Are we physical enough to win a cup?

[redwings56 1]

Really, based on last years performance and the additions of Drake, McCarty, possibly Downey. And how Kopecky, Franzen are playing, for sure we are tough enough. There isn't any reason to be fighting every game in the playoffs, Last year Lilja was the only fighter - if u can even call him that. This year it is different although fighting is not what justifies our toughness. If you have noticed in recent games, the Wings crash the net all the time and get into the scrums with ST.Louis and Nashville. They are ready for the playoffs. Drake will be key for the playoff run, HOPEFULLY Draper is 100% by then too.

[Superman54 91]

...ummm...we did? Yeah we proved that we were able to get 2 wins away from the SCF. But that's about it. Damn good. But not the Stanley Cup. However, this year is the year the Cup comes back to Hockeytown.

Yes we did. We handled the flames and the sharks, and if it werent for 2 lucky breaks for the ducks in game 5, we would have been the team up 3-2 going to the pond, but it wasnt due to lack of physical play.

[rick zombo 3,739]

The Wings won't win a series by grinding down their opponents that's for sure.

But if they can win battles on the boards for the puck, go to the net with jam, and move the puck out of their own end efficiently without Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, etc taking too much pounding they will win any series.

[Inultus 12]

Yes we did. We handled the flames and the sharks, and if it werent for 2 lucky breaks for the ducks in game 5, we would have been the team up 3-2 going to the pond, but it wasnt due to lack of physical play.

Agreed. Obviously the Ducks showed that they were better than any team in the East, and IMO we got a couple of bad calls at the wrong times which cost us that last game. Losing Schneider hurt us a ton. Change those two things and I think we would have won the Cup.

This year with the physicality of Franzen, Drake, Downey, Cleary and Kronwall I think we have added even more toughness. Now this is not to say that we are more physical than other teams, because we are not, but as someone already pointed out, we don't win our games with pure physical presence like the goony Ducks try to do.

Our game is skill, puck possession and patience. But to answer the question, yes I think we are physical enough to win a cup this year.

Edited April 2, 2008 by Inultus

[IceMunkee 15]

Detroit doesn't go out of its way to be physical all the time, but when the WIngs start getting knocked around, they step it up and return the favor. I absolutely believe Detroit is gritty and physical enough to beat any team in the league. If you've watched 90% of the games this year (like I have), you would be amazed at how physical they have been in some games.

I was being sarcastic. Sorry, I should have put the ninja...

[Earthhuman 8]

Alas, it is isn't it. Let's not forget something the Wings do in the playoffs almost every year and that is to simply swarm the other team with shots and scoring opportunities. This year we have shown hundreds of times that we can go to the net and get down and in it to score just as much as with pretty plays. Whoever we play is going to see a boatload of offense right in their face. While some of us may question grit, others are certainly concerned about our scoring and having the puck 80% of the game. We are relentless and adaptable, the Borg of the NHL.

We Are Borg.

We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your Culture will adapt to service us. RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.

Go Wings.

Go.

Edited April 2, 2008 by Earthhuman

[detroitdan 0]

this was what I wondered going into the playoffs last year, but as soon as I watched the first game of the Calgary series I knew we'd be ok...Dats, Z, and Schneider were out there crashing and banging against the Flames...that was when I knew we'd be fine...especially with the way Kopecky has emerged as a hitter, I'm feeling confident

[jvxp 0]

No, were to small up front.

[HoweHatTrick 0]

I do think we are physical enough to win it. But I think the key is being physical, and being smart. You just can't spend 20 minutes a game killing penalties and expect to win in the playoffs. We've typically been very good at not taking bad penalties, but I feel like this year has been worse than last, you just never know what will make the refs' hands fly up in the air. If we can control the pace with our puck possession, and play physical, taking the other team off their game and forcing them to take bad penalties, I think we have a great chance at bringing the Cup back to the D.

[rick zombo 3,739]

How about this:

Detroit is not unphysical enough to not win the cup.

?

