b.shanafan14

And there it is. Nothing changes, the skaters need to show up and the defense needs to insulate the goaltender, whoever it is. GO WINGS!

I too am sick of this thread (among the others you mentioned) popping up constantly. BUT worse than "wading" through topics one can easily just ignore to begin with, letting it slide down the discussion board out of sight, is a thread on the board being bogged down (and bumped) with complaints about complaining, in this case over a dozen replies arguing the thread not the topic. Talk about wading through the noise... I don't think the Wings lose because they are soft, unless you count players like Franzen being soft in the heart or players like White being soft in the head (when not with Lidstrom). However, the Wings do lack that "steadying hand" when the rough stuff does start, something you don't really notice 90% of the games because it doesn't come to it. Because its rare, I understand the argument of Holland and Babcock, not wanting to give up a roster spot to someone useless on the ice. Unfortunately, "useless on the ice" pretty much sums up Emmerton and the 4th line. If we aren't going to play them more than 5 minutes a night, how much worse could a guy that keeps the flies off be? Grinding, contributing 4th liner > Fighter who can't contribute >> Emmerton who can't contribute or grind EDIT: I do enjoy a funny meme to poke fun here and there, I love a good jab just not all out arguments against the topic. For instance...

If this team shows up pissed off with a chip on their shoulder, the Predators won't stand a chance. With 5 games left and the need for home-ice seeming as dire as it does, the Wings should feel like the playoffs start tonight. Lets hope they play like it! I believe they will (*fingers crossed*). Give Nyquist the minutes and let the leaders lead. The Wings will either prove themselves dominant tonight or lose terrifically, that's my feeling. No prediction, JUST WIN! GO WINGS!

Threads about this team being soft have gotten old. That said, I agree. Last night was irritating to watch, and I'm as sick as anyone seeing this team constantly roughed up with no answer. I agree with Holland and Babcock's argument for not giving a roster spot to a pair of fists for a toughness sake. Ideally, we would be filling spots with guys who can play, pressure the opposition, and contribute. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. Our fourth line is beyond useless. So much so, that even with talent like Nyquist knocked down the lineup, we won't play them more than 5 minutes and 9 shifts. I might get flamed for this, but I honestly don't know a tough guy in the league who is more useless on the ice than Emmerton is. Doesn't help your argument when you can't ice your 4th line as it is.

Don't know which side to take here. I agree with both arguments. On one hand, it seems strange to continue to leave out your #1 goaltender if he is apparently healthy with so few games left before playoffs. And shielding him specifically from the team he'll more than likely face in the first round seems a bit odd, too. That being said, if Howard is on the fence about whether he is prepared or not, and coming back early means having an unprepared, cold goaltender in a crucial head-to-head with major playoff implications, I side with Babcock on this one. This team playing as sloppy and inconsistent as they are, it really is going to depend completely on which skaters show up to play, less so on which mediocre or cold goaltender you have between the pipes. Leave Howard out another 3 days, make SURE he is healthy, get him more practices under his belt, and prevent any possible confidence buster that might come with playing cold behind this Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde team against your first round opponent. Nashville is a defense first hockey club, and the Red Wings are going to win or lose Friday depending on what they do in the trenches to improve their play and score goals. While a fluky Conklin goal may still be the difference, a soft goal with a cold Howard is probably equally as likely, with more downside.

Good thing we locked up a perennial 27 goal-scorer who is quickly unlearning everything that had made him successful in the past. Looking throughout the roster, you'll see guys who bust ass blocking shots or backchecking, guys who make their bread on assists making their teammates better with little fan-fair, guys going to the tough areas to create dirty chances. With Franzen, you get 27 goals. That's it. He no longer brings the effort or intangibles to make him an asset. He gets 27 goals from playing with Pavel Datsyuk, not from creating for himself. Passenger. Content to play only well enough as to not make it blatantly obvious that he has taken the money and security the Wings granted him just that, for granted. Bench away. (Babcock will never bench Franzen)

Well put. Players like Franzen are never made accountable for sub-par effort. I'm sure its partly to do with the Wings wanting to the avoid media drama that comes with benching a guy you have contracted for the next 9 years, but whatever it is, something has to change. There are way too many passengers on this team and Franzen is the primary culprit. On pace to match his disappointing totals from last season, and the excuses are running out and wearing thin. Zero effort and zero accountability. Nyquist has been an instant success with the parent club because he actually works. Skates, creates, gives the defense fits. Datsyuk, and hell, even Bertuzzi looked like they could thrive with that sort of player completing that line. Add Franzen and Bertuzzi goes back to floating and Pavel gets wasted on two big bodies that watch from the faceoff dot as he does all the work. Holmstrom has looked more effective the past few games than Franzen has in a month. For the love of God and Pavel, give him something to work with! Franzen can rest on his laurels in the press box, sit him close enough to Holland for Kenny to give him the stink eye the whole game.

Still ******* baffled... 6pts in 7games gets him 9 shifts with Holmstrom and Emmerton.

Worked like gang busters again! Seriously, I love Babcock and his silent scowl as much as the next guy, but KICK SOMEONE IN THE ASS already! Reminds me of being at the cell phone place yesterday: one woman getting helped, with her two sassy obnoxious friends just standing there, apparently just there to sorta gyrate and make noise. One had her kids and they were absolutely tearing this place up, running around, knocking s*** over. And what does she as the adult to control them? Shouts "what I say??" and goes back to her business. Doesn't do jack. That's Babcock sometimes. He might as well replace the scowl with a brief over-the-shoulder "what I say??" before going back to his conversation with the assistants.

Sorry for my language, but this blows my ******* mind. Prior to the game we were all lamenting scratching Mursak instead of Emmerton, but at least grateful that Nyquist stayed in. So what do we do? Play the guy who skates and creates 5:19, while giving the guy who floats and mopes 15:00. Nyquist had 6 points in his previous 7 games. Before his "hiatus", Franzen had 3 pts and was -3. He was even more floatastic than I remember. Glad we got him back...

Be embarrassed, Red Wings. Be embarrassed...

It'd be refreshing to see the players get pissed for once. Someone break a stick, you sucked tonight.

Got one. Start playing now and we could win.

I shudder to think how little he's played. I've barely seen him, but he had a good chance or two early.

Pierre: "If I mention Chicago randomly like you do, will you like me?" Edzo: "..........yes lolz"

Talk about cutting your coke with corn meal... Babcock is now shuffling lines to further dilute the play of his workhorses. Filppula with Hudler and Cleary... *sigh*

Follow up to watching the defensemen to Bennie Hill... watch Franzen to this...

Its not the playoffs yet, he is waiting for playoffs to contribute. He is bored. Mule is dead to me; empty sweater.

B-b-but... Franzen is the leading goal-scorer, clutch in the playoffs. Bertuzzi had 4 points last night. Hudler has a career high in goals./sarcasm I'm with you. Passengers dragging down contributors. Might as well play workers with other workers, and let the floaters skate with the mites during intermission.

Wings are showing no spirit. Still asleep. Hope they are all practicing their "that was embarrassing" post-game speech. From the look of it they have been practicing it since the second ******* goal.

Conklin stops the pucks that hit him the in chest... 90% of the time.

Wake the f*** up, dumbasses.

Jesus... H... Christ...