Learn2LuvIt

We have no muscle and this is by design. Our toughest guys might be....Bert?...Big E? ..Abby? I don't know why the disbelief or questions. A lot of fans frequently beat the "call up the young guys from Grand Rapids!!" drum and these are all young, skill, mostly Euro players. Kenny and our staff want it this way. The players we acquire via trade are not tough guys at all (except for Tootoo who we quickly found no use for). They are okay with getting pushed around after the whistle. They are okay with a player getting hammered and with no answer back or retaliation. You see....we are sort of stuck in a quasi time vacuum. Kenny and his staff (IMO) are still stuck on this old notion that USED to work magic for us. That notion is this: play hard, little if any chirping after the whistle. No sticks up. No emotional retaliation penalties. Take your lumps. Take the penalty and...accomplish two huge objectives....frustrate the hell out of the opposing team and make them pay on the power play. Worked like a charm! Gosh, I remember how Homer (Lids, Stevie, even Dallas Drake) used to drive the opposing players absolutley NUTS because he wouldn't retaliate. Malts and Draps, same thing. A little bit of chirping, but never any physical retaliation. It would fester and teams would get so frustrated they would take penalties and end up in the box. Then, we would capitalize with a really potent power play. We Win. It's way different now. We don't frustrate teams like we used to. We don't have a power play that teams fear. People are mentioning Mac, Joey, Bob, Martin, Shanny...I get it. But except for Shanny, we threw out the need for Joey, Martin, Mac type of player when Scotty came aboard. Scotty wanted this type of player...but didn't NEED one. This carried on with Dave Lewis and then Babs. Kill them with skill. We don't have the offensive skill top to bottom to kill like we used to.

Go mental?? I don't think many of the average fans would remember who he is?? I'd have to explain to everyone sitting around me that this is the guy that has played 69 games for us since 2011-2012 and scored one playoff goal for us. We here on LGW definitely know who he is, average "John Q Fan" probably does remember his name and him playing, but that's about it. Let's not over-blow his good, but short, injury riddled, "legacy".

I think Helm has a sore heart.

My answer to this topic: If said young talented player would no longer like to skate on the ice in GR uniform and be on a bus headed out of town, then yes, it would be perfectly fine to speak out against their employers philosophies.

Babcock. Due to his loyalty and sticking with veteran players who are not performing as well as fans assume our younger players sitting in Grand Rapids would perform.

It might as well be a dream though. I'm losing faith in Helm...big time. When he played he was very good for a 3rd center, excellent maybe top in the league 4th line center. IDK...he may just be that hockey player that is no longer able to get back to where he once was, or ever recover at all. Many, many former pro athletes have fallen into this category. No one is at fault, it's just an injury that doesn't go away and ends a career. I'm not counting on him anymore that is for dam sure. IF, IF, he comes back that would be great. Just don't see him coming back and being able to contribute as he once did. My desired line combinations don't have him included.

Neat. They suck. Btw...I love how ESPN shuns the NHL in favor of extreme underwater basket weaving quarter finals (errrrrr....I meant the NBA), but hockey highlights are always at least 3 of the Top 10 plays of the day.

Not sure how this deal will turn out long term for the Wings. However, I do know that part of being a good GM is knowing when to put emotions aside to let go. It's funny, cause this is the one weakER aspect of Kenny's skill set (please...this is about the only aspect of an overall titanium skill set). I believe he's held on to players way too long in the past (e.g./IMO = Homer). As other posters stated, I thought Kenny would have matched.

