Tough nut (lineup) to crack

[Opie 308]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AhmW...o&type=lgns

To understand just how good the Detroit Red Wings are as they start the defense of their 11th Stanley Cup, don’t look so much at who is on the roster as much as who is not.

After placing defenseman Chris Chelios, veteran forward Darren McCarty and No. 3 goalie Jimmy Howard on injured reserve in addition to exposing journeyman forward Aaron Downey to waivers, the Wings assigned three players to the minors who could make any other team in the league.

Starring for your Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League are Darren Helm, Ville Leino and Jonathan Ericsson.

Upon hearing of the decision, and understanding full well why it has to be this way, coach Mike Babcock had this to say to Detroit general manager Ken Holland: “These are the best players I’ve ever been involved with sending to the minors ever, I can tell you that.”

Ericsson is a 6-5, 205-pound defenseman, drafted 291st overall in 2002. Detroit is great at finding untapped talent late in the first round where it is accustomed to selecting, but this is ridiculous. At one point during the Stanley Cup Finals last year, Babcock said he “couldn’t believe Ericsson wasn’t playing in the NHL” then. He said it to support a point of the kind of depth he had at his disposal, but as another season rolls around the versatile defenseman is again in the minors.

“This is a one-year window of opportunity to win the Stanley Cup, add a Marian Hossa, and really keep our team together,” Holland said. “No matter what happens, when this season is over, we’re going to have to make some hard decisions.”

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

“This is a one-year window of opportunity to win the Stanley Cup, add a Marian Hossa, and really keep our team together,” Holland said. “No matter what happens, when this season is over, we’re going to have to make some hard decisions.”

There will be hard decisions next season and depending on what happens with Hossa will really clear things up. The thing that people need to realize is that if Hossa does end up departing at the conclusion of this season its not the end of the world. Z and a Franzen will get their raises, some other key players will be re-signed while one or two others will be let go as a result of the depth we have waiting in the wings (no pun intended), and this team will continue to be deep as hell.

If Hossa sticks around, well......I (and I'm sure Kenny) welcome those hard decisions.

Sidenote: That quote about the Wings' Brass nabbing Ericsson with the 291st pick is priceless.

[Opie 308]

There will be hard decisions next season and depending on what happens with Hossa will really clear things up. The thing that people need to realize is that if Hossa does end up departing at the conclusion of this season its not the end of the world. Z and a Franzen will get their raises, some other key players will be re-signed while one or two others will be let go as a result of the depth we have waiting in the wings (no pun intended), and this team will continue to be deep as hell.

If Hossa sticks around, well......I (and I'm sure Kenny) welcome those hard decisions.

Sidenote: That quote about the Wings' Brass nabbing Ericsson with the 291st pick is priceless.

I liked this one too:

Of course, don’t feel too sorry for Holland and Co. when they’re raising that Stanley Cup banner at Joe Louis Arena on Thursday night when the Red Wings host the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s got Henrik Zetterberg, Datsyuk, the pair of prime-age superstars who take as much pride in their defense and piling up points. He’s got Nicklas Lidstrom, the greatest European defenseman to play the game who is under-rated for his stellar leadership skills. Holland has so many pieces that fit so well into the system – Brian Rafalski, Tomas Holmstrom, Johan Franzen, Niklas Kronwall, Kirk Maltby, Daniel Cleary, Kris Draper, Chris Osgood – and on and on it goes.

You can almost sense that McKeon is a leafs fan and is completely heartbroken by this!!!! Or maybe an Avs fan!

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Another gem and one of the many reasons I love Babcock as the Wings' coach:

“I believe this is an opportunity,” Babcock said. “When I hear Ken talk about what’s going to happen next year, I get nervous for next year already.

“We don’t know when this chance will come this good again. We have to make sure our preparation is equal to the opportunity, and so that means it’s a great one, let’s get to work.”

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I liked this one too:

You can almost sense that McKeon is a leafs fan and is completely heartbroken by this!!!! Or maybe an Avs fan!

No way.....McKeon constantly pimps the Red Wings. If he's a fan of another team he sure hides it well.

[jawbreaker 0]

I bet that every team would love to have that kinda "problems"

[Echolalia 2,961]

It makes me wonder whether we're setting ourselves up for failure in the future, because no decent prospect will want to play for the Wings due to the fact that they'll be 30 by the time they break the nhl. Look at Brunnstrum. We were his number 1 pick, but he wouldn't get nhl time here. So he went to Dallas. I imagine this will also begin to happen around the time that Kronwall, Rafalski, etc become free agents and much of our core retires (ie Lids, Draper, Maltby, Osgood). Holland may be retired by then, also, but I'm thinkin' a bit pessimistic at this point. Regardless, its a concern I have.

[Guest Crymson]

It makes me wonder whether we're setting ourselves up for failure in the future, because no decent prospect will want to play for the Wings due to the fact that they'll be 30 by the time they break the nhl. Look at Brunnstrum. We were his number 1 pick, but he wouldn't get nhl time here. So he went to Dallas. I imagine this will also begin to happen around the time that Kronwall, Rafalski, etc become free agents and much of our core retires (ie Lids, Draper, Maltby, Osgood). Holland may be retired by then, also, but I'm thinkin' a bit pessimistic at this point. Regardless, its a concern I have.

..... how about no?

In any event, it's better for Ericsson, Helm and Leino to get top-line minutes in the AHL than get bottom-line minutes in the NHL.

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

..... how about no?

In any event, it's better for Ericsson, Helm and Leino to get top-line minutes in the AHL than get bottom-line minutes in the NHL.

Not saying you're wrong, but you are easily one of the most condescending posters on this board. You should tone it down a bit.

[Echolalia 2,961]

..... how about no?

In any event, it's better for Ericsson, Helm and Leino to get top-line minutes in the AHL than get bottom-line minutes in the NHL.

I know if my only dream was to play in the nhl and I worked my ass off since I was three to achieve that goal, including dropping out of school, losing a social life, paying the huge costs of travel, etc etc, I would most likely play for the team that will guarantee me nhl ice time, not the team that will have me play in the minors where I am clearly superior to the competition for 3-5 more years.

Not every 19 year old's ultimate goal is to play for the Wings. They want to play in the nhl. And I don't think too many kids will be more focused on getting top line AHL minutes vs bottom line NHL minutes. Its about the glory and the reward of working so hard your entire life. You don't get that in the AHL.

[Osgood4President 8]

I know if my only dream was to play in the nhl and I worked my ass off since I was three to achieve that goal, including dropping out of school, losing a social life, paying the huge costs of travel, etc etc, I would most likely play for the team that will guarantee me nhl ice time, not the team that will have me play in the minors where I am clearly superior to the competition for 3-5 more years.

Not every 19 year old's ultimate goal is to play for the Wings. They want to play in the nhl. And I don't think too many kids will be more focused on getting top line AHL minutes vs bottom line NHL minutes. Its about the glory and the reward of working so hard your entire life. You don't get that in the AHL.

I can almost guarantee you that it is their ultimate goal to win a stanley cup or two... and being in the Red Wings organization gives them the best chance to do that.