Steve Sample

I don't like this at all. I may be alone in thinking this but I believe that the second line slowed down and lost some chemistry when Hudler was injected into that line for the second pp unit. Bert was one of our leading point guys at that time and they replaced him. Babcock is a good coach but WTF?

I think that when Lidstrom retires Holland will have no choice but to go after a #1 d-man. We have a great supporting cast with Kronwall, Raffi and Stuart but they are not enough to try and fill the gap. With Nicks cap hit off the books and perhaps Hudlers maybe there will be enough space to get a #1 guy in the off season. I don't believe that the Wings have the assets to get one via trade. Doughty and Seabrook would be my top choices.

Hudler dosen't fit on this team right now. He is too small to go into the corners and dig the puck out, he gets pushed around in front of the net, and who do you make sit for him? He is a good player without question, but do you want that big of cap hit watching the games? I say see what is available for him and decide from there.

I could see Maltby calling it a career if he was to be claimed and retire as a Wing.

With the pre-season coming to an end I wanted to know who you thought impressed, who you think will be huge in the future, and who needs to part ways asap? I was impressed with Kindl, Lashoff, and Smith. With these guys in the system I think that The Red Wings are set for years to come on defence. I think that Abby could be a big part of this team in the years to come. If he gets a bit stronger on his skates and keeps working like he does now. He kind of reminds me of a young Mac! And to the Ugly, Ericcson. He does not look like he has improved one bit over last year. I say start looking for a team that needs a big soft d-man that will give him some ice time. He may become a good d-man in this league but with the Red Wings depth he will just be in the way in Grand Rapids. Trade him for a pick and play Kindl/Smith.

This was just what this team needed. Way to go Bert! I hope that this " Mess with one and you mess with us all " attitude will continue. I feel that this has been missing for a long time on this team.

I think that Lidstrom leads by example and I think he could pick up his game as well. The whole defence looks lazy to me. Lidstrom and the rest of the leaders are not setting much of an example for the rookies and it is showing in their play. Ericsson is starting to get some of Lebda's bad habits of pinching up on every play. And the list goes on and on. Lidstrom is not all of the problem but he needs to be part of the solution.

4-3 end of two on NBC W on my T.V

First of all, I hate Lappy. Second I think that Johnson should have got his medicine after the hit on Smyth! The League may say the hit was clean but so is running a player into an open door.......You just don't do it!! accident or not! Funny thing is we are seeing more and more of these cheap ass hits and Blake should have stayed out of it.

It is a nice thing for a team to have to choose from all these great D-Men, however it would be a mistake to not bring up Meech and Ericcson next year. I think it may be time to see Lebda and Lilja both down the road ( if Stuart resigns ) and let Cheli-Meech-Ericcson handle the 5-6 spots. Meech is a bit small but he makes up fo it with skill kind of reminds me of a young Lidstrom!

I find it hard to single out any player right now, they ALL are playing like crap. Hudler can sometimes put the puck in the net but he is way too small to be valuable come playoff time regaurdless of what line he is on. Downey is not a good hockey player and not much better as an enforcer, I have yet to see him win a fight hands down. Other then the top line, Flip, Cleary, and the defence the rest have done nothing for us all year just look at the numbers.

Phaneuf and Pronger are the type of players that you would love to see on your team and the type that players hate to play against. They are mean, dirty, and almost always are cheap shotting players much smaller than themselves. ( Hudler, Kopeskey, etc) The Wings need a REAL enforcer before the playoffs or it will be open season on our forwards for guys like Pronger and Phaneuf! The instergaor rule dosen't save their ass on the next shift!