Kp-Wings

When you compare it to some of the current salaries in today's NHL, and given Doan's scoring/physical package, he is a bargin. He's only scored 30 goals once, but seriously keep in mind of who he's been playing with his whole career. The only time he's had a true top line player playing with him was in the early 90's with Keith Tkachuk, but Doan was still young then and wasn't playing with Tkachuk. Other then that, the Coyotes have never had any true top line talent, especially not on the level of guys like Zetterberg. I'd be willing to give up whatever it takes to get Doan on this team, with the exception of guys like Zetterberg, of course. But as far as prospects go, like Kindl or Filppula, hey so be it. Doan is the type of player that's been missing from this lineup dating back to even before the lockout. We really need a player like him.

So you think he signed that contract with the intention of being traded next season, and staying somewhere long term? I like the way you think. It'd be great if that was true.

I think the Wings should claim him. I kid, I kid.

You keep implying like the Wings should just fork over the 4 million Markov wants. I never cared for Markov that much. I expected him to be a lot more physical when we signed him. With the exception of his big hit on Jarret Stoll last year that set up the Datsyuk goal, he was never all that physical imposing. He was terrible in that playoff series against the Ducks, too. Plus, now that his past in Toronto is unearthed, it sounds like he comes with a lot of emotional baggage. While that was never made public here at least, something could have went on behind closed doors.

Doan would be an absolute dream to have on the Wings. He is the type of player that this team hasn't had in a very, very long time. Alas, I don't see it happening. It wouldn't make much sense for a guy who just signed a contract extension to request a trade. Unless that much has gone down since then, which I doubt it has. Still, Doan would be a perfect fit here. He'd address the need for a top 6 forward, a scoring winger, and grit. He's such a great all around player.

Always here to ruin the fun. I understand what you're saying. But still, at that point, the game was a wash. It would have been nice to close out the final minutes with a good fight, not watching Datsyuk get plowed in the ground by Pronger, and Kopecky lose the puck off his stick every time he touches it. At this point, nobody has seen enough of Downey to determine whether he'll be that bad. Kopecky may not be a minus player, but his play is certainly deserving of a few minuses. I don't see how Downey could play any worse then what Kopecky is doing (or shall I say not doing) right now. It'll have to wait until the next injury, though, because it sounds like Samulesson will be back in the lineup come Thursday. At least that's what Babcock is hinting at.

World Championship Chess? Actually, they probably use it there too.

Yeah, I will definitly agree with that notion. The Wings toughness is very limited. Drake and Downey are good, but it doesn't help when one of the two never plays, and the other is getting up in his 40's and might get worn down if he tries to do it all himself. The Wings definitly need a lot more. Good post. I've said it before, I'll say it again: One playoff series does not a tough team make. Insiteful as always I see.

Is this the real thing? Someting tells me someone was bored and decided to create a new account because the real sirdrake left. Prove to me that you are the real sirdrake. Until then: What's to stop Chris Chelios from believing that this is sirdrake?

Grigoernko has a translator. He should be able to speak english. He basically knew that at some point, he was going to come to North America 6 years ago when he was drafted. There is absolutley no excuse for him not being able to speak any english at all, since he's had plenty of time to study the language. I hope he that Babcock isn't stupid enough to call him up if he isn't going to give even a mediocre effort. He's been such a disappointment so far, and has no place on this team right now.

Oh jeez, tell me about it! Some people on here act like the Wings need to be a bunch of old British men drinking tea around a fireplace to be a successful team. It's ridiculous. "Classy" and "weak" are two totally different words that people need to start telling the difference from. I don't want the Wings to swing their sticks around like lumberjacks (or Jesse Boulerice), but it's ridiculous when people on here and completely frown upon the notion of toughness or fighting because it would make the Wings "not classy" anymore. Heck, you'd think aquiring Bertuzzi would have thrown that notion right down the drain, considering what he did. The Wings were a classy team in the 90's, and they still had forms of toughness and fighting. So, that's not going to break that off like everybody seems to think.

I hear Vincent Riendeau is still looking for work also.

Nobody is saying that. It would be nice, though, if Downey did get some playing time over these useless scrubs like Kopecky that haven't done s*** to give themselves a full-time roster spot. I don't understand how wanting a guy to play more automatically means we think he's the savior of the team, and that he'll score 30 goals. Nobody is saying that at all. I just want him to be given a chance to at least play in the game is all. If guys like Kopecky, who suck ass, can get regular shifts, why can't Downey? Plus, I want to see some more fights. Especially in horrible games like last nights. The game was clearly over with about 5 minutes left to go yet Babcock still wouldn't put Downey in. At that point, when the game is over and nobody cares anymore, at least make it somewhat entertaining with a fight or two. It's better than watching Kopecky get all the ice time, and not do anything with it.

