Motown4013

Without the Monster, we would probably be in 10th and no where close to a playoff spot. He was super solid for us when Jimmy could not stop a beach ball. If the guy is healthy, let's use him. Howard can't go 10 in a row without getting too exhausted and we need him to be fresh down the stretch. I think Monster has been seriously overlooked this year as a guy who played a pivotal role for us but .....that's not weird- the young guys, the underdogs and the underrateds have been carrying it this team. Let's go MONSTER and let's go Wings.....I would Love to see Mule, Alfie and Legwand show up tonight instead of relying on the young guys to carry this thing. maybe Monster in net will lead that charge!

That's because every other candidate is hurt OR because the only two players that haven't been hurt this year are Quincey and Miller.....and Miller has been a defensive stud ...just sayin

LOL.....every time I read your posts I get a laugh..... man, do you watch this team???? Have you seen this kid Gus? These kids??? Look at the score sheet over the last 5 games and tell me who is carrying the team. Watch a game and then repost

Next year??? The dude could be a 25 goal scorer this year! Go big Joe!

Once again the score sheet confirms that the kids are winning us games and the vets..well, I sound like a broken record. on a side note, Jimmy was awesome in the shootout! Nice to see him play well and win it!

I think this team has been so blessed with having Zetterberg down the stretch and in the playoffs that some of the guys who have been with this organization for a while haven't had to. Someone needs to take the reigns and find their inner Zetterbeast and lead this team. Let's face it, The kid line has been awesome. I have nothing but amazing things to say about Tats, Gus and Sheahan as well as Jerks. Four guys who weren't on the roster when the drop dropped at the start of the season have led but we need some veteran experience down the stretch if we have a prayer of watching hockey in Motown in late April. Hey Franzen, Alfredsson, Ericsson and Kronwall.....I'm looking right at you. When mule returned, the dude was on fire. You could see the passion, the energy....the guy who could have won the Conn Smythe in 08. The last 4 games, there is Franzenfloat that we all love to hate- taking 12 seconds to get back to t he bench, standing with his feet not moving, growing roots. C'me on buddy....do you want to look back at your career with an asterik of " Wow, he could have been a superstar if his heart wasn't the size of a grinch" Now we have Alfie. The guy is destined for the Hall. He led an organization for 18 years....he knows how to lead but since the Olympics, the guy has been a ghost. I understand that he has the albatross line but he has looked like he's invisible on the power play as well. Cant hold the line, making blind passes a 6 year old would make. Whats going on? He wears the A....and if you wear the A, you need to bring it buddy. Let's talk Ericsson. I have always been a supporter of this guy but WHAT WHAT WHAT the F is going on with the big rig? Worst hockey of the year could not come at a worse time. The guy is in a terrible slide and it's beyond me what has happened. I hate to rail on the guy but right now, Smitty looks better. Again, you're not a kid anymore and if you are playing 1st line, you need to step it up. it would be nice if Ericsson showed that he belongs on the first line. Lastly, I love Kronner. He hasn't been terrible but I really expected that down the stretch he would be a rock...and he's been more of a pebble. He's a proud guy and I think the last 2 games he has been a bit better but I would love to see 55 be the veteran #1 guy that he can be. Leggy, Weiss and Grandpa Bert get a pass....lack of experience and lack of well...youth kinda get a pass but it would be nice for one of these three guys started playing a dominant role. We need it now, more than ever. We are in 9th. We need some luck from other playoff race teams but most of all, we need our leaders to be LEADERS! LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!! Keep the streak alive boys!

Well it's a team, comprised of veteran guys....LEADERS...so again, 55, Ericsson, Alfie, Mule and Howard all are there with a ton of experience to rise above. Somehow Z manages to do it EVETY SINGLE YEAR..... So it's not like someone can't find another gear. All of the guys mentioned above have the ability to dominate a game.....but someone needs to do it.

Lol. Cleary out of our line up drastically increases our chances Tao MADE the playoffs.....if that's leadership, I'm all about that

We have a ton of guys that play then same role.....IF we can remain healthy....

Ok, well I think I may be the ONLY person here that feels like this trade is solid. in fact, I think it was necessary. First off, we are stacked with young guys. Nobody would have predicted the success of Tats, Sheahan and Jerks for this years. We have a lot of young talent in the system but the truth is, I have to believe that the organization saw something in Calle that they werent comfortable with. With all of the injuries, if they had faith in the kid, he would have been here by now. That's the truth Secondly, we are anemic down the middle. The game in NJ exposed Andersson. If we have ANY prayer of making the playoffs, we had to address the issue right now. July is too late. Legwand is a good hockey player that has consistently performed under pressure. The guy is a defensive forward who can help our issues with D. he also hasnt had a lot if offensive help in Nashville and he's a Michigan boy so I imagine he will be highly motivated to perform. With the re-injury to Helm, DATSYUK out 3 weeks, Weiss's setback and Zetty gone until the playoffs, I honestly believe that we don't make the playoffs unless we get a solid 2 way guy. Perhaps before the news about Dats and Helm, we didn't need to address the issue but I don't feel the team had a choice. I'm sure that a lot if you you are wishing that the " thumbs down" button was still available but I'm saying that although I don't like loosing Calle, I do like the trade, even if it is a bit steep. IMO, without it, we don't make the playoffs....with it, we have a great good chance.

