What has happened to Lebda?

[Real1 2]

In my opinoin, I think that lebda has gone from a fast, puck-handling d-man and now at the end of the sason his ice time was down, and now he is a scratch? Is this only because we have3 better d-men or is he indeed "not on top of his game"?

What are your thoughts?

[Kp-Wings 3]

The guys playing are all better than him. If he had any offensive ability to speak of, he'd be in the lineup, but he doesn't. All he can do is skate fast. It doesn't help his cause that he's really small, either.

Lebda should be traded at seasons end, to make way for Quincey and Meech. He isn't needed here.

Edited April 13, 2008 by Kp-Wings

[Real1 2]

I see why they have so many people on defense(in case of injury) but what do you do with them at the beggining of next season? Get rid of them, I don't know, but I gotta agree, I think that Lebda is fit for a better team.

Think he would fit in with the hawks? He is young, fast , and he is a hero there. Maybe.......

[kylee 727]

I see why they have so many people on defense(in case of injury) but what do you do with them at the beggining of next season? Get rid of them, I don't know, but I gotta agree, I think that Lebda is fit for a better team.

Think he would fit in with the hawks? He is young, fast , and he is a hero there. Maybe.......

if i were Kenny Holland i wouldnt be trading with the hawks anymore for a longgg while. They were close this year, and i think there is upside to Lebda, lets not just give that away to a team in our division that was just barely on the outside looking in this year.

[Real1 2]

^Good point. Where do you think he would be good for the team he goes to, and not be a threat to us?

[daniel1 32]

Trade him to the Islanders for Trent Hunter. Or better yet just for a pick as the odds of us finding a very good player with a 3rd round pick are way better than anyone already at the NHL level turning into a very good players. Our D is going to be "interesting" over the next couple of seasons with Meech, Quincey, Ericsson, Kindl and Pyett all knocking on the door and established vets like Cheli, Lilja, Lebda and Stuart already on the team. If we do resign Stuart, and I think we should, then for sure we have to trade a couple other guys away. Does Cheli play until he's 50? There's no arguing that he's still effective now, but at some point we have to think about developing our younger D too. My suggestion would be to resign Stuart for 3mil/3yrs, this solidifies our top 4 for the next couple seasons till we see what the younger D are going to turn into at the NHL level. We trade Lebda and Quincey for picks/prospects. We let Lilja go as Stuart is a better player and can replace the physical presence Lilja brought. That leaves us with a top 6 of Lids/Rafi, Kronner/Stuart, Meech/Cheli which allows us to bring Ericsson in right from training camp and have him swing between Cheli's 6th spot and the 7 D (not dressed) spot. Then we have Kindl, and Pyett to bring up when the injuries hit so we get a look at them. Although if we did keep Lilja for 1mil/1yr it wouldn't be the end of the world as he kills penalties well and can fill in when the injury bug hits and he's cheap too. We have to open some room up for other guys though, so Lebda and Quincey should probably be dealt or simply signed to 2 way contracts so that they can be kept down in GR until they're needed.

Having too much D though is a nice problem to have and perhaps we can deal from that strength to acquire a legit 2nd line center? Who wouldn't pull the trigger on a Lebda, Quincey and Pyett for Oli Jokinen deal this summer? That would still leave us very well off at D and give us a second line center to play with Franzen and Filppula. Cleary fills in well for 1st and 2nd liners but having him on the 3rd line really give us some balance down there with Draper, Sammy, Hudler and maybe Mac if we give him another 1yr deal next year.

[Cicada 4]

trade him for a pick

we don't have the room for him anymore and they'res better d-men in grand rapids

[Superman54 91]

Love his speed, and passes, but we got Quincey, Meech, and Ericcson who are very close to NHL level. Lebs was well liked but sadly I don't see him much longer in a Wings jersey, espicially of the amount of potentail d-men we have

[Reds4Life 51]

Lebda is expendable. If we can get some decent gritty forward for him, why not.

Edited April 13, 2008 by Reds4Life

[The Noodle 39 14]

Yea he kinda reminds me of Mathieu Dandenault... very fast but that is it lol.. Course imo Dandy was a little bit better. Could throw him in the game as a winger or Dman.

[LadyWildcat 4]

I wouldn't be surprised if we trade him this summer. There isn't really anything he has that our prospects don't, except experience and a little more speed than some.

[eva unit zero 271]

Trade him to the Islanders for Trent Hunter.

A top-six, gritty, scoring winger for a third pair defenseman? Not happening.

Who wouldn't pull the trigger on a Lebda, Quincey and Pyett for Oli Jokinen deal this summer?

