GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Has Babcock lost his freaking mind or something? The Blues are going to dress a team full of tough guys who are just there to run our skilled players and send us some message for next year, while Babcock responds by scratching Downey. I'm not saying McCarty shouldn't be dressed, but I would rather see Hartigan, Hudler, or Kopecky scratched, because they couldn't defend their teammates if their lives depended on it. This is exacly the kind of game that Downey should be dressed for, with nothing on the line in the standings. Why is he here if he's not playing tonight? I hope nothing bad happens to anyone tonight, but with less than 2 weeks in the season, I'd like to know that someone is out there to defend our skilled players. Even if nothing big goes down tonight, I still think that Babcock is missing the point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jeremy88 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 I think this every time Downey is scratched Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Babcock is a great coach and one of the best, but I hate some of the lineup decisions he makes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 I think this every time Downey is scratched Not necessarily for me, because some teams, although few, don't dress tough guys. The Blues had 3 the last time we played them, not counting that cheap punk Jackman, who seems to have some obsession with fighting Datsyuk. I just don't understand why of all games, this is the one Downey is scratched for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lidsyukerberg 0 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 I couldn't agree more, this is a total mistake. However, he might be giving Mac a trial by fire. We already all but know that Downey won't be playing too many playoff games, so Babs might be looking to see if Mac will be able to cover that role along with adding experience. I hope nobody gets hurt in this little "experiment" but I think Mac will handle it. At any rate, I guess this answers the question we have all been posing leading up to tonight. Who will be bumped from the lineup to make room for Mac? I just think it is the way wrong answer. I would Downey over plenty of other guys right now, I think some very acceptable names have already been mentioned. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwing_sparty 0 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 i suspect that mac will see decent minutes tonight and get put in some interesting situations just to see how he handles himself. as for defending our players, its not like downey is going to stop the entire st. louis team from taking runs at us. and if we're lucky, maybe mac will beat the crap outta someone and get the joe rockin! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylee 727 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 so downey is out for sure tonight? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
umredwing11 2 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 I don't see a whole lot in Hartigan, people talk about his speed but I just don't see anything impressive. Especially against the Blues, Downey should be playing. In general, Downey should play over Hartigan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kp-Wings 3 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Hartigan sucks. I honestly can't believe he's playing regular minutes now. Sometimes I think I could make the Wings roster, because they have so many useless players that don't do a God damn thing, yet for some reason they still get regular minutes. Babcock is a good coach, but seriously: wtf is he thinking sometimes? His lineup decisions are so piss poor, it's not even funny. Hartigan? What the heck does he even bring to the lineup? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heaton 1 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 (edited) Nothing happened Tuesday, nothing will happen tonight. Even if it does, Downey wouldn't have prevented anything from happening. Edited March 28, 2008 by Heaton Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 The Blues are famous for gooning it up against the Wings at the end of every season. Maybe by not dressing Downey he is hoping they will say, "Gee, they didn't dress their enforcer, I guess we better take it easy on them all night..." Yeah, seems like a dumb decision to me too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heaton 1 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 You guys WANT to see a line of McCatry - Drake - Downey? Good lord. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwing_sparty 0 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 You guys WANT to see a line of McCatry - Drake - Downey? Good lord. lol tru tru tru Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reilly 24 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 I hope nothing bad happens to anyone tonight, but with less than 2 weeks in the season, I'd like to know that someone is out there to defend our skilled players. Even if nothing big goes down tonight, I still think that Babcock is missing the point. He's trying to finish 1st overall. That's his point. Ok, so the Blues might goon it up. It's hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Son of a Wing 1,644 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Honestly people....it's not a frickin' arms race. Maybe..just maybe he is testing out our depth before the playoffs. Everyone knows what Downey brings to the table. McCarty is an unknown entity and to some degree so is Hartigan. If injuries do strike in the playoffs, this will give Babcock a better idea of who to dress. Save your bitching for games that actually matter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barabbas16 499 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Has Babcock lost his freaking mind or something? The Blues are going to dress a team full of tough guys who are just there to run our skilled players and send us some message for next year, while Babcock responds by scratching Downey. I'm not saying McCarty shouldn't be dressed, but I would rather see Hartigan, Hudler, or Kopecky scratched, because they couldn't defend their teammates if their lives depended on it. This is exacly the kind of game that Downey should be dressed for, with nothing on the line in the standings. Why is he here if he's not playing tonight? I hope nothing bad happens to anyone tonight, but with less than 2 weeks in the season, I'd like to know that someone is out there to defend our skilled players. Even if nothing big goes down tonight, I still think that Babcock is missing the point. Ok, in all seriousness....without talking down to me because I don't share your exact same opinion.....Could someone PLEASE explain to me the resoning behind everyone on this boards obsession with Aaron Downey? I mean, I like the guy...I like him on the ice instead of Hartigan too, and I'm not talking about just this game...I am speaking in general. What's the deal? He plays like 5 minutes a game and is capable of helping the team in one category - which doesn't even happen all that often. Someone please enlighten me so that I can understand. Does everyone just love fighting that much? Is that the most important part of the game or something? