Echolalia

Mine is terrible.

Sup gang! I haven't been to the Water Cooler in a while!

lol wat?

So I noticed that despite Weiss' terrible play so far, I still find myself liking him much more than Franzen. Weiss turnover= "no big deal, buddy, we're still pulling for ya! You'll get the next one!" Franzen turnover = "Cant you do anything right?!"

Well if you want to look good by comparison, a good strategy would be to get the puck to Cleary...

You can tell that he's slowly starting to get more comfortable and get his confidence out there. When he starts hanging onto the puck instead of being so quick to pass it on, the points will start racking up.

There are guys who sit behind a button who have a relatively clear view of the net, and when they see the puck cross the line, they press the button. Several years back, the goal light guys used to be in booths right behind the net, but they moved them elsewhere to put in more spectator seats.

Sheen of Pierre's head indeed

Knowing how lost puppy he is with Doc Emeric, I wouldn't be surprised if Doc has to be there too. In any event, it would be cool to get some professional commentating for the deed. "DRIVE! AND SCORE!!!"

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2013/10/red_wings_plan_is_for_darren_h.html As jimmyemeryhunter said, Helm is expected to play this Saturday against the Oilers!

Because when the Red Wings lose, they still win!

I don't know what I would do, but I want to see Nyquvist, Helm, and Tatar making up our third line at some point this season.

Abby was on the top line for a large part of last season, including playoffs, and half of this season. Tatar has been playing in the top 6 for the past game or so (and unfortunately didn't produce, although I felt he played his best game this season).

I'm with the others who are pointing at our back end, and not just defensmen, but how the entire team plays in our own zone. Quite frankly, the Wings are sloppy and slow on the breakout, and our young D-core is susceptible to hard fore-checks which only aggravates the problem. If we can't get good speed going out of our own zone and transition the game quickly and smoothly, we aren't going to generate any odd-man rushes or set ourselves up for quality scoring opportunities on the other end of the ice. Instead, our primary mode of attack is to regain possession in our own zone, get organized, and work our way out (by this point all five of the other team's skaters have retreated to the neutral zone and are defensively prepared for us). Datsyuk and Zetterberg can deal with that kind of defensive opposition. The rest of the team doesn't have that type of skill or vision, so its no surprise that anyone not named Datsyuk or Zetterberg has a low point total. Having said that, I also think Babcock hit the nail on the head saying that the Wings aren't doing the small stuff right, and they're playing a soft, sloppy brand of hockey all around. Still, I don't think the solution is a roster shake-up or anything so dramatic. The players need to establish an identity for themselves and play a system that complements their strengths. That comes with practice and familiarity with your teammates. We're a young team, there's plenty of fresh blood on the team, its still early in the season, and they're lucky to have one of the best coaches in the game to help them out. They'll get it sorted out.

I read in an article, I think on freep.com that he feels ready to play, and he's hoping to play this weekend.

haha I'm a poor ticket-printer. Rich folk don't talk to my type.

I've never personally done it, but I think you can. You'll have to wait for someone else to chime in for an official confirmation. I don't show up early enough to see them skate besides the quick warm-ups right before the game.

I would avoid parking at or near the Joe at all costs. The traffic/congestion gets hairy out there after the game ends. There are a number of restaurants that are within walking range, or provide free shuttle service to the Wings' games and back which are really convenient. Hockeytown cafe, Cheli's Chili I believe both have shuttles and provide a good environment to hang out and eat beforehand. There is also a bar with awesome pizza called Z's Villa a bit north of Downtown, on Woodward. They also provide a shuttle to the game and back, last time I checked. My typical gameday experience, however, is to go to Hardrock Cafe, because they have a nice parking garage which offers free parking if you eat there. They also have a shuttle to the game, but its within walking distance if you don't mind walking, so I typically walk to the Joe from there. I don't know much about where players are before/after games. I've never stuck around or looked to get an autograph. There are no bad seats at the Joe; I will agree with that. I've been in almost every section in the upper bowl and never had any issue seeing the game (although its definitely more fun being close to the ice!) Anyway, welcome to Detroit! I hope you have a blast!

I think it mostly comes down to familiarity. Babs and Holland are familiar with the vets and what they bring to the team. Additionally, the vets are familiar with the Wings' system, their role, and how the game is played at the NHL level. Skill can get you to the NHL, but experience definitely goes a long way as well. We see it with Tatar now. Its clear he is teeming with skill, based on his AHL experience, as well as his play in the NHL. At the same time, now that he's up here, he's also turning the puck over much more, getting closed on much quicker, and he is being read more carefully at this stage. He's getting better at responding to that, actually at a pretty quick rate. His first game this year IMO was terrible. His second was much better. His third average, and his most recent game I think was his best. Generally he is trending up. Smith his going through the same transition, albeit more slowly (as per tradition with Red Wing defensmen). Anyway, playoffs are expected around these parts, and I have to imagine its more comforting for the Wings' brass to shoot for the playoffs with a roster full of players who have repeatedly accomplished this feat, and slowly infuse the aging roster with youth at a very controlled rate. That's part of what made last year so exciting and nerve-wracking. The Wings had no choice but to turn to several GR callups and nobody knew what to expect, but by the hair of their teeth they made it into the playoffs, and I think Babs' stellar coaching really helped the team take off and get to game seven of the second round before bowing out.

How much longer until Miller is moved?

I hate drunk assholes and obnoxious fans. A few years ago someone was smoking near where my friends and I were sitting, so every 15 minutes or so we had to deal with cigarette smoke lofting around us.

Someone should plot goals waived off/game before and after Homer retired.

I don't like them. Or any of the other ones. Or anything. Why am I here???

He had many turnovers last night, which Babs absolutely detests. We've heard several times that one of the main ways he assesses how his players are performing is looking at who has the puck after they do. Tatar definitely brings tenacity and he has an instinctive ability to put the puck in the net, but I think Babcock values defense over offense.

You can tell that he doesn't have much confidence in himself right now. He is quick to get the puck off his stick to someone else, and that lack of patience is resulting in turn-overs and low percentage opportunities.