Red Wings Addict

Yeah it's clear to me at least that the Wings are giving their ultimate best in terms of energy and emotion. But, it's just not good enough. Period.

You know what, I was somewhat fine with just retooling the bottom six this off-season and the same top six. But they really need both. A slight infusion in the top six and then more of an overhaul for the bottom six.

Oh that would be fun as hell to watch. Standing there behind two way glass or whatever. I'd write a research paper on that.

What's really sad about this is that I believe the Wings are giving their best. It's just not good enough for 2nd round appearance let alone a cup.

Not liking how we haven't heard of any punishment yet for Neal and Asham.

"and I feeeel fiiiiiiine..." Well not really but it just seemed to fit that song.

Seriously? I'm not even trying anymore. He just makes it that easy.

Damn that's tough for the Caps. Chara scoring with only a few minutes left.

Games have been so close that I'm thinking the Wings are due for a crazy scoring night where they win huge.

O'Reilly? How did that schtick not start years earlier?

Lucic... You mad? By the way who started that whole "You mad" business?

They might as well just come clean and say, "We treat certain players differently than others." Or perhaps, "We give special treatment to players who sell a lot of tickets." I've pretty much made my peace with it. What can you do?

'But hard work is stressful. I can get by fairly well without it.'

Hahaha...

Yeah...

How did Schenn refuse to pummel Crosby right there? He had no ref in his way after all.

I don't. And I really don't blame Shanahan. He has bosses too that he has to listen to over the fans.

Haha, that's pretty extreme don't you think? There's a lot of upside to those combinations. Also, combinations aren't necessarily about putting the guys who have "earned it" together. You have to consider depth as well. Cleary has shown that he can handle some of the responsibilities down low and on the forecheck. I'd be happy with either Holmstrom or Bertuzzi there but it seems like Cleary would be the guy that Babs would put in that situation. If you get Franzen to patrol the center of the ice then that will really change the way Nashville has to defend. Nyquist has always been known for his excellent playmaking ability and he'll have more room to create with Nashville devoting more focus on Franzen. Plus Nyquist and Franzen have good chemistry, especially on the cycle. Eventually Bertuzzi's stone hands will soften up over time. He has too much of a history of being able to execute good solid passes. If you want to focus on the negative then you might only see the turnovers he makes but he still makes solid passes. Filppula on the 3rd line makes the Wings deeper at center and again it can change the way the Preds have to defend. If you don't like Filppula on the third line then pretend his line is the 2nd and Franzen's is the 3rd, I don't care. The point is to get more effectiveness down the middle. Right now it seems like the Preds are pretty happy with the way they've defended and changing up the personnel in the middle is a good way to explore different scenarios. If you want an energy line then you're really watching the wrong team. You got Abdelkader and Miller as quasi-energy guys. Many of the Wings' energy guys are either injured or scratched. The Wings simply don't have an energy line if players like Helm and Eaves are out of the lineup.

He will score 4 goals.

Fine you big baby. Although I get negged too so you're not the only one.

That line at the start of this year was absolutely terrible. Just terrible. But in a playoff atmosphere these guys seem to really come alive. Why not give them a shot together? And if Cleary can't keep pucks down low and create space then try Bertuzzi.

It'll probably end with both of them humping each other and a group singing of "Why can't we be friends?"

The players only understand one language, really. Take away their games and it takes away money and playing time. Do that and maybe you'll have a chance at behavior modification. Anything other than that I guess I just don't believe in all that much.

Well that's kind of a different standard to me. We're Red Wings fans and if we heard our captain say things like that we'd look at each nervously. Maybe Canucks fans are just different. Maybe they want to hear their captain say stupid things like that, I don't know. I guess I just think that Sedin's statement is some sort of pandering to a group somewhere, probably his own fans. I wonder if we were to look at some of the Canucks message boards that you'll have a few users defend his statement and point out specific evidence of the Kings defense making turnovers here or skating sluggishly there, bla bla bla.