We need totally some other players right now

[rick zombo 3,739]

You know, just because we love them and think the best of them doesn't mean these guys aren't human.

If you had received the highest accolades in your profession last year (all the while having to work an extra 2 months to do so without any extra pay), and in some cases 1-3 times previously, with your paycheck secured for 2-4 more years, do you think you'd be giving your best performance? Even if it was subconscious, do you think you'd have the drive to give it your all every day, or even some days? Now do you think you'd be able to get your whole crew, most of them in the same position, to bring their best game all on the same night?

Has anyone stopped to wonder what the correlation might be between Zetterberg, Hudler, Hossa, and Sammy playing well or better than they have previously, while guys like Lebda, Cleary, Rafalski, Lidstrom, Filppula, Draper, and Stuart haven't looked up to par on may or most nights?

I have a pretty good work ethic, but I'll admit, if I had a position with that much security, I'd probably slack off a bit - even if I didn't realize it. And If my superiors were coming to me and saying hey, our productivity is looking pretty good, then I probably wouldn't think I needed to change what I was doing.

Those are our Wings right now.

YG,

This might be your greatest post ever on LGW.

Also, I might humbly add, until Babcock is visibly out of sorts I wouldn't worry too much about the way this team's playing.

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

Give ZDHossa a chance for more than 4 shifts.

The second line could consist of any of the following: Sammy, Flipper, Hudler, Franzen. Personally, I would like Hudler - Flip - Franzen, but I doubt Babs would demote Sammy after his start.

Other than that... time and patience. I'm not bummed about losing the presidents trophy if we do, just want a playoff competitive team.

[CrossoverThrash 0]

You know, just because we love them and think the best of them doesn't mean these guys aren't human.

Dude! Datsyuk is not a human!

[Chunkylover 26]

In Datsyuk's contract year there were many who wanted to trade him for Brian Gionta.

After Turco's phenomenal playoff round against the Canucks in '07 I thought we could best secure our future by dumping Osgood and signing Turco if possible. If not him then make a move for Kiprusoff.

The challenge we as fans have is being powerless to make any changes and that is a good thing because we also lack the insight to make any informed decisions.

I'm not against speculation and endless trade discussions because that can be fun and stimulating. But my belief in this team's ability to win is unwavering and if you need something to buck yourselves up through this early season slog, just review some of the pictures from the final. Guys like Stuart, Draper, Cleary, Zetterberg, and Samuelsson in their bearded glory. When you saw them you just knew they were the guys who were going to come out on top!

And the best part is they're all still here.

Edited December 1, 2008 by Chunkylover

[Slave 31]

am i the only one who thinks that even though sammy is putting is putting up numbers he still looks useless about 90% of the time?

Hell i'd have 16a too if i played with Z and the hot as fire hudler.

[The Secret 304]

am i the only one who thinks that even though sammy is putting is putting up numbers he still looks useless about 90% of the time?

Hell i'd have 16a too if i played with Z and the hot as fire hudler.

No, your not alone. I still think he is a tool. Let's hope he can make himself look good enough for a decent trade, although i doubt it. I'm not a Sammy fan!

[Slave 31]

i can agree with that.

i do not love or hate the guy, it just seems he is riding coattails and thnking it is gonna carry him.

[SaCkaveli20 275]

I love just because we aren't first in the West, people are already starting to panic.

Guys, we can't win 65 games EVERY year...

But on that note. ZDHv2 needs to happen, or atleast make that the first powerplay unit.

[CrossoverThrash 0]

.

Edited December 2, 2008 by CrossoverThrash

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

am i the only one who thinks that even though sammy is putting is putting up numbers he still looks useless about 90% of the time?

Hell i'd have 16a too if i played with Z and the hot as fire hudler.

What do you expect the guy to do? Pick his nose and spit boogars out and just purposefully let another guy on the ice have the puck for an assist or a goal? A point is a point is a point, it shouldn't and doesn't matter if you get it in a pretty way or ugly. Points help with confidence.

No, your not alone. I still think he is a tool. Let's hope he can make himself look good enough for a decent trade, although i doubt it. I'm not a Sammy fan!

Tool? Don't you think you are being a little bit extreme there?

Edited December 2, 2008 by SouthernWingsFan

[Slave 31]

What do you expect the guy to do? Pick his nose and spit boogars out and just purposefully let another guy on the ice have the puck for an assist or a goal? A point is a point is a point, it shouldn't and doesn't matter if you get it in a pretty way or ugly. Points help with confidence.

