haroldsnepsts

I guess I just don't understand liking someone's aggressiveness on a particular play when that is the exact reason they gave up a goal. Your posts on Howard make a lot more sense to me now though. I'd have to see it again to be sure, but it still looked overly aggressive positioning given the wide angle the attacking player had. Overall I think he's played well, but he was maybe a little too excitable at the start of the game.

There's aggressive, then there's overplaying it so badly you practically slide out the zamboni gate. It was a bad goal, no matter when it's scored. And a professional goalie should be able to account for the clean sheet of ice. It's not exactly an unprecedented event.

Wow did Mrazek overplay that. But how was that player so wide open?

Love-hate. Good player. Wish he didn't dive, especially given the C on his sweater. I haven't noticed him doing it as much as in years past, but someone who draws as many penalties as he does definitely embellishes. And he's had some questionable hits. I don't think he's hunting knees per se but he's following through on some hits that he should've bailed on. But he's also a gutsy player who has a ton of heart. Hits hard, works hard, and can chip in some goals. Truth be told I think Kopitar should be the captain but that may just be that he's more in the mold of the Red Wings captains.

Agreed. We're not talking about someone like Maltby who would try to get people to punch him in the face. This is some of the Wings top players who are diving.

I don't know. Kesler could use some more finesse to his dives as well.

Part of the problem is the lack of consistency from the refs. I know I sound like an old grouch (and it's not completely unfounded) but they don't manage the games and players as well as they used to. The game against the Canucks the refs were calling all sorts of really soft penalties, and the embellishing definitely picked up as a result. Which reminds me, shouldn't we hear about Kassian getting fined for diving?

Embarrassing. It's pathetic that there's now several Wings players who are diving. That's what worries me. Honestly the biggest thing that could get me to stop watching the NHL would be if diving becomes commonplace and accepted. And that's the path it's headed. I can't see Babcock actually benching Nyquist but I hope the organization takes this seriously.

That's great to hear. I'm okay with a guy not showing up on the stats if you actually notice him out there working hard and making plays. Part of the reason I bag on Franzen so much is he can finish a game without a shot on goal and I often can't remember one play where I noticed him.

I thought the exact same thing. It was all apparently a brilliant strategy so Edmonton wouldn't expect him to jump into the play like that.

How'd Weiss look last night? It's a little disappointing he didn't show up on the stat sheet with the extra minutes, but wonder if he was still noticeable out there.

Almost as bad as being whacked with your own helmet. I would probably be more bothered by this if the player involved weren't Willie Mitchell and the recipient Letang.

I think that pic is at least 5 years old. I can't say I was surprised when Roy started the journeyman phase of his career if that's what he looked like 5+ years ago.

I'll never forget seeing this pic and finding out that's Derek Roy, not a non-athlete buddy of Chelios's.

I see what you're saying. I guess my point was I don't think Quincey's statement in and of itself is proof of much of anything. But they do play stifling defense. Honestly I feel like this style of game is more geared towards success in the playoffs than the regular season. Other teams will likely try to tighten up defensively as well and not score as much, and the Wings have been in that system all season. But I may just be spinning things the way I hope they go.

In general from the second pairing, I totally agree. But if we're specifically talking about Quincey and Dekeyser, I think not costing the team the game is the better focus. Dekeyser has been doing great but is still growing into his role, and honestly hasn't shown a lot of offensive flashes. For Quincey, this is the most consistent hockey I've seen him play in a long time so I'm happy for him to keep doing whatever he's been doing. And it's still just a single quote from Quincey. Who knows if they get that hammered into their skulls every game, or after a shift where one of them tried to jump into the play and got burned, one of the coaches got in their ear. Extrapolating that one quote to a mindset or philosophy that's causing players not to make plays seems like confirmation bias to me.

I think you guys are extrapolating an awful lot from a single quote by Quincey. Especially because it was in the context of him and Dekeyser as a pairing, which makes sense. Kindl is a great example. He nearly singlehandedly cost the Wings a game, but still would be in the lineup were it not for his injury. I don't understand some of Babcock's decisions, but I haven't seen a lot of evidence that a couple gaffes gets you sent to the pressbox.

Khan confirms it. http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/01/red_wings_lineup_vs_edmonton_o.html

Sad as it is to say, I'd be surprised if he makes a roster. Dustin Penner is still on the market as far as I know, and he's basically a younger healthier version of Bertuzzi. Though I guess with Penner you get a lack of work ethic, where with Bert you just get a 39 year old who's body isn't holding up like it used to.

They definitely need to turn it around, but I don't think they're trending as badly as the Leafs were. Here's a decent article on Carlyle being fired. Pay particular attention to the graph about the Leafs corsi. http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/674165

What are you talking about? Ward had the scoop on Iginla going to the Bruins a full year before it happened.

It's just so bizarre that no one is even asking. Even if Babcock just glares at you and grunts, you still ask the question. There's a Red Wings player who was brought in to be the 2nd line center on a 5 year $5 million deal and he's on the 4th line getting fewer minutes than any other forward. It's not occurred to any reporter to ask why that is? How big of a mouthpiece for the Red Wings are the local media??

I think with forwards too. The 2010 team had a lot of injuries, but Dats and Z were better. Franzen was the better version then. This team doesn't have anything that matches Homer, especially on the PP. Flip was having a good year. Bertuzzi was still a threat. Cleary was still a solid 20 goal 40 point guy. Maybe I'm being too pessimistic but with the current roster once you get past Dats, Z, Franzen, Nyquist and Tatar, goal scoring ability drops off significantly. Maybe Abby this year.

I don't remember him saying that but there's no way this team has more people who can score since 2009. The 2010 versions of Dats, Z, Rafalski, Lids, Homer, Bertuzzi, Cleary, Flip, Kronwall and Franzen alone beats this lineup. Even if the forwards in 2010 and now were equal, Lidstrom and Rafalski blow away anyone we have on the blueline right now.

Agree about the defenseman. I've been beating this point to death lately but when I watch other teams I realize how often defenseman usually get shots on net from the point and how crucial that is. I've just gotten used to the Wings not being able to do it. I think Dekeyser is playing great overall, but his slapshot swing is so awkward it looks like he's gonna fall over half the time. Ericsson's windup is slow as molasses. Kronwall has turned into the new shinpad assassin. It's always great to have depth up front, but I have to think that the most beneficial move is getting a right handed defenseman who can move the puck and get shots through from the point. It's pathetic right now.