kipwinger

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.

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.