep winning. Let them clinch before we play them next. But then again, every team is gonna bring it to the Wings regardless. You know damn well teams we face from here on out wanna be the ones to put that final dagger into the streak.

He'd still be retiring as a Wing. Seeing things like Dallas or Ottawa signing the likes of Modano and Alfie to one day contracts is merely fan service. That's like saying Pronger will retire as a Yote.

Such a bummer

If he wants to go to Russia, trade him to a small market team first, then let him retire from nhl hockey. That way his contract helps a small market team get over the cap floor. Also frees up cap space to go all in on stamkos

Green has been the dman he was signed to be as of late. Love it.

Mantha demoted to the fourth line, Ericsson still gets to play over Smith. I'm absolutely over Blashill. He has been god awful. Even Babs decided to win or lose with the kids before he left. Blash is continuously relying on old, broken down vets. It is 100% on him if we don't make the playoffs this year.

Ffs. It's a one goal game. Try to score more goals, not defend a one goal lead with this defense.

Because Blash is an idiot

Why the f*** is Smith being scratched over Ericsson?

Goose, Ericsson, pulk, Howard should all be moved. Then go hard after a high end forward and a high end dman. Begin to give dats, hank, and kronwall a lesser role next season. Less minutes, keep them rested for this time of year. Sadly Holland won't have the balls to do any of it.