krsmith17

mvanpop... 6M for 8 years?... I hope that's a joke...

I get that a lot of people don't want Ericsson on the top pair, but take him out of the line up? Give me a break...

I've watched a few Guelph games this season and I've been impressed with how well Bertuzzi has developed over the past year. However, I was a little disappointed to see how much the grit and intensity in his game has decreased. It's almost been non existent in the few games I've watched. The points are great but I doubt he'll be relied upon to put up points after this season, as I see him as a potential 3rd / 4th line energy guy at the pro level. I hope his change in style of play has to do with the role he is in on the team as a leader (alternate captain) and not the injuries he has endured over the past couple seasons. Hopefully that hasn't scared him away too much to play his physical brand of hockey. I don't necessarily want to see him fight, I just want to see the little ball of hate that he was the last couple seasons. Always in the oppositions face, mucking it up and hitting everything that moved...

Franson >>> Boychuk

I would put them as 1a and 1b right now as far as our forward prospects go. I've been extremely high on Athanasiou for a couple years now, and there's no question that he has had the much better start to his pro career. Mantha, I think will be a great player as well, he's just taking longer to adapt to the pro game. I think they will be 1 and 2 in scoring for the Griffins next season and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they are both top 5 in the league. The thing for me is, I think they are both very different players but both will be just as effective in their own way, but I think Mantha is slightly overrated, while Anthanasiou is slightly underrated league wide and even by some Wings fans... All the talk has been about Mantha and Larkin, but I am just as high on Athanasiou as either of those two for sure.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/03/red_wings_johan_franzen_has_go.html#incart_sms_app

Only if the Leafs aren't willing to eat any of his cap... Wait, what? We're not trying to create the worst trade possible?...

I don't think I'm the one that needs to go back and read posts... You need to go back and read Kip's posts if you believed a word he was saying about Smith. Kip is by far Smith's biggest critic and doesn't think he is anything close to Keith Yandle (rightfully so). I've read every post in this thread and I'm not really putting words in your mouth. No, you didn't say that Marchenko is playing above his head to earn a spot in the lineup, but you did say that Smith is, to try to make a point, so with that I would assume that you don't believe the same could have been said about Marchenko. It's like me saying, well I like Smith in the lineup because he's a big body. I'm not saying anything about Marchenko, but you would assume that I'm saying that Marchenko isn't big, when in reality, both players are 6'2" over 200lbs. The same way you were talking about how little Smith has produced. No, you didn't say you were impressed by Marchenko's numbers, but why bring up Smith's points if they're better than Marchenko's? Anyway, I'm hungover as balls here today, so I may not be making a ton of sense, but my main and final point is that there is no way Babcock will sit Smith over a rookie just because of handedness.

I agree NY, but also, people tend to like the shiny new toys... I like Marchenko but it's only a matter of time before fans turn on him like they do with every player that goes through any struggles. Too bad it wasn't as easy for a player drop his label as it is for him to pick it up. Hell, people still hate on Ericsson and call him a pylon or turnover machine after any blunder.... all because of that horrid year he had a few years back. The same way Smith will always be labeled because of his start to last season...

How did I prove my first sentence wrong?... You started talking stats and I said that it's too small a sample size. Smith is producing less than most of our defensemen because he is getting less of an opportunity than any other defenseman. He's being forced to play a defensive game, which has been nothing short of great in the past month or so. He's been breaking up a ton of odd man rushes, blocking shots, and clearing the crease. Everyone thinks because Smith was an offensive stalwart prior to the NHL, if he doesn't put up points, he's a bust. That's ridiculous. His defense has improved immensely and the offense will come. You think that Smith is playing above his head because he is worried about losing his spot, but you don't think Marchenko is playing above his head to get a spot? And because I don't know what the future holds, I can't make a prediction on who I think will be the better player? Okay... I'm well aware of how the Zetterberg and Datsyuk stories go, but Marchenko isn't anything close to that. He is a bottom 4 defenseman at best. If you think Babcock is going to keep a rookie in the lineup over a better player with more experience just because of his handedness... by all means... Let's just see how it plays out shall we?...

