Coyote0106

Yes, he is much improved this season.

Sweet! That's a nice W after last night's loss.

He's been one of our best D-men all year.

The OP just wanted the prospects...

That is great! It's good to see him improving all aspects of his game. Maybe we'll see a SO win now?

Upload the picture to a site like photobucket, or something like that. Copy the pictures url, and paste it inside [-img] [-/img] (take out the -)

Courtesy of ebay:

The reason I was so hard on our D was because of how bad they have been (as a whole). Ericsson went through that stretch where he didn't try for 50 minutes, then would for the last 10. He was expected to be the #1 defenseman this year, and he isn't based on his lack of effort. Kolosov got a lower score because he needs to use the body. He needs to watch how Ericsson does it, and move the guy off the puck. If his lack of physical play was just that it'd be higher, IMO, but it leads to scoring chances for the opponent...that's just the nature of the position. I completely agree with you though on Mursak. It really is a shame he doesn't get a legitimate chance. I dont know who he rotates in and out of the line-up to get Mursak playing time.

Larsson was great for us, and Lake Erie didn't show up in the second. That was one of the most dominating performances I've seen out of the Griffins. Bacashua (sp?) was frustrated, and stayed down after one wave of shots as if to send a message to the team. He was hung out to dry the entire period. Cumiskey for LE was frustrated, slammed his stick into the boards, and that knocked it out of hands. So he gets in the bench, and slams the door. He was shaking his head the whole penalty he took right after that...just classic. LE just decided the 2nd period wasn't important. It was very reminiscent of us last year. Quick props to a couple guys: McGrath crashed the net every shift, and was a factor. Ritola had a couple good defensive plays, and had some nice passes. It seemed to be a more defensive game for him tonight. Emmerton banged bodies all night, and would come out with the puck, too. Kolosov used his size real well, and flattened a guy in the boards. Ericsson played another good night, even with his injury. He favors one arm over the other, but still made big plays for the team. He can hopefully keep this up.

Awesome. I'm in 108.

