Rice 42 Report post Posted January 19, 2008 I really thought you were saying that he should not get split. Although I disagree about Lebda although he seems to be in the same slump as Raf is. Lebda gets manhandled along the boards on a game-by-game basis. Lilja doesn't and is actually pretty physical in his own zone. It's the turnovers that are his problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 Lebda gets manhandled along the boards on a game-by-game basis. So does Rafalski. He's great when he has time and space to make passes, but who isn't? When the going gets tough, unfortunately Rafalski gets pushed around. esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rice 42 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 So does Rafalski. He's great when he has time and space to make passes, but who isn't? When the going gets tough, unfortunately Rafalski gets pushed around. esteef No, he's much better along the boards than Lebda is. Regardless, the point I was trying to make is that if Lidstrom and Rafalski were to be split up, Lilja is a better candidate to be placed alongside Rafalski than Lebda. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 ...if Lidstrom and Rafalski were to be split up, Lilja is a better candidate to be placed alongside Rafalski than Lebda. I can agree with that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylee 727 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 I am not saying he is terrible, but missing a wide open net. He had a couple turnovers tonight, they did result in a goal but if they would have??? He also is almost non-existant physically. I am not saying hang him or anything but I don't think he was an upgrade over Schnieds or an equal either... Oh and he has really bad hair... He should shave that shniff so is Nick Lidstrom. ive been very impressed with Rafalski thus far, and yes, he does make a turnover every now and again, but you can't agree with his game. On pace for a career year in a big way. the perfect guy to replace the loss of Schneider. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IceMunkee 15 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 so is Nick Lidstrom. ive been very impressed with Rafalski thus far, and yes, he does make a turnover every now and again, but you can't agree with his game. On pace for a career year in a big way. the perfect guy to replace the loss of Schneider. I keep hearing that he is on his way for a career year, but I bet you take any decent offensive minded d-man in the league and he will have a career year along side Nic... And if you have Falski with his current career year being 55 pts Lids career year is 80 pts How could Raf not have a career year when playing next to Lids when 55 is his best year? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IceMunkee 15 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 OMFG You guys are never happy. Rafalski is fine. Shut the f*** up. BTW. Your a tool. If you think that people cannot have an opinion on a public forum then your an idiot. Pass the thread up next time instead of saying some off the wall crap. Troll. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lady in REd 0 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 (edited) Is it just me or does Rafalski turn over the puck way too much for a six million dollar defensemen? I know he is having a career offensive year and his right handed pass on the point is a rarity but I am disappointed with his defensive ability. Plain and simple, for me it's kind of off and on with Raffy. I'd probably expect a bit more and lately it's been iffy. It may be that he's playing next to God, er I mean Lidstrom so everything he does wrong is highlighted. I do however love his offensive ability. Edited January 20, 2008 by Lady in REd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 When other defensemen seem to do well and make very little mistakes or no glaring mistakes, and not "as good" as Nicklas Lidstrom, it really says either we are spoiled by Lidstrom being so good, or Lidstrom can never, ever do any wrong. I'm not trying to discredit Lidstrom at all in his importance to Detroit, but we often treat the man like he can never make a mistake. I've seen him turn the puck over on rare occassion as well. And no goals so far at home. I know as a defenseman your first job is to play DEFENSE (and he's probably had a few at home defelected in by others, I can specially recall a Holmstrom goal like it), but for a d-man who is more than capable of putting offensive points/stats up more than others, you'd think he'd have one or two at least. AGAIN, so people don't throw at me, Lidstrom is the most important player for the Wings right now, but it's not like he's immune all the time. I honestly don't know what much else some fans can ask of Rafalski. He's putting up career numbers and he's not making any huge gigantic mistakes that costs Detroit games. Sure, being paired with Lidstrom helps I bet, but those points just didn't come out of thin air. I'm sure Rafalski wasn't picking his nose or clipping his toenails getting his points (although he'd be pretty damn talented if that's how it was done ). We're so spoiled seeing Lidstrom play close to flawless hockey nearly every night that anything less from his other d-man is considered around unacceptable. And that's just unfair and undeserved more often than not, in my opinion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 A few turnovers don't outweigh the tremendous skill Rafalski has brought to the Wings. He was a great acquisition and I hope he stays with the Wings for many years. Not every player can be like Lidstrom, in fact, he's in a league of his own. Out of all non-Lidstrom defensemen in the league, I'd say Rafalski is the best out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earthhuman 8 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 ./Agree! He is putting up great stats. Everyone has non-perfect days besides lids... On November 3rd, 2000, Niklas Lidstrom was a -4 in a 6-1 loss to Chicago. Those aren't all-star numbers. What else is Nick Lidstrom hiding? Vote for Rory! