mmamolo

As much as I like Stewart I think a more realistic player the Wings should look at is David Jones from Colorado. Obviously we all want Parise but I think Jones would be perfect for a 3rd line spot. Next season I'd love to see a 3rd line of Jones - Helm - Franzen This would be sweet (assuming the worst happens) with bertuzzi and jones being interchangeable: CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR ROSTER My Custom Lineup FORWARDS Gustav Nyquist ($0.875m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Zach Parise ($6.500m) Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / David Jones ($2.750m) Johan Franzen ($3.955m) / Darren Helm ($1.200m) / Todd Bertuzzi ($2.075m) Danny Cleary ($2.800m) / Justin Abdelkader ($1.000m) / Patrick Eaves ($1.200m) Jan Mursak ($0.550m) / Drew Miller ($0.838m) / DEFENSEMEN Niklas Kronwall ($4.750m) / Jonathan Ericsson ($3.250m) Kyle Quincey ($3.250m) / Ryan Suter ($6.500m) Ian White ($2.875m) / Brendan Smith ($0.875m) Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) / GOALTENDERS Jimmy Howard ($2.250m) Joey MacDonald ($0.550m) ------ CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter) (these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion) SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,708,712; BONUSES: $37,500 CAP SPACE (23-man roster):- $408,712 also, yes I realize it's slightly over the cap

I would also consider: Nyquist - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi/Franzen Cleary - Zetterberg - Hudler Miller - Filppula - Franzen/Bertuzzi Connor - Abdelkader - Holmstrom Obviously Filppula hasn't played centre all year so this is extremely unlikely. But the reasoning would be that I think the Wings lack of a 4th line that can grind and garner some momentum has hurt them so much more than we realize. The 4th needs to play more than 5 mins a game. It helps to create match up problems for the other team and it should be used to tire out NSH d pairings.

I wanted Chris Stewart so badly but despite his RFA status there is no way STL lets him go (let alone to their division rival).

Personally, i dont feel like the lines I posted are drastic changes. Zetterberg and Hudler have been together all season. Bertuzzi and franzen have been together all seaosn. That is the same fourth line we have seen many times throughout the season. Also, Nyquist has spent a good chunk of his time with Datsyuk already. The only difference is placing Filppula with Datsyuk when they haven't played together much this year. Nyquist - Datsyuk - Filppula Cleary - Zetterberg - Hudler Bertuzzi - Abdelkader - Franzen Miller - Emmerton - Holmstrom To me, the Wings need to accentuate certain characteristics of certain lines. It's obvious that the Wings are having trouble grinding and getting to the middle of the offensive zone. When you replace Fil (who has had a tough time driving to the centre lane) with cleary who has been grinding like his old self the last few games you're going to give Zetterberg the down low support he needs. Hudler looked inspired last game and he has been the net pressence on the Z line all year. Bertuzzi and Franzen try to play too much of a fancy style when they're with Datsyuk. Place the bigger body Abdelkader with them and watch them grind NSH down and take pucks to the net (as the Ab line last night was doing). If Nyquist - Datsyuk - Filppula can use their speed to create a bit of space they could do really well. Plus, by having Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen on separate lines it creates match up problems for Nashville. At various points in the game on of those lines will get to work against the bottom pair D of NSH.

Honestly, I hate to even say it because I have always been a Filppula supporter but I think he needs a serious shot in the arm right now. He has played way too much on the perimeter so far and Zetterberg has had to carry way too much of the load on that line. I would be in favour of big changes to the lines in Game 4. Nyquist - Datsyuk - Filppula (this line needs to use it's speed) Cleary - Zetterberg - Hudler (Cleary has been playing well, he can grind and help Zetterberg down low) Bertuzzi - Abdelkader - Franzen (Big boddies that need to take the puck to the net) Miller - Emmerton - Holmstrom

I'm not saying you're wrong but it would be an awful shame for him to go out as the Wings fizzle

What I find funniest about this entire thread is that although all the posts have gotten pretty ridiculous (at this point) I have a massive banner ad on this page trying to sell me ping pong tables...friggin Google knows all

I typically don't post in the GDTs but I did on Friday and the Wings won. I didn't for games 1 and 3 and the Wings lost. I was also posting a ton of Wings pictures, in one of the threads (I dont remember which), which I say is a good luck charm. So here is an assortment of Wings pictures in anticipation of the biggest game of the season (thus far):

This always happens...the Wings never play well with noon starts. They come out slow and then finish strong as they finally get their legs. Then they end up pissed because they lost so the next game they come out flying. The amount of puck luck NSH has gotten in the first 3 games has been significant (meaning, they've been getting the bounces when they scored some goals and when they've stopped some pucks). That will change sooner or later. It's like the SJ series last year. Come game 4 all the bounces went the Wings' way. They just need one nice bounce/goal early on in the game and the onslaught will start.

