Learn2LuvIt

First off, I am not in any way stating that Jimmy Howard will be the starting goalie for us anytime soon. However, although I didn't post a lot of my thougts and feeling on Howie, I was absolutley doubting him and thought that he was a looking like a major bust and we needed to replace him. For this....I was wrong and I am prepared to eat my crow.

Too many point shots that a) aren't making it through traffic and on net b) goalie see's the puck all the way. My buddy and I were just talking about this last night...way too many of our shots are being blocked and not getting through traffic. It seems like other teams have a "book" out on our current offensive strategy...other teams are collapsing their D men to the front of the net, playing one guy at the point to cover both our D men, and two forwards mid-circle front of the net to take away all lanes and angles from the point shot. The point shot becomes a lower percentage shot in this scenario because the virtually every angle/lane for the point shot is covered. In addition, this collapsing makes the side-to-side D pass less effective in opening up lanes since the other teams forwards down low aren't having to make major position adjustments to cover. And finally on this point, I had an old coach tell me that 70% of blocked shots from the point - go the other way (meaning the offense looses possesion). Obviously coaches "speak" and no exact measurement if this % is accurate...but the more I looked at it and watched, the more apparent it became that he was right. We need to work the puck better down low and through the middle (by down low I mean face-off dot and below)...make them pay. I'd also like to see our off-side D cheat up more into the play when possible.

Did you just say that our supped up indy car that we've coveted for the past 13 years can actually peform very well on a road track if it has the right tires on it?? I think you did and I agree with you.

Shoot, Hustle, Move the puck, Be definsively responsible

Lebda = C He's not doing anything else. Might as well put the Notre Dame background to work.

I agree...amazing the parity. However, IMO- it's not were we are now...it's where we are headed with the injuries and not getting some of our top/better guys back till after the New Year. This is what is making me a bit nervous (not panicked like some though). I believe Ozzie will be the most important factor in where we will be in the standings come Jan 1. I believe we are one bad stretch away from Ozzie from being in a very, very bad situation as far as making the playoffs. However, IMO...if we can get the team to March in good standing (playoff wise), we could and should be a major force to be reckoned with in the playoffs and Franzy and Fil coming back. I have faith in the later-

If...and I say if, we make it in the playoffs...seeing Lebda take the ice in a Wings jersey will envoke such a violent rage within me that my wife will have no choice but to flee the house and call the police. O: "911-what's your emergency?" My wife: 'My husband just spotted Brett Lebda taking the ice for the Wings playoff game tonight and he's gone insane with anger...please help, he is foaming at the mouth and has destroyed every piece of furniture in the house, now he's pouring gasoline all over the tv set screaming something about Ken Holland' O: "Mam..please stay calm we will get units out there as soon as we can. Please be patient as it may take a while for a unit to get over there,...this is the 20th call in the past five minutes concerning "Brett Lebda" rage. I'll stay on the phone with you until they arrive" End scene.

There are about 8 other players on our team that I would urge Kenny to get rid of before Bert right now. He is the least of our worries and has been playing hard and getting chances. Lest we not forgot, Bert was a top 3 player 5 years ago....No denying a lot of time has passed and a lot of "stuff" has happened to Todd...but I've seen a few posts question his offensive ability. Those who do this are flat out wrong. He's always has the hands, size, and hockey sense...these never leave a player. They may get slower, loose their desire, become more and more injury prone, etc....but just like riding a bike some of this stuff you never loose. BTW...he's just as fast as Homer who is our leading scorer. Again, he's the least of our concerns. Can we change this thread title to read Brett Lebda....now we're talking.

I get what you're saying, something needs to change with our approach on SO's....but when looking at how desperate the Wings are to come home from this road trip with POINTS...LIKE NOW....suggesting that you put Pattrick Eaves and/or Helmer over Dats or Z in the shootout is absurd. COME ON!!!!!!! If we were in firm control WC standing and just killing it....maybe....maybe one late night in Canada.

