Learn2LuvIt

Well, I have heard Hudler state shortly after he went to Calgary that he was glad for the fresh start, and in Detroit he somehow ended up in the coaches dog house (unfairly of course), and that he never was able to really get out of it. Legwand alluded to same. Madano told Puck Daddy that at his age, he was struggling to keep up with the rigorous practice schedule that he wasn't used to in Dallas....coaches in Dallas cut him a little slack due to his age and grind on his body. Are all of the above superstars....no. Madano was on the 18th hole of his career. But still, there has been talk about the way Babs runs his teams. Lastly, and I've heard Mickey and John Keating comment that speculation/rumor is that we weren't able to get some of the trades/free agents we had targeted due to Babs well-know hard ass approach....this was after the Sutter and Parise deal went down in Minni. I don't have any links to these articles or the video, but I did hear and see the above. So, some speculation, but there has been some of this stated by former players. Again, with so many options, IMO...I can't see Stammer going in that direction. Better options to win a cup elsewhere without the craziness of Toronto expectations and media, and a coach that could potentially be a hard ass.

IMO....i can't see Stammer choosing to play for Babs. I think superstars tend not to want to get into situations where their new coach has no bones about doing any of the following.....running him into the ground and making him practice like a rookie fighting for a roster spot day-in and day-out, leaving him out to dry in the press, getting in his famous "dog house"...typical Babs stuff (which is NOT bad...just Babs style). Stammer is in the drivers seat in every way. He'll have lots of options. Lots of better options in terms of chances of winning a cup sooner rather than later. I just don't think superstars want to tolerate Babs style if they've got other options. I know he's played under Babs with the Olympics, but I consider that a completely non-related situation. He HAD to play for Babs in the Olympics. The Olympics are more about representing your country out of duty and pride, rather than playing 80+ games every year.

Shhhh....we shouldn't talk about this!! This could be another issue to spend months negotiating to end the next year-long lockout. :scared:

This D group is working through issues. No one in the group has been great. In fact, just a few that have been good. I'd say Mike Green is one of those guys that has been good. He'll get better as the season rolls on. Not even at the half way point of his first season with a new coach to him, and new coach to the team. Fact is, we need him. His cap hit isn't crazy, and we've been screaming about a RH D man for years. He's the type of veteran player that is a difference maker in big games (playoff's, etc...).

Totally agree. I look at a guy like Bryan Bickell who played a HUGE, important role for Chicago during their recent successes/cup wins.

I remember on several occasions when we'd sign a guy that could drop the gloves (Tootoo, Comodore) Babs would seem to commit to some value of having this type of player on the team by stating his usual term of ..... "someone to keep the flies away". Almost like clockwork, that said player would play game 1 of the regular season and get into a fight (of course...right??). As Wings fans we'd be pumped that we have a player who will stand up and throw down....then all of a sudden, that player would play less and less and eventually not get any ice time. I never understood this. Why'd Babs seem to support this type of player/grit signing (he and Kenny assuredly conferred on player acquisition) then when they played like they've ALWAYS played, he'd rarely use them. People have always claimed that some of these guys got into Babs "dog house", but it seemed like more of a pattern and bias against their style of play. I mean, part of Tootoo's value is his toughness...not all, but if you were going for a pure point producer there were other options (in this particular case, especially considering some perceived off-ice baggage that Tootoo carried - Not my opinion, but he does come with a stigma of some things that have happened in his past). Just never got that about Babs.

Big E has been a huge disappointment this year. To my naked eye (IMO), he lacks "heart" and intensity. Has he caught a severe case of the "Robert Lang" syndrome?

Yep, Won the cup that year. Raffi had 55 points (tied for 2nd highest point total in his career). 14 Points in the playoff run (highest ever in his career). More points than Lids that year in the playoffs. Man, I loved me some Rafalski. Watching that guy "walk" the blue line to find open shot/pass was a thing of beauty. Wish we could have had him longer, but there is something refreshing about a guy leaving on his own terms, and not watching a slow deterioration.

