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NeverForgetMac25

To Bench....or not to Bench

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Well, the way they played last night and the game before, they all need all the work they can get. You can't really hope to win a Cup based on a last-second, freak goal by Zetterberg. Let's hope they are "saving" all the goals for the playoffs.

I suspect at least Zetterberg and Cleary to be MIA, and probably Lids, Raffi and maybe Cheli. Personally, I'd sit Pavel, too, but he only needs 3 points to 100, so he will be out there, for sure.

Additional factors to the last game slide: they've clinched, it's a noon-time game (gross...I hate day games) and no one will care about this game since they are looking toward the playoffs now. Chances are, we're looking at a disinterested effort from a bunch of guys you don't normally see out there -- Griffins, in our case.

Sorry, Dom. You get this one on your resume, good luck! You're probably gonna need it.

PS - I went (all the way to San Jose) for the last game of the 2002 season. There were so many missing players that I spent the entire game trying to identify who was out there for Sharks fans... some of the players I'd never seen before and some, I wish I hadn't. Kuznetsov, for example.

The few veterans who "had" to play were pissed off, Manny got shelled and embarrassed, and the Sharks fans thought they'd won the Cup. I wanted to tell them, those were not the "actual" Red Wings. :hehe:

you say no one cares but you need to read the cawks forum. if you were to read it without knowing they were out of the playoffs you would think it was the deciding game on who went to the stanley cup final. some of the comments on there blow my mind. but some on here do as well :P

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I really would like us to be able to keep some folks out of the lineup, but the most practical thing due to the limited amount of bodies available would be to just go ahead and limit the ice time of our key guys. Do we get to expand our roster before the playoffs or has that already happened and we just keep getting guys injured? Honestly if we keep losing forwards what I'd like to see us do (which we won't) is to call up Ericsson and let him play forward. I know he's been converted to a D-Man and will play that position in the future, but I personally would love to see him be able to get a call up to play a little forward. It'd definitely give us a large body that might create some matchup problems.

But hopefully the injuries will stop with the Kopecky one and everyone who is out of the lineup will get healthy because we are going to need all the bodies we can get (even Samuelsson's). In all seriousness though, I for one haven't been his biggest fan, but at this point with the injuries piling up I'll be glad to see Samuelsson in the lineup because I hate having to put guys who haven't had much NHL playing time in.

If I could rest someone, it'd be Lidstrom, Z and Pavel...also as someone else mentioned maybe letting Kronwall get some rest would be beneficial, but I'd do it just because of his luck with injuries. Also, for what it's worth, I'd try to get guys like Mac, Cleary and Holmstrom as much ice time as possible (within reason) so they could get some more game time experience since we have a golden opportunity to get them needed game speed experience before the playoffs. My only worry with Homer is that he might get reinjured, but hopefully he's been out for such a long period of time as a precaution and he'd be able to play through his injury if needed during the playoffs. Boy I wish the playoffs would hurry up and get here!!

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Yeah, I'm not sure with all the injuries we have enough bodies to sit everyone. Especially if we haven't signed Abdelkader, who was on a one-game amateur contract (speaking of which, can we sign Lids to one of these? It would free up a lot of cap space :P )

But I'd definitely sit:

Z (to rest his back)

Lids

Kronners

Dats

In that order. Cleary and Flip need to play since they've missed so much time. I'd play Franzen too, so as not to kill his momentum by sitting him. I'd rest Kronners over Raffi to make sure he doesn't have another freak injury, at least until the playoffs. And of course, give the regulars who do play reduced ice time.

Edited by Third Man In

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I dunno who/if we can bench many people because of all the injuries, but if I were to I would bench:

Z (back)

Lids (cuz he is sweet)

Cheli (grandpa)

Kronwall (always injury prone)

Otherwise, Id just keep everyone in and spread around the ice time. Let Mac or Applicator(if he is dressed, which I think he should be) play more. Even Huds. Maybe he will get a goal or two and get on a role. Its a shot in the dark but who knows.

Edited by Chase

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With the lack of people to suit up I think they should just invert the lines.

Line 4 gets line 1 minutes line 3 gets line 2 minutes so on and so on.

Same with d pairings.

That way the guys are not getting as many minutes but you also don't have to forfiet for lack of players.

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you say no one cares but you need to read the cawks forum. if you were to read it without knowing they were out of the playoffs you would think it was the deciding game on who went to the stanley cup final. some of the comments on there blow my mind. but some on here do as well :P

Let me be clear(er). I don't think the Red Wings -- whichever ones draw the short straw and have to play tomorrow -- will care.

Dom will work hard, and Pavel will shoot for 100 points (literally, quit passing and SHOOT!). The rest will hopefully do what they can to avoid injury. They're looking forward to Thursday, not to getting up at 8:00AM on a Sunday, to go get ready for a meaningless game -- even if it is the last game of the season and they should care, no matter what.

I don't expect a win. Just get the heck out of there without anyone else missing the playoffs with an injury sustained in a useless game vs. a non-playoff team.

Just my opinion.

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nice avatar! Gennies are kicking ass. I'm an oshawa native myself.

Thanks! I am a new fan of theirs as they were the final beneficiaries of my fav goalie... after the Whalers were dumb enough to get rid of him instead of Smitty! I am behind Michal and Gens 100%

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I would sit Lids at least, he deserves a night off... If we didnt have too many injuries I would say Z Dats and Franzen. If we cant sit them then they would play a lot less and give the other lines some time to play and have fun.... Which might be a good thing to get them in playoff mode.

Edited by RedLightGoesOn

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I would bench Zetts, Dats, Kronner and Lids. Give the rest of the vets limited ice time and let the kids play.

I agree with Son of a Wing. We don't need any more injuries.

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In this guy's case, i say not to bench.

:rotflmao:

Dear lord, we were given opposable thumbs for a reason, why is that goof benching in that manner with that much weight?

Anyways I think we should bench anyone who's not 100% and for the most part just restrict ice time. I'd like to see all of our top guys out on the power plays for numerous reasons. It would be incredible to see Datsyuk break the 100 point barrier, I'd love for Raflaski to officially hit his career high in points, and let us not forget it is the last home game of the regular season and I feel the players have some duty to give the fans a good show.

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