Jake Ryan

The midrange fighter could beat all of these guys. An enforcer like Laraque, Boogard, or Godard would absolutely anihilate any of the Wings.

Nah, you guys are right. 10 pages of it is enough. Let's move on. I think people around here are catching on, because I was the ONLY one who felt this way back when the Anaheim series was halfway through. But I see a lot more people moving Holmstrom down to the 4th line in their line-ups, so I know I'm not on an island or anything in feeling that way. Let's all just pray that Babcock loses his HHO so Pavs can recover from his awful case of Holmstromeningitis. 25 games is too long.

This whole thread is pointless and should be called "LGW - Pro-Roll Player" then. May is NOT an enforcer. The last thing the Wings need is another guy past his prime who can't fight. If they're going to get someone in here to protect their stars, get someone who can mop. Not someone who's going to go out and get his ass kicked by Getzlaf.

I still don't know how anyone considers Brad May an enforcer. I can think of 20 guys in the NHL that could enFORCE a few black eyes and a broken nose on Brad May's face. If the Wings really want an enforcer, they should trade for Godard.

Alright. You make a good point. I'm just real passionate about the Wings, and I HATE seeing them lose. To me, the problem with Holmstrom is the major issue that's wrong with the team right now, so it makes me mad when everybody ignores it on here or looks for some other reason the Wings can't fix what's wrong. But I think you're right. I could cool it a little bit with the Holmstrom bashing. It's not like he's the devil or anything.

What you're failing to realize is that the two issues go hand in hand. "Finding another partner for Pasha and the Mule". Who is their current partner? That's right. Tomas Holmstrom. So it's not out of topic to recommend Helm, give supporting arguments for all of his attributes, and then to tell why those attributes are better than what is currently going on. It wouldn't be a very interesting thread if we just had "Helm", "Cleary", or "Leino" written for every post without any arguments, would it? No. More people are catching on to the FACT that Holmstrom cannot play good hockey anymore. Just because you are upset about that, doesn't mean you should shoot the messenger. I agree with Carman that stats don't always tell the whole story (especially over short periods). But I'm not going to sit there and be told that the Selke winner and Hart candidate is the problem or that the Conn Smythe Trophy winner and arguably best player on the team needs to "pick up his game". That's just assinine. Speed kills. In any sport, speed and defense win championships. Holmstrom offers neither of these. So why the hell would anyone want to see him playing with skill players on our team? That's just not smart. Helm offers everything needed to open up space for guys like Z, Datsyuk, Franzen, and Bertuzzi. Speed, Agressiveness, forechecking, backchecking, energy, relentlessness. That's why the crowd cheers every time he touches the puck. How long is Babcock going to keep his HHO and cripple our top players by letting a slow, over the hill, poor skating, has been remain on the top line? That's the real dilema.

I told you already. Helm for Holmstrom. Problem solved. The only thing is that most of the fans on here don't want to let go of their HHO's, so no matter how bad Datsyuk and Zetterberg get affected by Holmstrom, they'll still defend him. "nooooooooooooooo, let's not put that guy with lightning speed and bonecrushing checks on a line with Datsyuk and Franzen. I don't see how that could open the ice for Datsyuk and Franzen. Let's leave the slowest guy on the team who's injured on their line. That should really spark it." It's absurd.

Please stay on topic. This is about Holmstrom and his poor play. Not Jake Ryan. If you don't have anything to contribute about Tomas Holmstrom and how bad he has been playing since his injury, then just refrain from posting. Thank you. P.S. There is a reminder thread with all the rules listed. Just follow those and you'll be ok. The mods here are pretty fair and tollerant, if you want my opinion.

The thing is - it's NOT that good. Over the last 21 games, he's a minus 2. How is that "pretty good". Like I said, I'm not going to discredit Holmstrom's past accomplishments. He was a valueable contributor to the Wings in years past. However, his effectiveness TODAY is what I am upset about. He's WASHED UP. How many games of him sucking do you need to see before you throw in the towel too?

The one thing that is really great about what LaFontaine is saying is the 2 minute major. I like the idea of that. Another change I'd make is to allow the refs to hand out 10 minute misconducts more freely. So if a player starts causing a problem in a game (See Mighty Ducks Team), the ref can hand out as many 10 minute misconducts as it takes to effectively kick the player out of the game without assessing a match penalty that over penalizes the player. For example, Getzlaf starts acting like an ass and slashing/running guys when the Wings are up 4 - 0 in the 2nd period of a playoff game. The Ref blows the whistle and assesses him four 10 minute misconducts. See ya, Getzlaf. Hit the showers or watch from the penalty box. Either way.

ACG, I noticed that you don't have Holmstrom on your signature picture. What gives?

I should have said "as well". I apologize. He wasn't a slouch. You're correct there. He was a minus 25 or something like that though. He definitely wasn't as effective.

You sure it's a patent? Better double check.

Dude, you know I'd never cross you that way. I don't want to get my ass kicked. Everybody knows you're the toughest SOB on here, ACG.

1:05 Does that guy have hands too? He even did it with defenders around him. Come on. Robitaille had hands. Hull had hands. It's not just about hand-eye coordination. It's about being able to see the corners and pot the puck from 30 feet in not matter what position you're in. That's what hands are about. Yzerman and Shanahan had hands. Holmstrom's got good hand-eye coordination. I'll give you that. But to say he has hands is ridiculous.

You're forgetting that Power Play and Penalty Kill occupy about 33% of today's NHL game. With Hank and Pav seeing half of that time (8-10 minutes) and Helm seeing just a bit of it, Hank and Pavs would end up with their due share of time on ice. You wouldn't know this, because you're not a good coach like me. But you'll learn.

Then you're not really qualified to tell me my decisions on player personnel in hockey are incorrect either, right? !!!!

I would be a great coach. You'd just have to lose your HHO is all.

Datsyuk has a case of Holmstromeningitis, though. You can't blame him while he's sick. Kronwall fighting Souray!

Yes. If two players have had their numbers retired by their respective leauges, and one of them is Jackie Robinson, then the other must have done something remarkablel too. It's not that hard to make that connection.

With Holmstrom, our bench is short. He's a power play specialist and adds no value during 5 on 5 play. Therefore, we either make an adjustment (what I just showed you), or we suffer. Are you ok with the suffering? I hate losing the Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh and regular season games to St. Louis. I'm not going to speak for you, though.

ACG, I do not have an attorney yet. Can you fill that role?

Wow. You have never seen a center double shifted or 1.5 shifted? Are you serious? Here's how I'd run it if I were coaching the Wings. 1st Line = Helm - Datsyuk - Zetterberg 2nd Line = Bertuzzi - Filppula - Cleary 3rd Line = Leino - Williams - Franzen 4th Line = Helm - Draper - Maltby 5th Line = Franzen - Datsyuk - Zetterberg 6th Line = Bertuzzi - Filppula - Cleary 7th Line = Leino - Williams - Helm 8th Line = Franzen - Draper - Maltby Repeat Process PP1 - Holmstrom - Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Lidstrom - Williams PP2 - Bertuzzi - Filppula -- Franzen - Ericsson - Rafalski PK1 - Helm - Cleary - Lidstrom - Ericsson PK2 - Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Rafalski - Meech PK3 - Maltby - Draper - Stuart - Kronwall

I love you brother. I know you have Holmstromeningitis, but I still love you.

Cool. Datsyuk will still have Holmstromeningitis (patent pending) when they play tomorrow. Great news. Can't wait to see Datsyuk trying to maneuver through 2 forwards and 1 defenseman while Holmstrom tries to catch up with the play. That's always fun to watch.