CMatt89

Anybody think its all strategic? They knew they were going to get some good players in return for Kovy, so, being a struggling team, they get some good young players, and a draft pick with a trade..but what if the real intentions are to resign Kovy in the offseason. Add the new guys with Kovy, and you have a pretty good looking team for next season. Who knows?

well if you look and listen...right after Cleary says El Segundo Toyota Center...he puts his hands in his pockets and then throws a piece of garbage towards the bushes and the guy pushes him and says something along the lines of "pick that s*** up"...seems to be a real drunken scuffle.. doeesnt really look liike the camera man was actually recording them...someone at the beginning says its Johan Franzen and then he turns the camera away...and puts it back when he sees the scrum...maybe it died.

After the cup win, maybe Ken Holland figured the older players wont be around much longer, and since the traditional puck possession style is rare in the "new NHL', they figured its time to starting phasing in a new game style more suited for the evolving NHL ( faster, more offensive) with a new D coach (McCrimmon) and, maybe some younger speedier players.....and cap issues. And since they got back to the finals the next year, maybe they thought the new style is a success so they kept it going. Well, with an aged Lidstrom, younger or weaker defense then the previous years, and a ton of injuries, we're seeing that they've made a big mistake.. Babcock is not at fault. McCrimmon's defense doesn't fit here. Go back to the old puck possession style and you will find success. I mean, our star players are struggling, and there is no longer a "product of the system" player. Maybe this also played a role in losing some players this offseason.

good trade. got a cheap, big dman that we'll never see and we got rid of an offensive talent that remains to be seen. Some players just dont excell in the Wings system. Robert Lang went from leading scorer to lazy and sucks...back to a decent 2nd line center after departure. Some guys just don't work out here. Glad we got wasted cap space gone..now on to Meech.

I remember the last few seasons Cleary would always have a random black eye, for like a good portion of the season..and we know he doesn't fight on the ice...

or maybe he's just another product of the Wings system. When the system/style of play changes due to injuries...Guys like big E and Leino fall through the cracks..and others like Miller prosper. Call me crazy, but when players come here, they play how they are told to play...not how they actually play. okay, im not serious...but, you never know?

Ericsson could be alot better, BUT... A part of his game that is being taken away from him is fighting. He's said it in interviews that he enjoys mucking up and fighting and Babcock says he's more valuable on the ice instead off....But I disagree to an extent. Fighting won't make him the greatest D-man ever..but, it will make him more effective. He's being groomed into a player I don't think he'll become. He's not the super skill, always in position, decent to good minutes guy they want him to be. I think if he's allowed to play HIS game...which is a little more gritty and reckless.. he wont be on the ice as much, which will minimize his mistakes and keep his play at a tamed constant. He's playing in alot of different situations and it doesnt look like he's learning...It's like the opposite of Hudler. Hudler put up good points for such little TOI. Ericsson on the other hand is getting the ice time and playing in tough situations and is struggling with it. With Lilja comin back, he will be more suited to play some tough situations (penalty kill, shift after powerplay, late minutes) so it will take some pressure off big E.

this guy is a joke. Lets get rid of Lidstrom too. Draper has had a solid year, he's skating great, and is on the team's most consistent line. Yeah, right before the playoffs lets just get rid of all things chemistry. Idiot.

s***, chalk up a loss for this game. We need all we can get for Pittsburgh...they're dirty.

He needs the time off.

Stuart is playing awful. Bertuzzi should stay on the top line. They learn how to lose and forget how to win?

obviously this guy doesn't know anything about the importance of fighting, or the fighters' etiquette. Theres a difference between an enforcer/tough guy...and a Carcillo/new school fighters. These guys throw cheap shots, dirty hits, punches while the opponent is on the ice, fight star players. Theres no enforcing, or repect anymore in hockey. Probert would break a guy's face and have a beer with him after...not anymore.. May will quell the dirty hits, cheap shots. He'll fight when its needed. He's aged, but still does what he was brought in to do..bottom line, he's more useful than Leino.

I've been sayin this since day one....Stanley Cup winners.

You sure he isn't drunk and meant Kronwall?

Wings are gonna win this one. Datsyuk is playing more offensive (world-class) now that Zetterberg Cleary and Flip are back and playing great. Starting to get the Wings swagger back. Howard is playin great, nothin like good competition. Babcock is brilliant, get the goalies workin their asses off to get the job because he knew his team wasn't going to be about offense for a while. It takes their mind off the injuries and focus on their game. Osgood needs to shut his mouth and work on his game. Howard is responding with great play, Ozzie is responding with not learning that he needs to earn his spot. Franzen isn't human so he will be back relatively soon, and better than ever. Watch out, this team is going to dominate, win the cup.

If you asked a million americans accross the country who won the World Juniors, about 9 and a half out of ten people wouldn't even know America participated in this event, let alone won. Hell, they wouldnt even know what a hockey puck is.

