awingsincebirth

What I find most ridiculous about this claim is the fact that this is nothing new. The Leaf's entire season has gone much in this way; 3 steps forward, 4 steps back. There is no real reason to believe that the Leaf's will be able to keep up this torrid pace for the rest of the season. Leaf supporters, at least all the ones I know (and that is quite a few cuz I'm real close to T Dot) are so delusional - a couple of wins and they think they are Cup contenders, a couple of losses and they start calling for heads on platters - and this cycle never seems to stop. But, let's not forget that this is the Leafs. I have very a firm confidence that they will find a way to be eliminated on the last day of the regular season, and they will get the worst possible draft pick of all playoff teams. They are that incredibly mediocre.

I think that this is a GREAT point. Our team obviously plays a very skilled puck possession game. However, the problem is, we've lost our two most important skilled guys at getting the play started from the back end (and defense IS the most important aspect of our system). Thus, when you try to plug in some minor leaguers, who, quite frankly, don't have the skill necessary to play the system effectively (not now, at least), and you push up the depth d-men in the healthy unit right to the top of the pack, the result is a very messy, broken game, that is very hard to watch. There are teams out there that have about the same skill as our team does, even with Lids, Rafalski and Cleary out of the lineup. However, those teams manage to win their fair share of games because they play a system that accomodates their abilities and non-abilities by negating skill and emphasizing hard work. With the Wings, it's puck possession or die, and the fact of the matter is, without the skilled guys to play the system, it really falls apart, and we have an incredibly hard time winning games. So, there are some positives and negatives to this, I think. Positives, once Lids and Raffi get back, are team should be able to progress back up to what they once were. Negatives, I can't see it getting any better until they get back, or as the post I quoted says, we just simplify our game. Dump and chase. Negate the importance of skill, emphasise the importance of hard work, and this team will start to win some games again. Unforetunately, as I recall one poster writing on another thread last week, Babcock seems to be pretty stubborn, and almost entirely disinterested in changing up the style of play. All he really seems to do it jumble up the lines, but the system remains the same. I honestly think that is the key problem right now - we just don't have the personelle to make this system work (it already looks better with Stuart and Kronner back in the fold, but....) - and guess what, it shows. Edit: O ya....and....Babcock isn't going anywhere!

Here here. As Wings fans, we've always known and lived by the mantra "The regular season doesn't matter." Obviously, we've historically said that to highlight the fact that our regular season success means nothing in the playoffs. This year, however, we may have to continue to cite this in reference to our lack of success. Everything starts over in April, and hopefully we can right the ship well before then. Granted, we are still the best team in the league, as hard as that is to believe. Man, you honestly can't comprehend what a 17 point lead means until the team that had that lead takes an entire month off and still comes out on top. Redonkulous.

I honestly do not care about matchups. I know that this team can beat any team out there, and we can win the Cup. And, to do that, we are going to have to be prepared to beat any team and every team. But, ya, it really does look like Ducks v Sharks first round, eh?? I'm pretty pumped for that, although, I'm not really sure how I would want that to end. On one hand, I'd love to see the Ducks get knocked out first round and see every "expert" around have to scramble to find a new favourite. On the other hand, though, I very badly want another 7 game crack at those d-bags. Oh well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it, I suppose.

Your definitely not lying here. I mean, look at Malkin in Pissburgh. His boy Siddy went down, and everyone thought he was gonna have a tougher time because teams could zero in more on him. But, look at what he did! When your big boys go down, you wanna see the other guys step it up in their sted. That's not happening right now, and, say what you will, that is somewhat concerning.

Ya, I definitely see and like what you're saying. But right now, and I'm sure you feel the same way, I just want to see a win. I don't care how they do it, as long as they do it. What seems the most unsettling thing about this streak is that, I mean, even s***ty teams like LA or T-Bay manage to win what, 4 games out of every 11 they play? And we, the Detroit Red Wings (and I've know there have been injuries upon injuries) have only been able to win one!! JUST GET A WIN, GET A LITTLE CONFIDENCE, AND JUST LET IT SNOWBALL. That way, by playoff time, we can get back that killer instinct that we were destroying everyone with in the first 4 months of the season. You know what, I'm pretty sure I'm not arguing what you said, just using your point as a jumping off point for my own. I'm probably actually agreeing with what you say, all the while thinking I'm arguing with you...I'm so confused.

