Jesusberg

I'm a little iffy on that third pairing - concerned about the foot speed. KFQ's had issues with bone chips in his ankle and Zidlicky... well, he's just slow. I can see Babs using the second pairing more if Marchenko shows he can play steady hockey. Should be interesting.

I feel like Babcock's answers just change depending on what he thinks the team needs at the time. Maybe he's hoping for a, "what do you mean you didn't think we were a playoff team!?" reaction. They could use some fire. Hopefully they come out flying on Thursday.

I'm annoyed that he doesn't just take responsibility and admit he screwed up. Stop tip-toeing around it. "It was a mistake, I screwed up." I'd respect him a lot more for being accountable. http://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nhl/red-wings/2015/04/11/25634605/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Exactly, which is why I'm at a total loss in regards to how Babcock has used him this year. If you're that low on Weiss, at least let him boost his trade value.

At this point, I think it's more likely that San Jose will let Doug Wilson go before Joe Thornton. IMO, the changes they need to make are in the bottom-six, and perhaps moving Burns back up to forward. The point totals are there, but quite a few Sharks bloggers/journalists have criticized his defensive play and how he was used this season. At one point, he was on SJ's third pairing. He just seems to be a better forward than defenseman.

That was probably me. One of the guys over at The Production Line has a great resource for player information - a google doc with all the specifics about cap hits, waivers, etc. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhRmiZsKUESLdHU1U0ZlalFJeEV6UU94N0J6TVQxNXc&usp=sharing#gid=0 So, as you can see, all four guys have until 2016-17. Nedomlel does too, but I didn't think he was worth mentioning.

Ouellet, Marchenko, Sproul and Jensen all have until 2016-17. The games played mark for 19-year-old signed players is 160, so they're all safe there, too.

I forgot all about that. Bone chips in his ankle. Good call.

This is pretty much the exact line-up I see playing tomorrow. I think Helm's been playing LW, though? Not that it matters, but that would be the only deviation from what I'm guessing. It might be ugly, but it would be nice to see Tatar and/or Nyquist have a strong game heading into the post-season.

Kronwall had that LBI in late mid-late March. Babcock mentioned some of the guys on the back end are dinged up, so I'm wondering if he's referring to Kronwall. Just me guessing here.

Ericsson and Kronwall have both taken s*** recently from quite a few people on the forum, especially E. You don't hear much about DeKeyser because he doesn't make too many glaring errors. He's has some issues as of late. I've noticed that he's made some poor decisions with the puck. More often than not, he can get the puck out of the zone. At the end of the day, that's really what I want from a second-pairing guy - just be reliable. It doesn't take a ten-year veteran to see that DeKeyser is much more patient with the puck in his own zone. He slows the play down - he finds his out and makes the pass. Smith tosses the puck around like an epileptic hamster at times. That's why he gets harped on.

Not my finest suggestion, but at that time Ericsson was so painfully bad that it was kind of a, "well, he can be any worse, right?" type deal. I can't speak for others, but that's where my head was at with that one at the time. Honestly, I think the guy has decent footspeed and has gotten better against the boards... but his turnovers are so awful. Also, part of Quincey "turning it around" was that he played so awful (IMO) that there was nowhere to go but up. I don't think it was solely based on Babs' comments, though I'm sure that persuaded some fans.

I kind of wonder if they'll give the day off to Zidlicky (in addition to Kronwall). Quincey-DeKeyser Kindl-Ericsson Smith-Marchenko

Looks like I was wrong about Jurco's paper transaction counting against the recalls. My bad, ya'll Yup. I'm expecting Kronwall to get a rest. Guessing Kindl jumps in for whoever else they want to give the day off.

In response to the first bolded part, I get what you're saying. I think sometimes, though, there are members who continuously predict the team losing. It's one thing to predict that the Wings are going to lose to a "superior" team, or when they're in the middle of a funk. It's another to jump into every GDT and spew the same, "This team is soft - Ken Holland is garbage. We're losing 5-0." To the second bolded portion, I think this discussion might be better served in another thread. I'm guessing it's in reference to Howard vs. Mrazek.

I think Smith is strong on the puck, has better defensive positioning than in previous seasons and is quicker than some of the other defenders on this team. What kills me the most are the turnovers. You can almost always count on Smith having the puck behind/around the Wings' net and putting it on the other team's stick two-three times in a game. Those bury your team. At some point, he should have realized how to make those simple plays. It baffles me that he's never been able to refine that aspect of his game. Then, of course, the stupid penalties... Either way, I expect him to play tomorrow. I'd be shocked if Babcock didn't give Kronwall a rest.

