Kopecky

[Reds4Life 51]

I don't think Kopecky is one of those guys. I don't think he will ever pan out to be an everyday guy on the Wings.

I absolutely agree.

Wings should get rid of him ASAP. He is not good enough to play anything but 4th line and he is not aggresive enough to be solid 4th liner. And he is injured..

He played over 100 games..how can anyone still belive he is going to be solid player. He had his chance..hopefully Abdelkader will be better.

Edited June 12, 2008 by Reds4Life

[Opie 308]

What in the hell is going on here? I seem to have stepped into the middle of a LGW's stress fest. I am not speaking for you I am just giving my opinion. By impact player I meant "player who can make an impact." I don't think Kopecky is one of those guys. I don't think he will ever pan out to be an everyday guy on the Wings. If I was wrong about the hopes of fans, then fine I was wrong, but calm down. This is the internet, there is no way I can not "leave your opinion up to you." Am I taking crazy pills here? Let's get back on topic and talk about Kopecky.

Notice the difference when you say I THINK as opposed to every red wing fan thinks.

Give your opinion by stating it as your opinion not that of every red wing fan!

I didn't s*** on you when you said we, I had no idea who you were talking about when you said we, when you said every red wing fan, you encompassed me into that group, which I was not a part of and do not share those thoughts. I simply said you should not state it that way.

BTW, How many games are you basing your assessment of him, because I am sure there were a lot of people who would have called Dats a non impact player after the amount of games Kopecky has played.

You don't like the fact he is big and doesn't hit, fine!

[Turretin 0]

BTW, How many games are you basing your assessment of him, because I am sure there were a lot of people who would have called Dats a non impact player after the amount of games Kopecky has played.

You don't like the fact he is big and doesn't hit, fine!

I am just going to respond to your Kopecky comment because that is all that's relevant to this topic.

The assessment is more than on pure "minutes." You have to look at the tools which are required of a player in the nhl and then ask "Does this guy exhibit gifts that can make him an everyday nhl'er?"

Now, Datsyuk took a while to develop, but he exhibited tools that let you know there was something there. For example, look back at the '02 playoffs if you have the game footage, quite interesting to see those "flashes." Kopecky has not exhibited that playmaking ability, so then you look at "Well, does this guy pitch in with physical play? or Does he have intangibles?" I don't see that from Kopecky. It's not so much that he is big but doesn't hit, as much as it is "Look kid, if you want to stay around in this league, your best chance (given your skill set) is to be an energy line guy. That means hitting."

This is not to say he wouldn't have some value for another team in the league. I am just saying I don't think he has a skill set that the wings need night in and night out.

EDIT: Clarity

Edited June 12, 2008 by Turretin

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

I would like to see you post a list of names of people on this board who, until Kopecky was playing really well in the middle of last season, ever believed he was capable of being a full-time NHLer.

I'll give you a hint, this list is exactly one name long. And it doesn't allow you to use the term 'we' as you are not included on the list.

i would have to agree with you on this EUZ. i never thought he would amount to much. still don't until i'm proven wrong.

[Opie 308]

I disagree with your assessment, but I see your points.

He will not probably ever crack the the top 3 lines, unless he all of the sudden finds a new asset to his game.

You are right in order to play on the 4th line he will need to add grit and energy, much like Helm and Hudler did this post season. BTW how much hitting did Huds and Helm do this post season?

Energy from the fourth line comes in many shapes and forms, it could be an Aaron Downey right hand, a Dallas Drake (when on the 4th line) check, Darren Helm speed through the Nuetral zone, Huds scoring for, a gritty position, I think Kopecky could be a solid fourth line player, he just needs to continue to develop he is all of 26 years old, I understand that, however he still has the look of a kid who needs his body to fill out.

But even if as you said he is better suited for another team he will at least bring the wings a draft pick or two.

I think in all honesty that with the knee injury and the great play of Helm Kopecky will have a very hard time cracking this line up, but Babs is all about rewarding hard work.

[B.B. 0]

For those who are saying he cannot be an everyday player... uh... were you watching this year? He played nearly every game, and would have played in the playoffs if not for an injury. You don't just get rid of guy with his size and potential. He was really coming on towards the end of the year, and will take Drake's spot in the line-up if/when he retires. At the very worst, he will battle Maltby for playing time, and those two guys will probably be the 12/13th forwards on this team.

[Turretin 0]

2 goals and 3 assists since Feb 1 is "coming on"? Drake brought intangibles, this guy doesn't have intangibles. Drake is one of those veterans that you pay all year for his leadership and courage. Kopecky doesn't have a career of experience behind him.

GP G A P +/- PIM

2007-08 DET 77 5 7 12 2 43

I am not saying Kopecky is awful, I am saying that there are guys waiting in the wings who should not have to wait just because he was in line first. The best players should play and in a deep organization, that means Kopecky should be traded. Again, hope I'm wrong on him.

[uk_redwing 495]

Huuuge ***** fest going on here...

Turretin...you often find certain members here get angry at you for having a different opinion. I call is opinism. They're damn dirty opinists.

