evilzyme

If anyone remembers Babcock's interview via mlive during the lockout the one fond quote we could always take away from that interview was something along the lines of, "because of the shortened season we're going to see many hockey players go down early. team's will be coming out of the gate with the full-speed ahead mentality and it'll lead to many injuries." sure enough, we'll start seeing the injuries pile on as majority of these guys bodies aren't used to the intense workout it'll be getting during practice/gametime.

Just to throw a little counter-argument your way to open up the debate a little, how has history been with Holland traveling and meeting with UFAs? I feel like he also went out of his element this post-season and went and traveled Ryan Suter. So while he hasn't traded much in the past, I wouldn't make it a end-game for him to do it within the future.

not that I personally think they are better than most of our lineup, because I feel like that's a really strong statement BUT i'll say this about the free agency. Why wouldn't we? When we have tatar and nyquist on 2-way contracts still, there isn't a direct need for them to be implemented within a 48-game season, or atleast this season. With the history of our development, we're going to over-rippen them and could use a season or two more to mature. Both of them added weight over this past off-season and had improvements in both of their games. I watched them and you can tell they got stronger and added in weight. The biggest complaint I had against nyquist last season was his weight. Anyways, back to the free agency. When we can keep both of these players in the AHL, what's the worst that can happen by signing on two vets? Especially one being on the gritty side which we needed. Sammy was apart of our cup run team and Holland sees something in him. I even feel something about sammy! Anyways, we could always deal out people and with them being both 2-way contract players, we don't have to lose 2 prospects if we don't want. So in final, either we picked them up for trade bait and/or security or we can just keep them within the system if they pan out.

Our system has been a myth? What. Go tell our front office and development personal that their system has been a myth these past generations. Are their exceptions to this rule? Absolutely as there is for everything. Would we hold back Sidney Crosby if we had just drafted him and he showcased the maturity and skill to handle himself within the NHL? NO! Same situation for Zetterberg and Pasha, they earned their spots by showcasing what they had. They took the most of their opportunity. We also had a team that allowed for Pasha to be implemented within the system pretty flawlessly. If you honestly believe that this team "needs emmerton", he would have been utilized more. Unfortunately he was just wasting ice-time to allow for another forward to get some rest.

I'd agree with you but we're talking about the success Pasha and Filp bring together. That equals more firepower. Back in the day, yes the euro twins had some magic but unfortunately it hasn't translated that great the past two seasons at least. Simply put, that's why we haven't put them together, along with the fact that we needed to spread load our defensive forwards. Why stack two of your best 2-way players on one line when you can throw and separate them onto two separate lines and being able to contain two top lines? I just don't see a drastic change in firepower from allowing pasha-filp, filp-pasha, zett-pasha, pasha-zett (changing winger to center of the two lines).

Simple answer. Pasha center first with filp on the wing, and Hank mans the 2nd line. Line adjustments happen, people don't always play their natural position. Cory Emmerton is a natural winger playing center? You should know this.

Filp: pair with datsyuk. SUCCESS! no seriously though, they work amazing together. still to this day, i never understood why babs never allowed them to play full-time or any substantial time together.

I was always under the impression that his wife, or ex-wife, or whatever never came to America with their daughter in the first place due to that reason. Pasha was interviewed numerous times telling the same story. If he got divorced or whatever, that's his life, but it always was to keep his daughter within the Russian culture.

They should be all on FSN-D or FSN-D+ when interfering with the crappy pistons. National televised games are normally the only ones that throw FSN-D off (NBCSN/NBC).

You need to do some research it seems, not only on just how working players into the system works but also apparently the red wings development process. we over-ripen for a reason, it's one of our biggest give offs in our developmental process. everyone gets on our ass about it, but it's just how we have worked and will continue to do so. Babcock doesn't "hold" players back out of spite, but sometimes you need to field players because of given situations. I'm going to try and explain to you about a situation that you may not like exactly, and I know i've tried to explain this to you numerous times, so i'll try to make it as easy as possible. Cory Emmerton is a great example for such situations as i'm trying to talk about. While Cory Emmerton found his spot on the roster last year, it was due to him being un-eligible for being sent down. If we were to send him down to the minors, he would have to clear waivers. Would he have cleared waivers? Absolutely not. Does this mean that he should be playing in OUR system? No. Cory Emmerton simply just doesn't fit what the Red Wings need, or want right now. Will he succeed with another team? Most likely. He is like a Leino. He just doesn't work with our system, but will flourish within another. Moral of the story, you don't throw a player and try to pass them through waivers if you know they are going to get picked up for NOTHING. Why would we allow another team to grab Cory Emmerton when we could use him as trade bait value? You simply don't do this. While I know you're going to sit there and say, but he played 71 games!! Yes, he played 71 games and also was the ONLY player on the roster that didn't get double digit ice time. We HAD to use him last season. I hope the best for Cory, but unfortunately he just isn't as good as the other players we have which will most likely lead to him being dealt or just not making an NHL career. http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20122DETSASALL&sort=avgTOIPerGame&viewName=summary

I couldn't find the other thread that was more based strictly on Moore-Bert but here's a new article: http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1314614--bertuzzi-moore-court-documents-shed-light-on-ex-nhl-player-s-struggles

Someone just had called them and is reporting that it will be offered at $49.99 this season, and it will be published later today. ***EDIT*** THIS IS FOR GAMECENTER LIVE

I've heard that, but never actually had any source saying it was true so I never believed it.

