Game 3: Kopecky in, Calder out

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Interesting, I would not have seen this coming. Nothing against Kopecky, I like the way he plays, but he hasn't played in forever, and is a rookie. I would not have expected him to be in tomorrow night.

Even though he is bigger than Hudler, I would've gone with Hudler if this scenario played out. Hudler has done a fair amount with his limited ice time and chances. But, that is why I am not behind the bench.

You gotta feel for Calder though, injured hand and all. I didn't know much about him at the trade deadline when the Wings picked him up but I really like his style of play when he's healthy.

That being said...

Go Kopecky, get better soon Calder, and be ready for your number to be called Hudler!

WHY are all my faves always jinxed. What is this s***.

Bullocks- Calder DOES have a broken hand. It was mentioned right after the Flames series and it was quite obvious as he was holding his hand down, and shaking with his other in line of the handshakes. What proof do you need? Want him to show you his hand or something? I mean come on peeps..it's completely obvious.

Babcock doesn't like HC.

*shrugs*

[Guest bullocks]

WHY are all my faves always jinxed. What is this s***.

Bullocks- Calder DOES have a broken hand. It was mentioned right after the Flames series and it was quite obvious as he was holding his hand down, and shaking with his other in line of the handshakes. What proof do you need? Want him to show you his hand or something? I mean come on peeps..it's completely obvious.

i think ur jus in love with him

until i see a report, i believe nothing...but ya, he was playing good b4 that so he might have a broken hand...but usually if u have one u dont play a contact sport, thus...he may not.

[WingNut199 0]

iTS about time babcock replaced calder... what was the point of having him in the lineup when he has been playing an unproductive5 min a game?

[Kp-Wings 3]

Ugh. I can't believe this is true.

Kopecky SUCKS. This is a horrible move. If Calder is going to be benched, then why not play Hudler? Why? Does Babcock seriously hate him that much?

I wasn't really in favor of playing Hudler, but after hearing this, I definitly am. Kopecky is horrible. Hudler might be able to at least contribute offensivly in some way, despite his size. Kopecky is not offensive, and he is not that physical either. He's just big. He'll be a pylon out there.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Ugh. I can't believe this is true.

Kopecky SUCKS. This is a horrible move. If Calder is going to be benched, then why not play Hudler? Why? Does Babcock seriously hate him that much?

I wasn't really in favor of playing Hudler, but after hearing this, I definitly am. Kopecky is horrible. Hudler might be able to at least contribute offensivly in some way, despite his size. Kopecky is not offensive, and he is not that physical either. He's just big. He'll be a pylon out there.

hudler would be completely man-handled by the ducks. babs is looking more for a body that can provide some physical play and energy, hudler won't do that, he would only get knocked around even worse than he did against the sharks.

[Kp-Wings 3]

hudler would be completely man-handled by the ducks. babs is looking more for a body that can provide some physical play and energy, hudler won't do that, he would only get knocked around even worse than he did against the sharks.

Theres just one problem. Kopecky does neither of these things.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

i think ur jus in love with him

until i see a report, i believe nothing...but ya, he was playing good b4 that so he might have a broken hand...but usually if u have one u dont play a contact sport, thus...he may not.

Absolutely not. I just happen to think he's a heck of a player when healthy.

And actually it depends where you break your hand and what bone as to whether you can play on it or not. Obviously he could, but was still ineffective.

[Guest bullocks]

Absolutely not. I just happen to think he's a heck of a player when healthy.

And actually it depends where you break your hand and what bone as to whether you can play on it or not. Obviously he could, but was still ineffective.

meh, he did dick all with philly this year when healthy...so who knows.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

meh, he did dick all with philly this year when healthy...so who knows.

You said it.

Edited May 15, 2007 by HockeyCrazy3033

[Kp-Wings 3]

meh, he did dick all with philly this year when healthy...so who knows.

Wow, nice comparison. Who else on Philly, besides Simon Gagne, actually did anything this year either?

Your Calder hate is becoming annoying. You can't deny the fact that, when he first came here, he was awesome. Whatever happened since then I don't know. But still though, you act like he's a horrible player who couldn't crack an ECHL roster. Why? Because he's having a bad playoffs? Then I guess Patrick Marleau, Marian Hossa, Jarome Iginla, Paul Kariya, and every other person who underperformed these playoffs all must suck too then right?

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

Theres just one problem. Kopecky does neither of these things.

Ok buddy.. (pats you on the shoulder reassuringly)

[EuroTwinLove40 0]

I think it's a good decision to sit Calder. It'll be interesting to see how Kopecky plays after being out for so long. Hopefully he will do well. I'm all for Hudler, but Kopecky is probably a better choice because of his size.

[esteef 2,679]

I think it's a good decision to sit Calder. It'll be interesting to see how Kopecky plays after being out for so long. Hopefully he will do well. I'm all for Hudler, but Kopecky is probably a better choice because of his size.

Agree. For whatever reason, Calder's not playing like he was when we picked him up. Give the big kid a chance, he's fresh and will only pick up Calder's few minutes anyway.

wurd,

esteef

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Do people honestly care THAT much. If ANYTHING, this means more minutes for guys like Filppula and Franzen. Instead of Getting Calder's 7 minutes a game, Kopecky will likely get 3-4 minutes, and be out there with a guy he played with a lot last season in Filppula.

