achildr1

Im no sure people really understand what I believe Helm brings to this team. He IS the motor, the ethic, of this team. Datsyuk is close, but i think his ease in his game makes his ethic less visible (although he is obviously an incredibly hard competitor). Helm busts it night in, night out. Against the Canucks, the Hawks, and even the Jackets. The guy plays every shift like they could send him down after the game. There's a reason why he stands out so much in the playoffs. Because he outworks everybody. I also believe I heard that teams have hounded Kenny to give him up and Kenny thinks he's the best bottom six guy in the league. Pretty sure the quote is out there somewhere.

Well apparently he did a heck of alot right last year and the year before. He's obviously more consistant, more talented, and clearly better than Cleary at this stage of his career. Cleary could retire today and a better, more consistant, less injured, and younger player would take his spot immediatly. Cole clearly has worth on the open market, whether or not you or Montrael fans think it was a bad trade. Do you think we could get anything of worth for Cleary? The Gagne trade will answer that for you.

Last time I checked, didnt he only play like 2 games? This guy has been great, overachieved our expectations, and is clearly one of the most talented players not in the NHL. I personally find it hard to understand that after ripping up the AHL before the season started, and with the rash of injuries, that this kid hasnt played up here much more. He is older than Tatar and has outplayed him (although only slightly) and is clearly the more talented offensive and defensive player. I'm all for the the Wings development program but i think the proof is in the pudding this year, the kids are vastly outplaying the borderline veterans (who's names arent Maltby, Holmstrom, or Draper, so they dont need super special treatment). We are clearly in transition and Nyquist deserves a spot on the big club. Bam! Factonista! Love it. I can't understand that. Tatar looks like Hudler 2.0 (although I like him more). Nyquist looks like he has the upside Filppula, except better, more creative, and more consistent. Nyquist gives me hope that we could transition after Dats and Z leave. I think him and Jarnkrok are the future.

$4.5 mil at 34, even with two more years on it, with \/ THIS \/ as his last two years is horrific? G A P CAR 82 26 26 52 -1 49 201 12.9 3 5 1 1 9 -- 18:27 29:06 '11-'12 MTL 82 35 26 61 11 48 241 14.5 11 3 0 0 6 -- 18:32 24:55 He hits, fights, was beloved in Carolina, seems to be an energy guy. How's playing next to Zetterberg or Datsyuk not going to be better than Desharnais, Plekanec, or whoever? He's actually on an ok contract considering contract's nowadays. He's Dan Cleary, but better. He has a Cup ring and more or less had his career year, last year. Short of '09-'10, he's actually pretty consistant and shoots fairly often. I personally would welcome a big bodied, 30 goal scorer who plays the game like he cares...PUN intended Johan.

http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/2/22/4017978/winter-classic-2014-jerseys-maple-leafs-red-wings These look legit, unfortunetly. I'm not a fan. If these were the real deal, and I assume they were, I really hope there's a change of heart before next year. Please delete this one, sorry guys.

Cleary is pretyy close to a waste of an opportunity for a younger player right now. Ultimately, if this was a video game, Andersson would have his spot and Cleary would be gone. Thats not how the Wings work tho, rightly and wrongly. It would be nice to ship him off tho.

Im not sure id even go this far. Our defense, completely healthy, is not what any playoff team should have. Looking at our team and thinking playoffs was, to me, what the Tigers went into the season like before he last couple years. "Well if all our guys have careers years/repeat their career year, we'll be just fine...we really have a chance!"...and *surprisingly* Nate Robertson threw up a 5 era, Bonderman didnt win a Cy Young, and Scott Sizemore couldnt become Polanco overnight. Thats about where the Wings are at..."well, if Kronwall is a Norris candidate, Franzen quits floating, an Filppula ever pans out to what we think. We'll be fine...we really have a chance!" And then...*surprisingly*...

I like the font. Its something the Wings used for a few years in the late 70's/early 80's, I believe. I thought using the old logo was the way to go and im glad they used that. The striping and lack of similarity of the striping to anything the Wings have ever wore is what gets me. I love the tradition of the Wings and their refusal to make throwaway design jerseys. (See Toronto's silver striping, Boston's bear head jersey, Ney Yorks lady liberty jersey) Montreal, Detroit, and Chicago have really resisted trends over the years and I think it gives the team heritage an extra element. Our last WC jersey, I thought, was a great homage to the teams beginnings (see Detroit Falcons/Cougars), was simple yet elegant, and gave us the Wings version of a 'D" logo. I think this jersey tries to be vintage, but looks too much like somethings ive seen NHL heritage sweaters make. Simplicity is key with original 6/Wings stuff...and theres just too much happening here.