Alright, here is my summary and grade. For the "grades" of the players, i based it off of how they were playing based on their effort, potential, and role. A career AHL'er who tries hard got a better grade then a big prospect who phones in performances. Jonathan Ericsson - When he is playing to his potential, he is a force on defense. He is in a good position to make things tough on forwards. On the PP, or once we have setup in the offensive zone, he has a very heavy slapshot. His lack of determination is his downfall. Ericsson isn't playing every shift, or even every other. He is generally taking the first 2 periods off, then showing up for the third. He was expected to be our #1 defensmen this year, and he has yet to show that with his effort. D Jakub Kindl - Kindl has probably been our best Red Wing owned D man. He has come along way since last season. He is joining in on the rush, moving around alot more on the PP. He wont hit people much, but when he does, it is a big one. He could definitely hit people more. He is still getting flustered when the opponents pressure him, which causes a bad pass or just loses the puck. B- Logan Pyett - This guy is tricky. He doesn't make alot of mistakes, and seems to make the safe play. He gets pushed around alot, and doesn't appear to have the talent that some of these other guys do. I think he has reached his top level of play, and there is nothing wrong with being a career AHL'er. D+ Sergei Kolosov - He is huge. He needs to use his frame and knock people around. He seems to be afraid to take a penalty, and that makes his defensive play horrible. His puck skills aren't good...but after a year or two in the AHL it should improve. D Ville Leino - Ville is one of the smartest players that have come through GR. He knows when to make a flashy move on a guy, or just pass it off. He SHOULD be on an NHL team. He has made defenders look like pylons. His stickwork is just amazing. Leino seems to be afraid of the hits. He went through a stretch where he was afraid to drive to the net, or fight for the puck along the boards. He ended up going pointless, then for some reason he has gone back to that original style, and it's working again. He has absolutely shocked me with his talent. B+ Justin Abdelkader - He has made several high-light reel hits. He is good defensively, and can score when the team needs it. He is very skilled at deflections. Our D-men know it, and just shoot it at him. He can knock it down almost every time. His only knock is his PIM. He takes alot of penalties that aren't necessary. B Cory Emmerton - He will improve the more he is here in GR. He started off playing only the odd game, but earned his nightly spot. He is not shy to go into the boards for the puck, and in open space can make a move. He could improve for next year if he gains muscle like Helm did. C Jan Mursak - The few times I've talked to him, he seems to be really disappointed with his lack of playing time. He knew he would have to fight for games, but I think he expected more. He is really quick the few games I've seen him play. He passes well, and helps out defensively. Next year he will get a better opportunity to play. Incomplete Evan McGrath - McGrath is another Matt Ellis to me. He will be borderline AHL/NHL player at best. He can score(but it generally isn't expected), and works hard. He just doesn't have the talent to be a consistent NHL player. He has really stepped it up lately, but I think his time has passed with Detroit. I think a team like LA would like him (since they are mad about losing Ellis). C Darren Helm - The improvement from last year to this year is as amazing as Kindl's. He isn't getting pushed off the puck anymore, and will hit people when last year he was the one getting hit. He has had many good chances on goals, and just not had the lucky bounce other teammates have had. He could easily be with 75% of the NHL teams right now. He will be a RW for a while. B+ Aaron Downey - He plays his role perfect. He is a teacher for the young players, and scares the crap out of most opponents. He is a bulldog. He will see his teammates getting harassed and try to shake out of the refs grasp to stick up for them. His play is dropping off, but he is at the end of his career. C in play, B+ in the intagibles Jamie Tardiff - Jamie works hard every game, and doesn't get much to show for it. He would be the 3rd assist on most goals. He goes in the corners, he sacrifices his body for the team. He does all the ugly work, and gets nothing to show for it. He is another career AHL'er. B+ Mattias Ritola - Ritola doesn't turn the puck over. He can easily beat people in open ice situations, and is a big asset on the PK. He plays hard every shift, every game. You know what to expect from him. He has good hangs, but I'm not sure how well that will translate into NHL goals. B+ Randall Gelech- I didnt see him play much this year, then they shipped him out to Rochester. I think he is done with the Wings. [/b]incomplete[/b] Ryan Oulahen - He is more deserving to have the C then Haydar. He is the same type of player as Tardiff and McGrath, except Oulahen has slightly better hands. I think there is a big jump between the NHL and AHL, and he's borderline. B Darren Haydar - Biggest bust of the year. He might be OK on the PP, but that is all he is good for. He gives up on the puck if someone challenges him. He wont fight for it in the corner. I'd only play him in the final minute, when we're up, so he can score that way. I'm sure he teaches the younger guys things, but I hope his work ethic isn't one of them. F Jimmy Howard - Jimmy is having another inconsistent year. Our defense was to blame for some of it, but with Larsson playing as well as he has, Jimmy needs to take it up a level or two. He doesn't seem to keep his head in the game, and that can wear down a team. He has flashes of brilliance, then just looks horrible. C Daniel Larsson - Daniel has been our best goalie. He can make the necessary saves when the team isn't playing in front of him. He has adapted quickly to the north american style of play, which is a surprise. Liv took several months to get comfortable, Daniel definitely already is. The only two things I think he could really work on is rebounds, and shootouts. B+