[Opie 308]

2 goals and 3 assists since Feb 1 is "coming on"? Drake brought intangibles, this guy doesn't have intangibles. Drake is one of those veterans that you pay all year for his leadership and courage. Kopecky doesn't have a career of experience behind him.

GP G A P +/- PIM

2007-08 DET 77 5 7 12 2 43

I am not saying Kopecky is awful, I am saying that there are guys waiting in the wings who should not have to wait just because he was in line first. The best players should play and in a deep organization, that means Kopecky should be traded. Again, hope I'm wrong on him.

Whom is the proven entity that has proven at the NHL level they can do more than Kopecky, if you are saying Abdelkader I will disagree because he has only 1 game under his belt. Helm, I am on that one with you.

But wouldn't Babcock and Co know who the better player is and who fits the system better than you or I?

[Turretin 0]

Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Hudler - Filpulla - Franzen

Samuelsson - Draper - Cleary

Helm - ? - ?

Assuming Drake retires, then as far as I'm concerned, you have a pool of talent that is either (1) unproven, or (2) closely matched:

Maltby

Kopecky

McCarty

Downey

Leinno

Abdelkader

Looking at how stout the D is, I think you add in 1 more UFA to the mix and that leaves a lot of guys for 1 spot. My point is, I don't think that Kopecky will win that race. Maybe he does, but I doubt he stays in the line up for more than 30 games.

[Opie 308]

Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Hudler - Filpulla - Franzen

Samuelsson - Draper - Cleary

Helm - ? - ?

Assuming Drake retires, then as far as I'm concerned, you have a pool of talent that is either (1) unproven, or (2) closely matched:

Maltby

Kopecky

McCarty

Downey

Leinno

Abdelkader

Looking at how stout the D is, I think you add in 1 more UFA to the mix and that leaves a lot of guys for 1 spot. My point is, I don't think that Kopecky will win that race. Maybe he does, but I doubt he stays in the line up for more than 30 games.

Odds are with the knee in the shape it is, I have a hard time seeing him beat anyone out for a position, you are right though.

I see Downey and Mac splitting one of those positions, unless that UFA (BTW I have said random UFA for a couple of days because I have no idea who will fill the spot Drake took) is a guy who can throw down and skate with this team regularly. And Maltby probably takes one of those spots.

You are right Kopecky is probably 13th forward if not in GR after clearing Waivers, I just disagreed with what I THOUGHT was your assessment of his talent. Sorry if this was what you were referring to as that was not what I read the first couple of times.

[Guest Crymson]

I would like to see you post a list of names of people on this board who, until Kopecky was playing really well in the middle of last season, ever believed he was capable of being a full-time NHLer.

I'll give you a hint, this list is exactly one name long. And it doesn't allow you to use the term 'we' as you are not included on the list.

Is it me?

[CAredwingsfan91 28]

i've never been a fan of his, hes another floppa. get rid of him.

[58Miles2Joe 12]

Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Hudler - Filpulla - Franzen

Samuelsson - Draper - Cleary

Helm - ? - ?

Assuming Drake retires, then as far as I'm concerned, you have a pool of talent that is either (1) unproven, or (2) closely matched:

Maltby

Kopecky

McCarty

Downey

Leinno

Abdelkader

Looking at how stout the D is, I think you add in 1 more UFA to the mix and that leaves a lot of guys for 1 spot. My point is, I don't think that Kopecky will win that race. Maybe he does, but I doubt he stays in the line up for more than 30 games.

+Hartigan and maybe even Ritola on a longshot.

btw, Ron Paul !

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

You are right in order to play on the 4th line he will need to add grit and energy, much like Helm and Hudler did this post season. BTW how much hitting did Huds and Helm do this post season?

Hudler cant hit, but Helm? You were watching the games right Opie? Helm was a hitting machine whenever he was on the ice. Be it on the forecheck, neutral zone or in his own zone. Were they huge hits? Nope, but he still hit. Helm has the potential to be a much better player then Kopecky, he's fast and physical and has a bit of a scoring touch.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

i've never been a fan of his, hes another floppa. get rid of him.

Kopecky isn't even half the "diver" that people on here moan and whine that Foresberg is. Injury-wise, only time will tell as he's still in his mid-20s and has a few more years until we can make a fair comparison regarding that.

Edited June 13, 2008 by SouthernWingsFan

[ben_usmc 253]

I remember quite a few people wanting to get rid of Kronwall even up until last year. Basically lets lets Kopecky have a majority of the season to prove himself, he did start coming along towards the end started driving the net, he kind of was a worse verision of Flip in the fact that he should potential but couldn't get the score. Also it seemed like every team was always after him more so then everyone else on the ice so if he can get more focus on him and let the others do what they need sure.

[miller76 463]

I am not completely sold on Kopecky, but I am definetly not against him getting ice time. I think the past season he showed a lot of grit and determination. He took a lot of hits and attempted to play through. The kid is not Datsyuk or Z, but he is a young devoloping forward. Just like Flip, Huds, and Helm. I think he needs more time, so he can break out. This organization takes pride in developing players that were passed/skipped by other teams. He is a big kid. With the right consistent coaching, developing/honing his skills, and ice time he will make it and be a dependable player. (imo)