GoalieManPat

Nyquist has good chemistry with Datsyuk. I have yet to see him and Franzen work anything out consistently. I put that mostly on Franzens inconsistency though. I love Holmstrom for what he has done for the team but he really has no spot on the team anymore let alone proposing him to be up on the 1st line. He is extremely ineffective on 5 on 5 and is nowhere near as effective as he once was on the PP. What has kept him on the roster is what he used to provide on the PP. When he is not providing that he brings nothing to the team other than locker room presence which the Wings already have enough of. Abdelkader and Miller are energy guys. Thats there job on the team. They certainly arent on it for offensive abilities. When they are playing well they are just as good as Eaves in that department. They just havnt decided to play well. Bring in a youngster like Mursak for Holmstrom and you'll have an energy line.

With the bad habits the main squad has shown the last two months Id make sure the young guys stay far away as to not learn them.

I don't mean to insult you so please don't take it that way but this might possible be the worst line combinations Ive ever seen on this site. A man on one leg whos game is at best 75% of normal playing 1st line minutes with our top two players...no way. Franzen getting 2nd line center minutes of Flip....no way. God help Nyquist on that 2nd line. Who are you expecting to create on that line? Bertuzzi has had bricks for hands this series and Franzen uses his ice time to make a sandwich. These also leave you with no good energy line. Your best bet is the 4th but Holmstrom kills that. Miller has done nothing to warrant him being up a line. In reality Emmerton has outplayed Abby, Miller, Holmstrom, Bertuzzi, and Franzen. That is the major problem in this series. That and Stuart doing everything he can to get that move out west to happen as quick as possible.

You like him only making an impact on the game when hes taking stupid penalties? Odd.

He really didnt have much effort in that game either. Well other then trying to get revenge and getting a stupid penalty. The only thing he did good after getting the stick in the face is have his ass in the right spot while he was looking the other way to deflect something in. His floating actually paid off for once.

I think White might be taking over the role of Shin-Pad Assassin left by Samuelsson. It really getting old watching him put it right into the shins of the forward coming out at him. Put it around the corner if you don't have a lane for hecks sake.

Legitimate critiques of the team is jumping ship?

Sure would be nice if the Wings would show up before the 3rd period. Thats something you expect from a young team not a veteran one. Despite what people think Detroit does not have good depth. They have mediocre depth in that all there depth players are mediocre. The 3rd and 4th line on this team dont scare anyone. Nashville is in Franzens head

Chicago should play with there goalie pulled all game.

No way on that. Bertuzzi was the perfect person to do it. He doesnt kill penalties and if you remember Franzen was being called for a penalty right then. E needed to be out there for the PK

One goal does not a good game make. Yes he scored but in reality all he did was skate towards the net and the puck hit him. Its good that he went to the net as thats what weve all been asking him to do for weeks and look what happens. He was invisible the rest of the game. You cant ignore the fact though that the Weber goal was 100% on Franzen. Go watch the play again. He has a chance to challenge Weber along the boards for the puck but shy's away from any contact and stays away from him. If he even just finishes a check on Weber that goal is not scored. Instead he decides to float back towards the blueline leaving Weber a free run to the front of the net.

Good job Bert on getting into it with Weber. Now if he would just do something useful the other 55 minutes of the game I could appreciate him fully.

What do you expect when the crowd has to be told every-time the "Preds......are......on.....the....powerplay!!!"

Good win for the boys tonight. I really wish Babcock would blow up the first line. Bertuzzi and Franzen's play are really bringing down Datsyuk. Yes Franzen did score but in reality he did nothing but go to the net and the puck hit him. Thats something he rarely does anymore unfortunately. He was invisible the rest of the game except for the Weber goal where he conveniently did everything he could do to avoid contact with Weber along the boards and then floated towards the blueline allowing Weber to go to the goal untouched. Bring Nyquist up to the first line and drop Bertuzzi. Hes wasted on the 3rd or 4th and has already shown to have built up something with Datsyuk. Way to many turnovers in the defensive end again though. Jimmy came up big.

I didnt see it mentioned but did Babs say what line Nyquist is on? If hes not playing with skill players then I dont think he is the best option to come in. He doesnt play as well in the bottom two as grinding isnt his playing style.

Franzen made one play to the net. Even in that he took the soft route going for a low percentage short side shot instead of taking it hard to the opposite side of the net using his size. Had the two Nashville defenders not fallen into each other he more than likely would not have even made the move to the front of the net based on the last couple months of his play. I agree Datsyuk did not have his best game but that is an abnormality for him. Lately it would be an abnormality for Franzen to have a good game. That is why he catches the hate on here this year and I believe its completely deserved.

Weber not only looks like a rat he shows he is one.

Can missing bumbling up an empty net on a 2 on 1 be blamed on his knee?

Who said anything about getting a bunch of goals? I would take him just showing any type of tenacity in his play. That would be an improvement and a step in the right direction. My comment was the fact that all of his defenders said that as soon as the playoffs started he would be back to 08 Franzen. Well the playoffs started and hes the same lackadaisical player he has been most of the season. Like I said int he GDT, Helm played 3 minutes and had more of an impact on the game than Franzen did.

Helm played 3 minutes and had more of an impact on the game than Franzen. That is a problem.

I thought Franzen was supposed to magically turn into a force come the playoffs. Thats been the defense for him all season at-least. Unsurprisingly he was as irrelevant tonight as he has been the last 2/3 of the regular season.

Ummm Emmerton has had the whole season as his chance.

Cant play worse than Emmerton.

That logic would work if he was more consistant. Hes not consistent enough to be a "just put he puck in the net" player. At his size going into the corner and being gritty needs to be the strong-point of his game. That is what frustrates us who are hard on Franzen because he used to do those things. Now when hes not scoring he is useless. If he would at-least use his body and hustle then he wouldn't catch as much flack when he goes into scoring droughts.

Until Franzen is able to put that effort into multiple games instead of just one period I will not consider him back.