EstonianWingsFan#1

It doesn't matter which line, it all depends on chemistry between players. No doubt he will find his spot in lineup, we just don't know with who he will help the team most. Also he has to adjust a little bit with american style of hockey. Im not saying he needs any time to adjust at all, but it is a possibility. We'll see. If he fits in like Williams this season, he will be a immediate success in NHL.

I was wondering, has anyone seen this guy live on ice? I've heard that he is not much of an physical presence on ice, but still he is 16th among OHL top scorers. Currently he has 18+26=44 points in 29 games, in his last game he scored a hat trick. Sounds like a nice prospect for Detroit, even if he lacks some bulk. Does anyone have more information about how he actually looks in his role in Toronto or is it maybe too early to evaluate him, because this is still his breakthrough season and I should be more patient. Any comments on him or what you think about Haskins??

Yeah but is Datsyuk strong enough? No way, he is packed with skills. Trust me on one thing, he cannot be so weak that he will be dropped due to strength, not to mention decent scoring in OHL. I mean he had 2 assists again last night. He is already 11th in OHL scoring, he has 18points in 8 games this month. That is impressive, don't forget he was a round 5 pick and also this is his first breakthrough season, who knows what can he do next season. I'm pretty confident that he can be considered a decent playmaker for the future of Wings. That's scouting. It's not important to get the highest picks (maybe only top10), the important part is to get picks in each round how can suddenly contribute as McGrath was or Haskins now or Kindl suddenly this season, not to mention Zetterberg and Datsyuk were draft picks in between # 180 - 220. That's what really helps the team. Not Sid the Kid, but a selection of talent each year. I can't imagine how many first round or second round picks Wings have traded away durnig the last 10 years. Why are they still one of the leagues top teams? Because of great scouting and decent draft picks in spite of low draft picks. Anyway, just tried to make my point, I think McGrath, Haskins and Kindl all have a breakthrough season this year. Considering McGrath it's his second year of increase in production. Oh yeah and Helm has been decent too, if we check out his last years achievements.

He scored 2+1 against Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds last night and passed Kostitsyn. Now Haskins is 13th currently in scoring. Way to go, one again he proved he was not a bad pick.

Ok guys, I can see Grigorenko is a hot topic. I'll try maybe I can help with some information. Right now he is 6th/7th in russian top league. 10+15=25p in 32 games. www.rushockey.com About the weight: I checked out his current club Severstal's home page: http://www.severstalclub.ru/base/team.php?tid=1&sid=2 You have to understand russian on the page but just in case .. Severstal's home page said 98kg, so a little bit math and we find out he is 217-218 lbs. I believe a players current club has the most updated weight information, so I think he still is way above 200. Lots of talks about Malkin stealing Grigs Calder Trophy next year. I wouldn't take that too seriously. Check out the team stats: First Metallurg (Malkin): http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/csl.php?tid=2540 Then Severtal (Grigorenko): http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/csl.php?tid=1800 To be honest, Malkin's team has the first spot in league, full of capable scorest, which provide great backup for Malkin and his offensive capabilities. Severstal is currently in the second half of the league and Grigorenko is maybe the only very good scorer in the team. He has 25 points, next guy has 12 points. I'm telling you if Grigs played in Metallurg also, he would be where Malkin is, somewhere close to 35 points and league's leading scorer spot. Just give Grigorenko an opportunity next year and he is going to shine. After all, Grigorenko is still improving after accident, because it definitely slowed him down. But of course Malkin is younger, but he is also former 2nd pick so he has to be great. There is going to be great clash between them next season, I think Grigorenko will earn a spot in Wings lineup in no-time. But we will see, just my opinion.

I can only say one thing, whatever we may think on the draftday, Hakan has proved to us, he can find gems out of dirt. Wasn't Zetterberg 216th pick or something and for example Datsyuk 181th or something like that. Dunno if Hakan had anything to do with Datsyuk but still at least as long as we are drafting swedes, we have to trust some choices we maybe find weird, because isn't it all about drafting future all-stars in some 5th or 6th or 7th round as an addition to first and second round picks? To be honest, when talking about swedish prospects, I am the most exited about Ryno (looking at him makes me wanna call him a Rhino, maybe we will in the future who knows).

