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He was the captain of the sting when I had season tickets and is from near my hometown so I kinda like him more than most would but the kid hits everything that moves, its too bad the wings couldnt offer Miller to the Isles for Martin straight up and just throw him on our fourth line to watch him and Abby raise hell

Hes a young guy who is going to be a third liner in this league, one of the most physical players in the game and a solid fighter. He would be the perfect type for the wings to offer up a pick or something for. It also hurts seeing Ferraro drafted over a guy like Kyle Clifford who would also be a perfect fit for what the wings need.

Literally the worst stat the NHL keeps track of lol. Last year Chad Larose 5'9 and not tough was ahead of Brad Stuart and near the top of the league in hits, same with Darrol Powe. Kronwall doesnt consistently throw little tiny hits ( what Miller and Eaves do) but he'll unload with a huge one that can change a game or a series. The hit stat is good for comparing guys on the same team but the actual numbers are terrible. I know, its rare to see a coach come right out and say it like that. That coupled with Howards comments would really have me lose a bit of faith in Holland if he didnt address it a little bit anyways.

SLow er down there bruise bros lol but seriously, with Howard calling out the team for getting ran and now Babcock with this gem what do you think the chances are that Kenny listens?

Games like tonight is where the wings could use someone to spark the team with a big hit or fight. Team was completely flat and the skill wasnt working, so what do the wings do? Absolutely nothing. A game like this in 2008 would have been livened up and energized by Downey with a fight or Drake with a big hit (or possibly a fight every now and then) Its great when the skill is working but the lack of a balanced team is clear in games like tonight

I was the one that said it not UK first of all, second of all you can say it all you want, PUT IT IN BIG HUGE CAP LOCKS, or even put it into a really cool font but I can guarantee there will be noone on this site, even the people who consider Eaves and Miller as gritty guys who would say they were as physical and wear teams down as much as Maltby and Draper. Eaves may be as physical as Draper, but hes not even close when it comes to bottom 6 ability to play hockey. Draper is the textbook definition of a 4th line center, the best faceoff man in the league, the best PKer, one of the fastest skaters and had a bit of offense to his game. Eaves isnt even close to Draper in other areas whatsoever and Draper was probably just as physical as him. Maltby on the other hand, if you think either of Eaves or Miller are as physical as he was than you might wanna get your head checked Hey Kipwinger, remember when you were talking about how Babcock doesnt like toughness? This sure sounds to me like hes almost calling for Holland to get him some toughness. First Jimmy, now Babcock.. I wonder if Kenny will listen to these guys at the deadline. Tonights game is a great example of when having a tough player like a Tim Jackman could have sparked this team. He would've went out for a shift, hit everything that moved and probably started a fight since he knows his role on a team. When there is no energy out there and the skill isnt working is when its nice to have these guys. Its funy, the wings came out flat as a board like today against Vancouver earlier this season, Abby whoops Lappy and the wings come to life. Say it all you want but it has a place in hockey to have toughness in your bottom 6, I cant believe some people are so brainwashed to think otherwise

No kidding haha. I have a feeling Kipwinger wasnt watching hockey back in the 90s to see a prime Maltby. He was a top notch agitator and definitely a big hitter. Notice how he found 0 clips f Miller though?

Well for starters, Maltby and Draper would get a pass from me for not being physical because they were by far the bes tPKers in the league, and Draper probably the best shut down forward. He actually made an Olympic team for that reason. But Draper and especially Maltby were MUCH more physical than Miller or Eaves and its not close really. Maltby in his prime was a wrecking ball out there. The fact that you even compared Eaves and Miller to these 2 shows how out of touch with hockey you really are. When has Miller came close to this Or even this when Maltby was completely washed up

Helm now is not what he was in 2008 when it came to physicality. that was his only responsibility on that 4th line was to run around hitting everything. But youre seriously going to sit here and say that Miller, Eaves and especially Conner of all people are the types of guys that can finish their checks and wear another team down in the playoffs then you dont watch hockey. Its not just about rubbing a guy into the boards, its about putting them into the fourth row so next time they dont want the puck. See Dallas Drake on Robidas 2008. I think Abdelkader can be that guy when he plays the wing (which he isnt), and Helm and Cleary both amp it up in the playoffs and are solid physically, but none of those guys are physical game changers and Miller/Eaves/Conner are hardly physical at all. Some people who comment on things and say that "Oh we're gritty and tough because Miller, Eaves and now Conner because they dump and chase and will shoulder a guy" have been watching to much hockey in Europe I would have to say

This should be a game for the guys to pad their stats. Lets hope it turns out that way. Datsyuk is only about 7 points off the league lead

There are a few articles of Babcock saying he likes having a guy to keep the flies off. I dont equate that to an enforcer, but hes playing Commie now isnt he? He likes his tough players for sure. Even while Kindl has seemed solid thhis year, the only aspect Commie adds that Kindl doesnt is his ability to scrap and play mean. Downey wasn't sent down in 08, he was replaced by Mccarty in the lineup who would still scrap but was a bit better skater, not to mention a real feel good story for the team to eat up. So I guess an enforcer was playing when games mattered. As for the "myth" about winning with a grittier bottom 6.... its pretty obvious that when the wings played in 08 they had their grittiest bottom 6 that could wear other teams down. Drake Draper Cleary was the third line, Helm Mccarty Hudler the fourth line. 5 of the wings bottom 6 that year were very gritty players. The next year playing with a very skilled Sammy Flip Hudler third line, the wings fell short. It was well documented that Babcock made a push to get May here and Mayers here when they were both younger. Once some guys got injured Babcock got May here but when he was past his prime. Detroit was really injured tha year so May played a good chunk of games until the team got healthy again. I might agree with you that Holland doesnt really care for having a tougher team but I would say its pretty obvious Babcock likes them. Hes looking past his history with Commie to play him over a former first round pick who has been pretty solid this season

