mmamolo

Goddard s a punk. I seriously dont get how on this play anyone can say Franzen turtled...ridiculous

First, Franzen barely threw a cross check. Second, he didnt turtle...he was pinned down. Third, what kunitz did was way cheaper than what Franzen did. Throw Guerin being a cheap f*** on top of that and I'd say we got f***ed by getting the extra penalty. You can call it like it is all you want, so long as you actually see it accurately. You're entitled to your opinion but I really find it hard to believe that you think Franzen turtled

Kunitz is a punk and that was a cheap punch by Guerin when Franzen was pinned on the ice. The 'cross-check' wasnt even that bad

The Wings have consistently playing their AHLers. Granted, as a team they haven't been playing too well but the games I've seen they've had about 7 or 8 of the 12 forwards as AHLers. Apparently the Griffins don't play any exhibition games this year so the Wings have held onto their youth longer this year to get them more ice time and to rest their veterans to gear up for their trip to Sweden. I think ppl are being overly critical. Bertuzzi really has looked solid in my opinion. His set up on the Kronwall goal in Friday's game was huge as he drove the net hard and helped made a goal happen. Anyways, to keep this short I think ppl always jump to panic but it seems to me the Wings always start slowly - in the preseason and regular season even. It's nothing to panic and freak out about.

I really thnk he still serves a purpose. I dont know why everyone on these forums are so down on him. Granted he isnt what he once was but he still creates space and wrecks havoc on the opposition on the powerplay. I really think a lot of ppl in this forum are going to be surprised at his performance this season.

Brad May Apparently the Wings have given Brad May a tryout and he could land a spot on the Griffins roster. I'm sure a lot of posters here in LGW would love that. I'm certainly not opposed.

That's not realyl fair. I don't think that's what he was saying at all. I think he was implying both Daysuk and Crosby played well. Plus, the discussion was on Datsyuk's playoff performance last postseason, not over his career. So t obring up career numbers on Datsyuk's part is unfair. Plus, if you really want to look at Datsyuk's career numbers let's be fair. He was part of the '02 cup winning team where he had a very limtied role, playing on the fourth line with Brett Hull and Boyd Devereux, and scored 6 pts in 22 games. Then in '03 playing on the fourth line with Brett Hull and Zetterberg the Wings got completely shut down and swept in the first round by Anaheim with Datsyuk going pointless in 4 games. Another very limited role and on a team that just played terribly as a whole. In my opinion the '04 season is the only playoff year that Datsyuk really underperformed. '05 was the lockout and in '06 the Oilers beats the Wings while Datsyuk was heavily injured and still was one of the most dominate players on the ice despite not putting up the poitns. Datsyuk played very well in the Conference Finals loss to the Ducks in '07, had a great run in '08 to win the cup and I think he had an excellent run last year with his injury situation.

Personally, I think in the right situation he could turn things around and be a decent contributor. I don't, however, think he will ever become a top tier talent in this league. He's definitely not worth the money it seems liek it would have taken to sign him earlier this summer but it does speak volumes that he is willing to travel to Atlanta on his own dime for a tryout as opposed to signing somewhere in the KHL. All that being said, even though I mentioned in a previous post that I thought he'd have a hard time finding a spot on any NHL roster this year, I am a bit surprised he's only on a tryout basis right now. I figured he'd have to bum around the league and eventualyl accept a cheap 1 yr contract but I thought by preseason he'd have a contract somewhere. Either way, I think Atlanta ends up signing him. Maybe Kovalchuk and Antropov will give him a hand.

GETZLAF is so deserving Im voting for him twice

There is no way Cloutier, no matter how well he does, replaces Howard on the Wings roster this year. Best case scenario for Cloutier is that he impresses enough to land a minor league spot somewhere with a contract for the Wings and he returns to camp next year to compete for the back up job if Howard fails to have a decent year.

Yeah Philly really looks like they should be good. Even though I'm not huge on Ray Emery for some reason I really feel like he's going to put together a solid year. Plus Carter and Richards are beasts

ha I was just joking. Not to be biased but I feel like the Pens are a little young to realize what it's going to be like with a target on your back as the defending cup champs. It's a tough road for any team and Pitts' youth may catch up a little bit. That being said, Malkin is a beast so anythign can happen. But I doubt we see Det-Pitts in the finals again.

