Dabura

We're awfully smallish down the middle.

We really are insanely fortunate to have Babs behind our bench.

There are a lot of annoying, punchable faces in this series.

What's to stop Chris Chelios from coaching the Rangers or and Canucks?

With the forwards (and the D, I guess), it has to be about improvement. I don't mean "We have to improve," because that's a truism (though I suppose what I'm about to say would also fall into that category). What I mean is, basically, we had the right idea on the whole, with a few soft spots. If we can improve on those spots while keeping everything else the same, that'd be good. Like, oh, I dunno, Filppula. It looks like, barring an act of Satan, we'll be cutting Flip loose. Flip did a whole lot of just-a-little-more-than-nothing for us, and we still almost beat the 'hawks in the second round in five games. Now, what if we add, say, David Clarkson? Boner. That's the kind of mericlessly probing, calculating, objective perspective Holland & Co. need to adopt this summer re: improving this for-once,-overachieving-Red Wings team. Hmmm...I haven't been to CapGeek in awhile. Maybe I'll reKindl (see what I did there?) that addiction and create a custom roster.

Ericsson was about as good as he could possibly be at this point in time, so I don't know that there's much room for complaining. If we are gonna complain about him, we should be bemoaning the fact that, really, we're sort of faking it with our top-pairing. I wouldn't be surprised if DeKeyser got his groove back and played himself onto that first-pairing alongside Kronwall, with Ericsson settling down alongside...Smith? I was disappointed with Lashoff's last couple or several games. He was sort of exposed, wasn't he? I do like his size, though. I'm a wee bit worried by Babcock's comment about DeKeyser's current performance level (in the Calder Cup finals). I don't have the exact quote, and my memory's not photographic or anything, and I'm lazy, so, the gist was: "This is not the DeKeyser I remember, before he broke this thumb. [implied: But that's ok. It's to be expected. He'll get better.]"

And Dan Cleary was washed up when he joined the Wings.

Also: I've gotta think being an EC team will make us more attractive. (You know what I mean.)

Horton left the game tonight with an (undisclosed?) injury and didn't return. I notice people here are generally very high on Horton. My feeling is, if we're gonna pay up (read: out the ass) for a power-forward, that power-forward shouldn't be one with serious injury issues.

Stevens as in Scott? Interesting. Are they seriously in our division? That can't be...can it?

I should clarify. I'd take Briere as, shall we say, a "playoffs specialist." I wouldn't expect him to be a core player or anything like that. It's just, if he could be had for dirt cheap, and there's a possibility that he might be able to find that postseason touch of his (has he ever played with a Datsyuk or a Zetterberg?), I think he might be worth it. One of those low-risk, high-reward dealies. Believe me, I'm fully on-board the we-need-to-get-bigger-stronger-meaner bus.

I think "trade secrets" might also be a factor re: Bylsma. He's got the inside track on Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, MAF....And then you hand him over to the Rangers? Ehhhh.

If it were up to me, I'd give him pretty much whatever he wants. (Within reason.) His schnoz alone is worth about 1.5.

Wait, we can cast more than one vote?

Clarkson. If not Clarkson, Bickell.

Wouldn't mind Briere. He was a playoff beast before he died and came back a zombie.

Hang the DJ.

I could definitely see him getting 2.5 or more elsewhere. Don't forget, quite a few (or at least a bunch) of teams were very, very interested in inking him. Didn't turn into an all-out bidding war, of course, but my rough impression is that that's because he was really keen on becoming a Wing. (Rose-colored retro-specs? Perhaps.) The guy scored for us, was part of the minor revelation that was The Kid Line, showed he definitely belongs in the NHL, and will only get better. I do hope we can keep him. P.S. Another plus: he's a Red Wing - and he didn't get injured! (!!!) (!!!!!) (!!!!!!!!!!!)

Like I said in that other thread...Bylsma seems like a really good guy and coach, one who, for the most part at least, still has the hearts and minds and ears and respect of his troops. Those troops just wilt and die when they come up against a certain brand of playoff hockey. Is that on Bylsma? Personally, I say no, not really. The one thing you could perhaps pin on him is that the players still don't seem to believe in Team D as the requisite cornerstone of any championship team (unless you're ridiculously stacked up front, and you have the good fortune/luck of not running into a big, mean, D-centric team). But even then, I mean, Shero brings in Iginla, Morrow, and whatshisface? ("You forgot Poland Murray.") The mandate From On High was, apparently, "Don't worry about balance. Don't worry about defense. Just score a lot. The best defense is a good offense." Come on.