That we do, my friend. That we do.

Hells ya bro, I hate February like I hate STDs, third-world poverty, and....lets see.....what else do I hate???????? O ya....GARRY BETTMAN!!

Hold it.......... So you're saying that it would be better for us to take big leads in games and then not let the other team get back in it???? Interesting.. I think you might just have something there. Sorry, I don't mean to rag on you, but doesn't that kind of go without saying?? I think that is why we are losing so much right now. I mean, when was the last time that we scored the first goal in a game, it feels like forever. Right now, for a plethora of reasons, this team is just not playing good enough to win games, let alone put them away decisively, and this is something that HAS to be worked out by the team. I just pray to God that we can work it out in time for the playoffs. Other than that, I love your attitude, and I know for a fact that this team has the killer instinct in there somewhere. I mean, didn't this team, healthy, beat San Jo-*** like 5-2 a couple months ago (feels like years ago)??

It might not be my place to say, but ABSOLUTELY. Don't be afraid to get creative. In my mind, any bodily fluid that you are able to omit is fair game!

I'm a positive guy, and I realize that we're not just losing games, but we're losing them with terrible injury problems and a few weak-ass calls. But....I just want to win a goddamn game!!!! This has had to be one of the worst months for any team in the league this year. I mean, like, bottom 3 maybe??? I can't say that I've ever been depressed, not even close really, but I think I'm startin to get that vibe. Okay...so f*** FEBRUARY. I never liked it anyways. If month's could talk, it would be like, "Hey *****, Christmas has been over for months, but I'm still cold. And, I'm ******* wierd cuz I'm shorter than all the other months." So ***. March is OUR month. There is no doubt in my mind that this team can turn it around on a dime. Let's make it happen. Let's go Wings!

Ya, I'm getting nothing from it either.

Agreed. Of all the occupations that require grown men to put on what can only be explained as a hybred between a taudry burlesque and heavyweight MMA, in which they run around half-naked and get frisky with one another, Pro-Wrestlers definitely take the crown.

Ya, I see what your saying. And in hindsight, I shouldn't have even wrote Franzen, because he is one of my favourites on the team. However, what I am more referring to is the fact that Filpulla has gone some pretty long streaks this year without or with very few points and/or goals, whereas, when Cleary is around, he is remarkeably consistent. That said, Flip is a hard working guy with some amazing skills. I just wish he'd take the shot more often, you know? Hudler, I just don't know about this guy. In my eyes, he just doesn't have the skill set necessary for a little man to have success in this league, not right now at least.

ahaha. One word. NAMBLA.

What I love about Cleary the most is that there are guys that are questioable. Guys like Flip, Franzen, Huds, they don't show up night in and night out. But with Danny boy, he gives you 100% every night, all night. I've honestly never seen him play a bad game, he either plays well, or he plays VERY well, without exception. Sometimes he doesn't get the production, but he still deserves it. As dumb as this might sound, this guy gives makes me believe that this team can win the Cup. I mean, ZDH, Lids and Raf are all outstanding. Problem is, all teams have outstanding players, and on any given night you can't always assume that your best players are going to outplay the other teams' best players; sometimes its a wash. I don't think every team has a Dan Cleary. This guy's got victory in his eyes, and every time he's on the ice, I get almost as excited as when ZDH is out there. I just can't say enough about him, and I think that it's clear that he is a more important part of this team than any of us originally thought. Get well soon Danny Boy (and f*** you Sammy! hahah)

Very nice. So you take the odds: 30 teams in the league, 16 in the playoffs, probably still like 22 teams with a genuine shot at the playoffs. As far as solid contenders go, 4 or 5 in the West, a few in the East. Okay. All in all, the chances of any particular team to win the Cup are pretty slim. So, as any good fan (of ANY professional sports fan should do), you assume that your team is NOT going to win, because that's what the odds suggest. So, they make it out of the first round, you say "O well, uh, they definitely won't make it out of the next round." THen they make it out of that round, "O, uh, well they definitely definitely won't make it out of the conference finals." And so on and so forth. And if somewhere along the way they do indeed get knocked out, you OBVIOUSLY have to come back to a web site full of dedicated Wings fans to be a total Homer about it because you are clearly some sort of new age hockey prophet. 1 of 30 teams win the Cup ever year. I could be wrong, but I think that means that 29 teams don't win it every year. To think that you have some sort of bragging/dickface rights because you boldly predicted ONE of the 29 teams that wouldn't win it is pretty homo to me. To each his own, I guess. Good to know I'll have those kinds of posts to read after every period/game/playoff series/Stanley Cup that the Wings lose until Kingdome Come.

