mmamolo

As good as other players can be at times on this team, Lidstrom is always the best player on the ice. Even when he has a 'tough' game he still stands out for making good plays.

You're just writing ridiculous nonsense. You talked about his goal production and I just showed you how inaccurate you were. My preference on where Cleary should/could play (top 6 or bottom 6) is irrelevant. I personally think he fits best on the 3rd line but the point is you starting crying and having a hissy fit about his apparent 'lack' of goal scoring so I showed you how wrong you were. Even your blinded hatred for how he is playing so far this season is irrelevant. Again, I just noted how wrong you were about his season last year.

THat's possible. Or by calling up him up gives him a look which never hurts but also gives other teams the impression that's why you demoted Brunnstrom in the first place so if Holland is having (or going to have) talks with another team about a deal he doesnt look as desperate. It saves a bit of face while giving the kid a game (which they want to do anyways).

I 100% agree with switching Filppula with Bertuzzi. Hudler - Datsyuk - Cleary Franzen - Zetterberg - Filppula Abdelkader - Helm - Bertuzzi Miller - Emmerton - Holmstrom

I like Bourque's game and think he could do really well here playing with a centre who set him up. I'm not crazy about the term as the Wings have plenty of players on longer term deals. But that being said the Wings still have plenty of cap space for the off-season and Bourque's contract wouldn't hidner their ability to make roster moves. Also, if you can get a guy who almost scores 30 for $3.33M/yr then I'd say you should inquire

Even with Datsyuk not playing nearly as well as he could be he is still making plays and creating some opportunities. It makes sense to play him with Cleary and Hudler who can both finish. Zetterberg I think would make more sense with Fil and Franzen because Fil can set both of them up. I don't see much offense coming from Fil playing with Helm and Abdelkader.

1. Personally, relative to interference penalties of this nature we've seen in the past, I thought it was early. You may disagree and that's cool but as I noted i nmy first post I thought it was early. 2. I'm not saying it was supension worthy just because the principle point of contact was the head but as we have seen throughout this year that the player making the hit is responsible for the contact. Also, Koivu initiated the contact fully knowing Kronwall was behind him. Koivu knew where Kronwall was and made the hit accordingly. We've seen hit to the head minor penalties handed out this year and to me, that was one as well. 3. The ref down low is supposed to follow the puck so that he can track it as it comes towards the net. The second referee was initially instituted (at least in part) because penalties were being missed in front of the net while refs were tracking the puck. It is the job of the down low ref to track the puck and the neutral zone ref to watch other infractions (mainly in front of the net).

Much rather see: Filppula - Zetterberg - Franzen Bertuzzi - Helm - Abdelkader

There were exactly 29 30+ goalscorers last year and Dan Cleary scored 26 goals in 68 games. He was also 35th in the league when it came to goals scored per game as he did that at a .38 rate. 29 30+ goal scorers is just about one per team. There just aren't that many of them around. Personally, I like having Zetterbger, Datsyuk, and Franzen that all have the ability to score 30+ when healthy and a guy like Cleary that can give you 20+ to supplement them. If you think a top-6 forward has to score 30+ you're just flat out wrong. On top of that, Cleary is a guy who is used both in the top-6 and as a checker on the 3rd line. He is not a mainstay in the top-6. He's about as versatile player as there is in today's NHL.

I didn't think it was an elbow. I also don't have a problem with a player sensing another player behind him and initiating contact before he is hit. What I didn't like about the play was: 1. I thought Koivu initiated contact early 2. Shoulder or not the principle point of contact was Kronwall's head; and, 3. if you look at the ref by the net he is yelling at the players in front of the net instead of watching the puck (which for the low referee is his job).

Nyquist has long since been my favourite Wings prospect but you can't help but feel a bit bad for Brunnstrom. Babcock has repeatedly said Brunnstrom is/could be a top 6 forward in this league. I realize he hasn't played this year but if Nyquist is being brought up and will get time on a top two line you'd think Brunnstrom woudl have made his way into a similar spot at least once. Now that what's done is done I cant wait to see Nyquist. I would like to see the following lines: Filppula - Datsyuk - Hudler Nyquist - Zetterberg - Franzen Cleary - Helm - Bertuzzi Eaves - Abdelkader - Miller Emmerton, Holmstrom (night off) Or you could play Holmstrom in for Miller to give you more options on the PP.

Fabian Brunnstrom cleared waivers and was assigned to GR. This leaves the Wings with a 22 man roster (with Mursak on IR). What move does every one think is next for the Wings' roster? Call up Nyquist? Conner? Smith (to serve suspension)?

Yeah, I mean depending on how hurt Cleary is that's not ahalf bad idea. Although, when players are in slumps taking games off isn't necessarily a good idea (for players who are regulars that is).

as per @TSNBobMckenzie Brunnstrom has cleared waivers

Any one hear the yearly salary breakdown yet? Bob Mckenzie tweeted it was 7 years at $4.75M/yr so for anyone who is questioning if it's fact you can pretty much take Mckenzie to the bank.

I'm stunned. That is just crazy seeing as the contract only takes him to 38 years old. He must be leaving some money on the table and setting an example for everyone else to follow.

He is only 30 years old (turning 31 in January). His new contract will begin next fall as he is 31 turning 32. So the contract will end in the year that he starts at 37 and ends at 38. Seven years is long but it's not exactly the same thing as these contacts that take players to 40+ years old

55fan just soiled herself...

I know most people on this forum like to rip on Kopecky and yes his contract is well overpaid but he's certainly not a terrible hockey player. I don't get the hatred for the guy.

touchy subject?

ooooh baby, I love it when you talk dirty to me

Zing....This is the truth right here. But that being said, points always come in waves so don't sweat it. Datsyuk is typically the slow starter. I won't pull his stats but even just how engaged he is or the mistakes he makes. To me, despite his point so far this season he's looked far from his normal dominant self.

I know a lot of people are willing to move Ericsson and/or Kindl but honestly, I think they're progressing. It may not be as fast as some would like but they're moving in the right direction. Initially I wasn't a huge fan of pairing them together but it's working out well so far and if they remain a responsible pairing throughout the year they could one day anchor the Wings' Top 4. Also, I agree that Miller and Emmerton have looked really good so far this season. Emmerton had a tough game against the Caps - especially with the terrible giveaway on the second goal. Completely agree. The Canucks may have 'flopped' in the finals to some degree but making the finals is still better than 28 other teams that season.

So many people overrated the moves they made last summer. I'm not saying that as an insult to the OP but too many think that Wisniewski and Carter are elite players - which they are not. Wisniewski will definitely help their powerplay upon his return and Carter will eventually mesh with Nash but this team is weak defensively (which makes Mason looks worse) and they have no scoring depth. Umberger, Propsal and Vermette are fine players but they are counted on way more than they can produce. I dont think they make the playoffs

Fans want the Wings to move East because: 1. Game start times would all be in the Eastern time zone which means not having to stay up until 1am on week nights to watch the Wings play on the West coast. Obvioulsy the Wings would have some games out west under the current scheduling structure but the amount would be significantly cut down. 2. Moving east would cut down on the amount of travel the Wings would have to do which not only saves the Wings money but fans care about this because players will be less fatigued and beaten up. Every year when the Wings get back from their 5ish game West road trip and have a home game they get walloped. Think of the playoffs and constantly having to travel west and play out of their time zones. Those are the two biggest for me.