Not a bad move at all. As for Hudler, I think he would be a better instertion considering he has good skill, but hes simply too small. Until he figures out exactly how to evade the strength and size at the NHL level (it took St. Louis a while), he should steer clear of the hardest hitting/biggest team in the league.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Absolutely not. I just happen to think he's a heck of a player when healthy.

And actually it depends where you break your hand and what bone as to whether you can play on it or not. Obviously he could, but was still ineffective.

Im guessing it wasent near the middle of his hand , thats a broken hand thats useless.

He probably got it near the knuckles which , you can play through but ruins your game. I played with one this year , in the 8 games I played with it , I had no points and was a -6 . Broken hands are killer.

He'll be better next year. (I hope we re-sign him !)

[Elshupacabra 0]

Well, if this isn't outright proof that someone in the Red Wings orginization reads this board, I don't know what is.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Injured or Not , hes been invisable.

Good move , Hudler would've been my pick , But Kopecky is 6'3

I don't buy that general logic. Huds is small, sure, but so is Dats. 5'11 isn't much to write home about in the NHL. Yet we've seen that just playing physical and keeping your head up does more then being 6'4 and putting around the ice. I think it's retarded that Kopec is going in instead of Huds. Kopecky hasn't shown a whole lot of impresive play, certainly not compared to Huds who got similar minutes, so throwing him in because he's big is like replacing Dats with Bert because Bert's so big. Well, not that extreme, but you see what I'm getting at.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Ok buddy.. (pats you on the shoulder reassuringly)

Wow. Nice mature response.

Sorry I don't think Kopecky is this physical power-forward God like everyone else here. In fact, I think he sucks. It's just my opinion. If you think he's a good player, I'm not going to make idiotic comments to you about it. There is no reason you should make them at me because I don't think he's a good player.

[Matt 1,049]

Here's to hoping he doesn't fall on the puck during his first shift Tuesday night and re-breaks the collarbone...

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

Fresh legs are nice, but I wonder if they need to break out the WD-40 to get the rust off of him....

But unless I miss my guess, it isn't like he's coming off the street and into a uniform. Game speed will take an adjustment, but I'm certain he's been practicing for the better part of the past month. Right?

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Wow. Nice mature response.

Sorry I don't think Kopecky is this physical power-forward God like everyone else here. In fact, I think he sucks. It's just my opinion. If you think he's a good player, I'm not going to make idiotic comments to you about it. There is no reason you should make them at me because I don't think he's a good player.

i don't think anybody is calling him a "physical power-forward god". but he can play physically and he's a quasi-large body and he has energy. hudler is tiny and slow and got tossed around like a rag doll against san jose. he does have more offensive upside than kopecky, but he wouldn't have any space to do anything playing the ducks. i like this choice, i just hope kopckey isn't too rusty.

Here's to hoping he doesn't fall on the puck during his first shift Tuesday night and re-breaks the collarbone...

i'll second that.

[Guest bullocks]

Wow, nice comparison. Who else on Philly, besides Simon Gagne, actually did anything this year either?

Your Calder hate is becoming annoying. You can't deny the fact that, when he first came here, he was awesome. Whatever happened since then I don't know. But still though, you act like he's a horrible player who couldn't crack an ECHL roster. Why? Because he's having a bad playoffs? Then I guess Patrick Marleau, Marian Hossa, Jarome Iginla, Paul Kariya, and every other person who underperformed these playoffs all must suck too then right?

i never denied the fact that when he first came here he was awesome, if he check all my posts. thanks.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Fresh legs are nice, but I wonder if they need to break out the WD-40 to get the rust off of him....

But unless I miss my guess, it isn't like he's coming off the street and into a uniform. Game speed will take an adjustment, but I'm certain he's been practicing for the better part of the past month. Right?

yeah, he's been healthy for a while.

[datsyukonethree 0]

AWESOME. I was just thinking this morning how great this would be.

[WingNut199 0]

Ugh. I can't believe this is true.

Kopecky SUCKS. This is a horrible move. If Calder is going to be benched, then why not play Hudler? Why? Does Babcock seriously hate him that much?

Are you serious?? First of all, were do you get off saying, "Kopecky SUCKS"? To me that seems like such an ignorant statement.. anyone wearing the winged wheel clearly has a lot of talent...wayy offbase man.

Secondly, why are there so m any of you scared to play the youngsters in the playoffs.. I for one love when young guys get a shot on the big stage because who else wants the shot more than them?.. And for those saying, "he's going to be rusty"...WHAT??? what do you think hockey players do in the offseason, sit on the couch and watch infomertials? ....ridiculous.

Also, how can you argue bringing in a replacement for Calder? I mean I love him to death, but why have a guy sitting on the bench for 95% of the game? I can't argue too much with those who would prefer to have Hudler in there, but I mean Kopecky offers so much more of a physical presence which is EXACTLY what we need against the Duckies..we're getting pushed around 5v5

I welcome anyone who disagrees with my opinion, I just ask that you support your claims with more than what i've been reading