What does Mikael Samuelsson bring to the table?

[OsGOD 3]

Sammy shoots the puck, he does this alot, which I wish would rub off on some of our other "Star" players.

Other than padding the stats and boosting the goalies confidence... what does fruitless shooting really bring to the table? I mean we get 50+ shots a game several times... Blindly shooting isn't always the sign of a good player. He hasn't been successfull at all on the point in the powerplay. he is just happy to be out there.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

He brings a good size, good speed, good checking, good shooting, good hands winger to detroit who in the past has been a smaller non physical team. He creates room with his size, he creates scoring chances with his quick release and he gets alot of shots on net. (yes some are not great shots, but shots on net are important).

Sammy shoots the puck, he does this alot, which I wish would rub off on some of our other "Star" players.

What you fail to realize is that he is just coming off of his first major injury, that will play on your mind for sometime, you will do things to avoid getting hurt again, untill he gains his full confedence back, he will not play his best. That is the only fault you can point to with Sammy. He is great in the Defensive zone and a very smart hockey player.

Are there other guys that can do what he can do? Sure but why would you give up a stead defensive minded player that can put the puck in the net or create chances for others.

He is getting power play time because he has a huge shot that goalies have a hard time contanting the rebounds.

You can pick and pick but you can do that to anyone in the league. It still doesnt change the fact that he is a good player.

a. Kopecky, if he was 100% I would choose him over this version of Sammy.

b. The shots have to get through and be on net to have a rebound. One deflected shot that Pavel buries doesn't equal more playing time for him. And, he is a HUGE defensive liability on the blue line because he can't seem to settle down a bouncing puck as well as a defenseman.

c. All players have flaws, but if they can score goals most are forgiven. Bertuzzi can be bashed relentlessly around here, but if he lays out JT into the post again, or roofs one standing 3 feet in front of Nabby, his prior penalties seem to dissolve into the realm of "who cares as long as he makes a difference." Sammy is not making a difference.

Edited May 1, 2007 by Wings_Dynasty

[Red4wings4life 0]

Other than padding the stats and boosting the goalies confidence... what does fruitless shooting really bring to the table? I mean we get 50+ shots a game several times... Blindly shooting isn't always the sign of a good player. He hasn't been successfull at all on the point in the powerplay. he is just happy to be out there.

a. Kopecky, if he was 100% I would choose him over this version of Sammy.

This is very very simple, lets see if you can follow this.

Shoots = chances = confidence = Goals

Sammy shooting the puck creates chances off rebounds and pressure in the offensive zone, which creates confidence for the players to keep up what they are doing, which creates Goals.

Ever wonder why once one line gets good offensive pressure usally the next couple of lines get some good chances?

It is because they gain confidence. Todd and Dats and Zet need to take a page out of Sammy's book and start shooting more.

Your right 50 shots a game mean little on the stat sheet but 50 shots on goal means that Detroit is in the offensive zone creating chances. Once again the old saying - 100% of the shots you dont take dont score. When in dout shot the puck on net. You are told that time and time again growing up playing hockey. Shot the puck every chance you get.. Dont try to make the perfect cross ice pass, dont try to make that extra move, Shoot the puck.

Kopecky is not a proven player yet, he is still young, he will get his chance to play but right now you have to go with a proven goal scorer

Sorry and - Gordie Howe by a long shot... Reason Gordie knows how to play a rounded hockey game, Scoring, hitting, passing and defensive. Gordie is an all around player were as Wayne is only a goal scorer.

Edited May 1, 2007 by Red4wings4life

[motorcitykid 42]

He is getting power play time because he has a huge shot that goalies have a hard time contanting the rebounds.

OK cmon I understand the need to get your point across, but now you're just lying your ass off. My pick for funniest post EVER, in here! :!: :!:

[Yzerman19 334]

To my mind, the most useless wings since the beginning of the series are Lang and Markov.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

This is very very simple, lets see if you can follow this.

Shoots = chances = confidence = Goals

Sammy shooting the puck creates chances off rebounds and pressure in the offensive zone, which creates confidence for the players to keep up what they are doing, which creates Goals.

