EstonianWingsFan#1

Well another win, Hudler top scorer again in AHL, MacLean's gun still on fire and it seems also that his fist in this last game (did anyone see the fight?), Filppula jumped to 10th place in AHL scoring, which means we got 3 Griffins in top 10, Clay Wilson is a surprise defenseman and scores his 6th, Griffins outshot (hope it is a correct word in english) opponents 44 - 26 this time, things look pretty good. And Griffins have scored 156 goals in 40 games, which is slightly under 4 GPG. Nearest follower has 138, Houston Aeros, who have Westrum and Law as Hudler's pain in the ass on the individual scoring chart. At least we can be happy standings and scoring this season, the thing is total GAA is 138 and that has been a problem, considering the weakest in the league is Cleveland with total GAA of 141 and the best by WBS Penguins - amazing 58 goals against only. We have some room of development.

Yeah, the MacLean fight.. what happened there?

Well it seems Kopecky and Bootland have really shown they can throw a body around while scoring well and they are put on a waiting line to see some NHL action pretty soon. People were bashing Kopecky alot during last couple of years but it turns out he has made some quick development this season. Way to go, our possible checking winger. Bootland too. Check it out yourself: http://www.allsports.com/nhl/redwings/stor...pectsWatch.html

How about his recent 3+1=4 points, +4 rating and first star of the game against Lethbridge. He is currently fourth in WHL scoring. Three points behind goddamn Setoguchi, who was drafted in the first round. Setoguchi is younger though. Still way to go Darren. I just love this guy, for a 5th rounder he certainly has some magic in his hands. Or skates. What the hell I guess both hands and skates.

As I'm sometimes looking for new prospects sites, I thought this one could be useful and interesting for all of you: http://www.russianprospects.com You can check out NHL Russian prospects already drafted and playing, also upcoming 2006 draft prospects, ratings etc. Pretty cool site in english. Oh yeah and you can keep an eye on Russian elite league also, box scores etc. Earlier I also posted similar site for Swedish prospects: www.eliteprospects.com Have fun.

Lilja for Malone would be fantastic. Cleary is a workhorse and we need him I think.

Yeah, considering defencemen, we have problems of our own, but when we traded for Lang, did we have then what the Caps were looking for? As long as I remember, our management has a tendency to throw in too many draft picks, but if there would be some other/cheap way, I'd really like him in Wings organization.

Interesting information who hasn't heard yet: http://www.allsports.com/nhl/redwings/stor...pectsWatch.html I love those aggressive slav defencemen who can also score, especially when they play for us in the future. Belarus is getting better year by year, which means international competitions get more even in strength. Youngsters like Kostitsyn brothers and Kolasau are just a few samples. Just like Switzerland has improved alot during last 5 years and so on..

Yeah I know guys, for me it's quite hard to evaluate Wilson, because I don't have an opportunity to see him on ice. What I meant is that he has done quite well considering from where he jumped to the Griffins. Sometimes unnoticed players need to get ice time in tougher leagues to improve their game. Take Lebda for instance, he was signed as a free agent out of nowhere last season I think. And look at him now, he is a NHL/AHL regular and people are quite happy with his plays so it's funny but that's how things work sometimes. Or Williams who is really showing this season, just that he couldn't show much earlier because lack of icetime, yet his transition to NHL to good scorer has taken much longer than Lebda getting into his role. Anyway forgive me if my posts doesn't mean any sense sometimes or are questionable, i'm doing my best in this small country in Europe and I have not had an opportunity to see any GR games. In my position I have to rely more on stats, but hey criticism is OK, I'm glad if you can correct me about players and their abilities. But the fight is interesting for me too, looking at MacLeans penalty minutes he doesn't seem like a fistboy, what really happened and how did he do?

This is amazing, I mean how Griffins have scored in the 3rd period this season. I don't know the exact number, but my guess is way above 50% of goals in the 3rd 05/06. Does anyone know where to find stats like this?? Once again they were trailing 3-0 and then suddenly 5 3rd period goals and boom! Another win. Not bad at all and Hudler got 2+2 in the third. Ain't that a way to capture AHL top scorer place again. Go Hud. Go Griffs.

Well I don't know how many of you have had the possibility to check out our fresh swedish prospects in action. I'll be watching Finland - Sweden WJC clash in a couple of hours, later on I'll post what I saw. Right now it seems they are doing great, Ryno has 1+3, Ritola 2+2 and Axelsson 1+0 in 4 games. It seems these guys will definitely play some part in Red Wings future if everything goes well. And I want to see Ryno!!! It probably won't be a problem to notice him on the ice

Yeah and he is 6th in WHL currently in scoring ? Let me check, sorry 7th right now and doing great. A little more bulk and BOOM. He is a promising player, sort of playmaking type. And 18 PIM in 40 games, it shows he is not the type who takes foolish penalties but more like Datsyuk, without Datsyuk's skills of course.