Jacques Martin. Lebda is a career third-pairing defenseman, and neither of the other two will be Norris contenders. The Wings would have to give up an Ericsson/Kindl plus a top forward prospect and some picks to even get a SNIFF of Jokinen...there are other teams that would be more willing to part with top flight prospects because they can, and they would have more need for Jokinen as well.

[barabbas16 499]

Yea he kinda reminds me of Mathieu Dandenault... very fast but that is it lol.. Course imo Dandy was a little bit better. Could throw him in the game as a winger or Dman.

Not to mention the fact that Dandenault actually has some size.

[CenterIce 83]

Lebda is expandable. If we can get some decent gritty forward for him, why not.

Is he like Mr. Fantastic?

[eva unit zero 271]

Is he like Mr. Fantastic?

No, more like a blowfish.

[Reds4Life 51]

Is he like Mr. Fantastic?

Typo

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

While I'm all about moving Lebda given the depth the Wings have in GR, people need to be realistic about what they're going to get back for him. Yes, the Wings have one of the best D's in the league but he's probably never going to be more than a third pairing guy or a top-4 guy on the worst of teams. A guy like Lebda will fetch you something, but I think a decent pick/role player is about it.

[Bad Andy 0]

Why not try running Lebda as a forward for a few games sometime? We did this with Meech toward the end of the season and he wasn't horrible. Having a player as fast as lebda isn't something you want to trade-away, it's an item most teams would love to have... seems like we have a good problem, with having so many good prospects! The future looks bright.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Why not try running Lebda as a forward for a few games sometime? We did this with Meech toward the end of the season and he wasn't horrible. Having a player as fast as lebda isn't something you want to trade-away, it's an item most teams would love to have... seems like we have a good problem, with having so many good prospects! The future looks bright.

The thing is, if he's not defensively responsible (or solid for that matter) as a defenseman, how defensively responsible do you think he'll be as an offenseman?

Cutting ties with him wouldn't be the worst thing, given the depth in GR and what you might be able to fetch for him.

[maltbymaniac 13]

a little off topic but whats up with downey?is he gonna get any ice time/or only injury ice time. and has he played any playoff games b4

Edited April 13, 2008 by maltbymaniac

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

a little off topic but whats up with downey?is he gonna get any ice time/or only injury ice time. and has he played any playoff games b4

In regards to Downey, I doubt he'll make any changes with Mac finding the back of the net (which would be his likely replacement). As the team is playing right now, he shouldn't be making any changes.

[pinkprincess027 0]

a little off topic but whats up with downey?is he gonna get any ice time/or only injury ice time. and has he played any playoff games b4

Downey has played in five playoff games before. Several of the seasons he has played in the NHL his team has not even made it to the playoffs. Four of his five playoff games he played in Chicago in the 2001-2002 series. Bob Probert was on the team then and he apparently played on a line with him some.

As for whether or not Downey will play I think he should when we go to Nashville. I think things are going to get more physical and we need him on the ice.

[maltbymaniac 13]

i c , i thought he earned himself some playoff time and maybe a little rotating at least.not that i dont like mac but downey looks to give his all everytime he is on the ice and has been doing it the entire season.

[Guest ForeChecK]

Lebda is a joke. He plays a solid defence, and skates well.. Other then that he is worthless, In terms of shot selection when he rushes the puck, He makes Sammy look like a god. His physical play is non-existant, I mean seriously who backs down from Dougie Weight? I dont care if you dont fight, But you dont let DOUG WEIGHT punk you out.

On the flipside a team like New Jersey, Phili who need a puck moving D-Man could be in need of Lebda. They dont necessarily need him to be THE guy, But many Dmen who you would want even touching the puck let alone carry it.

[eva unit zero 271]

Lebda is a joke. He plays a solid defence, and skates well.. Other then that he is worthless, In terms of shot selection when he rushes the puck, He makes Sammy look like a god. His physical play is non-existant, I mean seriously who backs down from Dougie Weight? I dont care if you dont fight, But you dont let DOUG WEIGHT punk you out.

On the flipside a team like New Jersey, Phili who need a puck moving D-Man could be in need of Lebda. They dont necessarily need him to be THE guy, But many Dmen who you would want even touching the puck let alone carry it.

I've been saying it since Lebda first made the team...that he was just keeping the spot warm for someone like Quincey, Meech, etc.

Lebda might be a good fit in Edmonton or San Jose, actually...both teams run systems that thrive on puck carrying, speedy defensemen and Lebda could find a place as a #4 with a team like that.