GoalieManPat

Every-time I think Milbury makes a smart point (which is rare) I think back to the fact that he single hand-idly killed an NHL franchise with bad personal moves like very few have ever done. And then the World is back in balance.

I read it as more of a "Bu...bu...but Uncle Gary said nobody could hit me because of my head booboo's" kinda look.

Franzen hasnt been at NHL speed long before he sat a couple games. Cleary has been at AHL speed all season.

Im forcing the girlfriend to wear her lucky Howard jersey in honor of his return. Will be enjoying this game with a sixer of Hofbrau Dunkel I just picked up. Dunkel, Wings game, hot chick in a wings jersey. Can you think of a better Friday night?

You can have all the heart in the world but if your skill does not match that heart you dont win the Cup.

Your post would have been correct if we were talking about last year. This year Cleary has been s***. The only time you notice him is when he takes the puck across the blueline along the wall. Gets the slightest of rubs from the defender and then falls down. In the rare event that he does get past the defender he usually takes a shot from between the bottom of the circle to the end line. This shows why he has the worste shooting percentage of Wings forwards other than Mursak yet is third on the team in shots. Nyquist is NHL ready and his recent callup has proved that. Of the 8 games since his callup earlier this month Nyquist scored in every game but 2 while playing 5-6 minutes a night less than Cleary. If Nyquist spends another two years in the AHL it will hinder his development. Hes already a top player in that league and you get better by playing tougher competition. You get complacent by playing below your skill level. Yes usually the Wings let there prospects overripe but Nyquist and Smith are the best two prospects since Datsyuk and Zetterberg (both who never touched the AHL). Im hoping Babs is giving these last couple games for Cleary to try and work himself out but Ill bet you come playoffs Nyquist has more a chance of being in than Cleary.

This is his only motivational trick:

Thoughts from the game: 1. After Monday the Wings thought they could just show up and be given the 2 points. No urgency whatsoever. 2. While Conklin didn't lose the game for the Wings he did nothing to push them to winning. You expect an NHL goalie to make 2-3 big saves to keep your team in a game. He did not. 3. Franzen must not have realized he actually was playing tonight. He made as much of an impact tonight as he has the last 5 games. 4. I admire Cleary's heart but if hes that injured to play that way he really needs to park himself in the press box. 5. Nyquist getting 5 minutes two days after probably his best game in the NHL is a crime. He was getting better with each game. 6. The inconsistency of this team is appalling. Not something you expect from a veteran team who considers themselves a Cup contender.

Laughed during the pregame opening when they showed the Jackets coming out and right in the middle you saw the Winged maize and blue helmet. lol

I really wish people would stop using the whole "he had to use his stick to get up so his knees must be super injured!" thing. Using the stick as leverage to get up is used by players 90% of the time they get knocked down.

I don't think attendance pre playoff vs playoff is really the best way to determine if someone is a bandwagon fan. Especially with Florida teams. That state is bad with attendance in all sports just because there is so much other stuff to do. Some people just cant afford to go to very many games. For us an hour drive both ways, parking, ticket cost, food/drink, is hard to fit into the budget for one nights entertainment. Now for playoffs though we've been saving since the new year so we can go to a couple playoff games without worry of budget restraints. We choose the playoff games because they are more important. A team in the playoffs will always have higher attendance no just because its full of bandwagoners but because those true fans that have to be selective in what games they can attend will always pick playoffs. The rest of the season both me and my girlfriend (a lifelong Ranger fan that I converted to die hard wings fan) are watching every game on the couch and I would never consider us bandwagoner just because we can only make a game or two a year. As for the original post. I dont think Chicago is as bad as people perceive it to be. Sure there are assholes but thats the same with every organization. Ive been to a game in Chicago. Wore my Wings garb and didnt have any issues. Sure some guys yell stuff but if that bothers you then you need thicker skin. I even had a guy knock my drink over as he walked down the stairs. Now he easily could have been a dick and said screw that wings fan (especially with him being a good bit drunk) but he was instantly apologetic and came back not only with a replacement drink for me but one for my girl as well. I didnt feel one bit unsafe the whole time. Ive gone to a US-Mexico World Cup qualifying game in Mexico City before. Chicago fans are choir boys compared to that.

Problem with the Wings is they are making to many stupid mistakes. Mistakes you expect rookies to make not a veteran team. I cannot count how many times this year you see the Wings getting burned by bad changes (to many men tonight) which is all mental. And I cant think of a weaker end to end rush than the Wings gave up tonight. All that was missing was a red carpet for him to skate down before scoring.

As sad as his game has gotten

Holmstrom doesn't belong in the lineup right now let alone on a line with the top two players.

Theyve had a great regular season. As we all know that means jack s*** in a month.

Your only the best player if you can stay on the ice. Crosby hasnt been able to for over a year.

A small fraction of the players did. If I remember right it was just a max of 5 players per team were asked in that poll. Your statement of "the players voted him" is only correct if all players are included. Good ol Canadian boys are more likely to vote for Crosby. Russians more likely to vote for Datsyuk. What if they only asked Canadians? Theres no way to know.

I edited that to make it right for you. Since offense is the easiest thing to measure people jump to the conclusion that hes the best. Red Wings glasses off hes still behind Pav if you put there all around games up against each other. Besides come playoff time when the hitting picks up I give Crosby a 50/50 shot of lasting the rest of the season. His career is a lot closer to being over than Pavs.

Although your analogy I do admit is pretty funny I just disagree. Z isnt putting up the points but I dont think you can compare him to Franzen in the whole "got the contract so now they dont play". Franzen is just plain lazy out there and its painfully obvious. Id trade Franzen for the Ford Ram that kicks his ass in those commercials. Z though still plays hard every game. If he was content because he just got his contract he wouldn't be playing that hard. You cant really compare the numbers either. His early years he spent a lot of time with Pav. Pav inflates all of his line-mates numbers. If him and Datsyuk were played together as much as they were a couple years ago his numbers would be up there again.

Franzen yes. Z your out of your mind. He and Flip were basically the only ones that showed up every game in Pavels absence.

Cleary and Holmstrom need to be sat. Holmstroms saving grace the last couple years is hes good on the PP. With the powerplay as bad as it is he brings nothing more to the table. He completely kills the energy guys on the line. Cleary....well nothing more needs to be said about him.

Wait...Franzen has been in the lineup???

Its nice that Babcock knows what's wrong. How about he does something to try and fix it? Im sorry but the team was in a heated division race where home ice is more than likely going to determine how the Wings fare in the playoffs. If a team cant get motivated for that then its more than just the every year adversity. Its a sign of a bigger issue. Now the division is basically lost. I am more disappointed with the coaching staff than I am with the underachieving players. Babcock needs to do more than give Death Stares and find a way to motivate players. Blashill's job should be in jeopardy should the PP not correct itself. I think were getting to the point where everyone is content in there spot in the organization including the coaches. Think Bowman would have put up with the consistent laziness some players have shown this season?

Dan Cleary is a useless plug.

Arrest him!