Turretin

As a Wings fan, I want that series to go 7. The more they can beat the crap out of each other the better. Also, I want Hiller's confidence to be rattled real good. Then, I want the Ducks to win.

Proposed: Osgood plays best when people doubt him. Theory: Knowing this, Chris Osgood played shakey throughout most of the season. He needed to walk the fine line between keeping his job as a starter, and playing poor enough that everyone would doubt him. Result: Osgood has single-handedly manipulated the entire hockey community into doubting him. He now has the super powers to run rough-shod over his opponents int he playoffs. Is this true? Yes. How do I know? Maybe I actually am Chris Osgood. Then again, probably not.

That's why I actually hate threads like this. It sucks for both guys. Hossa made a split second decision, absent any malice, and someone else was hurt by it. I can't imagine what kind of torture I would put myself through if I was in Hossa's position. He did it, he may or may not have screwed up. Either way, three things are clear (1) no one contends it was done with malice, (2) he has to live with it for the rest of his life, and (3) it was an act done in the spirit and natural course of the game. Let's just drop it.

Hossa is made for this team. He really is. I understand why he loves it here because he just fits so perfectly. I am going to be sad to see what happens this off season. Between Mr. Clutch (Franzen) and Mr. Goal-Scorer (Hossa) I am hopeful that we can keep one of them. Remember Hossa in the playoffs last year? I am excited to see what he, Datsyuk and Zetterberg do when they kick it into playoff gear. Those guys have another tier that not even they can access until it is all on the line.

I disagree that Osgood played the second breakaway pretty much the same way as the first. I will reference to the NHL.com highlight reel so that we can talk about objective evidence: 0:59 - the first breakaway: Osgood makes no proactive move, but rather stays back in the crease and waits to react. Good shot. 1:22 - Osgood challenges breakaway from outside the crease. Factual difference is that this breakaway was coming from centerice, instead of an outside angle. 2:16 - Datsyuk is a bad A 2:29 - Osgood comes out on the rush to above the crease and then backs up as it comes to him (giving the shooter less space physically and psychologically). Osgood makes a poke check to the shooters move at this exact second (2:29). I think that these are NOT mistakes, but rather INDICATORS of a bruised confidence. That being said, on the first goal: 1. Where is our D? 2. Why does Hossa back check applying pressure from the outside instead of pushing the shooter toward the corner? If he does that, Osgood's positioning and reactions make more sense. 3. This was a solid game by Osgood, and I think 2-3 more of these in a row and he should be fine. Like I said in my previous post, it does make me nervous about his bounce back confidence if he has a bad game in the playoffs.

Opie: Who is your Babcock quote in your sig referring to?

DISCLAIMER: This entire review is based solely off of the NHL.com highlights. Osgood appeared to be "fighting" the puck quite a bit. My view is that long, uncontrolled rebounds, and timid position in regard to the net are two indicators of less confidence. For example, the first save you'll see on the NHL highlights is a shot that should have been controlled. Instead, Osgood responded a bit late and threw a rebound out in the center of the ice. Rebounds should be going to the corners (watch Hiller in Anaheim as a good example of this). On the first goal, Osgood sits wayyy back in the net and doesn't make any aggressive moves. Hartnell should have been poke checked, but Osgood was responding instead of initiating. It seems like he learned his lesson on that second breakaway, and poke checked, forcing the shooter to react. He is definitely not where he was last year. However, I think these are confidence issues, NOT skill issues. If Osgood is able to string 4-5 solid games together, he will probably be able to come on strong for the playoffs. HOWEVER, struggles this late in the season make him more vulnerable to a collapse after one bad game in the playoffs. That being said, Pavel Datsyuk is the best player on our team. Better than Zetterberg, better than Hossa, better than Lidstrom. There, I said it.

Looking at Franzen's performance last night, you can't blame the guy for wanting his payday. He needs to do what's right for him and his family in the long run, and you just never know whether you are going to have a career ending injury next season. However, I think that all the talk about the cap situation has ignored a pretty glaring reality: The Wings are willing to let the older guys play out their contract (i.e. they are not applying pressure for these guys to retire), even though the younger guys are ready. When you talk about reducing the cap number, I want to give you some names: Kirk Maltby - about .9 ave through next year Kris Draper - about 1.6 ave through 2011 Tomas Holmstrom - 2.25 through next year Right now, we are commited to about 47.3 next year already. Without those 3, the Wings would be at around 42.5. All of those guys could be replaced by younger players. Clearly, Maltby and Draper could be replaced by Helm and Abdelkader (we even have Ritola and Axellson out there in the queue). Homer would be the toughest one to lose because of chemistry and he still has a fair amount of skill. The reality is, Homer can be replaced by Franzen and, to a lesser extent, Cleary. Conclusion: If the Wings were less loyal, the discussion as to who can and should be traded for picks would be different. However, part of what makes players come here, take cuts to play here, and love this organization, is their loyalty.

