kliq

I highly doubt it. he was given a chance to start in Carolina and lost the job. He's a solid backup, but not a starter unless someone is just desperate.

Not to mention, they have sucked for almost a decade, and even with Eichel, they are no better then us.

I'm not going to say you are wrong, but I think that's a bit simplistic. Sure most cup winners fit this mould, but most good teams in general fit this mould. What makes an elite team elite is usually "this" with very good secondary players and good to great goaltending. Even with Malkin/Crosby, if you put mediocrity around them, they still arent winning a cup. Lets not dismiss Kessel (who could be argued as being an elite winger) Fleury/Murray, Bonino, Haglin etc. Then there is coaching. Take Quenneville off Chicago, and I dont think they have 3 cups. Then again, they dont have 2 elite forwards @Jonas Mahonas

I remember fans like you when I was growing up. In 1994 so many people said "Sharks have ZERO chance beating the Wings, we are going to kill them!" Flash forward to Osgood making a stupid pass up the boards and I believe Larionov scoring the series winning goal. In 2003, "This ducks team is crap! We will sweep them!" Fast forward to us losing 4 straight. Same thing against Calgary in 04, and Edmonton is 06. I am not saying we could win the cup, I am saying we COULD win ONE playoff series. If history has shown us anything, its that any team can beat any other team in a best of 7 if a few things go their way. If you really dont understand how its hyperbole to say that the Wings beating the Leafs in a best of 7 is THE SAME as you winning the powerbowl, then either you truly don't understand what hyperbole means, or you are just being stubborn and over the top on purpose. (I'm guessing the later because I dont believe you are dumb). Granted the examples I used above were fans saying we had no chance to lose, but saying the Wings have no chance to lose, is the same thing as saying they have no chance to win. Both are examples of being way to overconfident in a specific result, which history has taught us can easily bite you in the ass. Its professional sports, and its the NHL. Either way, I dont think that we would beat the Leafs, I think we could. Despite Howards bad week, I do believe that a healthy Howard could outplay Andersson in a best of 7. I also believe that Z playing in his final playoffs, could neutralise Auston Mathews as I think he would put 110% out there which we all know he is capable of. If those things happen, and our kids play the way they are capable, we could win. What happens next? We likely get smoked by TB, but that is a different conversation. Not trying to be a jerk here Dickie, I just hate when fans have such arrogance in a result of a series/game as I have seen countless times where things dont go the way they so claim are a "sure thing".

Jonas?

Is this serious or a joke?

Wow! If this is true then Blashill is doing an awesome job! Are you hoping he gets an extension? To be even close to the playoffs with a roster as bad as what you are saying should land him in the Jack Adams conversation.

Mrazek is definitely more athletic then Jimmy, but being more athletic in a position that is so mental doesnt mean better/more talented.

Wow! I guess I didn’t realize how high on the Leags you are? Can I ask, how many leafs games have you seen this year? As someone who has watched a ton, you need to stop drinking the Matthews koolaid. The leafs have a ton of potential, but you are giving them wayyyy to much credit in the here and now. The wings could beat the leafs. But you’re right, no hyperbole from you. Wings beating the leafs in the first round if they play are definitely the same odds as you winning the lottery. You must have killed it in stats!

And there is the hyperbole. Can't argue with hyperbole because nothing I say will matter.

You sound like a Mrazek slappy. Guy has played like garbage for 2 years now, it all started against the NYI on his birthday in 2015. Call "sampling error" all you want, but I call BS. Even LV didnt want him.

Still not even close stats wise. Why do you have such dismay for Howard, and such fandom for Mrazek? The part that I bolded implies that you wanted Howard to have a slide. I don't get why a person who is a fan of the Wings is rooting for a player to do bad, and not in a "I want them to tank so we land a pick way" but in a "I want Howard to play bad, so I can tell people I am right" way.

His 2.94 GAA is on the bad side, but you know whats worse....Mrazek's GAA of 3.62.

Agreed.

lol, I actually had Dickie in there originally, but as negative as he can be regarding Holland, when Holland does do something good, he gives him credit. Doesn't just bash him to bash him.