[Opie 308]

Not only do I think they are physical enough, I truly think that this team has the best shot at the cup since 02, if all, especially Drapes and Homer, are healthy by that time.

Flip has another year of experience and last years deep playoff run should have given him, Mule, Cleary, Lilja, Meech (If needed), and all of the other youngsters more experience in the playoffs than Crosby will probably have after this, his second, post season. (Please don't take that as a knock on Crosby)

Mule is hot right now, Z and D are Z and D, Lids is all world, Ralf is looking really good, the pp is starting to look better, this team is not physical in the sense of fighting, but they play a much grittier style of hockey than we as wings fans have seen in a long while.

I think it was this thread where I read that The 02 team was more physical than this team and I beg to differ drastically.

Hull, Luc, Igor, Stevie, Homer, Dandy, Duschesne, Olausson, Slegr, Dats, Boyd, Lids, J-Willy, Kuznetsov,

Those are not exactly names that will forever be remembered as hitters first.

[OsGOD 3]

If physical means "enough goal scoring" then i do have to withold my opinon for another 8 days... we are still in scoring tons mode. switch flips shortly... to can't buy a goal

[daniel1 32]

Last year I didn't think so but the team surprised me once the playoffs started. This year I believe we have the weapons if we need to use them. A McCarty-Drake-Downey line is as punishing as they come if those three play the way they are capable of. Downey can scrap with anyone, he may not outright win, but he'll hold his own and land a few shots. Drake and McCarty can be fierce hitters and will drop the gloves and beat 90% of the middleweights in the NHL. Those three players can make the little guys like Hudler, Maltby, Draper, Dats and Rafi play bigger than they are. Last year we saw how Cleary, Franzen, Holmstrom and Z can step up their physical play in the playoffs so I'm confident that they can do it again. On the back end we have four guys who can all provide a physical presence; Kronwall, Stuart, Lilja and Chelios. I think having Kronner and Stuart to bang bodies and deliver some hits will be huge. Last year Lilja led us in hits and if he steps it up physically in the playoffs then he should get that 6th D spot over Lebda-legs.

This year we've added Kronwall, Stuart, Drake, Downey and McCarty to a team that could already match the physicality of Calgary, San Jose and Anaheim last year in the playoffs. I think we definitely have enough toughness to win the cup this year. Having toughness on your roster and playing "tough" are two different things though; all those guys mentioned above need to lay it on the line every game and not hold anything back.

[BlakChamber 8]

Livingthedream isn't a girl. That's supposedly a picture of his sister and her friend.

Jury's still out on why he has it as his Avatar, but most people will probably tell you he has it for two reasons.

Not to get too off topic, but that's kind of creepy if its his sister.

Back on topic, the Wings aren't going to be the most physical team in the playoffs, but there's enough grit there to win.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

So im sitting here yesterday nostalgic as ever as I watch my DVD of the Wings 02 cup win, and I couldn't help but notice how physical the Wings were during that series. My question to you all is: Do you all believe we are physical enough to win the cup this year?

Do I think we have a real good shot at winning the Cup? ABSOLUTELY YES!

Do I think we're physical enough to win the Cup. ABSOLUTELY NO!

I think we are a much more physical team than we used to be. However, that is not our strength and when matched up against the elite of the West, it becomes our most glaring weakness in comparison.

Keep these things in mind.

1. McCarty probably won't play much if at all

2. Downey probably won't play much unless Huddles or someone else stinks it up or injuries occur

3. Our most physical players are also key players. Physicality in the playoffs lends itself to guys getting hurt. Who are our physical guys?

Franzen

Holmstrom

Maltby

Drake

Clearly

Stuart

Now look at some of the guys we'll be facing just on Anaheim alone

Travis Moen

Brad May

Brian Sutherby

Sean Odonnell

None of those guys mean as much to the Ducks as Cleary, Homer, Stuart and Franzen mean to us.

My point is we expect physical play out of some key contributors whereas a team like the Ducks can get physical play from their star players like Bertuzzi, Getzlaf, Pronger and Perry and from their 3rd and 4th liners.

