CMatt89

Are we in panic mode after the loss? We can keep the team in tact...with few minor changes...we can even lose Hossa and still have the best chance to win next year. Lets see...Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hossa, Franzen....we have some of the better playmakers/goal scorers in the game. what more do you want. I mean the only way I would see Kenny getting a new goalie and a big time scorer is if he's playin Xbox with his kids.

How do you figure? He got slashed on the shoulder, yes....but he got the shot off and the slash didn't effect his progress. The best way to beat the refs is scoring...your not gonna win if you cant score until the middle of the third..

This is realistically what Babcock will work with Franzen/Zetterberg/Cleary Holmstrom/Datsyuk/Hossa Hudler/Filpulla/Sammy Maltby/Helm-Draper Every line is a lethal mix of offense and defense

- Not only are the Wings being outshined, and outplayed...but outcoached as well. -- Their stars are sent out to score, ours are put out to defend/shadow their stars --- Zetterberg can't do it all... even though he is.. - Hudler, Hossa, Sammy, Holmstrom are playing non existent. -- Holmstrom's game has slipped mightily after his surgery and is turning the puck over more and more --- Has Hudler touched the puck yet? ---- Hossa is lacking his superstar swagger - Maltby is doing a decent job of stirring the pot - If Datsyuk can play, he should be in there. This is the finals. -- Healthy Datsyuk should mean three stacked lines --- Z and Franzen/ Datsyuk and Holmstrom / Hossa and Filpulla...Theres no match for three strong lines and a shutdown defensive fourth line with Draper - When pressured, the Pens D make costly turnovers. -- Malkin and Crosby are not defensive zone players --- Why are we not attacking their weeknesses? - The officiating is horrid -- The Pens have been offside on many different plays..non calls --- Both teams are getting away with alot and being penalized for crap - Pens deserve alot of credit. Not backing down when down on the scoreboard and in the series -- They want it more and are working a hell of alot harder - Not having Lilja created the rise of Ericsson but Lilja's defensive presence is being lacked. He blocked shots, was a great PK man and played physical. - Detroit is clearly the superior team on paper. But on the ice the Pens are doing exactly what they wanted. -- Bylsma and the Pens are extremely confident. They smell blood, and keep attacking. GAME 5 Game Plans DETROIT - Forecheck - one on one battles key - Utilize wealth of offensive talent - SHOOT THEN ATTACK! - Reduce Turnovers - keep the game simple - Attack Pens D...Create chances early and often PITTSBURGH - Crosby Malkin Staal keep shooting/ crashing net - Minimize defensive turnovers - Keep up physical play - Matt Cook - Keep winning battles along the boards - Transition Speed is key Game 5 is a must win for Detroit. Pens have all of the momentum right now and Wings cannot afford to go back to Pittsburgh down 3-2...

save some goals for next game. Hossa needs to spread his scoring out. Columbus..2 goals in one game. Anahiem..2 goals in one game. Chicago..2 goals in one game. As long as we keep winning each series...i guess its working.

1. Conklin a solid backup, Downey a solid tough guy when needed. 2. Holmstrom is not going anywhere and Lilja is a solid big man who consistently has played good since being eliminated by Edmonton a few years back. Good guy to have in your 3rd pairing. 3. Yes, resign Hossa. May be impossible. 4. Lidstrom has been quoted saying he wants to play 1-2 more years. Why spend loads of money when he wont play out his contract. 5. Kopecky is expendible. Wont pay him over 1 mil. 6. Hudler and Leino will get 2-3 year deals. Maltby and Draper dont have much left, One of the two might retire this year. Other than a few 4th line changes...I dont see much besides Hudler and Hossa being a top priority this off season.