It's early, so I'm hoping this stays true throughout the season, but what I like about JW so far this season is his effort. He really seems to be hustling offesnsively and getting back on D.... every shift, every game. My biggest gripe about his previous time with us is that he'd show up for 1 out of 3 games. IMO, he's got all of the tools needed to be an above average+ player, so I think if he can keep it going it's going to pay off. On top of that, he's plays on the PP and gets good minutes with some elite NHL'rs (even more so condisering we just lost another forward), so I believe the Wings have put him in a really good position to take it to the next level. I think he's the one of the least of our worries at this point.

Assuming what you say is true...then the other 50% is skill. Wouldn't you want to put your highest skill player/factor to offset the unquantifiable factor of luck? Just my opinion, but I go with the proven skill everyday of the week on the SO.

Ha ha. Good stuff man. Thanks for being a good poster with a level head and i think what we ALL care about is our Wings. Cheers my brother!

Gotcha...noted. Just want to keep the spirit of Wings fans discussing what they want to discuss without being mocked. No big deal.....apologies if I came across as going Ape Sh177. Go Wings

ok??? Forum Snob. This is a Red Wings forum...we talk and read everyday about the Wings at length....why are you responding if it's beneath you or so redundant that it annoys you. Dude just wants to talk about when Franzy gets back. I respect that and enjoy hearing the feedback...even if SOME of it has been said before. Who cares if it's been covered many times. Skip it if you're so above it....or come up with a better topic that is so revolutionary and "mind blowing".

This is exactly what we need right now. 3rd and 4th liners chipping in offensively. I'm staying pretty positive on our Wings this year. When we get all of our top guns who are suppossed to be scoring...scoring, we'll be in pretty good shape. In addition, it will be great to get Franzy back. Best case scenario is that he's back in mid-late March and get's into form by early April. He could be a monster in the playoffs if he's fresh and motivated. Through all of the negativity about the Wings (some here on LGW, national media, local media, etc...) I just keep one thought in mind: pound for pound; I'll take our top three (Z, Dats, and Franzy) over any other teams top three....any day of the week. Especially at playoff time. I'm loving watching this season unfold, I find it extremely interesting and believe that the challenges we face this regular season could make us even tougher to beat come playoff time. At times in the past, I don't think the Wings were able to take a "punch" and get right back up...when they got knocked down, it took them a while to respond. We may see a team that knows how to take a punch a bit better and not look shell shocked, and responds immediately....not wait till the next game(s) to get it going again. Think of SCF game 7 last year, after the 2nd goal by Pitt, we looked shell shocked and dazed until the last part of the 3rd period. Even though I'm not too sure we'll be a 1 or 2 seed, we may be way more battle tested. Go Wings!!

I have gotten the NHL Package before...and it's great. You'll be able to catch most of the games played nightly without blackout. My biggest reason for not re-newing this year is the lack of games in HD. Two years ago I made the leap and got a high quality HD tv. Watching the Wings (or any hockey for that matter) in HD is phenominal. Here's the thing....it's hard to go back and watch non-HD games...I've been spoiled. Even condidering the games in non-HD, with the Center Ice some of the video feeds are not that good. However, it is the BEST sport in the world, and I still enjoyed watching every night...it was just tough. I've heard that the NHL Network offers almost 75 games "most" in HD, plus 24/7 hockey programming. Not sure if this is an even trade off, and I have no experience with the NHL Network. Anyone??

Watching Sammy and Kopa realize that they never had it so good in Detroit, and they are average players at best when they don't have the team/talent, coaches, and organization around them like the Wings.

