wings4thecup06

anybody found anywhere to watch this online? It's ridiculous. How the hell are those of us that live outside of the US/Canada supposed to watch these things? Why isn't there more transparency where they just upload the full episodes on their Youtube channels? Bloody drives me insane having to scour the internet just to watch these programmes.

Yea I definitely was like 'oh crap we've lost this game' when Bert came on for his shootout attempt, but good for him for roofing that slapper. I've liked his game this season, but at times he's just like a brick out there. That defensive miscue on the PK was horrible. I think we could all see it coming as soon as Cleary and Helm committed to the same guy after the face-off. Did Cleary have another PK shift after that goal? I remember Doc commenting that Abby replaced him alongside Helm on the next PK

Rubbish isn't it? Comments like that? Why can't anyone these days admit that the other team was better and they won the game because they got the better of it, rather than making up some cheap excuse that makes you seem like a whiner? Whatever happened to being magnanimous in defeat? For the record, I have a lot of respect for Hossa, and glad he got his name on the cup (albeit with the wrong team). But still, don't whine because you can't take the fact that a team 22 points below you in the standings handed it to you. Your game should be the one doing the talking….

And yea I had forgotten about that. Good call. Man it feels like ages ago since Homer was on that top line….

Yea that's precisely what I meant. Sorry if it wasn't clear. All three of those lines played so well in the last game, so how could you possibly consider changing them? Hence why Bert seems to be the spare part here now that Alfie is back.

Cannot believe they scratched Bert, but seriously, how could you break up Z and Gus, Miller - Glendening - Eaves, or Sheahan - Jurco - Tatar? All 3 lines were superb vs the Hawks. I would probably but Alfie with Z and Gus, and drop Abby with Helm and Cleary, but that's me. I guess Babs likes having the physical presence (abby) on the top line in case some goon takes a run at Z GO WINGS!

I concur. While Alfie is out, I think they should have Tats on the top line with Gus and Z, and stick Abby and Helm together. Would be interesting to see.

I agree that its good to be realistic, but honestly, we're not even 2/3 of the way through the schedule yet. Now, if our key guys were out for the rest of the year, then yes I think by now I would be looking at the glass half empty. But we've played well recently, and are just about to get our key guys back. I don't see why we shouldn't be on the up tbh. I don't blame Babcock for his reactions to the media. It must be incredibly frustrating to constantly be under the microscope (even more so this year with HBO and the Olympics), and be repeatedly asked why you're guys are getting hurt. I can totally understand why he might be short with the media and be frustrated in his responses. But I don't think he has given up on the season. Far from it. The truth is KH made some awful deals yea, but he's also made some good ones too. We'd all like to see him do something, but at this stage, I don't think many will be pulling the trigger until after the Olympics. I would like to see him do something, but really, we're pretty tight to the cap, and the guys that we would benefit most by moving (Quincey, Samuelsson etc) are going anywhere because no one would take them on, not even for a sack of potatoes. As for the media, they just love to stir things up. Ive read enough of those articles recently to know that they're all just jumping on the bandwagon so they can all finally look down at the Wings and say 'We were right, we knew you'd crack one day'. Personally, it means nada until the season is done and we know if the Wings made the playoffs or not. I don't know, but I would have thought that Lidstrom retired because 1) he'd accomplished pretty much everything he could with his career and 2) he didn't want to miss out on his kids growing up anymore. That said, I wonder what would have happened if we had him on the back end last year vs the Hawks

Maybe. I never said we were contenders, but honestly, I truly believe that once you get in you've got as good a chance as any. Hell, who knows what would have happened last year if we'd managed to finish off the Hawks. At times this year this team has looked very good. I guess I'm just being optimistic.

So you don't think Alfredsson wouldn't actually want to move? Considering he moved his family to MI? And what about our prospects next year? With a few subtracted veterans, a healthier top 6, and some more production from the young guys, why wouldn't Alfie want to be a part of that? As for Franzen, I agree with your sentiment, but I don't think many GMs would take on a contract of that length. I may be wrong though.