Mursaks speed and ability to throw a check will get him in the lineup. I think the resemblance to Helm coming in in 08 and hitting everythnig with his speed is what we'll see from an amped up Mursak. Eaves and Miller were both terrible last year in the playoffs, and speed kills which Mursak has in spades

Travis Moen would be nice. Gives a bottom 6 of Moen - Helm - Cleary Mursak - Abdelkader - Miller That third line reminds me a lot of the third line in 2008. I also wouldnt mind seeing Gaustad come in and play the third line center role which would allow Abdelkader to stick on the wing and bump Helm to the fourth line

I agree with this post, but thats a big problem with this team this yyear. They dont stick up for their teammates really except for Commodore who hasnt played a whole lot. Their goalie who is putting up numbers that could lead to a Vezina nomination had to call this team out because he was getting hit so much. They never even get in someones face for a borderline hit it seems, a Dallas Drake would have done that. Abdelkader and Ericcson are fairly tough players and capable of handling those types of situations, but they seem to avoid it knowing that noone will have their back. The game Commie played with St Louis, all 3 were on the ice Crombeen took a run at Commie, Abdelkader went after him, Commie got right in there gloves off and Ericcson was right in there as well. If the wings could just add one forward that could spark this team like tha and have the Abdelkaders, Berts and Ericcsons who are actually pretty tough in their own right willing to defend eachother because someone has their back, then this tea would look much more respectable from that stand point. Doesnt even have to be a Colton Orr type but a smaller guy like Dorsett who just has that mentality would help spark those other guys and a bit more team toughness.

Actually I think the wings have proven him right to an extent. Whenever the wings have been their toughest and grittiest is when they win cups. 08 was the toughest team post lockout for the wings, what happened to that 2006 team that was probably the softest, but had an amazing regular season?

I may be one of the few but I think going for someones knees is worse than a headshot personally. Youre brought up to not do that. This is what you get if you make a habit of targetting knees, s*** can end a career http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao1cMIGBf4s

Jack Adams, which is far and away more than any of us can boast from our keyboards... Not to mention playing professional hockey and would have made it much further if not for blowing out his shoulder This. I hate when people say its hard to find a player that can scrap a bit and stick up for his team while playing the game. Its hard to find a guy that can beat up Steve Mcyntire and score 30 goals to boot yes, but thats different then a guy like Prust, Smith, CLarkson (who is solid in the Holmstrom role) who will fight most guys in the league when they have to while contributing the same amount to the team as an Emmerton, Miller or Eaves really

If Colton Orr got put on reentry waivers, and could be picked up for 500,000 a year that would be pretty awesome. Hes a tougher fighter and probably a bit better hockey player than Downey was back in 08. Just throw him in for those games against tougher guys, him an Commie as the 1,2 punch would be ok. That being said a Colton Orr isnt needed. Some guys that can play a regular fourth line shift and scrap a bit would be good. Someone like Moen or Crombeen. Its not that hard to find a scrappy fourth liner. I would not be against Orr however at 500,000 a year either. Smith on the roster full time next season will be a BIG help, Callahan and Sheahan will be coming up in the next 3 years or so as well. Cayer might even become a decent enforcer who can skate a regular shift as well.

My bad, they all look alike to me I kid

I know youre kind of joking but seriously that WIlson kid is who they should be looking at at this point. He plays in Plymouth so they'll see him plenty. 6'4, meanstreak, fights, hits and puts up points. Hes a very simiolar prospect to Tyler biggs last year who the wings wanted. Hes the type of guy the wings have been taking a lot with their early picks

Wow thats pretty ridiculous to get a suspension for saying that. He could've even just been making a joke about how one got thrown at him during that shootout.

Because the wings could get a guy who is just as good of a playoff performer, 26, a right handed shot and physical. Getzlaf has always been an amazing playoffoff performer as well. And dont forget that little part you mentioned about Mule being a beast WHEN HE IS HEALTHY. And as was mentioned earlier about Getzlaf being streaky and lazy, well if steraky and lazy gets you to produce at well over a ppg for the last 4 seasons and he is still only 26, than so be it. I would say Franzen, Kindl, Tatar and a first could do it.

I might get flamed for this but I would make a package with Franzen. Hes clutch yeah, but so Is Getzlaf. Getzlaf is only 26 and easily a top 5 center in the league, he isnt injury prone like Franzen is either and isnt locked into a long term contract. Getzlaf plays solid defensively as well.

Not sure, I'm in the golds though. A buddy of mine got them and said theyre 10th row in the golds so I wasnt complaining

I'll be going, I scored some 10th row tickets for free I'll be across the road at real sports however, it got rated the number 1 sports bar in Canada so I feel like a stop in is necessary. The way I look at it is since the 400 dollar tickets were free I can spend 400 on beer I'm so pumped for the game too haha anyone not going watch for me if the wings score because I'll be going nuts and be that lone ranger in a wings jersey that they always seem to show when the away team scores