uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted July 14, 2007 (edited) Not sure whether this has been discussed in detail yet if it has I apologise cos Im not a regular here Im really hoping we take our playoff grit and toughness into the regular season as Im tired as f*** watching possesion, eurowing, turn-the-other-cheek crap. Im a huge fan of old skool hockey, heck its why I became interested in the NHL in the first place! (people couldnt care about Ice Hockey any less over here). I know we'll never have any enforcer type players with all the "the powerplay is our enforcer" etc. being said but I was sure chuffed to see the grit and huge step up in toughness we showed in the playoffs, and it actually made me think we wernt the softest team in the league... Thing is, whether we're going to keep the upped physical player up in the regular season, or whether perhaps it was just for the playoffs. Im glad we're playing the Mighty Disneys first because playing the most physical team in the league will be a good benchmark to raise up to, or at least compare to. Im not expecting as much in the pre-season in terms of a clue in how we'll perfrom in the regular season, but this is again something I cant wait for. So I guess Im asking whether you think or too wish that we take our upped physical game from the playoffs into the regular season, and finally be able to get that "Pussiest Team" monkey off our backs. Edited July 14, 2007 by uk_redwing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest jaytan Report post Posted July 14, 2007 I agree with you, but I also don't expect anything to change. These Wings aren't about toughness. By the way, I love that word "chuffed". What does that mean, "pissed off"? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted July 14, 2007 (edited) By the way, I love that word "chuffed". What does that mean, "pissed off"? Haha I know chuffed is an awesome word. Means happy. (had to edit lol but tis late here and I have a cold ) Edited July 14, 2007 by uk_redwing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest jaytan Report post Posted July 14, 2007 Nice, thanks for expanding my britabulary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kp-Wings 3 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 I agree, but I don't expect anything different this year. Hollands refusel to sign a tough guy, despite numerous good names avalible that aren't cavemen on skates and can still play the game decently, means it will probably be the same thing next year as it was last year. Oh well. Consider it a challenge for Babcock to get these guys to play tough. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cicada 4 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 whatever works as far as i'm concerned. if you're really tired of watching as you put it "eurowing puck possesion crap", then don't watch it... i'm not really bothered how we play, just as long as we win...we've shown we can turn it up when we need to. they'res a lot of times when playing a physical system would just help us lose. we should play what works... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 my question about the physical aspect is, were we playing so tough because we picked up Bertuzzi? I mean we sort of came out a lot tougher with him around, although we are capable of it with out him. He was out of the line up for so long and didn't really do very much in it. But was that just mentality thing? If so I hope they realized they don't need him and hell Dallas Drake may not be the greatest but you sure as hell know he has your back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skacore 2 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 I pray every night that we sign or trade for some toughness, and when I log on every morning I am disappointed lol (literally).. I like the team we have now, I just can't accept the fact that we used to ice such a physically dominant team that had SKILL too.. I don't care for a goon or 30 meaningless fights throughout the year, but 5 MINUTES FOR FIGHTING is a PART OF THE GAME and there are times where it is more than necessary and we were abused much more than any team this past season because people knew how soft our team was.. playing hockey for my entire life I can't even imagine myself playing on a team where my boys don't have my back.. can't even imagine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RyanBarnes! 293 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 my question about the physical aspect is, were we playing so tough because we picked up Bertuzzi? I mean we sort of came out a lot tougher with him around, although we are capable of it with out him. He was out of the line up for so long and didn't really do very much in it. But was that just mentality thing? If so I hope they realized they don't need him and hell Dallas Drake may not be the greatest but you sure as hell know he has your back. I'm convinced Bertuzzi played a big part in Detroit's increased physical play in the playoffs. Playing physical is to a very large extent a mental attitude. I think you could see the same tendancy when Brad Norton was in the lineup, even though it was only for a brief period. Having someone the players can count