Carman

We should get Ryan Callahan from New York. I'm going to keep spreading this around until it's true.

I agree, but they are just buying time to have 3 of our top 6 come back healthy. Whatever you think of Filpulla, Bertuzzi or Samuelsson they are proven to be reliable secondary scoring, and that's a lot of it that's off the ice for the Wings. Babcock might just be think that Tatar's line is playing well enough(which they really are), that he doesn't want to disrupt it's chemistry. And just puts out Abby-Cleary-Datsyuk to be defensively responsible, and hopefully have Cleary deflect a Datsyuk shot as he falls down. And just use this line until Filpulla/Bert/Sammy get healthy. Honestly I'm just trying to rationalize it, because it makes no sense to me. Tatar only had 8:15 minutes of ice time today, with a goal. Abby had 13, and 17 against San Jose. Daniel Carcillo almost had more ice time than Tatar. It's just criminal. And this solely falls on Babcock. Which is disheartening, I can usual understand his decisions, but this one is completely baffling to me. Sadly the only thing that I can try to think of that would make some semblence of sense is Babcock is protesting, but that's so far out there I refuse to believe it unless Babcock comes right out and says it.

Datsyuk should be able to make the players around him better.

I think it will happen soon, There hasn't been a huge need to change things up as we aren't out of the playoff hunt by a scary margin. Once the risk of being out of the playoffs overtakes the risk of losing an asset they will make the necessary moves. Right now I think they are trying their best to get value out of some of these guys. I can understand not having Nyquist up as you would have to lose someone that at the very least could be worth a pick, but playing Abby and Cleary with Datsyuk has a sign of a Babcock protest to me. I really haven't had a chance to study Babcock's interviews, but just based on his line and who he is playing it wouldn't be the first time a coach has tried a line combination to force a GM's hand.

Yeah, and I believe he should be punished too if his cross checks had the same context and strength as Benn's. It's not that I don't like Jamie benn, I just don't like these hits there are better ways to send messages when you are down 4 goals with two minutes to go.

A cross check from behind isn't just a cross check. Taking a crosscheck unprepared to the back is 1000x worse then taking one while battling in front of the net. You try taking a kidney shot without warning, and then compare it to a cross check where you can brace yourself. Honestly I'm amazed more people don't understand how dirty this play was. I don't like bringing hockey experience into it, but as someone who has played a fairly high level, and watched hockey for a long time, this play is dirty, and in no way is it "not that bad". I'm not saying Benn should get 5 games, but I do think he should get a game, the 5 minutes had no affect on the Edmonton game, so I believe he should serve a full game. The NHL can't just let people blind side players from the back with cross checks. It's a dirty play that has no place in the game.

Pretty cheap by Benn, it's one thing to do that in front of the net when a guy is prepared to take it, it's another to sneak up behind the guy and deliver a hard cross check at the kidneys. That's a cheap play, I agree he shouldn't get a ton, but I really wouldn't be against him getting a game. You make it sound like unprepared crosschecks to the kidneys don't hurt. I don't want to assume anything, but from that comment it seems likely that you haven't played hockey, and haven't recieved a cross check like that. It hurts a lot, and makes you lose your breath, makes your muscles tense randomly, it's not a pleasant thing, even worse when you can't defend yourself.

Trade Franzen for Eric Johnson if he gets healthy.

Not saying Ovechkin was this bad before, but he's had some dumb moments, but people over looked it because he put up 60+. If you actually watched the games back in his prime he floated, only skated hard on the forecheck for a hit, or with the puck. I guess people all of a sudden aren't giving him the benefit because he's not racking up points. But really this is nothing new for him, he's never been a strong back checker, he's never been a clean hockey player, he's never been a hustler every shift, it's just who he is. He's a electric sniper, with all the tools in the world, but he is miserable at the little things like positioning, battling along boards, vision on the ice etc. Things that separate an amazing talent, with the likes of Crosby/Datsyuk I honestly wouldn't be surprised. Steroids are very common, and hockey as a whole is pretty lenient outside of Olympics. I hate accusing players without evidence, but it wouldn't be surprising, there are a ton of steroids in the NHL.

Yay tootoo what a great signing, love this guy. Actually it's quincey! Just as good

Good catch, thought that looked weird. Either way both players are good, Tatar has really impressed so far. That's all I'm trying to get across.

Yeah, he did. And I'm not saying that Tatar isn't doing awesome right now. I'm just defending Nyquist, he's still extremely promising, and just because Tatar passed him up so far this year, says more to Tatar really doing well, than Nyquist not. That's all I'm saying.

He averaged 10:35 a game last season, only 2 more seconds than Chris Conner recieved, and less than 12 other forwards. if he played on the second unit he would get 3 more minutes a game which would put him at 13:35, or the average ice time, which isn't close to top 6 minutes.

