dragonballgtz

Thank god this is might be his last year here.

If Larionov could hit 60 points as our 3rd line center back in the day so can Flip. Too many excuses as to why he isn't hitting numbers he has the talent/potential to hit.

The Wings went with Franzen + depth vs having Hossa. That extra million that Hossa got wouldn't have allowed the Wings to sign Hudler, who was coming off a career year. We already lost Sammy they didn't want to lose more depth.

Z was in no mans land. He was going to get burned no matter what he did. He could of stayed between Koivu and Setoguchi and taken away that passing lane but even them it looked like the defensmen was moving up. Koivu would've just past to him instead of Setoguchi.

Fixed It wasn't his elbow that got Kronwall. What got him was the back of his shoulder, what made it look like his elbow got him was the follow up. Look at TSN's highlights of the game.

Nyquist – Datsyuk – Helm Eaves – Zetterberg – Franzen Hudler – Filppula – Emmerton Cleary – Abdelkader – Miller Whichever line plays the best in the game gets the most minutes. If struggles continue then the players that look like they give a damn will be on one line together that plays the most while the floaters go on one line and play less.

Didn't look like an elbow just shoulder.

I honestly wonder wtf Franzen was thinking when he tried to squeeze in between the Wild player and goalie on that last penalty. They were making calls against your team all night and you want to try to pull that crap. Hopefully after this game people stat to realize that Bert is one of the players the Wings must/need to get ride of. He adds nothing meaningful to this team and is exhibit A when needing to point out our lack of consistency, lack of defensive responsibility, horrible turnovers, and just straight out heartless play.

It's one thing to come off the rush but once you are in the zone and cycling the puck that's another story. All Helm has to do is use that work ethic he has to get the puck and give it back to Datsyuk so he can work his magic. Teams will have to respect Helms speed which should move the defense back leaving Datsyuk room to work. Yes they won't be as fast as Fedorov/Draper but it can still work. I see no reason why Babs shouldn't look at this type of line.

If Draper can play with Fedorov I am sure Helm can play with Datsyuk.

I really wish the team went after Versteeg last year. He is off to a good start this year and I think he will be a 70+ point producer by the time the season is done. I think this guy could be a 30G 30A per season guy for many years to come.

Personally I would break up all the lines in order to get something going. A Helm-Datsyuk-Franzen line would be something I'd play around with. Helm might not be offensively gifted but all he would need to do is give the puck to Datsyuk.

Sorry read it wrong. A wee bit dyslexic while reading that post.

He had 51 points in 08-09. The cap hit is nice but I take it as they are still looking for that one guy to anchor the defenseman once Lidstrom retires. Pretty much a franchise level defenseman and with the cap they are saving I wouldn't doubt if it they find someone. About this contract I have mixed emotions still. It's an awesome cap hit but Kronwall has only had two seasons in which he played in over 75 games. I guess that might have been why he agreed to this contract. I guess we shall see in 3 or 4 years if his health can hold up over the years.

Every teams goal should be the SC and anything less is failure. I never understood the acceptance of not even getting into the playoffs and if you do get in anything besides winning it all is not acceptable. As they say, "You play to win the game".

According to capgeek his NTC is up 30 days prior to this years trade deadline. Our second tier players just have this nasty habbit of going cold all at the same time for a lengthy stretch. Also Z needs to get going.

I meant to same lines instead of lineup. As in why did he start the game with the same lines as the last few games and did he change his lines throughout the game? But you would've thought that Bruno would get one more crack at it before they waived him just to change something. Give Cleary, Hudler, or Flip a game off and let him try with top six minutes.

So I see Babs has stuck to his lines when the game started as Datsyuk, Z, and Cleary where on the ice when Wild scored. Did he start to change the lines later on in the game? Seems kind of dumb to start with the same lineup that's been failing for the past 3 games.

His skill set is top six talent. He isn't a 3rd or 4th line energy guy and that isn't how he should be used. I still don't understand how it would be ridiculous of him to say to the Wings: "Hey, I'm not playing a lot here with the big club. It would be beneficial to us both if I was sent down so I don't lose my timing, stamina, and legs while waiting for my opportunity. While down in the minors I can prove to you I do work hard in games and will continue to improve my all around game to fit in better in the NHL. So can you please send me down so I can play?" There is no point of having Bruno just sitting on the sideline doing nothing. It doesn't do the Wings any good and it doesn't do him any good.

That just it he has only played one game. People have bad games that's just how it goes sometimes... but with us in a 3 game skid I would think Babs would do something to try and shake things up. Putting Bruno in for a game or two right now makes sense. Our top six isn't exactly playing like they should and Bruno is top six talent. I don't think it would be stupid of him to say something about the lack of being in competitive games. Just because a player gives input doesn't make them an automatic ******* for asking. Hell it might do him some good if he did ask as you can only practice so much before you need to get back out there on the ice in a real game.

I don't know about that. If that was the case then I would think Bruno would've gotten into the lineup but at a top six spot.

He won't make it to GR IMO. He had a good preseason and I think he might have gotten tired of not playing at all.

Maybe it's just me but what was the point of putting DiPietro in for the shootout? Do they want to have this guy to have a season ending groin injury?

Because he was the player I could notice very obviously that looked like he wasn't moving his feet. A couple of plays in the first it looked like he was waiting for the puck to come to him when going after it would've helped moved the puck quicker out of our zone.

Anyone else think White looked slow today? I only did see the first period but at times during the first it looked like he had no jump/hustle in his step.