Well, here is just one man's opinion of the game. That was a tough game to lose. They came out hard, and had it maintained until a bad PP in the third. Haydar and Ritola took the shift off, and Peoria gained a ton of momentum from that. It felt like the middle to end of the third was all Peoria, and the Griffs were just trying to hang on for a point. In OT, the Griffs were looking over their shoulders, and a few were trying to make things happen, but not quite good enough. I don't blame Jimmy for any of the goals, and he did good to keep his team in it. His stats won't show it, but he had a solid outing. Ericsson is still hurt, but he played. He was in a post game autograph session, and had his shoulder iced up the whole time. He had a decent game though, and seemed to try every shift. He was favoring one shoulder over the other in the first though, and was hesitant to hit someone. Leino was aggressive all night, even had a huge open ice hit right after a whistle. Ritola had an off night, he wasn't his normal self...was not noticeable at all. Haydar has just been a disappointment to me all year. He was on the PP, got burned at the point, made a good play to get in the guys bubble to force what would have been a tough shot. Then he just hugs the guy. I'm talking hug where it would have been called a hold 10 years ago. Our D looked pretty good. We got flustered a couple times with the Peoria forecheck, and had some errant passes. Kindl took a beating, but he is coming into his own. On the PP he has no issue skating in to the face off dots and ripping a shot if the D is allowing it. He use to just pass or take a shot.

I can. If he plays like he has this year, he'll be more hated than Lang was.

Sounds like it was two really good games. I can't wait 'til the next one I can actually make.

We had no Ericsson or Stafford, yet our D was as good as ever. Kolosov was probably the best looking Dman last night. Our team had trouble setting up on the PP, but once they did, they were able to move the puck around easily, and scored a couple. I enjoyed having Downey protect Helm tonight. It was a smart move putting them on a line together. With Syracuse giving some behind-the-play cross checks, it was good to give Helm the protection. Leino did much more than twirl around and throw up a long shot. He was driving the net, going into the boards...and it worked. He needs to not think about the hit, and just go for it. The real observation here is that Syracuse just looked bad. They weren't doing anything as a team until 6 minutes to go in the game...and that was goon it up.

:clap: Very nicely put. It's the nature of sports for fans to hate refs. Marginal calls are made in every game, with big ones not being called. In the NSH/VAN game, the VAN player left his feet for a hit, that's a penalty. None was called. In another game, an iffy hook is called. Guess what? The old saying "don't put yourself in that position" still comes into play. I believe it was Kopy who got tackled behind the goal line. Let's be honest, he isn't quick enough to have got back in the play (or have the work ethic to get back in the play). The wings scored on a PP with 20 seconds to go to tie it up, and nearly won it in OT, and then won it in the SO. We got 2 points! Why the complaining? The Wings got the win, even with this "horrible" officiating. Smile, and let's look forward to Monday vs the Avs.

2 - 1 now. 1. GR Tardif, (6) (Leino, Abdelkader), 4:27 1. GR Ritola, (8) (Haydar, McGrath), 8:22 (PP) Let's keep it up!

I forgot the moments like that, and just remember the bone head slash in what was his last game as a Griff... Or all the time I saw him sit in the box because the opponent got into his head.

3-1 Wings.

Oh man! I'd love to see that. I think even Bootland knows he'd get his butt handed to him... but it'd be so nice to see. I was never a big fan of "booter", so it'd be nice to show him how expendable he really was.

Heck yes. They just have to hang on.

We're down 1, in a crazy game. Let's get another crazy period.

He is out with a sore shoulder. He got injured in the game last friday, left midway through the third and has been out since.

I saw Chelios fall once, almost several other times. He even had trouble just getting over the boards. Hopefully the week of practice will make more prepared for Saturday's game against the 'Yotes(These are by far my favorite games of the year ). I think my surprise for the good is Larsson. He came over, and is beating Howard. I didn't expect that. Runner up would be McGrath. He is doing really well with his playing time. My disappointment is Haydar. He was brought in as a "big gun" this year, and hasn't done that IMO. He isn't scoring like expected, he just isn't doing much to me. Runner up in this one is Ericsson. He shouldn't be playing as bad as he is.

This is a HUGE game. We're heading into a weekend series against a tough team, while we are struggling. This could either pull this team together, or pull them apart. Our defense has been an issue, add our half-assed performance last weekend, and it could be an ugly game(s). I'd be happy with a split this weekend.