on to stand up and play physical every night is a huge boost for team morale and what I like to call team toughness. Naturally there were other factors as well though. I'm sure coach Babcock made it perfectly clear from the beginning that he's not going to accept players shying away from any play once the playoffs begun. I also think the players felt they had a lot to prove this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bartek 0 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 To me, our physical play is not that much of a concern. We showed we can hit and play gritty, we're able to outhit teams like Calgary or San Jose (and we did it). The thing I want of these guys is to stick up for each other - I hate watching one of our players getting pushed, shoved and abused by a Calgary/Edmonton/whatever player and our other four just standing and staring at it or pretending they don't see it. If we can change it, then we will no longer be "the pussiest" team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 I agree, but I don't expect anything different this year. Hollands refusel to sign a tough guy, despite numerous good names avalible that aren't cavemen on skates and can still play the game decently, means it will probably be the same thing next year as it was last year. Oh well. Consider it a challenge for Babcock to get these guys to play tough. Babcock already had them playing "tough" last playoffs, without a "tough guy". They were pretty much dead even with the physical play and hitting with Calgary and San Jose, when everybody thought they would just run the Wings out the arena. After that run, their level of "heart" or "toughness" or "grit" or "determination" or whatever you want to call it shouldn't be a huge question mark. I don't expect to see much of a dropoff. whatever works as far as i'm concerned. if you're really tired of watching as you put it "eurowing puck possesion crap", then don't watch it... i'm not really bothered how we play, just as long as we win...we've shown we can turn it up when we need to. they'res a lot of times when playing a physical system would just help us lose. we should play what works... While I like to see the physical play any day of the week, a big to this post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 I pray every night that we sign or trade for some toughness, and when I log on every morning I am disappointed lol (literally).. I like the team we have now, I just can't accept the fact that we used to ice such a physically dominant team that had SKILL too.. I don't care for a goon or 30 meaningless fights throughout the year, but 5 MINUTES FOR FIGHTING is a PART OF THE GAME and there are times where it is more than necessary and we were abused much more than any team this past season because people knew how soft our team was.. playing hockey for my entire life I can't even imagine myself playing on a team where my boys don't have my back.. can't even imagine lol me too. First thing i do every time i get on the computer is check the transactions...and i just end up looking like this > every time Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herr Hockey 0 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 (edited) What you guys have to ask yourselves is: What would be sweeter? Getting grit and toughness, having a great seaon and winning the cup, or playing "Euro" style hockey, everything that everyone has criticized us for in the recent past, and finally having it click, dominating every team we play (and winning the cup), while simultaneously making them and everyone who has ever talked smack about the wings look like fools. Although, I do agree, some level of grit equivalent to that of this years in the playoffs is necessary. Edited July 15, 2007 by Herr Hockey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
therock48880 14 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 I'm convinced Bertuzzi played a big part in Detroit's increased physical play in the playoffs. Playing physical is to a very large extent a mental attitude. I think you could see the same tendancy when Brad Norton was in the lineup, even though it was only for a brief period. Having someone the players can count on to stand up and play physical every night is a huge boost for team morale and what I like to call team toughness. Naturally there were other factors as well though. I'm sure coach Babcock made it perfectly clear from the beginning that he's not going to accept players shying away from any play once the playoffs begun. I also think the players felt they had a lot to prove this year. I agree 100%. Did you notice the number of scrums when Bertuzzi was on the ice? Very few. How about how many times Hasek was run while Bertuzzi was on the ice? Very few. It seemed like every time there was a disturbance on the ice, Bertuzzi was on the bench. The Wings have 4-5 million left in cap room, why not sign a big guy to be on the end of the bench just in case? Schneider was even quoted last year saying that he preferred having a "nuclear weapon" on the team. He went on to say that if the opposing team has two, then he'd want two. I guess he won't have to worry about it now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 What you guys