Hockey Convert

Since there seems little chance of these predictions coming true, I'll just try to contribute... Konopka has more potential than Filppula. Discuss.

Seriously, I'm scratching my head as to why there are two pages about Ilari Filppula in a thread entitled "Zenon Konopka"... Anyway, I haven't seen Konopka play much, but he seems like the type I'd like to see the Wings get: willing to police, and take an instigator if there's a blatant cheap shot. If he's solid defensively, as has been said, I say go for it, Ken.

Yeah, I'm trying not get my hopes up too much; I suspect he'll be picked before the Wings get a chance. I liked the sound of a player like that, though, and think it would help.

I'm pretty sure that's what I meant, yes.

From the quote in the original post: "The Red Wings still intend to sign one more defenseman to a one-way deal. Their options include Andreas Lilja or a low-priced free agent." So there's still some hope in that direction.

The shifts aren't determined randomly, though; the coach can get the goons out there against that 10-minute fourth liner when necessary. To me that's part of the strategy. As far as the last point, I agree it would be nice to have all players who are physical and contribute, but there just aren't enough of those types of players. Plus, the Wings aren't built that way, so short of rebuilding the team, I'm not sure that helps us. The realistic option we have available is to add some "grit" for the fourth line. In the words of Babcock (I don't have the link, unfortunately, but someone around here had it in their sig): "It was pretty interesting," said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. "We had May in exhibition for a couple of games and no one gets hacked or whacked. When we don't have him, we get run. We don't have a team that twists off helmets at stoppages. You get tired of seeing it all the time. It's just nice when you get someone to look after that stuff."

Yeah; I like Janik. Hoping he can step up his game and earn some time playing with the Wings.

Do they really think they can out-troll Pronger? The man has a gift; don't try to beat him at his own game...

I was assuming so. I think we're hoping that Holland will go for it with the right terminology. Maybe we should move to "confrontationally inclined granular professional".

Oh, definitely; I'm not disputing that. My point was that if you have the enforcer, you can at least cut down on cheap shots at your skill players with creative line changes; whereas without one, i.e. as the Wings are now, it's open season. On the other point about staged fights, much as I like Brad May I'm not a fan of those either. I'm fine without the off-the-faceoff bouts; I just really want to see someone who will ring the bell when Hartnell (for example) throws a nasty cross-check to the back of the head after the play, dirty hit in the corner, etc. at one of our scorers.

Agreed, as much as I don't like them. Supporting micah's original point, though, don't Carcillo, Asham, Lappy, and company go sort of quiet when Colton Orr (or equivalent) is on the ice? I'll admit to not watching much of the Flyers outside the SCF, so I could be off on this. It seems I read it somewhere, though.

I think this is a fair point; but I'd really like to see a fighter on the team even if the contribution otherwise is just being solid defensively and checking (being a solid 4th line player). My hope is that it would help everyone play a little tougher. I hate watching the Wings players get pushed around in a game. The example I always think of is a game last season, and I can't now for the life of me remember who we were playing, but I watched some idiot from the other team knock Datsyuk's helmet off in the corner, after the play had moved on. This happened at least three times. I want to say this was before we'd acquired Brad May, and I remember yelling at the TV and really wishing we had a goon out there to answer that crap. Datsyuk, of course, is a pro and never complained or let it get to him. So I guess my vote would be "it would help", though I understand the argument above. Gotta be a solid skater too. Edit: auto-format is killing me...

Calm down, I never called anyone a "*****"; I just said I'd like to see it. And if you're down by three goals, I'd think you *would* want momentum to swing... Again, if that's the way coaches want to play it, who am I to say no? But in my opinion, let 'em fight. It's part of the game.

Unless I misread, you don't have Draper in there. Is this assuming he was magically traded somewhere?

I'd be fine with it but as others have said, I don't think we could afford him.

Discussions on the definition of "toughness" notwithstanding, this is what it comes down to for me. Yes, Eager has fought some good fights, but this series, he's turned away every time. I really believe that the Wings could use a solid enforcer, but I'd want one that will actually enforce. Playoffs, SCF, whatever; if your team is getting knocked around and falling toward giving up a tied series after being up two games, it's time. Maybe it's frowned upon or whatever in the playoffs, I don't know, I'm no expert. I don't care. If the Wings were in the Hawks' shoes right now, I'd want to see someone knock the hell out of Hartnell for all the shennanigens. Eager has shown, to me, an unwillingness to do that AND unwillingness to stand up to direct challenges in this series, when it perhaps counts the most.

I hate this too. It's not just hockey, though; this seems to be the way everything is going. Advertising has just gotten out of control, and I'm not honestly sure what to do to fix that...

I agree with you that those are more likely; I just don't like it. After games 2 and 3 of the cup final this week, I don't want Eager or Burish in a winged wheel. Game 3 last night, Hartnell got away with at least two blatant cheap shots, which isn't entirely surprising but what did Chicago's supposed "enforcers" do? Not. A. Thing. I know it's the playoffs, but come on, could one of you at least *hit* him? Plus in game 2, Asham flat-out challenged Eager at one point; and Eager skated away. Not that I'm rooting for the Hawks in this one, but I at least wanted to see a battle. Instead, nada and it's really soured me on Eager and Burish.