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Son of a Wing 1,644 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Ok, in all seriousness....without talking down to me because I don't share your exact same opinion.....Could someone PLEASE explain to me the resoning behind everyone on this boards obsession with Aaron Downey? I mean, I like the guy...I like him on the ice instead of Hartigan too, and I'm not talking about just this game...I am speaking in general. What's the deal? He plays like 5 minutes a game and is capable of helping the team in one category - which doesn't even happen all that often. Someone please enlighten me so that I can understand. Does everyone just love fighting that much? Is that the most important part of the game or something? It is mostly due to the fact that Detroit has lacked a true enforcer for years now. So now that we have a guy who is slightly above average at fighting everyone goes nuts over him. Even going as far as claiming that his role on the dress roster is the difference maker in many of our wins. Join the bandwagon! (oh and I like Downey and all and think he plays his role great but he IS the least skilled forward on the team) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoninJai 5 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 This is the one topic that I disagree with Babcock's coaching about. This is a meaningless game. We know from history that St. Louis is going to be out there running our guys, cheap shotting, and generally gooning it up. This should be exactly the kind of game where a statement is made to the rest of the league that this isn't the soft Wings team of old. There's no reason Drake, D-Mac, AND Downey shouldn't be playing. Send the "D-Line" after Kariya and see how long the Blues keep that garbage up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslogo19 281 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 As much as I hate seeing Downey a healthy scratch, as long as the Blues aren't dirty im fine with the lineup Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Nothing happened Tuesday, nothing will happen tonight. Even if it does, Downey wouldn't have prevented anything from happening. Right, so apparently you know more than every other coach in the NHL, and every other coach in league history, since enforcers have always been a part of the game, and are still used by other teams. You guys WANT to see a line of McCatry - Drake - Downey? Good lord. Why not? Is Hudler - Kopecky - Drake a more productive line statistically? Hudler hasn't done anything offensively in several months, while Kopecky hasn't done anything all year except get bounced around like a ragdoll. I'm not talking about a tough lineup in general, what I was posting about is the need for a tough lineup specifically tonight against the Blues, who like to goon it up against us. We've got to match up properly against the opposition, and this doesn't seem to be the best lineup against physical, dirty teams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
therock48880 14 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Nothing happened Tuesday, nothing will happen tonight. Even if it does, Downey wouldn't have prevented anything from happening. Ah yes, there you go again with your "anti-enforcer" feelings. You've been spewing these for years now, even though several Wings, including Yzerman, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, etc..., have expressed their preference for having enforcers on the team and the value they bring. But, you're right, enforcers bring nothing to the team. Let me ask you this, if Downey (or whoever) doesn't prevent anything from happening, why is he on the team? I doubt if it's his goal scoring ability, I doubt if it's his skating ability. Yet, he's played more games this year than ever in his career. Why is that? Could it be that because what he DOES (toughness) bring to the table is USEFUL and the team knows it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CAredwingsfan91 28 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Ah yes, there you go again with your "anti-enforcer" feelings. You've been spewing these for years now, even though several Wings, including Yzerman, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, etc..., have expressed their preference for having enforcers on the team and the value they bring. But, you're right, enforcers bring nothing to the team. Let me ask you this, if Downey (or whoever) doesn't prevent anything from happening, why is he on the team? I doubt if it's his goal scoring ability, I doubt if it's his skating ability. Yet, he's played more games this year than ever in his career. Why is that? Could it be that because what he DOES (toughness) bring to the table is USEFUL and the team knows it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kp-Wings 3 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 You guys WANT to see a line of McCatry - Drake - Downey? Good lord. In a meaningless game against St. Louis, why not? Heck, they'll probably be more productive then anything Hudler has done in the past three months on the 4th line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Agree. I'm all in for McCarty but asking him to fight DJ King on his first game back in the league is a bit much. Hang On MAC! esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65 Report post Posted March 28, 2008 Babcock need to see McCarty's skill as a big hitter without Downey there Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