5 - The number of Stanley Cup rings Nick will have at the end of this season

This was a good signing - period. Not great...just good. At the highest level, this gives us a lot more options to harness more offense/goals. Keep in mind: -Leino, Helm, and Abbs are unproven (although they all showed good/great signs last year/playoffs...still unproven over full NHL season). *You can say "these guys won't get the chance to prove that they are goal scorers over a NHL season if they don't play??? How can they prove this if they don't get their chance...they can't do this if play in GR" Sorry, the true reality is the Wings and their success expectations don't coincide with being the place for players to devleop their game....GO TO THE ISLANDERS OR THE COYOTES IF THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED AS A PLAYER! -A key to our sucess in the past has been the ability to roll 4 lines (2 very, very good lines, 1 very/good line, and 1 eneregy/grind line with offensive potential). Having Bert on the 3rd or 4th line down low makes a very tough match up for opposing teams. -We can/may trade a D-man at some point (LEBDA), and have some cap room to sign someone at the trade deadline. -We can always trade Bert if it's not working out come...say...Dec/January. We need guys who are proven commodities....guarentee some goals....that's what we did. Not spectacular, but needed.

Thoughts to why Happy left: I believe his thought process went something like this: Although I'm officially listed at 5'10 182 lbs...I know I am really 5'8 175 lb Center with fair-good speed but great offensive ability. The NHL every year is only getting bigger, stronger, and faster....not good news for me. How long can I play in this league? If I did stay in the NHL....would my value be as high in a few years? Would this be my last contract? What if I get hurt? Ok...I'll take the sure money, and go back to Europe and check out that scene. I here Moscow is a fashion meca and has hot chicks. Plus, the hockey over there is very open offensive minded style, clean, and not as rugged as the NHL...small guys can still excel there too. Contract signed!

Has my beloved LGW been replaced by the Noam Chomsky message board on Linguistics? BTW... Both sides of this discussion on the English language have legitimate points. Anyone has the right to request that someone/some thing (webiste, publication, etc...) communicate in a different language. That "Someone/some thing" has the right to refuse that request without reason. It's called being FREE to do whatever the F@#* you want as long as you don't break any laws. Which makes you FREE to be pissed off that there are no laws against behavior/policies that you may disagree with. We're all basically free to piss each other off for no reason except to try and instill our beliefs. Just as I am FREE to suggest we move back to discussing hockey...more specifically Dats being up for an ESPY.

Not taking away any credit to the Pens at all. They won. They outplayed the team the Wings were able to put on the ice. I would like to see us keep Hossa (different topic altogether), and see a rematch next year. I'd like to see this Wings team healthy vs. the Pens team healthy. Although that's a huge rarity in the SCF, but I'd like to see more of an equal (health wise) match up for all 7 games.

Ok, well I guess this may be a bit painful for us males out there to hear this. I spent time this weekend with a very reliable source (Doctor/Surgeon at Beaumont Hospital....I'll call him Doctor X). Lids suffered a torn scrotum sack as a result of his atheletic supporter pinching his scrotum between upper thigh pad and atheletic supporter. Doctor X had no reason to BS me, especially since the media circus around the injury is all in the past in Nick is back playing. This is for real.... In addtion, if you listened to Pierre McGuires (I think it was him) interview with Nick last night after the game 2 victory....Pierre said jokingly before he asked the question...."ha ha...not to get too personal, but how is your injury that kept you out of those games coming along?" Sorry if this is a bit graphic, but never-the-less, thought some of you may have wanted an update.

Yes sir. I can't imagine either

How is Brad Stuart knocking the puck into his own goal (first goal-game #2) lucky??? That was the first goal of the game, and potentially give a huge spark to the visiting team...how is that lucky? We responded. As anyone in sports will tell you...you make your own luck. Any YES....OF COURSE....I think both of these games have been very competitive and this series is far, far from over. Is that what you're looking for...a pat on the back? Would that make you feel better? Ok...here I go. Contgrats, your team is a competitive opponent. Yeahhhhhh!!!! Maybe that should be an NHL award all by iteself...the "Comptetitive Award-for the team that shows up and plays hockey against another team". My only thinking is...this is the freaking NHL...every team would be worthy of this award. This is the SCF...I think looking for pats on the back about how competitive your team has been in loses is kinda weak.