No, he doesn't. All Kopecky is good at doing is playing like crap and stealing a roster spot from someone who deserves it much more. *coughAaronDowneycough* He is the worst player on this team. He really is. Samulesson, Lilja, despite their suckage, their both better than Kopecky. Kopecky does absolutley nothing when he's in the lineup. He doesn't score, he doesn't make plays, he can't pass, he doesn't hit, he doesn't fight, he can't even win a God-damn faceoff. He's the most useless player I've seen on this team since Josh Langfeld, but the sad thing is Langfeld wasn't a regular in the lineup. Kopecky is, which I can't understand at all, because he's a terrible hockey player that shouldn't even be in the NHL. Kopecky is also the biggest puss I've ever seen on this team. As mentioned, he doesn't hit or fight or do anything physical at all. It's a damn shame that a guy who is 6'3 plays like he's 5'1.

Or you'll get the usual cookie cutter interviews. Something along these lines: "Yeah, we played hard tonight. Big 2 points, you know. Their a skilled team, so it's good that we were able to come out of there with the win" *end interview* That's one of the reason why I've always liked JR. He may be an ass in some cases, but at least he has a personality, and makes interviews interesting to listen to. Most guys that are interviewed either give off the type of stuff I posted above, or don't talk at all (in the case of a lot of European's, who can't speak english very good). As for his "comments", it's just something he said to get through the interview. If he told the honest truth (that is our team is pretty s***ty right now, and the young guys should be shoved off to GR because their playing so bad) then he'd look like an *******.

Hey now, no need to bring me into this. Glad to see you thought of me though. I've had a few scraps back in my playing days. ...and by playing days I mean as a kid, of course. As an old man of 23 years old now, I can longer keep up with those guys anywmore.

Can't believe I got to miss all this fun ranting. Eh, I tired myself out last night in the GDT. Most of what I would have said would have just been repeats from last night. You know, about how Hasek and Kopecky suck. The teams lack of physicality. Babcock's inability to put together decent line combinations (like Lilja and Kronwall as defensive pairs. WTF is up with that?). Babcock's refusel to give Downey more then 2 shifts a game. You all know where I'm coming from, so everything's good.

What's to stop Chris Chelios for going with the new technology? Nothing! On topic: this idea sucks. It really does. Instead of addressing the NHL's biggest need by getting a half way decent national TV contract, there worried about the skates now, which are just fine the way they are. First the jerseys, now the skates? Why can't the NHL ever focus on it's real problems for once? The fact that eating contests and even dominoes get more TV ratings then the SCF's should be a real cause for concern. And no, new skates and jersey's won't help that problem at all. Ugh. Hopefully they don't go through with this. I may be a traditionalist in the fullest sense, but this still sounds like a stupid idea.

This my own opinion. I'm sorry we can't all agree on the same thing.

Touche.

What's to stop Chris Chelios from denying a post-game interview?

Which, subsquently, was Phoenix. Wow, I never knew that story. I always knew he smoked, but he was actually tied to the Russian mob? Just another reason now I'm glad he's not back with the Wings. His ridiculous contract demands and possible off-ice distractions are a major turn off.

Yeah, and if you can believe it, he put him in right after that on the PK of all things! It's like he was rewarding Lilja for playing bad. I swear, Babcock is as much of an enigma as a coach as Nikolai Zherdev is a player. He is always screwing around with things when we're winning games, yet when we're losing, he keeps everything the same. It's so messed up sometimes. Just look at it. He's putting Zetterberg on the ice with only 5 minutes left to go. That's a damn well perfect time for him to get run at by Pronger and company. He's rewarding Lilja for bad play by putting him on the PK. It's like a reversal in the poles or someting. Usually, when someone plays as badly as Lilja has, they get benched. Not get even more ice time. ...and, for the grandmaster of them all... *drumroll* he has Tomas Kopecky on the 2nd line. Since when did Kopecky ever prove he is 2nd line material? Hell, for that matter when has Kopecky ever proven he even belongs in the NHL? He's almost as bad as Josh Langfeld. Babcock is really ridiculous sometimes. He's a good coach in most aspects. He has this team playing a gritty, physical style of hockey, which is great. But I swear, he is so horrible at putting lines together, it's not even funny. Kopecky on the 2nd line? Are you kidding me?

McCabe is plain awful. Why did he even agree to stay in Toronto if he initally wanted out anyways, and knowing that the fans hate him? Kubina was just one of the many gaffs that appear on JFJ's resume. They already had McCabe at that point, so why exactly did they spend over 5 million on another defenseman stricly for the PP? They might as well have signed Oleg Tverdovsky and Janne Niinimaa to big money contracts while they were at it, if that's the road they were headed on. The Leafs have their problems, that's for sure. JFJ is probably the league's worst GM since Mad Mike. It's always masked by the fact that Leafs are always finishing in 9th place though, which screws them on both ends. They aren't making the playoffs, nor getting any high draft picks either. The Toskala trade was probably the best career move by JFJ, but if he doesn't get anything playing in front of him, it won't matter anyways.