uk_redwing

Best put a defensemen with 3 goals in 90 games up as a forward instead then. Tootoo has a better goals per game ratio than that and is actually a forward. I personally think this is Babs starting to creak under the pressure a little bit, with a bit of a fallout with Tootoo thrown into the mix. Feel so bad for Toots. Why the hell did we even sign him in the first place?

Babcock must really hate Tootoo. Poor guy.

Watched the first period before turning the game off and finding something else to do. Boring as hell.

Can't see it, don't have a Google account.

Only if you look for it.

Can't believe he said that. That's embarrassing. He wants protecting so he can run his mouth 24/7 and use his stick as a weapon without any retribution? f*** right off. That's exactly why there's fighting in hockey. Franzen keeps digging himself a bigger and bigger hole. Don't poke a bear with a stick and be angry he's taken a swipe. Those concussions seem to have lost him a bit of common sense.

In Neil's defence, Franzen did clearly poke (or spear) Neil in the groin just before the scrum. Neil is a heavyweight enforcer. Who in their right mind does that to guy like Neil in a blowout game and then not expect anything to happen afterwards? Insanity, especially given his concussion history I have no idea what the in the hell Franzen thought he was doing.

I'd like to weigh in and say that defensively Almqvist has had an absolute nightmare this season in GR. Just last night he did a Lilja and gave them the puck about 2 feet from the net for their second goal. The amount of giveaways and boneheaded plays he makes at AHL level is very worrying. At the end of December he was the ONLY defender with a minus rating (-1) with the next lowest Dman +10! Not to mention the fact he doesn't seem to be getting any bigger weight and strength wise. I think Sproul, Oullett and Marchenko are already way ahead of him in the depth chart. I can him being waived next season.

Forgot he was still up with the Wings.

Exactly, which is hurting the team. Sammy was brutal last night and so so SLOW. It was hard to watch. At least Callahan scored again.

This. Some of his passes in the AHL have been stand out. He's doing pretty well points wise for the Griffins.

The Griffins ARE winning and all their "good forwards" are NOT in Detroit. Jeez...

He won't even play that many games for Grand Rapids due to the veteran rule in the AHL. The Griffins already have to rotate their vets so it wouldn't surprise me if he barely played. As Grand Rapids are one of the best AHL teams, it's not like they need him. When a few of the young guns return to GR from the Wings there is not a single forward I would take out of the line up for Sammy.

Finally, a good roster move decision! Cleary next and we'll be getting somewhere.

The grades are clearly explained and I have no problem with most of them. I think he rated McCollum a bit high and Tootoo a bit low but otherwise he's spot on, especially in saying Mitch should get a call up.

I remember watching the Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2009-2012 era when they completely sucked ass. They would regularly finish near the bottom of the standings but did I ever stop watching their games? Hell ******* no because they played entertaining hockey, they always visably gave 110% every game despite their shortcomings and even in defeat you could appreciate a good game of hockey and look forward to the next one. Do I feel that way about the Wings now? No. Do I stay up till 3am watching every Wings game like I used to until the beginning of this season? No. Do I choose watching the Wings over the Griffins now? f*** no. Watching the Wings now is frustrating, dull and predictable. There's little heart, energy or clear display of effort and determination to at least leave you feeling they gave it their best shot. Hell the ones who do actually give their all every shift of every game will be back in Grand Rapids once the injuries subside so it's win-win for me to just keep watching the Griffins. I fell asleep watching the game last night about midway through the second period.

Great stuff. Don't think it makes the NHL look bad, this is what rivalries are about and don't anyone tell me they don't wish we didn't have this type of rivalry with the Avs and Blues again. Fantastic entertainment, which is why we all watch hockey in the first place.

Another goal last night for Callahan to take his tally to a still team-leading 16 goals. Anyone not following the Griffins might be interested to know Jordin Tootoo has 8 points in 22 games as well.

Callahan scored again last night to take his tally to 15 goals. He's a great net presence in the mould of Holmstrom and gets the majority of his goals this way. I'd like to see him get a shot at the NHL. Heck, he scored a goal in two preseason games with the Wings this year, what more does he have to do!

If he made it to the NHL I believe the heavyweight belt would be back where a the JLA where it belongs. If he is a decent skater to boot then I'm sold. Babs and Holland love skaters, regardless whether they can score or not so he should be fine. Future champ.

Ryan Sproul would get my vote for the C. Guy is destined for great things and always stands tall on the ice.

When everyone is healthy Cleary will still be on this team. I'm calling it now. Hard to stomach.

There are fights and enforcers in hockey? Who knew. I hate these lists and the fact the Wings are never on it. Before the 04 lockout it used to be dominated by badass Wings. Such an entertaining part of the game that we lack, creating rivalries and energy, that has left us with a team that has to win to be good to watch. Sad.

Is Brett Lebda still a UFA?

Brad Norton. Wings decide to carry a useless plug of an enforcer for a while (in 2006/07?) and choose the least skilled both as a hockey player and as a fighter available.