titanium2

Actually, this year, Z's line has drawn the Thorntons and Iginlas and what have you among the top scoring lines of the opposing teams more often than Pav's line. So yeah, Pav's defense hasn't suffered, but maybe that's because much of the time he's first line material against a team's second scoring line. Maybe that can account for some of the 22 difference in points.

Don't think of it as "Can Leino replace Franzen?" but rather, "What would it look like if Leino were in for a whole season and Franzen weren't in comparison to what we see now?" Defensively, they are like night and day. With Leino working on his skating every summer the brass will have to be patient for him to become the two-way player they think he can be. "Skating is something I’ve been working on every summer," Leino said. "When I was younger, I was always a little slower than the other guys, but I think I’m getting better and stronger every year." He realizes that he wasn’t going to become lightning fast overnight. "Obviously, there is a lot to learn and we’re making a lot of changes, but you can’t do everything in one summer. So we’re doing one thing at a time, like lowering my body position so I have better balance and can use the strength in my legs." While Leino looked okay on a line with Hossa and Filppula, I seriously doubt that he will ever be as good as Franzen defensively. Offensively, they might have a more similar impact than you think. They both have a nose for the net. They both don't mind providing a net-front presence. Mule's shot is a little better while Leino's playmaking skills are much better. Mule's definitely more physical while I think Leino's better on the cycle. Thoughts?

I think Pav is the best overall forward in the game, but to be fair, it was Z's leadership, intensity and determination that probably pushed not only Datsyuk to improve his defensive game, but set the example for Filppula, Franzen, etc.

Haha. Funniest post I've read in a while. You can't make cookies without milk. Well... you can, I guess, like those Diet coke cakes, bleh, but they're better with milk. In this economy however, sometimes you can only have one. While cookies are nice and sweet, milk is a true staple and probably more useful because it goes with so many other things, like cereal, and is often an essential ingredient to other things like alfredo pasta sauce. If I absolutely had to pick only one, then I'm going with milk while hating myself at the same time because I passed on cookies.

If they needed to split up Pav and Z in the playoffs, I was thinking that line (Fil-Pav-Mule) would do pretty well; pretty much a better version of the Cleary-Pav-Homer line we saw last year, which wasn't too bad imo. It would also allow Homer to create some room for Z and Hossa. It's just that for some reason, Pav and Homer are always together. Always.

Sure, and if he's on a line with say Filppula and Leino, then he doesn't have to be the guy who looks to make plays. And with that line, Leino can be in the process of improving his skating with no problem because Filppula and Franzen would be the primary skaters. To be fair, he'll never be the guy who can thread a needle with a pass. He's very much a bull with the puck. I'm thinking that his pass to Hossa against Edmonton is very much a once in a while occasion. Instead, I see him more of a guy who gets many of his assists by shots on a goaltender's pads that lead to rebounds or the guy who dishes it off to an open winger because he has three guys on him.

This part sounded just sad to me. Such a "glass half-full statement." Made me think that I'm going to miss Ken Daniels' reaction to Hossa scoring, "SCORES!!! MARE-ee-nn HOHs-AHHHHHHH" But in all seriousness, only eight forwards signed... Man. Not even three lines. If they were to drop Meech and Lebda that would be another 1 million. I seriously doubt that they will trade Filppula just to free up room. Their idea of Filppula in his prime is a second line center who provides good defense and gets 50-70 points. This year he's been interchanged between the 2nd and 3rd line and is currently 12th on the team in PP time with 58:07 and he's managed 38 points with 8 games left to play. My guess is that Kenny and Co. view his season as him being on track in terms of his progression. Someone needs to break it down combination by combination and we'll all vote on it. Let's say the cap stays at 56.7. What are some feasible options? For instance... Hossa/Hudler/Kopy Franzen/Hudler/Leino ???

Waiting until June is probably the smartest thing to do. I hate to admit that because I hate thinking "fiscally." Stupid adulthood.

Damn. Can anyone look up his career high in giveaways?

Haha, fine line between cute and sad I guess.

