LeftWinger

I am all for a Detroit/Boston SCF...Let's get it on!

...do you mean offensively? Because the rest of your entire post describes what Commodore brings to this team over Kindl. The Wings have given up TONS of odd-man rushes thus far, it's hard to be at fault when you are in the press box. I think that is something that is a team problem and really does need to be addressed.

Without a doubt. Jimmy Howard thus far. If he can keep this pace up (probably won't though) he will eclipse the single season win record held by Brodeur at 48 wins. I think right now that Jimmy is on pace to win around 58 games....not bad for Goalie A.

I like that Commie is getting his shot, but why Kindl? is he hurt? I thought Kindl was playing a ton better than Ericsson...er, of course my 4 year old plays better than Ericsson...

Interested to see how many blues fans (cprice?) will be calling Pav's hit on Jackass illegal and suspension worthy. Afterall, Steve Yzerman did purposely hurt Pronger, so why not Datsyuk's illegal shoulder to the head of Jackass? Physics anyone?

Ya, I cannot understand why good players have to present themselves as and whine and cry like a baby, or run around taking cheapshots and liberties on players and tarnish what could be their own greatness. Arnott, Jackman, Backes, these guys are great players, but they have to be idiots on the ice. Just like Pronger and Thornton. If they would stop the cheapshots and just play hockey and play legally without running around and then crying when someone gives them some medicine, they would be elite. cprice?

Bet it is Kronner, Pavel, Howard....if not White in there somewhere. cprice?

Guess Backes shouldn't have been so worried about running Zetterberg.... Kenny just answered my question, Franzen 1 goal in 9 games...unacceptable. He needs to become consistant, until then he is NOT and elite player.

I am calling out Franzen and Hudler. When is the last time they scored? It's time. Not when nobody is scoring. Franzen needs to step up and show he is the Elite scorer everyone (but me) thinks he is.

30 years eh? So the name Roman Turek means nothing to you then? I would think with your love for regular season stats with no Cups, you would love Turek to death!

Eddie Belfour has a house in Saginaw I believe, lets call him in to teach Jimmy some "moves."

You were excited! So excited I barely understand what the frick you are saying! Please, I know internet chat has it's own words, but please, use them sparingly. Or at least not in your entire post. I know spelling and grammar aren't always the best here and most folks look the other way, but man this was brutal! But at least you enjoyed yourself! Go Wings! I like it that Howard is getting pissed, would be great to see a rebirth of Eddie Belfour in todays NHL! Expect to see Howard develop some stick-work soon. "Come near my crease, feel the pain..."

Here is why he is how he is... ..ok, it's fine to admire you hometown hero, and hell, even root for him. But to grow up in the Detroit hockey market and claim to be an Avalanche fan...no there is where the problem is. ...buckeye, need I say more? He also was tutored while earning his high school diploma while playing with the US National Team Development Program...can you say pampered *****? So there are a few reason's why he feels that he should not get hit like that...pansy.

...and that is the problem. They don't and they won't. Ericsson, Kindl, Kronwall, Stuart, White. None of these guys could clear the net if they were paid to! Oh wait...anyhow, Kronwall and Stuart have great open ice hits, good offensive upside, but they are poor at clearing players from the front of the net. Ericsson and Kindl are even worse at it. You cannot expect your #1 & #2 guys to do it, so they need to acquire a couple of players that WILL. I would LOVE to see what Commodore can or cannot do for about 10 games, hell, even though I am not sold on him, bring Smith up for a 5-10 game stint. If they aren't what this team is starving for, then acquire two or three defenders that are. I am fine with 3-4 of the type we have, but having all 6 players trying to be scorer's from the blue line and not making players pay the price in front of the net and for sure not making them pay if the take liberties, it is gonna hurt this team in the long haul... It's nice having the highest scoring defense, but I'd rather have the number one scoring offense and the hardest defense to play against. But maybe that is just me...

Well, I don't see Vokoun being the #1 starter in Washington to this date, they are split pretty even, so it's like he is in the 1A 1B system anyway. I know he would not be happy here if he was getting Conklin-type starts, but I got feeling, if Washington does again, what Washington normally does in the playoffs, we could very well be looking at Vokoun in a Wings jersey next season as or 1B goalie. And that would be a welcome sight. (no offense to Conklin)

That is the answer, but that is also where the problem lies. Every defensman we have is in the mold of Lidstrom. Of all of the defensman, who do you expect to do what you are asking them to do? Keeping Lids out of the equation, I can name you 5 other's that aren't: Kronwall, Stuart, Kindl, White & Ericsson. That leaves noone. So until Babs puts away his pride and give Commodore a legit shot at playing or Holland gets off the soft-euro train and actually gets that type of defensman, then it isn't going to happen and Jimmy will wind up hurt one day and then we'll be stuck with Conklin/MacDonald for the playoffs. That is until someone runs one of them into an injury. Don't get me wrong, it's fine to have some of your defenders in the mold of Lidstrom, as a matter of fact, you NEED them, but draw the line at Lidstrom, Stuart, White and Kronwall. Ericsson is hot garbage and even though Kindl has been very solid, he is just another soft European player. I am not bashing just the Euro's, if they had a Euro that would hit and defend his team, that would be great, but Holland likes a certain type whether they are Euro or North American, and that is what we have. I am not saying Commodore is the answer either, but JHC, let's see if he is, eh?!?! I don't believe in Smith personally, but if he is the answer, let's bring his ass up here, sit Ericsson, and let's see if he can make his presence felt. We cannot argue with the teams record, but one of these times Datsyuk or Howard gets hit, they aren't going to get up...