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Hossa - Franzen - Cleary ------ I would like to Hossa and Kopecky on a line. But it wont happen. Hudler - Helm - Sammuelsson Maltby - Draper - Kopecky uh, we have too many players. Leino, Filpulla..where do they fit in? I would like to see Downey play a few games as well which is doubtful . I wonder what Kenny will do? Lidstrom - Rafalski Stuart - Kronwall Lilja - Ericsson

Shun the non believer eh? Personal opinions bud, calm down. Never once did i knock Ken Holland. 90 percent of the threads started on here are a mear fantasy. How people would enjoy seeing the Wings through their own eyes. And every one is entitled to an opinion. So what if a few people think Franzen should be traded because its him or Hossa and Hudler..I mean, i think your the one who needs to settle down if you think that the team will be completely in tact come next season. You dont think it may be beneficial to lose something we can't keep and replace it with role players with well round the team a little more? Of course Kenny wont break up the team this late and make a hit or miss decision going into the playoffs. But frankly, i dont give a f*** what Mr. Holland thinks because guess what, I'm not his advisor. Im just a longtime hardcore fan who posts on a message board for personal entertainment.. Genius? Nahh, but thank you.

I'm all for this. Keep in mind, Hossa or Franzen. Trade Franzen for even draft picks. We've got Helm, Downey, Leino, Abdelkader and Kopecky is learning how to get points as of late. Or just to clear up some space and get a guy who will hit..or just stand up for our players when they get beat on every game. We hav an abundance of finess scorers....Unless Franzen starts to hit and learns to fight...his big body is going to waste if all he can do is use his hand like he's holdin a tea cup.

you can see it at the end when Ott is on top...Moen's legs jump..and the ref quickly grabs Ott's arm and puts it behind his back and then Selanni is like...what the hell are you doing!? Ott should get 10 game minimum. *****.

I just want them to avoid going west coast...they seem to tire out easier when on the west coast...Keepit close to home for the early rounds..

Crazy as it sounds....I have a feeling Franzen may be shipped out...For draft picks even, maybe.. I dont see any goalie activity happening, which is good. Ozzy's a vet, he'll come around. We do need a Dallas Drake type guy though. His presence is missed this season. Or bring Downey up. But for as big as Franzen is..he needs to be our big hitter, and able to drop the gloves.... for the money he's going to demand... We can afford to lose a finesse scorer. Maybe a Franzen, Kopecky deal..for a defenseman, picks, or a real grinder...not a Red Wings type grinder haha. Holmstrom - Datsyuk - Zetterberg Hossa - Filpulla - Cleary Hudler - Helm - Sammy Leino - Draper - Downey Maltby - Kopecky This forward lineup will win us a cup again for sure. Cleary can be interchanged with the 2nd and 4th line..Leino can fit in either line as well. With Franzen, we would drop Downey, have a Cleary - Draper - Leino 4th line...if its cap friendly...

shouldn't Helm and Leino be at the top...since they've played NHL games, played solid, and shown they have great potential...especially Helm

"and the winner of the Hart trophy goes to...... The Detroit Red Wings" haha

Well, like Babcock said at the beginning of the season..he was going to get a look at all of his GR guys that he knows are NHL ready. Im glad he stuck to his word...Now he jsut has to find a way to keep them up here! Imagine a lineup with all 4 of those guys in it... and Maltby, Sammy and, Kopecky gone... Holmstrom/Datsyuk/Hossa Leino/Zetterberg/Franzen Cleary/Filpulla/Hudler Abdelkader/Draper/Helm Downey-Meech .....Scary Good

well, since we have Datsyuk and Zetterberg as our two star centers...we resign Franzen..and than we have holmstrom as our 4th forward..we could take the money that we are giving to Hossa..and use to it sign two lesser players..possibly role players...or just B level players to fill our other 2 spots. We dont need 5 or 6 stars as our top six forwards...we have 3-4, i think we'll be fine without Hossa. Yes, he's great..and i mean, great...but, would it be wiser to sign 2 playes who can fill the shoes of one superstar?

We've got 5 players ready to come up. Leino, Helm, Erricsson, Abdelkader, and Downey. We've got 5 players that should be ready to be on their way out. Chelios, Maltby, Draper, Kopecky, McCarty. Even though we all would like to see these players swap..It wont happen. I'm curious to see what happens at the deadline and/or in the offseason. I know Holland never wants to shake up the roster this late in the season..but we do need a spark. All the GR players have been seen by the coaches and they have all shown what they can bring to this team. Minus Erricsson. I wonder what will happen to Hudler in the comming months..Franzen and Hossa being the talk of the offseason...has anyone thought maybe Hudler could be playing his way into a trade? I like the guy, he's having a great season...but he will demand more money..who knows what will happen. Downey and Abdelkader brought something we are missing this year, energy..physical play. This year shows how big of a role Dallas Drake played last season. McCarty is done. Are team is in much need of a shake up, but doubtfully, this wont happen at such a late time in the season. We will go into the playoffs probably the same as we are currently.