We simply don't match up on a physical level. We need to do the best we can from a physical aspect but the key to us winning is going to still be our strengths which are our offense, our PP and our ability to limit the opponents chances.

If our offense struggles or the goal tending sags and you start to get into some of the other aspects such as toughness, grinding it out and outhitting/outhurting the other guy. I don't like our chances.

[shadowdagster 0]

WoW thanks for such a great response to my first LGW posting. I think you all have made great points so far!

[calfan 0]

No - nuf said.

[RedLightGoesOn 81]

Especially with D Mac back in the lineup i give a big yes... if we face the Ducks, he will fight Pronger and win (he beat Iginla in the 04 playoffs if i recall correcly, and if he didnt i remember he beat the s*** out of him before going down). As far as goaltending goes, I say we are 110% in the department... if Hasek (GOD I HOPE NOT) has to sit out for a game, Ozzie can carry us... Defense defense defense!!!! If our defense stays healthy and plays well it looks good for us. I will say this... the Red Wings have to play and produce as a team, not just Lids Z and Hasek, etc... What I liked last year was that we had Franzen and Clearly step up and do their part... I can't wait to see things this year.... That includes being physical.

[Reilly 24]

The 2002 team wasn't very physical at all and last years team didn't lose because of the Ducks' physcal play, so yes.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Physicality doesn't win a cup. Good offense and good defense win a cup. The only thing physicality does is intimidate, and we've proven that we aren't able to be intimidated away from playing our top hockey.

We didn't loose the conference finals last year because the Ducks were a more physical team. They gained momentum at the right time on a couple lucky breaks (much like how we beat the Sharks in the previous round). Well... that and Lilja. Are we Liljaless enough to win the cup? Thats what I would be asking right now

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Physicality doesn't win a cup. Good offense and good defense win a cup. The only thing physicality does is intimidate, and we've proven that we aren't able to be intimidated away from playing our top hockey.

We didn't loose the conference finals last year because the Ducks were a more physical team. They gained momentum at the right time on a couple lucky breaks (much like how we beat the Sharks in the previous round). Well... that and Lilja. Are we Liljaless enough to win the cup? Thats what I would be asking right now

They also put a hurting on some of our players with their physical play. Hence why I think that we can win a cup but we aren't going to win it if the series comes down to physicality.

People say we didn't lose to the Ducks because of how physical they were. Well fine. But quit making excuses for bad luck. If we didn't lose because of physicality then why did we lose?

For as potent as our offense was we only outscored the Ducks 17-16 in goals for.

What's telling to me is that in 1 goal games we were 1-3. You can read whatever you want into that. Blame the 1 goal losses on Lilja or Franzen's clearing plays.

That's the easy thing to do because you can't put a statistic on how tired players are. You can't register how beat up guys are, especially in the 2 OT games we lost.

You can't prove or disprove that the physical nature of the Ducks had anything to do with them beating us.

Most people don't want to believe it had any effect because it shows a weakness the Wings may have. Furthemore they don't want to believe it because they know there's nothing we can do to outmuscle or be physically superior to the Ducks. So of course the easy thing to do is just say we stood up to them and physicality is not why we lost.

I don't really believe that. I think they pounded on us. I think we couldn't (not even Lidstrom) contain the Getzlaf line. Just rewatch the games. The Getzlaf, Perry, Penner line absolutely manhandled us in our own zone and how many crucial goals did they score?

You can't put a price on how important the physical aspect of the game is. I for one think it's huge.

I don't like the fact that the Ducks are taller, stronger and meaner almost to a man. I don't like that just about everyone in their lineup hits and many of whom hit freaking hard.