Why the negativity? Wouldn't you rather have Datsyuk healthy for the rest of the season than him rushing his way back now only to get injured yet again? Yea he's obviously focused on the Olympics but Pav is a Red Wing and I believe in him. Why else would he sign a decent extension? If he wanted to go home already, he would have done so last summer. And KH has provided us with ample tools (to use your analogy). Just they haven't all stayed in one piece.

I don't agree with the anti Glendening sentiments. The dude is fast, works damn hard, throws the body around and causes chaos. Plus, he's been effective on the PK for the most part and is responsible in his own end. Why wouldn't we want a player on our roster who's like that? As for Callahan, yea it's great he's scoring in GR, and I agree he should get his cup of coffee at some point this season. But there is no reason to send Glendening down when he's been playing great. Like others said, it doesn't matter if he doesn't score, that's not his job. Anything else is a bonus, ala the offensive production we have seen from Helm (when he's been in the lineup!!)

Yea I thought they should have started Mrazek tonight over Gus considering its his first game back but there ya go. Hoping for a stronger effort than Monday! GO WINGS!

Seriously, there are 33 games to go! The Wings are playing well of late (minus the Blues game) and are starting to get some of these guys back in the lineup slowly. I don't want to hear any talk about missing the playoffs yet! It's January!!!! I know these injuries are depressing but our depleted lineup nearly beat the Ducks, beat the Kings twice in a week and could very well have gone 4-1-0 on that last road trip. Isn't that something to be optimistic about with big E coming back for the Hawks game, Alfredsson back this weekend (hopefully) and Datsyuk maybe next week? This team will get healthy and with the additionally pieces will hopefully just add to our recent string of good games…..

Yea 'soccer' fans (termed football over here) are absolutely ridiculous. They segregate the Home and Away fans at every ground. Ridiculous. Absolutely hate the professional game. But I don't want to get started on a football rant…...

Tats is still in Slovakia, given leave of absence for tonights game. Word is he'll be back Saturday vs the Kings. And I'm beginning to wonder also whats going on with these injuries the Wings are getting. Are they doing plyometric leg workouts in practice without warming up first? Practicing too often? I do wonder though…..

dude, I don't think we're playing the sharks

Yea I feel its a bit harsh to chastise him on only 2 years, especially because he's so young. More so because for the entire year he was out with a back injury that several doctors could not diagnose. I think that perhaps should qualify as an exception

Hmm I don't think with Holland at the helm it would be a proper 're-build'. It would more likely be adding the young guys and smoothly transitioning out a few veterans around the current 'core'. Which I'd be more than happy with tbh

Yea roller skating considering the environment the game is being played in is an ok idea, but volleyball is just ridiculous. If it's womens volleyball all the fans out in left field will be spending all their time watching that rather than the game….

Definitely agree, great to have a good old hearty discussion with differing opinions. Especially coming from this hockey deprived country I live in!!

apologies, I edited it out due to the obvious.

I'm sorry to be rather forward about this, but any consideration to the thought that Helm should retire is a load of bs. Seriously, have you guys failed to recognise how valuable this guy actually is to the Wings? In addition to his excellent defensive skills, blazing speed and abrasive style of play, he seems to have added somewhat of a scoring touch. Its no coincidence the Wings played some of their best hockey this season when he was in the lineup. The guy has been healthy for his entire career practically and then has had 2 years of bad luck. GIve him a break. I'm just peeved that guys are calling for one of the Wings most effective players to retire just because he's had a spate of bad luck. Vent your frustrations on someone else. Oh and for the record, has anyone here actually tried to walk, let alone skate with a serious groin tear? if so you should know how long it actually takes for these kind of injuries to heal. Then you've got to worry about getting back the muscle function and explosiveness.

Miller and Eaves? Seriously? Miller has been arguably our best PK guy this season, blocking shots all over the show, and Eaves has played really solid IMO, shooting from everywhere and throwing his weight around, Agree about the other though.