have to ask yourselves is: What would be sweeter? Getting grit and toughness, having a great seaon and winning the cup, or playing "Euro" style hockey, everything that everyone has criticized us for in the recent past, and finally having it click, dominating every team we play (and winning the cup), while simultaneously making them and everyone who has ever talked smack about the wings look like fools. THE FIRST OPTION! Thats an easier question than asking me whats 2 +2! The first choice also would lead to much, much more exciting regular season games as well...so yeah thats a no brainer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 (edited) THE FIRST OPTION! Thats an easier question than asking me whats 2 +2! Is it 5? Also yeh I agree the first option is a bit of a no brainer, because it involves actually playing ice hockey not just ice skating. Bit of a stupid thing to say. Edited July 15, 2007 by uk_redwing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lou_Siffer 1 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 Is it 5? Also yeh I agree the first option is a bit of a no brainer, because it involves actually playing ice hockey not just ice skating. Bit of a stupid thing to say. Nope, 2 + 2 = 22...right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 We lost Bert and added Drake... I am sure Drake will hit and at the very least keep guys aware when he is on the ice.... Its a shame we couldn't see the Bert on our team after a post season off to heal... however we will get to see him against us during the home opener. We will be about the same toughness. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 whatever works as far as i'm concerned. if you're really tired of watching as you put it "eurowing puck possesion crap", then don't watch it... i'm not really bothered how we play, just as long as we win...we've shown we can turn it up when we need to. they'res a lot of times when playing a physical system would just help us lose. we should play what works... Sure, the Wings play what wins- no question. But the Cup teams in '97 and '98 had a decent measure of toughness too! There's no rule saying puck possession teams can't have some grit. We lost Bert and added Drake... I am sure Drake will hit and at the very least keep guys aware when he is on the ice.... Its a shame we couldn't see the Bert on our team after a post season off to heal... however we will get to see him against us during the home opener. We will be about the same toughness. Noting that Bert only played for us for like 8 or 9 regular season games right before the playoffs. The October 07 Wings will be tougher on paper than the October 06 Wings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 whatever works as far as i'm concerned. if you're really tired of watching as you put it "eurowing puck possesion crap", then don't watch it... i'm not really bothered how we play, just as long as we win...we've shown we can turn it up when we need to. they'res a lot of times when playing a physical system would just help us lose. we should play what works... I agree. As long as we win, I don't care. I love to see Datsyuk undress a defender just as much as I love to see Dion Fanuc get leveled by Dan Cleary. It's all good. Don't forget toughness alone won't win anything. Just ask the San Jose Sharks - the biggest, youngest, fastest team in the league who got their asses kicked by the "soft" wings Sure, the Wings play what wins- no question. But the Cup teams in '97 and '98 had a decent measure of toughness too! There's no rule saying puck possession teams can't have some grit. Noting that Bert only played for us for like 8 or 9 regular season games right before the playoffs. The October 07 Wings will be tougher on paper than the October 06 Wings. Hockey isn't played on paper, it's played on ice as we proved in the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 Hockey isn't played on paper, it's played on ice as we proved in the playoffs. I know that very well, thanks. But hockey on paper is the only hockey we can really talk about as far as the 07-08 Wings are concerned. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted July 15, 2007 Team toughness is nice. But if we dropped Samuleson for a tough guy who could play, I'd be a little more optomistic that we wont get run/cheapshotted every night. Drake was a step in the right direction , but guys like Winchester and Fedoruk got less then a million , and the best fighter in still on the market (Asham), we could get him for cheap. But I doubt it'll happen because we still have Samulesuck on our roster. The one thing the playoffs showed me was , Playing Holmstrom/Franzen with Zetterberg and Datsyuk makes them grittier. As long as we have that , were gonna be just fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vangvace 12 Report post Posted July 16, 2007 (edited) My prediction? More of the same. Edited to add that with the exception of a Ducks game at the Joe, if there is more than one game during the regular season. I'm too lazy to look. Most of our fighting majors will once again come from the AHL callups even with Drake ticking people off. Read sig for more Edited July 16, 2007 by vangvace Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