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agalloch Report post Posted January 20, 2008 Rafalski has been the third best defenseman on the team this year. Kronwall is second, and he has really broken out this year. I'm proud to say that because I have supported him ever since he entered the NHL, even if he didn't live up to his potential the last few years. He has now, and he's been great this year, offensively and defensively. He'd have just as many points as Rafalski if he got first line PP time and got to play with Lidstrom. Rafalski has been okay, but I'd rather the six million had gone to something else. Defensively he has not impressed me one bit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 I dont get how people cab jump on someone over a few turnovers or a missed net. it happens. Yea he missed a wide open net from 10 feet away, he should have made it. but so what. But were wings fan and we expect perfection. Brian Rafalski is a +14 (9th in the league among D-men) and has 41 points (2nd best D-man in the league behind Lids). Explain to me again what the issue is because I don't get it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 ./Agree! He is putting up great stats. Everyone has non-perfect days besides lids... Perfect summation! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 Rafalski has been the third best defenseman on the team this year. Kronwall is second, and he has really broken out this year. I'm proud to say that because I have supported him ever since he entered the NHL, even if he didn't live up to his potential the last few years. He has now, and he's been great this year, offensively and defensively. He'd have just as many points as Rafalski if he got first line PP time and got to play with Lidstrom. Rafalski has been okay, but I'd rather the six million had gone to something else. Defensively he has not impressed me one bit. Great point. Kronwall has stepped up his game in a big way, looking more like the "next Lidtrom" nametag that was hung on him earlier. He's showing that good set of hands and has been bringing the body more (so has Lilja). Peace, esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,232 Report post Posted January 20, 2008 When the going gets tough, unfortunately Rafalski gets pushed around. esteef Hi, welcome to the Detroit Red Wings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted January 20, 2008 I agree I just think that the money could have been spent elsewhere. Your right though we're winning.... On what other top-two defenseman could the money have been better spent elsewhere? Schneider, the 38-year-old who is not having a good year in the least? Souray? Who else was available? And how could the money have been better spent elsewhere, considering that we didn't end up spending $4m-$5m of it even AFTER we picked up Rafalski? Really, he was the best available, we needed him, and--although he's quiet and easy to miss--he's doing a wonderful job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted January 20, 2008 I keep hearing that he is on his way for a career year, but I bet you take any decent offensive minded d-man in the league and he will have a career year along side Nic... And if you have Falski with his current career year being 55 pts Lids career year is 80 pts How could Raf not have a career year when playing next to Lids when 55 is his best year? Rafalski scored 55 points on an extremely defensive-minded Jersey team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drafalski 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2008 I'm not biased or anything with my name here, but to say Rafalski is rewarded with his high point total simply for playing with Lidstrom is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Or to even say that Kronwall would have similar stats if he played with Lidstrom as if Kronwall earns all his points by himself on the 2nd line. First of all a defenseman's points generally are an indication of how well he can pass and quarterback the offense -unless he also scores goals. It is also a testiment as to how offensive minded, or offensively gifted a team is. Unless Lidstrom is picking up the first or second assist on any Rafalski goal, or assisted goal that point is stupid and moot. If Kronwall QB'd the 1st line PP or was on the ice with the top line more often then maybe he'd reap the rewards, maybe not. Secondly, Rafalski/Lidstrom are paired to go against the opposition's top line. The Wings are also deep in quality defensmen this year so it's not like it's just Rafalski and Lidstrom shutting down the other team -it's a team effort. However, Babcock would find his way out of Detroit quicker than Kwame will if he put Kronwall and Lids up against Crosby and Malkin. Lastly, Rafalski is a generous 5'10". Of course he's going to get out-muscled if he tried to be that type of defenseman. Thats why you saw him with Stevens or White in Jersey more often than not. However, Larry Robinson at times liked to use him and Neidermayer together which is a very similar pairing to him and Nick now. He brings finesse, skating skill and passing to the table. You don't find him out of position much, and he takes away lanes and passes. The Devils didn't do that terrible last year either without a Stevens or a Neidermayer and Rafalski having to rely on a supporting cast of Martin, Hale, Matvichuk..etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