Ever wonder why once one line gets good offensive pressure usally the next couple of lines get some good chances?

It is because they gain confidence. Todd and Dats and Zet need to take a page out of Sammy's book and start shooting more.

Your right 50 shots a game mean little on the stat sheet but 50 shots on goal means that Detroit is in the offensive zone creating chances. Once again the old saying - 100% of the shots you dont take dont score. When in dout shot the puck on net. You are told that time and time again growing up playing hockey. Shot the puck every chance you get.. Dont try to make the perfect cross ice pass, dont try to make that extra move, Shoot the puck.

Kopecky is not a proven player yet, he is still young, he will get his chance to play but right now you have to go with a proven goal scorer

Sorry and - Gordie Howe by a long shot... Reason Gordie knows how to play a rounded hockey game, Scoring, hitting, passing and defensive. Gordie is an all around player were as Wayne is only a goal scorer.

There is a difference between taking shots and taking GOOD shots. Chances present themselves sometimes, and Sammy hasn't done anything with his shots except whip them at the net whenever he gets the puck over the blueline.

Pick your moments and shots become SCORING CHANCES. Another thing that creates scoring chances is PASSING. Something that Sammy has lacking in his game.

Kopecky isn't proven, but when does he get a chance? In this scenario of mediocre play from your "proven" player Sammy, this would be as good a time as any to give him a chance to do something. It happened with Quincey and he has responded well in a high pressure situation with good play and no mistakes. If Kopecky, a big body with great skating ability and soft hands, could be put in right now, Babcock shoud do it. But he just came off injury and is undoubtedly rusty.

Edited May 1, 2007 by Wings_Dynasty

[Spongewingredpants 75]

where is that thread from last year where everybody wanted to sign Sammy to a 10 year extension?

[Red4wings4life 0]

There is a difference between taking shots and taking GOOD shots. Chances present themselves sometimes, and Sammy hasn't done anything with his shots except whip them at the net whenever he gets the puck over the blueline.

Pick your moments and shots become SCORING CHANCES.

Kopecky isn't proven, but when does he get a chance? In this scenario of mediocre play from your "proven" player Sammy, this would be as good a time as any to give him a chance to do something. It happened with Quincey and he has responded well in a high pressure situation with good play and no mistakes. If Kopecky, a big body with great skating ability and soft hands, could be put in right now, Babcock shoud do it. But he just came off injury and is undoubtedly rusty.

No there is no difference in taking shots and taking good shots..... A shot on goal is a shot on goal is a shot on goal. Taking a shot on goal is NEVER a bad move. Again, Taking a SHOT ON GOAL IS NEVER A BAD MOVE.

Do I need to say it one more time or do you get it yet?

Kopecky will get a shot when he is healthy and ready to go, more then likly next year. He is a solid player too and he will produce goals, how many is still to be decided. Right now you need to go with your best players and that is what Babcock is doing.

"motorcitykid" - I am not lieing to make my point, the reason Sammy is on the point is because he had a hard shot and it causes goalies to give up rebounds... case and point is game 2, Sammy gets a good pass off the boards, not in a great shooting positon, gets the shot on net and created the rebound for Dats to score.

He was below the hash marks on the left side of the circle, that is not a good place to shoot, the goalie can come out and cut off the angle and leave you nothing to shot at. But Sammy put it on net, and because of his hard shot it created a rebound.

Last Year Sammy was scoring left and right. Sammy gets hurt this year and he lost a few steps because of the injury, he will get the step back.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

No there is no difference in taking shots and taking good shots..... A shot on goal is a shot on goal is a shot on goal. Taking a shot on goal is NEVER a bad move. Again, Taking a SHOT ON GOAL IS NEVER A BAD MOVE.

Do I need to say it one more time or do you get it yet?

I think you will find that repetition does not create truthfulness. Case in point:

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

It is my sad duty to inform you that I am still not a millionaire.

Anyways: Samuelsson. He shoots from lousy places sometimes, and it's a bad play if he can instead dump the puck in and create some cycling that will hopefully generate a better scoring chance. Just giving it to the goalie from sixty feet away is nothing more than a turnover that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

That said, Sammy's been pretty OK these last few games.