The reason why I dont see this, is because right now Holland's legacy is at an all time low. I have a book from maybe 8? years ago that ranks the best players, coaches, GM's of all time and Ken Holland was ranked the #2 best GM ever. To have this type of respect, then have it all go away, I think that alone is motivation to continue what you are doing and attempt to bring the Wings back. Think about it. Option A) Holland steps down, fans say the 3 cups were luck, and he was exposed. Just look at the posts of guys like @Jonas Mahonas @LeftWinger etc. They hate him now. Option B) He stays, turns it around and wins a 4th cup, goes back to being one of the best ever. IF he did this, no fan would dispute his legacy. If I am Holland, I am picking option B. Not saying he WILL turn it around, I'm saying in his mind, this is what I think he is thinking. Or at least, if I were Holland, what I would be thinking. If I were Holland, I would want nothing more then to prove people wrong. But to play devils advocate to my own point, if he steps down and someone else take over and wins, he will get some credit (ie. Chicago/Dale Tallon) if he keeps going and gets fired, his "end" becomes just sad.

Agreed, those signs are there. I think Nyquist is underrated on here, but he has definitely regressed. If he re-emerges though, I could see him being re-signed, then Tatar being traded. Or Nyquist being traded at the deadline, then re-signed, then Tatar is traded. I admit though, I could be dead wrong as well lol. Nyquist is a tough one to read, I remember back in 2013 (the Anaheim series specifically) he came across to me like he had elite potential, he was just one of those players that looked dangerous when he touched the puck. Then in 2014 he decided to play like a Hart contender from January-April, then in 2015 he came back down to earth and now looks like a decent 45-60 point second liner. He's only 28, so who knows what direction he goes in. He definitely doesn't look like the Nyquist of 2013/14 anymore though. I think this is why he has so many fans that dislike them. People thought he was going to take this team over and save them from the imminent D&Z regressions/retirements, and he didnt. Same hate will come to Larkin/Mantha if they fizzle out. Fingers crossed.

You must hate the NFL then lol.

Agreed, but I also think that lack of scouting is helping LV. When you are facing a team that has an identity that is 2 months old, it can be a bit tough to figure out. Same thing happens to players, they come into the NHL and teams dont know how to stop them, a year or so into their careers they crash and burn because teams know how to counter them. Pitchers in baseball are the best example of this.

I actually had no idea about this....that just reinforces what I said above. Interesting. I know a lot of fans want Holland gone, and as a result say he will be gone, but I think that's fans projecting what they want as fact. I really dont see him not being renewed unless he doesnt want the role anymore. (this part not directed at you)

Ya....we ***** about parity in the NHL, but is the NBA better? Every year is the exact same thing, so boring to watch when only 2 teams (maybe 3 this year) stand a chance at winning a championship. I know people will mention Pittsburgh/Chicago/LA in the NHL, but in the NHL the other teams stand a chance. In the NBA, there is no way in hell Golden State loses to anyone other then maybe Houston and Cleveland, and even that's a stretch.

Agreed for the most part. The only thing I could see being wrong, is could see Nyquist having a great year next year if he's in a contract year, and playing on the second line with great line mates.

Wouldnt shock me to see Holland fire Blashill this week. It seems as if ownership wants the Wings in the playoffs, and I think its fair to say that Blashill is not likely going to get them there. We have seen it time after time, GM fires a coach around this time of year, new coach comes around and turns things around. At this point, Holland has to be thinking about it, especially if he wants to be back next year which I think he does. Normally I would ask, "if you want to fire blank, who out there is better?". Well, today there are plenty of options with Dave Tippett coming to mind first. @LeftWinger if you got this Tippet instead, would that be a bit of redemption from the draft lol?

Do you mean Howard?

Yes Step out of the role as "cynical Wings fan" for just a moment and use some logic. They could beat the Leafs as their back-end is weak, and in a 7 game series I do believe Howard would out play Anderson (unless he he injures him self and becomes mediocre) and I dont mean they have a .00000001% shot so no need for a Lloyd Christmas meme. Do I think they would? No. Could they? Yes. If you look at that match-up without wearing rose coloured or s*** coloured glasses, I think most say Leafs have the advantage but Wings could do it if the kids are on, and Howard plays to his ceiling. I could also see Z taking his game to the next level if he got back to the playoffs again (at least in the 1st round).