Will Downey get any playing time during the playoffs?

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

The way McCarty has played the past 2 games, who thinks babcock will play Downey?

I don't think he will, unless we are getting knocked around badly, or we go 3-0 on Nashvile, cause who knows what they will try then

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

For reference, im not saying don't play Downey, im wondering who thinks Babcock will play him

[Redwingsfan18 1]

He will at some point. Prob not in the first round but if we play SJ or Col, teams that are meaner then most - He'll be in.

[Real1 2]

I really hope Babs uses him. He goes out for 30 seconds at a time and always gives 110%. He understands his role on the team and he has accepted that he may only get 4-5-6 min a game. He is the player that will get every player excited on the team

[Reds4Life 51]

I think he will play few mins. Instead of Drake or Hartigan or D-mac.

btw "Greatness=PavelDatsyuk" your signature is way too big, max. allowed size is 400x100.

Edited April 14, 2008 by Reds4Life

[Opie 308]

I voted yes because against a team like ANA, SJS, or CAL his skill set will be needed. Against Nashville there is no need for him.

I am not sure Mac can fight like he used to so Babs may need to bring in Downey.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS:

Whatever decision BABS makes I will support, he is using guys when he needs to, he calls a time out at a great time and it turns out that he puts everyone's favorite whipping boy out after the TO and guess what his play leads to the momentum breaker.

Babs knows what he is doing and to this point NONE OF US have the knowledge or credentials to question him.

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

This will get some people angry, but someone has to point out reasons not to play him

McCarty already has one goal, and has shown more offensive capability then Downey has, and he can play physical and get in the other teams faces

He already has been gettin on TooToo, so Babcock might see no reason to play Downey, yet

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

btw "Greatness=PavelDatsyuk" your signature is way too big, max. allowed size is 400x100.

Dang, i forgot about that, thanks

[Guest ForeChecK]

Reasons why he will play atleast one game.

+ Nashville is buttercup compared to Calgary and SJ and Anaheim, We dont need that much muscle expecialy for a team like Nashville.

+ When it comes to the stanley cup, and lets say were smooth sailing and going to win it. For all the hard work Aaron put in through the season, Do you honestly think that Babcock will say, Sorry bud, your names not on the cup, It was replaced with a worthless bum in Hartigan.

Downey will get time, I mean seriously we are detroit, You honestly think there wont be ANY injuries?

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

Whatever decision BABS makes I will support, he is using guys when he needs to, he calls a time out at a great time and it turns out that he puts everyone's favorite whipping boy out after the TO and guess what his play leads to the momentum breaker.

Babs knows what he is doing and to this point NONE OF US have the knowledge or credentials to question him.

I agree, and im not trying to question Babcock, if it looks like i am

[Majsheppard 203]

Different question, Abs needs to play 10 PO games or two Finals games to get his name on the Cup if we theoretically win correct?

I think this also applies to Helm and Hartigan as I don't think they played enough games to get names etched.

Am I wrong on this?

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

Different question, Abs needs to play 10 PO games or two Finals games to get his name on the Cup if we theoretically win correct?

I think this also applies to Helm and Hartigan as I don't think they played enough games to get names etched.

Am I wrong on this?

Today, players appearing in 41 regular-season games or one Stanley Cup Final game for the championship team have their names engraved on the Cup. The NHL makes exceptions for players who do not meet the standard because of injury or other extenuating circumstances.

This is how you do it, so Downey would get his name on it, because he played in 56 regular season games

[Lidsyukerberg 0]

I voted yes because against a team like ANA, SJS, or CAL his skill set will be needed. Against Nashville there is no need for him.

I am not sure Mac can fight like he used to so Babs may need to bring in Downey.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS:

Whatever decision BABS makes I will support, he is using guys when he needs to, he calls a time out at a great time and it turns out that he puts everyone's favorite whipping boy out after the TO and guess what his play leads to the momentum breaker.

Babs knows what he is doing and to this point NONE OF US have the knowledge or credentials to question him.

I am not so sure that Mac can't throw down, everybody keeps saying they don't think he can.

But as I recall everybody also said "he'll never make it out of the IHL, he's all washed up and doesn't have anything left."

Then it was, "Well, he'll never get a goal in the AHL."

Then it was, "well sure he got some goals, but it's not the NHL, he'll never crack the lineup this year."

Then it was, "Well, he may have gotten signed but he'll be lucky if he sees any ice time this year, maybe next year."

Then, "Yeah, but he's not going to get any points."

We then heard "yeah but it's just an assist, big deal, it's not a goal. He'll never crack the playoff roster."

So here we are 2 games into the playoffs, Mac has not only cracked the roster, but he has played both games, AND has tallied a goal. So, when I hear that he has nothing left and isn't going to be able to throw down the gloves, I don't think I am ready to jump on that band wagon. I am not putting anything past him. I am not saying that he will win every fight he gets in, nobody does, I'm just saying that I think he will be able to throw down when needed. I saw him in Flint when he took to scrapping and he didn't look far off his form. Sure you could argue that it was just the IHL, but you could also argue that it was young kids trying to crack their way into the NHL by taking on the likes of Big Mac.

Anyway, to answer the first question, I hope Downey gets to see some ice time, but not because anybody else is going to struggle against any particular teams (I've actually even been very happy and impressed with Drake to this point and anybody who knows me knows that I have not been a big Drake supporter), I would like to see him get a shot at it because he has earned it. He definitely has some hustle, I love his energy when he hits the ice. He also has a great knack for shaking up the opposing team, and I think that has a place in any playoff game. I'm not all that concerned about whether or not he scores any goals, nobody can argue that his purpose on the team is to score goals, I want him to do what he does best. I would like to see him in the final game against Nashville just to shake up an already panicked team and lock in the win (not that I am saying it would be him that locks it in, just that he would shake up their game plan and take them off their game).