Tool? Don't you think you are being a little bit extreme there?

i expect him to skate hard and not be soft in the corners and not to give up on plays...like it is his job to do

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

You are really grasping at straws to find something to complain about when somebody has 21 points in 24 games - a guy that isn't counted on to be one of your teams top scorer's and certainly isn't paid to do so.

You don't like him, that's fine, but reaching this deep into the jar to find something to complain about and complain about him is a little bit ridiculous when he's producing well. He's a great bargain and he's showing it right now.

[Dabura 12,232]

Sammy is a great value, and he's proving that again this season. You can't argue with his numbers, especially when you juxtapose that with his salary. Anyone who calls him a tool is, well, a tool.

[The Secret 304]

Sammy is a great value, and he's proving that again this season. You can't argue with his numbers, especially when you juxtapose that with his salary. Anyone who calls him a tool is, well, a tool.

Call me what you will but my feeling is still that Sammy is a tool. He's a sloppy ugly skater, he has a good enough shot but his accuracy (unless he is shooting at the broad side of a barn) is way off, He does not make good decisions with the puck quite often and he is about as tough and gritty as a ringette player. If he is a tool he is like a Wal-Mart brand... good enough to get some jobs done but breaks down when you really need it. I don't like him and I think there are better options. He should be putting up some points considering who he is playing with and when.

[lets go pavel 2]

Call me what you will but my feeling is still that Sammy is a tool. He's a sloppy ugly skater, he has a good enough shot but his accuracy (unless he is shooting at the broad side of a barn) is way off, He does not make good decisions with the puck quite often and he is about as tough and gritty as a ringette player. If he is a tool he is like a Wal-Mart brand... good enough to get some jobs done but breaks down when you really need it. I don't like him and I think there are better options. He should be putting up some points considering who he is playing with and when.

Sammy makes 1.2 million a year ... who are the better options you would replace him with? He is a bargain, he's not my favorite player and yes, he can be infuriating at times, but for his salary and his role on the team I think we're getting our money's worth and then some ...

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Call me what you will but my feeling is still that Sammy is a tool. He's a sloppy ugly skater, he has a good enough shot but his accuracy (unless he is shooting at the broad side of a barn) is way off, He does not make good decisions with the puck quite often and he is about as tough and gritty as a ringette player. If he is a tool he is like a Wal-Mart brand... good enough to get some jobs done but breaks down when you really need it.

You mean like when he broke down by opening the scoring of the Stanley Cup Finals last year? Or how about the time a little later in that game where his forecheck and hit directly lead to another goal of his own.

The guy makes nothing yet puts up beyond solid numbers for his payscale yet some here just continue to follow this stupid claim that he's worthless that some people made here a couple years ago.

I don't like him and I think there are better options. He should be putting up some points considering who he is playing with and when.

You not liking a player is not a valid reason to get of him and there are *not* better options out there for how much he makes. Name one otherwise.

[The Secret 304]

Sammy makes 1.2 million a year ... who are the better options you would replace him with? He is a bargain, he's not my favorite player and yes, he can be infuriating at times, but for his salary and his role on the team I think we're getting our money's worth and then some ...

I'm thinking the either Leino or Helm could do as good and possibly better for less then 1.2 mill. On our current roster though he has earned the spot this year I guess. It should be occupied by Hudler or Filppula but both were a bust on that line. Wow, I hate to say but perhaps Sammy at 1.2 mill is a better choice the Filppula at 3.5 mill. Filppula should have taken my advice for the off season and invested in a nice cycle of DecaDurobolin and a Gold's gym membership... he is currently not worth what he is being paid.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I'm thinking the either Leino or Helm could do as good and possibly better for less then 1.2 mill. On our current roster though he has earned the spot this year I guess. It should be occupied by Hudler or Filppula but both were a bust on that line. Wow, I hate to say but perhaps Sammy at 1.2 mill is a better choice the Filppula at 3.5 mill. Filppula should have taken my advice for the off season and invested in a nice cycle of DecaDurobolin and a Gold's gym membership... he is currently not worth what he is being paid.

Leino has practically no NHL experience whatsoever and Helm isn't the point producer Sammy is.

On our current roster Helm or Leino do deserve a spot, but not Sammy's. Maltby's spot would be fine.

[The Secret 304]

You mean like when he broke down by opening the scoring of the Stanley Cup Finals last year? Or how about the time a little later in that game where his forecheck and hit directly lead to another goal of his own.

