RyanBarnes!

Whatever you need, but it is time for people to realize that Abdelkader is much more important to this team than many want to acknowledge. You keep fooling yourself thinking he is easily replaced.

Whatever you need, but it is time for people to realize that Abdelkader is much more important to this team than many want to acknowledge. You keep fooling yourself thinking he is easily replaced.

I think Tootoo would do just fine in the playoffs if given the chance. He has played lots of playoff games for Nashville. Saying he is not a playoff player because Babcock scratched him most games last year is like saying Tatar is not an NHL calibre player.

I think Tootoo would do just fine in the playoffs if given the chance. He has played lots of playoff games for Nashville. Saying he is not a playoff player because Babcock scratched him most games last year is like saying Tatar is not an NHL calibre player.

Gustavsson did have a very nice game. But the thing you notice about him immediately is that his movement for a big goaltender is very chaotic. Most large goaltenders (Sean Burke, Giguere, etc.) identify the angle, and then play a little deeper to limit the amount of movement they have to do. This would be in contrast to someone like Manny Legace, who had to run about 5 feet out of the crease at times just to cover the net.
When Monster goes side to side, he seems to over-commit, and then either falls or shuffles back to the correct angle while the puck is in traffic. While he's doing that, he's basically effed if there's a shot on net. There were a number of times yesterday (including one where Weiss blocked two shots on his ass) where Boston could have scored quite easily, but the D cleared it out. Then again, he is a backup goaltender, and we're actually spoiled watching Jimmy Howard, who I think may be a Top 5 NHL netminder right now, and plays very under control with his movement.
I'm not pointing this out to rail against Gustavsson, just pointing out that even in a win, there's a bit of luck involved.

Defense is looking better with Lashoff in the lineup. I hope Smith can step it up.

Cant give up on Smith yet. But Red Wings need speed and work ethic more than defense in my opinion. Ryan Callahan or Brandon Dubinsky type players.

In regard to the Filppula vs Weiss debate I think there are important aspects that will not show in the stats. I personally feel that Weiss is an upgrade because he crashes the net while Filppula circled away from the net. This will potentially make a huge difference in the post season when the game is more defensive.

The Chief, awesome!

Holland should make a call for Zibanejad. Would be a nice addition to the team.

I really like Howard, he has developed into a very sound goalie that will carry any team deep into the postseason. No trade for me.

Well naturally there will be a correlation between scoring and winning... But if we look at powerplay as arguably being the best enforcer you will find that the stanley cup winner from the last three years are all in the bottom half of the pp% stats by a fair margin, while at the same time being in the top half of PIM/GP. Not for being goons, but rather being teams with a strong physical presence. I guess the world is a pretty whimsy place...

Red Wings have always been vulnerable to physically strong teams like The Ducks in 2003 and the Flames in 2004. They wouldnt allow the Red Wings to enter the slot but limited our forwards to perimeter shots. So did the Preds in 2012. I think that even during the Lidstrom era teams tried to forecheck high, only it was obviously more difficult then.

Bertuzzi>Samuelsson/Miller/Eaves

Bertuzzi>Samuelsson/Miller/Eaves

Well naturally there will be a correlation between scoring and winning... But if we look at powerplay as arguably being the best enforcer you will find that the stanley cup winner from the last three years are all in the bottom half of the pp% stats by a fair margin, while at the same time being in the top half of PIM/GP. Not for being goons, but rather being teams with a strong physical presence. I guess the world is a pretty whimsy place...

Red Wings have always been vulnerable to physically strong teams like The Ducks in 2003 and the Flames in 2004. They wouldnt allow the Red Wings to enter the slot but limited our forwards to perimeter shots. So did the Preds in 2012. I think that even during the Lidstrom era teams tried to forecheck high, only it was obviously more difficult then.

Well naturally there will be a correlation between scoring and winning... But if we look at powerplay as arguably being the best enforcer you will find that the stanley cup winner from the last three years are all in the bottom half of the pp% stats by a fair margin, while at the same time being in the top half of PIM/GP. Not for being goons, but rather being teams with a strong physical presence. I guess the world is a pretty whimsy place...

They might leave their enforcer in the pressbox, but only because they know they have other players that can bully the Red Wings. Someone like Backes or Weber for example. It is not because they are thinking "oh they are the Red Wings, they cant be intimidated or physical play will not work against them". Every team know the way to win against the Red Wings is by playing physical and high forechecking. I often see the argument that enforcer's are a thing of the past and that they are not a deterrent etc, but most teams still carry one and they are quite appreciated by their teammates. Yzerman for example used to be quite vocal about having someone willing to drop the gloves. The same goes for Lidstrom. I guess it is nice to know that if s*** happens there is this guy that will always come to your aid no matter what. Teams will definitely try and take advantage of this team, because it is their best chance to beat us. Might not be a huge deal for a game or two, but it will be very tough deep into the season when players are usually banged up after 50-60 games alone not to mention being at a physical disadvantage. It will be even tougher playing a 7 games series against a team like Boston. I'm not so sure I buy the hype that Detroit will revolutionize the Eastern game, I think that Holland will eventually need to add some big bodies to this lineup to compete in the long run. As suggested by Holland himself. Meanwhile, the Red Wings must play tougher than they are and adding a good enforcer to the lineup will be like adding ten pounds and 2 inches to every player on this squad.

Kocur and Yzerman

Bertuzzi>Samuelsson/Miller/Eaves

Shootouts are a joke anyway so why not??

Shootouts are a joke anyway so why not??

Shootouts are a joke anyway so why not??

Shootouts are a joke anyway so why not??