[OsGOD 3]

I think you will find that repetition does not create truthfulness. Case in point:

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

It is my sad duty to inform you that I am still not a millionaire.

That said, Sammy's been pretty OK these last few games.

Dammit... I was so hoping you could bum me say $100,000 or so. Oh well, what can you do

Yeah sammy played alright, but I still question the benching of other players to keep him in.

Edited May 1, 2007 by OsGOD

[Red4wings4life 0]

I think you will find that repetition does not create truthfulness. Case in point:

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

I HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS

It is my sad duty to inform you that I am still not a millionaire.

Anyways: Samuelsson. He shoots from lousy places sometimes, and it's a bad play if he can instead dump the puck in and create some cycling that will hopefully generate a better scoring chance. Just giving it to the goalie from sixty feet away is nothing more than a turnover that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

That said, Sammy's been pretty OK these last few games.

Repetition in my post was showing a point that shooting the puck on net is never a bad idea.

Your post was non sense. Why are you not a millonaire?

Sure Sammy can play better, I said that all along, Sammy is not playing his best hockey, that does not mean he sucks like you all seem to think. Sammy is a good solid hockey player that can put up points. (case and point last season).

The Wings are not playing their best hockey but I dont see you guys saying the Wings Suck, I dont want to watch them anymore. It silly that you cant see pass his play in some games and realize that he is a better hockey player then he is showing. Watch Sammy every shift in the next game and tell me he is not doing the small things. I will watch him tomorrow night and I will write down each and everytime he does something good and will will see who has more to write about.

Its amazing how these boards pick certain players and blame them for the teams short fails.

Hasek needs to change his style - yea cause his trophy room is empty

Lang is lazy and sucks - yea cause he was never a good hockey player and he is not getting near the end of his career

Sammy Sucks - yea cause he was not injuryed for a good part of the season with his first major injury

Babcock is a bad coach - yea he has not done a great job getting his previous teams to the playoffs before Detroit.

What a bunch of crybaby fans. Grow up. We cannot win every game, if we won every game Hockey would be boring.

Edited May 1, 2007 by Red4wings4life

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Repetition in my post was showing a point that shooting the puck on net is never a bad idea.

Your post was non sense. Why are you not a millonaire?

I was half-joking, but the point I was trying to illustrate was that saying something a bunch of times doesn't make it true. More specifically, I was prodding for the answer to this question: why is shooting the puck on net never a bad idea? As I went on to say, there are times when it is a bad idea if a better play can be made.

Just so we're clear, I'm not even hating on Sammy. I think he's played alright this playoffs and more recently this series. But to suggest that there's no flaw in his over-shooting isn't gonna cut it.

[Valas19 50]

Shoots = chances = confidence = Goals

I can't fully agree. For the most part yes but not always. Let's look at last year. Is Dwayne Roloson a great goalie? I don't think so. He is maybe a bit better than average. Not gonna really argue his prowess. The Wings took a lot of shots at him but without anyone in front of the net he made those stops. What happened then? The Oilers gained a ton of confidence that their goalie is the next coming of Terry Sawchuk and the Wings grew frustrated that they couldn't get anything past him. Didn't really help that Legace did not exude any confidence by letting in some weak goals but I digress. End result we all know.

Those shots need to be quality chances. Shooting with no one in front of the net, not even the opposing defencemen does nothing other than increasing the number on the shot clock.

With that said, I'm not directing that at Samuelsson. Just at any of the Wings in general. 50 shots on the net means little if none of them are quality scoring chances.

Edited May 1, 2007 by Valas19

[Red4wings4life 0]

I was prodding for the answer to this question: why is shooting the puck on net never a bad idea?

To answer this question. I go back to the good old saying.

If you dont shoot the puck, you dont score goals. Its very simple.

You have to shoot to score. We can all agree on that right?