Thanks for outlining all of his major accomplishments from last years playoffs... now how about listing all the wasted opportunities off of his stick or directly due to his poor decision making.

[The Secret 304]

Leino has practically no NHL experience whatsoever and Helm isn't the point producer Sammy is.

On our current roster Helm or Leino do deserve a spot, but not Sammy's. Maltby's spot would be fine.

True that Leino has no NHL experience but from what I have seen he has a lot more of a scoring touch the Sammy. Helm has a so few minutes on a 4th line of course he wouldn't be able to produce but put into Sammy's slot I'm thinking he could, Helm can throw a check too where Sammy like to play Patty Cake. It's just a thought that you don't have to agree with.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Thanks for outlining all of his major accomplishments from last years playoffs... now how about listing all the wasted opportunities off of his stick or directly due to his poor decision making.

Your entire argument is based on a negative personal bias you have for him. Every player in the NHL *at Sammy's paylevel* makes plenty of mistakes or they wouldn't be making only $1.2 million, yet you continue to bash him as if the guy doesn't deserve to be in the NHL. Does Sammy make mistakes: absolutely. Is he well worth his $1.2 million and then some: you bet your ass he is.

If you seriously want to go back and look at every game Sammy's played and pick apart a bad play he's made, have at it. I'll go back and pick out all the good plays he made and when we come together you'll look foolish because when its all said and done the guy brings more to the table for his light paycheck than he does to hinder it. You just don't like him...that's it.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

True that Leino has no NHL experience but from what I have seen he has a lot more of a scoring touch the Sammy. Helm has a so few minutes on a 4th line of course he wouldn't be able to produce but put into Sammy's slot I'm thinking he could, Helm can throw a check too where Sammy like to play Patty Cake. It's just a thought that you don't have to agree with.

Your basing that on Leino playing against a lower tier of opponents. Also, Leino doesn't have the defensive ability or the habit of forechecking

Sammy does.

True that Leino has no NHL experience but from what I have seen he has a lot more of a scoring touch the Sammy. Helm has a so few minutes on a 4th line of course he wouldn't be able to produce but put into Sammy's slot I'm thinking he could, Helm can throw a check too where Sammy like to play Patty Cake. It's just a thought that you don't have to agree with.

Helm hasn't showed he can be a scorer at this level and playing with 4th line grinders suits his style of play while it maximizes whats good for the team. Helm's strong forechecking and speed give the Wings a solid shutdown option, but that doesn't do you much good on a line with Zetterberg who's already one of (if not the) best defensive-offensemen in the league who's also playing next to a fairly defensively responsible Franzen.

I know this is just your thought that I don't have to agree with but this is a message board, which is why I'm replying to it. Isn't that the point?

[Slave 31]

he doesn't in my opinion "bring it" every game or every shift, he is just like lang was, last night alone he made quite a few bad passes, sure he only makes 1.2 mil or whatever but still that is not an excuse to coast out there. There is more to playing hockey then puttng up points. Maybe i am being too hard on him though; just being on the redwings he should be better then he is all i want to do is see the guy break a sweat when he is out there, I do not think that is too much to ask.

[lets go pavel 2]

he doesn't in my opinion "bring it" every game or every shift, he is just like lang was, last night alone he made quite a few bad passes, sure he only makes 1.2 mil or whatever but still that is not an excuse to coast out there. There is more to playing hockey then puttng up points. Maybe i am being too hard on him though; just being on the redwings he should be better then he is all i want to do is see the guy break a sweat when he is out there, I do not think that is too much to ask.

I must be watching a different Sammy ... effort is one of the things I think he does bring consistently. He's not supremely talented, he doesn't have blazing speed or the greatest hands or vision. It's hustle that gets him where he is. He is nothing like old Bob Lang.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

he doesn't in my opinion "bring it" every game or every shift, he is just like lang was, last night alone he made quite a few bad passes, sure he only makes 1.2 mil or whatever but still that is not an excuse to coast out there. There is more to playing hockey then puttng up points. Maybe i am being too hard on him though; just being on the redwings he should be better then he is all i want to do is see the guy break a sweat when he is out there, I do not think that is too much to ask.

Like every player in the NHL "brings it" every game or every shift....Please. Besides, Sammy "brings it" to his ability as much as almost anyone. A lot of people thought Datsyuk didn't "bring it" for a while and coasted. While I'm most certainly not comparing Sammy to Dats, you don't hear that comment anymore.

What does Sammy have to do to catch a break on this site? The answer is there's probably nothing he can do.