Disco Dan - Not at all surprised. Sgt. Pepper - Somewhat surprised.

Y'know, I was thinking. Yeah, there are no Ryan Suters or Zach Parises. But - Bickell, Stalberg, Clarkson, et al. ... that's nothing to sneeze at. IMHO, any one (or - dare to dream - perhaps two) of the aforementioned big guys might make us considerably more dangerous, difficult to play against. And there definitely are some other possibilities beyond those three.

Kovalchuk will not be bought out. The Devils need more goals, not fewer (especially with Brodeur's retirement looming large on the horizon).

I don't think anyone's suggesting we change up our system and try to be the Bruins. We just need some size, strength, and nastiness (provided - yes - that it's not a liability, and that, ultimately, it results in more goals for and perhaps less wear-and-tear against.) I'm not saying that because OMG THE EAST IS HUGE AND WE'RE GONNA GET CREAMED. That angle is overblown, IMHO (unless we're talking about the Bruins. They really are that big and mean.) And I'm not saying it because OMG THIS WINGS TEAM IS SO SOFT IT BLOWS MY EFFING MIND. I really liked loved how we carried the physical play at times against the Ducks and 'hawks. And even when we weren't necessarily dominating in that area, we showed we can handle it. (Maybe.) But still, we do need to get a litter bigger. And meaner. I think Abdelkader's emergence as a capable power-forward is a step in the right direction. Actually, y'know, I mentioned how much I'd lurve to see Dustin Brown or Ryan Callahan sporting the Winged Wheel - and neither of those guys is big (6' and 5'11, respectively). So maybe it's not necessarily about size, or size for the sake of size. I guess, for me, it's wanting a shot in our roster's collective arm. Someone who's extremely difficult to play against, and not because he's got an endless bag of stickhandling tricks. A wrecking ball who can score and play a solid two-way game. That'd be cool.

A few things: - I'm not opposed to the idea of Malkin being a Red Wing. For all the negatives I've cited, there are, to be sure, a whole lotta positives. One thing people seem to forget/not realize/overlook: the guy's big. I mean, sure, he could stand to beef up - but bulk can always be added, whereas height (he's 6'4) is what it is. Point being, he's a power forward. And what do we need more than anything? A power forward. Who can score. And crash. And bang. And be a thuggish brute. Who looks like Shrek. In short, someone who's generally a nightmare to play against. And Malkin is that. - He's only 26. He's frickin' my age! How old was Yzerman when he became Mr. Selke? How old was Fedorov when he realized he could be a more-than-capable part-time defenseman? Granted, that was Bowman. But, still, Datsyuk and Zetterberg are post-Bowman products. Point being, who knows, maybe Malkin has it in him to be a great two-way player. Hell, he doesn't even need to be a great two-way player. And, I mean, we are bringing Brunner back, after all. (While I really like what Brunner brought to the table this season, he isn't half the force Malkin is, and his defensive game is probably roundabout equal to Malkin's, if that.) - But, alas, reality-check time. Do we honestly see Shero parting with Malkin? Even if it came down to one of Crosby and Malkin, might it not make more sense for him to retain the latter? (See: Pens' fans' stomachs turning every time Crosby goes into a corner, or lines up for a shot block, or finds himself in between Orpik and the opponent's net.) Point being, this is a pipe dream if there ever was one. Truism, I know, but, well, yeah. - Remember: we'd be selling the farm for this guy. So, if there's some young gun you deem Untouchable - chances are, he'd be gone. Certainly Mrazek would be gone, as the Pens really need a new look in net. That's the big reason why I'd probably prefer more of a blue-collar "all-arounder" like - IMHO - Dustin Brown or Ryan Callahan. (That's not xenophobia.)

It all comes down to one thing: which Bruins team shows up. If they pick up where they left off against the Pens, and stay there, the 'hawks don't stand a chance. And that's really saying something. But I feel like this series might go the distance, i.e. six or seven hard-fought wars. Man, first Original Six SCF since, what was it, '79? I hadn't even been born! *realizes he's never seen an O6 SCF* I feel like such a n00b!