Hey guys. I went that 97.1 Sportsfest thing today. Place was insane. Did get to see Homer for a second though in passing. Me and the family had to wait for the Playboy girl to finish using the family bathroom before my Wife could take my daughter in there...cant make this crap up. Anyway, I hung out with John Wharton for a few minutes and I got to thinking. What ever happened to him? Boyer is still with the Wings. Wings dont fire anyone, ever. I see that he was arrested recently for not paying child support, but other than that I dont know whats up. Id lay 20 bucks one or more of you Wings junkies (like myself) knows whats up...

I watched him in the playoffs a couple years ago and the kid was incredible. Certainly not the most over rated goalie. Loungo doesnt play for the Predators.

Im just going to say it...I would be very surprised if we made the playoffs this year. I think Holland knew what was up, before the injuries, when he said we might not make the playoffs. The breakdown: Our defense is terrible. Quincey is useless and was officially a waste of that pick. We are arguably better off with Lashoff full time over Quincey. Kronwall is a #2 guy and has too much pressure on him. Ericsson, while not his classically terrible self, instills next to no confidance in me for any kind of playoff type worth. White, Kindl, Huskins, Carlo are all generic filler, depth defenseman. Kronwall and Smith are the only two defenseman we have that I have any confidance in. Howard is overworked, and while he is underrated, I think he's going to get shelled this year. He has to be yelling "Nick! Where are you?!"...Like a toddler cries for his Mom. Injuries, while seemingly never good, might actually give Holland some perspective. I personally think, maybe somewhat in hindsight, that it may have been better to not have signed Samuelsson anyway. Some of Bertuzzi, Eaves, Miller, and Emmerton could and should have been sent packing as Nyquist, Tatar, and probably even Andersson are ready for full time duties. So with the injuries, Holland gets to see that those guys bring more than thier older, less skilled counterparts. Other rantings: Franzen might frustrate more than he's worth...to bad we have him locked up for life. Filppula probably needs to be traded while other teams still think he's going to be awesome one day. I can't see how replacing him with Nyquist in a near throwaway season would hurt too many feelings. Filpulla should bring a pretty nice return from a playoff team. Highlights: Brunner is way better than I expected and is a legitimate asset to the future of this team. Mrazek keeps on surprising. Zetterberg is on fire and Datsyuk seems to get better with age.

Lol...I was just expanding on my/your previous thoughts. By "you have to watch closer", i didnt mean you. I meant anyone, myself included. No gettin' it wrong here...I just didnt want people to think im a complete Zetterberg hater. Datsyuk is my favorite athlete that ive ever watched though. The Barry Sanders of the NHL.

1. Mrazek, Jarnkrok. Mrazek seems to really have that elite element. He could end being the best goaile we've drafted in the last 40 years. Jarnkrok has the best chance of being our next developed elite forward (although i think Nyquist is going to surprise alot of people). 2. Pulkkinen, Ouellett. If Pulkkinen turns it around, the kid apparently has one of the better shots not in the NHL and I see a little, poor mans Brett Hull when ive watched him. I miss the Hull/Shanahan days. The days when we had guys that regulary shot the puck. Ouellett, I think, is the top 4 defenseman we have coming that no one talks about. 3. Jurco. I want him to be a poor mans Datsyuk as much as the next guy, but I dont see why this kid gets as much hype as he does. I personally see a disconnect between his crazy skills and his junior production. Then he turns pro, and I might not have the whole story, buts he's been bad. Tatar was much more productive, at an earlier age, than Jurco and Tatar (while I personally like the kid a lot) doesnt look like more than a 2nd line Hudler clone at best.

