funguy21

Yup I am really going there and I will tell you why. First off right now everyone is holding by the fact he is a big game goalie and he plays best in the playoffs there is not guarantee of that and he is showing no signs of being able to. This is our playoff right now and he has not shown up when called upon he is a liability now and should be let go. Secondly there seem to be a conflict between him and Babcock depending on how bad it is and if it causing trouble in the lineup one of them has to go and if there is a decision between coach of the decade and Osgood. Osgood will lose and be traded.

The problem is they need to rid themself of like 2 million dollars May, Leino, and Meech or Lebda aren't enough to cover that much cap. we can put May on waivers thats 500 k gone. get rid of Leino, Meech , Williams, and Osgood. For an another goalie I would maybe try for Price in Montreal although its unlikely they will move him it seems they are doing really well with Halak and might be looking for a playoff goalie and maybe Leino or Williams. Then maybe try and trade for someone like Jussi Jokinen. I know he is the same cap hit as Williams but there some things I like about him over William. First off he is a big game performer just look at last years playoff run for Carolina. Is has a better plus/minus then William so he is more defensively aware then Williams is which is a plus. And I think Jokinen would fit in better then Williams does. Jokinen is also younger.If no trade can be made with Montreal I could see them going after Raycroft from Vancouver. I like the fact that Raycroft get hardly any playing time but when he gets a chance to play he plays well something Osgood doesn't have and Raycroft is younger.

I don't think Holmstrom should be in the the top 6 forwards. I realize that he is leading the team in goals but most are off the power play which I would keep him on. Just don't think he is in the same skill level as the guys that should be on the top line. For this reason I think he should be in the bottom 6 forwards either on Helms line or the fourth line line. so the line up would look like this Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi Franzen-Filpula-Cleary Holmstrom-Helm-Eaves Miller-Draper-Williams but I am not a fan of Williams So I personally think we should trade him and if we did I would put Draper on Helms line and put Holmstrom on with Abdelkader and Miller. I think putting Holmstrom on the top line is a waste of his skill. We got the best guy in front of the net trying to tip Zetterberg and Datsyuk shots that were most likely going to go in anyways. I think he should be on a grit line that just gets the puck to the net. Let him deflect shots on goal that the goalie was going to stop. Get him on a line where Helm takes the puck to the net from the corner and let him tap in a few rebounds. Holmstrom on the third or fourth line provides the following. 1. A extra dimension of scoring to the line by rebounds and tip in from player that might not be as skilled as or top line. 2. Adds a dimension on the first two lines as well Bertuzzi, Franzen, Cleary are all big bodies that can be effective in front of the net. On top of that they are skilled at more then just being in front of the net which mean they can also make skilled plays, take pass and score from more then just a few feet from the net. 3. Give a chance for a aging Holmstrom to remain healthy and be a contributer to this team for longer. He will always be a force on the power play. Something that we could use for a few extra year. The less minutes he plays in a game the more likely it will be that we can milk a year or two extra of his career.

Why on earth would we get another top six forward we already have to many forwards to handle them all. Are defense is strong but not as strong as I would like there still some hole on the third pairing that need to be addressed. You can't just presume that if we ignore the need on defense and Howard plays as good then and he is now and we have a sniper next year that we don't this year that we will be an elite team. Cause in the end the choice of picking a sniper over a solide 6th d-man is going to come back and bite you. Especially with the injuries that seem to be increasing every year in the NHL. We might not be getting much goals from the top line yet but they are playing well a dominating the opposition when they are on the ice. It won't be long until they start scoring very shortly there will be a break out game for the wings top line either Saturday against the Kings or the game after that. I think if we get a 6th d-man at the deadline for William and another player we will have a very well rounded team with a nice mix of skill and role players that can make a nice run at the playoffs.

6-2 wings win. Goals by Lidstrom on power play, Eaves, Bertuzzi, Cleary, and two by Zetterberg one on the power play.

Trade Williams very weak defensively doesn't really fit with the team.

Trade Williams and Meech for a strong consistent defense man. I don't believe that the apparent lack of scoring is a really big issue. When we get player back from injuries we will have more forwards then we really need I don't think making a trade for a goal scorer is the right move. We got a pretty steady four lines of forwards who can be pretty defensively responsible minus Williams thats why he should be traded. Howard is consistent in net and Osgood has playoff experience and he historically plays better in the playoffs so we probably want to keep both of them. The 5 top defense men are strong and can get it done. Ericsson has some slip ups but he is still a rookie its to be expected but he need a better defensive partner then Lebda. Thats why I think a trade for William and Meech would be a good trade for a Sheldon Souray or d-man similar to him.

I think this would be a good line set up. Offense Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi Holmstrom-Filpula-Franzen Cleary-Abdelkader-Miller Eaves-Helm-Draper Defense Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Lebda Goalie Howard Osgood I think that top line should stay together they have really good chemistry and I believe that Bertuzzi brings more to the table then Holmstrom. Bertuzzi has more skill and can really drive pucks to the net thats why i think he should replace Holmstrom on the top line. Holmstrom plays with a flat stick he doesn't really offer much more then net presents so i still think he should be on the top power play unit. I think Cleary, Miller, and abdelkader make a really gritty fight in the corners type line that has the possibility to score some goals. I also think the fourth line is a really strong line with plenty of speed which produce a lot of energy for the team. I think with those lines it would allow Detroit to be four line strong.