haroldsnepsts

That's what's so baffling about this team right now. It's not just lack of scoring, it's incredible brain farts like that by players who normally don't do that. I've watched the replay I don't know how many times trying to figure out what Kronwall was thinking. Did he seriously think Thornton was going to just play it up the boards from behind the Wings net, so he veers off and leaves him wide open? Then Datsyuk blows right past Pavelski leaving him wide open in the slot. It's jaw-droppingly bad decision making by two very good defensive players.

I barely have enough time to watch the Wings these days, but wanted to say it's great that you guys who get to see these kids play come here and bring an informed opinion to the site about future Red Wings. Hockey's Future tries to do that, but I've found some of their opinions extremely suspect.

That's exactly what it will be, which is almost certainly why you created it. I guess it's easier just to be negative than be optimistic. And on the play you mention, Hudler, Helm and Smith did a poor job covering their assignments and got outworked or outmuscled. Yet you key in on Ericsson, who was actually moving to the slot to cover Desjardins and Murray after he went over to help Helm. Ericsson is overpaid and likely won't earn his contract, but if you're going to rip on his play, that goal is a poor choice because he's about 4th in line for being responsible. Edited because I couldn't spell Desjardins.

Can someone explain to me what the hell Kronwall was doing on that first Shark's goal? And then Datsyuk doesn't pick up Pavelski, instead skating right past him. What the hell is going on with this team???

People have been leaving Bertuzzi alone? What threads have you been reading?? Datsyuk and Zetterberg are the teams two star players and get almost 20 minutes of ice time a night. Of course the expectations are higher on them than Bert and Holmstrom. Though I think you're barking up the wrong tree with Homer. He only plays 13 minutes a night, but has been among the better guys on the ice. Unlike many of the forwards this season, Homer goes to the tough areas of the ice, wins puck battles in the corners, and goes to the net. Obviously his skill set is limited, but it's probably not a coincidence that he hasn't been sitting out as much as Babcock made it sound like he would at the start of the season. Also, Homer only had 26 points in 2002, so that's an odd year for you to pick. But Homer's been a pretty consistent 40 point guy most seasons. Don't get me wrong, I'd love for the Wings to have a pure goalscorer on the top line, preferably one with speed. But of the current problems with this team, I wouldn't put Holmstrom in the top ten. As for Helm, he can open up the whole rink with his speed, but he has hands that are marginally better than Draper's.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/11/struggling_red_wing_pavel_dats.html

Vladdy's exhibition opens today. http://detnews.com/article/20111117/SPORTS0103/111170357/1128/rss16

It actually works out to around a 51 point pace, doesn't it? Saying he's awful (even if he says it about himself) needs a big asterisk after it, as in awful *for Pavel Datsyuk. But I don't think linemates are much of an excuse. Last season people were talking about how he's the best player in the world. Linemates shouldn't have that big of an impact when you're dealing with a star player, which Datsyuk is. And it's not like he's had a bunch of great feeds that don't get converted. Sure that's happened on occasion, but more than points, he just doesn't look like himself this season. He doesn't have the puck on a string like he used to. And he's had a lot of turnovers (for him). Hopefully it's just a funk and he'll break out of it very, very soon.

It's a little scary when I find myself agreeing with Burke. Years ago when the league was still discussing the trapezoid rule, Buccigross wrote a column about it. I emailed him saying I thought the simple solution was just to make goalies fair game outside the crease. Don't want them playing the puck? Then don't go far from home. He actually replied and made several good points similar to Burke's. Goalies basically have anchors strapped to their legs which makes them a very easy target and at an unfair advantage to players. And that if the rule was that they were fair game, guys like Darcy Tucker (again this was a few years ago) would take every opportunity to crush goalies, which usually leads to all out melees on the ice and would be extremely disruptive to the game. Because even though it would be a legal hit, no team would stand for letting their goalie get run like that (except Buffalo, evidently). I have to agree given how many clean hits lead to fights these days. Lucic absolutely took the opportunity to run Miller. Like I said before, if Shanny wanted to keep more in line with his earlier rulings, I think this warranted a fine. Agree to disagree I guess, because you seem to be taking every piece of information about Miller's injury in the worst light. Waited to come out with it? Tattling to the media? Where do you get that players are setting a timetable for his return? In every player I can think of that's had a major concussion recently, they talk about how they can't even have a full effort workout until the doctor clears them. Then they need to get cleared again for contact in practice.

