kipwinger

Well I definitely agree with that. Sorry if I misunderstood the intent of your original post.

Wasn't Smith paired with Kronwall last night when he turned the puck over about six times because of Mike Fisher's forecheck? Like everyone else, I think Smith will eventually get better. How much better is still subject to debate. But let's not make excuses for his screw ups, he played with the top dog last night and looked like garbage. That's not Quincey or Kind's fault.

Damn, lots of key goals late in the game for our guys but Jimmy let in a couple of stinkers and too many turnovers by the defense. Christ we're vulnerable to a strong forecheck.

I can already see this "compete level" thing becoming an albatross around Mantha's neck. The kid was a top twenty pick, and in most years probably closer to a top ten pick, but he wasn't tops in his class. As such, there had to be a knock on him and this is the story we got: his compete level isn't high enough". But we fail to contextualize it. Saying Mantha doesn't compete is short for "Mantha is not rated as high as McKinnon because he doesn't compete as hard" and not "Mantha doesn't compete and takes games off". Sure as s*** though, the first time he goes a few games without playing particularly well some parrot will come out of the woodwork talking about Mantha's compete level. It's the same type of thing as when everyone used to say "Osgood lets in the occasional floater" long after that had been a (minor) problem and in blatant disregard for the fact that almost all goalies let in the occasional floater. Just a thing repeated for the sake of being repeated.

Whatevs, I got a really wicked papercut today in the office and it was a doozie. It smarted for at least two minutes!

Does Avery count as a misfit? I loved that guy when he played for the Wings...and admittedly when he played for everyone else too.

Hard to say which have leadership ability considering pretty much none of them have ever played an NHL game. Of those you mentioned probably Danny D as captain, and whoever else after that. But realistically the next leadership group is likely to have Helm, Abby, and maybe Ericsson leading the way.

Here's a blockbuster deal that someone over at Hfboards advanced: To Detroit: Andrei Markov Montreal's 2012 second rounder To Montreal: Anthony Mantha Priceless. Don't you just want to pat them on the head sometimes for coming up with this stuff.

Oh, are the Red Wings playing tonight? Nobody bothered to tell me...or them.

Doom! Gloom! The Red Wings will never be good again Muahhahahahahaha. Here's my big prediction: Remember when Pavel was the only guy out, and Nyquist finally got called up, and our lines were finally starting to gel and we beat Buffalo 3-1, and Boston 6-1, and the Islanders 5-0, and Ottawa 4-2? Well, once guys get healthy we'll see more of that. Take a deep breath boys, we'll be fine. That's my bold prediction.

If want to do things that are perfectly legal and normal, you have to fight to do it.

You're totally right, I'm wrong. I have no idea why I was thinking he coached them in 2007 when I watched him coach us in the series against them in 2007. I concede on the Ducks front, but I still believe Babs' 2008 and 2009 Red Wings rosters were as good as anything Quenneville has had. As noted above, you guys are totally right on this one. Edit: Just looked at that 2003 Ducks roster. How the hell did they ever make it to the finals? J.S. Giguere must still have fingernail imprints on his ears from the rest of that team jumping on his back and grabbing hold.

I agree with you on preferring Tippett or Trotz. But I don't think Quenneville's teams were any better or worse than Babs. Sure Quenneville has Kane, Toews, Sharp, Hossa, and Keith. But Babs had Pronger, Niedermayer, Getzlaf, Selanne, Perry, Kunitz, Datsyuk, Z, Franzen, Lidstrom, Rafalski, Hossa, Osgood (some people will argue but he's a hall of famer). Babs has by no means had inferior talent to Quenneville. Tippett and Trotz, of course, both have.

So much ass beating is going to happen when Z and Helm get back on this team. Everybody that thinks we can only squeak out 2-1 wins is about to get a rude awakening. MORE METAL THAN METAL!

FIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHTTTTTTTTTTT! FIGHT GOOD, NO FIGHT...BAD!!!! FIGHT!

Whatever guys. Fighting is a part of hockey, always has been and always will be. If Lucic wants to go home and do things that are perfectly legal and in accordance with standard practices and norms, he better be willing to drop the gloves.

I mean, as far as winning goes Quenneville has fewer wins but more cups. So you can say it's a wash, or you can say Babcock is better because he wins more often, or you can say Quenneville is better because he wins more often when it matters. Personally, I think guys who do more with less are the better coaches. Dave Tippett has missed the playoffs ONCE in a coaching career that has included Dallas, LA (before and causing their recent ascent), and Phoenix. He's never had a Datsyuk, Zetterberg, or Lidstrom. Hell he's hardly had a Rafalski or Franzen. Barry Trotz, same deal. These guys are good with no resources, give them as much support as Babs gets and they rule the roost, but that's just me. I think of them like I think of Ron Gardenhire in baseball, a lot with a little.

It's sh*tty, there's no doubt about it. But compared to Lions or Tigers fans, Wings fans have always been a bit fickle. It doesn't surprise me that people aren't showing up the way we've been playing. I mean hell, look at how many on our fan forum have sworn on and off them the last few weeks. Now imagine the feeling of the casual suburban potential ticket buyer. Everybody around here expects them to win, and if they don't they're chopped liver. Sad but true. The Wings aren't the Lions, they actually have to do something positive to get fan support.

Bab's is ONE of the better coaches in the league. He usually puts a quality product on the ice when that's possible. He's got a million little "proclivities" that drive me ******* nuts, but there's no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. You don't fire a guy if there's nobody better to replace him. If we go two more years (this and next) with early exits (or playoff misses) I'd think about making a change. But even then, I'd stick with a proven vet coach, don't gamble with someone unproven at the NHL level. Personally, I like Dave Tippett. But that's just me.

So, are you saying that through bad contracts and short sightedness the team has been forced into cutting guys loose that they'd rather not, and playing guys they'd usually not?

Curse those damn refs for calling 5 penalties against the Red Wings and only 4 against the Flames. An extra big f*ck you for not calling a penalty late in the third period on a play that even Mickey said was hokey and handing the Wings an overtime victory. Those guys have it out for us bad. Good job Wings, winning in spite of obvious league collusion.

Ericsson! What a stud.

Makes sense...ugh.

Just turned the game on and haven't seen Jurco. Is he not playing or have I just missed him?

If Ryane Clowe is worth 4.75 million per year, then Alex Steen is worth 100 Bazillion per year. Just sayin'.