Normally I really like to see Datsyuk and Zetterberg playing together but I really think to start the season they should play apart. I think it adds so much more depth to our team and it would give Filppula and Leino a chance to mesh well. It would take some pressure off of Filppula and give him a chance to just play his game and see where it takes him. Persaonlly, if it were me the lines would be: Cleary - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi Franzen - Zetterberg - Holmstrom Leino - Filppula - Williams Eaves - Draper - Helm Maltby and with Helm's injury I think I'd choose either Abdelkader or Jeremy Williams to get a bit of time on the fourth line.

That's exactly it. Even add Andy Delmore and Doug Janik to that list. The thing to remember is that the Red Wings system is held to as high a standard in Grand Rapids as it is in Detroit. The guys like Nerbury, Jeremy Williams, Delmore and Janik have to buy into the system in the AHL if they ever want a sniff at the big leagues. This is a relatively risk free situation for the Red Wings. All of their prospects have appropriate spots on teams this coming year and putting this AHL vets in Grand Rapids gives them a chance to impress the big club. Personally I think Jason Williams, and maybe even Bertuzzi, are really here for one year no matter what. I can't see Williams being resigned when we want Abdelkader in next years full time line up. I really do think that if Jeremy Williams works on his defensive game and even brings it to a decent level we may one day see him in a fourth line role on the Red Wings but that's a stretch right now. We'll see how this season goes but I always liked him so I'm hoping for the best for this guy.

Living in the Toronto area I have seen a bit of Jeremy Williams and I do think there is some potential there. All of the criticism so far in this thread is warranted. I don't think we'll see Williams in a Red Wings jersey this season, or at least not more than a few games. The main criticism against Williams is his lack of defensive responsibility. However, in the Wings system he can hopefully learn and make the appropriate adjustments. If his attitude is right and he buys into the system, like so many others have before him, I think he would have a shot of getting some time with the big club next season (if he is resigned etc). The guy definitely has soem offensive talent and when he was called up with the Leafs he'd consistently be one of the strongest offensive threats in their lineup.

good call, he isnt getting the respect he deserves

GETZLAF

I feel your pain bud. The only good thing about living in Toronto is laughing at pathetic Leaf fans. Although this year they may actually be half decent

1. Seeing Cleary pot 25+ while getting top 6 minutes. 2. Leino contending for the Calder. 3. Filppula taking a huge stride towards fulfilling his potential. 4. Datsyuk breaking 100 pts. 5. Franzen breaking 40 goals. 6. Zetterberg returning to the 40 goal, 50 assist man we know he is. 7. Helm, Ericsson, and Leino proving they are part of the future of this organization

your goaltending is definitely a little suspect but I will say this, if Philly turns out to be as solid as they should you should get points from all their wins. Ideally, for you, Edmonton also makes a good push but hoenstly, I don't necessarily think they'll make the playoffs. It could happen but I'm not too confident. Either way, the rest of yoru team looks solid bud.

It really sucks to have Helm start the this year off with an injury. Somethign that seemed a little strange to me in that article was how they claimed that either Derek Meech would fill in at forward or that Justin ABdelkader would sub in while Helm was out with an injury. Last time I checked the Wings already had 13 forwards and Kirk Maltby would be the obvious choice to replace Helm on the fourth line. Is there another injury or something I've missed?

I'd probably say Iginla with honourable mentions to Luongo, Getzlaf, Eric Staal, and Rick Nash

I don't see how Stuart would 'almost certainly be gone if Lidstrom returns.' Ericsson is on the books at 900k for two seasons. No matter how well he does this season with all of our top five returning (based on the assumption Lidstrom coems back) there'd be no reason to move Stuart. Lidstrom's minutes, and Rafalski's for that matter, would be reduced and Ericsson would fill that void. In my mind it makes zero sense to move Stuart if Lidstrom returns next year. Plus, Kolosov is still a ways away if you ask me. I think next season we'll see Lidstrom return, Kindl get promoted and one of Lilja, Lebda and Meech sticks around. This is also assuming Lilja is healthy enough to come back.

Z

we see a second rematch in the finals...three years in a row we have the Wings face the Pens.