Okay, this is directed to those who seem to think that Holland will never sign another free agent and will always leave himself $5 mil short of the cap. I think that it is safe to say that Holland has dropped the ball this year. He left money for the deadline, I'm sure he had something in mind, then obviously something went wrong. I think that he just screwed up, plain and simple. Do you honestly think that it is Holland's new plan to always operate 4 or 5 million below the cap? Maybe he feels like challenging himself by operating under a self-imposed handicap? No. Were this actually the case, and if Holland never actually has the intention of using all the cap space at his disposal, then he indeed does suck, and he should be fired. However, Holland has hopefully learned from this mistake and will keep it a bit closer to the cap, hopefully like $1 mil left for the deadline, which when pro-rated, can get you a pretty nice role player. To say that it is Hollands new plan to leave so much space based solely on the mistake he made this year is a little closed-minded I think. /rant In all seriousness, I'm really hoping that Minnesota and Rolston part ways (not sure how their contract talks are going or what it looks like). I think he would be a great addition to this team for a year or two. I'd pass on Naslund, though. He is chronically overrated, and I just don't think we need another player of his style on this team. But that's just me.

Okay, this is directed to those who seem to think that Holland will never sign another free agent and will always leave himself $5 mil short of the cap. I think that it is safe to say that Holland has dropped the ball this year. He left money for the deadline, I'm sure he had something in mind, then obviously something went wrong. I think that he just screwed up, plain and simple. Do you honestly think that it is Holland's new plan to always operate 4 or 5 million below the cap? Maybe he feels like challenging himself by operating under a self-imposed handicap? No. Were this actually the case, and if Holland never actually has the intention of using all the cap space at his disposal, then he indeed does suck, and he should be fired. However, Holland has hopefully learned from this mistake and will keep it a bit closer to the cap, hopefully like $1 mil left for the deadline, which when pro-rated, can get you a pretty nice role player. /rant In all seriousness, I'm really hoping that Minnesota and Rolston part ways (not sure how their contract talks are going or what it looks like). I think he would be a great addition to this team for a year or two. I'd pass on Naslund, though. He is chronically overrated, and I just don't think we need another player of his style on this team. But that's just me.

Good stuff. I'm really liking the second pairing of Kronwall and Stuart. I'll be excited to see how they work out tommorrow. Also, I checked out the Cleary interview beside it. Good to know he's about to start skating again. He's clearly a super important part of our team. Gotta love the guy.

I think that's a great point. Given the nature of our minor system, this is a team that should come into the season with the team it will ice in the playoffs. If it is found that any small tweaking is in order, add a depth man at the deadline. But most importantly, let the dedicated Wings fans know if your not going to do much so they don't get up at 8:00 and watch TSN all day (where they are forced to stomach the incessant ramblings of Pierre "Flesh Covered Dildo" McGuire, John "I'm Not a Very Good GM" Ferguson, etc etc) only to hear the only, small, deal announced shortly after the 3:00 deadline. That was PURE BUSH!

2 on 1 with Dats and Sammy. I guarantee you that this is what Dats is thinking: "Nice, 2 on 1, over time, I've got puck, looking good. Who is with? Son of f***! It is assclown Sammy! I do myself."

Is anyone else happy about Ozzy??? I mean, a lot of people were talking about how when we got some injuries, and Ozzy went on a slump, we were seeing the real Ozzy, and he was no good without our defense healthy. But our D is still very injured, and Ozzy is still running the ******* show. Where's sixer, I kind of want permission to use his copywrited phrase??? O hell, I'll do it anyways, he is very close to being a "Top Notch Goalie".

Done and Done. In fact, to show my committment, I'm gonna start preparing for that right now. I'll be a seasoned vet come playoff time.

HEEYYYOO Pav, you slinky son of a *****! Samuelsson for Hart!!!!!!!!!!!!!