Anyway, that's just how I see it, I could be wrong, and I'm not too proud to admit when I am. But this sounds good to me.

[Elshupacabra 0]

Not until someone gets hurt.

Edited April 14, 2008 by Elshupacabra

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

I think, after we win tonight, that Babcock will but Downey so when we take the lead in game 4, Nashville won't be able to take cheap shots at our key players

Edited April 14, 2008 by Greatness=PavelDatsyuk

[Swede40 0]

Don't think he'll get in.

[Opie 308]

I am not so sure that Mac can't throw down, everybody keeps saying they don't think he can.

But as I recall everybody also said "he'll never make it out of the IHL, he's all washed up and doesn't have anything left."

Then it was, "Well, he'll never get a goal in the AHL."

Then it was, "well sure he got some goals, but it's not the NHL, he'll never crack the lineup this year."

Then it was, "Well, he may have gotten signed but he'll be lucky if he sees any ice time this year, maybe next year."

Then, "Yeah, but he's not going to get any points."

We then heard "yeah but it's just an assist, big deal, it's not a goal. He'll never crack the playoff roster."

So here we are 2 games into the playoffs, Mac has not only cracked the roster, but he has played both games, AND has tallied a goal. So, when I hear that he has nothing left and isn't going to be able to throw down the gloves, I don't think I am ready to jump on that band wagon. I am not putting anything past him. I am not saying that he will win every fight he gets in, nobody does, I'm just saying that I think he will be able to throw down when needed. I saw him in Flint when he took to scrapping and he didn't look far off his form. Sure you could argue that it was just the IHL, but you could also argue that it was young kids trying to crack their way into the NHL by taking on the likes of Big Mac.

Anyway, to answer the first question, I hope Downey gets to see some ice time, but not because anybody else is going to struggle against any particular teams (I've actually even been very happy and impressed with Drake to this point and anybody who knows me knows that I have not been a big Drake supporter), I would like to see him get a shot at it because he has earned it. He definitely has some hustle, I love his energy when he hits the ice. He also has a great knack for shaking up the opposing team, and I think that has a place in any playoff game. I'm not all that concerned about whether or not he scores any goals, nobody can argue that his purpose on the team is to score goals, I want him to do what he does best. I would like to see him in the final game against Nashville just to shake up an already panicked team and lock in the win (not that I am saying it would be him that locks it in, just that he would shake up their game plan and take them off their game).

Anyway, that's just how I see it, I could be wrong, and I'm not too proud to admit when I am. But this sounds good to me.

Not to argue or fight with you but there is a reason I typed the words I AM NOT SURE, Babs probably knows or someone who watched him work his way through the I and A HL may know, but I don't.

[Lidsyukerberg 0]

Not to argue or fight with you but there is a reason I typed the words I AM NOT SURE, Babs probably knows or someone who watched him work his way through the I and A HL may know, but I don't.

Actually, I wasn't coming at you, sorry if it seemed like I was. Yours was the post with something about Mac and fighting in it (and it wasn't really negative) so I chose it just to highlight my views on the topic of whether or not Mac can/will handle dropping the gloves at this stage of his career. Honestly, I am not sure what the outcome will be either, it's just that after what we all saw him do against all odds, I won't put anything past him at this point. He has always been the type of player and person that never ceases to amaze and surprise.

Sorry if it seemed like it was aimed at you, it wasn't.

By the way, I totally agree with your comments about Babs, I won't argue with any of his decisions either. He has shown himself to be a very good and very smart coach. Besides, there is plenty good reason why he is getting the big bucks and I'm not.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS:

Whatever decision BABS makes I will support, he is using guys when he needs to, he calls a time out at a great time and it turns out that he puts everyone's favorite whipping boy out after the TO and guess what his play leads to the momentum breaker.

Babs knows what he is doing and to this point NONE OF US have the knowledge or credentials to question him.

Edited April 14, 2008 by Lidsyukerberg

[Opie 308]

Hey man no harm no foul, sorry for coming back at you!

Sometimes it is tough to separate the legit posts and the endless babble of player x needs more ice or needs to be a wing because I like him.

[Wing Across The Pond 196]

its a shame.... the rate Anaheim and San Jose are going we might not get to see Downey batter them!!! but i just think at the moment... and probably is because Nash arent a physical team.... i think DMac over Downey.... FOR NOW though

[uk_redwing 495]

its a shame.... the rate Anaheim and San Jose are going we might not get to see Downey batter them!!! but i just think at the moment... and probably is because Nash arent a physical team.... i think DMac over Downey.... FOR NOW though

Wayy another wings fan from england.

Well seein as Calgary look set to beat SJ, I think when (not if) we play them Downey will be more needed than against the sharks. Sharks arnt that physical tbh, especially compared to the flames (who led the league in fights and have such cuddly characters as Phanuef, Godard and Vandemeer)

[Chase 0]

Yeah Downey will get his chance. Dont you worry.

[detroitdan 0]

as long as they win, I don't care who plays

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I voted yes.

Unfortunately, injuries are a part of hockey, and I don't think we'll be able to keep everyone healthy throughout the playoffs each game. It's just rare to see that. Thus, Downey will play for someone.