Rice

Since the main concern appears to be balanced scoring from the top six, I'm betting Babcock will try the following when everyone is healthy: Filppula-Datsyuk-Cleary Samuelsson-Zetterberg-Holmstrom The Filppula-Datsyuk-Cleary line was very successful towards middle of the season. I think Babcock put them together when Zetterberg was out. The second line had a lot of success in 05-06 but oddly has not been able to reproduce that success since. Samuelsson can be interchanged with Hudler or maybe Franzen. I don't know if Franzen has enough scoring touch to be on the second line, though. I think these combinations maximize what the Wings are going to get out of guys like Filppula and Samuelsson, because they're not talented enough (yet, in Filppula's case) to create their own offense. They need Zetterberg or Datsyuk. Babcock will try these combinations in preparation for the playoffs, and ZDH will be used when the Wings need to score.

What do you mean "every year"? Holland acquired two players at the deadline last year with what cap space he had and had very little cap space the year the Wings got Cross. In fact, the Wings got Cross because they had very little cap space. This is the first year they've had a lot of it. I'm disappointed Holland didn't get a forward, but no one out there was that impressive aside from Hossa.

Melrose never knows what he's talking about.

I'd love to add Markov, but he'd have to clear waivers if the Wings were to sign him.

Let's talk about the actual on-ice product, not the names on paper. The Wings lost Kronwall before the playoffs last year, so this was the defense heading into round one: Lidstrom-Markov Schneider-Lilja Lebda-Chelios Heading into round one it will be (knock on wood): Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Lilja-Chelios Kronwall's play is much improved this year and Rafalski is better than Schneider. Lilja is out of the top four. Up front, Lang and Bertuzzi were totally dead weight. The second line has been incredibly streaky this year, but Cleary has improved his play and at least Filppula (as opposed to Lang) plays defense. You guys need to calm down. Had the team still been rolling (meaning NOT missing the entire top four along with Cleary) and we acquired Stuart, people would be loving it. The Wings were easily the best team in the NHL before the injuries piled up.

Lilja. The guy takes too much s***. He was really bad his first year here, but he's developed into a pretty solid guy. He's going to be even better when he's playing less minutes. He played great in the playoffs last year aside from the Selanne give away -- a situation that he shouldn't have been playing in anyway. Lilja's game is better suited for the playoffs.

If this team is healthy it's better than last year's.

Who cares? They were the favorites in '03, '04, and '06.

What is 97.1's number?

Are you saying that's not true? Because all I have to do to prove you wrong is point you to the 06-07 playoffs. What are you so bitter about, anyway? Sure, I would've liked a scorer too but there was no one out there that was really appealing aside from Hossa.

No, because Stuart is an established NHL player. Markov couldn't have been signed because he would've had to have passed through waivers. You probably wouldn't have considered this a good day unless Holland acquired Hossa, Campbell, and Yzerman.

What's your point? Rafalski and Lidstrom are better than any of Anaheim's third pairing defenseman too.

Here's some of Stuart's work that I'm sure a lot of you remember:

I'm not saying top four overall, I'm saying he's a defenseman that can play in pretty much any team's top four group of defensemen.

I already did. Look at post 154:

Hardly. Stuart is easily a top-four defenseman in this league. You don't know what you're talking about.

Why do you keep comparing each defense's players one to one? That's an incredibly stupid way to think about things. It's about how the defenses work as a unit.

I base it on his style of play, the fact that he's 28 years old, and the fact that he has a mean streak. He's a puck mover and the Wings needed some aggressiveness on the blue line. Trust me, he'll fit in well here. Stuart was a very heralded player only a couple years ago... I mean he was the key piece in a trade for Joe Thornton. Since then, he's been on some mediocre teams (Boston, Calgary) and a piss poor one (LA). The Wings have a way of making defenseman look good and since he's only 28 he still has time to grow.

Stuart is a very solid pick-up. I can't believe some of the reactions I'm seeing. You guys need to grow up.

You know, it's funny that you should mention +/-. Hossa is -14 on the season. Fedorov is -3 on the season. Blake is -13 on the season. ...yet I bet you were clamoring for at least one of these guys. Stuart is going to be a great fit here.

Crossing my fingers in physics class for Hossa.

So the Vancouver game told you the Wings can't win without Lidstrom, Chelios, Kronwall, Rafalski, and Cleary? Wow! Some of you guys have got to be kidding me.

Good move for Ottawa.

The deadline? It hasn't passed yet.

Wait until the deadline is over before you ***** at Holland.