LeftWinger

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!

Just a little bit o' info, if Jimmy Howard keeps up his pace of his first 2.5 seasons throughout his career, and plays as long as Brodeur has played, he will eclipse the all time goaltender wins record. Not too shabby of a potential future, eh? Go Jimmy! edit: of course, there are other goalie that may pass that record too, but Jimmy is off to a HOF career start!

Blah, it's just an ASG. I know it's nice to be recognized (especially by your peers and coaches) but right now he has Vezina-type numbers and I would think if he is in the running for that instead of the ASG, he may be a bit more proud. Nice that folks are recognizing his stats as ASG worthy, but if he doesn't make it and wins the Vezina, that sits better with me anyhow...Besides, remember the last time our goalie went to the ASG after having a superb first half? Osgood, and what did he do the second half? Could hardly win a game. Jimmy needs the rest come ASG, I hope he gets it.

Go Wings! Just would like to say for the record, I do take credit for the Helm & Cleary reunion. I asked and asked and asked for it, and when Babs did it, viola! It seems it doesn't matter who they put on the line with them, those two just have chemistry that seem to be igniting this team. Eaves, Conner and Miller, all three have thrived playing with these two. Good on ya, Babcock! Whatever you do (barring injuries) DO NOT split this tandem up.

Well, now Ms. St-Pierre knows how I feel when I go into a party store! "Marlboro! Marlboro! Smokey Smokey! You don't even speak English, how'd you get this job!?!" kidding....

Ok, we talked about these guys all summer long, none of which were signed by the Wings. Lets see how they are doing thus far and if we are missing out at all... 1. Jusi Jokinen : 4G 15A 19pts. 2. James Wisniewski : 1G 15A 16pts. 3. Kevin Bieska : 3G 11A 14pts. 4. Christian Ehrhoff : 2G 12A 14pts. 5. Jaromir Jagr : 10G 16A 26pts. 6. Brooks Laich : 7G 12A 19pts. 7. Steve Montador : 4G 5A 9pts. 8. Joni Pitkanen : 3G 9A 12pts. 9. Tomas Kaberle : 0G 13A 13pts. (between 2 teams. He does have 4A in 3 games with MTL) 10.Ed Jovanovski : 2G 3A 5pts. 11.Alex Tanguay : 5G 15A 20pts. and we got: Ian White : 4G 11A 15pts. ...of course Commie hasn't played enough to even gauge him, Chris Conner either, although he has brought a lot of spunk to this team. Considering the salaries that the defenders we all talked about received, I think we made the right choice with White. I guess the only one I still kinda wish we took a gamble on was Jagr. 26 points would be third on our team right now and who knows what that total would be playing with the best player in the league as his center, Pavel Datsyuk. Hudler is doing just as good as Jokinen and costs a bit less, so it seems that worked out too! I still hope somehow Holland can get that sniper, but I am not gonna name any names, because I at one time wanted each one of these guys and well, this show's why I am a fan and not a GM! also, I didn't put the +/- of these guys, but I will note that alot of them are in the -. As noted last night, Ian White is leading the west at +18 and is having a career year.

Now this was awesome. I remember this from my teenage days. This hockey right here is what turned me into a Red Wings fan.

One thing that stands out after watching that video again, our team today couldn't hold the jocks of that 1997 team PLUS the NHL as a whole pales in comparison to that era of the NHL. Gary Bettman has ruined the NHL. Period.

You have been corrected. March 26th, 1997. My BDay is March 12th, and my buddy just happened to pick up some tickets to this game and took me there for my bday. We were losing at the time of the brawl and I remember us looking at each other and saying we don't even care if we win at this point, it was absolutely THE best game I have ever been too... ...still have the stub.

What's funny is, all the guys we are talking about Detroit acquiring, Holland will get someone that nobody expected and they will be the one to put us over the top! I question Holland a lot, but I guess if I didn't, I would just be another Sport's Sheeple.

Yeah, I know that the guys I wanted were Wiz, Montador, Jokinen and Tanguay/Jagr. I think for the money Wiz signed for and the comment that he said about Detroit not paying people what they are worth, he should be shoots and ladders above White in scoring, +/- AND PIM's. I bet Columbus will think twice about that signing and I doubt Wiz even finishes his 5 years there. Like stated above, in hindsight, Jagr is the only guy I wish we would've gotten, but doesn't matter right now. This team seems to be gelling quite good for the moment, I am not the biggest fan of Hudler (really? ) or Franzen, but they are doing quite well and I am happy they are helping the team. I was surprised when they signed White and am very happy with his all-around play. I only wish we could see what Commodore can do, of course if Kindl wasn't doing so well, then we probably would see him. I just wish Babcock would sit Ericsson to shake him up a bit, he needs a kick in the ass. I am still hoping for that deadline deal to push us over the top, if not then I am really hoping for a few different faces here over the summer.

If that were Cindy, he would've flopped all over the place both times. I cannot believe there is any thought that Cindy is half the complete player Datsyuk is...and that is NOT said through rose glasses.

LOL! We both got negged twice for stating the obvious. Either someone doesn't think Jimmy made a few mistakes (hey, he is human, it's not like we said he sucks) or we have an Ericsson slappy who is appalled by anyone saying something bad about the worst defender on the team. Anyhow your analysis is just as accurate as mine was as was a few others tonight. Great game played overall, Howard showed he was human today, so what, it's not like he is slumping, it's one game. And Ericsson just proved again that he is not worth his NTC overpayment contract...anyhow, I gave ya a +1 because nobody who gives out negg's is man/or woman enough to say why and debate why. Spineless, slappies...

Ericsson has got to go... ...great game by the good guys, just couldn't hold on. I knew that if they hung on to only one goal down near the end they would get a power play and tie it. And they did. And then momentum took over. Jimmy had a bad night, he is entitled to one. First goal not much he could've done, but the second goal was a bad rebound to give up, the penalty he committed was obvious (Wings gotta improve that penalty kill, that is the only place they are lacking (besides Ericsson)) and then the clear up the glass. So, basically, besides the first goal, the three were his fault. Oh well, his loss, his mistakes, he is entitled. Too bad it was to a Central foe and we basically lost 4 points. I thought by the way they dominated that this was gonna be a slam dunk win, I guess they thought that as well and played lackadaisical the last few minutes. I agree with the above poster, we sure do need that sniper. Hudler has been fine (:puke: , excuse me) but he is only on the 2nd line by default. We need that pure goal scorer up there. But that is not the reason they lost the game. Too bad, it was a fun game to watch for a Wings fan....for about 55 mins. you get what you pay for....bust some more union's Detroit, go ahead, see where your city and services go...down the toilet.

Conner out, eh? Well there goes the Chemistry! Babcock will surely f%ck up the line combos now...especially if the "beaten up" player sits too....Damn injury bugs. Why can't Ericsson get a little bug to put him out for a few?

WTF?!? Everytime a player comes in and plays super, they get injured!?!? What did he do, injure his hand celebrating his goal, because he looked fine the entire game.... Regarding the "Banged Up player" wonder if Zetterberg is finally gonna sit out and heal himself?