PavelValerievichDatsyuk

Yeah, I agree that Stuart isn't what we need right now - we need an offensive Righty. But the Lidstrom comment seems a little misplaced because I don't really think Stuart ever really played with Lidstrom. He was almost always with Kronwall.

Marchand went of the handle in the playoffs last year when thornton was on the team. They're frustrated with their rough start - which owes to the loss of iginla and boychuk.

Okay, so he's practicing in white today, indicating that he might play tomorrow (or maybe it's just because Abdelkader took a rest day) : http://kuklaskorner.com/tmr/comments/practice-post-red-wings-prepare-for-maple-leafs Also, I found something from Weiss on the situation: http://www.themorningsun.com/sports/20141015/weiss-knew-job-wouldnt-be-handed-to-him “I did my best throughout the preseason to do what I could to get in the lineup and it wasn’t good enough,” Weiss said. “But it’s a long season. I’ve just got to keep working hard and keep trying to get better and when I get my chance to go I’ve got to be ready to go. I’m hungry to get back in the lineup,” Weiss continued. “It’s always a surprise and a shock when you’re not playing. It wasn’t just going to be handed to me on a silver platter.” I actually like what he says and it doesn't seem to be anything other than a hockey issue from that article.

Oops, I meant to say that other have said that his game has fallen off since he left here. Loved Stuart while he was here. Never wanted him to leave.

I can't imagine he needed any extra motivation. I mean the heat was already on him because of last year.

Many around here have said that Stuart has been very good since we traded him. Edit: Oops, that was supposed to be: "hasn't been very good." I was meaning to give a possible reason why we didn't show interest in bringing him back. Stuart was great while here and it seemed strange to me as well.

So in the preseason goalies don't try to stop the puck? Preseason play definitely has consequences on who's going to used where and how. It's why Weiss and Cleary are sitting (unless Weiss is secretly injured), and I think it's why Nyquist didn't start on the first line. One of the main reasons there is a preseason is so Coaches can judge players against NHL competition. The fact that Nestrasil scored against Rask in the preseason is a legitimate consideration. The thing that bothers me most about this is the fact that people are acting like we clearly had multiple superior options. Jurco was 0 for 2 last year, Zetterberg was 0 for 4, Franzen 0 for 2, Nyquist was 0 for 3. The only players out there last night who scored last year was Tatar (3 for 9) and Helm (1 for 2). Tatar might very well have been the 3rd shooter. We don't know, but I feel that it would be a safe guess. It really doesn't seem to be that outrageous a choice to put Nestrasil out there when so many of our players have shown that they can't score and Nestrasil scored on the same goalie in a shootout not very long ago.

Why? the closer is often the most important. Edit: or at least the most pressure and therefore is probably the hardest

For everyone crying for Tatar, we don't know who our 3rd shooter would have been, do we?

Yes, and we just lit it up last year.

figures

It's always like this at the beginning of the game. It will fill up.

Blashill was an assistant coach under Babcock in 2011-12 before he was made Head coach of the Griffins. I have no idea if it's true whether not many AHL coaches make it to the NHL, but I look at it this way: 23 out of 32 NHL head coaches coached in the AHL. Tippet, Nolan, Roy, Ruff, Sutter, Deboer, McLean, Johnston, Hitchcock came from the OHL, IHL, or elsewhere (I did a quick search on hockeydb.com). The usual path to becoming a NHL coach is the AHL. I wouldn't count Blashill out because of Eakins' struggles. From what I've seen Eakins' problem is his abrasive personality and his dysfunctional relationship with his players. Blashill seems to be great with dealing personally with players. Not saying Blashill is a sure thing, but I haven't seen anything to show that he would be anything other than a great coach.

I like your lineup. It, of course, means that Weiss has been traded - Maybe if we keep him out of the lineup he will ask for a trade. I hopes he gets a shot and excels - that would best for the team, but who knows. To me the choice between Helm, Abdelkader, Glendening, Miller and Andersson is pretty easy. I think Helm and Abby bring their game every night and are an important heart of the team (the only question is Helm's health, but if he plays 75+ games this year then that consideration won't be there). Glendening's faceoff ability, agitating style and RH shot gives him a versatility that Andersson and Miller don't have. Andersson has been surprisingly good so far this year, but I think he's gone when Dats comes back (even though it should be Cleary). I like Miller and he does help out the PK and was our hit leader last year I think (even though I don't seem to notice his physicality), but I think he's ultimately replaceable. I'm not convinced on Pulkinnen. I think it's going to be hard for him to make the team. beyond the Weiss situation, he'll also be fighting for that spot with Nestrasil, Athanasioau and Janmark.