I honestly don't think that Holland has the option to stand pat or kick tires. We are really close to not making the playoffs for the 1st time in 23 years. dats is pkaying on 1 leg, Z is done for the year and Weiss....well, you know what I am saying. I truly believe that he will make a huge push for Edler or Erhoff. We need that crisp first pass. We need to activate the D and get them involved without playing too risky. On the integrity of this franchise, I can't believe that he won't give up a 1st rounder, a roster player and a prospect to give this team a chance to make a run. If he doesn't, I really will have lost all faith in the guy.

IMO taking Cleary off the top line was our 1st trade line acquisition. Making Cleary a healthy scratch is our 2nd trade line acquisition. BAM! Better team. I'll just revel in this

If anyone except Cleary is the healthy scratch its a near travesty! Honestly...WHO is playing worse hockey that he is right now? Its not about heart or want...he has all of that but ffs, he cant skate, he cant score, he cant hold on to the puck....honestly, I have no idea why we have him. The guy is a heart and soul guy but c'me on...he is DONE! His signing was absurd and playing him now would be even more absurd. Its gotta be Clears....no one else makes sense.

Ok, we started the year with: DATS, Z, ABBY WEISS, ALFIE, MULE BERT, ANDY, TATS MILLER, TOOTS, SAMMY. (Tats, Sammy and Toots as the sitter) We have just won our second in a row with: GUS Z ABBY JURCO, SHEHAN, TATS CLEARY, HELM, ALFIE MILLER, GLENNY, EAVES Its not even the same team!!! We haven't even discussed D or our goaltending issues. Guys on this team who never thought they would be playing in the NHL this year....Remember back in October how frustrated we all were that Gus wasn't called up and now the guy is on the TOP LINE. We can win 65% of the remaining games. If we are mostly healthy, this squad should win more.

This season has been such a roller coaster for even the most seasoned Wings fan. Let's face it....We should be up near 65 points on the year with the talent we have....except we are in a dog fight for a playoff spot, praying for our " big guys" to get healthy. With that being said, I can't remember a season that I have been more emotionally invested in this team I love. It's so easy when you have all the cogs in the wheel to expect greatness. DEMAND wins. In certain years, one loss was a huge deal because we have seen this team be so dominant for so many years. Saturday nights game made me realize how all of the injuries and all of the uncertainty has perhaps been a blessing in disguise. Sounds lame? Perhaps...but I have never been so happy for some of the young men on this team who have really stepped up. Acknowledge how much character is on this roster. I no longer expect a win....I REALLY want one and the victory somehow is a bit sweeter when we get one. I think of Tatar who plays like he is shot from a cannon every night...even the night after he found out his dad died. He is so fun to watch....and without injuries, he would have been a healthy scratch and we wouldn't have the opportunity to see his heart and how big it really is. Guys like the Monster who was terrible last year is one of the reasons we are even in the wild card race. He has been fantastic and I am so happy for him that he has been able to resurrect his career. Jurco, Shehan, Mrazk and Glenny have all shown that the future is bright in Hockeytown. We have a ton of talent, character and heart on this team and we are finding in the most unusual places. I'm really proud of this team and although it's been a train wreck of year for injuries, it's shown the fans of this team that we can and will be contenders for years to come. Ok, that's my warm fuzzy for today.

Another really good game by our young guns. Tats, Deke played great tonight! Not a young guy but Eaves was AMAZING tonight.....I can't remember watching him play a better game. All heart boys! Well done!

Agreed. When Cleary, Sammy and Bert come of the books, we can actually play guys full time that deserve the spot!

The Habs are as good as Carey Price plays. I think they live and die between the iron.

Thats a joke right? A comedic injection used to induce humor? UMMMMM.....ok, we have EIGHT ...8 guys out of the line up. Our Conn Smythe, point leading Captian Z. Our 2nd best defenseman in Deke. Our streaky, floaty, frustrating but lovable Mule headed sniper, our #1 Goalie, The Best third line centre and one of the fastest skaters in the NHL, our swedish rookie sensation, Our kinda agitator Abby and Weiss. That has nothing to do with losing? You CANNOT be serious (In my best McEnroe voice)

I actually am a bit surprised at 5 games...thought he would get a few but he is not a dirty player AND he plays for Pens. Huh!

Terrible news...what a blow to our line-up.

Yeah, and Nyquist, Tatar, DeKeyser and Mzarak were also SIX years younger....which made some of them not able to legally drive an automobile It's a moot argument because it's a different team and the young core, Nyquist and Deke are the future here in Motown. We are missing literally half a team and you can't just bring up a guy like Jurco and expect him to gel with Pavel having played ....well, never with him. I agree with you that we would be better....much, much better with Z, Mule, Deke, Howard, Weiss and Abby in the line up but as others have said, I'm not going to panic until April. Anything can happen and when we lost all those guys in 08, I don't think anyone suspected we could rebound and win the cup. This is a talented team who have gone through a LOT of changes over the last 3 years.....we have no idea what they are capable of because we have yet to have a completely healthy line up since the season started. Frustrating to watch but it's given us an opportunity to see what our young guns can do. Let's see where we are after the Winter Classic. That will be the true measuring stick.

Harold- you totally hit the nail on the head. My knock on Kindl throughout this career is that he will not take a hit to make a play. He won't g in to dirty areas.....he is always trying to avoid contact which affects his decision making down low.....basically, the guy is a coward. Most of his turnovers are a direct result of being intimidated off the puck. I look at Tatar and the little dude will get jacked up to make a play. Kindl has all the skills to be in the top 4 but he never will if he isn't willing to pay the physical price.

This line tonight has brought it. They have dominated when they have been out there. I love watching these young guns.....reenergizes this team and super fun hockey to watch!

Yeah, that was some crazy ginger madness.