derblaueClaus

You're right, Kindl potential is out of question. But if his playing continues where it left last season he is a bottom pair guy and there are plenty of players at this level around the league for free and for a lesser caphit. The only difference from these guys would be his potential, but if they want potential teams could also call up their talent from the minors again with a lesser caphit. I just don't see a reason for any GM to take the risk and pick him up. If the Wings eat some of his salary things might be different though.

Actually it's written "weiß" but it's the same sound. Which would also explain why Erhoff chose Pittsburgh. I think we're onto something.

It's finally here. Counting down the hours till puck drop. Let's GO Wings !

Only question : Who'd take a 27 y. old, No. 6 D-Man @ 2.4 a year ? Any ideas around the board ? I don't see a team picking him up.

Sounds like I should have registered a few years earlier.....

Granato is the PP coach now. Maybe the thinking is to have more of a staying at home guy with a strong shot at the blue line to reduce the risk to run into a breakaway. As good as I think Smith is on the PP he's also very offensive minded. Not a problem with a second defender, but if you are the only one the team could get in pretty nasty situations when the puck is lost in the zone.

Reasonable enough, but at some point you have to start him. Why not now ? I didn't hear nor read anything indicating that Weiss needs more time during the off- and preseason. Maybe there is a trade in the making ?

I don't think we can predict how the teams will perform based on the preseason games. They don't play the lines they play in regular season, the top players don't bring their A-game, etc. . We will have to wait for the regular season and even into that it will take between 10 and 20 games to say for sure what this team is capable of. Therefore I don't have many expectations from the preseason. One of the few things that looked significantly better than last season was our PP. It was much more dynamic in my opinion. And D-Prospects were very good, I'm excited to see how Jensen will perform on regular NHL-Level. But as said above, I take everything with a big grain of salt.

Wow, GCL is almost 4 minutes behind it seems. Its obviously still preseason for them too......

Nobody is so far in this game. With the exception of Gustavsson.

X(avier) marks the spot ! Edit : Hmm....

Better during preseason, than in a Game 7. Can't complain though. If you have two guys crashing the net with only one defender and let the third guy shoot it's not unlikley that the shot goes in. One way or the other.

Smith looked a little off on this goal. On the other hand : It's pretty easy to look a little off if you're supposed to cover two guys.

My understanding of the lines combo is that they are not a sign of mistrust against Weiss or other player on the bottom lines but more a test for the first two lines. Babs just wants to see what the Kids line and our likely regular season 4th line can do. Hence he plays them more often. If he does that is.

Probably just precautionary. If not then we can welcome back the Detroit Griffins™ by the time the season starts.

Sure, but he also had a season before that you could very well describe as a breakout season and last year as the anomaly. You might be right, what I call his breakout season might just be the anomaly and last season the usual Kindl. Problem is we don't now. Player have good and bad season, it happens. Therefore we still need to see more games from him. What I say is : Let's find out before benching him. If you are right and he is a bust there is still plenty of time to get Oullet or Marchenko up during the season. If he isn't we are fine the way we are.

Everything and then some. I don't complain as long as it's just a sore groin and not his back. Lashoff is a plug, but a cheap one. He can play solid defense while saving room on the salary cap. Thats an asset in itself I wouldn't want to lose lightly. Kindl is different story. You're right he had a bad season. But what do you expect Babcock to do ? Call him out via media even before the new season started ? The Kids will eventually get their chances, but only after the first games are played. If Babs would question Kindl openly now there would be something very wrong with either Kindl or Babcock.

Probably Kindl. If he can proof that last season was an anomaly and plays like the season before he will stay there. If not then things will start get interesting.

Dito. Regarding his salary : Just keep in mind guys he is still a RFA. Of course he makes less money than a comparable UFA. I don't think he got lowballed.

Seems we bored them away last year.

Las Vegas Hangovers

I think Kopitar and Weber are better fits. Kopitar could center our 3rd line if Helm is injured again.

Let's not forget his three cups. Well deserved indeed.

Seems like I need to watch this. Thanks for the posting.