What should we do about Maltby?

[VM1138 1,921]

I hate that Maltby has to sit out, considering he did nothing wrong. But there's no way in hell you take out Helm. His line has been great. And now that Sammy is actually scoring I can't call for his removal. Unfortunately I think there's no other choice than to sit him until Helm starts playing poorly.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

Alright, i hear what everyone is saying. We have good chemistry as a team right now and why change it going into the nect round. Many of you are praising Helm, which i will admit, he has been good (and really good if you factor in the fact that he came and is playing so well in playoffs as a rookie who didnt play alot with this team during the regualr season). However, i havent seen a whole lot from him that has screaed "great" player yet. And i dont think we will seeing he is a rookie. Even if he turns out to be a star like Dats and Z, we didnt see a whole lot froom them till their 2nd full season here. So im not saying he wont be a great player, i just havent seen it yet. With that said, i think we are going to need a great PK playing a team like Dallas. Ive been watching them through the first round and the whole second round so far, and it seems like everytime they go on the popwer play they spend the entire time inthe offensive zone. They dont always score, b ut the pressure is ALWAYS there. I think we are going to want to strengthen our PK if we go into a series with them. I dont think sitting Dmac for Maltby is the answer. I think the best person to sit would be helm.

Now i know this isnt a Downey thread, but i really think we should get him in the lineup once during playoffs. We rode this guy all the way during the regualr season, and he did everything we could have asked from him. Stuck up fro his team, agitated the other team, and was just a great clubhouse guy. Hes got a great attitude, and i think Dmac should sit one or twice for Downey.

With all that said, i think we all know babcock well enough and know hes not going to change anything till we lose. Which i cant really blame him for, but man i really want to see maltby in there regularly, and i would like to see downey in once or twice...

[rick zombo 3,739]

Let me just say, this is a good problem for the Wings to have. If you had told me they would look this deep up front right now when Kopecky got hurt and Sammy and Draper and Homer all seemed banged up I would have laughed.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

He'll be in at some point, but for now, Maltby himself wont care about not playing. The Cup is more important then playing time.

[pavyaz19 1]

Should McCarty REALLY be playing over Maltby?

Oh man, that's a tough one. I can't see any reason to have a fighter in the conference finals, neither team is going to risk sitting in the box. Maltby is undoubtedly quicker and has better hands. I'm glad I'm not Babcock.

Plus, I know neither Maltby and McCarty are centers, but by swapping those two means that Helm stays in the lineup. So we're swapping experience for experience while keeping inexperience in place. If it were me, I think Drake would be in the discussion too. I think he and Maltby are the ones that should be interchangeable, and I'd MUCH rather have Malts in the lineup than Drake.

[pavyaz19 1]

Now i know this isnt a Downey thread, but i really think we should get him in the lineup once during playoffs. We rode this guy all the way during the regualr season, and he did everything we could have asked from him. Stuck up fro his team, agitated the other team, and was just a great clubhouse guy. Hes got a great attitude, and i think Dmac should sit one or twice for Downey.

playing a guy with little or no NHL hockey skill, who barely can put on a check because he's too slow and such a sloppy skater, over a guy with tons of experience, good hands, and holds a semi-leadership role is completely insane in my book. All Downey can do is fight, NOTHING ELSE. The Conference Finals is not a place for a guy like that. If he makes it into our lineup, that would mean we have major injury issues, scary.

I will never understand the love for this guy.

[RedLightGoesOn 81]

tough call... if it aint broken dont fix it, but Maltby is good.... I say let things lay as they are, Babs needs to change anything, Malts should be the first back into the lineup -- he's proven his worth.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

playing a guy with little or no NHL hockey skill, who barely can put on a check because he's too slow and such a sloppy skater, over a guy with tons of experience, good hands, and holds a semi-leadership role is completely insane in my book. All Downey can do is fight, NOTHING ELSE. The Conference Finals is not a place for a guy like that. If he makes it into our lineup, that would mean we have major injury issues, scary.

I will never understand the love for this guy.

No one is asking you to understand it, just asking you to respect it and not to treat everyone else like crap for stating their opinion....

Never said he was a great player. Said he was a guy that would stick up for his team, and he does that. Now should he be brought in during the next series? Probably not because we would be playing Dallas or SJ who are not big Goon" teams. But do i think he should have played a game or two against nashville? Yeah because they arent a very classy team and could have gooned ip up at any time, and to have a guy that would go out there and fight if need be would have been nice to have. Should he have dressed and played during the Avs game? Probably not, most of there goons stayed undercover. But i wouldnt have minded seeing him taking out Ian Laperriere again for that hit on lidstrom, or possibly take down forsberg after that slash to sammys face. Now are we going to have to worry about goons in the next two rounds? No, not unless me make it to the finals and so does Philly. So im not saying he should play because hes skilled and a great hockey player. Im saying after all the playing time he got in the regualr season (game wise not Icetime wise) it would have been nice to see him get to play an erarly playoff game.

Thanks for jumping down my throat though...

[Copenhagen848 58]

I say play him. His PKing alone is worth a spot. As much as I like Dmac, I'd sit him for Malts.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

I say play him. His PKing alone is worth a spot. As much as I like Dmac, I'd sit him for Malts.

