kipwinger

Classy. Nuff said.

Figured I'd both this here because I didn't know where else to. Pretty awesome article Drew Sharp of the Free Press wrote about how teams can go from zero to hero and back again in the modern age of instant media and social networking. It's particularly about the MSU basketball team, but could just as easily apply to the Wings (I'm giving Babs the benefit of the doubt here) and it's definitely worth the read. Also, I know I'm guilty of many of the things mentioned in the article, before anybody feels it necessary to point it out. But guess what, so are many of you. http://www.freep.com/article/20140319/COL08/303190048/Drew-Sharp-World-of-instant-gratification-tears-down-then-praises-Michigan-State-basketball

I'll say this, I did not realize how fast Nyquist was until last night. I knew he was quick, but not fast like that. It was appropriate that we played the Leafs last night because Nyquist looked A LOT like Phil Kessel in terms of his explosive first strides and quick wrister. Kid is fast.

This is my favorite post so far today.

I agree with the organizational philosophy completely. Again, I'm not trying to give off the impression that there's something wrong with seeing Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Jurco, Mantha, Sproul, Ouellet, Marchenko, Mrazek as the future core of this team. Given how they've shown up so far I'd say it's a REALLY good idea. But I do think you have to make decisions based on the new realities these guys have created. We essentially just got a (very good) third line, a top six forward, and backup goalie for free. Two years ago none of these guys (maybe Nyquist) were even on our radar. Tatar was an afterthought, and the rising star was Smith. All of that has changed because injuries showed that most of these guys were the real deal and many are ready now. As such, we have the luxury of having a "fourth" line of Abby-Helm-Miller if we want, who can play 12-15 minutes of effective hockey (as opposed to the 6-8 our fourth currently plays). We don't need to have these guys playing a bigger role, and in truth, they're likely not suited for a bigger role. Reducing their roles means Abby isn't counted on for goals, Helm probably stays healthier, and we now have favorable matchups against deep teams. But that requires the org. rethink the roles Abby and Helm play on the team (not so much Miller his is the same). Similarly, having such high end young defensive talent makes Kindl redundant and means that you no longer have to hope that Smith will develop into a top four guy. Drop him to the third pair permanently and his mistakes are less costly (or less frequent). Best part is, all these young guys have shown they're capable of taking on big roles but don't get paid s***...so we're cap friendly for at least 2-3 years. Just in case we decide we need a high end free agent to fill a role (top six winger, top four defenseman?). But none of that's going to happen if Holland doesn't move (or consider moving) guys like Kindl and Andersson, letting the old guys walk, and reconsidering what roles Smith, Helm, and Abby play on this team. That's my rationale anyway, but it's a good discussion so I'm certainly willing to reconsider if I'm missing something that you've picked up on.

I would give anything if Jimmy would learn how to poke check. That goal wasn't his fault, but a poke check saves it.

That too, though I imagine they'd like someone who at least has the possibility of scoring a goal. Tootoo's not much help considering Babs hates him and will only play him about two and a half minutes a night.

Smith is a better defenseman than Kindl, so our defense is now worse. Any forward is better than Smith, ya know, cuz he hasn't played forward since he was like 14 according to reports. You don't have to be sold on Callahan, but to think that he's not a better option than a converted defenseman who hasn't played forward since he's hit puberty is nuts. I also don't hate Smith. You'll notice that every time I talk about him I say "he'll get better, but he's not good yet". I legitimately believe that. I do, however, hate how everybody bends over backward to make excuses for the guy rather than just saying "he sucks...right now".

Nah, Babs will dress Howard as a forward, start McCollum in goal and have Mrazek back him up...ya know...cuz any hockey player is just as good as any other player at any position in the mind of the "best coach in the NHL". Ugh.

The Wings strength and conditioning coach does a fine job. He got both Dats and Z up to around 195 from their entry weights at 170-175 lbs, and if I recall correctly Kindl gained a huge amount of weight after his rookie season as well (not that it mattered).

If it was about goals I assume they'd call up Callahan since he's second on the Griffs in goals, rather than convert a defenseman to forward (all put ensuring he won't score). Babs likely wants Smith for his perceived forechecking ability and "heavyness", which will yield exactly zero goals, make our defense weaker, and take a chance away from a kid who's worked his tail off for an opportunity to play a game with the big club.

Why go through all that? Just call up Callahan and leave Smith at his natural position. This whole Smith to forward idea is gimmicky enough to get people interested, but at the end of the day it's still totally hairbrained.

Best post of the day. Easily.

Like I said, have you seen him pass? It might well be a bad thing.

I guess I should have been more clear, my (tongue in cheek) comment about moving in a different direction was in reference to a hypothetical excuse to break Dan Cleary's heart, not actually change how we play hockey. I don't expect missing the playoffs to change our organizational philosophy, but rather I hope it's used as an opportunity to reduce redundancy and hash out roles. Figure out which three of Helm, Andersson, Sheahan, Glendening, and Emmerton you want to keep and let the others go. Figure out whether you want Zetterberg to permanently move to the wing or not. Figure out whether you want Weiss or Legwand or both (one on the wing? Ugh). Identify whether Abby's going to be a top six forward or a grinder. Jurco up or down? Tatar into the top six or sign a UFA? Kindl's future? Gustavsson's future? These sorts of things. Then make stop-gap moves accordingly. Letting Cleary, Bert, Sammy, Quincey, Etc. walk is a no-brainer, but we've still got a lot to sort out regardless.

