number9

Really? I think Kindl raising his ppg% from last season by just .08 would make him worth his money. Especially if he can play decent D. And especially if he can increase his physicality. Not saying those are mutually exclusive.

Oh this explains everything. You box or MMA?

Lashoff is serviceable as a 6th/7th d-men on a team with a weak defense. I like his contract, but other than that he's quite literally a plug. I'm willing to give Kindl one more chance just because of Ericsson. Everyone around here hated him and said there was no more room left to grow (including me), now look at him. Lashoff has just never shown streaks of brilliance. Again, I like him as a 6-7 guy, but I don't think that's bringing enough to even worth mentioning. He's not offensively gifted. He's not fast. He's not physical. He plays ok defense. He's like Andersson. pluggy and expendable once his contract runs out. Kindl I'm willing to roll the dice on one last time, but after this season all faith is gone.

Did he get absolutely leveled at some point in the NHL? I remember he used to be fiesty and physical in juniors

Charging too. Some of those charging calls are very borderline. Trapezoid should just be discarded all together. Elimination of the spin o rama = The Todd Bertuzzi Rule Glad they are trying to more seriously curb playoff divefest and faceoff delays.

Truth. IDK why my expectations were so high. I should know by now. Even if we were to win the cup this year, immediately afterwards it would be "This core is aging quickly, I predict hard times coming, Holland has failed to prepare us, he can't even get rid of Kindl, and Franzen sucks Hossa rules."

You can try and minimize my point all you want. Of course none of us really know the inner workings of the Red Wings organization. But to think that a GM doesn't ask his head coach what he wants, who he wants, and who he could do without, and that, that doesn't heavily influence the players he chases is kind of insane. Obama might be at the head of the Military, but when there's a battle to be fought he doesn't just go buy some tanks and send them, he asks his general(s) what they need/want and acts accordingly. Holland and all his scouts can sit down and agree that the team needs more 4th line fighter types... but if Babcock won't play a guy like that then there's no sense in signing one despite what you and your personnel tell yourselves. It'd be like commissioning a sculptor to make a work of art for you, and then giving him paints and oils to work with. The guy might be a real good artist, but that piece is gonna suck. If I'm Holland, Babs has a ton of sway in my personnel choices. Now his needs/wants may not be feasible due to availability of players, financial concerns, and my long-term vision for the team, but I'd do my best to cater to my coach within those limitations. EDIT: Managment also consults Datsyuk and Zetterberg on players as well. Fischer mentioned recently that after training camp they're going to hear boths opinions on Mantha. Holland is not some insane puppeteer. There's a giant organization of guidance and opinions beneath him.

Just wait for the first in-game injury. This forum is going to be something.

OMG!!!!! I CAN'T give less of a s*** I hope Toews Kane and Ovi are all hurt and this is the most boring game ever

I liked the end of this video when Fischer is speaking. He says: "He needs to send a direct message to Zberg and Datsyuk, cause they're going to be watching, that WOW this kid is coming from junior (but) I want him on my line" If I'm Babs that's everything. If Hank and Pavs say wow this kid is good I want to play with him, play him. If not, AHL till callup.

The problem I have is I think you're both grossly underestimating how much Babcock influences the roster. He's routinely expressed his desire to have Cleary on the team, he had words with Weiss before he gave his stamp of approval on signing him, etc. etc. Ken and Babs have always expressed that they have a great working relationship and go to one another for input and advice. Which I assume means mostly Holland going to Babcock for opinions on players. To think that Babcock does not have heavy say on his roster comes off to me as a little naive. Holland very much had his own opinion, and his word is final, but his decisions are also very much influenced by what he's told by his scouts and coaches.

Right. I'd love another Hossa, and I'd do back flips if we got one. But I don't think we neeeeeed one. We can easily make up for that in depth instead of being so top heavy.

The point was the team won without Hossa in 2008. But now suddenly we need him (or his viable replacement) now? Not sure how that doesn't apply to your point

We won the year before without Hossa. Hossa was an unlikely bonus that did not translate into a cup.

Surely you aren't seeing things very Cleary This team could use a few more heart and soul Danny-boys

Mantha is probably the most hyped Wings prospect in a long time. Jurco I consider hyped because during his draft year his skill videos kept popping up everywhere on the internets and he came to be a known prospect. Still can't believe we got him in the 2nd round.

uh oh plot hole

As a Detroit fan, if I had a bajillion dollars (I don't, I'm from Detroit) I would immediately buy a 2nd Toronto franchise just to beat the leafs and win a cup before them and watch all of Ontario implode.

Your excuse to use a Zoidberg quote is amusing ( I like) Tats and Gus have done their time. Jurco and Mantha as #1 call ups in my mind is perfect. When injuries roll in they will play. Could be 20 games, could be 60. You never know these days.

Thanks. Mostly what stuck out in my mind was that when we drafted him I know he was listed as LW/C. I don't know why I gave precedence to the W over the C, but I guess we all make mistakes. He's clearly a C, and the more I think of it and read about it, it seems that way.

Semin is not, and never was the answer. That guy who did the Wings AMA on reddit (take it for what it's worth) indicated that the Wings were interested in signing a certain Russian winger a few years back (some say it could have been Radulov, but it was most likley Semin) and when they asked Datsyuk if he would babysit/workwithhim, Pavel gave a big fat NO. Even if that's all made up I still don't want him. Semin would last exactly one season, if that, with Babcock. Franzen actually plays defense, despite what his detractors here will tell you.

Anyone else think it will be good for Mantha to learn from Jurco in the minors? One over-hyped prospect to another...

Only a sith deals in absolutes

I always liked Diaz. His decision makes a lot of sense, though he likely would have been a top 4 D-man here.

I may have f***ed up on calling him a natural LW, but I know for a fact he's played LW especially in his earlier years before the wings. I concede that he's a natural C, but, unless I'm completely out of my skull, I'm pretty certain he's been played at LW many times before the Wings. I know RedWingsCentral listed him as C/LW until they updated to just C this last year. I'm assuming it's much how we all put Dats at C no matter what, and then you play fantasy hockey and he's listed as LW/C. Poor example but you get my point. Alamo, Wonka, is unnecessary, I think you know I'm a reasonable guy... maybe stupid...