Don't forget Rafalski

I think Kenny and Mr. I took a "chance", gut feel, risk, on Blash. And, the reason for this haste in the decision is that i believe this was their "last chance" opportunity to have him within the organization. If we wouldn't have hired Blash, he likely wouldn't have been behind our bench ever, or for a very long time. So, the Blash train was leaving the station and they decided to take a chance on a guy that had cultivated in within our system and organization and had a very high opinion of. No doubt, he would have been gone if he hadn't gotten the Wings job. Maybe not this year, but very soon (I'd bet money that he would have ended up in Toronto with Babs at some point soon). There is too many opportunities for a coach with his track-record elsewhere. So, if we did hire someone besides Blash, and that that lasts for lets just say....three years, Blash is likely with another organization in a major role (assistant coach if not head coach). Then, if Blash turned out to be the coach that many within the organization suspected (a dam good NHL head coach), then we'd likely not see him as our coach at all. Or at least, the foreseeable future. Especially since Blash would have walked away from the Wings thinking he deserved the job, earned a shot, and was looked over.

Every NHL team who plays against him is lucky?? Not teams that play solid against him defensively. Weigh the number of 2+ goals vs. zero goals for Ovie. There are way more zero game goals for him than 2+ goal games by him...so your point is incorrect by the numbers/data. A good way to attempt to shut an elite player down is to play defense on him and not let him blast away shots at will from 20 feet out uncontested. I don't want to get away from my original point, and that focuses on our defense not contesting him or covering him. Even covering him all the time, he'll score his goals. Leaving him alone and uncontested at 20 feet, is flat out a mistake. My point was our D looked horrible the other night and thank PM that Ovie didn't make us pay...big time.

We got lucky that he didn't have at least two goals...that's what's wrong with it. PM stood on his head and that's the only reason he didn't score...that was an unbelievable performance by PM the other night. PM is really, really good...but expecting him to play like that every night is unrealistic. Most goalies on most nights, don't stop all of those. I would have like to have seen a body on him. I'll risk putting a shadow on him and take my chances on their other players beating us. He's that good. Also, notice that's a pretty common strategy for teams who play against Pav. They'd rather take their chances on e.g. Abby beating them than on letting Pav roam free or go uncontested. No one could ever convince me letting Ovie take 8+ uncontested shots from 20 feet away is a good strategy. 40 footers, 60 footers (blue line)....maybe??. Not from the middle of the face-off circle!!! Ask Brett Hull or Shanahan if that's a good strategy...they'd kill teams....they made a living off of getting open at 20 feet out.

Maybe. But if the strategy is to let one of the most deadly shooters in the game take 8+ uncontested one-timers from 20 feet away....your strategy is broken. I get giving the goalie a good look at shots, but let's be real, on most normal nights when Ovie has that many shots, he usually has two goals.

Thought our D was horrible last night. Especially Kronner. Their spacing and coverage was horrible. How many times are you going to leave one of the best players (with one of the deadliest shots) in the world (Ovie) open on the circle for an uncontested one-timer?? On multiple occasions Kronner had help down low, but was leaving Ovie wide open. I mean WIDE.OPEN!! Kronner not only was leaving the passing lane to him wide open, but the spacing was so bad that he couldn't even contest the shot. Even with a one-timer, D should be able to get a stick/body in the shooting lane if they are spaced correctly. Luckily, our PM stood on his head and delivered a world class performance otherwise we would have lost. Also, very disappointed in Big E thus far. I thought he would have thrived under Blash this year. It's early yet, so hoping he comes around.

College football games are on Saturday and we haven't had a regular season home game on Saturday yet?? How could you even draw this conclusion??

Thanks for weighing in Buffalo, NY. One long bandwagon?? How could our bandwagon fans be cheering the successes of the Tigers (they're done playing - didn't make playoffs), the Lions (worst team in football), and the Pistons (ummm, self explanatory)???? That makes zero sense. I've been to early season October games in the past in Toronto, Montreal, Nashville, Tampa, and NY. It's really not that unusual. Even Montreal (who this is their only sport) wasn't even close to full when i was at an Oct game a few years back. I was given tickets to Rangers game last year at MSG by our hotel concierge, I'm guessing (judged by my eyes)... it was a bit over 1/3 full. Another factor to this reality is that it's hunting season here in Michigan. My cousin sent me a picture from a popular restaurant near Burt Lake/Douglas Lake (up North) on Sat night, it was packed with hunters/Wings fans who came to watch the Canes came. Packed. Go Wings! Loving the make-up of this team thus far.