I know that Dmac would probably be out if Malts is in, but i cant help but want to see him play with Malts.....id rather sit Helm. But you are defeintly right, his PH skills alone are reason enough to insert him in the lineup!

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Why should Mac sit? I think he's done a damn good job in every game he's been in. He's only getting better, imo.

I really miss Malts though, and Helm is playing really well so I don't know.

[Izzy24 44]

playing a guy with little or no NHL hockey skill, who barely can put on a check because he's too slow and such a sloppy skater, over a guy with tons of experience, good hands, and holds a semi-leadership role is completely insane in my book. All Downey can do is fight, NOTHING ELSE. The Conference Finals is not a place for a guy like that. If he makes it into our lineup, that would mean we have major injury issues, scary.

I will never understand the love for this guy.

If you don't understand the love for Downey, maybe you don't understand hockey.

[Guest Crymson]

I say play him. His PKing alone is worth a spot. As much as I like Dmac, I'd sit him for Malts.

Our PK, even without Maltby, is by far the best of any team in the playoffs to this point.

We have more than enough forwards with defensive ability.

Edited May 2, 2008 by Crymson

[Copenhagen848 58]

Our PK, even without Maltby, is by far the best of any team in the playoffs to this point.

And it would be even better with Maltby out there.

[Guest Crymson]

And it would be even better with Maltby out there.

And how would you know this for sure?

[DaWingsin071 4]

Again like many say this is a great thing, we have so much depth its sick. Malts is a good player but what about Justin Ablekader he was sick when he had his playing time. Again throwing in a name who can be of use, if hit with injury bug. BUt in all fairness we are playing great hockey and I like helm good young player. Stay with the same lineup untill we start getting slaughtered. P.S. Which will not happen.

[Copenhagen848 58]

And how would you know this for sure?

Well, I don't carry around a little crystal ball that tells the future so I don't know it for sure. However, Maltby is a great PKer, been great at it for years, so I'd have a hard time believing that he wouldn't help the PK and/or make it better.

[hockeysattva 8]

Well, I don't carry around a little crystal ball that tells the future so I don't know it for sure. However, Maltby is a great PKer, been great at it for years, so I'd have a hard time believing that he wouldn't help the PK and/or make it better.

I am going to go out on a limb that I have sat on before: Maltby and Draper have been the best penalty kill pairing of the last decade and the playoffs is their time to shine.

That being said, I am not convinced he is 100%. If he was I think he would have gone in a game or two ago when he was still 85%.

Also, I think Mac has gotten better every game except last night. Its hard to judge an individual's performance in the midst of a blow-out, but I saw him goof it a few times in the first, not nearly as bad as Chelli's give aways in game three but I am just saying.

Also, I would expect to see some line changes by the time we get to games three and four of the next series. We will not be able to get the match-ups we want on the road that we did against the Avs. Babcock knows he has to play the other team, not worry about chemistry.

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

Should McCarty REALLY be playing over Maltby?

No he shouldn't. Maltby should be playing over McCarty.

Maltby played well right before he got injured. McCarty doesnt do anything really.

[Guest Crymson]

Well, I don't carry around a little crystal ball that tells the future so I don't know it for sure. However, Maltby is a great PKer, been great at it for years, so I'd have a hard time believing that he wouldn't help the PK and/or make it better.

Then again, perhaps he'd replace someone on the PK who is more valuable than he is.

We're scoring SHG. We don't do that with Maltby on the ice. Further, our PK is just fine as it is. Getting Maltby on it isn't worth replacing someone on a line that is clicking. It's not as if he's desperately needed. The drawbacks outweigh the benefits.

[sinbin 3]

All I can say is ....I love the position this team is in! We're wondering what to do with Malts? Babs has always said, he's taking the best to play. Thank God we're not in the Avs shoes!....... He'll play!

[Copenhagen848 58]

Then again, perhaps he'd replace someone on the PK who is more valuable than he is.

We're scoring SHG. We don't do that with Maltby on the ice. Further, our PK is just fine as it is. Getting Maltby on it isn't worth replacing someone on a line that is clicking. It's not as if he's desperately needed. The drawbacks outweigh the benefits.

And how would you know this for sure?

[Yzerfan1999 81]

I think he sits for now. He makes a perfect replacement if someone decides to take a night off or we have an injury.

[LeDs 0]

One of the reasons Helm is playing is they needed another good face-off guy, dont see Maltby helping there. Maltby isn't the player he used to be, he no longer has the grit and doesn't get under the opposing players skin like he used to. As far as replacing Mac with Maltby I think that would be a mistake. Mac is the only intimidating force we have, the last thing we need is zetterburg or Datsyuk getting injured on a cheap shot. Having Mac in the lineup will help keep that stuff to a minimum. Helm has better speed, hits more and is better on faceoffs, so Maltby sits IMO.

[VM1138 1,921]

I would NOT play Maltby over McCarty. I understand that Maltby was playing awesome in the stretch, and I feel bad about him not playing, but McCarty's line has been doing great, I don't want to mess with that until we have to.