I'm thinking that since there are a lot of us who come on LGW basically daily and that there is a pretty good chance a bunch of us will be going to Game 3 that we should organize some sort of rallying cry. Whether that be a series of similar signs, or chants, or maybe we should all gather behind Rinne in the warm up and casuse some havoc. Im just saying I think we need LGW to be known at the Joe this Sunday. So who's going? Ideas?

found on google

You mean wrasslin'? ha

Whoa, seriously? You couldn't see Chelios doing this? Maybe not in his tamer Red Wing days but come on! ha I could definitely see Chelios pulling this type of move. Granted, chelios was a bit more of subtle when he was a dirty SOB but still

Here are some quick ideas off the top of my head: Ric Flair is Jealous of Shea Weber Awesome Shea Weber Heel Turn, Thanks WWE (a play on how so many Wings fans have been wanting Weber to sign in DET and now almost everyone hates him) You Can't Shea Me (with the cross out of Shea) WOW ha ha I did not see that coming

Even if he/she doesnt live in Michigan, if it is at all remotely possible I say make it happen. I'm making the 4+hour drive from Toronto. If you can, you gotta see a PO game at the Joe

To me, these are the types of situations that have separated the Wings from the rest for so many years. When teams think they can intimidate the Wings or think they're going to push them around and get up in a series the Wings always find a way to come out quick and grind. I honestly feel like we may see just about the best effort team wide from this year's Wings tonight

Some common misconceptions need to be cleared up in this thread (I think): 1. Sheahan is absolutely eligible to play in the playoffs because the Wings already owned his rights. It is similar to how the Rangers signed Chris Kreider (who spent the season with boston College) to an ELC. In fact, Kreider signed the contract after the last regular season games had been played. Both Kreider and Sheahan are eligible. 2. It is true that there is a lot more to playing centre than just taking face-offs. However, all three forwards (in the defensive zone) will rotate depending on how the other team is cycling the puck. At any given time you may see Zetterberg switch off with either Filppula or Hudler. The only difference is that a more concerted effort will be made to get the true centre back down low when a switch with a lesser capable winger has been made (i.e. hudler). If Zetterberg rotates with Filppula then they more often not don't even try to switch back. So a fourth line all all wingers is definitely possible. I don't think it will happen but in tonight's game watch and see how many times Miller and Emmerton rotate positions in the D-zone. Most coaches stay away from an all winger 4th line because in today's NHL with the no change icing it is far too easy to get caught on the ice. 3. Emmerton was not in the line up (Game 1) so that Abdelkader could play the wing. Abdelkader started as the fourth line centre with Emmerton and Holmstrom as his wingers. Emmerton was in the line up in case Helm reaggrevated his knee. Then the rest is history.

As good as that is it would be so much better in a Van/LA Photoshop war with Jonathan Quick as opposed to Shea Weber

ooh my god, curse words. My ear, my ears, they're bleeding.

Kukla's Korner That's a bunch of media tweets that are pretty funny

That's awesome - Im in row 10. I made the trip to DET for the Wings/Jets game earlier this year and it was awesome. Sunday we're going to blow the roof off

I realize money and time play factors into such a decision but let me say this: As a life long Wings fan who lives in Toronto I make the trip to Detroit as often as I can because as a true fan there is nothing like seeing an intense playoff game at the Joe. If you can find a reasonable flight then I would absolutely do it if I were you. You may want to wait for the right set of circumstances (like a game 7 or conference finals or whatever) but you should definitely do it if you can. Last year in the second round I drove (4+hr each way) to Detroit for game 4 and was back at work the next morning. Then I turned around and did the same for game 6. I literally was looking into flights to SJ for Game 7 because we could have seen history in the making had the won. If you can swing it, do it man. That's awesome. Im going to be in Section 215 - behind the net in the Wings offensive zone for the first and third periods

just have Emmerton run Weber from behind...it would be an advantage in that Weber would be injured and Emmerton would be out of the line up. Double bonus for the Wings