Why Maltby?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Malts is a decent defensive forward

I miss the Malts that drew penalties too.

[LeDs 0]

I would rather see Helm, Leino or McCarty than Maltby. Maltby has always been a role player but he no longer plays the role. Loyalty goes both ways. Maltby should put more effort into his game. He no longer finishes his checks, doesn't agitate like he used to. He needs to pick up his intensity or retire.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Believe it or not, this is NOT NHL 09. That is, there are other considerations besides mere playing skill. There is chemistry, leadership, the locker room and the future. In keeping Maltby, Holland demonstrated to the league that the Wings are loyal to their longtime players. He also retained a team leader---and a guy with a boatload of experience, to boot---a guy who can help mentor the younger guys, and he maintained the chemistry in the locker room.

This team has been successful because of loyalty between the management and the players, and because of long-time retention of players.

Besides, we still have a team that is by far good enough to win the Cup. Stop complaining.

You know what's funny Crymson, i almost posted the exact same thing, about this not being NHL 09 lol. Well played!

[bogeygolfer 4]

I posted the same thing in the thread about the young players being cut,

you dont want your young players wasting their time in the press box and on the 4th line. Not only will keeping helm or leino on the team all year bring them a year closer to free agency. With the strong top 3 lines the wings have, the 4th line will see very limited minutes, aside from draper who will get time on the PK, So why not let these guys play 20 minutes a night in the AHL and develop themselves into better hockey players. They could learn a lot from that experience, since neither has ever play AHL hockey before.

[LeftWinger 5,152]

Why do the Wings continue to stick with Maltby? That 3 year deal had to be one of the worst Wings signings in a long time.

Instead of:

Kopecky-Draper-Maltby

We could have:

Kopecky-Draper-Helm

Helm would contribute SO much more to this team, Im sorry but Maltby is dead weight. He isnt an aggravater like he was early in his career, he is old and shys away from those types of plays now. I wish the Wings would wake up and throw him on waivers, but that won't happen. Do you guys think he will actually be a Wing throughout the 3 year contract? I hope not

...uh, I agree, sooner or later Maltby will retire (he will retire a Wing) but I do believe you are mistaking Maltby for McCarty, because THAT was one of the worst wings signings in a long time and he is deadweight. He isn't an aggrevater, he is old and loses his fights...

...just like McCarty, Holland gives contracts out for players who have been here from the start and have been very loyal to this team, and like him or not, Kirk Maltby will continue to be a Wing and get contracts until he decides to hang them up, as will Draper and Holmstrom and Lidstrom and :puke: McCarty...

[Detroit Dan 0]

Maltby did seem to be weak last year. The year before, he was strong, if I remember correctly. Perhaps he'll have another good year this year. I sure hope so.

Along with Maltby, Draper and Holmstrom are getting on in years.

Malts is almost 36

Drapes is 37

Homer is almost 36

If the Wings play their cards right, Helm and Leino will move smoothly into 2 of these positions over the next several years. On average, one of the starting 12 forwards will generally be injured at any given time, so there will be opportunity for Helm and Leino even before the retirements start.

[12Newf 0]

i trust holland and believe that he will not let sentimentality get in the way of winning. the same goes for babcock. these are two very intelligent men and as detroit fans we really have nothing to complain about. the biggest problems of this off-season are an abundance of talent and the pressure of being cup favourites. keep the faith because our boys are in excellent position to repeat.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Good defensive forward, good leadership, excellent penalty killing, and 4 time Stanley Cup champion. And as stated before, loyalty.

Edited October 7, 2008 by Hockeytown0001

[Nev 1,085]

How far do you push loyalty before it starts hurting the team? Malts has always had 3 great qualities

1) His skating - but as plenty here have pointed out he has lost a step the last couple of years

2) His agitating - alas, this has dried up the last few years, despire being his one unique skill that no-one else on the wings roster has

3) His penalty killing. Well, right now we have Datsyuk, Hossa, Zetterberg, Franzen, Filpulla, Cleary and Draper who are all adept at killing penalties, so Malts would not be missed.

Look, he's been a great servant of Detroit but can anyone here honestly say he deserves a roster spot ahead of Leino (especially) and Helm?

[CenterIce 83]

Another plus for Maltby is that, beyond last year, he consistently plays all 82 games. Durability and reliability go a long way.

