kipwinger

Only if you value hitting more than the other things. It should be apparent by now, the Wings value versatility and skill FAR more than they value hitting and fighting. As such, Tootoo has "more value" to the team you wish the Wings were, and not to the one that they actually are. I like Tootoo, and if we weren't so hamstrung by s***ty contracts I'd like to see him remain on the team. But I don't think there's any chance that the Wings keep him over Eaves. Then again, there's always the chance they move them both so who knows?

Agreed on all points. It's pure disrespect for the safety of other players, and it has no place in the game. What's really annoying about Kaleta is that he doesn't even need to be playing like that. He could, if he wanted, play exactly like Jordin Tootoo and perhaps better. He's capable of skating a regular shift at the NHL level, he's got good skating, defense, and penalty killing ability and has also shown that he can chip in respectable offensive numbers for a fourth liner. He's no George Parros. He could be a productive bottom sixer if he'd pull his head out of his ass.

Because Abby, Miller, Glendening, Kindl, Ericsson, Smith, Lashoff, Dekeyser, Tatar, Quincey, Andersson, Howard, and Gustavsson are all in their twenties.

Eaves is a much better all around player. He kills penalties, Tootoo doesn't. He scores goals occasionally, Tootoo doesn't. He's a really good defender, Tootoo isn't. Tootoo hits much better than Eaves, and that is unique, but in every other facet of the game Patrick Eaves is a superior player to Jordin Tootoo.

Awww, look at you worried about your baby goalie. How cute.

Good save by Gustavsson. Atta boy!

It's more of a knock on the general anti-veteran sentiment that's been pervasive since Cleary resigned. I agree with you about Bert though.

2 goals on the season for Bert...what a waste of space.

He definitely needs to start shooting more. He's being way too nice to his linemates.

I'll take it.

Yeah that was a pretty ugly period. Good thing all these old guys on our team are standing tall or we'd be in the sh*thouse these last couple games.

That was the second line last game, I don't think they made any changes between then and now.

Soooo, does Tootoo fight Boll or Wisniewski tonight? Any takers?

Maybe the refs and/or league have it out for both teams. Ever think about that?

These refs obviously hate the Blue Jackets and want the Wings to win. That holding call was flimsy.

What does any of this have to do with Gary Bettman?

I hope our boys are ready to work tonight, because Columbus plays a really gritty game. This will be one of our tougher back to back games this season.

Yeah, I saw an interview with him recently and it sounded horrible when he explained his symptoms. I don't wish that on anybody.

The problem is that he couldn't be "elite". He can just be really good. If everybody would stop thinking of his as a potentially elite player then there wouldn't be a problem. Nobody thinks Sam Gagner is elite, in spite of his periodic spurts of exceptional play and Franzen is no different. Also, he never ever ever ever ever said he didn't care about the regular season...ever.

Of course he does, he's a good player. It's just a shame that Franzen's image is forever caught up with dumb ass fan's circular reasoning. Franzen sucks until he scores, then everybody pats themselves on the back and says "see, if he'd just try more he'd always do that". Likewise, Franzen's inconsistent until everybody realizes that last year he had shorter goal droughts than Datsyuk and Zetterberg and then it's "weeeeelllll...at least they play defense". Which finally leads me to, "Franzen doens't play defense" until you see him out on the penalty kill and suddenly it's "see, I told you Babcock plays favorites".

Well if Ruslan's post-period and post-game interviews were any indication, I seriously doubt his spirit will have anything to say to some unknown psychic. That guy REALLY hated giving interviews.

I completely agree with you about the Tatar comments. It's really hard for me to figure out Babs actual thoughts on guys because I think he's often putting his sports psychology training into practice when he comments on them. It seems like he believes some guys respond well to criticism, and others need to be insulated from criticism. He's always really supportive of Smith, in spite of his troubles, but rarely gives Kindl any sort of encouragement without first "grounding" him a bit. I don't think he likes one more than the other, but he treats them very differently. I have to think that his comments about Tatar are just more of the same. As far as Smith's comments, I don't recall a time when a player admitted to not knowing how to improve, and it's hard for me to believe that he hasn't been told why he's not in the lineup. Additionally, the "I am a minus-4, but if you watch those goals, I don’t think there’s a breakdown on my side" line bothers me because it points a finger at other players, and obscures the fact that his in zone coverage, and decision making with the puck has been terrible. If his play was up to par he wouldn't have been scratched twice in two games, so either he screwed up on those goals and isn't owning up to it, or he didn't screw up on those particular goals but every other facet of his game needs work. Either way, saying "the goals weren't my fault" deflects attention onto his teammates, and doesn't address whatever it is that has cost him a regular spot in the lineup. I don't remember other young defensemen behaving that way.

I completely agree, I'd prefer that Lashoff stays in the lineup as well. He's a good PK guy and I generally err on the side of defense. I'd always rather play a defensively responsible d-man with poor offense, than a good offensive d-man with poor defense.

Please let me know what you think about him after reading this... http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2013/10/brendan_smith_scratched_as_red.html

Haha, Is it wrong that I never get tired of seeing bad things happening to Luongo?