krsmith17

Larkin, Athanasiou, Nosek, Holmstrom and Vahatalo are all listed as wingers but are playing or have played center at some point in their careers. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we are fine and center and we are over loaded on the wings. We need to concentrate on adding on the back end. We should be looking to add a big name defenseman in the first round of the draft as well as possibly in free agency.

1st round matchup vs the Marlies.

What Holmstrom has been able to do is very impressive. I wish I were able to check out a few of his games but unfortunately I'm stuck with just the highlights. He is only 18 years old, so I would think he has at least another year or two over in Sweden before he makes the jump over to the American Hockey League. Let's hope he continues the current path he's on and can become another late round steal for us down the road. It sure looks like he's well on his way... As for Frk, he has only recently been given a legitimate shot at getting in some consistent games with the Griffins. It's tough for any player to make any sort of impact with a team when they are constantly in and out of the lineup, being sent back and forth between leagues. In his first 16 games with the Griffins spread out over the first 3/4 of the season, Frk had a whopping 2 goals and 0 assists. Since Pulkkinen has been up full time with the Wings, Frk has finally gotten his shot. In the last 16 games of the season, he scored a very solid 4 goals and 6 assists, while looking great in all but one of the games I seen down the stretch. He has been backchecking, forechecking, and setting up plays, I expect a big playoffs out of him and anyone that is writing this kid off at 21 should start to take notice. I'm not saying he's going to be an NHL star but a 3rd line sniper ala Jiri Hudler while he was here, certainly isn't out of reach.

I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but Bertuzzi got a goal tonight in a 6-4 Griffins win over the Monsters.

Any word on if Bertuzzi will join the Griffs for the playoffs?

Great post Echolalia! Sums up exactly how I feel about Smith as well. And for the record, I remember that exact play you were talking about, where Smith was blamed for Ericsson's brutal pass, and I also remember who the argument was with, but that's neither here nor there... Point is, many people do go to extreme lengths to point out Smith's f*** ups and the same goes for Ericsson. But the same people will brush it off if Kronwall or DeKeyser make the exact same f*** up...

It's not that I have "come to my senses", I just watch the games and base my opinion off of that. If he's playing poorly I will gladly admit it. Whereas if he is playing great, like he has for stretches this season, you along with a few others on here won't admit it... That doesn't mean that he should be permanently scratched or that the player that is replacing him is necessarily better, just that he is the better option right now.

Yup, that's exactly what it is Kip... Great chat as always...

I'm not in any way trying to come up with excuses I'm just stating what happened. Yes he f***ed up and it was a TERRIBLE decision that cost the team a point in a critical situation. Smith and Howard both deservedly lost the coach's trust in that game, but they both can and will earn it back... Yes Kip, it could have happened to anyone. It didn't, it happened to Smith, but if it did happen to DeKeyser or Kronwall people would have said, "Dumb play" and moved on. This has just added fuel to the Smith hate fire... Where did I ever say it happens all the time? I didn't and it obviously doesn't... The refs DIDN'T see it, so no it should not have been a penalty... And if it wasn't a penalty, who would care? Pucks hit gloves and sticks that are hanging over the boards all the time, there is no penalties called. It was a strange play that we will likely never see again, certainly not by Smith... Yeah, according to the coach that always makes the right personnel decisions... Babcock is clueless when it comes to roster decisions according to Kip unless it fits his argument... much like a lot of other things.... Nope, Andersson or Weiss have NEVER been scratched in favor of Jurco... Nope... I find it quite humorous that "positive" things can be said about Smith throughout this thread and you won't respond to any of them until I do, then it's guns-a-blazin'... I should send my messages to another regular and get them to post just to see if you would respond to them the same way you do to me...

