lwing

I sometimes wonder if all of Datsuyk's skill with the puck doesn't overshadow his amazingly sick wrist shot. In all the YouTube highlight reels you can see him make tons of these beautiful wrist shots. When he takes one he looks different than any other player. Is it the long stick, the way he almost always makes one or two moves before firing on off, the way he follows through...? He's just so darn... fluid or... something. Whatever it is, it's fun to watch and I want to see more. Good work by all the linemates there, but we need to see more of giving this guy what he needs. I think Abby is working hard, Franzen... could work harder and smarter IMO. To me it seems obvious. If you are fortunate enough to be put on that line your job is to do everything you possibly can to unleash #13.

No, you are right. In the old days, even the glory years of 97, 98, 2001... I distinctly remember the Wings being super low key in playoff wins other than final games in later rounds. Colorado too.

So it's too late to treat an old dog new tricks? There is no way Howard could actually try to improve his puck handling skills? After all he is a highly skilled athlete. Or are you saying his genetic makeup makes it impossible to learn how to handle the puck well enough to make a bantam league moronic mistake in a major NHL playoff game? Obviously I am being sarcastic. In 2001 Datsyuk was easy to push around and made too many moves. Were those his weaknesses he had to accept for the rest of his career? Every single year he has modified and improved his training and skills. He is constantly evolving. Howard isn't close to the level of Datsyuk, but he can take a cue and do real work to improve his weaknesses.

Nyquist of course. Was putting Jimmy Howard on the list a joke? If so, it was pretty funny!

Yea, everyone knows that highly conditioned athletes lose all strength in their legs when hit in the eye! If this wasn't so pathetic and absurd it would be disgusting. Mr. (and I use the term lightly) Crosby can rack up all the points he wants. He can win a half dozen cups, gold medals and other awards. He can make more money than any player in hockey ever. However, there are a few things he will never have. Character and respect. When his number goes up in the rafters nobody will be talking about his integrity. Lucky for us we had and have star players who have as much f not more character than skill. I wouldn't trade a Yzerman or Lidstrom or even a Datsyuk or Zetterberg for a whole bench of whiny, spoiled, bitchy little Crosbies.

Gee, did anybody read this guy's horoscope before signing him? I'd like to think he just had one heck of a lousy year and that next year is a 180. However, he may be cursed. Some type of witchcraft needs to be performed here.

I feel sad so many of you are so deluded. It couldn't be more pathetic if you thought Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy were going to help the Wings out. Boston or Pittsburgh will chew us up and spit us out like seeds in an orange. We are pathetic in D and goal and we will be utterly destroyed IF we even make it to the playoffs. Nobody is afraid of us. This is not being a bad fan, this is NOT being a homer and being a realist.

This is great news because of every other city in the US has clearly demonstrated that new sports stadiums are THE key to revitalizing a downtown area. Casinos too. Detroit. Man, what innovators in urban renewal!!!!

I'm just waiting for the homers (press, forums and in wings uniforms) who will make whatever happens not be in any way the fault of Wings management or coaching, as if this season was somehow ordained to be such a train wreck. It simply could be no other way. If we make the playoffs then it is obviously due to the genius of Babcock and Holland in utilizing a group of scrappy skilled youngsters to clinc yet another playoff berth. If we don't make the playoffs, then obviously it was beyond any mortal's ability and even the great Babcock and Holland couldn't lead a group of scrappy skilled youngsters to fill the skates of injured veterans, but boy oh boy, they have shown us a bright future. Get to work spin doctors! Make it all good no matter what happens. Nobody does a better CYA job on failure and irresponsibility than Detroit!

Well, I can understand this line to a point, but I think Stevie had MUCH more to do with our Stanley Cups than Mr. Holland.

True, I was a bit hard on the guy, but its not like a hockey forum is a place for careful critical thinking and rational arguments. You sir are a gentleman and scholar while I was... less so. Still, Smith is the last player I am pinning my hopes on for this team.

And yet goalies like Lundqvist and other top performers repeatedly stop shots where they should have no chance. That's why they get the big bucks. Why does Howard get the big bucks? I have no idea why. There, he just failed to step up again. It's never his fault is it? There is always a reason.

Honestly, I still can't get over how he single handedly contributed with one bone-headed play after another and destroyed our chances in beating Chicago in the playoffs last year. He was the stupidest player, young or old, I had ever seen on the ice in a Wings jersey. A complete moron who earned a benching thirty times over. Whether or not he is suddenly getting a few ounces of grey matter and scoring here and there is irrelevant - he will never be a player of consequence on this team or any other team.