I love me some Z...but the fact of the matter is that Z has never had great speed. At the beginning of his career he was a tad above average (NHL standards), but not so much anymore. I saw that he looked a little sluggish last night, but I'm not reading into it at all. He's matching up in the pre-season against much younger guys, whom a lot are headed back to the AHL soon, he tends to look slow(er). He's playing against guys who are fighting for a job, and this is playoff hockey to them. Some of these guys will actually never make it full time to the NHL and they realize this, so they are pushing as hard as they possible can. Z is likely to be int he mindset of getting in game shape, getting his timing back, working on line communication,....just another day of preparation for whent he real season starts. Elite players aren't neccesarrily the fastest players on the ice, nor are he fastest players on the ice neccesarrily elite. Z is absoltuley and elite player and I don't use the word "elite" lightly. Z brings so much more in terms of hard work, determination, hockey smarts, and both underrated passing and hands. At least he's not Larry Murphy (toward end of career) slow, or Homer (toward end of career) slow,...now they looked like they were skating in slow motion.

Although he has is own dedicated thread, it's never stopped people before. Aren't threads that go way off topic and into already dedicated thread topics fairly standard? It was so easy....maybe we aren't all childish heathens? Cheers to us!! Go Wings. Excited to see Blash behind the bench. MY wish for tonight = no injuries!

VERY DISAPPOINTING. I mean the opportunities to take this post regarding Kane and nobody, i.mean.no-bo-dy, makes an off color comment regarding his legal and personal issues he is deeply entrenched in oft he ice?? I fee like i just watched 50 people walk directly past the bar on "free beer day" I had Europes "The FInal Countdown" playing in my head just wating for it to happen. What is this world coming to?

No. We need him as he currently brings more upside than not. Jimmy may start playing like he has to win a job, rather than playing knowing he's the undisputed starter. We may see a different Jimmy this season...a bit more hungry. Maybe a bit of edge within the locker room. Challenges Peter daily to play at highest level to compete for starting job. Regardless of who is #1, having either of them as a back-up is solid. It's awful nice to know that you have a back-up plan come playoffs, especially if your starter is getting worked.

Went to college with one of his daughters. Great family. All of them (including Al) were really down-to-earth and really kind people. RIP Al. Thoughts and prayers to the rest of the family.

I'll dedicate my loyalty as a consumer for life...to any company that buys all the Wings jersey sponsorship slots and makes them blank, and matches the same color jersey as they are wearing on any given night. Unless feminine/lady products, I will swear my financial alliance to this company. God help me if the company that did this is a horrible tasting beer...I guess I'd be drinking many for the "the team".

Didn't you know!! Every great coach in history came out of the womb with NHL coaching experience and never had to get behind the bench as a rookie. "We all got a break and started somewhere"...that's not true for great coaches though. It's a genetically tested for trait. "Learning the ropes"...nah, not great coaches...these guys were SURE THINGS. Duh!!

I don't think anyone is saying he's a savior, just that its good to have a "WINNER" behind the bench. Let's me be clear, IMO - Chelios is a winner. Just my observation of being on this planet for a while, people we/I deem as "winners", usually excel at pretty much everything they choose to do. Just an example: Cheli's Chili Bar is the top grossing restaurant in downtown Detroit - FACT (I saw a Urban Development and Commerce Report last year). Go visit the other places that have been around for decades longer (e.g. Post, Detroiter, HockeyTown Cafe) then go visit Cheli's. Again, he likes to win. I just like that trait. I do understand the concept of having a lack of NHL coaching experience in total behind the bench. It is kind of scary. But with his playing experience, there is not a doubt he understands the game. Does that translate to being a good/great coach...time will tell but I'd say the odds are in his favor.

If the word on Chelios is true....I can't wait for him to give orders to run an opposing player through the boards. He's got the street cred to give that order, and it would probably be wise to follow. Hoping he would have some input into personnel and push to get players who can provide us with a little more edge/nastiness. I don't believe his voice will have a ton of influence (at the beginning) in terms of personnel, but it's at least encouraging to (potentially) see one of the all time greats in terms of nastiness behind our bench.