KHL aint done yet with kovy; IgorEronko: #KHL head Alex Medvedev says he'll be in NA in February to discuss with #Devils Ilya Kovalchuk's contract buyout to have him back in Russia

absolutely not, we NEED helmer as our third line center. without him, as babcock has always said, roles change and our system changes. this forces the lines to change and everything just goes to s***. helmer is a huge piece to this franchise, which I think some underestimate how much he really brings to the table. I feel bad for the guy, it seems like he's been out since mid-season last season. he loves this sport and my god he throws his heart out there night in and night out.

he's already said he will retire from hockey playing in Russia. It's always been the plan from the start, as majority of the Russian players do this anyways. He wanted his daughter and wife to stay in Russia while he plays in America because he doesn't want the family to lose it's cultural roots. If anything, this lockout simply just made us lose 2 more possible years of pasha in America. He would likely have signed a 2-yr extension after this current contract and then head over to the KHL to finish, but seeing how it was these past 3 months, I think his time in America is all but done with this current contract. Then again, these players need to realize that the KHL was like that because it was filled with NHL talent. Unfortunately, they won't have all their friends playing alongside them when they actually retire and go to the league. I'm happy for pasha, originally I was upset and I think we're all mutual with that feeling but when you look into the situation deeper, anyone would most likely do the same thing.

I absolutely hated the NHL network when I had gotten it. Originally, I just got it for the draft and I thought it would be cool to see some classic games plus preseason games. Their coverage is HORRIBLE, just replays of the same show over and over and over and over and over oh my god is this frickin espn? Oil change and the day the game changed are consistently on, which some can be cool, but majority are stupid and overplayed. So yeah.. in my personal opinion, it's not worth the money AT ALL.

lol did you see milan lucic? he was taking extended water breaks and taking knees non-stop when they started doing informal practices together. what many people don't understand is that you can workout during the lockout all you want, it still doesn't mean you'll be in GAME SHAPE. It'll take a bit for these boys to get their lungs back and their feet adjusted to it.

BRING BACK THE FLOW!

rofl, but emmerton is supposed to bring this to the table? you're insane dude. if it's ANYONE in the system right now, emmerton doesn't "fit". Have you watched any grand rapids games this season? did you attend any games and actually watch him? or are you still just talking from his previous nhl season. he looked a lot better this season and added some weight, as we ALL knew he needed to do. you can't play in the top 6 if you don't have the skill, and you can't handle yourself against the big top pairings of other teams. nyquist knew this, and added some weight. he can handle puck battles a lot better now. that's how it works. nyquist is one of those players that needs assets to assist him. with those assets, he becomes deadly. without those assets, he isn't deadly. he is a very good player, but he certainly isn't someone who can create and convert on his own.

you do know that nyquist is higher in the depth chart than emmerton right? and dont get it skrewed, nyquist had 7 points in 18 games while emmerton played 71 games and racked up a huge 10 points. 3 less of points while playing, what, 53 less games? i dont get your fixation of cory emmerton but dont let it haze the reality of the debate.

If we beat St.Louis it'll turn some heads. Everyone will be excited to come back and play, luckily we have a bunch of players that have been playing overseas. I know the others have been working out in Troy but working out and being in game shape is two completely different things. Training camp should really get things set in stone and I think they'll come out with a bang. Watch out we got some motivated players this season that got something to prove. Cleary healthy and on a contract year. Brunner and Zetterberg have been assigned a mission and should be beauties together, add one of the best space creating players if not THE best with pavel and it's going to be a deadly line. Helmer is more than ready to play, I feel this season will be HUGE for him. As much as I love to joke about sammy, I have a feeling he's going to make a lot of people eat some crows on this board. GOD I can't wait for some hockey. "Red Wings hockey presented to you by, BELLE TIRE" dadadadadaadd dadadadadad adadadadadada ah i'm far too excited to hear ken and mick and see the boys playing again.

Pasha is not one who likes the spotlight, infact, he would rather stay out of it. I HIGHLY doubt he would get upset if someone didn't recognize him on the street. I'm not related to this forum in any such manner besides just being an active member, but my dude.... it's pretty silly to post on another red wings forum, while trying to blatantly ignore the rules of not advertising. I mean... you sure as hell didn't try to avoid it by using the website as the username, having an avatar for it, and a signature posting it...

ofcourse we have the most bandwagon fans, because we've been successful for the past 20 years and a force to be reckon with during those years. When you're that dominant for that long, people pick up your team. "Hey, I just started hockey, what's a good team to watch?" --- "The Detroit Red Wings!" People who are new to the sport, and we have more and more people coming and joining the hockey community year in and year out, want to cheer for a successful team that they know will win. It doesn't always have to be your home-state's team, especially if they aren't good. Hell, I know enough people who hate the Lions that live within Michigan and cheer for other teams because of their success. Basically, what it boils down to is embrace the bandwagon. We have fans all across this frickin nation, we FILL other stadiums with our fan base because IT IS THAT BIG. So yes, we do have the biggest bandwagon group. Go on HFB and see how many mindless red wing fans there are on there, it should be enough proof.

They had Mike Babcock on channel 95.5 this morning roughly around 9am. He stated that he honestly didn't know who was captain. He said that the coach thinks he picks the captain, the players think they choose the captain, the management thinks they choose the captain, and well quite frankly if they all agree on the same guy well then, that's not a problem. It was weird that he didn't want to say straight up that Zetterberg was the new captain, especially with articles two days ago stating that it would be him. They'll probably announce it a day or two within training camp when the team is together and everyone is back from Europe. Gotta hand over the "C" while everyone is present and accounted for.