Game 3: Kopecky in, Calder out

[Elshupacabra 0]

.. 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.

He has had a broken collar bone since December 14 and he was taken off the IR on 4/26/07 and nobody has any idea what he has been doing since. there is a pretty good chance that he will be rusty IMO

Here is a stat that I found while looking up when he got hurt, In the last 5 games he has had played in the NHL he has had 60 shifts and 1 shot on goal

But he is, 6' 3" and 199 pounds so that alone might help the team!

and yet another stat, the 1 goal he has scored this year WAS AGAINST ANAHEIM AND GIGUERE!!!!!!

Edited May 15, 2007 by Elshupacabra

[EuroTwinLove40 0]

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

Exactly

[kozac 10]

Good move, we need a Slovak on the roster to represent the big 7 in hockey world.

On a more serious note, Calder's been pretty useless and if putting Kopecky in will bring 2-3 more hits for the Red Wings then its already more than what we get out of Calder. If Calder's hand is the problem then i guess he gets a free pass.

Isn't it funny how everybody feels bad for Calder and gives him the pass over here because he's playing with an injury, but nobody gave a s*** when Datsyuk was getting blood drained from his leg between periods last year? Can you say North American bias?

[redwingsgirl 0]

I really liked watching Kopecky play when he was in GR and saw him play more games there with more time on ice than at the Joe this season. I know he has the skills to make an impact and hoping he will show them tomorrow night on the ice. I'm believing that he can come back strong and healthy and add something positivie. Kopecky has to be an improvement over Calder who has not contributed much, if anything, to this series. I'm hoping he will come out sharp and prove all doubters wrong, but we'll just have to wait until tomorrow night!

GO WINGS!!!!!!

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

He has had a broken collar bone since December 14 and he was taken off the IR on 4/26/07 and nobody has any idea what he has been doing since. there is a pretty good chance that he will be rusty IMO

Here is a stat that I found while looking up when he got hurt, In the last 5 games he has had played in the NHL he has had 60 shifts and 1 shot on goal

But he is, 6' 3" and 199 pounds so that alone might help the team!

and yet another stat, the 1 goal he has scored this year WAS AGAINST ANAHEIM AND GIGUERE!!!!!!

Watch now , Kopecky game winner in game 3

[Guest Crymson]

Red Wings forward Kyle Calder will be benched for Game 3 on Tuesday in favor of Tomas Kopecky.

Calder hasn̢۪t seen much ice time in the first two games against Anaheim, playing only 7:57 minutes in the first two games of the Western Conference finals. He has only one point this postseason, an assist in Game 5 against Calgary in the first round of the playoffs.

Kopecky hasn̢۪t played since Dec. 14, when he suffered a broken collarbone against the Chicago Blackhawks.

WHAT ABOUT HUDLER?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My goodness, talk about Babcock throwing a total insult at Huds, benching him--despite his considerable offensive production throughout the regular season when given the chance, and despite his clear hustle whenever he has played in the playoffs--in favor of a no-production, long-injured Kopecky... why???

Edited May 15, 2007 by Crymson

[MacAttack25 44]

Good. I like Kopecky.

[Elshupacabra 0]

WHAT ABOUT HUDLER?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My goodness, talk about Babcock throwing a total insult at Huds, benching him--despite his considerable offensive production throughout the regular season when given the chance, and despite his clear hustle whenever he has played in the playoffs--in favor of a no-production, long-injured Kopecky... why???

I think Huds got thrown around too much in the Sharks series, and the Ducks hit even more and harder.

[dw185 0]

I think Hudler or Kopecky, it's better we get Calder off if his hand is busted. I think Hudler has had more of a presence on the ice as a player than kopecky this year, granted hudler has gained steam toward the end of the year while kopecky has been injured. I think maybe it wouldn't hurt to get kopecky in for a game and see what happens and if adding Kopecky doesn't work, add Hudler back and drop Kopecky.

Seems like Babcock likes to experiment with lines and this may be what he is doing here. He hasn't done us wrong so far, so i assume he is making a calculated move here that none of us have enough insider info to make. Babcock seems like the most qualified guy to make these decisions and i haven't seen him make a huge mistake by experimenting yet. I say give Kopecky a shot (even though i initially disagreed) and if kopecky is a wash, or doesn't play right throw Hudler in and let him play his game.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Surprising move considering Kopecky hasn’t played for months.

[Flip-check 6]

WHAT ABOUT HUDLER?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It sucks, but when you're a small guy - and a small guy who isn't named Pavel Datsyuk - it has a hand in your playoff fate. I'd say Huds has got some fine skills out there... and I haven't paid that great attention to the games to dictate whether it's a series that we need a guy like Kopecky's size over Jiri's, but that's the largest mark against him.

He even gets thrown around in NHL 2K7, what can I say? Kidding! Rex deserves some ice, but it's not coming yet.

I say that Kopecky gets a goal in Game 3 though. Others have mentioned it, I'm calling it hands down here.

[zetterbergfuturemvp 0]

well msot of us have been suggesting the wings do this , so i think its an excellent move and i cant wait to see him out there

[Johnny Diamonds 25]

He may be the most rested player on either roster, but he is not in game shape and he will be useless by the second half of the game.

[kozac 10]

It sucks, but when you're a small guy - and a small guy who isn't named Pavel Datsyuk - it has a hand in your playoff fate. I'd say Huds has got some fine skills out there... and I haven't paid that great attention to the games to dictate whether it's a series that we need a guy like Kopecky's size over Jiri's, but that's the largest mark against him.