So what happens if Detroit (who is know to do this) starts passing the puck around looking for that perfect shoot? they end up cycling and cycling and finally lose the puck. We all have seen this Detroit Red Wing team do stuff like that. How many times have you sat their watcing the Wings and yelling at your TV, SHOOT Dam you SHOOT, WTF are you doing SHOOT it already. Well Sammy shoots every chance he gets. He has a great shot. Is their times he should have passed instead of shot, of course but We get the benefit of watching the outcome of the play then complaining about it. You need to watch the game as if you were playing the game. Dont judge the play on what could or should have happen, judge the play on what happen.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

To answer this question. I go back to the good old saying.

If you dont shoot the puck, you dont score goals. Its very simple.

Right, but if you shoot from 40+ feet away with no traffic you're just turning the puck over most of the time.

So what happens if Detroit (who is know to do this) starts passing the puck around looking for that perfect shoot? they end up cycling and cycling and finally lose the puck. We all have seen this Detroit Red Wing team do stuff like that. How many times have you sat their watcing the Wings and yelling at your TV, SHOOT Dam you SHOOT, WTF are you doing SHOOT it already. Well Sammy shoots every chance he gets. He has a great shot. Is their times he should have passed instead of shot, of course but We get the benefit of watching the outcome of the play then complaining about it. You need to watch the game as if you were playing the game. Dont judge the play on what could or should have happen, judge the play on what happen.

Right, well we've pretty much got one goal generated off his shoot-no-matter-what mentality, but it was actually a good shot from the face off dot, twenty feet and change. Can you honestly recall a time one of Sammy's Floating Wrister Specials from forty feet actually fooled a goalie or generated a scoring chance? I can't.

[Kp-Wings 3]

After Calder was sat, I've come to the conclusion that Babcock and Samulesson partake in *** sex every night after the game.

Seriously, I'm watching FSN last night and they had Babcock on in the pre-game. This is what he says:

"Well, we were losing and decided to make some changes. So Calder was sat. We just felt some changes to the lineup needed to be made. Kyle didn't play bad or anything, but we needed to shake things up."

After hearing this line, I start to wonder. Granted Calder has been bad these playoffs, but is it any worse then Samulesson? No, I don't think so.

I'm not really calling Babcock *** or anything, but what is it that he sees in Samulesson? I mean, he screws up more then he helps, and it doesn't effect his ice time. Granted it was Samulessons shot that caused the Datsyuk goal in Game 2, but for the most part his shots really mean nothing.

Edited May 1, 2007 by Kp-Wings

[glasgowcelticwing 18]

where is that thread from last year where everybody wanted to sign Sammy to a 10 year extension?

That went bye bye along with his performance's of his career year last season.

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

While Sammy is a decent two-way player I feel his biggest attribute is his shot. If you want to wear out a goalies chest, and force the equipment manager to stitch a new logo on his jersey, Sammy is your guy.

And if my memory serves me, did Sammy pass the puck back to nick, who then gave it to Franzen. Regardless, Franzen wasn't setup for the goal. Franzen took a pass, and did the rest of the work himself.

[Red4wings4life 0]

Right, but if you shoot from 40+ feet away with no traffic you're just turning the puck over most of the time.

Right, well we've pretty much got one goal generated off his shoot-no-matter-what mentality, but it was actually a good shot from the face off dot, twenty feet and change. Can you honestly recall a time one of Sammy's Floating Wrister Specials from forty feet actually fooled a goalie or generated a scoring chance? I can't.

Well we can agree to disagree.

Last season was a perfect example of how Sammy shooting is a good thing. I still believe he has a lot of good years left in him, I truely believe that his injury this seaons is causing his off season.

Last Season

Total shots on net 187

Shot vs Goal % - 12.3

This seaons

Total shots on net 189

Shot vs Goal % - 7.4

The injury has alot to do with that. If we can get the rest of the team shooting the puck as much as Sammy we would be in great shape, There has been may times in this Series the Wings cut to the middle of the ice only to pass the puck away, You need to shoot, Yes sometimes you need to make that extra pass but I think that he is under orders from the coaching staff to shoot because he was not shooting alot after he came back from his injury. If Sammy keeps getting his shots on net, you will see it create more goals.

Look for Sammy, Lang and Calder to get some offense going before the End of the Series.

Have you played Ice hockey? not house leagues but really competive Ice hockey?

