Dabura

This team's toughness doesn't hinge on Drake's presence. Get real. More than anything, I think it's apathy that's to blame for the overall lack of intensity. A few short months ago, this team was steamrolling the league's golden boy and his cronies. Now they're back to playing largely meaningless games. They don't really care, but every team they play is sure as hell going to want a piece of the defending champs. But it'll get better as the season progresses. We all know that.

To be fair, I do think it's kind of embarrassing how this team has been shying away from the physical stuff. But, in keeping with this week's theme: it's a team-wide problem. Everyone's shying away from everything. This team can be as tough as nails, but it's not playing that way -- and it's not just because Drake is gone or Downey isn't playing.

And the world is full of Sidney homers.

Drake > Hossa

There are no words. It's been years, and still...there are no words.

I agree; the Wings are in serious danger of icing a roster with too little NHL experience. The last thing we need is another youngin'.

His post was fine, and his point about the team D (that it's not clicking) is right-on. It's one thing to give up a lot of shots because the team you're playing against is playing like a bat out of hell. But that wasn't really the case last night. What we saw last night was more of what we've been seeing since the home opener: sloppy, sloppy defense. But it's early, and that'll improve.

You must be fun at parties.

They should just give him the Conn Smythe right now.

Helm's ascent --> Maltby's descent

MB: Huds, you're being demoted. JH: B-but...but coach! [babcock walks offscreen. Switch to closeup of Hudler's face. Tears well up in his eyes. Slow pan out, showing Hudler alone in the locker room. A tumbleweed rolls by. It begins to hail...]

Then he only started this year. Or did he get a lot of PK minutes in the SCF and I just somehow missed it? All in all, I have my facts straight, thx. Sid scores a lot and cries. He doesn't have much of a defensive game and is not nearly as well-rounded as Datsyuk or Zetterberg. There's more to being an all-world forward than having mad skillz in the o-zone, and while I don't doubt that Sid is a world-class talent, saying what you're saying -- that he's obviously *so much better* than Datsyuk and Zetterberg -- is a candy-ass argument. We might as well be making the case for Phaneuf being the next Lidstrom because Phaneuf can really lay on the body. Right now, Hank Zetterberg is the best forward in the league. He can be that explosive forward, he can lead, he can hit, he backchecks like his life depends on it, he's arguably the best two-way player in the league, he's golden on the PK...

Oh man, what a sweet win. The call was textbook, no ambiguity. I was drunk and squinting at a bar TV set and even I could see it. HA. I will say this: Wings need to be sharper. But I said it in the bar and I'll say it here: Rags fans can **** off all they want about "totally taking it to the Wings" or whatever, but, 2 things... 1. Wings won. 2. Let's see where you are when it's late in the playoffs. Sure, you can talk the talk now...

I don't really mind him, and I think he has his head on straight about how to market the league. But he's not a very good hockey player, and he's not "amazing" at what he does. Getting under Martin Brodeur's skin by talking trash in the media and waving a stick in front of his face doesn't take much skill.

But again, the entire team -- basically to a man -- is underachieving. That's what's really strange.

He hasn't looked great, but the same could be said of pretty much everyone on this team -- and not everyone on this team is adjusting to a new system like he is.

No, it's not -- because, like I said, he burned his bridges here. He never liked the fact that he played second fiddle to Stevie, and he made it known. He butted heads with management. He created tension in the locker room. He let his personal life (i.e. his problems with Anna) shape his decisions and play at times. As I also said, he was, in fact, a phenomenal player, and he was, in fact, an important part of the Wings' success starting in the 90s. But this is an organization that likes to pride itself on a sense of familial loyalty and togetherness -- things which, for better or for worse, Feds was never very big on. Would I be shocked if his number gets raised? No. Do I see it happening? No. Call it "petty" if you want, but that's the way I see it.

I think he was being facetious. Wings win tonight, and I run around NYC screaming. Actually, whether they win or not, I'll be screaming...as I'll be drunk. But I'd like for it to be a happy screaming.

egroen, 91 won't be raised to the rafters. At this point, you're arguing that people are basing their counterarguments on nothing -- but at the same time, your argument basically rests on stats, and we all know the issue goes beyond stats and personal accolades. Also, you're talking about logic, but you seem quick to dismiss the idea that certain players could have provided input about a possible Feds return -- all because *zomg!* they weren't quoted. Which may not be illogical, per se, but is not exactly objective.

What are you smoking? Datsyuk and Zetteberg are world-class forwards in all three zones, capable of great offensive production and top-notch two-way play. Sid scores a lot and whines. He doesn't even play on the PK.

Feds left because he wanted more years than management was willing to give him, and because he was tired of living in Yzerman's shadow. And everything reminded him of Anna. Or something. Shanny left because he was old and lazy and was tired of playing in a system that demanded him to give his all every night. He was also considering (and still is considering) his career with the league after he retires; New York's as good a place as any to get a foot in the corporate door.

:violin:

While he was a phenomenal player in his prime and an important part of the Wings' success, it's not happening. He was a problem in the locker room and he burned his bridges here (see certain Wings vets telling Babs they didn't want him returning at last year's trade deadline).

Or just fundamentally good hockey -- which they're not playing, which is what's costing them.

I called this after opening night. Look at me, I'm special!