WorkingOvertime

Project trollmez in full effect tonight.

Maybe the plan is to let every Canadian except Gomez score.

Huds has to shoot that.

Thank you. Wings need a good effort tonight before the break. LGW!

Ten of Abby's penalty minutes are from fighting. Many others are from coincidental minors. These penalties are a positive IMO because they result from standing up for himself and teammates. It's fine if you disagree about that, but I don't think penalties that don't put the team sport handed can be a positive. Abby has a reputation for bad penalties, bit they have not been a problem this season thus far.

I agree on all points, except your opinion of Don't Stop Believing. I wasn't big on it myself, but after singing along live at the end of game 7 versus the Ducks a few years ago, I wouldn't want to hear any other song played just before a win.

IMO that was on Babcock. That line shouldn't have been out in that situation. Abby, E, Commie, Bert, and Cleary are defensive enough and physical enough to handle the Blues players (that were out).

Kronner!

Mule!

I hope he will do something about that.

Terrible change. Need to get it deep first before changing.

Unfortunately, I don't think any of the current forwards would be as 'tough' with backup as Abby is without backup. It's sad, but it is likely true.

Where in my post did I say Abby is better than Helm? I simply presented the statistics, and the statistics are not in favor of Helm. I have missed less than 5 Wings' games over the past two seasons- I watch the games. I have also played hockey, and I know (first-hand) that speed makes players stand out and they can be perceived as better than they are in reality. Helm is a good player, and I am glad he is on the Wings. Abby is a good player, and I am glad he is on the Wings. I have presented facts that show (especially if you adjust the numbers for total TOI) Abby is at least as good statistically as Helm. You can argue intangibles if you like, but those are difficult to quantify. Why is my argument ignorant? I used facts from NHL.com and presented them without making a judgement on the better overall player. Please explain how this is ignorant.

Abby's tenacity has gone down, but much of that is due to him playing center. At wing, that player still exists. Further, you can say the same thing about Helm. When he played as call-up in the playoffs, he was a hitting machine. Now, Helm does not make as much of an impact physically. You want to trade Abby and not Eaves, Miller, Emmerton, and Helm despite them having similar stats. You want to trade the Wings most physical player instead of keeping him. You always complain that the Wings lack toughness, yet you want to trade the small amount of toughness they posses. Team toughness is created through multiple players- not one enforcer. If you want to Wings to have more toughness, trading Abby is not the best route.

Let us compare Helm and Abby- I am assuming you believe that Helm is 'good enough' for the NHL while Abby is not. To put the statistics is perspective, Helm has played two less games, but he has a 2min/game TOI advantage. Helm has played ~45 min more than Abby this season. Thus, Helm's statistics (in total) should be similar or better (if you assume Helm is the better player), as it would take Abby three more games to equal Helm's total TOI. Face off percentage: Abby has a .2 advantage. IMO this is a draw. Hits: Abby has 24 more hits than Helm. Advantage Abby. Blocked Shots: Abby has 5 more. Advantage Abby. Giveaways: Helm has 4 more. Advantage Abby. Takeaways: Helm has 8 more. Advantage Helm. Goals: Both have five. Draw. Assists: Helm has one more. IMO draw. PIM: Abby has more (minors and total). Draw IMO as Abby has off-setting minors often. +/-: Helm has a +2 advantage; however, they have equal goals for when on the ice. Draw/edge Helm. Fights: Abby has two, Helm hasn't come close. Advantage Abby. You credit Abby's success to Cleary, but you do not credit Cleary with the success of Helm or Miller. Simply, Abby has done at least as well as Helm (on paper) despite spending more time on a line with Emmerton and Homer. Abby is not the problem, the makeup of the fourth line is the problem IMO.

He can't create with Emmerton and Homer. I've been posting that Abby and Helm should swap. IMO Helm's speed can make the fourth line much better and Abby does not make the third line worse. Do you really want to trade the teams leading fighter and second leading hitter? Further, instead of keeping Abby and adding a fighter/physical forward, you want to only add someone else? Have you changed your viewpoint- and now want the Wings to be soft- or do you just have an irrational opinion of Abdelkader?

I agree. With Emmerton, the fourth line is useless. Mursak improves the line, but Abby does not play his best hockey at center. IMO if the lines are held, Miller should play on the fourth with Emmerton at center. Abby is a very effective wing, and his effectiveness at center is largely dependent on his wingers. Last year against Pheonix, the Abby's line was excellent with Abby at center. Abby doesn't make his line-mates better at center, but he is great at supporting them (puck retrieval, hitting, etc). At wing, Abby has the ability to create chances that he cannot (because of defensive responsibilities) at center. Simply, Abby is a good center when he has good line-mates, but he is generally more effective at wing.

IMO there will not be a suspension. Watch the CBJ player's foot before the hit. Further, there is no evidence that Z pushed the CBJ player with his hand. It is an unfortunate play, but it is not a suspendable play, especially since the punishment on the ice was severe.

Awful icing call.

4rd on.

Homer! Edit- Lids!

Kronner!

Good to see Commie playing tonight. IMO if Emmerton isn't going to play center, Mursak should be in most games.

Other than a difference in minor facial injuries, what evidence do you have that cages are safer than visors?

Bert!