I doubt we have the cap room for a 7 mill defender with Nyquist, Jurco and Smith being RFAs next year. Anyway, Drew Doughty's worthy 7 - Boychuck ain't. He'll make somewhere around Niskanen's 5.75

But if they called the hook, the whistle would've been blown when Getslaf touches the puck and then there isn't even a scoring chance. What was your point?

So far this year, Glendening is proving you wrong. Why do you think Glendening can't be a 4th line center? He's very good defensively, is a good PKer. Is very good on faceoffs, can take assignments against top lines...and he hasn't even played a full year in the league.

What I want to know is with all the recent press how come there's no statement on the situation. No reporter has ask Babcock why Weiss is in grey? Instead they keep asking about his contract after he keeps repeating the same things.

1. You claimed that Z's production "fell into the floor" with Abby - I showed that he was having one of his best years. Who cares you ask? yes who cares about facts? you take issue with "on pace.", but that's not really what we were talking about - it's the time he played with Abby his production didn't fall into the floor. To be clear, I don't think Abby should by in the top 6, but your claim was off. 2. I also would prefer "to actually have a top line winger" ,but Mantha's injured, Alfie's uncertian. I think Helm's a good option with what we've got. Certainly better than Abby. Not sure why you took exception with my use of the word prefer, haha. Every opinion or claim is a preference. Also, your "this is a business we shouldn't just 'give things a try'" seems weird to me. Coaches "give things a try" all the time - every time they switch lines... Bowman gave Federov a try on defense. Chara was given a try in front of the net on the PP. We are currently trying out the 1-3-1 formation. Maybe I should have used more serious wording. 3. I meant if we got Stafford as a UFA next year he would be a road block and I meant it more for Mantha - I listed Nestrasil because he would probably be pushed off the team, but I agree with you that Nestrasil shouldn't really be a consideration. If he were here for just this year he would only really be a road block to Alfie's return which I think most would be fine with. Could be a good move if the price wasn't too much. Anyway, I don't think we really disagree about much here.

Well, Zetterberg was on pace to have one of his best years before his injury so I don't know about your comment their production "falling to the floor." Abby on the top line is a hangover from the success of Homer there. it hasn't worked with Abby - hopefully Babcock sees that. But Helm is a different player and has yet to play on the top line. You pretty much quoted earlier comments to you the Helm so I feel i need to respond to the "hoodwinked" and "monkeys nodding their agreement" comments. It's a very different thing to think trying Helm on the first line is worth a try then mindlessly agreeing with the organization. My preference would be Mantha on that top line, but he's injured. Jurco would be good in that spot, but I really like the T-S-J line and I'd prefer to to keep them together. Stafford's would be a rental this year with one year left in his contract. I'd be for it if we traded Cleary and Andersson to have him for this year. If Stafford's a worthy pick up he's a UFA next year. Having Stafford would put up a road block for Mantha, Nestrasil.

Wow, yeah, I didn't know that - he's been a minus player 5 out the 7 years of his pro career and was -34 in his first year in GR. Ouch. I never heard Kindl was all that hyped - I'm not questioning that he was - he was a high draft pick. Must have not been around this cite at that point

Trying to think of who might be interested. No one's trying to get to the cap floor...but it would be a team that wouldn't have to worry about cap space and doesn't have a lot spent on their Defence. Jets? Coyotes? Sabres?

You really need a quote for a claim like that. Besides, "We" is Holland, Ryan Martin, Jim Devellano, Babcock, and probably Draper and maybe Chelios. We don't really the dynamics of how the group makes decisions. I don't really know why everyone is so surprised. Ouellet deserves to play over Kindl, but Kindl has a pretty big contract and we need to trade him if we want XO to replace him. If we sent Kindl down, he's a 1.475 against the cap for the next 3 years because nobody is going to trade for him if he can't even make the roster. Let him play a bit at the at the beginning of the year and hopefully either he goes back to 12-13 form or we find a trading partner. Only other option was send Lashoff down and he's just fine as our #7.

If I'm Malkin, Stamkos, or any skilled player - my team is on the PP - I'd much prefer playing against a penalty killing TooToo or Orr than Miller.

Wasn't Eva the Hudler lover? maybe you'll find him/her on the Flames board.