Being smaller and not as strong or good at dishing out punishment was a factor IMO. Will it be this year? I dunno. Drake and Stuart helps a ton. Downey and McCarty, well if they are playing I don't know if that's a good or bad sign.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Especially with D Mac back in the lineup i give a big yes... if we face the Ducks, he will fight Pronger and win (he beat Iginla in the 04 playoffs if i recall correcly, and if he didnt i remember he beat the s*** out of him before going down). As far as goaltending goes, I say we are 110% in the department... if Hasek (GOD I HOPE NOT) has to sit out for a game, Ozzie can carry us... Defense defense defense!!!! If our defense stays healthy and plays well it looks good for us. I will say this... the Red Wings have to play and produce as a team, not just Lids Z and Hasek, etc... What I liked last year was that we had Franzen and Clearly step up and do their part... I can't wait to see things this year.... That includes being physical.

Is this supposed to be a serious post?

You do realize that Downey and McCarty are probably the #13 and #14 forwards on the depth chart when everyone is healthy.

That means that they may not even play in the playoffs. Of course I have a feeling one or both will make an appearance because Babs seems like the kind of coach who knows toughness is important (even if he doesn't say it) and I think he understands he needs some guys willing to fight come playoff time. And yes, anyone who plays the Ducks will end up picking up fighting majors. The Ducks force you to fight, playoffs or not.

I just hope those guys are in the lineup for the right reason and not the wrong reason. ie...injuries or other guys sucking ass.

[therock48880 14]

Yup. Especially if Homer comes back healthy. Him, Franzen, and Cleary (maybe McCarty too) can get those playoff type goals.

[therock48880 14]

They also put a hurting on some of our players with their physical play. Hence why I think that we can win a cup but we aren't going to win it if the series comes down to physicality.

People say we didn't lose to the Ducks because of how physical they were. Well fine. But quit making excuses for bad luck. If we didn't lose because of physicality then why did we lose?

For as potent as our offense was we only outscored the Ducks 17-16 in goals for.

What's telling to me is that in 1 goal games we were 1-3. You can read whatever you want into that. Blame the 1 goal losses on Lilja or Franzen's clearing plays.

That's the easy thing to do because you can't put a statistic on how tired players are. You can't register how beat up guys are, especially in the 2 OT games we lost.

You can't prove or disprove that the physical nature of the Ducks had anything to do with them beating us.

Most people don't want to believe it had any effect because it shows a weakness the Wings may have. Furthemore they don't want to believe it because they know there's nothing we can do to outmuscle or be physically superior to the Ducks. So of course the easy thing to do is just say we stood up to them and physicality is not why we lost.

I don't really believe that. I think they pounded on us. I think we couldn't (not even Lidstrom) contain the Getzlaf line. Just rewatch the games. The Getzlaf, Perry, Penner line absolutely manhandled us in our own zone and how many crucial goals did they score?

You can't put a price on how important the physical aspect of the game is. I for one think it's huge.

I don't like the fact that the Ducks are taller, stronger and meaner almost to a man. I don't like that just about everyone in their lineup hits and many of whom hit freaking hard.

Being smaller and not as strong or good at dishing out punishment was a factor IMO. Will it be this year? I dunno. Drake and Stuart helps a ton. Downey and McCarty, well if they are playing I don't know if that's a good or bad sign.

Best post I've seen in quite awhile. It's almost like you read my mind. I'm so tired of hearing how the Ducks got lucky and about bad officiating. That being said, I think the Wings are more physical than they were last year. Franzen has become a beast, Cleary is as gritty as ever, Stuart is a big, strong, d-man which they didn't have last year, even Kopecky (who seems to take a lot of heat on this site) has been playing physical. Then you throw the question marks (McCarty-Downey) and hope that one of them plays well.

[Opie 308]

The Ducks didn't get lucky but what helped them beat the wings is the key injuries, 2 of the top 3 Dmen, 2 pp point players.

With a full roster I think the series comes out differently, would it no one knows that is just my opinion.

I think this team is tougher than last years, has better team chemistry, and is much more experienced than last years team. All around I would say this team is better, and I fully believe this team that only struggled within its division will continue to play great hockey and hopefully win it all.

Can they, sure all 16 teams can win it, will they I sure as hell hope so!