Ya, some users will just neg you and not debate the reason's why. The Wing's have been "soft" for a while. Even when they had Brad May, they didn't play him enough to be considered tough. They need a full time player(s) that will fight every night if they have to while defending their team. Everytime we play St. Louis Backes runs around and knocks players around like he is on a mission, and he NEVER has to answer for it. You are right, teams know that they can rough our players up without any recourse. Ericsson is here for his size and (what was presumed to be) toughness, but he does nothing. More times than not, our players just watch as opposing teams take liberties against their teammates. How many times does Pavel have to defend himself? Howard? Zetterberg getting kneed? Come one! If Aaron Downey was stil playing and on this team, Kesler would have been eating teeth for dinner. The problem is, and I wouldn't trade the 2008 Cup for anything, but Holland said it in the game 6 post game interview when he said, "Who said you couldn't win with Europeans?" That is his bag now, if not soft Euro's, then soft Euro-type players. When he does draft or sign a North-American style hockey player, they get minimal playing time or get stuck in GRR for 6 years until they are groomed to NOT be that type of player. Which is why Smith will not provide any changes to the toughness of the team, which is why Holland will NEVER try to acquire Weber at anytime. Which is why Hudler is still on this team, forget that nobody wanted him, just sit him for someone who is gonna actually throw a body check. Which is why Mike Commodore gets ZERO playing time. Which is why Holland didn't offer Wiz a contract or Jovo or Willie Mitchell. There is a reason why this team's D is leading the league in scoring and it isn't because the clear the front of the net. I will take the wins, but at what cost if Jimmy or Datsyuk or Zetterberg cannot play 100% because of a "Back Injury" or "Upper Body Strain" what then? I was never a huge fan of McCarty, but at least he did what he was paid to do. Hell, even Maltby dropped the gloves every so often when he felt he needed to. Last year, when Brad Stuart (who at the time was arguably your best defender at that point of the season) was elbowed in the jaw in calgary, Abdelkader just looked at it happening and did nothing. That was unacceptable and last night's goal when Jimmy got ran, goal or not, penalty or not, Hansen should have at least been eating Louisville for the evening. For player like Bertuzzi to just watch it happen makes me sick. Holland needs to stop drafting the small skilled players or the big skilled players, we have enough of those here and down in GRR to last 20 or so years, he needs to draft and acquire big players that are gonna bruise the f*** out of someone if they take liberties on his teammates. You may not like Avery's antics off the ice, but all be damned if someone is going to get away with this crap while he is on the ice. Too bad Holland is going to stay with the same formula, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see the same lineup tonight in Calgary. They are good, borderline great, but they are soft, and until they address that issue, teams will continue to do what they are doing to them night in and night out...

...again, who is gonna drops the gloves? They don't have anyone that will do it enough to even put a smidgen of a scare into any team. I am not saying they need a goon with no skills, but someone who is at least gonna stand up for their team. IT doesn't even have to be a "Bob Probert" it could be a "Martin LaPointe" or a "Bob Rouse" or a "Gerard Gallant" or even a "Sean Avery." Problem is, Holland and Babcock do not like nor will they have on their team full time someone who is a fighter.

Ya, but Holland could've had Moen (and Malhotra) a couple years ago, I dont think he is interested in him now. But it would be nice, although they are pretty crowded at the fwd position at the moment.

Who is gonna stand up for jimmy? Lidstrom? Ericsson? Kindl? Kronwall? This is why Commodore should at least get a legit chance. This is one of the reasons a bunch of us wanted Wiz. This is why Mitchell or Jovo were talked about as well. But hey, we do have the highest scoring defense in the league. Also the softest! I really hope and pray Holland throws the checkbook at someone next year, or trades for Weber. Smith is not the answer either.....

Lest you forget, long playoff runs are not uncharted waters for the Red Wings. ASG's are nice, Vezina's are better, but I will take goalie A hands down if he wins 16 games in the post season with that GAA and Save%. Which is why Chris Osgood has 3 Cups and tell me again which Blues goalie has even one while playing in St. Louis? Eliot can have the Vezina and the ASG for all I care, or any other goalie, call me when he (or any blues goalie) wins a Cup. As a matter of fact, just to comment on your little Goalie A & B scenario, Osgood's stats in the 2007-2008 were 2.09GAA and .914%. In 1998, when he was ONLY 25 BTW (Howard is currently 27,) his stats in the regular season were 2.21GAA and .913%. Which I think even you would accept if your goalie was hoisting the Cup in June. So for my books, you can have all the Hart's, ASG's, Vezina's and personal accolades, I will take 4 Cups in 11 years and a goal post away from a 5th in 12 yrs with the not so good stats.

He is by far, the worst defender on this team. I sure wish Babs would at least give Commie a 5-7 games in a row to show us if he is any better...

...that's what I say! Learn f&cking English if you are gonna work and live here!

No more Red Wings/Hockey forum of DETNEWS? What, did Valente and Foster take over the sports forum there?

That is just not right, you should support Howard through EVERY period! Not just two of them!