Motown4013

In all the years I have been watching hockey, this has been one of the weirdest starts of the season that I can remember. For all of us who are in hockey pools, its definately causing havoc! Just because Thursday seems like a long way away, I thought id pick out a few shocking anomalies that have caused a stir in the 09/10 season! Observations, additions and witty banter always welcomed! 1. Phoniex, LA and Atlanta have much better records than the Wings. The Red Wings are second last in their division 2. Roberto Luongo, a top 5 goalie last year has the most losses at 5 and is 46th in the NHL with .879 Save Percentage ( Worst of his career) 3. Ryan Smyth is 3rd in points with 13, well above proven snipers like Malkin, Nash, Kovalchuk and Crosby 4. Nick Grossman of the Dallas stars leads the NHL in plus minus with a plus 10. Last year he was a -8. 5. Maltby is tied for 2nd in the league with a shooting percentage of 66.7 6. De Zotto, the Rangers rookie who has 4 goals, 5 assist and 9 points in 9 games is also the NHL points leader for defensemen.

I am with you all the way..WTF?? lol

Any hint as to what injury Dats is nursing? I have looked through game tapes and can't see anything. Any ideas?

I was one of the "idiots" that predicted that Val would have a big year this year. I didnt claim he'd score 80 points but I did say a 60-65 point season is very possible for him. Night after night I have watched him step up. He is skating hard, making good decisions with the puck, really taking the body and getting physical and there is a confidence about him that I havent seen in the past. Some guys wither under pressure of being asked to step up but since Franzen went down but he has really taken his play to a different level...and its not always about goals...his defensive play has improved and his face offs have as well. Its good to see him on the power play. The points will come but I agree with babs....in the 1st five games, he has been one of the best OR the best forward on the ice. Way to go flip

Orr Lafleur Sakic Mike Richards AO

There is no way that the stars give up Fabian for Lebs IMO. He has a lot of talent and he will be an impact player in a few years...Lebda will never be better than a 3rd line guy

Really? Thats why Dipiero was offered the best contract ever offered to a goalie and Bryan Mc Cabe had a 6 million $ contract after 1 good year. Lets talk Brad Richards, Jeff Finger, Brian Campell....overpaid and Its done all the time. Lids is worth EVERY cent we pay him and any team is a better team with him on it. Most guys are making more than they should BASED on previous elevated performance.

1. Zetterberg 2. Ericsson 3. Lids 4. Ozzie 5. Dats 6. Flip 7. Helm 8. Leino 9. Lilja 10. Stuart I did a top 10 list because I havent seen enough of Eaves/ Meech/ Abbie to put a value on what they are to the team as of yet. That is also why Leino is so low. 15 games is not enough to totally evaluate a player...he should be higher but I want to see more.

Ok Flip- Here is your shot. Are you a top 2 guy or not???

lol...I dont think Howard is gonna sweenten the deal here....throw in a dirty dishrag with Lebda and you have the same trade

The sad thing is that you CAN win games with lackluster special teams, a poor powerplay...you can win with a struggling offense and playing a bit complacent BUt, it is impossible to win with sh#tty goaltending. You cannot expect the boys to score 5 goals a night to get the W. I know its only 2 games in the season...but honestly, Osgood has looked poor and Howard as I have always stated is NOT a NHL goalie. He was sub par at the AHL level. its impossible to think this guy is gonna shine at this level. Lets face it- we need better goaltending. Enough said. I cant believe that Holland would go through another year with Ozzie if he even plays the way he did in last years regular season. The boys had to work sooooo hard to bail him out. Howard isnt the answer. The answer to to trade for a goalie and it has been for a year now. No one has mentioned this but perhaps part of the reason the wings were tired for the playoffs was because they had to work so hard last year to get wins. From playing sports, i know its hard to constantly try and forge a comeback. Something has to give here... I watched a lot of the games on saturday and thought...OMG, If the Wings had Thomas, Kipprusoff even Emery...we would simply DOMINATE!

No Major surprises...I am not excited about Lebda or Meech...and Eaves hasnt done much to impress. To be honest, i'd rather have May

I think Flip has been our best player so far. He has been a stud. Great vision and he seems faster and stronger on the puck. I honestly think he will get 60+ this year

I like your list...but one thing..You have to score points in the playoffs to win the Conn Smyth so that doesnt look good for Hossa. Actually, Id take the Hudler fight before the Hossa Trophy!

The Positives Zetterberg will hit the 100 pt mark this year after what SOME say was a disappointing 08/09 Bertuzzi will impress. I think he is hungry and if healthy will have a 70 pt season Flip will come into his own this year and score at least 60 pts Eriksson will be the 3rd best d-man the Wings have by year end Dats...well, he will be Dats! The Downslide Maltby and Draper are both done I actually agree that Howard will not be our backup for long. I just dont think he has the consistancy to make the NHL. Everyone is hot on Ville...and I like him, but I think too many ppl are putting him ahead of his potential for this year. I actually have a really good feeling about Bert playing with Z. If they are gonna split up the best duo in the NHL in Pav's and Z then I want Z with Big Bert. For some reason, i like the combo!

Z had an off season ( by his standards) last year because of contract BS. I actually think this is the year that these guys step up and that includes my favorate Wing, Zetty. I think Hank can score 40 and Dats will finally make it over the 100 point mark. As for Flip, he is ready to go...He'll get PP time and he is easily a 55 pt guy this year. I think the boys will have had the sour taste of loosing a GAME 7 Stanley Cup at home and they are gonna come out swinging!!

Don't forget Mark Bell and Chris Simon!

A+ I actually thought given his injury and the time he played, his production was decent for us. At 1.5 Million, Bert will be a good addition for next season without killing us on the Cap.

I actually think this whole Captiancy thing involves a trade with Heatly. i have always thought Heatly was going to SJ- I bet its for Marleau and someone like Goc or a pick...just a hunch

What are you smokin'???????????

Agreed...Sammy could play like ass for 1/2 the year and still remain on the PP. Huds made one error and he wasnt seen for the remainder of the game....Babcock was not fair to Huds, IMO

I stated in a previous post that although i have serious doubts, Williams had his second best year last year in Columbus and had more points than we all remember (47 last year)...more than Flip and Sammy. I ran into Willy in the parking lot at The Labatts Centre last summer and I said hello to him and told him I was a Wings fan. I said that we would miss him and he stated that he would miss being with the Wings..... The hesitancy is probably numbers but I think williams wants to play with detroit again and we should wait and see before we make him the goat. If the guy can produce I would prefer him on the PP than F'n Sammy, who could NEVER hold the line. If he does sign, lets see what happens. The guy can play some solid hockey and although he is streaky, he is capable.

Either did Hossa and we paid that D-bag 7 million for nothing! lol

Just for arguements sake...Sammy had 40 points last year- Williams had 47 points. Thats his 2nd highest year in career points....and with Columbus!! 2.5 is alot...but Sammy got more for less in Van ( and was HORRID at the point on the PP) We'll see when there is a reliable announcement

*shudder* thats awful...you could lose a small child in there