Agreed. Z and Dats are our star players and used to be the guys who made the players around them better. Babcock would always talk about how he puts a slumping player on a line with Zetterberg or Datsyuk to get that player going. Now we're spending a lot of time talking about their linemates helping them out. Mule's always been streaky, but his work ethic and turnovers are killing me this season. Last night he threw a backhand clearing attempt to the middle of the blueline in his defensive zone. Right now the Wings look like a team without a first line. How much scoring has come from the defense now?

what the? did the Wings stop playing because they thought there was a penalty?

Agreed. When he's on, he makes the guys around him better. He doesn't need them to make him better. Dats just isn't himself.

Crap. Mule turnover. BAck of the net. Where the hell was he going with that? A backhand towards the middle??

Wow. Was that Dats? You don't see him get rocked like that very often.

If post counts only registered when they were about hockey, I'm guessing you'd have less than 10. Hey, look over there on the tv, it's a hockey game!

What, am I not allowed the condescending lectures like you and a few others here? I thought we could all pretend we're mods instead of talking about the game going on.

Yet you participate.

I couldn't see the penalty because my stream froze, but I'm guessing it was when he knocked that guy on his ass? He does need to cut down on penalties, but there I'm kind of okay with it. He needs to make guys pay around the net, and honestly Homer gets hits as bad or worse every game and it doesn't get called.

Honestly I think it should be the other way. If the team in possession of the puck doesn't try to advance it and just sits in their own zone like Philly did, the ref whistles the play dead and puts the faceoff in that team's defensive zone. I would rather the onus be on the team with the puck to advance play and try to score, rather than the defending team be required to attack the puck in their offensive zone. EDIT: Actually now that I think about it, I'm of two minds on this one. I can also see the argument that a team should be able to sit there with the puck if the other team isn't going to attack, basically saying "come and get it." Hmm...

Why? The league is pretty clear about factoring injury into doling out punishment. If I'm a goalie and someone intentionally runs me like Lucic did and gives me a concussion, I'm sure not going to sit on that information when they're deciding what to do. It's not like Miller was faking it. And that's on the Sabres team and medical staff for not catching the concussion or making him sit in the quiet room. Every player wants to play. What was he supposed to do when his neck tightened up and he felt weirdly fatigued? From your link:

Agreed. Dallas was going into the 1-4 against Detroit just last game. One of which worked when Morrow scored. Of course he was open on the play because he interfered with Abby at center ice, knocking the stick from his hand. Not that I'm bitter. But then the Wings scored on one of the other instances where Dallas used the 1-4.

Agreed. He's been a great addition for the Wings, and he always elevates his play in the postseason. The Wings need more toughness on their blueline, so if not Stuart, I'd hope he's replaced with someone at least as physical.

Agreed. I (mistakenly, apparently) thought there already was an existing delay of game rule if a team did not make an effort to advance the puck. If there isn't, they don't need a rule preventing the 1-3-1. They need a delay of game rule.

Exactly. And in several instances where Shanny has handed out punishment, he made clear that while he doesn't think there was necessarily intent to injure, the play was so reckless that it in essence counts as intent. I'm pretty sure this was the case with Smith's hit. And an intent to injure penalty does not have to be called at the time for Shanahan to consider it in his ruling. So Lucic didn't have to consciously be thinking "I want to hurt Miller while I have the chance." What he did was hit a player who was not eligible to be hit, which is a reckless play, and hardly surprising that Miller was hurt. To be honest I don't know that it even warranted a suspension. I think it deserved a fine. But for Lucic to get no punishment shows that Shanahan is using a much different standard than he was early on. An illegal hit by a player who has been suspended in the past resulted in another player getting a concussion. Yet there was nothing more than a 2 minute penalty. That's surprising.

All of the above is second at 22%, which is sort of a vote for Sakic as well. So 66% think Sakic is getting in.