Yeah but we have to be honest, stats play a big part whether you make the team or not. And this Ryno guy seems like another gem. This guy is huge, can really score and looks like godzilla on ice. Red Wings need godzillas, right?

Yes, born in Poland, just like Tomek Valtonen, even though his finnish. Many years ago I was thinking, what on earth his parents were thinking giving him a name Tomek. Well that solves alot I guess, because it is as polish as it gets, just like Wojtek.

Damn, McGrath and Wolski are guys I would definitely put in the roster so damn again. Well there is an upside too. McGrath exploded when he wasn't named a captain in Kitchener, maybe being an odd-man out will make in score again 19 points in 5 games in OHL.

We have a rising star, whos getting out of his cocoon finally. Once again the Wings drafted a player, quite a high pick in many years (for the Red Wings of course I mean) created lots of criticism and as I remember, many fans wanted Kenndal McArdle instead of Kindl. Maybe it is still quite early to say, but I think Jakub is going to be a francise player if everything goes a well as it is going right now. I mean the cowboy is going so fast lately, he is showing is spurs to even 12th pick Marc Staal and is quickly jumping towards the 1st spot in OHL defencemen scoring. Kindl has 3+13=16 points in his last 8 games, I mean tell me about a scoring pace for a defenceman. Funny to see but when Kitchener suddenly started to win, Kindl also started to produce. Today he also has 2 assists, the game is not even over yet, Kitchener is leading after 2 periods 5-0. Don't know how do you feel guys, but I have a feeling that Red Wings got a superb draft pick in Kindl and it really seems that when 19th pick is a rarity for a team, get the risky pick like Kindl. What do you think? Did we get a francise player??

Well I'm following the Grand-Rapids & Cleveland game and once again this certain line is producing really well. And amazingly once again 4 3rd period goals. Filppula has really started to impress, Tomas Kopecky as an underachiever from couple of past seasons is also doing quite well, Bootland too. Is this a new production line besides Hudler-Manlow-McDonell, even though they have not done very well lately in scoring in spite of Hudlers goal in this current game. What can I say, don't you just love when you you suddenly find out a new great scoring line? Of course the question is for how long but I guess time will tell. Hopefully there will be no injuries to break the chemistry. And from where this DiCasmirro popped out? Quite an effective scorer too.

Kopecky's production has been fluctuating all the time, so I wouldn't be surprised if this week he would be barely noticable. Of course let's hope all the best, but as it was told before the start of the season, this is the year Kopecky has one more chance to prove he is a worthy player. It was a miracle anyway that he got one more year and management has still a belief that he will contribute this year, but let's talk about that when the season is over. Just happy to see he is important for the team right now.

Well Filppula's Line has made 27 points altogether in last four games, that's really fantastic. Filppula has 5+6=11 points in last four games, combining total of 18 points and +10 Kopecky has 1+8=9 points in last 4 games, 15 points during all 17 games and +14 Bootland has 2+5=7 points in last four games, 11 points and +7 whole season. Clearly we can see that this line is rising high. As I live in Estonia, a small country next south to Finland, I had many many opportunities to see Filppula play for SM-Liiga, that is the Finnish top hockey league, and he did really well. After he was drafted he was more like a adjusting with fast and aggressive play in SM-Liiga (it has turned aggressive during the last 5 years) but couldn't really contribute, of course even 18 points on a rookie season there is really terrific. Suddendy he was part of the best young guns in SM-Liiga and many experienced and very good Finnish players couldn't keep up with him. So basicly if he will have a good first year in America, I think Finnish hockey aggressiveness has helped him alot to settle there, he was pretty much thrown around in Finland, when he didn't have much bulk on him. Damn I hope he shakes the ground, starting in AHL.

Actually the signs are even better coz tonight he had 1+3=4 points not 3, so he has 23 points altogether and he rocks this season. Well at least I won't be questioning in our 19th overall pick anymore. Go Jakub!