Dawgs

First off stats never tell the entire story. You can be playing well, but cant buy your way onto the score sheet or you can be playing like hell and getting points. Second you guys need to lay off when someone criticizes the Wings or a player. Just because your 4-1-1 doesnt mean your playing well. So far this team has been sloppy and erratic. Thier overall talent level is enough to overcome subpar play on most nights. If you disagree with a post go out and prove why they are wrong dont just come up with stupid sarcastic comments that prove nothing other than you only have half a brain. Yes Rafalski has been terrible in the defensive zone. He has chased the puck, he has been out of position and he has made some terrible, horrible breakout passes. A few points on the PP doesnt change this fact just like someone calling him out doesnt mean that the person is calling for heads to roll. Ive been coming to this site for about 7 years and I must say the quality of posts has dropped significantly. Its gone from honest analysis to chiding anyone and everyone who has an opinion of the team that doesnt match your own. Grow up. You are making this site almost unreadable.

Dont lay all the blame at the feet of the defense, the forwards are more to blame than they are. When the puck goes deep in our zone the forwards are not supporting their defensemen. They are out of position and dont move thier feet. When we do regain possession, the first pass out has been sloppy, and again, that is mostly the forwards. They arent moving with any speed and are easily covered. Im not sure if panic is the word but trepidation easily fits what I see. They need to keep moving thier feet. Were being outskated and outhustled with regularity. They do look like they are coming around though. Last night in the second they played thier best all around hockey of the season. I was disappointed when they started the third so poorly but each game sees improvement over the last.

I bet Hamilton could support a team. Its a large suburb only about 20 miles from downtown Toronto. London would be a good choice too. Halfway between Toronto and Detroit it could draw fans of both teams. The big problem initially is how a bad expansion team could draw enough fans in its first few seasons to remain viable with two of the original 6 and Buffalo so close. I agree with others who have said it must be an existing franchise thats struggling. The talent pool is too watered down as it is. Atlanta, Nashville or one of the Florida teams would be a good move.

Franzen has the tools to be a 40 goal man. Good skater and puckhandler, tricky moves with the puck, great size, good shot. Id say hes a sure 30 goal a season guy and his ceiling is nearing 50. It wouldnt surprise me a bit to see him score more goals than Zetterberg, although his point total will never reach Z's level.

Just because someone is critical of the teams play, it doesnt mean they are shouting the sky is falling. By some of your posts we should ignore bad play and losses and give them a golf clap when they play well and win. Thats ridiculous. This is sport and everything is in play the day after a game. Theres a catch-22 here. If your critical after a loss your Chicken Little and if your euphoric after a win your a bandwagon fan. Give me a break. I call em as I see em, good or bad.

Assistants implement the HC strategys. They dont go off on thier own and change philosophys. The Wings are standing around watching the play too often. They arent moving thier feet and thats leading to turnovers. Forwards arent coming back as hard on the backcheck. The goaltendings been average. Thers no urgency to thier game at either end of the ice. No aggressiveness. There is definately a hangover going on right now and to blame one new assistant coach or the loss of one player is ludicrous.

The problem with Hossa is the same problem the entire team has. They are not playing well without the puck. They tend to stand around and watch the play. What you end up with is some great individual effort but nothing sustained. The proof is the high amount of turnovers per game. Alot of those turnovers are passes made that would be good passes if the guys without the puck were moving thier feet. Combine this with a lack of any sort of aggressiveness and you have a lethargic team. By aggressiveness I dont mean fighting or big hits, I mean cycling the puck, standing up at the blueline and backchecking. All of these elements are missing to some degree. Move your feet guys and your problems disappear.

If Sergei makes the Hall then I would consider him. If not, then no way.

Zetterbergs in the midst of his worst three game stretch in the NHL. He looked a bit better last night but hes been way out of sync so far. His defense has been suffering too. Franzens looked pretty good but Hudler hasnt and it seems as if 3 games into the season Hudlers been demoted. The papers in Detroit today are saying that Cleary will be the new wing on that line. Last night they used Sammy there too. Babcocks response to this was he had some work to do in the morning. Datsyuks line is looking better and better each game as they gain more experience together and they could turn into the most dangerous line in hockey but I think moving Zetterberg back to that line and putting Hossa with Fippula and Franzen would make for a much better one two punch. It weakens the third line a bit on paper but Sammy Hudler and Cleary had some fine moments in the playoffs last year. The question is how long does Z's line struggle before Babcock revamps the lines and does he break up Hossa and Datsyuk to do it? And is Hudlers place in a Wings uniform in jeopardy with Abdlkader, Helm and Leino seemingly ready to play in the NHL now? Which one would be called up to replace Hudler if he is in fact traded or scratched for the majority of games?

I guess coach is jumping the gun too eh? Guys have smart ass comments for Babcock? Why must posters here jump on anyone they disagree with and try to belittle thier opinion? Its a reaction a 13 year old with self esteem issues has. If that 13 year old has nothing to refute a statement they resort to belittliment and name calling. Ive played, coached and watched hockey for 40 years. I know for fact that stats dont tell the entire story, they are mostly window dressing. And it looks like Coach thinks like me. So rail away, tell me how stupid my opinions are and make yourself look like an idiot in the process. I thought this was a forum for reasonable discourse. Im tired of all the crappy subjects posted here and thought Id try to come up with an intelligent topic about play on the ice to discuss that didnt involve Hudlers tongue, the ad nauseum Sammy must go posts, the grit vs. style posts or the 53 pages on fake jerseys. I guess some of you just arent ready for that degree of difficulty.

