Jake Ryan

EVERY time Helm hit the ice in the playoffs, the fans went nuts. Do you think they were cheering just because they liked the name "Helm"? Come on. The guy is electric. Why is it so hard to fathom putting a speedster on the first line? Who cares if he doesn't have the hands of Shanahan or Zetterberg. He doesn't have to have the hands of Shanahan or Zetterberg. He just needs to open up room for Datsyuk and Franzen. How do you open up room for playmakers and snipers? THINK. HOW DO YOU OPEN UP ROOM FOR PLAYMAKERS AND SNIPERS? With a 36 year old who is one of the slowest skaters in the league and doesn't have the skill to dig pucks out of the corner or the skill to pass them tape to tape through defenders if he could dig the puck out? Or with a speedster who's a threat to hit a home run every time he's on the ice? (and if you don't believe Helm can bury his breakaways, just watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soF8M9E-Az8) I can't believe people have such a hard time seeing how Darren Helm could fit in with Datsyuk and Franzen.

The Holmstrom Hard On. It's a common condition around these parts. People glorify a player who is clearly crappy as of today because of services performed in the past. No matter how bad Ninety-Sux stinks up the ice (see 2009 playoffs), people will still call out for him to play with the Red Wings' top players and yell "Homer" as if he's next of kin. The Holmstrom Hard On is almost impossible to get rid of for many around here. Babcock can't get rid of his, so I'm starting to think there may not be a cure.

You forgot about Holmstrom's toughness. Come on. Look at the way he intimidates the opponent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id2iEs9nYg0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGqjSZnkk88...feature=related God, what I wouldn't give to have a healthy Kocur in his prime in Holmstrom's spot. Holmstrom's best attribute right now is cross-check to the back ability. It's not anything anyone else in hockey values, but for some reason Babcock and his legion of HHO'ers value it. Unreal.

Now this is some intelligent discussion. Clearly two people without HHO's. Nice to see.

I don't dodge you at all. The guy has scored one goal and is a ZERO for plus/minus. You think he deserves the Pearson award for it. I think he's performing miserably, considering the players he gets to play with. I have put up many solid argument to every HHO'er's "refutes" on here. All you have to do is go onto NHL.com and look at Holmstrom's statistics. The only other argument is to say that Datsyuk and Franzen are playing horribly and holding Holmstrom back. The HHO is tough to get rid of I guess. Babcock can't even let his go, so I'm not going to blame you too much for not letting yours go. But you should.

Practice? We talkin' about Practice? Practice! We're not talkin' about games. We're talkin about Practice!

I don't need to answer questions from Mr. Pom Pom. You're only job is to "sis-koom-bah" on here. No reason for you to be involved in any threads like this.

I thought so, too. I don't think Lebda is too much of a problem. I think it has more to do with having small, old forwards who have lost a lot of the endurance they once had. We get worn down as the game goes on, people. That didn't use to happen.

Homer doesn't do anything. That's the problem. Datsyuk and Zetterberg should never have to skate with that guy again.

Holmstrom should be CUT. Forget about scratching him. Cut him. Helm in, Holmstrom out.

Only one thing can describe this thread: Chicken Little.

I agree with this poster. Asking a young player to cover a mid-40's Chelios is a tough assignment. It's not like Quincy got to develop alongside Nick Lidstrom.

The HHO is a hard thing to let go of. I know. It's easier to just throw your hand in the air and say "HOMER!!!!" every time he gets crosschecked in the back.

He certainly didn't contribute to not giving up 4 and 5 goals. It's not like he's some Selke candidate out there. Sucks that Datsyuk has to play with this cancer constantly. Mike Babcock is an absolute blind fool.

By working, do you mean working us right out of a Stanley Cup and 2 games in Sweden? It's not hard to tell which player doesn't belong on the first 3 lines of the DETROIT RED WINGS. Tomas Holmstrom is old, slow, ineffective, and EXPENSIVE. I was starting to think that Mike Babcock was a good coach, but seeing him handle the Holmstrom Issue has changed that opinion for me. This is a no-brainer. Holmstrom OFF the first line. Helm ON. What have the Red Wings got to lose except more games and seeding in the playoffs? That's right, HHO'ers. We LOST last year. And we're LOSING this year. The Red Wings have a PROBLEM. It's TOMAS HOLMSTROM. How long can the HHO'ers fool themselves?

Playoffs? You want to talk about the playoffs? Heghhhhhhh. Playoffs. Playoffs? You're talking about the playoffs? Playoffs?

Sparkin' the owl. Nice.

Holmstrom Hard-On continues for Babcock. Great. Datsyuk should ask for a trade.

If he's done with the Devils, he's done with the league. He went back to his original team to finish his career.

Come on, AP. You know I'm right.

Any chance we can get Selanne? Leino-Filppula-Selanne = The Finnish Finish Line.

Man, it would be nice if this guy got on the juice and played like he did 10 years ago. He should seek Chris Chelios for his juicing, errrrrr, work out regiment.

Oh, but putting Ninety-Sux on the first line is ok, right? I would be excited to see what Helm would do with some skill around him.

Man, if we had Fischer and Ericsson right now, we'd be tough as nails.

Chelios is going to end up behind a microphone somewhere. If you really think he's going to fade into some position in the organization that isn't in some kind of spotlight, then you're fooling yourself. He needs attention.