Stiffy

I honestly miss the guy. I wish him well, but I hope he ends up back here in some kind of coaching capacity. I think some of the young D could use an old pro like him. Now I find myself craving a chili dog.

Oh man. Are you saying they hyped this up? The article I read quoted Holland as saying he had a number of conversations with Quincy's agent about the ring. Having been asked questions a few times by reporters/writers and seeing the result, I can certainly see your point. Alas, what has happened to jounralistic integrity in this city?

You won't believe it. I am sitting down to my computer with a cup of coffee and a cherry turnover and I find this.

"Opportune" a computer? You know, the web has this other feature where you can look up the meaning of words so as not to appear illiterate. Oops, too late for you. That's the rich thing about your rude little reply. Here, let me explain it to you slowly. You yourself made the type of bonehead error your were trying to explain. Alas, had you been able to "opportune" a computer yourself you could have avoided it. Here: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opportune Sadly, on topic, I agree with the shred of hockey in all your nastiness, the Wings in no way were blown out in that series. Not even close. It was a brutal battle and the best series in the playoffs and I have to say I was proud of our team - they went down fighting (all except Jason Williams in game 6).

What, another infant posting on the forum. FYI, if I could blow smoke out of my anal cavity, that would make me very special, from a medical research point of view. Now matter how Conklin would or wouldn't do in the playoffs, he wouldn't have whined to the press about killing himself. I was a huge Legace fan for a long time and even argued for many seasons to give him a shot in the playoffs. Well he got it, but then he completely blew it. And then, instead of having any integrity, he blabbered to the press like some depressed housewife on the Dr. Phil show. It was pathetic. If you like your hockey players to be whining wuss bags, that's your thing. Some guys are into that more feminine side of hockey, so I can see why you reacted in such a shrill manner.

Maybe we can all agree on this. Quincy's whining about not getting a ring for playing four regular season games is ludicrous (see Free Press and Det News). There is nothing inconsistent here in how the Wings handing out rings and if any team has a track record to review, it is certainly Detroi's four cups in recent history. Good riddance to a mediocre player. Even if he might be more consistent than Lebda (and I am not saying he is or was), who needs a baby on the team?

History of other starts isn't the lesson here. Everyone talks about a Cup hangover, but how about the losing team not to mention a team that has been in two cups in a row. I'm starting to think we are "hung over" a bit in many ways including injury, conditioning, motivation and fitting in some new players. Time will tell how they snap out of the funk, but in some ways I am glad the blowing a lead thing is being dealt with now. We used to get away with slacking off a little, but those days are gone. I think that's fine. It's a good wakeup call. I'm hoping to see a Redwings team come out of this slow start with a solid work ethic for 60 minutes, smart D with fewer lapses and goal tending that steps up when needed.

Hardly is Conklin another Legacy, especially in the pathetic whiney wuss department. Conklin was solid and I'm sure he will do well. As for letting go, sure. I'm not pining for Conklim, Legacy or Dom, but we are in deep doo doo in the goalie department. Enough with the training wheels, Howard has to be an NHL goalie or fade away, quickly.

Try this: http://www.marin.cc.ca.us/~don/study/7read.html

I disagree with this mindset. At any time of the season, beginning, middle or end, when the team falters we need to see adjustments that lead to improvements. This is a great chance to see if our coaching staff can have a real impact. Come on guys, is Scotty Bowman such ancient history around here? The man excelled by constantly tuning his teams to Stanley Cup winning machines. The antithesis of this was Lewis who in horrific playoff showings repeatedly stated things like, "Well sooner or later we will get our game back." WRONG. It just doesn't happen by will power, wishing or praying. I think Babs is just a tad too hands off. I'd like to see him be a little tougher. Not screaming and yelling on the bench, but accountability. Accountability for individual players from rookies to super stars and to lines. If they perform, great, if not, let them know it by switching things up. Again, isn't this what Bowman did repeatedly?

6-2, I smell fear on the Sabres bench. Seriously, good to get something going.

How about that Fil? He has been the bright spot for me as a fan so far.

Can Shanny play D? If so, sign him up! How about goalie?

My only real beef is we lost him for nothing. Darn cap, but what are you going to do.

The best offense is a good def... oh never mind. :-)

I turned on the game right in time for the melt down. Still, I will not panic. If the Wings have some problems this season we might as well have them pop up early. I can't see Babs or Holland letting things go on if they aren't going well. I think your point is a good one - we won't always get a complete game, but I think those days are going to end. I'm guessing this type of thing is going to become an issue that will be dealt with. We certainly have the players - just need a little more motivation, a little more responsibility. Oh well, "Sabers by a fistful" - that's a funny line.

I'm with you, but Stevie's character would have been fine. Wayne's behavior on the Phoenix bench was really immature. He was creaming the f bomb constantly and seemed on the verge of tantrums. Sure he had a lousy team, but you never see good coaches doing this. Obviously, it didn't motivate his team any.

Miss Wing Queen, you nailed it. If he or anyone had to fight for his job, then things just might happen.

Oh please, settle down. Your response is just as whiney as what you propose to be railing against. There is this thing called a sense of humor and sarcasm. Perhaps it doesn't come across on a forum, especially when each of us has our own reactions to things and there is a heck of a lot to talk about. So, please don't go assuming the level of fanness and that you are in some way a better fan than anyone else. Besides, it wasn't hindsight on my part or a few others here who called it at the time. See, a little more slight humor and sarcasm. Breathe, relax...

Whatever player we are talking about here, what I would like to see much more of here is the Bowman mindset. If you do well, you get more ice time. If you do poorly, you get less or benched. If you play well with someone that line stays. If you don't, the line is switched up. It is so simple and the best form of motivation there is - competing for your job every single game.

Yea why not play Quincy more. He may not be stellar, but he was steady and smart. Oh wait, we gave him away for free.

Actually, it has been a lot longer, because this has been going on since last season and the playoffs. No bashing of Homer here, but to maximize the skills of our top six forwards and lines we need a change. For example, I am convinced that what Datsyuk needs is a super hard working line mate with hands who can be enough of a threat to take some attention away from him. This would open things up and keep the opposing team on their heels. Cleary is a perfect example of this kind of player. Whether Cleary or someone else, the point is to have someone with speed and hands who goes to the boards, to the net... everywhere, not just camped out in front of the net. With that the opposing team has to split their attention to some degree and then good things happen. I don't see this as complicated. You have these amazing players like Dats, Hank and Mule, so why not compliment them in line combos that work on their skills and strengths? While every other team seems to build their lines around their stars the Wings seem fixated on diluting and spreading out our skill. Keep it simple.

I think I read somewhere that Ericcson was a forward as a youngster and was a good one. I'd like to think that would translate into great offense once he settles in with solid D at the NHL level. As to who is better, so what. I think Kronner needs a little discipline and smarts here and there and if he has that, he is a potent force.

This. Can't say more. Oh wait, how about a goalie with a future.

Well Danny deserves all his feelings. The guy played his ass off despite injuries and was there 100% for every game. This is a player who learned about work ethic and shows it all the time. That's priceless in the playoffs. Some of his team mates could take a lesson from him.