Nev

Last year was Whipping Boy by committee - Quincey stood out early in the season, before Cleary managed to wrest the crown from him, but by the playoffs Smith worked hard to ensure he was #1 Whipping Boy. Who will it be this year? The candidates are many - Quincey, Smith and Cleary are all back for another kick at the can. Samuelsson and Bertuzzi, are other early favourites. However, historically its always been someone unexpected. So I'm going to go with Franzen and say this will be the year when LGW opinion finally turns against him. What say you all, the LGW massiv?

Primeau? Lapointe bounced around between Junior, AHL and NHL for several seasons.

So the season is over with Cleary the runaway leader till he played himself into early retirement. HMs go to Quincey and Howard, although both played better 2nd half. Piet van Zant also scores a surprise podium. Franzen is the clear leader as the Playoff scapegoat and the early favourite for 14-15 Whipping Boy

You need to read more KH interviews. He's stated repeatedly Mantha will be on the team sooner rather than later, that he's not going to follow the usual "ripening" process, and that he will be given the chance to make the team in training camp. Personally, I think him and Jurco will battle it out. Winner stays up, loser goes to GR as first injury call up.

When rival fans accuse us of over rating our current crop of prospects, the Matt Ellis era is the first thing I think of.

Not even close. Mantha, Mrazrek, Jurco.

Pretty much this. So much of his game is based on his speed, and he had no space to use it. The Bruins are disciplined defensively, and at no point in the series where they chasing a game. Its also I think that his style of play doesn't translate very well to the PP where you're stationary a lot. I will say this though - if he'd been paired with a healthy Zetterberg things would have been very different for him.

The way he was talking last week it sounds like he wants to see out his contract with the Griffs (summer 2015)

Yes, without him we may not have got into the playoffs. We were ravaged by injuries and desperately needed a C. We only just squeeked in as the 8th seed as it was. That we would get ROFLstomped by the Bruins, and Legwand would end up as the 4th line RW could not have been forseen. The most important thing is to make it to the dance - you can't win the raffle if you won't buy a ticket. Plus, there's the rumours of pressure from the Ilitch's to make the playoffs for $$$ reasons. Even a first round exit is worth about $4M.

We have a #1 D, he's called Niklas Kronwall. Unless by #1 D, you actually mean franchise D-man. In which case your options are limited to: Chara, Weber, Suter, Doughty, Karlsson, Subban, OEL, Keith, Pieterangelo. Now tell me how you plan to get them.............

Not even remotely. Experienced top-4 defencemen are the most highly sought after commodity on the market, and are paid accordingly when they hit UFA, as per the rules of supply and demand. Just watch how much Quincey will get on the open market this summer - most likely over $4M.

7-2 win last night, Sproul with 1G 2A to go with his game winner in game 1. Game 3 Friday in GR, and they'll have Jurco, Sheahan and Oullet back

Just Sheahan and Jurco

Can we keep the bitching and moaning about the Wings roster to the multitude of threads devoted to bitching and moaning about the Wings roster?

No. He simply isn't reliable enough health-wise. What's the point in having a back-up who is injured half the year? Not to mention we'll only offer him a 1 year deal, and chances are he'll get a 2 year deal somewhere else. Mrazek is ready to be given an opportunity.

I was gunna say, the OP spelt Tatar wrong. Not just the penalties, but constantly turning the puck over and too easily muscled off the puck. I love Tats, but he's not found a groove at all in the first 3 games.

Hodor

Some great ones posted on the Wings FB page, I'm not taking credit for any of them, just copy + paste....

I'm sure someone will be along soon enough with the end of season grades, but in the meantime, here's your chance to vote for your MVP. Now, before you all rush off and vote for Nyquist, let me remind you of two things. One, the season began in October, not after the Winter Olympics. Two, a win in October is worth 2 points, just like a win in March. Right, onto the options 1) Daniel Alfredsson. 68GP, 18-31-49, +2. Joint top scorer. 2) Niklas Kronwall. 79GP, 8-41-49, Even. Joint top scorer, 10th in league scoring by defenceman. 3) Gustav Nyquist. 57GP, 28-20-48, +16 4) Henrik Zetterberg. 45GP, 16-32-48, +19. 2nd in league scoring before his back issues first flared up. 5) Jimmy Howard. 21-19-11, 2.66 GAA, 0.910 SV% 6) Jonas Gustavsson. 16-5-4, 2.63 GAA, 0.907 SV% Now obviously Nyquist is going to be the popular vote for what he did down the stretch, but we have to remember that Zetterberg was in beast mode before Christmas. Remember when he (with Z and Alfie) was our only offence, and if they didn't have 3 point nights, we didn't win? However, for me, the MVP has to be Kronwall. Through all the injuries to the captain, and every other Alternate to boot, he has become the de facto leader of this team. In the locker room, in front of the media, and on the ice, Kronner has been front and center. He's had a great year offensively, and for all the hate about his defensive play was still even.

So funny that 2 people voted for him There is an option for "other", so far no-one has chosen to use it...

Congrats Flashy, you just won the internet (again!)

Brace yourself for Bert, Sammy and Cleary in the line-up tonight one last time....

They are the most unpopular team on HFBoards.......and its almost entirely down to their fans.

Exactly, he's had so many goals stripping the D at our blue line and streaking away, that they are going to be much more careful when he is on the ice now. Not to mention, he had more than a few fluky goals in that streak.