Hate to say this but I believe I speak the truth. The Canadian hockey elite, which is pretty much the entire HHOF Selection Committee who have a say in this, would never in a million years waive the waiting period for a Swede. Never. Going. To. Happen. Who cares anyway. I listen to a lot of NHL Radio and it's amusing to listen to some of the Canadian elite when being interviewed and the topic of great all time D men comes up (which surprisingly it does quite a bit). It kills them to even mention Lids. I can feel the strain in their voice when they actually do. Not all of them, but more than not. And when they do give Lids some props, it's usually with a condescending "he'd be right up there in the conversation" or some other terminology that is devoid of the truth that most accept. He was the best D man ever to play the game. Can you possibly argue that others were AS good? Sure, Bobby Orr would be very legitimate conversation. Other than that, no one really comes close. Period. This will slowly change as the Selection Committee and old time Canadian hockey elite are purged out and the younger class/representation comes in (which will have more international players looking on the past decade of international players voted in). Plus, when guys that actually played with Lids or were heavily involved in the NHL when he played start coming in, there will be a shift in the discussion of greatest D man of all time. It will be automatic. Q: "Greatest D man of all t..?" A: "Nick Lidstrom" "Next"

I'm pretty sure this would fit. How about: THE HAWKS WILL ALWAYS BE THE RED WINGS BI$#% . No?

TooToo for kickoff return guy. Tough job very few want to do, get's little recognition unless kick is returned for a TD, and very replaceable in the grand scheme of the roster. (Not from the Wings but a perfect candidate): 3 Meter Springboard - Sidney Crosby

No. The poster kisckazz said exactly this: Speed is 100% related to back strength. Meaning: skating fast is attributed to nothing but back strength. You can switch the words around and leave out words/numbers...whatever...back to my original post; what he specifically stated was/is not true (IMO). Let's move on shall we

Respectfully, I 100% disagree with your statement above. Are you saying leg strength, leg drive, push technique, abdominal/core strength, etc... don't have anything to do with speed?? Back strength is certainly a factor, but not THE 100% factor!

I was attending an pregame event at home game this year and was entering the Joe through parking lot doors. I was walking to the doors talking on my cell phone, and Bert flies into the parking lot and almost runs me over. Wasn't that close, but close enough to get both our attention. He slowed down, swerved a bit, rolled his window down and with a big smile said "sorry about that man!". Annnnnywaaaay - he was driving a baller A$$ 2012 Range Rover - SE....(although not American made) beautiful vehicle. So, if that's being in financial trouble.....I WANT TO BE IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE TOO!!!

One of my favorite post game interviews by a coach. Best moment at 0:47...."Tha Sof" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agL3NHgb8Rk

No. Unless injury, never F*** with a winning lineup.

Confirmed: The Windy City Blows

Kane vs. Abel (...and Howe, Yzerman, Lindsay,Delvecchio, and Sawchuck)

Ok. Misunderstanding. However, you did specifically say that the Wings shouldn't focus on trying to be a better team than the Hawks, but to focus on being prepared "in case" the Hawks give us an opening. That was what I was addressing. Lastly, I think you and I are just coming from two different places. I believe if the Hawks play as well as they can, and the Wings play as well as they can, the Wings will win. I'm not conceding an inch to the Hawks until they win four. I'm not intimidated by them winning the President Trophy. This is the NHL playoffs. I'm not waiting for them to play poorly for us to have a chance. Anything can happen. Kings were 8th seed last year! How many times have we won the Presidents Trophy and been knocked out to of the playoffs in early rounds? A lot. Sounds like you don't have a lot of confidence in the Wings being a flat out better team regardless of how the Hawks play. I do! To your last statement about talent and hard work, I truly believe we are the more talented team top to bottom. I've seen this team at times this year play like a team that ANY team would be hard pressed to beat, no quit. I BELIEVE!!! btw...have you ever heard of Zig Ziglar? Anyway, we're both Wings fans, so even though we have extremely different approaches/outlooks, I hope we both get what we want, a Wings series victory.

With all due respect.....Ummm, yes it is. In case they get an opening?? Maybe I'm wrong on Babcock, but I don't think a gold medal, Stanley Cup winning coach of the freakin Detroit Red Wings waits around and prepares his team...just in case the Hawks lay down for a while and give us an opening!! I'm not a coach but I think this applies to more than just sports, but why wait around for something to happen that is completely out of your control (like Chicago giving us an opening)??? Why not focus on the things you can control like how YOUR team plays the game and how to be better than the other team.

