kliq

Interesting, maybe Holland does put in a claim for Brunner. I didn't realize that every player on out team is a lefty with the exception of Glendening.

Thats awesome! Its as if everyone is getting to go with their buddy lol. I would love get an autograph from the Slovaks! (that my nationality)

Giving a coach equal decision making power is the worst thing an owner can do (your mario reference). If you are going to do that, just make the coach the GM as well. It would completely undermine the GM if he has to check with the coach first for all roster decisions. Think about it in real life Frank.....GM is on the phone about to make a trade, but cant pull the trigger because he has to check with Babcock first, then if Babcock disagrees, he has to call another person to choose between them. Horrible way to run a team. Your quote just reinforced my point, Babcock doesn't agree with everything Holland does but it has never been a major issue/rift between them.

I'm looking forward to getting my Pavel Datsyuk ornament!

Has Babcock ever stated that this is an issue in Detroit? (if so please post a link) Or is this just speculation on your part? Sure Holland and Babcock may have different opinions on things, but find a coach/GM that are on the same page with everything 100% of the time. Everything I have ever heard Babcock say indicates he wants to be here (ie. the name of this thread). Babcock has never said anything to make any of us think otherwise and I believe that Babcock is a straight shooter. If he didn't want to be here, I think he would simply say "no comment" or "I will not talk about my contract" NOT "I dont think it will be my final year here".

Are those guys ready RIGHT NOW though to be NHL defenseman? For example, I was looking at Sproul's stats in Grand Rapids and he has 2 points in 15 games and is -6, that doesn't seem ready to me for an offensive minded defensman.. I fully admit I dont watch Griffin's games (dont get them here), and his stats could be totally deceiving, but my point is that with d especially, they need time to develop. I wouldn't want to stunt the growth of one of these guys. With that being said, Marchenko seems to be playing well.

I don't consider them making the playoffs a "bold prediction".

lol exactly

No, you have said that the Wings chances at making the playoffs are very slim, and that they need Howard to play like Rask this season to make the playoffs.

I wouldn't say they are a cup favourite or even a contender. But, in 2014 anyone has a shot. I think it would be naive for anyone to say they can't win the cup. Do I think they will though.....no. I see this team being a team that gets to the second round, or if they are playing really well and everything is clicking on all cylinders, maybe 3rd. Playoff run really depends on how Howard is playing come that time of year. Who knows Frank, a few months ago you were saying that the playoffs were out of reach.

Nobody is saying advanced stats are MORE important then actually watching players, this is an argument you are having with nobody. You can call the people that calculate advance statistics "nerds" and "math freaks" but at the end of the day you calling them names doesn't dismiss what they are doing. Advanced stats simply give you more information, and when handling a multi million (or even billion) dollar franchise, if you are a GM you should be using all the information/tools you can get.Baseball has been doing this for a while now, and some teams have had great success.

Aren't all stats based on on past examples? If you are not evaluating a player based on past examples, you are evaluating based on future projections. However future projections are based on past examples. Advanced stats give GM's and coaches more tools to work with when evaluating talent. I am not saying that these stats are a greater tool then watching a player play, but Holland, Babcock and company cant watch every player in the league for the entire game, every game of the year. When making a trade and/or signing a free agent, these stats should be considered.

You realize that advanced statistics are based on what actually happens on the ice right?

Philly beat us last year in the standings by literally 1 point. Our kids are 1 year older and should keep getting better, and if our vets can stay healthy we should easily beat them in the standings. I think about Detroit the same way I thought about them before the season started, a team with a ton potential if everything is clicking. So far they are playing exactly as I predicted them. I thought based on their roster they would finish somewhere in the 3-6 seed range. It is a long season and there is a ton of hockey left, but I think some people almost wanted them to stink to validate all the Holland bashing done this summer.

So sad I didn't even know the guy was sick, total shocker. My condolences to his family. I'm sure HNIC will do a nice tribute on Saturday.

If I go back to the thread of when he was signed, I guarantee you that is not the case. I would post examples, but I don't want to turn this into what I hate.

Its nice to have a thread where Cleary isn't being treated like a pile of garbage. It's awesome when you hear about these guys doing things like this........good guy!

There have been plenty of quotes coming from the Wings staff/players talking about Cleary as a locker room leader, this isn't fan fiction. Putting him in management is different. When you are a leader and "one of the boys" its a different type of leadership position then someone on the coaching staff/management.

What do you really expect to get with that???? This isnt a video game, teams are not going to trade a top 6 winger or a top 2 D-man, for an older top 6 winger who is injury prone, and is under contract forever, an average defensman, and a 4th liner.

That sucks, hopefully he gets better soon. Blood clots are a scary thing. That’s the second player from the Pens to miss time with a blood clot in the last year, and the third from Pennsylvania. I know it’s a coincidence, but weird.

I think alot of people are not reading the first paragragh lol: "Welcome to our Hockey Hall of Fame power rankings. This list goes back to the 1997 class." Lidstrom is not in the HOF (yet), Orr was inducted before 1997.

I dont think any non Red Wing fan would pick Fedorov over Forsberg.

I think there is a very valid argument for Lemieux as well. I remember going into Lemieux's last couple season he actually had more points per game then Gretzky. In the End Gretzky averaged 1.92 points per game, while Lemieux averaged 1.88. Don’t get me wrong, I'm not saying Lemieux. I am saying there is definitely an argument.

I had a feeling this article of him getting better at a remarkable rate was too good to be true

That sucks I feel so bad for him and his family.