If we don't make the playoffs Howard should assume a big part of the blame. I don't care how many times the D leaves him out to dry he needs to get it together. His statement that getting one point last night was a good thing is pathetic. Babs too. Are we reduced to this - finding good things in a loss? That's what losers say, not proud competitors. If so, we are doomed and probably deserve to end the streak.

I don't know if I have anything intelligent to add, but I agree with the OP and others - the best things about being a Wings fan these days are the young players. Stats are one thing, but as a spectator you can't help but notice them on the ice. Speed, skill, energy, hustle... they all stand out. I don't understand why the Wings have held on to the rookie training wheels mentality for so long (as well as the keep the old guys forever mentality). When we had unlimited funds to spend it made sense to keep the kids in GR for years and years waiting for them to reach a level worthy of playing with Yzerman, Lidstrom... and so on. Yes, some kids need time to develop, but plenty offer the kind of drive and hunger that is sorely lacking on our bench. Why shouldn't every single player be competing for their job? It is easy to imagine that some of our underperforming veterans would play differently if there was someone else gunning for their job.

Actually, modern genetics has revealed that most people, except those of African descent, have 1-5% or a little more Neanderthal DNA. Speaking of meeting in bars, this prove an old saying was really old. After having a little too much fermented God knows what, all the cave girls DO look prettier at closing time.

Gee, who in the world could have ever foreseen this as being a bad signing? Please note, if the dripping sarcasm is not beyond obvious, I can't help you.

Really? You have to be kidding? What other young D let alone any rookie makes so many mistakes game after game after game? I suppose you wanted to give Schwartz another year coaching the Lions too.

Exactly and who is making those calls? Then again, it's not like anyone in Detroit can figure it out when those in charge are losers. Whether its sports, government or auto companies, it takes a meltdown to recognize mediocrity not to mention incompetence in leadership. Dream on homers!

Yes, Holland has to go. There is no strategy, no plan, no building let alone maintaining this team. Detroit fans and press love to play the sycophant. Holland and Babcock are untouchable. The buck never stops with either. I'm tired of it. Holland has proven he can't be a "genius" without a big fat checkbook. Unless he can go buy a Hull or Hasek, he is lost. He has no idea how to work within the constraints of the NHL since the cap and it has been long enough. His actions this off season were mickey mouse at best. He'd probably fail picking a fantasy team. Babcock comments to the press after every pathetic loss are coming from a spectator, not a coach. While everyone see's him as a genius, I see him as a guy has blown 2 cups in game seven losses and has been wasting the talent of Zetterberg and Datsyuk for years. He has no clue how to use two of the most dynamic players in the game and they are carrying HIM on their skill and effort. Lidstrom did too of course. Okay, I'm going back to my half mug empty of coffee now.

Thanks for the articles and a thread on just about the only good news these days. I love how the author rips Holland on his poor choices and obviously flawed strategy for going with has-beens at the expense of hungry young skilled players like these guys.

For those who want to believe in justice, karma or whatever... for a sleezebag like Cooke, there is nothing better than this video:

I love Abby for his grit, hustle, determination and for never backing down to anyone, but I'm sorry, you could put anyone's grandmother on a line with Datsyuk and they are going to score. We have seen this over and over and over. You put someone who isn't scoring with Dats and they start scoring. Meanwhile Dats is always scoring. Hmmm? Abby is a great guy, but he simply does not have the hands or skill to handle all the brilliant gift passes and plays Datsyuk is handing him. How many times did he get some awesome pass from Datsyuk right in front of the net only to fail to get the puck up or make the shot? Sure he got a few, but he simply can't be consistent in handling Datsyuk's level of skill, insane moves and off the cuff brilliance. To keep messing with this, to somehow try and figure out how a once in a generation skill guy can be better paired with a hard working grunt is insanity and a waste. Dats needs a line mate that works hard to free HIM up, to give HIM time and space, not the other way around.

I looked at some videos of Weiss and found a few fights. He is not afraid to drop the gloves (imagine that in a Red Wing if you can), but the problem is he get's his butt kicked every time he does. Thank God we have Franzen to protect him.

FYI, in case any of you are going a little nuts like I am. On my iPhone the MLive app has an article saying they resigned Cleary for three years. If I email that same story and use the link on a computer - it is to an article about Detroit wanting to keep Cleary. So, MLive obviously has some problems.