Its no cup hangover...at all.... Its just the effects of what we now see as a tremendous coach in Todd McLellan (sp?) leaving. And Lidstrom wearing a visor

Sign Mats Sundin. ha, no. If I had to do something...even though there really is no need to do anything...in my fantasy world...i wanna see Huds, Maltby, McCarty and, Lebda gone. Bring up Downey, Leino, Helm..Leave Meech in there. If we want to go further into the youth movement then replace Sammy for Abdelkader...but really theres no need even in my fantasy world for that haha. Hossa-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Leino-Zetterberg-Franzen Cleary-Fillpula-Sammy Helm-Draper-Downey Energy, Balls, Skill, Scoring, Speed.

I like McCarty and all...but we still cant score...and he isnt going to solve that for us. Hudler, Kopecky, Franzen..and even our goal scorers arent scoring...we need Ceary and our top 4 d men back.. Well at least were getting more North American players..And a little bit tougher...but I doubt McCarty will have any impact..

I like the Stuart deal...But I would have liked to see a forward, not neccessarily a star, but someone who can get the job done. I also wanted to see us part ways with Hudler..but I'm not going to be too sour about it. The only thing i can think of is Holland is very worried about signing Zetterberg and Cleary in the off season. They arent going to come cheap so maybe Holland was cautious at the deadline because of that. Thats the only thing I can think of.

This is what the Wings should do : Forwards.. Keep the Datsyk Fillpula Cleary line intact : 2 playmakers and a tough guy to free the puck up in the corners Have Hudler and Holmstrom with Zetterberg : 2 shooters and Holmstrom in front for the garbage goals Draper Kopecky and Maltby : Toughness..hard work, defense Downey Franzen and Drake : Toughness, Police. I think Downey and Drake both have to be in the lineup throughout the playoffs..to provide toughness and stand up for our skill players. Subtractions..Sammuelsson .. Defense: Lidstrom Lilja Rafalski Kronwall Lebda Chelios Lilja and Lebda are the weak points..although Lilja can provide toughness when he wants to and Lebda has been sound all year.. I still think we need a checking defenseman..doesnt have to be a Phanuef..a small profile guy who will hit and stick up for our guys and sacrifice his body to block shots..once again..doesnt have to be a superstar. I think we have the toughness/grit and skill up front to win us a cup, the defense to shutdown..less then average physically though.. Our goalies...well, we cant say enough about them.. I see a cup in our near future.

Just look at all the empty seats....

Sign Markov. Sign Chelios. Sign Bertuzzi. Part ways with Lang, Lila, Schneider (Although he is still very good), Hudler and maybe Sammy. Hopefully Hasek retires, which he wont. But if he did, bring up Howard. Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Bertuzzi-Fillpula-Cleary Maltby-Draper-Franzen Kopecky-(Big Body F.A.)-Grigorenko Lidstrom-Markov (Big Body/Checker F.A.) - Kronwall Lebda-Chelios (Quincey/Ericsson) Howard/Osgood...Hasek if he doesn't retire My reasoning for letting Schnieder go is simply this. We have powerplay set-up men in Lidstrom and a healthy Kronwall. I know he steps in front of guys and has a monstorous shot..but I think he's replaceable by a big, stay at home defenseman who clears out guys in front, blocks shots, and hits. We could also sign another big bodied checker F.A. in Kopecky's spot and use him as an alternate like this year.

We can cook up all the excuses we want. They had Heart, they had the skill, they had the grit. Unfortunatley, we got beat. It happens. They exceeded every expectation any of us had. Congrats to the Ducks. But Congrats to Detroit for having a fantastic season. Fought till the end, but luck wasn't on our side tonight. They'll do it next year. Go Wings!!!!!