Who has to die before Callahan gets a call up?

How could you not feel better knowing that Smith won't be relied upon to defend National Hockey League forwards anymore? Though I am a bit afraid of how many turnovers he'll have now that passing will be required of him more often.

They're rookies! Datsyuk and Zetterberg weren't players in the mold of Datsyuk/Zetterberg when they were rookies either. Zetterberg was runner up in rookie of the year voting his first year with 22 goals and 22 assists in 79 games, Datsyuk had a less impressive 11 goals and 24 assists in 70 games his rookie year. Both Tatar AND Nyquist are on pace to beat those numbers in MANY fewer games. Furthermore, neither Datsyuk nor Zetterberg were asked to do as much in their respective rookie campaigns. They were both on teams LOADED with talent. Maybe they will turn out to be that good, and likely they won't. But to act as if their rookie years have been anything other than spectacular is absurd.

I mean, I agree with you. I'm not really in love with it either, but we need wingers with legit top six talent who aren't 400 years old and there aren't many out there. I want to emphasize again that I'd only want them as stop gap measures short term and cheaper than they're currently signed for. Like everyone else, ideally I'd like a young power forward. But considering you'd have to give a lot to get one, and that really isn't Holland's M.O. I'm just going to assume he'll stick with aging retreads. As far as aging retreads go, Gaborik and Heatly are at the top of my list.

You know, to be honest maybe missing the playoffs isn't the worst thing in the world. I personally don't give a sh*t about "the streak". I'll be bummed that I won't get to watch hockey as long this year, but other than that I think it's a good thing. I'm sick of watching us make the playoffs only to get beat prior to the conference finals. This team is in serious need of some house cleaning. If ending "the streak" doesn't motivate the brass to do that, then I don't know what will. Plus, it will give Holland the excuse he clearly needs to cut some of these guys loose. "Sorry Dano, we'd love to re-sign you but after last season we're forced to take a hard look at our team and we've decided to move in a different direction". Let the expiring contracts go. Promote the four kids to full time, thus putting us in good cap position. And make decisions on those guys who are only marginal...e.g. Kindl, Andersson, Glendening, etc. If you don't want them, trade them for whatever you can get and put all the savings toward fixing the problems that you can. Here's what I'd like to see, but this is only me... Zetterberg-Dats-? Franzen-Weiss-Nyquist Tatar-Sheahan-Jurco Miller-Helm-Abby Kronwall-Ericsson ?-Dekeyser Smith-Lashoff Howard Finally, something to ponder. The free agent class is thin, but we do legitimately need a top six winger who isn't a converted center. This won't be popular, but I'd consider either Gaborik or Heatly as a stop gap measure PROVIDED they weren't signed long term and took modest pay reductions...which might not be a hard sell considering Heatly's production has dipped in recent years and Gaborik has been hurt. No more than two years at 5.75 for either of them. Like I said, it won't be popular but it wouldn't cost us assets and there's no sense just sitting on the money. I don't know what's available on defense, but probably a stop gap there too unless Buffalo wants to unload Erhoff before free agency.

Good on him for saying so, but no matter how much they "want it" or don't, "play heavy" or don't, "stick to it" or don't, you're not going to beat national hockey league teams with AHL level talent. Particularly when the NHL players you do have in the lineup are largely the supporting cast. This team has serious holes in it that haven't been addressed for about four years now. Until they get addressed, they'll struggle...healthy or not...effort or not. I do want to say that I like seeing Franzen step up though. He's played well since his return and I always love seeing guys try to be a factor off the ice as well as on it.

How do you not like Backes?

Erhoffs rights were traded to the Islanders, whom he didn't sign with, before he hit the market and signed with Buffalo in FA. If I remember correctly. Edit: And I didn't remember correctly because his rights were traded twice that year, first to the Island and then to Buffalo. So your point is valid and mine was wrong. Acknowledged.

I wonder if Holland ever thinks to himself, "I guess I should have 'overpaid' for a good defenseman when I had the chance". Like, I don't expect him to ever come out and say it, but I wonder if he thinks it. If so, it was probably right around the time he was trying to trade assets for the very same Christian Erhoff that half this forum was screaming to sign three years ago.

Ok, one at a time. Nowhere, at all, did I ever say that Alfie didn't deserve to be in the top six. But in your first post you didn't say top six, you said top line. Also, Neither Alfie or Abby should be on the top line given the fact that Franzen and Nyquist are our two best scoring wingers and they're both healthy. But if we're talking about the whole top six now, its not surprising that Babs has Abby in the top six given that he values defensively responsible guys. Secondly, I agree our PP is terrible. But given that our powerplay is terrible, and throughout the season Babs has preferred Kindl, Eaves, Samuelsson, and just about everyone else to Smith (or E) on the point, doesn't that tell you something about how good he is there? Or whether the coach feels he's earned a spot? Now, I'm open to the idea that Babs is just being a big ol' bully and trying to hold Smith back, but probably it's just that he either a) doesn't trust him, or b) Smith isn't good on the PP.