topshelf14

Ok, after watching last night's game I am sooooo on board for going out and grabbing an enforcer at the trading deadline. I mean to see Hossa be the only one to stand up for Hudler made me sick last night. There is no way Hossa or any other superstar on our team should be throwing down with some goon on another team. I appreciate what the HOSS did but it should not be his job at all. At that point in the game it would be nice to see an enforcer/fighter like a Chris Neil come in and do what he needs to do to remind other teams that running our players will come with some consequences.

I definitely think our lineup going into the playoffs is stronger up and down when it looks like this. Hossa-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Zetterberg-Samuelsson Cleary-Helm-Hudler Neil/Laperriere/Winchester - Draper-Maltby Again I don't think losing a player like Val is going to hurt us. If anything we need to live in the now and go for another SERIOUS run at the Cup! The person that mentioned how we had McCarty last year in the playoffs is right, a player like that can help us. McCarty was helping us last year, and a trade deadline acquistion could help us this year. And in the future (cap space) to help sign Hossa and Franzen.

I definitely agree that Downey and Mac are useless when in the lineup, thats why I titled this thread, "Kenny, Get an Enforcer Now!" I am implying that the ones we have in our system are not legitimate NHL players. They don't belong! But players like Laperriere or Neil do belong in the NHL. And if Laperriere was on our team he wouldn't have injured Lidstrom No my whole point here is that there are available players out there that can truly help this team, just as Stuart helped us last year at the deadline. If we stand pat with what we have, we will still be a force in the playoff's, but to add a player that has grit, energy and scoring ability at the deadline it would make us a Juggernaut going into April. Echolalia, would you trade Filppula or Stuart for one of these kind of players?

Hockey fans, media, players, and coaches need to STOP with the nicknames. The nicknames they give are always extremely piss-poor attempts at a nickname i.e. Dats, Drapes, Kronner, Homer, Sammy, Malts, Kopie. What happened to all of the cool names in hockey? Wayne Gretzky - The Great One Pavel Bure - The Russian Rocket Marcel Dionne - Little Beaver Tie Domi - The Albanian Assassin Bobby Hull - The Golden Jet Igor Larionov - The Professor I guess we have the Mule....that's cool. But its no Pat Verbeek aka Little Ball of Hate!!!!!

I appreciate all your questions ben_usmc it provides me with something to do on a non-Red Wing night. First of all Sammy is not getting traded at all, he has 0 value for teams that are sellers at the deadline due to his UFA status at the end of this year. Second, I would be willing to part with the following players in order of preference: Filppula, Stuart. Filppula although a great find for the Wings is expendable and for us to be able to re-sign both Hossa and Franzen cap space will need to be freed up somewhere. I think trading Filppula now will provide us with a player like a Laperriere and maybe a pick. Stuart does not have a NTC according to nhlscap.com, and he is another player that is being paid to much for the role he plays on this team. He is easily replaceable especially with prospects like Ericcson and Pyett in the minors making much less money over the next 2 years.

1. Ian Laperriere is a UFA after this season and the Avalanche will be sellers at the deadline. With a cap hit of only 1.15 million I think he provides some fighting ability (12 fights this year) some scoring touch (7-10-17). A classic 4th liner in my opinion that would help our team go into the playoff's a better team than what we have. 2. Chris Neil - UFA, 1.1 Million, he is one of the league's best fighters, oh and he would bring energy everytime he stepped on the ice, unlike a Kopecky/Maltby. 3. Brad Winchester from St. Louis. I know this one is a little far-fetched but at 600K he's a steal. He scores, fights, and is young (27) so he could be Red Wing for years. Not sure what we would have to give up for such a small, but valuable piece of the puzzle. But landing a player of this caliber would definitely provide us with enforcer/useful minutes on the ice.

It's already pathetic with Kopecky, Draper, and Maltby back there with a combined -23! How can it get any worse? Do you really think that if you took a guy like Maltby, or Kopecky out of the lineup and replaced him with a McCarty or Downey it would make not only the 4th line worse but the team worse? Those players on the 4th line are NOT there to generate offense at all, so I think if an enforcer was placed on that line instead it wouldn't make much of a difference in the score of the game, more in the possible injuries to our star players.

Enforcer that can play, it would be nice. But an enforcer doesn't encourage cheap shots, there job is to have the back of all skilled players on the team when they are given a goonish hit like what Suter did to Hudler. Suter although not a goon did deserve some punishment and not some ring around the rosy with Hossa. And I do not want to see our star players fighting and risking injury. Kopecky has potential, but unfortunately that's all it is potential. He does not use his attributes to his advantage, instead he tries playing a European style of hockey when it is clear his style would be better if he played more aggressively, even if that means he could risk getting another injury.

