YoungGuns1340

I'd say its pretty remarkable consider how hes marketing to the most devestated workforce in the country.

I dont see what the problem is. The hit wouldn't have been so bad if Sutter hadn't put his head down at the last minute. Is that Sutters fault? Absolutely not. Is that Weights fault? Absolutely not. Between the time Weight made the decision to go for the hit and the time it took Sutter to lean his head down was not enough time for Weight to react. If Sutter has his head up, its shoulder to chest, Sutter goes flying, is a little woozy, and gets right back on the ice the next shift. I'm not even a fan of Weight - dont care for him much - but I hate when people analyze this s*** to death. We're talking about split seconds that changed the situation entirely. Unfortunate event for both sides.

Anymore? Do people forget that his jaw was rearranged and he had to be on a liquid only diet for the last part of the season? That he was relegated to 3rd/4th line duty in the playoffs? That the only sample we have of this guy is 9 games into the season where hes been dealing with tunnel vision? I'm usually pretty hard on players, but give me a break. The last functional sample we had of this guy he was on pace for a 25 goal, 50 point season. Since then hes been battling one issue or another. As for his performance this season not looking at the statsheet, how can you bash the guy? He was the ONLY forward that gave 100% in our first few games of the season, and just a few nights ago he was downright Selkian on the penalty kill. If you want to fault him for his scoring - go right ahead, but just consider how easy it would be for you to do your job when you've got tunnel vision.

I don't see what the problem is in praising players when theyre hot and dogging them when theyre not - you'd get the same kind of flack at your job if you were inconsistent. As of now, it doesn't seem like anyone has much of anything negative to say about Sammy. From my perspective, hes earned a few blocked shots with the way hes playing right now. Hes not bobbling the puck too much, taking weak shots to the chest, or getting his shots blocked too often, and hes producing while hes at it. With that said, I will continue to moan and groan if he goes back to his old ways.

Yup. Chelios between 2002 and 2003 dropped off dramatically. Hasek was the same - great in 07 and then abysmal in 08. Honestly, it wouldn't be out of the question to suggest that his play is merely because of old age. With that said, its only a matter of time before we find out - it doesn't take months on end to become comfortable with a visor, and if it does, it usually ends up coming off. We'll see what happens in a month or two.

Its hard to say he's struggling, or at least to blame him for it for a few reasons. 1) Our defense has been horrid. 2) He has seen a TON of point blank shots from the slot and other spots where 80% of players will score from. 3) Our defensive positioning - and I think this is key - has been so erratic and the communication between our Dmen has been so poor that I really think its affecting Ozzie. There are plenty of times where if a goal is scored, it looks like Ozzie wasn't ready for the shot, and I think that has everything to do with how our defenseman have performed in the past. If Lidstrom is covering a guy in the slot, Ozzie probably isn't going to be ready for that guy to break free of Lidstrom and get the shot off - yet that kind of s*** has been happening every night. So I think we need Ozzie some leeway for now. This is a guy who has played with the Wings in a communicative, tight checking, puck possession defense environment that is so off-kilter right now its like being thrown in net for a team hes only played a handful of games with before. Like Hossa, its almost like Ozzie has to get accustomed to our way of playing in our own zone right now, because it is so un-Red Wing like that hes probably as lost as we are.

I disagree. I don't see how Mac is a fine 4th liner at all. He doesn't fight, doesn't hit, isn't a great skater, isn't great at defense, isn't a faceoff taker, isn't....see the point? At this stage, even if McCarty does give his all, it is far from enough. Is he a good extra? Yes. Is he a good lockerroom presence? Yes. But at this point his value is on the bench, not on the ice. I still like Malts and Drapes on the 4th line, even though I'd take someone else over Malts as well, but they at least provide a little somethin on the ice, even if it amounts to very little. I don't see that in McCarty and I sure as hell don't like to see Malts scratched in favor of Mac at this point in their respective careers. Drake was a fine 4th liner IMO, and Mac is nowhere near that type of guy anymore.

I agree with you here. What we are seeing here is a version of a team in years past, circa 2003. This team hasnt been particularly phsyical, hasnt been particularly energetic in terms of puck battles and along the boards (save our top 4-5 forwards up front who will dog anyone for the puck) and they haven't been playing good defense. Its great and all that we can win high-scoring games and can turn it on when we feel like, but this is where bad play becomes bad habit. I cannot stress this enough, but we've seen it with teams past. The playoffs are a different beast and you cannot simply turn on the complete game overnight. We will run into teams who will take it to us physically, outwork us, and expose our current yet consistent defensive lapses, and when teams are at the top of their game, it wont be easy to plow through the zone and score a few goals in half a period. Don't get me wrong - I love winning and I love seeing us score 3 or more goals per game - but winning games without maximum or near maximum effort is what got us through a lot of regular seasons with flying colors only to be ousted by late April. I'm wary that the Wings are forming bad habits due to their ability to pull off wins despite making mistakes in abundance.

