kipwinger

I agree with you about Cleary. I don't think he's been bad. But you've got to remember, that was a pleasant surprise. Going into the season everybody KNEW that Cleary was done, and that Holland was just doing him a favor. So leaving Jurco down and giving Cleary more games would have been risky right out of camp (when Holland would have had to make this decision). Anyway, I don't disagree that Jurco could have benefitted for additional time in GR. I just don't think making that decision would have been the easiest thing to do given that Holland needs to balance other concerns as well.

I agree.

I certainly agree with making minor tweaks, but I think that given how Holland operates, the package you've put together (while good) isn't something he'd shop. The MOST I could see him offering is a 2nd round pick and a middling roster player. And even then, I don't think he'd move anyone that Babcock liked.

When asked point blank, Mike Babcock said that Weiss could help the team by scoring. Which he did. After which time, Babs benched him. So either, Babs was full of s*** when he said he wanted Weiss to score. Or else scoring roughly a point per game isn't enough to avoid getting benched. The latter is absurd, the former tells us a little bit about Babcock's views on scoring.

Because neither Holland, nor Babcock, wants to trade Ouellet (or the first round pick). In a vacuum it's a good package, and it really is one, but that doesn't mean Holland's interested in shopping a package like that. Holland's bread and butter is drafting and prospect development. He'd almost always keep a prospect with upside and a pick, rather than bring in help from outside. And who can blame him? Look what he's able to accomplish with prospects and picks.

Bylsma is the right guy for that job. It's a team built for offense, and he's won a Cup with a team built for offense. If they get a guy like Babs they're going to have to spend the next three seasons (or so) trying to restructure the roster.

Babcock doesn't think Smith is better. Which is why he keeps giving Ouellet more minutes. Smith is yesterday's news. He'll be the new Kindl once the old Kindl is thrown on the heap.

Aha, thanks for the clarification. Admittedly I do not follow the Maple Leafs and their goings on. Mostly because I do not want to be tarnished by filth.

That may be true. I certainly won't argue, as Holland's approach to prospect development has worked excellently in the past. But it should be noted that prior to the season opener Babcock said he wanted Jurco on the team, and he has consistently praised his play. So this is a case where Holland is screwed either way. If he doesn't leave Jurco on the big club, then everyone complains that this is just like when he left Nyquist (and now Ouellet) down despite Babcock's wishes. If he does bring him up then he doesn't get the development that he probably ought to. Also, as an aside, it also means that Cleary would likely have played more. Which everyone would crucify Holland for as well. So I'm not going to get too bent out of shape for it either way.

Nope, gotta earn that time. And scoring 11 points in 12 games isn't earning it enough for Uncle Mike. Not at all.

I thought Franson didn't want to be there? Hence his contract negotiations being so contentious. I was under the impression that he was just signing one year deals over and over until he was no longer an RFA.

I do. Superficially it seems like his teams play the same system, but generate more offense. Which is exactly what I wish the Wings would do. But that's a question better left for folks who watch more Griffins hockey than I do. Admittedly I only catch about every fourth or fifth game.

Jesus, please let Babcock go to Toronto. Then he can put Kessel on the fourth line, Phaneuf can play 27 minutes a night because he's "heavy", and a their shutdown line of Bozak-Pannik-Clarkson will be an example to the league on how to suppress shots. All associated with MLSE, the Toronto Press, and Maple Leafs nation will back slap themselves silly and marvel at Babcock's genius. They will lose every other game 2-1, of course.

I know. I'm basically just baiting him because I know how much he loves Smith. Sorry to involve you in my Machiavellian scheming. And sorry to you krsmith17, it's just too fun screwing with you about Riley's brother.

So swap Ouellet with Smith. First, it downgrades the package enough to get you the types of guys on the market. Secondly, you get to keep Ouellet, who is better in every way that Smith. Win-win.

In the final analysis, Carlyle just couldn't make the toast in Toronto.

Jurco will still be fine. He's 21. By 24 he'll be doing what Abdelkader is doing now. By 27 he'll be around 50-60 pts. a year...and physical. Everything we hoped Franzen would turn out to be. Jurco is a big kid, but always played a skilled game. He's basically learning how to be a power forward, but learning in the NHL rather than Juniors or AHL. It's a steep learning curve. Abby had the same one. Jurco is already an excellent passer, once he learns how to score in tight, his production will explode.

And yet, despite praising him for 2/3 of an article, she didn't inexplicably start speculating on his trade value for the last third. Weird.

Babcock on Weiss: http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/01/red_wings_tomas_jurco_playing.html Babcock said Weiss has been fine, but he must take someone else's minutes. "I think he's battling real hard, now he has to take someone's job," Babcock said. "That's how it is." Unreal. We're playing like garbage, we can't score, and Weiss has to earn more than ten minutes a game? I don't remember Abdelkader having to earn back his ice time after his shoulder injury (the same exact one as Weiss had, but which kept him out longer). Babcock is such a ******* tool. At least Khan finally asked though. I like to think it's because of TheGlistening's friendly prodding lol.

Haha. Well he is, after all, a genius.

You know what's extra annoying? This video where Babcock talks about Weiss and extolls him to "score, score, score" in order to help the team. So then Weiss does. And then Babs benches him.

I'd get Ryan Lambert to do it. I'm sure he'd relish questioning Mike Babcock to his face. Lambert's my kind of *******. As for St. James doing something meaningful...maybe she could cut off her own hands so that she'd never type another article again. That would be about the extent of her utility at this point.

If I was Ken Holland I'd call her office right now and ask "what the f*** Helene"? Why would you speculate about a players' trade value, and fuel subsequent rumors, while he's playing the best hockey of anyone on the team? I've always thought Helene St. James was stupid. But this is seriously next level stupidity. It's like if stupidity went super saiyan.

I'd like to thank Helene St. James for starting all this crap with her retarded article. What the hell was she thinking? I wonder what it would take to get Tomas Tatar's mother to punch St. James in the mouth?

I take projections with a grain of salt, but based on their current levels of production we can "expect" the following: 25-30 goals: Tatar, Nyquist, Datsyuk 18-20 goals: Zetterberg, Abdelkader 15 goals: Helm, Sheahan, Franzen, (maybe) Weiss. 10 goals: Kronwall I agree with you about the vast difference in the quality of our defense, but it's really not hard to see why Babs would feel that way about the forwards (at least). If you look at it like its listed above, you've essentially got a first line full of 30 goal scorers, a second line full of 20 goal scorer, a third line full of 15 goal scorers, and a shutdown fourth line.