kipwinger

Well if the vets aren't as good as the prospects, as some here are arguing, then the you'd lose more games and possibly not make the playoffs. Again, if they were better they'd be playing. There was room for them, there was opportunity in the top six, but they aren't even being given a chance, why? Because they're not ready.

Simply put, if Nyquist or Tatar were as good as some around here seem to think, then there would have been no need to sign Samuelsson or Brunner. Coming into the free agency period we had two open spots on the top six with Bertuzzi likely being demoted and Hudler likely leaving. NEITHER of those two spots were filled by Nyquist or Tatar? So, for all those who think these guys are ready to play in the top six, please explain to me why they weren't given the chance? Why sign two free agents to fill those holes if they guys you already have are better?

Now Helm and Tatar are "better" than Franzen too. Is someone playing a practical joke on me? Am I being punked? It's pretty obvious they they work harder, and if that alone makes them better in your eyes then great, but I hope you realize how seriously flawed that thinking is. For instance, Jiri Hudler was a real hard worker, was he better than Franzen too? Hell, Chris Conner was an absolute machine last season, worked his ass off. Few people tried as hard as he did, should we have put him on the top six too?

Brad Stuart.

Well everyone is entitled to their opinion. Unfortunately for you, not all opinions are equally valid.

I completely agree. However, one amongst us thinks that's Nyquist is already better than Franzen. Like I said, it's a real crack up.

So are you saying you'd rather have Nyquist and Tatar on a line with say, Datsyuk, than Franzen and Bertuzzi? And you think they'd actually out perform those two over the span of a season?

Hop over to the Blueadams line thread for a real good post about how Nyquist and Tatar are actually better than Franzen and Bertuzzi. It's a real crack up.

Nyquist and Tatar are better than Franzen and Bertuzzi huh? Anybody else think that around here? This is laughable.

My father is one of these guys who thinks there's some league wide conspiracy against the Wings, from Gary Bettman, to the referees, to the commentators. At least a couple times a season I have to remind him that we're the winningest team in the last 2 decades. If there is indeed a giant conspiracy against the Wings, it's the least successful conspiracy of all time.

Who cares, even his half assed work ethic scores more often than anyone on our team. So unless you're trading him for an even better scoring winger (don't know why anyone would do that) then there's no sense in it.

God knows what they do in Switzerland for fun, but I generally don't trust those of Germanic persuasion and have no reason to believe they wouldn't bop defenseless field mice, if their insatiable blood lust temporarily subsided long enough to engage in leisure activity.

Datsyuk as a rookie was a lot like Nyquist is now actually. Far from a game changer, but with a huge amount of potential.

It would be absurd even if we didn't owe him 22 million dollars. His production for his price is a steal.

Yeah that's not too bad, but regardless of what his nickname is I'll be screaming "You've been...Brunder Struck!" in my best AC/DC voice every time he nets one.

Which reports? Gotta link?

Nope, visited a lot though. I used to live on the East Coast and you can't escape those god damn sewer rats.

How about B. Rabbit, Brunny Rabbit, or Little Brunny Foo Foo? On second thought it doesn't seem so fearsome after I type it.

I like Nash too, but I have a deep deep deep antipathy for the NYR organization and the city it represents.

Datsyuk had 35 pts. on the 3rd line. He did not step into a top six spot his rookie season. I can't speak for Axe, but for me it's not about a lack of faith, everyone knows the kid is skilled. It's about taking off the rose colored glasses and realizing that Nyquist isn't ready to be a top six forward in the NHL. If we had a spot on the third line I'd be all for it. But I'm not ready to grant the kid a top six spot when he put up fewer points than a rookie defenseman (Smith) who played fewer games and was largely on the third defensive pairing. All the skill in the world doesn't necessarily translate to success at the NHL level, as I'm sure Linus Omark could tell you. I know this is hard to hear for most, but Gustav Nyquist at this point in his career is not a better option than Samuelsson, Cleary, or Bertuzzi for a spot in the top six. s***, Filppula didn't earn his spot in the top six until last season and he is MUCH MUCH MUCH better than Nyquist is at this point.

I'm going to puke if the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup.

I almost said this but wasn't sure how many people would get the reference. Well played.

Swiss Miss?

Why would you guess that our leading goal scorer would move down to the third line for a playmaking rookie? If Helm's injury is serious enough to miss time, Nyquist would come in as the third line center and Franzen would stay put.

That remains to be seen.