Andy Pred 48

Er yeah, think I may have posted in the wrong section Must have been having a blonde moment over here in Blighty

I like the way Babs has been handling the rookies, and I must say of late, although not much in point production they have been very good in our end and haven't given much away. A bedding in season and games under their belt this season will do them no harm, and you can see that both Flip and Huds have a high upside skill wise, all are improving with each game. Pity that Kops got hurt as I feel he was surprising a lot of fans with his play, and I know that Scotty has been impressed by him, which is a big pat on the back for Tomas. Hopefully they will all still be here next season and I think then we will see them being used more in PP and PK than this year. Could be the makings of a good 2/3 line combo by then.

Latest stats on him are P....G..A..PT..PM 31 25 22 47 24 The Russian league is known for its low scoring so they are pretty impressive considering. Looking at his stats for the last 3 years compared against the new NHL star Malkin in his last 3 years in the Russian league makes interesting reading. Malkin had Pl 132 G 36 A 55 Pts 91 pm 82. Morozov....Pl 140 G 68 A 74 Pts 142 Pm 127. Yes I know that Malkin is just starting his career and Morozov is classed as a veteran but a scoring winger he certainly is, so he could be an option next year if the price is right, if Grigs is over next year, could be a good line with Dats centering?

Cheers Hatch.

Still no Norton on the playing roster, any update on his alleged injury status?

He's not playing tonight against London, did he pick up a knock or is he being rested? Maybe Stevie has told Babs to get him up!

The kid is a lock for the Wings next year, no doubt about it in my view. He is currently 3rd overall on D in the OHL, 5+22=27 62pim and a +9 rating in 25 games. With Quincey also in line for the big league next season and the young big Ericsson opening eyes in GR, the Wings future D looks like it could be set for a few years with some big prospects. Add to that the Lebda and Kronvall guys already tied to multiyear contract's, and again we're looking solid on the blueline.

Or higher maybe?? I see he is a league leading +23 not bad for a rookie winger I'd say, lets hope he keeps his good 2 way play going as well as his scoring. If he can fill out to somewhere near 195-200lb, I see him getting a shot sooner than later, his speed is deadly.

I suppose losing half of last season roster hasn't helped down at Van Andel but the current slump in results must be a major concern for the coaching staff. Only picking up 1 point from the last 14 have seen them slide to 4th in the division and 21st overall. Kip Miller at the age of 37 is leading the scoring charts for them with a point a game, not a bad return from the veteran but he seem's to have a limited supporting cast. Maybe the loss of 6 of the 8 20+ goalscorer's has hit them hardest but with the guys that had been signed surely they would have expected to be performing better than they are. Hopefully this is just a minor hiccup but with the high flying Wolves in town next, it's not getting any easier.

The prospect of no Lids Schinds and Chelly by 2010 is very real, so what will the D look like by then? Going by guys in our system and prospects I see it looking like this. Kronwall 6'0" 195lb Qunicey 6'2" 215lb Kindl 6'3" 202lb Blatak 6'1" 190lb Lebda 5'9" 195lb Kolosov 6'4" 203lb Ericsson 6'5" 205lb Seluyanov 6'2" 189lb May 6'2" 185lb I think we may have 4 of these guys playing big minutes on the Wings bluelineby then with Kronwall and Kindl being in the elite bracket for the leagues point scorer's. Lebda could be up there if he continues the way he's going. Which one on the list is going to be the surprise package? I'm going for either May or Kolosov to be the big gritty D man we haven't had since Vladdy.

Yes could you keep an eye on the play of former Wings prospect #14 Tyler Haskin, he seem's to be having a good year. Not sure if he is the Centre on Mursak's line or not. Cheers.

Well so far this year the big plus for the Wings has to be the step that Ericsson has made to the GR roster. Org a winger the kid has adapted very well to the blueline and is filling out nicely too. Could he become Nik jnr future partner? maybe he just might surprise us. 2009? Kronvall Ericsson Kindl Quincey Lebda May 7th from Kolosov Stamler Pyett. Sure is a pity that Fisch is missing from the list.

With him on the LW and Emmerton also doing well at C, could be a possable future line in the making. Now where have we got the big RW hiding to complement this potential line? Any thoughts on it.

Is Dan Smith capable of coming in for a few games if needed? He has some size and a few NHL games under his belt would he be any better than Lilja/Norton?, I see he is a +8 for the 22 games he has played in the show. I would like to see Quincey as our 7th D if it happens. Keep an eye on the young kid Ericsson at GR. Leads them in +- rating in his rookie eason so far. Has started to fill out a bit too, 6'5" 218lb could be another sleeper we've picked up. 9th R 291 OA.

Wings org have kept him within the org by giving him a job down in Toledo. He's made a pretty good start and so far leads the team in pts with 4+4 after 8 games and is also leading the Storm with a +5 rating.

Old father time has prob caught up with him and his legs have finally gone, give him a while to see if its combined coaching duties that are affecting his play.

Togliatti

Well whatever you think of him he's lighting it up again in the Russian Super league. He has 9+4 from 7 games and has been named as the Euro player of the month for Sept.

Made a good start to the season so far. The Tigers sit on top of their division so far and Helm has a point a game. 10 2+8 12pim. One of his team mates who has been to Redwings camp's ,Kevin Undershute has also a point a game. 10 5+5 20pim. He's eligible for drafting this coming year.

My prediction is that Filppula will be wearing the winged wheel before Xmas!

I would like to see Flip get it but I think he'll be off to GR for one more year. He'll be a def next season and be stronger physically too. Its a close call, will the coaching staff go for that presence that Norton gives them, the work ethic of Hussey or the untapped skill of Kolanos? I've a hunch that Kolanos will get in but what say you guys?

2 more helpers last night, 6+9 in 6games so far.

Lids, Cheli and Dats all worn 'A' against the Leafs tonight.

Lets not get carried away here guys, sure Gionta had a great year last year. But it was his first really significant scoring year and this may have had something to do with the new rules imposed last season. Yes he did explode into the top of the scoring charts, but then again our Williams had a massive improvement on his points total compared to his previous years. Many of us are saying we don't want small players, yet here is a guy who is only 5'7" & 175lb and because he had agreat year, the lets get him brigade are on their stools about signing him because of his 48 goals. Before that he had scored 37 in 166 games over 3 years. Thats nothing to crow about, yet one great year and he's some sort of goalscoring saviour that we are in desperate need for. I don't buy into myself. I feel we have enough talent waiting to be given a chance that will do just a good a job as Gionta would, and be around longer too. The cheque book days are over and we need to develop our own prospects and give them a chance. Who knows what we have until we give them a chance, Zetts drafted at 210 round 7, how many of you said , who the hell is he? Yet here we are saying he is untradeable and our future Cpt. I'm positive that if either Filppulla or Hudler are given a run in the side that they'll be in the 40-50 point catagory within a couple of years and that will improve over the years. I'll stand back while i get shot down, but we can't keep giving our picks and prospects away for a quick fix solution.

Was impressive by all accounts at the prospect camp with his high skilled game. Still a little lightweight but has time to fill out. Lets see how he gets on in Traverse.