He even gets thrown around in NHL 2K7, what can I say? Kidding! Rex deserves some ice, but it's not coming yet.

I say that Kopecky gets a goal in Game 3 though. Others have mentioned it, I'm calling it hands down here.

Believe it or not, but Datsyuk is actually as big as Calder, Holmstrom, Draper, Filpula and Lebda.

[Flip-check 6]

Believe it or not, but Datsyuk is actually as big as Calder, Holmstrom, Draper, Filpula and Lebda.

Right (haha, and I checked Jiri's stats just now - he's 5'9" and 20 lbs lighter than Dats, so ignore that comparison), and Drapes is even an inch smaller than Dats. They're all somewhat similar in terms of height and weight, their differences lay in their individual game (Lebda counts, but he's a Dman, so let's leave him out)

Huds doesn't have the same skill set as Calder or Drapes, or the muscle mass of Homer, and Flip's probably more even on his feet out there - though Huds' answer to this is by being evasive in the corners and keeping his wits about him. Rex basically is a skater like Pavel... whatever their actual weight differential is now, that and the skill is what separates them.

I know that adding 10 lbs would greatly help Huds, but I seriously don't know if you can pull 5'9" and close to 190 efficiently on a body.

edit: eat me, LGW

Edited May 15, 2007 by Flip-check

[scotvm 0]

im sure Kopecky's conditioning is pretty damn good. as someone said earlier, he hasnt been sitting around on the couch everyday, i can garauntee you that. so i wouldnt worry about him dragging ass. making "game" decisions might be another story though.

my thinking is that Kopecky is definitely in the lineup for the added size. obviously we werent getting any scoring from calder so theres not going to be a drop off in that dept. and while Huds has a scoring touch, i think the ducks would exploit his small frame and effectively neutralize him. and bottom line.....Calder, Kopecky, or Hudler probably wouldnt play over 7-8 minutes anyway, so we might as well get somone with some drive and intensity to lay a few hits out there.

anyway, the first period of tomorrows game will probably be indicative of what shape we'll be in coming back to det.........get on em early and i wont be surprised if its wings 3-1 heading back to the joe. another slow start though and the opposite could also be true.

GO WINGS!!!!

[Guest MrSandMan]

I'd rather give 5 minutes to a healthy big kid rather then 5 minutes to a injured unproductive player.

I'm sure Babs has a direct rule for Kopecky. HIT! HIT! HIT!.

[Kp-Wings 3]

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

What is that supposed to mean? Anyone who plays for the Wings is automatically a good player? So I guess you thought Brad Norton was just great then right?

I'm not afraid to play the kids, but Kopecky does suck. Period. He brings no production at all, is a very inconsistant hitter, and is coming off an injury that, if he is hurt again, will end his career. Why put him in the lineup at all? Really, why? This is a major slap in the face to Hudler. It really is. Calgary was a big team but he still managed to produce and play well.

I don't see Kopecky as a physical presence at all. He is big, but doesn't throw hits or really anything. He didn't impress me at all when he played before his injury. In fact, I think he sucked then, and I still think he sucks now. Too bad.

I don't believe in your statement of "Anyone who plays for the Wings is a good player". It's a very homer/slappie like comment. In fact, it's almost arrogant. Not trying to be mean in my statement or anything, but this is how I feel.

[Guest MrSandMan]

I'm openminded enough to give the kid a chance. This is his chance to prove all you nay-sayers wrong.

...and I'm sure you won't mind being wrong in this case

[Henkka 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?

Maybe his hand injury went to worse direction. It didn't heal because he played (or something like that) and now he has to sit.

Kopecky is fine replacement for me.

Big and fresh body.

[superstarsingh 23]

Good. Thank you Jesus.

[ColdWarrior 0]

Calder DOES have a broken hand.

BS, show me a link.

BS, show me a link.

BS, show me a link.

I want to see Calds do well... and it does SEEM that he's injured. But extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Otherwise, it's only speculation. Especially now that he's been replaced. If he were injured, the club would announce it. What are they going to do, keep it secret just in case they need to call up a one armed winger who's only been playing 4 minutes a night?

He may be the most rested player on either roster, but he is not in game shape and he will be useless by the second half of the game.

He's a professional athlete, who's been training for months & back on the ice for three weeks. Furthermore, he's replacing a guy who averaged 4 minutes of ice a night. So, you think Kopecky will be useless after 2 minutes of play?

[motorcitykid 42]

Kopecky SUCKS. This is a horrible move.

He's just big. He'll be a pylon out there.

He sucks?

He's a good young player, who's going to get better. He skates well, goes to the net and isn't afriad of a hit. If he's healthy, he'll be here awhile - get use to him.

What a f*n comedian.

Edited May 15, 2007 by motorcitykid

[redwingfan19 293]

Wow!! didn't know Kopecky was even ready. Hopefully his collar bone area has completely recovered and he can get in there and bang some bodies. I think the TSN scouting report is a bit old. Kopecky I would say is over 200 LBS, i remeber him looking real big out there, but I could be wrong.

Anyways GO WINGS!

[BigTex 1]

Whooooooooooh!!!!!!!! Hopefully this'll get the guys even more charged up. Going into their barn and playing them physical will really give them something to think about.