Feeling okay today. Expecting a game 1 victory on away ice (and to that degree...Chicago in the UC) against the President's Trophy winners was a very, very tall order. Our job is to split and get back to the Joe. For my captain obvious statement of the day: Not the single reason we lost last night, but I do believe we lost our legs in the late 2nd and 3rd. IMO..there is no doubt the boys went out in Anaheim and have a few "pops" after the game 7 win. Jimmy even eluded to this fact (with a wry smile) in post game interview. Next day, long flight back to the D. Players go home and scramble to make up quality time with family/friends for a half day since they've virtually been preoccupied for the last two weeks with beating the Ducks. Next day, onto Chicago and flight to windy city and back in a hotel room. Players bodies probably still adjusting to not being on PST time. It got to them. Ran on adrenaline for the first half of the game, then nothing. It happens. That's why playing the in West has/had been such a disadvantage to us. One other observation: I can't stand the light feather chip pass/shot when we are trying desperately to clear our own zone. We do this A LOT! When guys have been on the ice for 50 seconds and are dead tired, and the other team is all over us (I mean hornets nest ALL OVER US!) , we go for the soft chip up the boards. I don't get it?? In those situations, you have to hard around or hard out, and take the icing if it happens. I know we can't change lines in that case, but at the very least you'll get a 30 second breather to regroup. Last night the Hawks had two forwards standing atop at blue line, just waiting to intercept these attempts. They'd prevent our clearing attempt, long pass along blue line to other side of ice, and their in business with a good set up. It drives me crazy!!!! Lastly, Quincy needs to sit. His transition game in our own zone is slow, predictable, and pathetic. Just bad. Our job is to split and get back home. Let's do this.

Ummmm.....I (and many others) do it all the time toward Cindy, and like him or not, he's a world class player.. Just sayin.

Emmerton out. No question in my mind. Sammy had a goal (although a gimme). Bert has been very heavy on the puck and playing simple, low risk game. Emmerton is a push (at best!) - not real good, not real bad.

He "coasted" to the hit because his feet were already in mid-air. Whatever. My point is when you do all three at once (line a guy up 20 feet out and skate at considerable speed to engage, make considerable contact with players head, and considerably leave your feet)....you are going to get suspended.

The only thing I don't agree with in this situation is no call being made at the time, by a ref who was three feet away. Besides that, I'm okay with the rest. A lot of speculation around the rule(s) and interpretation of this hit. Doesn't really matter. He clearly lined him up from at least 20 feet, drilled him at full speed, made contact with his head, and left his feet during the hit (like Michael Jordon type air). The reality is that it doesn't really matter if he left his feet before hit, during, after...if he made contact with head or shoulder first, or how many strides he took before the hit.....whatever. The fact that three elements potentially happened and debatable for a single play/hit....charging, contact with the head, and his feet leaving the ice, you're done. Any of these three happened alone on one hit, he may have avoided suspension, but together it really a easy to see how he got suspended. It's been like this for a while now in hockey, and all the players are very aware of what the league is trying to crack down on. Is it better now than when players could absolutely destroy other players without recourse?...I don't think so. But it IS REALITY. Weber hit??....geez- ancient history. What is Shanny going to give us a mulligan on that one. For our mental health sake, get over it. Abby should know better. I give him an A+ on willingness to be physical. F for execution. D for intelligence on particular play at that particular time . Full speed, contact with head, leaving your feet....You do that in the playoffs and a guy gets helped off the ice injured....the punishment will be heavy in today's NHL. Anyhow, I don't want to turn into Ducks fans who only talk about how they get screwed by the refs year-after-year and how they could have 8 Stanley Cups if it weren't for the league and the refs wanting them to lose. As Wings fans, we're so many levels above that. It's done. He nailed a guy. He's out for two. Playoff hockey. Let's tie this beeeaaatttttch up and win it in six.