clutchngrab

He's Rafalski without the glitter.

I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head. Our D starting from our top 4 has not been good in their own zone. We do not have a shut-down D tandem... period. I would love Rafalski and Kronwall if they could actually play in their own end, but they can't. Rafalski in particular is a huge waste of 6 mil at this point.

Right now the wings are short 1 solid D-man and maybe a goaltender to make a deep run. My problem is not with Stuart who is a reasonable 3rd or 4th defensemen, but rather Rafalski, who as 2nd D who is paid 6 mil and can't actually play in his own end anymore. Rafalski is by far the biggest salary blemish with a no-trade the Wings have right now. So, to get a top 2 or 3 D-man will mean trading Flip + a 3rd or 4th liner + a pick. No one will take Rafalski or Hudler or Bertuzzi or Draper as the major component. Flip is the only one that has any real trade value. Other guys they will want will be Helm, and maybe Eaves.... Neither of which I would give up. In summary, Holland won't do s*** and the wings will be out in the second round because they cannot keep the puck out of the net.

Flips gonna get traded to shore up the D for a legit cup run anyway

I realize the wings window is shutting fast. We are pretty much done after this year.

I counted 4 or 5 times guys were directing traffic in the defensive zone. Its a horror show out there. You can play that way if you have a mega-stud in goal, but really - who thinks we are long for the playoffs with this defensive corp?

Fishy? Why? Don't forget Holland is an ex-goaltender that managed the whole Hasek/Cujo debacle and let Osgood go as well. I'm not surprised. Jimmy has been spoon fed to where he is today.

I blame Scotty - he set the bar for turning great offensive players into plumbers just for some stupid ring.

Here's what might work: Get the 12 year old kids that did Captain Underpants to write copy and do illustrations

Rafalski for Doughty, plus we'll throw in Lebda....Oh wait Yup. Skating head down means a free (non-head) shot in the NHL. Or at least that's what it should mean. If that changes, I will drop hockey and follow lacrosse.

That doesn't explain the defense and the goaltending over the last 2 months. God if we could trade Rafalski wasted 6 mil....

Wow...What a horrible shootout. You would expect that this would be a part of the game that coaches would coach to. By this I mean how much shootout film do goalies, players and coaches actually watch to learn the opponent? My guess is not as much as they should. On a related point, the wings look like they don't bother to practice shootouts at all. Given the amount of points on the line - why not?

I just don't think he is a top 6 nhl forward like the wings thought he would be. I'm not a hater, I just think that salary plus return is really important today, and for my fake cap money, rafalski and flip should be packaged.

Here's where we are at from my view: Eaves: Kicking ass Z: Scoring consistently esp. since Dats is out Homer: can't do much other than get in front of the net - but still great at it. Mule: FINALLY playing some inspired hockey. Bert: Tourist...damaged goods - look at Mule for inspiration (trade please) Helm: Steppin up w/ the injuries Draper: Meh... Hands of stone - can't hit the net and won't check. Abbie: Hits now and then but should be in GR if we actually had players with size. Miller: Meh... Draper without the skill Hudler: go back to hookers, vodka and the KHL Mursak: Great speed and promise - Can easily replace Draper or Miller Tatar (or is Tartar). Ahhh maybe. I'll just say can easily replace Draper or Miller. Flip: Overpaid and underperforming (trade please) Pav and Clears: Pav will come back and be pavs. Cleary will come back and could be the CLeary of last year. We'll see. On D Nick: Norris type year Rafi: scores some points, but thats it. Huge deficit in his own end. 6M? (trade please) Big Rig: Nice improvement this year. Kid is playing tougher and more consistent. Kronner: Basically a better version of Rafalski, but still shaky in his own end. Salei: Maybe a Lilja wash. Neither will score. Stuart: Solid and physical. We will miss him way more than Rafalski. Kindl: Meh - please limit his ice.

Babs and the staff actually chart out the goalie starts for the whole season before it happens. Barring injuries or complete meltdowns - thats how it works (plus or minus a game here or there). McDonald as as good or bad as he may be, will take over the starts Osgood would have had (as good or bad as he may be). Personally, I can't see McDonalds numbers being worse than Osgoods over the last couple seasons, so I figure its a wash on the backup goalie. Playoffs not included. The curling took out Ozzie and Flip. http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hehe.gif Oz has probably has played his last game. I don't say this because I'm a hater, but because I don't think Babcock trusts him - especially if McDonald performs adequately

Those are phenomenal photos!

Osgood blows 10 times worse than Howie and thats saying something

This game was lost on bad defensive zone faceoffs pure and simple. Howard was not the issue, though 1 goal was questionable.

I like the fact that the wings are selective about who gets up there. Right now there are 6 with number 7 being Lidstrom. I just don't think Osgood belongs in that group. When all is said and done it is unlikely that Z or D will belong either - but time will tell.

Probably in the top 5 all time - so duh.

We'll see about the same amount of Osgood starts as to be expected of a backup. I say this because Babcock charts out the starts as soon as he gets the schedule. Unless Jimmie falls off the map, or the wings start to lose excessively, the charted starts won't change too much. In other words Ozzie has not won the starting job.

Congrats and great game! Now please retire.

Helm has been great tonight!

At least no Raffi inadvertent pinch.

good christ if Flip could just shoot. Why is success so much of an anathema to him?