evilmrt

People hate on Kindl because he was a 1st rounder way back in 2005. He should have been much better than this.

Nope, Riley Sheahan was the last 1st rounder (2010 Draft). McCollum actually was also a 1st round pick (2008), a year after Brendan Smith (2007). Before Smith? Kindl (2005). So, of the 4 1st round picks the Wings have had since 2000, only one of them, Smith, is decent. Not that great.

Here's a weird question... Would Ruff be able to shape up the PP? It's not unheard of for coaches to play assistant after a firing, for a time.

HAHAHA flaming poo for Cleary....oh this is good stuff lol

I'd say its positioning for something else. This keeps him officially in the loop, which is probably all he wants.

The problem is that Kenny and Babs both seem to be having a difficult time adapting to the "new" Wings reality. Holland takes most of the blame here, because he couldn't make the big signings, and so should have been playing "moneypuck" to ensure that he signed vets that would play well with GR kids, and traded away those pieces that didn't fit anymore. He didn't. Babs on the other hand....still coaching like its last year. He's a great coach, but he's been slow to adapt in some ways so far. Cleary is a great example. Special teams are a ******* embarrassment. You just hit the nail on the head. Kenny and Babs keep expecting all the guys you just called out to step up and lead the GR kids, and they aren't. At some point they will have to stop trying the same thing over and over and shake things up.

Yeah, I think part of the problem is that in Lids and Homer, the Wings had two huge pieces in the PP that were honestly all-time greats at what they did. Lids was all-around amazing, yes we know that. But Homer was also one of the best ever at chipping in pucks and digging them out of corners. I think Babs may have gotten too comfortable with two guys that are irreplaceable, and now he's admitting that he is having a hell of a time without them.

Yeah, Kronner has been a huge disappointment. He's supposed to be the #1 D-man...I suppose we have to realize he's more of a second pairing guy.

I've got yer six

No, it was merely an additional window to use one buyout. The window will reopen this summer.

Yep. Mr. I will "promote" Kenny out of the GM position after our first round exit.

The problem with so many of these young players is that they have complete douchebags for agents. Said agents convince young kids to play hardball for big $$$. See recent PK Subban nonsense. They're like the scumbag washington lobbists of the NHL. The way to get around that is to lay down an offer sheet. Avs won't deal with Kenny anyways, so just do it already.

Oh wow, this is bad news. Hopefully its a correctable problem. In any case, it seems like he won't be back soon. If he chooses to hang em up, thats fine...I'd choose walking over hockey any day. Best of luck to him. And yeah, Wings have two buyouts...there is nothing in the CBA about using them in this situation, afaik.

Agree, but to a point. Each conference has its big attendance draws. For example, the Yotes (if somehow they survive to next season) would do better under realignment. The Canucks, Oilers, and Flames all get big crowds out here, due to Arizona being the equivalent of Florida for Western Canadians. The Original Six don't have to keep things afloat.

Hey, you forgot Lebda.

If only I knew who "M-Raz' was.

The defensive corps needs an upgrade, plain and simple. A forward will have to be moved if Holland wants to keep his job. Flippula fits the bill. Not ideal, but Kenny F-ed up.

Puck Daddy I would say that Columbus is going to be a real threat in a couple seasons. This guy seems like the real deal, at least as a scouting head. I wish the Wings still had that ol' scouting/drafting magic. Maybe the problem is that they need to bring Hakan over here, state-side?

Babs really only has made one big error, and that is the assistant coaching selection. He repeatedly has not been getting it right...and things like special teams show this. I believe that this will make for his 3rd bad coaching choice in a row?

Buck Fettman

Another guy that shot himself in the foot by not playing during the lockout.

They could just gradually start adding big rinks to new arenas. For example, QC and Seattle/Toronto 2/Wherever should have big ice, and then other rinks should as well when built (like the new Detroit arena). I remember that Buffalo had a smaller than regulation rink for the longest time. And this was in recent memory. Some of the more old timers can probably shed more light on that.

He should have shot the puck at the net from the other end of the rink because nobody else on the team seemed to be able to.