Z and D for the C

Timeout is over.

Because it stifles actual discussion. Or if you try reading through past pages, you have to go through 10 posts for each game event. If you have an actual opinion to post, fine, but do we really need 30 posts screaming "GGGGGGGGGOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL"? It's a general discussion thread, not amateur play by play hour.

Why do we have 20 people with play by play posts in this thread? Can't we keep this for actual discussion instead of worthless posts like "PK".

Cleary can't make a play to save his ******* life.

I don't know why the hell Cleary is on the second line instead of Brunner.

Franzen in a one-dimensional player. He is great at scoring goals when his line mates do most of the work for him. He doesn't make plays, he doesn't forecheck, he doesn't back check, he doesn't cycle, he doesn't battle along the boards. If Hossa isn't scoring goals, he is still do an enormous amount for the team (see: 2009 playoffs). If Franzen isn't scoring goals, he may as well not be on the ice.

I have no idea where you're getting your numbers (9,2m, what?) and his cap hit is 5.275m and the contract comes off when he retires, but I'd sure be happy if Hossa is bought out (which probably won't happen) and we can sign him.

This. Franzen isn't even close to Hossa's level.

If I had a dollar for every player you wanted to be traded, I'd have enough money to start my own NHL team, make it really good, make you a fan of it and piss you off every time I don't trade a player.

Oh, hi Filppula with GWG and major assist now that he plays with competent linemate.

And Zetterberg scored 40 because he played with Datsyuk. Not any player would have the season Filppula did with Zetterberg. But frankly, I doubt even pav or Z would have very good numbers saddled with Franzen and Cleary at even strength and Nyquist and Cleary on the PP. I'm not saying Z and Pav should be split up (and one of the reasons I think we need Filppula is to allow them to play on the same line, without Filppula, who centers the second line?), but I'm saying Filppula's play wouldn't seem so bad if he had competent linemates.

Fil's two points in six games looks a lot worse until you consider that he plays with the laziest player on the team (who only gets points from playing with Datsyuk and Zetterberg on the powerplay) and Dan "let the puck hit me on the way into the net" Cleary. I'm not saying he's been great, but he hasn't been that bad for having so few points. He still played a major role to getting us this far on a sick play and we still had a lead after his turnover. If he is resigned it'll be for around 3.5-4m I'm guessing. Maybe a little over 4.

Ryan Kesler? Him Fil and Franzen on a line could be a sick second line.

Thats been the excuse for the past 4 years. Also: Filppula: A+

Why do people think that being a fan and being critical are mutually exclusive concepts? If those who didn't get angry when the team plays like s*** didn't care about the team, they wouldn't get angry.

If the amount of games had anything to do with popularity, the NHL would be twice as popular as the MLB.

I think that the contract issue is effecting his play. He doesn't seem to be playing with the same level of enthusiasm he usually does, he barely even celebrated his goal a few nights ago. If not the contract, then it's something else. That said, I think he'll be back for 4-4.5 mil.

Just not us.

I this point I really think it had to be the coaching. These players aren't as bad as they constantly play. It's not a negative against Babcock, but sometimes you just need change.

At least he can still skate and shoot so it won't take too long for him to catch up when he's back.

To everyone dogging Filppula, hes scoring more at even strength per minute than all forwards except Datsyuk, and that's him having a s***ty year.

I thought this was going to be about teams wanting to score against the Wings.

Fil is looking possessed out there. Pretty much generated all that offense there. This is the Filppula we saw last year.

Getzlaf is a UFA? Someone let Kenny know.

Why stop at three? Power Forward - Power Forward - Power Forward Power Forward - Power Forward - Power Forward Power Forward - Power Forward - Power Forward Power Forward - Power Forward - Power Forward I just assembled the best team evvveeerrrrrrrr