-Going out with Hank would be awesome as long as his fiancee brought some of her model friends. -No way with Lidstrom I would just say the same thing to him all night, "Your the best hockey player in the world." "Your the best hockey player in the world." "Your the best hockey player in the world." "Your the best hockey player in the world." "Your the best hockey player in the world." "Your the best hockey player in the world." "Your the best hockey player in the world." He would probably get pretty sick of me quick. -Lilja would be fun though I hear he walks around like he is a big baller so he probably would pay for all my drinks.

No doubt about it Drake is going to beat the crap outta the Preds! We didn't his grit during the regular season but we all know he will bring it come tomorrow.

I agree! Everytime same ol' boring chant, "Let's Go Red Wings!" Let's change it up a little and get a "GO WINGS GO!" chant, or something a little different. I won't be down there tomorrow night, but I will be listening for it, drink your Monster and get some energy boys!

Hey I know there is supposed to be a new schedule next year, but I was wondering what the deal was with it? Are we going to still be playing thye Central 8 times each a year???

I think there is a strong chance that Lidstrom will NOT be winning the Norris Trophy this year. Unfortunately, he is going to miss too much time this season and that will give the jack-holes that make the decision to give it to someone "new". More than likely it will go to Chara. He has had a great year, and is leading a mediocre, at best, Bruins team to the top of their division.

First of all, it kind of bums me out that Downey won't be playing in the playoffs. I liked his intensity and his desire to stick up for his teammates. I am excited that McCarty will be back in Detroit, but really what D-Mac will we be getting??? He is now old, so will he fight? And if he does, will he win at all? I know a lot of you here think he is going to be the Mac of 97' come playoff time, but let's be real here that ain't going to happen. He will be a 4th liner at best and maybe get Draper and Maltby excited to play hockey again. Either way, I hope the Wings get there act together and after last night's victory against Buffalo they are starting to look back on track. Here is my lineup's I hope to see in the playoffs: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Cleary-Filppula-Hudler McCarty-Draper-Maltby Kopecy-Franzen-Samuelsson subs: Downey/Drake Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Lilja-Chelios subs: Meech/Lebda

100 % agreed. Just a thought, " Do you guys ever wonder how good Maltby and Draper might be if they got to play with Zetterberg or Datsyuk?" I just think if Babcock would maybe make a Dats/Fil/Malts line that it actually might work, or what about maybe a Dats/Z/Drapes? :caution:

They said it will probably be Steve Bernier, for Campbell. I'm sure they will get some draft picks as well. Ugh, SJ just got a lot better on the powerplay.

SHOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The NHL is very good on Versus, I enjoy its coverage and I think Versus has done a great job broadcasting the games. With that said, the NHL would get more attention if it was on ESPN but I still don't think it would be played more than Women's College Basketball or whatever.

ugh...Good for Osgood...bad for me. I just wish Babcock would get Hasek in there a little bit more. We all know how sensitive Hasek is (very similar to the way you coddle a baby) and he is going to get pissed and more and more sucky if he is not being put in these games. I personally feel we need him more than Ozzie. I think Ozzie is playing great and all but Hasek is a proven number 1 who is going through a slump. I do NOT think that means confining him to the bench. Plus he is on my fantasy hockey team and he hasn't played yet this week.

Today is a great day!!!! I just ordered my sports package around 11 am and went home for lunch to enjoy some Rochester vs. Lake Erie AHL action! It was only $2.99 a month for 12 months, and I get NFL, NBA and of course NHL Network. This is tightness. My wife on the other hand....is going to kill me.

I don't know what it is, but I noticed it the other night when I was at the game. It is some ridiculous Russian song, and I love it!! I don't know if it is like this with the Red Wings or not, but I know the Tigers get to choose what song is played for them when they come up to bat. And if the Red Wings have the option I think it would be quite funny that Pavel chooses that song. Here are the other ones I really enjoy: Dan Cleary's Song "I can see clearly now" Hank's "Zorro" video Draper's "Warm it up Kris" by Cris Cross...what a classic. Any other ones you guys can think of???

Hey thanks man for the Red Wings wallpaper it's so awesome!

I can't wait for tonight's game! Go Wings Go! Prediction: Wings 4. Canucks 2. Bieksa is the only one I will be rooting for tonight on the opposing teams, and I hope Grigerenko gets in there tonight. That would be awesome!

What a great debate! 1. Crosby 2. Thornton 3. Lidstrom 4. Brodeur 5. Ovechkin 6. Luongo 7. Pronger 8. Sakic 9. Kiprusoff 10. Iginla 11. Lecavlier 12. Heatley 13. Hossa 14. Jagr 15. Zetterberg 16. Alfredsson 17. St. Louis 18. Datsyuk 19. Giguere 20. Havlat

Not one empty seat....