[CrossoverThrash 0]

Helm will be twice as good next year, thats why, they're making it as difficult as possible to make this team.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Since when did Maltby prevent this team from winning anything? I can't think of any example. He doesn't hurt this team in any way, and he's a good guy to have in the lockerroom. You guys are barking up the wrong tree here.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Maltby and loyalty isn't preventing the Wings from doing anything. True his best days are behind him, but if he were such a detriment to this team he would've been gone a long while ago. He was injured some during the playoffs, yes, but even when he was healthy as the playoffs went along, he was a healthy scratch a few times. How is that hurting the team?

If Maltby didn't play anymore, I wouldn't notice too much because his best days are probably behind him as I stated. I don't have a problem with him in though, he's not holding a young kid back or anything to where the young kid's career is threatened.

On the whole "loyalty" bit, I think that could be a detriment if you are loyal to so many players if your sports franchise is in a bad spurt or you have bad teams. It isn't a detriment to the Red Wings though, because they have proven over and over again that you can be loyal to your employees/players who have been with the organization for a while, yet still be in the playoffs year in and year out and have a legitmate chance to win the Stanley Cup every year.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I'll never understand the Maltby hate. He gives 120% every shift, and is one of the nicest guys around. A guy people can associate themselves with and he's been here since 96.. he still hits hard, I want to see if Maltby will change with McCarty returning and Downey being around. He is still a top PKer in the league, that's how good he is. I know it doesnt matter when half of Detroits friggen forwards are top PKers haha, but he does his job, and doesnt cost alot. His leadership in the lockeroom and on the bench is irreplaceable. When he and Draper are gone, people will miss them. I gurantee it, and you'll miss seeing #18 on the ice, you may not want to believe it but you will. I for one am glad he played out the majority of his career in Detroit.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

It goes beyond loyalty. None of us know how close the Wings really are, but given that they've all talked about how its a "family atmosphere" at one point or another, you can be damn sure that if one of their longest standing "family members" were booted out just because the old dog was getting grey in the snout, it would definitely have repercussions within.

Draper was pissed about Downey hitting Filppula. How do you think his attitude towards the Wings organization would be if they cut Malts, one of his best friends? Think about it. And stop complaining.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Draper was pissed about Downey hitting Filppula. How do you think his attitude towards the Wings organization would be if they cut Malts, one of his best friends? Think about it. And stop complaining.

Maltby completes Draper. Just listen to them at practice and you can see why.

[Nev 1,085]

and is one of the nicest guys around

Irrelevant

Draper was pissed about Downey hitting Filppula. How do you think his attitude towards the Wings organization would be if they cut Malts, one of his best friends? Think about it. And stop complaining

I would hope Draper would be mature enough and proffesional enough to accept that his friends time was up in Detroit. All good things come to an end - Stevie Y, Shanny both had to move on eventually and both are an example of clinging on too long when the bell is tolling.

How is that hurting the team?

I'll flip that one back at you - who would help the team the most? Leino/Helm or Maltby?

[13Wings40 0]

Irrelevant

I would hope Draper would be mature enough and proffesional enough to accept that his friends time was up in Detroit. All good things come to an end - Stevie Y, Shanny both had to move on eventually and both are an example of clinging on too long when the bell is tolling.

I'll flip that one back at you - who would help the team the most? Leino/Helm or Maltby?

For the 6-8 minutes a game that Leino/Helm would play, Maltby would help the organization this year for the future. Leino/Helm will be better served playing 20 minutes a game down in the Grand Rapids, not the 6-8 minutes a game on the 4th line.

Edited October 8, 2008 by 13Wings40

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I'll flip that one back at you - who would help the team the most? Leino/Helm or Maltby?

Since its not about only getting rid of Maltby, or only adding Leino or Helm, but getting rid of Maltby in favor of one of the two, then the result is a negative.

1. Loss of experience

2. Messes with team chemistry

3. Loss of grit

4. Loss of PKing ability (Helm isnt there yet)

5. Loss of line chemistry - Draper and Maltby have been playing together for over a decade

6. Questions the loyalty of the Wings Brass in retaining older players (what does getting rid of Maltby say to Draper, Chelios, Osgood, Holmstrom?)

7. Reflects poorly on the organization as a whole in letting one of their definitive players go after years of service, which could negatively affect free agent signings.

Oh, but it adds youth and a little tertiary scoring.

[elriqo28 2]

Irrelevant

I would hope Draper would be mature enough and proffesional enough to accept that his friends time was up in Detroit. All good things come to an end - Stevie Y, Shanny both had to move on eventually and both are an example of clinging on too long when the bell is tolling.