6 games he played over 12 minutes, 2 games he played over 15 minutes, 9 games he played under 12 minutes. Over half his games he was getting tootoo minutes of 5 minutes to 10 minutes. Sorry but the majority of Nyquist's ice time was with Drew Miller and Abdelkader(4th most frequent even strength line combination last year), http://www.leftwinglock.com/line-combos/index.php?season=2011&team=DET&strength=EV&playertype=F&gametype=1#A Don't mean to try and call people out, but I like dealing in the real world where facts matter.

Nyquist played on top lines last year? Are you sure? Yeah, he had part of two games this season up there in the top 6. But are you really going to make a judgement on 2 games? Nyquist is going to be a really good player, he's only had about 60 games of AHL hockey in our system compared to Tatar's 204 games, yet he's the one that got to call up last year. They are both really good, and I look forward to seeing both in the top 6 for years to come. I just don't see how you can be negative about Nyquist, he's a play making winger, yet played 9:54 a game last season on the 4th line.

Umm, Tatar has 7 points in 20 NHL games. Nyquist has 7 points in 20 NHL games. Now if you want to say Tatar has fit better, I'd agree, but to say Tatar has done way more in less time is just factual wrong.

yep you're right Holland never trades picks for players. That must be why we've had 4 first round picks since 2001. Gagne would be hated here, no goals, injured, and a 3.5 million dollar salary. he couldn't really play on the powerplay, never plays on the penalty kill. is a tweener 2nd-3rd liner, that isn't fast, physical, or good defensively.

Going to be so nice not having to stay up until 1 am for playoff games. Really like the conferences. I'm not too big on the whole original 6 thing as others, teams change every 5 years. I like watching good players, and see Seguin, and Stamkos for years to come will be fun, along with making trips to Toronto for games. I really like it.

Are we sure it has nothing to do with Nyquist primarily playing left wing and Tatar plays right wing. And the Wings have Bertuzzi, Franzen and Samuelsson out that are all right wings? I know people play their off side quite a bit, but it might be a factor. Nyquist is going to be really good, he's done nothing at the NHL level to impact his potential negatively.

No way his agent let's him sign a deal this early. He's not going to get paid as a top 4 goal scorer this early, but if he puts up a full season like this then he'll get paid more. I'm sure Kenny wants to sign him now for cheap, but that's not how business works.

Are you kidding me? Ericsson has been our most consistent defenseman all season. He's been very good, he's taken half the penalties of Kronwall, is really passing the puck well, doing well on the penalty kill, 2nd most hits on defense and playing very strong defensively even strength playing the most minutes he's played in his career.. You are way off on Ericsson so far this season, he's been good, hell I'd even say great.

I'm sure Holland would like to get Brunner on contract to. But I don't think Brunner's agent wants his player that is 4th in league goal scoring signing a deal 19 games into his first season. That's just not a good business move for the kid. The bigger question is do we take our chances with a cheaper 2-3 year deal, in which we might have to overpay after that? Or a higher value longer term deal, that could backfire, or be a steal.

Awesome news, he's been impressive and is exactly the type of defensive guy we need on the back end. He might have a few brain dead mistakes, but other then that he makes a good first pass, and has been very solid on the penalty kill.

I want Regehr, Scuderi, Murray, Smid or Hainsey. I think Hainsey would be a very good fit for us, he's never really played on a good team, yet he's produced at a modest pace and he is reliable defensively and plays a ton of PK. We'll need a center if we lose Filpulla, I'd love to get Weiss here, obviously Getzlaf would be a dream, but I think getting Weiss could have a better chance of happening. Franzen-Weiss-Tatar to go along with Brunner-Dats-Zetterberg would be a pretty good top 6 next season. Maybe Andy McDonald? He's always been an underrated player. For Wingers I'd maybe be interested in Horton, Morrow, Penner, Clowe, or Clarkson. Need some big guys to create some space. Dare I say Jagr? I know he'd be 42, but the guy is still producing 50-60 points. He could really slow down the game for us on the powerplay on the second unit. Lots of options, but we have to get Brunner, and Howard back for sure. I'd like Filpulla back, he's a player that can play lots of different positions and be a part of a winning team. He does the little things well, and is a outstanding skater.

The only thing is I'd rather have Lashoff learn at the NHL level now, his game is going to be tailored around stopping highly skilled guys, guys that you don't play against in the AHL. I don't think him playing more in the AHL, playing against younger skilled players would help him as much as going against the likes of Kane, Toews, Sedins etc. Not to mention he's exactly the style of defenseman the Wings are weak at, and he's not hurting us.