Dabura

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Everything posted by Dabura

  1. Dabura

    1/22 GDT : Blackhawks 4 at Red Wings 5 (SO)

    I told you guys we were gonna fine. But did you listen? Nooooooooo.
  2. Dabura

    1/22 GDT : Blackhawks 4 at Red Wings 5 (SO)

    Badass karate assist from Abdelkader.
  3. Dabura

    1/22 GDT : Blackhawks 4 at Red Wings 5 (SO)

    Cleary and Bertuzzi on the ice at the same time. So glad Hossa didn't stay a Wing.
  4. Dabura

    Lines Thread

    Hi, I'm back. Longest. Lunch. Ever. Haven't really read what's been posted in this thread since my lunch break, but I caught some bits and pieces while scrolling. Firstly, I totally agree with kip's Nyquist angle. If we're gonna land that big scoring winger we so desperately need, it'll cost us at least a first-round pick and one of Nyquist/Tatar/Jurco. The reason why you'd even consider putting together such a package is our absurd lack of size and physicality up front, especially in the top six - whereas we have at least one prospect who projects as, basically, a Nyquist clone (that would be Calle Jarnkrok, who hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire this season, mostly because he's very small, especially for a center). I was gonna talk about power forwards (and, more broadly, our lack of size up front) before I disappeared, but I'm thinking I'll address it in that new trade thread rather than do it here, because I haven't quite organized my thoughts yet. The other thing I wanted to say: I've given it some good objective thought, but, I'm sorry, I just can't get behind DeKeyser-Smith being our second pairing, especially if we're in full-on Cup-or-bust-(because-our-core-is-only-getting-older) mode. Even if it were to work well for us, you know there'd be at least one key injury in the playoffs.
  5. Dabura

    del zotto to NSH klein to NYR

    No big loss, tbh.
  6. Dabura

    1/22 GDT : Blackhawks 4 at Red Wings 5 (SO)

    Easter Day, 2013. Never forget. This could really, really get ugly.
  7. Dabura

    Lines Thread

    lolz, gimme a few minutes, I'm making lunch.
  8. Dabura

    Lines Thread

    I actually think this is the single biggest thing that separates this Wings team from past ones. Which is to say, it's our biggest shortcoming. Beyond Kronwall, we've got nothing coming from the back end. Nothing. That starts with bad puck management in our own zone, continues with our ugly transitions (really missing those brilliant first-passes) into neutral ice, and carries over into the offensive zone, where, for whatever reason, we struggle mightily just to hit the net from the points. I imagine The Powers That Be were expecting more from, well, everyone not named Kronwall. But definitely our other offensive defensemen in Smith and Kindl. As for Mantha - man, I want to believe he has a shot in the near future. But he has a long way to go. How long? Like, our-core-will-be-ancient-if-not-entirely-gone-by-the-time-he-really-breaks-through long.
  9. Dabura

    Lines Thread

    I think you're reaching. But I'm with RedWang. Ideally, we keep them both, maybe play them on the same line. It's really too early to say one is much better than the other. If we need to part with a valuable piece, though, I'd be more comfortable parting with Nyquist. I think Nyquist has a lower point ceiling, tbh.
  10. Dabura

    Lines Thread

    The big reason why I think this should happen is that two of our "next big thing" prospects are also very smallish (Pulkkinen and Jarnkrok), and one of them (Jarnkrok) is already struggling size-wise. We really do need a big mean body in the top six. But who?
  11. Dabura

    Lines Thread

    Yeah, I'm not expecting Dats back, tbh. And even if we do get him back, I expect him to be rusty and distracted by Sochi. Wonderful. But I like your lineup! The first line is an idea I've been really keen on for the past week or so, and the second line is something I've thought about over the past couple of days. (I like how I just turned complimenting you into patting my own back. I'm talented like that.) I like that Sheahan has shown he can be a serviceable top-six center, at least in a short-term situation. That opens up some intriguing possibilities now and perhaps down the road when (if?) we get healthier. It'll be funny/sad/maddening when we get our injured back but we're still unhappy because Sheahan and Jurco will be sent down, because Grampa Babbles needs moar everydayers who play Real Good! and Heavy! for us every day.
  12. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    I'd say there's a big difference between rebuilding and retooling. Rebuilding is what the Sabres are doing. It's when you give up on what you've been doing and start working on something entirely new. Blow up the machine, rebuild it mostly from scratch. It takes long-term vision, it takes patience, it takes a long time. Retooling is essentially a less extreme, less time consuming way of rebuilding. You keep the foundation, the essential basic machinery, but you update a key part here and there with quick and efficient fixes. (Note that it's 4:45 in the morning where I am, so what I just said might not be true at all.)
  13. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    Which is weird and injuriating, since we're supposed to be a "skill team" and all. Granted, injuries. But even with a healthy roster, we have trouble finishing. Which sounds vaguely euphemistic, but isn't. You pervert. So true. Though I almost feel like they should be aiming LESS, if that makes any sense. Just frickin' rip the thing! And on net! Don't spend five years picking a spot and winding up!
  14. Dabura

    Leaders need to be leaders

    Well said. If we're not dealing with a crazy-bad injury situation, we're probably not having this conversation at all. But I can also get behind the notion that if there is a leader who needs to get his poop together, it's Mike Babcock. Like, ok, Mike, we get that you're a simple, straightfoward kind of guy who likes fighting bears in the Canadian wilderness and who believes in good old-fashioned things like trust, compete, maple syrup, and Dan Daniel Danny Cleary. But...last night? What were you thinking, man? Someone put it really well in the GDT: Uh oh, Tatar's the only one out there who's really creating anything with what he's given! Better bench him!
  15. Dabura

    Lines Thread

    Datsyuk may return against Chicago. Discuss.
  16. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    I set my expectations for this month extraordinarily low. You should've done the same. Use your head next time. But is he completely non-physical and made of glass?
  17. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    Name rings a bell. He's like 6'6 or something, right?
  18. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    Maybe Kenny can steal some Russians from the KHL. The Wings have a history of stealing Russians from their native land, so this should be doable. Ruthlessness. The hallmark trait of all good Hitchcock teams.
  19. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    Beats me. (Pun intended.)
  20. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    I don't think there's much mystery with Tootoo not playing. Mike Babcock hates fighting. Ken Holland hates fighting. So there goes a huge part of Tootoo's game. And it means he needs to play a solid defensive game, because he'll be in the bottom six. And he doesn't play a solid defensive game. Personally, I'd like to see him on a scoring line. I think he could do some damage (the good kind).
  21. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    We like our team. Man, I'm incredibly cynical tonight.
  22. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    That's right! I'll start working out, lifting weights.
  23. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    Or were we partners in crime? I can't remember. Whatever it was, yes, let's do that again some time.
  24. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    Let's become bitter rivals in the playoffs, provided our moldy-ass team makes it.
  25. Dabura

    1/20 GDT: Blues 4 @ Red Wings 1

    Well, I mean, it wouldn't be like, "Hey, you. You're a pretty good center. That's why I'm gonna make you a winger." It'd be, like, to preserve the integrity of a couple other lines because of injury-related shuffling, or something nuanced like that. Z is a good example. He's used to playing x, but often y makes more sense in terms of the big picture. But I get what you're saying and don't really disagree.