I either forgot about that or didn't know about it. Well, that changes my analysis quite a bit.

True, that is why you couldn't do a 1 for 1 replacement. You need to look at the entire group and offset that difference with the AHL players for Drapes and Malts. However, these guys are convincing me that loyalty to vets is financially smarter in the long run.

NFM, I meant that as a compliment, just trying to be funny. I am sure you know much more about the Wings than I do. I admit I was wrong about the Stuart thing. I guess I would like to see Babcock put 2 defensemen on the blueline. If you can get away with a forward back there, a lot of times it helps, but Kronner is offensive enough. I was just thinking about that Gold metal goal in Turin where he snuck in. Oh well. I am so excited to watch Wings games this year. I wish I wasn't a poor grad student and could afford Center Ice.

Alright hockey nerds, I should have known not to post on here without serious research. Could you show me the PP TOI for the finals? I will admit that I was just running the the finals games in my head. I am not the avid Sammy hater that you find on here, but I admit that I do try to block out Sammy's play some times.

Babcock primarily used Stuart with Kronwall in the playoffs for powerplays. My guess is that he is planning on doing that again. Like NN alluded to, Babcock may be looking to use his powerplay lineups full time.

Damnit. When was the last time someone questioned you and was right?

That's a big time assumption. Now you have the rep around here to pull those off, but are you basing that off of anything more than just that they are countrymen?

Another thing about the whole Flip or D or Z centering issue: Hossa came here because he wants to win a cup and he wants to play a style of hockey that he will love. Hossa is looking for a good time. I am sure that he will feel much more satisfied and happy if he is taking passes from someone he knows is a tope center in the league instead of mentoring a young center. Hossa is ready to have his fun, not to be a mentor. Not saying I like it, but I'm guessing the lines will start out: Hossa - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Franzen - Zetterberg - Samuelsson Cleary - Filpulla - Hudler Helm - Draper - Maltby

I am wondering if I could name two of them on the Wings (Franzen and Cleary) given a little time and confidence.

Exactly. It is something to consider as we try to fit under the cap in coming years.

NN, Just consider: Z - D - Hossa Cleary - Franzen - Hudler Helm - Fil - Samuellson Kopper - Draper - Maltby The big bodies help Hudler use his talents more and we have the best line in the league night in night out. I am fine with spreading the talent, but I just want to make the point about Homer.

No No No! Do it again NFM, but this time do it without Holmstrom and with Helm. I demand it.

Gentlemen, The Cleary love is justified. When that is combined with Franzen's hot hand, I believe it presents an issue that needs discussing. If Franzen stays hot, Tomas Holmstrom is the most replaceable player in the potential top 6. Babcock like 2-way players. The fact that Holmstrom is the only offensive player that Babcock could not trust on the third line has to irk him a bit. Plus, refs have been singling Holmstrom out. I think the team would be wise to experiment with the lines without Homstrom in the top 6. Just to see what it looks like. Right now, Cleary and Franzen may be more effective players if given the chance to develop chemistry and confidence that they won't be pulled off the line in 2 games.

That is a great point. I was actually wondering if Babcock would toy around with putting Franzen on line 1 and putting Holmstrom down at all during this upcoming season. The reality is that Holmstrom will not keep this up too many more years.

Oh man, good post until you shredded your credibility with that point. Who hasn't heard that same statement about Ray Whitney, CuJo, Hatcher, etc. Remember, if Hossa's knee acts up, we are screwed. The other problem with tying yourself close to the cap is it lets other owner's know that they have you by the balls in a trade negotiation.

Am I the only one that doesn't really want Zetterberg to take a "discount" on his next contract? The guy has sacrificed his mind and body for this team over the last couple of years, making under half of what he's worth and he has not complained about it once. I think he deserves to be rewarded witha contract that will set him up for life. I don't mind Filpulla and Franzen taking less than their current fair market value (because I think they are both a little inflated right now), but not Zetterberg. I would hate to see him have to watch a merc come in and make more than him.

I don't think so. I think the Russian League is looking of its Bobby Hull. They need a poster child. A young Russian Superstar would do that. A Czech, not so much. I can't think of anyone else that fits the bill like Malkin did.