3/27 Update: Samuelsson has groin issue, Filppula ready

[RedWingedKitten 9]

Btw,i'm new here:)

Welcome!

Am I the only one who wants Z and Dats seperated? This is how I would like the lines to be.

Homer-Dats-Cleary

Flip-Z-Mule

Malts-Drapes-Kopy

Sammy-Drake-Hudler

Edited March 27, 2008 by RedWingedKitten

[motorcitykid 42]

Ohhh nooo, whatever will we do? *chuckle* No Sammy? *chuckle* Hey maybe there won't be so many turnovers and shots to Legace's chest tomorrow then, huh?

Anyways. Thanks for the update. I heard Brad Stuart isn't back until maybe Game 3 of the playoffs. I really hope sooner.

And rest assured, the Grind Line WILL be seen tomorrow ... Wooo - hooo !!!!!

Just a little reminder:

Edited March 27, 2008 by motorcitykid

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Ohhh nooo, whatever will we do? *chuckle* No Sammy? *chuckle* Hey maybe there won't be so many turnovers and shots to Legace's chest tomorrow then, huh?

Anyways. Thanks for the update. I heard Brad Stuart isn't back until maybe Game 3 of the playoffs. I really hope sooner.

And rest assured, the Grind Line WILL be seen tomorrow ... Wooo - hooo !!!!!

Just a little reminder:

Great picture, except for that guy in the background. There's one player I wouldn't want to see return to Detroit.

[55fan 5,133]

I am purely speculating here, so don't ask for proof because it is just coming from the vast void that is my brain.

But what if.........

It isn't necessary for us to win on Friday. Sure, we want to, but it's not like we won't make the playoffs if we don't. Maybe (giving Babs the benefit of the doubt) he is putting Mac in without Downey so that if something has to happen that is in the line of their specialty, it will have to be Mac that does it. With Downey scratched, he can't jump in ahead of Mac. If Mac has to prove himself against goons, the Blues is a great testing ground. Maybe Babs just wants to see what Mac has, and then, once Mac has proven himself (thinking positively here) he and Downey can play together.

Kind of like telling the veteran player to pass to the rookie during the preseason to see if the rookie can shoot. Or something.

Either way, Mac is Back, and all is right with my Wings World.

[stormboy 47]

agree with those dissapointed that downey's out. it will be interesting once the playoffs start and homer's back who we will and won't be seeing. i'd rather see sammy and kopy sit and downey and mac start (assuming mac lives up to our sky-high expectations). if not, if mac can't do it, throw sammy or kopy back in there but keep downey. but, i have a feeling it will be dmac and aaron who sit. *shrug*

am i the only one who's looking forward to a rex-flip-cleary second pp unit? maybe cleary can get those kids rolling again. that would be most, most, MOST excellent.

[PenaltyShot 96 521]

a lot has been made about babcock not knowing toughness and i tend to agree. does anyone have a link to an article or something where he explains himself on this issue? why is he so against players who can fight? downey shows admirable restraint on the ice and fights when necessary, he helps get goalies off their game and although he cant handle the puck worth a damn he doesnt seem to be a huge liability so why not keep him in the lineup? i guess hartigan is a decent centre and maybe theyre hoping he will be the defensive conscious of the 4th line? but drake is a pretty good defensive forward...just thinking about our 4th line makes my head hurt. please someone show me babcocks thinking on this.

Very well said!! I agree that Downey picks his fights very strategically and doesn't let blind rage cloud his judgement all the time like some tough guys on other teams. Do you think the Blues' tough guys will press the issue with McCarty? I don't think Mac would back down, but I hope skill-wise he is sharp enough.

Is that why Babs is so against Hudler as well?

[redwings56 1]

I don't understand the Hartigan over Downey mentality against the Blues either. I mean, if it were Dallas, Colorado, Ottawa or any other "skill" team with something to lose, it would be fine. But the Blues are a cheap-shotting team with nothing to lose. Why not have a badass 4th line just in case?

Z-Dats-Cleary

Flip-Stein-Rex

Malts-Drapes-Kopy

Mac-Drake-Downey

Sammy (hurt?)

Hartigan

LOL, please don't make up a nickname for Franzen who already has one ... 'THE MULE'

[Rivalred 630]

All those wrist shots finally caught up with Sammy.....

Edited March 27, 2008 by Rivalred

[BeatDown20 0]

Great picture, except for that guy in the background. There's one player I wouldn't want to see return to Detroit.

Mark Mowers - Poster boy for team toughness

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Maybe (giving Babs the benefit of the doubt) he is putting Mac in without Downey so that if something has to happen that is in the line of their specialty, it will have to be Mac that does it. With Downey scratched, he can't jump in ahead of Mac. If Mac has to prove himself against goons, the Blues is a great testing ground. Maybe Babs just wants to see what Mac has, and then, once Mac has proven himself (thinking positively here) he and Downey can play together.

Kind of like telling the veteran player to pass to the rookie during the preseason to see if the rookie can shoot. Or something.

Either way, Mac is Back, and all is right with my Wings World.

That was exactly my thinking. Babs needs to see what each player has to offer. He has no idea where Mac stands in the NHL today. Why put Downey in there who would essentially be taking up Macs role? The Wings arent ones to be brawling all game, and theyve gone with one policema all year. Not to mention, chances are, the Wings are going to be going with EITHER Downey or Mac if our roster is healthy or close to it. So we might as well see what it would be like with each in the lineup separately. Once we see how Mac plays for a couple games, then Im sure well see Downey and Mac together if our roster still isnt full over the last few games. Otherwise, Im sure Babcock wants to know which poison to pick come playoff time.

[Mickeyisms Rule! 0]

LOL, please don't make up a nickname for Franzen who already has one ... 'THE MULE'

You must be new here. We acknowledge the term "Mule," however he has earned at least 2 other nicknames:

"Franzenstein" (make him green in Phoshop and put some bolts in his neck)

and

"The Franz" think Happy Days, The Fonz

I wonder if anyone has those pics around that they can post again. Those were great last year.

Ah here's one (let's see if it works)

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

LOL, please don't make up a nickname for Franzen who already has one ... 'THE MULE'

Yeah, it already existed. Mickeyisms took care of the response.

for you.

[Doggy 130]

Legace doesn't have to keep a backup chest protector in case of wear and tear if Sammy isn't playing.

Edited March 28, 2008 by Doggy

[FunkedUp 29]

I would love to see a McCarty-Drake-Downey line.

[zombiewing 3]

Legace doesn't have to keep a backup chest protector in case of wear and tear if Sammy isn't playing.

yeah, and I saw the title for this thread, "Samuelsson has groin issue", and I am thinking,

yeah, Samantha does not have a groin...

Edited March 28, 2008 by zombiewing

[Nero 20]

Filppula in? Good.

McCarty in? Good.

Samuelsson out? Good.

Downey out? Bad