Although its his first full year in the NHL, i hope to see Leino being one of the odd men out when all the injuries subside. He's just not clicking. His foot speed is nowhere near where it should have been heading into training camp. Its looking more and more like his last season handful of games was just a fluke. I'm not too fond of this guy. Trade him and Lebda for Ovechkin or Kovulchuk.

nice powerplay unit, Draper-Helm-Miller.

the next 9 of 10 games will be the turning point of the season. Dallas Chicagox2 ColumbusX2 Colorado Phoenix Anaheim L.A San Jose All of these games I consider must wins, minus Anaheim...but still a big game

As I do agree with the praising of the young guys, We have to face the fact that they need Val Filpulla back desperately. They need that second center badly. Scoring will benefit from it. None of these guys, (except Helm) were supposed to be regular players. I dont see it changing, unfortunately.

I'm hoping Lids either retires or signs for cheap. He's looking really human these last few seasons. He should be our defensive coach. He'd be a lot better than this schmuck we've got now. Maltby, and Holmstrom could/should hang 'em up after this year. I recall him [Holmstrom] saying he was done after this season sometime in the off season. But I cannot find a link so I have no leg to stand on other than what I thought I read. Lebda and Meech need to be gone. Bertuzzi will probably get another one year. I dont know if Ozzie will stick around another year to be Howard's backup...which seems like Howard has played his way into the starter role until fail. I think he could call it quits too. I think Holland should start looking for a giant muck it up d-man. Don't ask me where to find one, but, in 2 years, Lidstrom and hopefully Rafalski will retire... Our defense could potentially be league dominant: Kronwall - Stuart Erricsson - Kindl (Lilja/other Veteran) - Muck it up, shutdown guy And forwards Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Cleary, Franzen, Filpulla plus young guys- Helm, Leino, Abdelkader, Tatar, Emmerton, Ritola, Ferraro Future looks bright. Very bright. Hopefully Babcock is still here to win a few more cups with the up and comming young guys. Detroit will be a powerhouse for a long time. Imagine if we still had Flieschman (sp?) and Mathias too.

I could see the lines going Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Williams-Filpulla-Bertuzzi/Leino Draper-Helm-Eaves Bertuzzi/Leino-Abdelkader-May/Maltby I think Abdelkader will get ice time up until everyone is back. Then he'll be sent down. May, Maltby, Eaves will be rotating until the playoffs, hopefully with May getting the final spot. Draper-Helm-May would be a solid 4th line going into the playoffs.

Great news. This team is much needing another solid center. Right now we are a one line team, and our one line is not producing because its easier to contain them now that the opposition only has to strong hold Datsyuk and Zetterberg. After those two, this lineup is not a threat whatsoever offensively. With two, even three lines, and eventually with 3 - 5 setup men and finishers (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Williams, Filpulla) look for Bertuzzi, Leino, and to get more involved offensively, and look for this Red Wings team to take off (once our returnees find their stride) Do you think Fil will be used on the third line to create 3 scoring lines and one speed/grind line? Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Bertuzzi-Zetterberg-Cleary Williams-Filpulla-Leino Draper-Helm-Eaves/Maltby/May ?

This team doesnt need another small non physical forward, especially one that is extremely one dimensional. This team does need goals. Who knows if Hudler would have produced this season, no one. With the team salary the way it is, Detroit has to suffer. It's reality. When Filpula, Franzen, and Kronwall return the team scoring will improve. As for Babcock vs Hudler. Hudler seamed to be uncoachable. His lack of ice time was obviously do to poor defensive and neutral zone play. He was too shy to go into the dirty areas, his forward lane acknowledgment never improved from league entry. He left for money, and for freedom to play more to his abilities over what role Detroit was trying to mold him into. The NHL is all about fitting your role. You can be a 50 goal scorer in the minors, but if the coaching and management tell you to play their way, you have to play their way to keep a roster spot. Who knows what went on behind closed doors.

I agree. Delete Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, Columbus, and Florida. Create team in Quebec. Having less teams will create more rivalries and maximize skilled players and lessen the amount lower tier players. Salaries will be forced to decrease, (although raising the cap a little to 60-65 mil could help a little with the chaos and bloatation of star players and more of them being available) and put new rules on free agency and new dynasties will form. Teams will be more competitive and home grown franchise players will be more popular and will be better for the fans. Now I understand that less team means more players available. and with the crazy demanded salaries, teams wont be able to sign such players. More European players will head back to their native countries (KHL) This will make Olympic play much more entertaining. Also, the international hockey federation could come to an agreement and hold a world tournament every 2 years or so? (Winners of home league) With less Euro's in the league, physicality and toughness become more of a focus on game play. With more grit in game play, players play with heart and soul, and skill is less a factor than working hard and grinding out a win. More North Americans could increase the fans interest in America possibly.