Not your argument but I was attacked first.

Yea its been three games and Babcocks making moves. Im not railing on Z. You guys take one minor point and blow it all out of proportion. The point is the line isnt playing that well and it is enough that Babcock is changing it up.

Nice edit. About what Id expect from a 13 year old with low self esteem. Do you fit that description?

Watch the games not the stat sheet. Hanks been invisible more often than not. An empty netter, an assist on the PP and an assist on a goal that was lucky to go in, dont always mean a player is at top form. Offense is only half the game as well.

Where did those points come? The line at even strength hasnt been our best, or even second best. It hasnt created alot of chances outside of some fine, mostly individual efforts by Franzen. Z has an empty net goal and an assist on Franzens two goals, one of which was on the PP and the other was one of those goals the goalie would love to have back. If you look only at his points, yeah ok, hes not done too bad, but has he really looked good to you in these 3 games? Has he dominated other teams second lines? Has he played Selke type defensive hockey? Is this the Z you saw play in the playoffs? I see a guy doing alot of flailing around trying to figure things out. Hes been out of position alot. Watch the games not the stat sheet.

Who is jumping the gun? Im certainly not. Im just looking ahead as any coach or GM might. Im not being reactionary. Hudler doesnt look good on Z's line atm and Z himself hasnt played that well. The line hasnt been as dominant as it could be at either end of the ice, while Datsyuk's line is beginning to roll. The Freep article gave voice to what Ive been thinking and Babcocks answer was interesting. Im not calling for heads just discussing the play on the ice and any options we may have to counter with, if and when, Babcock and Holland make a move. Im really disappointed in Hudler because Id like to see more skill and playmaking ability with Z then Cleary brings to the table. If Cleary doesnt work then where do you go? Benching or trading Hudler in favor of Leino could be a possibility. It would save salary cap if Hudler were to be moved. Maybe not so much this year as next, when we are trying to keep Hossa, Z and Franzen.

They were horrible last night. Nineteen giveaways is unacceptable in 2 games let alone one. I thought Zetterberg had his worst game as a Wing. They let Toronto get comfortable with thier lack of an aggressive forecheck and thier D moving backwards most of the night. Once that happened they were content to watch Toronto play with the puck. We chased the puck all night. We fought the puck all night. Our legs looked heavy and our heads werent in the game. Lack of preseason time together on the Datsyuk line showed. Hossa looked out of place all night. The third line was our best until Clearys horrible giveaway lost the game. I dont have a clue what Ozzie was thinking.

The Wings were sluggish and undisciplined. They showed little aggression. They allowed Toronto to get comfortable and once they did the Wings sat back and watched them play. We were following the puck all night. Nineteen giveaways is horrible. I bet we dont have any 2 games this season with 19 total. This was the worst game I think Ive ever seen Zetterberg play. He was brutal. The lack of playing time for Datsyuk, Hossa and Homer showed. Hossa looked out of sync. Datsyuk had 2 giveaways. Still without the gifts from Ozzie and Cleary we win this game. A loss may be better in the long run. This team needs to shed the happy feeling of the banner raising and get to work. Tonight reminded them they need to work hard night in and night out.

I dont see that happening. Babcock will want a veteran backup for the playoffs not a guy fresh off a season in the AHL.

Im not counting Howard out at all. Hes been solid in the AHL and was as good as Conklin in the preseason. Goaltenders develop much slower than skaters and another year in G.R. playing 45 to 55 games will do him good. Next year when hes out of options, I have little doubt he's Ozzies backup. After a couple years behind Ozzie is when the real decision will be made. By that time Larsson will be out of options and ready for the NHL. I rarely listen to national reports regarding Red Wings personnel moves. They apply logic that pertains to the rest of the NHL but doesnt work with us. Our position allows us to work things differently.

Not sure I understand. Downey and McCarty are on two way contracts. It doesnt make sense to be on a two way contract and have to clear waivers.

Everyone wants to be the one who predicts the downfall of the Wings. It happens every year. It happened after the lockout when they all said the Wings could no longer "buy" thier Cups-- as if they ever had. They all say the Wings are soft after looking at thier passports. They all predict that the Wings will bow out in the first round because thats what happens every year when our soft and old team faces younger, hungrier opponents. Its all good guys. It makes it really fun shoving it all back in thier faces when our team yet again hoists the Cup.

This confirms the first part of your statement: Your top 2 defensemen are down and you trade for a forward. Are these fans stuck in 1992?

Would love to see a Montreal-Detroit in the finals.

Leino looks ready now but a year in GR would do him a world of good. He needs to learn to deal with the speed of the game on the smaller ice surfaces and some techniques like protecting the puck and himself along the boards you just cant learn on the big European rinks. He needs to be in GR and hopefully he stays in NA this season. Next year I think hes a lock to make the team. Helm is ready now but the guys he would replace are still servicable and cheap and with Helm still with non waiver years hes just gonna have to wait. I do think these guys replace Sammy and Maltby very soon. And both will probably see some ice time in Detroit this season due to injuries. OT: Howard looks ready too. He was good last night. I was glad to hear Mickey talk about him losing a few pounds and getting in better shape. His feet looked lightning fast last night. Needs to work on those shootouts though.