RedRum #1

Kind of an injustice that Datsyuk wasnt a star tonite....best player on the ice again. Say what you will about Sammy and the 40 foot slappers...the man plays an excellent two-way game and always give an honest effort. With Franzen out we need this guy back. Last thought............... I cant believe I'm saying this but Lilja has been better than Markov for a little while now.

Maltby was brutal. I thought he turned back the clock against the Avs Sunday...he was almost the Maltby of old. Tonight he was just old, and that's been the case all season unfortunately. Guys like Maltby need their speed to be effective players. When it starts to go, you get what we've seen of Malts this season.

Thought Booter did alright...he looked out of place with Draper and Maltby however. He really didnt make any kind of impact on the forecheck (hence Nick's hits stats) and a lot of it is he just doesnt skate well enough to get in and get on top of people. Having said that, Booter did a decent job tonight.

I never understood the concern that Datsyuk wouldnt dominate when Zetterberg went down. I thought both guys proved that they're elite players on their own last season.

IMO Datsyuk and Zetterberg needed each other to jump start the other's game....now I'm pretty confident both are playing at a level where you can break them up and they'll still dominate, as was the case last season. I'm still in favor of keeping those two together with Homer, but if Babcock decided to break them up I would be upset.

Was thinking the same thing....Franzen looks like he should be able to beat the skin off a guy, but he allows himself to get punched and pushed around and just takes it. Johan needs to learn how to throw them thangs before guys cheap shot him like they've done Homer his whole career.

Lang may have put up a few points against Edmonton, but IMO Zetterberg, Franzen and Cleary were BY FAR the Wings best forwards in that series. You're right about the year before though...Lang was outstanding. Too bad we havent seen that Lang for almost 3 years now.

Datsyuk has been outstanding tonight....getting the kids on the board.

Lang had two BRUTAL giveaway's on the 5 on 3 PP ....I was just about to type how worthless he is, and he scores a fluke goal. I hope that can turn his game around now....love him or hate him the Wings need this cat to play well.

You arent the only one homeboy...sadly it's not just Kronwall. Detroit's entire defensive corps is our most vulnerable and potentially most suspect element of the team, and I said this before the Calder and Bert trades. IMO we lost the Oilers series on the back end, not up front or in goal. If Detroit get's the boot it will be because this continues to be a unit built for the regular season.

There is not one aspect of Hudler's game that would compensate for the loss of Datsyuk...Detroit has no one in their system that can. You let Datsyuk walk and you better be going the UFA or trade route this summer to replace him. Just saying this..... ....is going out the world backwards.

I I dont know about all those guys being "gritty" players....but I do think this team may have the right amount of everything to be successful this spring. They arent the fastest team, but they have enough speed. They arent the biggest team, but they have enough size. They arent the grittiest team, but they have enough grit. I dont think Detroit has that one glaring weakness up front (speed, size, grit) anymore. I still maintain that if Detroit goes down it'll be because the bacxk end is not as strong as many think it is.

I bet you Kopecky will be around before Hudler is. As a matter of fact, if Kopecky wouldnt have gotten hurt he'd be in the line-up much more than Hudler (as was the case before he was injured).

IObviously I dont expect Clader to score every game, but if he can provide that kind of forechecking effort and puck pursuit every game he'll be an even better aquisition than my optimistic ass thought he would be.

Hudler's immediate future.....the press box in about a month. Probably traded in the summer.

You know, Franzen is sneaky fast....he may be the fastest forward on the team when you think about it. Good wheels for such a big guy.

To those who continue to put Cleary in your top 6 after today....I think Cleary's days as a 2nd line forward are over. I'm excited because you get a player of Cleary's quality playing on our 4th line....that shows the much improved depth the Wings have now.

Good thought about Bertuzzi eventually playing with Zetterberg and Datsyuk. IMO the only line set in stone is Maltby/Drape/Franzen. Either Calder or Samuelsson will play with Lang, and whoever doesnt will play with Flip and Cleary on a very quality 4th line.

When everyone gets back say goodbye to young Mr. Hudler come the tail end of the season and Round 1...... Homer/Hank/Datsyuk Calder or Samuelsson/Lang/Bert Maltby/Draper/Franzen Samuelsson or Calder/Flip/Cleary

I bet any poster dollars to donuts that Williams/Lang/Cleary will not be the #2 line come April. Simple logic would tell you.... 1. Samuelsson's return automatically means Williams is done. 2. I dont care who the Wings grab in a trade, whether it be Guerin or a guy like Zednik...that guy will be given a shot. 3. Babcock may like Franzen up there and decide to keep him there. Regardless, there is almost NO chance that line stays in tact by the time Round 1 starts.

Sometimes I ask myself if Lang is trying to get himself traded.

They were broken up early in the year and only put back together in rare situations....Draper/Dats/Shanny and Sammy/Hank/Homer were the lines for 85% of the season and all of the playoffs last season.

Datsyuk has been playing wing ever since him and Hank were reunited, so before killing the threadstarter do your homework or watch a game. Also, Datsyuk and Hank were seperated most of last season with both their wingers (Sammy and Shanny) enjoying career years, so I'd say they both made their lines go pretty well. Finally, both Hank and Pav struggled earlier in the season (Hank even moreso) and picked it up when being reunited. I'd say they both enhance each other's game but as individual players are still outstanding. This garbage is like the Sergei vs. Stevie debate all over again.

Before Datsyuk re-signed that summer he was Detroit's best forward and unquestionably the team's #1 center. Zetterberg was a better defensive player, but Datsyuk was THE GUY...guys like Lewis, Holland and Wings players referred to him as such. Holland did the right thing in giving a 26 year old emerging star that money. Your beef with Pav seems to be more with the negotiation tactics than his actual play thses past two years. Datsyuk surely made Holland look like a smart man last season...he was on pace for 90-100 points before hurting his thigh and went back and forth with Zetterberg as the team's best forward all year.

If the first line doesnt score, Detroit loses. That's not a recipe for success in the playoffs, especially for an organization who's philosophy has been built on scoring depth. If you think status quo for the 2nd line is even remotely close to acceptable,, be prepared to be let down come April.