I dont think I give Z enough credit, and I think you have to watch a little closer to see how good he is. That said, I know hockey. Roy is the best goaltender ive ever seen. Lidstrom was literally a giant amont mere mortals and easily the smartest defenseman ive ever seen...but Datsyuk (as I literally just seen him deke out the whole Preds team on the replay im watching)has/is the following... 1. Easily the best stickhandeler I have ever seen. And whoever is #2 isnt even close. 2. The Strongest person on the puck I have seen with Forsberg as #2 3. The smartest/most cerebrel/most creative (in game theory) forward I have ever watched. The ghy does things so differently and thinks about the game on such a different level that other players just dont have a chance. 4. Best defensive forward ive ever seen. Datsyuk is much like Lidstrom in the fact that they both can be the best defensive players at thier positions without having to play a largely physical game. Datsyuk has the smartest defensive "stick" in the game, much as Lidstrom did from defense.

I certainly think your wrong. Two Cups, several Selke trophys, and possibly the most consistently exciting player of this generation. The Hall makes a big case for a pro-rated career like Lindros and I think Datsyuk's case is an easier one to make. Also, players points would be judged quite differently in 10 years because scoring has went down dramatically over the last 20 years. The guys that have been inducted in recent years played in the late 80's and early 90's when guys were scoring at much higher rates as today. Thank you. If that doesnt end the arguement, im not sure what will. Btw...Datsyuk took 47% of the vote in Hardest to take the Puck From

Im not trying to be confrontational here but...you cannot be serious?!! "Hangs onto the puck better"...complete nonsense, seriously. I have played and followed this game for 19 years and i have never seen anyone crafty or as strong on the puck, especially considering his size, as Datsyuk. I personally think the comparison between the two is not even close. Im not going to look it up, but if im not mistaken, a Hockey News poll of players was taken recently and Crosby and Datsyuk were 1-2 in being strongest on the puck. Better defensively...Datsyuk literally owns the Selke trophy (best defensive forward IN THE NHL) and takes the puck away from the opposition as much or more than anyone IN THE LEAGUE, let alone on the Wings. Datsyuk is arguably the best overall player in the league. Zetterberg isnt even in the conversation. Z has been impressing me this year and there is a reason he's the captain...but Datsyuk is clearly the better player. "What a pleasure we have, night in night out, to watch that man", Ken Daniels just said (im watching the replay of last night, and the just played a montage of Datsyuk's highlights from only the first two periods).

Wow...that is one heck of a line. Best empty netter ive seen too, beautiful.

Bahaha.

I hope your joking. This might be the best game ive ever seen from him. Otherwise, he's as useless to me as Quincey.

I dont get the Kronwall hate...at least when Ericsson is on this roster. That.guy.is.terrible. I cant believe how little he's learned, even with years next to Lidstrom. Guy doesnt use his body, his stick, or his head. Im baffled by his contract extension.

Gary Bettman's public image.

Unless I missed it, no one started a WJC thread. NHL network is playing Slovakia vs Finland (Pulkkinen has one check of a shot...Tvrdon scores) from last year right now...got me thinking about this years tourney. For all I can tell, we only have Frk and Ouellet playing. Has to be one of the only times recently that we''ve had a man on the Canadian roster. Kind of lame...even the game I'm watching now had three guys in it (Tvrdon, Jurco, Pulkkinen). Plus, Canada really should run away with it. Their team is a virtual all star team compared to everyone else. Outside of Russia having Grigorenko, Yakupov, and home ice...I cant see how anyone other than Canada wins it. Russia and The US have an outside chance. Who do you want to see?

This is your dream team? Tells me a couple things...you haven't been truly happy as a hockey fan since the height of dead puck era/Avs-Wings rivalry hockey (ps...I haven't really been either). Too many big guys on that team to suggest otherwise. Also, you need to dream bigger bro...if every player in the NHL were FA's, I'd imagine our team would look better than this.

Actually it was...would never have had Hudler over Malts. I debated about Federov...he might be on there but if it's only since 2002, then his ranking is just based on that year. And honestly, I think Shanahan, Hasek, Lidstrom, Hull, and Yzerman meant much more to that run. Completely disagree about Franzen. '08 might not have happened without Franzen and I believe the '08 team was the most proficient hockey team I've ever seen play. You could argue we might have played in four less playoff series from '08 on if we did t have him. Filppula has been a 3rd line underachiever until last year.

Peter Forsberg, Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, and Shea Weber. Maybe Pekka Rinne. To be honest, right now, two of the guys I'd want on our team the most are Datsyuk and Kronwall...check.