LAWings

Could you tell us a little bit about the symptoms? I'm not clear on what Letang went through (after googling), they only say dizziness and it wasn't major, but I thought with a stroke half your face and body stop working (according again to google). So what exactly is going on that you say, 'I'm dizzy, no, that's a stroke'.

OP, you're not missing anything, Babs and Holland have done a terrible job 'filling holes'. There are 4 players worth $8.725 million sitting or buried in the minors. (Cleary, Bert, Sammy, Tootoo) That's terrible, especially for Tootoo. I think he got shafted coming to Detroit, like what did they expect from him, 50 goals?

Jeff Blashill. He has an amazing record of taking young teams to championships. He also spent time as a Wings assistant coach before being sent down to Grand Rapids where he won the Cup. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Blashill 2 weeks ago Babcock said he talks to Blashill every day because he knows the kids better then Babs. I think Babs only knows how to coach a team that is loaded with talent and not a rebuilding team. I think he's clueless how to utilize young players, whatever he said to them after the first period with Philly demoralized those kids. We need change, Blashill is the answer.

Wow, 56 for Sheehan, 0 for Andersson

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2014/01/johan_franzen_will_return_to_t.html I'm a bit surprised he's coming back after only 3 days symptom free. I would think they'd keep him out a bit longer, 3 days is really nothing. My experiences with concussions are that during the recovery phase, one tough poop and your symptoms can come back.

Wings need 21 wins out of 32 games to make the playoffs. It's widely accepted that you need around 95 points, 21 wins is 42 points. Wings are currently at 54 points. So 21 games out of 32, that's a 65% win record. Unless Wings start pulling off consecutive stretches of wins, we're not going to make it.

Do teams have to be honest about location of injury? For example, Datsyuk has a super top secret 'lower body injury'. But is it really lower body or is it his concussion again? I'm curious what the league reporting rules are on injuries, I thought it was something like if it happens in your lower body that is all you have to say.

I wasn't sure what the rule was, perhaps during the playoffs they have to report it accurately then? That being said, the Datsyuk injury is a real concern, I think he has Post Concussion Symptoms.

This may be unpopular to some for this statement, but Cleary's elbow to Hannon's head last night disgusted me and he should be suspended. After losing Dats and Mule to concussions, this really has no place in the game. Sure those other other guys didn't get suspended, but 2 wrongs don't make it right. It's hard to say suspend one of your own, but I think it needs to be done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoprTBjKoWo

So...no Al Sobotka on the 4th line?

Why? Why would you want him to injure a skilled player when Cleary is barely a 4th line player? This is the kind of BS that needs to stop in the league... help me understand why elbowing Joe in the head is ok?

A lot of folks have been giving Franzen a hard time over his concussion and I would like to provide my own experience in the hope people can understand that a seemingly innocent 'love tap' can cause a TBI (traumatic brain injury). With all the strides being made on TV about concussions, with so many men who have now committed suicide because they could no longer live in such pain, it hurts me that the Wings community is so callous and shallow in their responses to such a very serious injury. A brain injury is THE MOST SERIOUS injury a player can sustain, and we as the Wings community should be pulling together to give our fallen warriors their support when this happens. And not belittle them and accuse them of malingering or lying. I sustained my first concussion 2 years ago and I've never had any head, neck, back or head injuries in my life (I'm 37, fit, former Marine). I didn't get hit in the head, I fell down, hard. So hard in fact that it caused my head to snap back and I got a concussion. A bad one, it took 6 months before the headaches stopped. 18 months before I didn't have symptoms, but 2 years on I still have some problems. After 6 months I went to see the specialist Crosby saw in Los Angeles when he wasn't getting better because I wasn't getting better, I had all the classic symptoms and they would just not go away. The truth is, doctors can't do anything for a concussion, there is no test, there is no drug, there is really no treatment. When you injure your brain it's a traumatic brain injury and everyone heals different and the only medication is time. When Franzen says he has a problem processing information I feel for the guy. I know what that's like, to barely be able to drive yourself to the doctor, to not be able to watch TV, or even wash dishes because there is too much going on and after a few minutes you have to sit down and collect yourself because you're so exhausted. Or having to take two breaks while walking to get the mail. Or it takes 5 minutes to type a sentance while writing an email. This is so frustrating, there is NOTHING you can do but let it run its course. On the outside one can look strong, fit, and healthy like a mule, but on the inside, the brain is going completely haywire beyond your control. The way Franzen got popped is how many concussions occur, and since this is not his first concussion he is risking serious injury to his long term brain health. (Think Junior Seau) I hope more people will have an open mind when we're talking about a TBI, and do more to help those in need, with understanding and giving people space and time to recover. But to mock the injury in any way, is cruel and you would not want to go through the same pain of any player having to live with the recovery of this injury. I am embarrassed by some of these responses I'm reading here, on line and in the news sections, as a Wings fan, as a man, and as a human being. Thanks for reading.

A lot of folks are still using conference standings as a way to gauge performance, unfortunately with the redesign of the divisions and playoff wild card criteria conference standings are now completely meaningless. Remember it is first 3 teams per division that make it plus 2 wild cards. Although the Wings are 5th in the conference, we are actually in 7th place because of the wild card. The Rangers are 5 points behind us with a game in hand... The only website that is doing a real good job of showing the wild card standings is NHL.com, : http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20132014&type=WC Just wanted to bring this to everyones attention if you were not already aware of this.

Mo Cheese.

