Echolalia

So what's the running total at?

I don't think its just the power-play. During the beginning of this season, the Red Wings didn't have an identity. We brought in a bunch of new faces and lost several key cogs, and with the lockout cutting training camps short, the players didn't have any time to gel. I think within the past week or so (losing streak included) the Wings have played a more unified game of hockey, and while it hasn't always translated into wins, you can definitely see a difference between the Game 19 Red Wings and Game 9 Red Wings. However I'm with Xithium. I'll be more comfortable with the state of this team when they can be successful in another team's barn.

I'm looking forward to watching the Wings play Chicago.

Has Lashoff played his final AHL game?

Is Helm the only Wing on IR?

Why else would Holland be placing someone on waivers if not to make room for someone else?? I'm already getting depressed for getting my hopes up. I'm such a moron an oxymoron.

Interesting concept! I don't think our problems stem from the tactics that Babs is utilizing, though. I think most of the issues just come from stupid plays, ala Zetterberg's blind pass to the slot, Brunner's offensive zone turnover with one defensman back, etc.

So who is returning to the lineup to warrant Holland moving a player?

We should sticky this thread. Apparently this isn't going to go away.

http://kuklaskorner.com/tmr/comments/red-wings-monday-practice-post-in-progress-wings-attempt-to-rebound-via-lin I don't know if this is worthy of its own thread but I didn't know where else to put it. Anyway, of note: Gustavson and Franzen are both practicing. More interesting: Tatar replaced Cleary on the second line with Filppulla and Sammy. Also, Tatar is with Dats and Z on the first power play unit. I'm really interested to see whether this makes it to the game, and how it ends up working. One of Tatar's unsung strengths IMO is his tenacity in the dirty areas, despite his size. I think he may do well in his new role.

I can't believe that they didn't catch Duschene offside. How does that happen?

The top line played well, but the other lines weren't creating any opportunities, and were liabilities at times. Its tough to break up an effective line, but hopefully it yields results for the greater good.

I vaguely remember this, and something is nagging me that Rafalski scored the first goal, or maybe the OT goal. Or maybe I'm thinking of a separate event.

I don't see Babcock benching Cleary anytime soon because even with his underwhelming play so far, he still has two things going for him: 1) The Wings don't have anybody who plays Cleary's type of game as effective as he does (at least historically; who knows whether anyone will fill that role this year), and 2) Even with Cleary not getting anything productive done, he's still working hard and sacrificing the body to try to make plays and battling every shift he has, and Babs values hard workers very much. On Nyqvist: I was curious why Tatar and Andersson were brought up ahead of him this year, especially considering how well he seemed to fit into the NHL when he was previously brought up (not to mention his AHL play). I heard something about Holland wanting his other prospects to feel like they're still valued, but that's kind of a weak reason on its own. Anyway, I wonder if Holland and co intentionally created an atmosphere in the minor leagues for Nyqvist without Tatar and Andersson to observe whether Nyqvist is capable of leading a team on his own. Perhaps the Wings's organization is starting to look for leadership for after Zetterberg and Dats are gone. If you believe this article that was posted on these boards once (http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/captain_zetterberg_was_determined_years_ago/11046893) then you know that the Wings look for leadership qualities at an early time in a player's professional career. Anyway, its all a great deal of speculation on my part, but its something to think about.

Apparently I'm in the minority here. I think Abdelkader is one of the most defensively responsible players on our team.

Oh my god yes the Joe needs to be replaced. The Wings have accumulated many awesome memories there, but that arena is terribly designed. Uncomfortable seats, no leg-room, terrible bathrooms which are also lacking. Need more box seats and better location as already stated. The whole thing is a concrete sarcophogas with no visual appeal, outside or inside. I am so ready for a new arena.

I just hope to see inglorious Backes challenge the entire Canadian team to fights leading up to the Olympics again.

This was given a 5-game suspension and totaled $125,000 in fines back in the playoffs of 2007 (prior to suspension crackdowns). Both plays were malicious attacks against the opponent using the hockey stick as a weapon, although McLennan gave more of a slash than a spear. Personally, I think these two cases are fairy similar, but everyone else is free to make their own judgment. Nonetheless, if the league thinks the above penalty is worth 5 games, in the playoffs no less, than I don't think its reaching to see Franzen get one game, or maybe even a fine. Granted, there have been a few notable spears in recent memory which didn't result in suspensions, so if he gets nothing I wouldn't be surprised at all. I'm not about to try to predict the outcome of this situation. I still stand by my belief that this type of behavior is a joke and should be punished. If Franzen wants retribution for a hit he doesn't agree with, then he needs to do it like a man and use his fists, face to face with his opponent. Otherwise get on with the game because frankly its embarrassing and a waste of time.

I wouldn't mind a one-game suspension. It was childish and dangerous and its hard for me to be condescending to fans of other teams if Wings are going to do this sort of thing :/

This is what I took away from last night as well. Well worded.

Tatar didn't score, nor did he singlehandedly earn the Wings scoring opportunities, but that's not his role (just yet). What Tatar did do well was demonstrate an excellent hockey sense in predicting where the puck was going, and getting himself to that spot, where he ended up with the puck on his stick. There was an excellent example of this in the third, when our defenseman (can't remember who) pinced down to the half boards to dump the puck back in deep. Instead of hanging out at the faceoff dot for a pass or dropping behind the net to pick up the dump in, Tatar went to the blue line, and sure enough, the puck was immediately turned over and shot up the boards directly to him, where he was able to keep the attack alive. He was also tenacious on the puck. Tatar seemed to chase the puck down wherever it went in the offensive zone, instead of waiting around for a teammate to do all the work. Also, despite his small frame, he was mucking it up in the corners and along the boards and did not seem the least bit phased. To be honest (and I'll likely get flamed for this), he reminded me of Darren Helm, at least with how passionately and intent he was playing. He doesn't have the crash that Helm has, but at least last night he had Helm's heart.

I haven't seen too much of Tatar outside of his time with the Wings (and a couple GR games), but I think the only similarities between the two are they are both small forwards, and both have a shoot first mentality. Other than that, I think Tatar is an upside in just about every other facet of the game.

I love the design of that helmet! Even without Peter on it, it looks gorgeous.

That was such a good hit. It reminded me of when Goku KO'ed Recoome.

All of the other channels we checked last night were working fine, including FSN and ESPN. FSN+ was the only poor feed.