YoungGuns1340

For a real hockey fan, ANY "reason" not to watch is inexcusable in my opinion. But there are lot more "casual" fans than there are "real" fans, and they're the once that put the fan base over the top. I've always been an advocate for European players, but North American fans simply cannot relate to European players the same way they can to North American players - and thats a cultural phenomenon that is present EVERYWHERE in society, not just in spectatorship. Its a very real, human sentiment, and theres nothing wrong with it. It has everything to do with identity association, and barely even touches on the talent and skill aspect of the game.

Not really. Theres a reason Aaron Downey and Dallas Drake were fan favorites.

I love to hear someone echoing the same sentiments as me.

I doubt many people will call you crazy. In fact, not only do I think they are missing a Dallas Drake type of player, I think they could use more than one. Which is to say, not necessarily one more hungry, gritty vet that is on his last legs, but hungry, gritty vets with some good play left in the tank in general. For example, if they didn't cost so damn much, adding Roberts and Knuble to this roster could do wonders.

First of all, this isn't the same team that just won the cup. The names on the back of the jersey may be the same, but the performance on the ice is worlds away from what it was last year. And as we've seen year after year after year, you can't just "make it all better" in the playoffs. And yes, what I meant is that there should be some turnover. I don't think we need to blow up this team, but there are a few changes that, IMO, need to be made if the Wings want to have a legitimate chance at repeating.

Great post. What is it with people not understanding the concept of a goaltender's role? If we just wanted to guy to stop the stoppable shots, we'd put Piet Van Zant in net and be done with it - maybe Darren McCarty. A goaltender is supposed to make the tough stops that keep you in the game - hes supposed to steal a few goals. Not games, but goals. Just like Turco did for the Stars last night. Was he great? No. But he was good enough. Think of it this way. If Pavel Datsyuk was only scoring goals when he had an open or near open net, but couldn't score a goal when the goaltender was well positioned, would you still call him a good goal scorer? Not in a million years. Yet thats basically the argument that half the people are making on this board in Ozzie's defense. And I love how we have a slew of psychics on this board that just "know" Osgood "will" be better in the playoffs. After all, isn't that what happened with Hasek?

At this point, a blow out isn't going to fix this team. Poor goaltending, no fourth line, no one willing to drop the gloves if only to stick up for teammates, no physical competition, and too many skilled player that are coasting by on their secondary assist counts or the silver platter dishes they're getting from Hank, Hossa, and Datsyuk. This team needs change to the roster, and nothing else is going to fix it. This team looks more like the 05-06 team than the 07-08 team.

"The regular season is meaningless, so why bother watching it" reason is about the biggest load of bulls*** I've ever heard. Basically, the people who say that are bandwagon fans. Thats a thinly veiled way of saying "If the Red Wings weren't perennial contenders, I wouldn't watch hockey at all." You aren't a real hockey fan, or a real fan of the Red Wings if all you care about is the playoffs. YES there are too many Europeans and YES there isn't enough physicality. Everyone appreciates skilled players that can wow you with their moves - guys like Hank, Hossa, and Datsyuk - but nobody cares about skilled guys who are only moderately skilled like Filppula and Samuelsson. Also, games are much more exciting when there is more variation. Hitting and fighting brings that dimension to the game. Get rid of Sammy, Kopecky, and Filppula. Add a guy like Neil. Give Downey some more games. If Franzen and Hossa can't be signed, don't replace them with Leino. Think guys like Eric Cole, Mike Knuble. This team definitely needs more edge.

At this rate, we need to think about goaltending more than anything. Do I think goaltending is our biggest problem? No. In my mind, its the defense. But its a lot easier to fix one player than it is to fix six, or an entire system. Next year with the prospect of Howard and Osgood as our duo doesn't look promising either. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Flip traded for a goaltender that is an upgrade over Osgood and Conklin and that we can retain past this year. As for what to do with Franzen, Hossa, Sammy, and Hudler, I'd just as soon retain Hudler and let the Hossa/Franzen situations play themselves out. If we can't re-sign either of them by July 1st, then I say look OUTSIDE the organization. Cammy? Sykora? Tanguay? Cole? Knuble? I'm not saying any of those guys are better options, but we might be forced to look at different options.

Fortunately, you CAN have your cake and eat it too in this situation. I personally prefer emotion filled victories.

There is a third option. But then again, I've been wanting more than just one fresh face in this lineup since the off-season.

Did I say the game was not lost in 2 minutes? No. I never said that. Although, considering we lost by 2 goals, and that Dallas scored their first 2 goals in less than 2 minutes - both of which were on the PP - then yeah, technically you could say the game was lost in 2 minutes. At any rate, the point remains that there is NO reason to choose the ice cold goaltender to start in back to back games. Or to put one of your least reliable defensive Dmen on the PK more often than you would your 2nd best PKer. Or to put the 2 worst offensive forwards on the roster out there on the ice more often than your 3rd best forward in the lineup tonight. If Babs had made different choices, at the very least statistically speaking we would've had a better chance of winning tonight.

And I think I agreed with you when you posted that. Hes really selective about when he wants to show up. Some games, he can be entirely ineffective, which says a lot for a guy whos 6'3 and has some speed to go along with it.

Not its a difference of 7 seconds that Kronwall was AHEAD of Lilja. Its a difference of about two minutes from what it should've been, i.e. Lilja with about 3 minutes on the PK with Kronwall on for 1. In case you haven't noticed, Lilja is FAR AND AWAY our 2nd best PKer. Theres a reason he averages 3:28 on the season to Kronwall's 2:40. When Stuart is out - our #3 Pker - Lilja should only get more time on the PK.

I may just be pissed off, but has anyone else noticed Franzen's work ethic like...over the course of the year? Seems pretty spotty to me. Some nights, he doesn't really seem all there.

No, he would've gotten shot. Oh wait..

Yeah I noticed that too. He played it very safe tonight in the D zone and used his speed at the right time. Good performance out of him.

I don't know what you mean by that, but the phrase itself is illogical. Just because you have one slump doesn't mean you're immune to another in the same season. Its not chicken pox or something.

And if Babs coached the way he coached tonight, there wouldn't be an NHL coaching contract with his name on it. He might as well have put Niklas Kronwall out on the PK more than he put our PK specialist Lilja out on the PK. Oh wait, he did that too. Kronwall: 2:54 SHTOI Lilja: 2:47 SHTOI

I really want to know what the justification is for that sort of ice time...because I can't thing of a SINGLE reason when you are in DESPERATE need of offense that you'd be icing the two most sorry excuses for offensive players on the entire league - and candidates for the entire NHL - over a guy that has 39 points on the year playing less than 14 minutes a night in a 3rd line role. I'm dumfounded. Tonight, maybe, just MAYBE may be one of those rare nights were an LGWer could've done a better coaching job than Babs.

Not to mention, the fact that he started Osgood to begin with - the goalie who is cold as ice - after the Wings had just lost their 3rd game in a row.

I love it. LOVE it. Draper - 12:35 Kopecky: 11:05 Hudler: 10:07 Good to see Babs knows who to use when hes down by 2, 3, 4 goals.

Well, that does it. O'Hallaran waited until the 2 minute mark just so that Dallas could finish the entire game off on the PP.

Holy hell. I agree. Hudler should take the offer from the highest bidder. We need 2 goals, and you dont give any time to a guy who has actually proved he can provide that.

Another wasted chance.