The Wings are playing the Oilers and are struggling to score while in goal they have a career backup (oh ok, career 1A goaltender, psh...) and Chris Osgood. Is this 2006? Because if so then my "ex"-girlfriend is going to be really mad.

I remember Yzerman with a mullet. I think I was going through some hockey cards one day and thought, "Is that Stevie with a f***in' mull... no..."

I hope that is the more relevant question. It just seems as if Kenny would pretty much go along with any "fair" deal Hossa is willing to agree with. After that, what's left? Seems as if there won't be enough in order to secure another "fair" deal for Franzen. Kenny is a businessman and he will try to sell all the hometown discounts he can but he also cares for his players and wants them to get fair payment for their value so that they feel good about their contracts. But in terms of can Leino replace Hudler? Overall, yes. Similar skating abilities. Good offensively. I'd say Hudler's shot and playmaking acumen are a little bit better. I'd also say that Hudler is better defensively, but that may be solely due to him playing in the Red Wings system for a while.

http://www.faceoff-factor.com/pittsburgh-p...-value-of-depth It sounds ridiculous. Anyone think that perhaps overpaying one or two players so much that no one else will pick up their contracts and having them return for the playoffs when the salary cap isn't in effect theoretically making the team better is a clever way around the cap?

Can't they just drop Howard's and Meech's salaries to make a contract for Conklin?

Yeah I agree. A lot of the amateur compilations on YT are a waste of time. The Yzerman one you posted was good. I don't know about the music though. I might just be from a different generation. Although I do find that many people don't particularly care for music choice when it comes to those videos. I like the video below in terms of a dedication to last year. The quality is kinda poor, but that's not completely the author's fault. YT seems to do that to a lot of videos. And again, the music isn't that good, but for what it's worth it is at least fast and intense, which is what I love about the sport of hockey. All in all it's a pretty good video and not as much of a waste of your time as something that looks like some 12 year old created while experimenting with Windows Movie Maker.

I myself tend to make comparisons to last year when they had that all-time Red Wings best start, and it's unfair to say the least. This year is much, much different. You've got increased parity, the so-called Stanley Cup Hangover and a target on your back because you're the "measuring stick" and you get every team's best effort. Also, they came into last year with such emotional intensity from losing to Anaheim. They didn't have that this year. I think someone had a thread about the wings not giving their best effort every night or whatever and how that's a disservice to the fans or something. They have a point to a certain extent, but I can definitely see how the players are trying to manage their energy every game so that long term they'll still have enough in the tank to get #12. They're athletes, but they're still human.

How do you guys think Filppula played? And I don't know about anyone else, but I felt like that Samuelsson fight was just embarrassing. I don't really favor fights but if they happen, then drop the gloves man. Fans around the world who hate the wings already accuse them of being euro wussies and that fight only gave them more proof. Disgusting.

Nice rush and pass by Filppula to end the period. Too bad the puck didn't go in though.

Man... What is it with Kopy being on the receiving end of big hits? I guess it's true that some people need to get knocked around a little before they truly know how to dish it out.

Well, Hossa did refuse to negotiate a new contract with Atlanta. But even I think that's not good enough merit for booing.

Maybe he meant, "Where are they in circulation?" Like are we going to see this commercial after Belle Tire and Little Caeser's Best Value in America or what?

Hasn't that line been the second power play unit when Datsyuk and Zetterberg are together on the first?

I think I see what you're getting at. If Zetterberg played on Pavel's wing for an entire season he'd probably be top five in the scoring race. I agree that Franzen is an average passer and that Hossa is one step ahead in that department. That alone is the reason as to why Franzen doesn't rack up the points as much as those who lead the Wings in point totals. But when it comes to simple goal scoring/finishing/getting open, he's as good a player as they have. You could argue that he has the best shot among the forwards. However, I think Franzen is better overall defensively than Hossa. Hossa is superb at backchecking because of his great skating ability. We see him skate like a mad man and wreak havoc on the blue line, and it is always impressive. However, what if they already get the puck deep in the zone? When it comes to positioning and anticipating defensively, I think Franzen is one step ahead of Hossa, which may be due to the fact that Franzen's been a checker for almost as long as he's played hockey.

I hate to be the messenger of the obvious, but...