chaps80

I swear Mrazek needs to be drug tested for amphetamines or something. One game he’s calm and focused, next game he can’t stay still and is all over the place.

They barely have a concept of defense at all.

Yeah I really don’t see Abby getting passed over for it. This team doesn’t just hand the C to young players. People can use Yzerman to refute that, but he was given it during a really bad period in franchise history where they were looking for a young talented star to help turn things around and put asses in the seats again. The Wings handing him the C is no different than the Crosby/Ovie/McDavid thing I posted before. Generational players. You wanna keep them happy, show your glad to have them on board and give them the reigns while you use them as a cornerstone to rebuild. Larkin isn’t on that level, and Wings aren’t in that bad of a spot. Pretty sure the C is Abby’s.

Thought this might end in 1-0 shutout, guess not. But yay, a point!!

Smith still likes taking stupid penalties. They must love him in NY.

Of course.

That sucks. Did I quick search and didn’t see any injury announcements so I thought he might just be a victim of Blash’s lineup roulette wheel of doom.

I see Frk hasn’t played since Nov 11. He’s not injured is he?

I was joking, but what he pulled was funny. 4 goals on 19 shots, gets pulled, yells at Blash like it’s his fault and “how dare you pull ME”, and tosses his stick and angrily starts removing his gloves and mask. Relax Jimmy.

Howard isn’t being benched for “attitude issues” after his suck attack the other night? I thought attitude issues weren’t tolerated in Detroit?

I agree. Nothing should be handed to the younger guys. It was good of Blash to call him on it. Guess I’m just tired of vets getting passes while the younger guys get s*** for one bad game. They still have to contribute and play the best they can, they are part of the team on the ice every night. Can’t just float around and cost goals for and against and shrug it off, or this team doesn’t have a prayer. Guess calling them out won’t do anything though if they already don’t care enough to slack off. They have their long term contracts locked up.

Just saw video of after Howard was pulled. Wonder what he said to Blashill? He looked pretty pissed to be taken out of the game. No meltdowns now Jimmy, please.

I dunno if Howard just had an off night or what, but I think Blash Is overusing him. If he starts to crack or gets injured, that’s all this team needs. Team has two capable well paid goalies, take advantage of it. Throwing Mrazek in cold when the game is already lost or starting him once every 5+ games isn’t going to help anything. Should try to get him in every 3 games at least. Howard will still be starter, but you gotta try to get something outta Mrazek at the same time. Or just ride the s*** outta Howard and see what unfolds, whatever. Lol

Good on Blash for calling him out on it, but I find anytime he publicly calls out a player it’s one of the kids. I know he’s trying to motivate them, but they do more than their share already. AA has a good amount of points in limited games, but I’m sure we’ll hear about him not working hard soon enough. Not much is said about the vets, some who have floated around for years. ALL players should be held accountable for bad games and not working hard enough. Age or being on this team when Blash took over shouldn’t be a free pass for sucking.

They aren’t any better. Look great one game then completely fall apart the next one or few.

Oh no!! We suck STILL!!!

Ahh ok. 5-2. Yay. This team is so screwed up.

Make that 4 goals on 19 shots. Defence or Jimmy or both?

3 goals against on 15 shots? Lol

Yzerman was a different type of captain compared to Lidstrom and Zetterberg though. I got the feeling that Lids wasn’t a big leadership guy in the dressing room, same as I do with Z. They showed/show it on the ice with their skill, but that’s not the same. Skill doesn’t automatically mean leadership ability. Yzerman had both. I wouldn’t see it as a decline in captaincy standards. If a guy is a vocal veteran and can lead, why not? He’s also one of the few guys on the team with a Cup ring. Larkin hasn’t done anything to earn the C yet. He’s still pretty young. I’d like to see the Wings wait on it. Just my opinion.

It’s not always the best player on the team that gets the C. Sometimes it’s purely leadership qualities. MacKenzie wears the C in FLA, and wore it in Columbus. And the Wings seem to have a tradition of passing the C onto veteran A’s. Big on loyalty. Abby is a vocal presence in the locker room and a great PR guy and very involved in the community. Didnt Z say he wasn’t interested in playing the last two seasons of his contract? Front loaded, gets cut in half next season. Final two only makes a million per in each. Not much time left if he is going to bail after next season. I dunno, I just don’t see Larkin getting handed the C after one more season.

This is true, but a lower finish increases odds at the top picks. The past draft lottery was a weird one that’s for sure. Howard or Mrazek would have to stand on their head to have any chance in the playoffs with this team’s defence. Some nights they’re ok, and others they’re simply abysmal. If they could shore up the D at the deadline and have great goaltending, might be a chance to win some playoff games. Long as the young guys keep playing well and scoring and the vets aren’t floating and contribute the best they can. But the D, as usual, leaves a huge question mark. Playoff goaltending too. Howard has started 5 playoff games since 2014. Mrazek has started 10 games since 2015. Not much playoff action between them once 2018 rolls around. May be some rust. We’ll see though.

Abby will get the C after Zetterberg. He’s next in line, assuming Kronwall retires before then. Larkin might be a future captain, but he’s not just going to be handed it over vets currently wearing A’s right away. It’s not a Crosby/Ovechkin/McDavid situation. They were given the C whether they had captain qualities or not because they were generational phenoms.

Epic meltdown. This team, man. Got a point out of it, but all that’s going to do along with flip flopping other losses and wins is contribute to the bubble team status and a tenth overall pick or so. I know they won’t tank, and aren’t bottom feeders, but that’s Holland and his band aid fixes. Team would get destroyed in the playoffs, but isn’t bad enough to enter the top pick lottery. Doesn’t seem like his approach will change either.

Off topic in this thread but figured I’d reply. Haha I dunno how the Mrazek thing will turn out. Howard is getting the bulk of the starts. Not that he shouldn’t, he’s been great. Petr gets one here and there. Hard to get in a groove like that. Seems when he gets a start, even if it’s a win, he sits the next game. Think he played two in a row once? Howard can lose a game and still get the next start. Seems like Blash has his mind made up who he’s riding at this point. Unless Howard is injured or his play declines, that’s probably how the season plays out, with Petr getting one of five starts, unless it’s a back to back situation. I dunno what Holland’s plans for him will be in the off-season if he doesn’t get in many games. Still RFA, so i’d guess resign for less or trade, but might not get much for him. I can’t see a trade happening while he’s still at his current salary and barely playing. Seasons still young though, things can change in goal I guess.