I'm agreeing that Smith has played poorly, I'm saying that it was likely the right decision, so what's your point. That's not to say that either Smith nor Howard are done for the year, or that their done in Detroit or the NHL... like some people seem to be suggesting. The hate on these boards is ridiculous, whether it's Howard, Ericsson, Kindl, Smith or whoever... Everyone likes the new shiny toys, so bring on the kids right? They're sure to be better than we currently have...

nawein, that's exactly what everyone is trying to do here, make that play seem WAY worse than it was. "It's the equivalent of a defensive football player running off the sidelines midplay to make a tackle and thinking he'll get away with it"... Really? Give me a f***ing break. It's the equivalent of a defensive football player standing on the sidelines midplay and the football being thrown toward him that was likely going to be either out of play or incomplete, and he swipes at it so it doesn't hit him... You act as if Smith jumped over the boards midplay and checked a player with the puck, which is much worse in comparison, and HAS happened in the NHL, it's called "too many men" and it happens on a bad line change... Bottom line, Smith is taking way too much heat for that play, and that play can happen another 10 times and I bet it doesn't get called. The refs didn't see it and it should never have been called. Even after it was called a penalty, if Montreal didn't score on the ensuing power-play people wouldn't have cared...

Who's getting cocky? That would be you along with every other Smith hater on here... I'm sure you're thrilled that Smith is faltering right now. Yeah, Smith has been scratched over a rookie, but don't kid yourself, it's not a permanent replacement after ONE game... He hasn't played as badly as LGW wants to believe he has, and Babcock is just sending a message. Like I've stated several times now, I don't mind the decision, but I'm sure he will be back in in this first round series.. Add that to my quotes that you have saved...

Do you hear that Xavier, "We don't need you"... Alexey on the other hand, "You are our savior, because you are above average at D, below average at O and RIGHT HANDED!!!"

I just find it funny how people think that Marchenko and Ouellet are such huge upgrades over Smith. Most every single player plays above their head when they first enter the league, it's only a matter of time before one or both of these guys become the new LGW whipping boy. Marchenko is a fairly steady stay at home defenseman so his game will definitely translate a lot better than Smith's offensive style, which is why I don't mind that Marchenko has gotten the nod for game one. Ouellet on the other hand, is not in any way an upgrade over Smith. Smith is going through a rough patch here, but the amount of hate on these boards is crazy, but whatever, some things will never change... Smith has absolutely no issue making outlet passes, that's actually one of his strong suits, his issue is he doesn't react great under pressure. If he is headed into the corner to pick up the puck with his back against the onrushing player, he is vulnerable to making a turnover, if a player passes it in his skates, he has a difficult time making a play, it will likely become a turnover. Smith can pass the puck up ice as well as anyone on the team, he can rush the puck better than any defender on the team, if he can cut down on his turnovers (I'm sure he will as they have cut in half since last season...) he will be a solid number 4/5 in this league for sure. Anyway, that's all I'm going to say on this, I have my opinion and I'm up against the masses since his current f*** up is fresh in everyone's head.. So I'll continue to be patient, like I'm sure management will, and he will eventually develop into the player I believe he is capable of becoming...

Well said RedWingsReign. Finally someone with a level head on the Smith situation. I haven't wanted to comment in here because the hate the kid is getting is beyond ridiculous and everyone knows how I feel about Smith. But I will say one thing, Smith has had a decent season with quite a few miscues along the way. He is still learning to play solid defense at the NHL level and I'm sure it will come. He's made mistakes over the past few weeks (since the slide) but so have every other defenseman on the team. It's just that Smith's f*** ups get much more focus because, well he's the new LGW whipping boy... The play while he was sitting on the bench, sure it was stupid, but it was a split second decision (obviously the wrong one) that could have happened to anyone. But alas it didn't, it was our whipping boy, so let's make a thread about how stupid / brain dead he is... and how he will never amount to anything... and how we should trade him for anything to any team that is willing to take this sieve... In saying all that, I don't hate the decision to scratch him last game, and I don't think it would be the worst decision to scratch him for game one against Tampa to get his head on straight. And although I don't think that is confirmed yet, I do think it's likely that he will be the odd man out next game. But make no mistake, we will see Smith in at some point this series, and he will be ready to go.