The defense this game was better, but LAs forwards didnt seem too dangerous tonight. Still, the fact that we can win games while playing average defense (tonight was better) and give up an average of 3+ goals a game is crazy. This teams offensive abilities are incredible. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Hossa can score on anyone at any time in any situation. Its truly astounding. Now if we could just get our GAA down, Id be happy. As for Flip, I swear if he were a more physical guy, he'd be like the Finnish Chris Drury - good intangibles, great defense, good (not great) offense and comes up with clutch goals like nobodys business.

But you're looking at it from an apolitical point of view when its not. There is a politic in terms of who gets to play. And guys like Samuelsson, Lebda, Maltby, Kopecky, McCarty, and Draper all benefit from that.

On the other hand, theres no way they can get that experience unless they can play. Abdelkader is one thing, but Helm knows our system by now. Hes played in the regular season, the playoffs, practiced with the team, and stayed as long as possible through training camp. Guys like Leino and Abs I can understand, but Helm already knows our business. Ideally though, the Wings would go after a solid vet that can pump up our 4th line - a guy like Ott or Nichol on our 4th line would be awesome and would be the type to make guys like Draper and Maltby elevate their game. Its one thing to be outrun by a youngster, but its another thing entirely when you're being outdone by a guy your own age - Can't blame that on rookie excitement. The 4th line very much needs a Drakian injection/contagion.

Ehh, Clearys got the eye injury thing going on thats really hampered his vision on the ice. If he gets over that, he could be back to his normal self. Hes been friggin deadly on the PK, though.

Whats most annoying is that you know nothing is going to change. Mac, Malts, and Drapes are here to stay because of the Wings loyalty - which I appreciate and respect fromt the Wings - and Kopay is staying because hes BFFs with Hossa. So basically, there isn't a spot on the roster open. And you know, with the way Hudler and Sammy have been putting up numbers that they won't be on the outs either. So basically we're stuck with what we have, unless Babs has the stones to scratch a guy like Kopay or Malts consistently and we trade Lebdas sorry ass for a gritty 4th liner whos making close to league minimum.

That Hossa goal was reminiscent of Lang's playoff goal against the Preds in his first season with the Wings. Just sheer manpower.

Its amazing how much Lidstrom is getting beaten in front of the net this season.

Looks like LA is the new Chicago - Quincey and Calder are on the board against the Wings.

At this point, I dont really see how Draper is any better. Hes a faceoff specialist at this point and thats about it. He, Maltby, Mac, and Kopay are practically all on the same level in my eyes. Cleary, Hank, Datsyuk, Hossa, Flip, and Franzen can all run the PK as good or better than him at this point. Drapes has lost a lot of fire and what looks like any offensive ability he ever had. Its a worn out line at this point that would be likely to combine for goals in the double digits this season. It needs a makeover desperately. I really think after 4 Stanley Cups, they aren't going to be able to find the drive for a fifth at their respective ages/stages of their career. I know its early, but I hope by the time Februrary comes around that the Wings will have cut some of the fat off this team and added at least one sparkplug to the bottom line that hits and brings energy any and every night. Mac isnt that guy anymore and Kopay never was.

Well with that ice, I would question whether or not they even have a zamboni, let alone a decent set of cameras..

Talk about the grind line all you want, but it is grindless. Its really a brutal 4th line - not much energy, not much physicality, just not much of anything. The Wings desperately need a sparkplug in the bottom 6 - Mac and Kopecky arent gonna pull it off.

My god - the ice is slush. The guys all looked like they were skating in 6 inches of snow and the puck looked more like a basketball than anything..

What? I didnt say anything insinuating it was going to be a long night - more like that sucks for his save percentage. At any rate, 3 regulation shots or PP shots - 3 shots is 3 shots and that aint hot.

Wow that powerplay was one of the worst all year.

Hudler and Hank play on the PP together, and the goal came only a few seconds after the PP had expired.

Haha I dont know when the last time I saw that was. Pretty priceless.

Jesus we can't even comment on statistics now? Sheesh.