Man, I really hope you're not defending Oprik. He's a POS who's been suspended before, is known as a dirty player and has taken knee on knee liberties with many players including our own boys. To me, what happened to Oprik is Karma at this point. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08q-kYPbfIs

And how many games did Oprik get for taking out Loui Eriksson earlier in that same game who is now out with a concussion? Oh, none...that's right. Oprik should be suspended as well after he gets off IR. I fell bad for anyone injured, but Oprik got instant Karma and I feel nothing for him. Also those refs in that game should be suspended. 2 guys out with concussions, a broken leg and Marchand almost got his head kneed off. Terrible officiating.

Is there anyone else we can bring up besides these guys? Or is there no one else left that is developed enough to call up? I keep hearing about these other kids, Jurco, Jarnkrok, Sheahan, Ferraro, etc...

Weiss is starting to look like the Gomez to Montreal deal...anyone remember that? $7.5 million a year for one goal? http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2012/02/09/montreal_canadiens_scott_gomez_breaks_yearlong_goal_drought_in_win_over_new_york_islanders.html I really hope this is the mother of career slumps and he bounces back, but in the game against Florida he looked so upset, flustered, angry...I thought he might even cry a little. With injuries mounting, and our veteran core not producing, this is where we need to see more of the kids coming up and playing...and not Luke Glendening, he produces less then Weiss.

For the love of anything holy, spend some time on this, 10 minutes a day perhaps? 9 points have been left on the table because of this. I've heard Babs hates the shootout, and although I cannot independently verify this, I wonder if that is true if he doesn't spend any time working on it. This is a massive gaping problem since last year. One that can be easily addressed by spending some time working on it during practice. Do it.

Actually....it was, it was really bad I think we were 2-8? See the link... http://www.nhl.com/ice/shootoutstats.htm?season=20122013&team=DET&viewName=shootoutTeamSummary We're on an 11 game shootout losing streak going back to last year.

Smith said that in the minors he was regularly used as one of the first 3 shooters. I was surprised to hear that, he said he would love an opportunity to do so with the Wings.

I have not been able to find an answer to this. I'm more excited about this game then the one at the Big House!

How hot is she? Is there a video of this altercation? Because I would like to see it and determine the intent...

Look guys, a lot of you keep bringing up clean hits, no hits to the head, and no fighting as the cure to end concussions. But getting a concussion is from your brain hitting the insided of your skull and can happen from CLEAN hits, and does not mean you need to have your head hit in any way. Those repeated, 10 times a game clean shoulder to shoulder hits. I mentioned earlier I'm 22 months Post Concussion, the first 6 months of last year were terrible, I never hit my head. I fell, and the impact was so intense, creating whiplash resulting in a concussion. That video on page 2 of the wing getting checked 'clean', that guys brain got scrambled in his head. Continued 'clean' hits like that DO scramble your brain. Every time these players get hit hard and they fall backwards on the ice and their head whips back, their brain just got a little mushier. So the ONLY way to appease those that want to make this the Nanny Hockey League, is ban ALL contact. No checking, no hitting, no pushing, no shoving. But what if someone slips and falls? Ah crap, they can get a concussion from that too, perhaps we should but foam padding around all the boards, so to make sure. I mean seriously, I've known my whole life that getting repeadetly hit in my body in any way is not a good idea for my physical well being. I didn't need an expert or anyone to tell me this. Is it really that difficult to understand these things for oneself? You mean to tell me that someone has to tell you some real common sense BS and you can't figure this out on your own? We're being retarded as a society, always blaming someone else, always being the victim, it's always someone elses fault for not telling us. It's always someone elses responsibility to make our lives better, to look out for us, to make sure we're safe. NO, it is YOUR job to do those things. This is 'Murica! Why is personal responsibility for ones actions and decisions becoming someone elses problem? Reminds me of that lady who sued McDonalds because they didn't tell her that the coffee she just bought was hot, she put it between her legs and scalded herself. Now labels have a caution hot on them because someone got a $10 million payday for being an idiot. Argh....I'm amped...let's play some hockey! lol

Hey Kip, sorry if you took my post as trying to pick on your argument. I just like history and had a Cliff moment (ala Cheers). I understand what you're saying, you gave examples but they were all 'shoulds'. I should also be rich and successful, and I also should never have any problems with anything ever in my life...but life is not that perfect. Which is why when you buy a hockey ticket, have you ever read the back of it? When you go to a game, you should not have to be injured in any way shape or form, but you agreed to their terms, that even an act of god will prevent you from suing them. Should a soldier sue the government for failing to provide a safe environment? Should a boxer sue? How about a firefighter? Hockey players play in a violent contact sport, if you don't know you can have brain injury from it, then you should. No one wants to take responsibility for their actions, always blaming someone else. If you engage in risky lifestyle, expect the chances of something happening to go up. Show me any hockey player who was never injured in their career, and I got a beach to sell you next to that probe on Mars. Maybe all hockey players should sue because they are all injured now, and the NHL should have given them better work environments.... When will the class action lawsut for destroyed knees come? How many players injected themselves and played with pain... like Marchant...when is his lawsuit coming? Or Lidstrom playing with a bad foot? Or Yzerman on his broken knee...or Shanahan when he played with a broken toe... where are their lawsuits and when are they coming? Because the NHL should have protected them too, no one should be injured, ever. (insert heavy sarc) Look, don't get me wrong, it's terrible these guys are hurt, I my self am on 22 months of Post Concussion Symptoms, and it sucks, it sucks so bad, I would never wish this on anyone, but I think it's wrong that no one takes ownership for their lives and responsibilities, and it's always someone else fault for not protecting them. You're a man, you made the decision, live with it, deal with it, stop blaming others for your decisions.