Let's see how long this can go without being shut down. Seriously. Let's think of it as a challenge. Personally, I think every fan has a right to be negative. I get mad at this team all the time. For me, the important thing is putting into perspective later on - weeding out the reactive stuff from the "this is actually an issue" stuff. Initially, I was upset with the way Detroit clinched, then I read the article where Babcock said he didn't think this team was even a contender in July. It's easy to think "wow, they p***** it away", but really... they made it. Who cares how? Los Angeles and Boston are out, and the Red Wings just keep rolling. Model of consistency. I lost my perspective in the mess that was March, but I'm appreciative that this team has been this good for this long. I think we're always going to look at another fan who views aspects of this team differently and say, "that's not how to be a fan". It's just how it is...

I wouldn't be surprised to see Columbus go after Green. After unloading Wisniewski, they could add him without much of an issue.

Definitely agree here, which is why I think it would be cool to see Bertuzzi or Nastasiuk on their wing. Those two scoring lines that I suggested seem to have a good balance of young skill and vet presence. Obviously these guys can be shifted just about anywhere, but I really like the look of Tvrdon-Nosek-Frk. As replaceable as Zengerle is, there's really no reason to push him out unless he thinks he's got a better shot elsewhere. I mean, maybe they'll find a guy out of the NCAA to play in GR, but if there's no one else...

I read that the other day. I really like what Paestch does on the back end, and I think Hoggan still has a place on the team for sure. I think you and I discussed Evans' value earlier in the year, specifically vs. Mattias Backman. Obviously, that ship has sailed and I lost that one. In retrospect, Backman just seems to be one of those guys who had a sense of entitlement and wanted to be given the ice time/shot at the NHL, not earn it (Dick Axelsson and Daniel Larsson come to mind). I'd really like for Miele to return - he seems to like it in GR, too. Maybe we'll see something like this up front next season: Hoggan-AA-Mantha Bertuzzi/Nastasiuk-Miele-Zengerle Tvrdon-Nosek-Frk ?-Aubry-Campbell I think that maybe we'll see one of Bertuzzi/Nastasiuk work their way into the line-up, with the other guy working in Toledo. One of them might even jump to that top line - I wouldn't be shocked to see Bert do well on that line. I think they should hang onto Aubry in that 4C spot - just based on Blashill's comments in that video, he thinks there's more to Aubry's game. Either way, I don't think it hurts to hang onto a guy that knows the system/team and can fill in that spot. Ouellet-Marchenko Paetsch-Sproul Lashoff-Jensen If Ouellet and Marchenko start down there (very real possibility with both being waiver exempt), I wonder where Evans fits in. Wouldn't hurt to carry him as the 7th guy, I suppose. Czarnowczan looked decent at times during the year - I think GR signed him and then sent him down to Toledo, so he'll be in the mix. Nedomlel doesn't seem to be pushing for a spot in GR, and I wonder if any one of Marshall, Wheaton or McNulty will even be signed to a contract. Coreau Paterson I wonder if McCollum takes another one-year deal or just moves on. I thought he was all but done before his strong stretch of games. Not sure now. Perhaps he and Coreau split time again, with Paterson in Toledo.

Another solid night for the Griffins. AA with two goals and Mantha with two points. Seems like the chemistry there is really building up. Just curious, what do you think about guys like Miele, Zengerle, Paetsch, Hoggan and Evans? I'd like to keep Miele, Paetsch and Zengerle for sure - Zengerle's earned a contract, IMO. Just wondering about room next season, with guys like Bertuzzi and Nastasiuk turning pro. It's a little crowded on the back-end, too. I still think Paetsch has worked out very well for them. It will depend on what happens with Ouellet and/or Marchenko, I think.

I was thinking in terms of style, for sure. Same reason I wasn't connecting Tatar-JVR.

They're both left-handed. If anything, I think Sheahan should draw more comparisons to JVR - at the very least, the way he plays in front of the net is similar, IMO.

And this is what drives me nuts about Babcock. OK, so Weiss isn't good/fast enough to play a 200 foot game. You don't trust him at center, or in the top-six, Babs. Whatever, use him on the wing, then. On the flip side, Darren Helm who can play a 200 foot game is being used as a top-six winger, and has a whopping 31 points in the role. All of the responses about possession stats, Helm's speed and how he creates room are great and all, but it doesn't change the fact that he's underachieved (or perhaps, hit his ceiling) offensively. Perhaps, because he's not a top-six guy? He's finished with similar point totals in the past (2010-11, 2011-12), playing in the bottom-six with the likes of Draper, Eaves, Abby, Cleary and Bertuzzi. I know it all boils down to Babcock's style of play, but trying to win every game 2-1 gets a bit tedious, and eventually bites you in the a**. This is why I'm pretty much praying, as unlikely as it is, that Jurco or Mantha blow management away in training camp next season. Fat chance, I know... but Helm isn't the net-front, top-six winger this team is looking for. Abdelkader's grown into the role, Helm has not. (This isn't directed at you, kip. Kind of just got me thinking about the Helm situation)

Mrazek, Pulkkinen and Ferraro for sure. Jurco was sent down and called up on March 3rd as a paper transaction. I'm assuming it counts, though? Maybe someone with more knowledge on the subject.