kipwinger

The Wings got worse on defense but improved their forward units and goal tending. I'm not so sure they "got worse" as you'd suggest.

Detroit is one good shutdown defender away from being a VERY good team. Holland will fix this early and Detroit will make the playoffs without a problem.

My predictions: 1) Nyquist gets traded early as part of a package to bring in a bigger bodied shut down defender...someone like Anton Volchenkov or Zach Bogosian, though maybe not either of these two guys. Other pieces may include Emmerton, Kindl, picks. 2) Tatar becomes injury call-up and performs well as a winger in his new role beside our glut of quality centers. 3) Eaves plays himself back into a regular spot on the fourth line, adding a little depth scoring, playing solid defense, and shoring up the PK units. Miller is therefore expendable and may be traded at the deadline if there's any interest. 4) Brunner performs well, though probably not star level (this season), as he adjusts to the NHL game. 12 goals, 20 assists. 5) Gustavsson improves greatly since his Toronto days. 6) Franzen plays like a stud in his new Holmstrom role. 7) With the defense shored up, the bottom six as good or better than any in the league, improved goaltending, and quality top six scoring, Detroit makes the playoffs advancing (at least) to the WCF. Edit: Tom Renney will improve the PP considerably as well.

I'm not really sure what type of guy you mean? Do you have any examples of someone you think fits the bill in terms of style of play? Doesn't have to be someone on the market, I just want to get an idea of what you're looking for.

Yeah dude seriously, if Kindl is your biggest problem with the defense then our defense is stellar. Kindl will hardly play this year and has essentially zero responsibilities. He's not expected to score, he's not expected to shutdown top flight guys, he's not expected to kill penalties, or man the power play. Why is he your biggest concern? Now, if you were worried about the fact that we don't have a single defenseman capable of shutting down top forwards I'd agree with you.

Neither am I, that's why I wouldn't be too upset if Holland moved him for Volchenkov...or Bogosian once he gets healthy.

Just had a look at their defensive roster. Given the amount of shutdown d-men they have it probably wouldn't even take Nyquist to get them to come off of him. Maybe Tatar and a 2nd. Or Tatar and Kindl.

Plus as good as Nyquist is, he's a bit redundant for us at center (especially with Jarnkrok showing solid development), and if Brunner turns out then Nyquist is less valuable on the wing. I'd do Nyquist and a 2nd for Volchenkov. But then again, I'm sure I'm in the minority.

Imagine he and Kronwall as a top pair. Crossing the blueline would be a very dangerous habit to get into.

I love that Tootoo can throw with both hands. Being able to use that left makes him a much better fighter. Tie up his right and he switches and thumps the s*** out of you.

Most of last season it looked like we fell into the "passing too much" category on the PP. It will probably take a little while to get our guys adjusted to a new approach but hopefully it will pay off. So much of last season we just passed and passed until Lidstrom could get free for a shot. It was very telegraphed. As long as the top man in the PK diamond had speed enough to challenge Lids on the shot, our PP was sunk. Here's hoping Renney's way is the answer. It was definitely a new look when they practiced it yesterday during the scrimmage, and it was real fun to watch all the movement on the PP.

Yeah I'm not mad about them waiving him, I'm just saying he was a more known quantity than is Kindl at present. And you're right, it was 07.

I agree with your premise, but Quincey played solid in the playoffs for us in 08. I think he had proven himself, at least defensively, at the NHL level. But again you're right, Kindl would get claimed straight away.

Just a question for the forum, but if Brunner turns out to be the real deal, how would everyone feel about trading a package with Nyquist as a main piece to NJ for Anton Volchenkov? We need a shutdown defender who can play against top forwards. Jersey needs to add a little offensive punch. What do you guys think? Hypothetically, of course.

Sean Avery wasn't half as good on the forecheck as Tootoo, and he doesn't hit nearly as hard. Additionally, as dirty as some of his hits are, have a look on youtube at Tootoo's hits. A very large portion of them are clean AND hard hits. Finally, if you think Maltby was a clean player you're crazy. He was a dirty as they come. And that's no knock on him, I love borderline dirty players. Chelios was one, so was Dino, and so was Maltby...and they are very very effective. Tootoo is in the same vein, and I'm glad we signed him.

As Crymson stated, I don't think there's a need for another puck mover. Talk about guys who play the same way? Kronwall, Colaiacovo, White, Quincey...and now Redden? We don't have a single guy on defense who has CONSISTENTLY shown that he can play defense in a shutdown capacity. Quincey arguably has the best track record as a defensive defenseman and that's saying something. No thanks on Redden. Find someone off the grid who can play good solid defense, and forget about his offensive contributions. Something like we did with Stuart in 2008.

Like Maltby? Nothing wrong with that.

Remember a couple years ago when the Wings played Phoenix in the playoffs and Helm was just murdering Jovo? Forechecking hard, finishing his hits, forcing turnovers, and all that? Remember Jovo was so sick of Helm doing it that he eventually kinda snapped and was all up in Helm's face talking s***? It was awesome. That's what Jordin Tootoo does every night.

I can't find one anywhere Crymson. The two most reliable sites I use are vipbox and firstrowsports and neither of them have a stream up. We might be s*** out of luck.

Well hopefully he makes a name for himself there this season because last year he was primarily on Zetterberg's wing.

Hey now, Abby does ok for a player developed on a U.S. college team. But yes, hopefully he can.

I honestly think after he blows up a few defensemen on the forecheck people around here will start appreciating what he can do. The Dallas Drake comparisons are not too far off. Good forecheck, good skating, finishes hits, and will scrap if needs be. I'd say he'll win everyone over in the first three games.

Wings are looking for a defenseman, Sergei Fedorov is thinking of making a comeback as a player. Go with what you know Kenny!

I agree, Sammy has skills that rookies don't. If they could play a better all around game than Sammy then they'd be in the lineup and he'd be signed with another team. That's exactly my point, at this stage of their respective careers Sammy is a better player than Nyquist or Tatar. As is Cleary, as is Franzen, as is Bertuzzi. When Nyquist or Tatar crack the third line in a year or so, and develop a better all around game, then (and only then) will they be "better" than the vets and have a permanent spot on the top six. Just EXACTLY like what Filppula was required to do, for example. As I said in another post, Filppula didn't earn his right to play in the top six until last season, yet for some reason people think Nyquist and Tatar are both ready to play there right now. And this is Filppula, a guy who, even before last year's breakout success, was noticeably better than either Nyquist or Tatar are right now.

Do you have a link to that video? I'd love to see it.