Everyone healthy with the exception of Franzen and Cole In Tampa Helm - Datsyuk - Tatar Nyquist - Zetterberg - Abdelkader Weiss - Sheahan - Jurco Miller - Glendening - Ferraro In Detroit Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Abdelkader Nyquist - Sheahan - Tatar Helm - Weiss - Jurco Miller - Glendening - Ferraro Match Datsyuk's line against Stamkos' line, Glendening's line against Johnson's line, Sheahan's like against Filppula's line and Weiss' line against Boyle's line...

Mrazek officially starting game one according to Babcock. - Ansar Khan

Absolutely. I do think Zengerle has played well and I would offer him another contract, but he's just not a player we need to keep, is all I meant by that. I also agree with your lines. Pulkkinen is obviously making the Wings full time next season as he will be out of options, but do you think there is any chance Ferraro could pass through waivers again? I doubt it but it would give us a little more depth. I see one of Ferraro / Callahan possibly making the Wings as the 14th forward out of camp (hopefully Callahan) and the other being claimed by another team. If we were able to somehow hold onto Ferraro for another season I'd like to see something like... Hoggan - Athanasiou - Mantha Bertuzzi - Miele - Ferraro Tvrdon - Nosek - Frk Aubry - Porter - Nastasiuk Campbell - Bruton

I don't see any chance of Miele or Zengerle ever playing a game for the Wings and there's no chance Hoggan or Evan ever will, as their sole purpose on the team is to provide leadership and help the kids transition and develop at the pro level. I'd like to see Miele re-signed for his production, and although Zengerle has done reasonably well this season (especially of late) he is very replaceable. I'd keep Hoggan around for his leadership, probably let Evans walk, and keep Paetsch as the leader on the back end. Nastasiuk has already joined the Griffins since Owen Sound has been eliminated from the playoffs. He played last night and from what I seen wasn't very noticeable out there. He did make one nice play on a pass to Porter in front of the net that he should have easily buried but he whiffed on it. I can't wait to see what Bertuzzi can do with the Griffins. I'm almost hoping Guelph get eliminated next round just to see him in the AHL playoffs.

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Abdelkader Nyquist - Sheahan - Tatar Helm - Weiss - Jurco / Pulkkinen Miller - Glendening - Ferraro / Cleary

Well it looks like Cole is done for the year... "Cole said he is out for season and playoffs due to spinal cord contusion." - Ansar Khan

I really don't think Ferraro played that bad of a game to be honest. I'm not sure if people's expectations were too high based on his AHL stats, particularly his goal total this season, but make no mistake, he will never produce at the NHL level the way he has at the AHL level. His game is to use his speed to get in on the forecheck, play defensively sound and possibly chip in a goal here and there. I think he did exactly what was expected of him. But in saying all that, I don't see a long term position available for him in Detroit, and like Nyquistfan14 said, hopefully we get Abdelkader and Cole back soon and we don't have to dress guys like Ferraro and Andersson... although I do admit Andersson hasn't played that awful of late and Babcock will likely opt to throw Weiss back in the doghouse once again, despite him playing well the past few games...

Exactly why I said I can wait until Thursday to clinch... I'm aware of all the various scenerios. We hold our own fate. We just need two wins or one and one Ottawa regulation loss to clinch. I'm going for Ottawa tonight against Pittsburgh.

Go Wings! Go Sens! I can wait until Thursday in Montreal to clinch... F*** the Pens!

I may be in the minority here but I'm going for Ottawa to beat Pittsburgh in regulation tonight, as long as we can pull of a big win ourselves. Bottom line is, we hold our own fate, and as long as we can pull of two big W's in the remaining 3 games, we're in (and I'm confident we can do that). F*** Pittsburgh, I'd much rather see Ottawa get in over them. Go Sens!