haroldsnepsts

Linesmen blew an offside call on the game winning goal, but yes, fans everywhere do complain about reffing. The highlight for me has been seeing how many people over at hfboards don't have a basic understanding of how offside works.

It still seems like the Sharks will close out the series eventually, but I so would love to see an epic meltdown.

He had three great playoff runs but don't get me wrong, I'm in no way arguing that the Wings should keep him. I just feel like they almost certainly will because to cut him loose and replace him requires bold moves by Holland.

Lashoff was signed in 2008 as an undrafted minor leaguer. He's 23 years old and has 100 NHL games in his career. I don't know that he'll ever become a solid bottom pairing guy, but I wouldn't include him with White, Quincey and Cola. He was basically someone Holland picked up for chump change to see if he'd become an NHL defenseman.

The unfortunate reality is, he's not going anywhere. I highly doubt Holland would pull the trigger on any move that would get rid of Franzen, because to replace those points would require a bold move. That's not his style. Holland will likely shed some of the dead weight (but not as much as most people would like) and tweak things like he always does. I expect another 50ish points from Mule during the regular season if he stays healthy, and not much from him when the games get hard in the postseason (assuming the Wings make it).

With good reason. 2014 5 GP 0 G 2 A -2 2013 14 GP 4 G 2 A -7 2012 5 GP 1 G 0 A -1 2011 8 GP 2 G 1 A -1 32 games played, 7 goals, 5 assists and a collective -11 after the 2010 playoffs.

Franzen disappearing again might actually motivate Holland to get rid of him?

Input of course. You're making it sound like he built this team. And as I said, the two are known for not always agreeing. Even if Babcock has the most terrible personnel ideas, it's ultimately Holland's job to make the right move. When Babcock insists on keeping Kindl at the point or makes some other bad ice time decision, I don't blame Holland for it just because he's the one who signed Kindl.

Any proof? Not to mention he took the Ducks to the Cup finals his first year as coach. He had zero part in building that roster.

I've heard it or read it more than a few times. Here's one I could still track down. http://kuklaskorner.com/tmr/comments/do-ken-holland-and-mike-babcock-disagree-about-personnel-yes-and-they-like

I think you are confused on what the coach vs. GM's jobs are if you think Babcock built any roster.

Babcock can give his two cents, and it's well established that the two disagree frequently, but Holland has ultimate say on all personnel matters. So no, I don't think Babcock is equally responsible for lack of moves. He doesn't have the authority to make trades or offer contracts. How could he possibly be just as responsible? It's literally not his responsibility.

It's not Babcock's job to stop the roster from declining. That's Holland's. otherwise I agree completely. Holland wasted Nicks last years when Dats and Z were in their prime. Holland should have kept his joking promise and retired when Lidstrom did. Because he clearly didn't plan for a post-Listdrom era.

That just feels like making a change for the sake of changing something so there's new things to talk about. Babcock is hardly a coach who isn't big on accountability. This team has so much dead weight to shed there could potentially be a lot of new blood for Babcock to work with if Holland actually makes some moves.

Agreed. There's a lot of guys who should be gone before Abdelkader. On a good Wings team he just shouldn't have such a large role.

I'm guessing he's not in game shape, even if he's not in pain.

Eriksson has been a Wings killer no matter what team the guy's on.

Agreed. Now that he's lost his starting job to a kid who's never been in a playoff game, maybe his time on the Wings is finally up. Though I just realized he's signed for 3 more years. Another of Holland's bad contracts considering Kindl had done little to warrant a 4 year deal. so maybe trade or buyout??

I can't remember all the ins and outs of the new CBA, but the Wings can pick up part of his salary in a trade, can't they? There might be a situation where that makes more financial sense than a full buyout. Again, though I don't know enough about the CBA rules regarding buyouts and eating salary to be sure.

Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 8m Babcock said Ouellet is in for Kindl today. Alfredsson in for Bertuzzi. Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 7m Howard is able to dress as backup. Babcock confirms he had flu.

According to Khan, Jimmy was a late scratch because of the flu. The question is if it was the flu, or the "flu." Though he was in warmups. Seems like if he was getting the hook they would've done it earlier.

Last I had heard he still wasn't taking contact in practice, just skating. If he played the next game that's a pretty big jump in the typical process.

To help reduce my annoyance, and why I will always be a fan of Evander Kane:

A whole 7 games??? I'm sure he's learned his lesson. At this point with Cooke, anything he does suspension worthy should start with 10 games.

Exactly. I'm guessing his recovery time has been heavily influenced by the how the last two games have gone, not by him being near 100%.