I was thinking about creating a topic about MacLean's changed performance about a week ago. I also noticed, just that if we had had this topic then, we would have here too many negative replies. I am really optimistic, but look at the facts, Hudler had a tremendous start, then he disappeared, Filppula-Kopecky and Bootland stepped up, now they are also doing nothing special, maybe just Filppula. The Griffins look like a wheel of fortune, you never know who will be next to produce. I'll say let's just wait a little longer.

Why on earth not! Turco is a great goalie, after all then at least Datsyuk won't be able to score such a beauties against Turco like on 03/04 we saw. And if Ozzie and Manny leave, we can bring Liv to North America. Legace will definitely seek more money than right now, he proved his capabilities in October. Anyway the goalie status would look something like this: Turco Howard/Liv Depth: MacDonald McIntyre Not bad, go for it.. and if Turco is having his worst season during the last five years, it will probably make him ask less money also than few years ago could have happened.

It's like our favourite scout Hakan told how he is evaluating prospects. It isn't always about scoring or skills, he is looking for young guys who are passionate about getting better and working their asses off. And there is some kind of truth in it. If you work hard for it, you'll get it. The all are going to be good players if there wont be some weird injuries (Grigorenko) or too quick transition to the top leagues (Löfberg), Anton Axelsson is said to be better player in the future than his brother Per-Johan from Boston. His overall game offensively and defensively is improving better and faster. They were pretty good, when good players are on their regular teams, they have their certain roles and teammates. In tournaments it's all about whom you play with and how do you adapt yourself to others. Wouldn't it be great to play on a wing in a line with playmaker Joe Thornton?? And look at Glen Murray now.

Damn, Tuukka Rask had to face a serious amout of shots. It's also crazy that all the players were throwing the body around, it seems it isn't only in North America anymore. European players want to be ready for NHL already during their draft-years, not to start adjusting to physical game when they get there.

Instead of Roloson, I'd like to get Rolston.

Yeah right, we trade our future star and one of the best goalies in the league (if Legace is not injured) for one of the biggest disappointments this season concerning top goaltenders. And as a bonus we can increase our payroll by few million $. Thanks alot for great ideas. Spectorshockey is reliable source but this one is crap. It takes an idiot to accept this offer or make this offer from our side.

Yeah right, throw Shanny away when he has found his scoring touch again, get rid of young and promising prospect and throw in most-of-the-season-hated Osgood, who is on fire right now compared to earlier results and who has playoff experience giving nice backup for Legace for only 900K. No bloody way, Bertuzzi is good but not that good. Pull out Jovo and Morrison and Näslund with whom Bert is used to and he is in trouble right away. After all the next time he could go to jail for manslaugher, if his nerves fail again. We don't need once again 32+ aging forwards. And I hate the way Detroit is parting with it's prospects. It has to stop someday, so I say no way. Bertuzzi is too risky, but if it would be let's say Lang and Mowers for Bertuzzi, then it would be much better. Only I don't know what is the free cap space in Vancouver and how big is Bertuzzi's contract.

Kolasau, but exactly as written. It's hard to say, I live next to Russia and close to Belarus, I know how they pronounce but I guess say as you like. Many names are different in NHL, lets say Fedorov is actually Fjodorov, Gonchar is Gontšar, with long R like Gontšarrrr (you don't have that special š letter in english) and so on, it's hard to even explain, it would be easier in words than in letters. Anyway yeah he is young, yes it's easier to push youngsters around when you're 6'4 but maybe in the future other youngsters are 6'1 and he is 6'7. People can grow up to age of 22. So who knows. And bulk is more up to him so let's see. What makes me happy is that he is ready to throw his body around, many players lack that wish even if the have the size.

U know, considering what I have heard, even though he could use some more bulk, he still looks very strong on ice. I haven't seen him myself, but I have read some articles that say he looks tougher on ice than considering just his weight and height. I don't know but if things go well, this one's maybe going to be our Chara, maybe a little less point production but ...

No Worries we have Kolasau coming... A guy with some extraordinary checking abilities.

Lamothe is currently in the same team with Grigorenko. Cherepovets Severstal. But I don't know how is he doing exactly.

You mean hit like on this video ?? : http://www.allsports.com/nhl/redwings/videos/kolasau/

I don't know how much anyone can follow swedish prospects, but as long as we have Hakan the Scout, it might be a good link to search sometimes. As you probably cannot understand swedish, on this site you can read in english. Just search a player and thats it. Current stats and everything included. www.eliteprospects.com I also wanted to say, that there might be some doubs when we mention Löfberg, our 2005 3rd pick. He's a great player, he is on tryout with Djurgarden (means Zoo in english) and he has only 1 goal in 28 games. But... not much icetime, he's young also and he is in SEL (Swedish top league) only because he looks more mature that many others. In Djurgarden junior team he is doing great 6+2=8 in 6 games and it was maybe too early to put him to SEL league. Patience is the key word here. Many people on swedish sites and news say he's really good. But you can have a look yourself, hope it's interesting enough to create a topic.