Marchenko will NOT replace Smith in the lineup. He will not replace any of the top 6 defenseman unless there is any injury. No chance! You point out that Smith has subpar point totals but you're somehow enamored by Marchenko's 2 points in 13 games? Which is a lower points per game average than Smith. Smith also produced 5 points in his first 8 NHL games. The point is, 8 games or 13 games, it's way too small of a sample size. Marchenko isn't as good as Smith today and I doubt he will be in the future. You don't replace a guy in your lineup that has a higher ceiling for a rookie, just because of his handedness. A few weeks ago, we didn't have a single right handed shooting defenseman on our roster, then we added one that proved to help, now we've upgraded that position with Zidlicky. Marchenko is not going to play on the power-play, so other than keeping plays alive in the offensive zone (which way be a slight advantage on the right side) he doesn't provide anything more than any of the other 5 lefties. Let's just say that Babcock loses his mind and decides he's going to scratch Smith in favor of a rookie with a dozen games under his belt. Zidlicky isn't a top pairing guy anymore so he wouldn't get paired with Kronwall. Although Marchenko has looked decent in his few shifts with Kronwall, he is not in any way a top pair defenseman. Do they split up their best shut down pair just so they can get a rookie in the lineup? I doubt it. So what? We put two righties on the third pairing? Obviously not as that would defeat the purpose... Again, there is no way Marchenko is in the lineup unless there is an injury to one of our top 6 guys. Kindl will be our number 7 and Marchenko will continue his development in Grand Rapids.

Quincey has been solid all season and I hope he along with the rest of our defense can remain healthy for the rest of the season, but if he isn't 100%, I have no issue in resting him and putting Marchenko in. I hope he doesn't require surgery before the offseason though...

Zero percent chance any of Kronwall, Ericsson, DeKeyser, Quincey or Smith sit in favor of Marchenko. Not going to happen, despite what Holland and Babcock have said... The only way we see both Zidlicky and Marchenko in the lineup is if there is any injury to one of the other 5.

@AnsarKhanMLive: Babcock said Zetterberg awaiting final clearance test this afternoon. If he's not cleared, Cleary will play.

I really wish Florida had pulled off the W in this one...

I liked the part that suggested he is at best our number 7 defenseman with everyone healthy. I in now way expect him to sit as the number 7. We have Kindl that would be great at that... I expect both Marchenko and Ouellet to remain with the Griffins unless there is an injury.

I don't think anyone expected Marchenko to remain with the team as a scratch. We have Kronwall, Ericsson, DeKeyser, Quincey, Smith, Zidlicky and Kindl...

Kip, I can't help but think this is somewhat directed at me... And to that I say, I completely agree, players should absolutely earn their ice time. But this situation is completely different from the Jurco one. Notice how Pulkkinen was not put in a position he is not well suited? Instead of demoting him to the 4th line, where he most certainly would not produce much, they opted to send him down to the minors. I am and always have been 100% pro sending Jurco back down to Grand Rapids. I am not okay with Jurco playing a grinder type role when that is not his game.

amato, I know, it was a slight dig at people saying that we should not be shuffling lines now because we are in a playoff push, despite just acquiring two new players...

Ansar Khan - Defense pairs being shuffled constantly. Everyone skating with everyone so far. Stop the madness! We can't shuffle line combos and defense pairings, we're in the middle of a playoff push don't you know?...

Ok, my apologies. I thought you were implying that's what you wanted to see. Either way, despite what management and coaching staff has said, I still don't believe there is any way that anyone is "healthy" scratched for Marchenko. Not on a regular basis anyway. They MAY do it for a game or two, but even that, I think is highly unlikely...

I'd love to see that top line stick. I've been wanting to see Tatar - Datsyuk - Jurco for an extended period of time since training camp. Love it.

If only I could quote... You said it when you made your ideal defense pairings and you had Smith on the outside looking in, while Marchenko was in the top 6... They will keep both righties in the lineup if they are both two of the best 6 options available, which they are not...

Marchenko... You're the only one that believes that he should be in ahead of Smith... right handed or not, Marchenko is not an upgrade over Smith in any other way. But keep hating on Smith, because it's the thing to do...

number9, I'm assuming that's a typo. There's no way Pulkkinen is playing center.