I'll flip that one back at you - who would help the team the most? Leino/Helm or Maltby?

yep, we forgot, you know better than the coach and GM who just won a stanley cup...our bad

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Good locker room guy I'd imagine. He is still great on the PK with Draper, any other team would kill to have these two guys killing penalty's for them. Responsible in his own end, still quick but has lost a step the past few years. Only downside to him is he doesn't have any offensive upside really, and he is only going to get slower as he gets older.

But its called loyalty, and I don't think any other major sports franchise is better at doing it than our very own, Detroit Red Wings.

His time on the PK has been dramatically reduced over the past 1-2 seasons with the emergence of Franzen and Filppula. They are both now given significant time while shorthanded and as a result Maltby’s ice-time is on the decline.

I have been calling for the Wings to trade/waive Maltby for a few years now. I was absolutely ready to give up on him last season but I must admit he was pretty good during the playoffs and now I’m happy for him to be around for another season. Sure Helm is probably a superior player and it would be nice for have him in to have some more youth, but Maltby is a pretty important member come playoff time, that’s what he’s here for.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

I posted the same thing in the thread about the young players being cut,

you dont want your young players wasting their time in the press box and on the 4th line. Not only will keeping helm or leino on the team all year bring them a year closer to free agency. With the strong top 3 lines the wings have, the 4th line will see very limited minutes, aside from draper who will get time on the PK, So why not let these guys play 20 minutes a night in the AHL and develop themselves into better hockey players. They could learn a lot from that experience, since neither has ever play AHL hockey before.

Helm played 67 games in the AHL last season…

[Nev 1,085]

yep, we forgot, you know better than the coach and GM who just won a stanley cup...our bad

Pardon me for having an opinion and daring to express it on a discussion forum. The "no-one is allowed to disagree with Ken Holland" line is getting real old this week.

1. Loss of experience We're hardly a raw, young team that desperately needs a veteran presence in the locker room now are we?

2. Messes with team chemistry For better or worse? We don't know how the subtraction of Maltby and the addition of Leino/Helm would affect the team until it happens

3. Loss of grit 5 years ago, yes. Malts has lost (as I said earlier) one of the 3 qualities that made his career. He hasn't got under anyone's skin in years.

4. Loss of PKing ability (Helm isnt there yet) As I said earlier, Maltby has about 7 forwards ahead of him on the PK depth chart

5. Loss of line chemistry - Draper and Maltby have been playing together for over a decade Yep, and they were great together when Malts and D-Mac could still play, which, unlike Draper, they no longer can. Drapers best chemistry last season was with Cleary and Sammy as his wingers.

6. Questions the loyalty of the Wings Brass in retaining older players (what does getting rid of Maltby say to Draper, Chelios, Osgood, Holmstrom?) Questions the truthfulness of Wings management when they say players must earn ice-time, but if an aging vet is totally outplayed by a couple of youngsters he still keeps his roster spot.

7. Reflects poorly on the organization as a whole in letting one of their definitive players go after years of service, which could negatively affect free agent signings. Seriously? "Better not sign for the wings - when I'm in my late 30s and no longer able to contribute like I once did - they might scratch me!"

For the 6-8 minutes a game that Leino/Helm would play, Maltby would help the organization this year for the future. Leino/Helm will be better served playing 20 minutes a game down in the Grand Rapids, not the 6-8 minutes a game on the 4th line

I actually agree for Helm, but not for Leino. Leino is 25 and has shown he is NHL-ready. He can play those 6-8 minutes, get comfortable with the NHL game and with his team-mates and be ready to jump up a line or 3 as injuries and form offer the opportunity, so that next season when he will have a much greater role he is already part of the team. But yes, Helm is better off playing 20 minutes a night in GR in all situations - even if he is more deserving of a spot on the team than Maltby

[Guest Crymson]

Pardon me for having an opinion and daring to express it on a discussion forum. The "no-one is allowed to disagree with Ken Holland" line is getting real old this week.

I actually agree for Helm, but not for Leino. Leino is 25 and has shown he is NHL-ready. He can play those 6-8 minutes, get comfortable with the NHL game and with his team-mates and be ready to jump up a line or 3 as injuries and form offer the opportunity, so that next season when he will have a much greater role he is already part of the team. But yes, Helm is better off playing 20 minutes a night in GR in all situations - even if he is more deserving of a spot on the team than Maltby

Nev: The weakness in your argument lies in the fact that you're arguing for a change from a management style that is already successful and has been successful for this team for a long time. To make that change would seem to carry with it a bit of folly.

[datsyukiandeke 0]

Why Kopecky?