unsaddleddonald

The injuries in question aren't concussions or wrists or broken jaws. They are muscle strains, groin pulls, etc. There is a difference....

Regardless, the Patrick Eaves and Drew Millers of the world are not going to determine how far this team goes. This team's success will be determined by how Franzen plays when he comes back. Good Mule or Bad Mule? If Helm can continue to play the way he had been before he got hurt. If Weiss can get his head out of his ass and play like he is capable of playing. If Pav can continue to produce a point per game like he has been. If Jimmy can continue to steal a game here and there like he did in LA. Get healthy and produce some consistency fergodsakes....

That's a good point. And your lineup is NOT what will be on display. ...and that is because two of those guys will be sent back down. When everyone is healthy, Holland's roster mismanagement will rear its ugly head once again. I think I may have contradicted my original point, but whatever.

If this team is healthy (wishful thinking), we probably have the 3rd best lineup in the East behind Pittsburgh and Boston. And that is with all of Kenny's roster mismanagement.

http://www.freep.com/article/20140102/SPORTS05/301020030/detroit-red-wings-winter-classic-extra-points 105,491 tickets were sold in a stadium with an official capacity of 109,901. The record is 104,173 set at the Big Chill. It's a pretty safe bet to say that all the tickets were sold given how Leafs fans operate. Considering how proud of an individual this guy is, I wouldn't put it past him to say that he wouldn't allow the NHL to take this record from him.

Since the beginning of the '12-'13 season: 43 games played 3 goals 5 assists 47 shots on goal Whatever happened to him started last year. The most shocking to me is the 47 shots on goal. FOR A TOP 6 PLAYER?!?!?! My god....

It really is kind of bizarre how absolutely invisible he is out there. He LITERALLY doesn't make anything positive happen. Skate fast/hard? No. Pass well? No. Shoot (at all)? No. Watching him play, I cannot believe this guy has put up even 20 points in a season.

In looking at these empty seats again, I have a question: Other factors included, Is the Michigan-based sports fan just kind of lazy and uninspiring? Pistons fans, Tigers fans, Michigan fans, State fans, Lions fans. IMO, we seem to lack the intensity of some other city/state fan bases.

Is anyone else convinced that Ottawa is playing us like this because of Alfie (despite the fact that he isn't playing)?

Ken Holland understands that to relieve cap problems, he must resign Dan Cleary.

Called it. http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2013/11/red_wings_recall_gustav_nyquis_3.html#incart_river

Dan Cleary playing some very earned first line minutes. EDIT: *Every line minutes. The guy who should be double shifting is double shifting (Cleary)

NOTE: I didn't see tonight's attempt, but it sounded similar to what I will mention. This is more of an observation than a critique (the guy has scored more shootout goals than anyone). But has anyone noticed that Pav has kind of regulated himself to using the same move everytime in shootouts? He either finishes backhand or pulls it to his quick forehand move. For a guy as creative as Pav, I'm kind of surprised he uses one move (with 2 finishes?) so much... This is the backhand: And the forehand:

No kidding. Is there really NO other creative shooters on this team to the point that you trot out a guy in Zetterberg who is a known terrible shootout commodity?

Same move, different shot placement. Fair or unfair, the shootout is part of the game and Pav is held to a higher standard. Not getting the job done.

If there is ONE guy in this league that a goalie would study shootout tendencies on, it's Pav. His last two attempts have looked lazy and goalies are looking for that move. I don't understand his complacency...

LOL, you must be dreaming! As far as Babs is concerned, it was CLEARY who made that pass to Mule.

Cleary gets to pucks so quickly....! Makes a lot of sense to have him on the PK.

Did anyone else see Franzen get knocked on his ass from behind? Does he have incredibly terrible balance or is he just a big *****?

This really is sad. A guy who needs to be with the Wings and a guy who the Wings WANT to have up here can't be here because of roster mismanagement. Holland is the best GM in hockey, but he screwed up and it is hurting this team.

Regardless, it is incredibly puzzling to me that a guy with probably more bags of tricks than anybody in the league regulates himself to the same move in shootouts.

Right, but he didn't hit the net. In fact, I THINK he has missed the net in every attempt this year.

Same move. Ken Daniels even asked Mick if goalies are starting to pick up on what he is doing. Even if he missed the net, Pavelec was still antincipating it and playing it. (This critique is seperate to an obviously brilliant game he had tonight).

Not too many quality shots. Not too many shots period.

But he is beating on Enstrom because he keeps getting pissed that Enstrom is taking the puck from him....