(No this doesnt mean much other then you may not understand how shooting creates confidence for both the goalie and the shooter)

While Sammy is a decent two-way player I feel his biggest attribute is his shot. If you want to wear out a goalies chest, and force the equipment manager to stitch a new logo on his jersey, Sammy is your guy.

And if my memory serves me, did Sammy pass the puck back to nick, who then gave it to Franzen. Regardless, Franzen wasn't setup for the goal. Franzen took a pass, and did the rest of the work himself.

First Sammy is not the only Red Wing quilty of hitting the goalie in the chest. It has been an issue for the Wings for a long long time, way before Sammy ever showed up. The Red Wings always make the other teams goalie look better then he really is.

Second, I have no idea what you are talking about with the whole sammy, franzen Nick thing.

Edited May 1, 2007 by Red4wings4life

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Last season was a perfect example of how Sammy shooting is a good thing.

I think you're misunderstanding me: Sammy having a quick trigger-finger is OK with me. But it's not perfect. He shoots from too far away, with no traffic at the net. It's giving the puck away. How many goals has he scored or created on lame forty footers? Specifically, playoff goals?

The good thing is he has a nice shot and can put it to good use, and the bad thing is he takes lame shots that have no chance. You take the good and the bad. Why is that so tough to grasp?

Have you played Ice hockey? not house leagues but really competive Ice hockey?

No. I played a little in my youth, but I was truly ghastly and quit while I was ahead. Still, I've watched enough hockey to know about the game.

[OsGOD 3]

The way I see it... Anybody who can skate and accept a pass can shoot the puck... millions of times over, in fact. The only way you gain confidence as a shooter is to break the mold of fruitless shots by getting the biscuit in the basket. Other than that, with each save the goalie makes you are getting more and more down on yourself. Now Quality scoring chances is one thing, but sammy's shots rarely are qualtiy scoring chances.

Whats the phrase they always say when a slumpiing goal scorer finally nets one.."Got that moneky off of his back" or something along those lines.

Edited May 1, 2007 by OsGOD

[Hank 0]

No there is no difference in taking shots and taking good shots..... A shot on goal is a shot on goal is a shot on goal. Taking a shot on goal is NEVER a bad move. Again, Taking a SHOT ON GOAL IS NEVER A BAD MOVE.

Do I need to say it one more time or do you get it yet?

Kopecky will get a shot when he is healthy and ready to go, more then likly next year. He is a solid player too and he will produce goals, how many is still to be decided. Right now you need to go with your best players and that is what Babcock is doing.

"motorcitykid" - I am not lieing to make my point, the reason Sammy is on the point is because he had a hard shot and it causes goalies to give up rebounds... case and point is game 2, Sammy gets a good pass off the boards, not in a great shooting positon, gets the shot on net and created the rebound for Dats to score.

He was below the hash marks on the left side of the circle, that is not a good place to shoot, the goalie can come out and cut off the angle and leave you nothing to shot at. But Sammy put it on net, and because of his hard shot it created a rebound.

Last Year Sammy was scoring left and right. Sammy gets hurt this year and he lost a few steps because of the injury, he will get the step back.

Am I the only one that finds hilarity in this? To have chances you have to at least HIT THE NET. That is something Sammy does about 2% of the time. He's brutal in any kind of offensive role. He's fine on the 4th line (a bit overpriced), but that's where he belongs.

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

First Sammy is not the only Red Wing quilty of hitting the goalie in the chest. It has been an issue for the Wings for a long long time, way before Sammy ever showed up. The Red Wings always make the other teams goalie look better then he really is.

Second, I have no idea what you are talking about with the whole sammy, franzen Nick thing.

So the Wings are outscored by 10 other teams in teh regular season, and they make goalies look good?

And the Nick, Franzen, Sammy thing was in regards to someone saying Sammy setup the OT winner in Calgary.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

He had more hustle then every wing but Cleary last night. He hasent been bad , he isnt that bad , he aint a top line winger , but he isnt a 4th line one either

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Samuelsson brings Swedish meatballs, a long/messy hairdue, and endless bashing opportunities on LetsGoWings.com.