kipwinger

Any chance that the reason you think the defense looks better is not necessarily that Ericsson is out, but rather that Quincey and Smith are in? Quincey and Smith is a better pair than Ericsson and Kindl, or Ericsson and Commodore. Not because there's a problem with Ericsson, Kindl, or Commodore, but that Quincey is just better than all of them?

I know this will probably be unpopular around here, but I think our police, courts, and municipal administrative units have more important s*** to be doing than this. The teams, coaches, schools, and league should have been able to figure out a way to remedy this problem, fairly, without bringing the law into it. I know there's a temptation to ticket every dips*** who does something borderline harmful and most definitely stupid. But I have a sneaking suspicion that mostly the reason we're happy to see this guy get hit with a charge is because he's obnoxious, not because he's a threat to public safety. Anyway, redo the third period of the game or whatever, but it would probably have been enough to let the guy go home in shame, with both teams and their fans knowing that his dumb ass is the reason for the whole ordeal.

I agree. I love our defense corps moving forward. Obviously I'd prefer to have both Lidstrom and Stuart coming back, but even if we don't, we have the best defense corps under contract in the league.

Was there ever really a doubt that he would. Though some were heralding the demise of Henrik Zetterberg, in the not too distant past (one season ago) there was a guy who scored 80 pts. and was top ten or fifteen in the league in scoring. But have one slow season and the past is forgotten and all the "fans" hold you over the fire. Good on Zetterberg, but again, was there ever really a doubt?

I agree with your sentiments, but Ericsson is not our fifth defenseman, he's our sixth defenseman and should be for the rest of the season.

This is pretty much exactly what I think these two dips***s are like. Good think LA traded away one of their two best defensemen to reunite these two idiots. Hope Carter's (only) two goals since the trade are the cure they've been waiting for all season.

All valid points, although I'm still not sold on the super-talentedness of Doughty. Nonetheless, my comment was directed more at having a California based team as a second favorite to an original six team that is the standard for professional sports teams. Just sort of seems like a long step down.

Ewwww.

What's this based on, wishful thinking?

This is America by God, if we've got problems we litigate...immediately and with extreme prejudice.

I know, we should have totally retaliated and negated that powerplay that we eventually scored on.

Second time I've said this now, the first goal was a mishandled puck from McDonald, the third was shorthanded. How is a goon going to help fix that?

our powerplay will be able to answer once everyone gets back. Getting Quincey on the point and Hudler off of the point and onto the sideboards will give a us a MUCH better PP. No goons necessary, I'll take the PP.

The only goal the Flyers scored after the Kronwall hit was shorthanded. So unless you think we should put tough guys out on the ice during a powerplay, I'd say toughness isn't the reason why we got scored on. On a side note, our powerplay can't get any worse so maybe we should just goon it up on the PP.

Go about two pages back and look at the references to the "Smith Era". Sort of looks like fawning to me. But I agree that there isn't much to fawn over, that was my whole point actually.

I like the responses that fail to see that the return of Lidstrom and Pav and the addition of Quincey on the powerplay makes a ton of difference, considering he's been a point on a top power play and is clearly more well suited for that job than Hudler, whose addition to the second power play unit along the half boards is also likely to increase that units effectiveness considering if you take all the end to end skating and defense out of the game (which a power play essentially does) he's actually a really good player.

Mark my words, the Wings can NEVER, and will NEVER beat the Sharks in the SCF...ever!

I don't know if it's all just a hilarious game for you or whatever, but your constant cynicism and nay saying is hilarious. It's a strange dynamic in which your almost endless negativity actually turns out to be a positive...at least for me. Keep up the good (or bad) work, as this board would surely be a little too dull without you.

Smith's a pretty good rookie, but the way people around here fawn over him is pretty wild. It's going to be tough watching and listening to how insufferable some people will be when they inevitably realize that he's a rookie, he's going to make mistakes, he's not going to be in the lineup every night, and that he's got a LONG way to go before he's as good or better than any of our top five defensemen. Note to everyone, don't start holding your breath for the "Smith Era" quite yet. How about letting him be a rookie first before you make him the last great hope for your dream of a fighting Red Wings team? As for me, I'll be thrilled by a handful of decent games as a fill in for Ericsson.

haha it might be simpler to just keep track of the teams/players you don't like.

so why not get excited about Smith putting up a point or two on the powerplay, en route to a convincing regulation win, rather than a fight "two games in a row" which doesn't really suggest anything about how well the team will do? Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather see the kid contribute to team wins.

It would be way cooler if we got two desperately needed points, regardless of whether or not someone fights.

Since the lockout, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Lidstrom all have better numbers than Franzen in the playoffs. So no, he isn't the Wings "biggest playoff factor" and no there's no guarantee he'll show up anywhere. God knows it will be nice if he does, but no guarantee.

hmmm...that's a lot to keep straight. Thank god I root for Detroit in everything...and Michigan State. Keeps it simpler that way.

well I should hope not, considering he's never scored 40 goals and only scored 30+ once.