Conklin to start in Dallas; Chelios to debut on Sat

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

<chuckle>

Oz has gotta be chompin' at the bit right about now, eh?

Babs knows what he's doing.....

I'm surprised so many people jumped to conclusions without thinking about this....its the first thing that came to mind for me. Babs is simply challenging Oz to get better and this might be just the thing to do it.

[lets go pavel 2]

Him being benched for 3 games, him letting in 3 + goals every game, Him being questioned about his play, Articles from the coaches stating that our goal tending blows, and My own personal view on the situation.

Giving him a chance to get his head together doesn't equate to a complete loss of confidence by everyone. Conklin's GAA isn't much better, and questions from the media are normal. In the articles I've read the coaches have expressed confidence that he will turn things around.

Your personal view I can't argue with ...

[Rivalred 630]

I really don't think Ozzie needs a message.

Maybe a massage.. but a message ? Nope..

He does and he even called himself out on it. Same goes for the rest of the team. I stated this many weeks ago, Babcock needed to start doing this if the team was not on the level.

I do not go around posting the sky is falling, we need Hasek back, or goalie threads like many others. So your telling me, when Lebda was sat for a few games, Babcock was not trying to send a message to him and the rest of the team? Please.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Conklin and Ozzie are not playing any better than one another. The only reason everyone thinks Conklin is looking better is because hes not taking any heat. Ozzies the guy that won the cup, the guy that played well last season. Half the time, the media forgets that Conklin was even signed.

If you ask me, you're all making a big deal out of nothing. The coolest thing about this is that Chelios is coming back. I cant wait to see how he looks.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I'm surprised so many people jumped to conclusions without thinking about this....its the first thing that came to mind for me. Babs is simply challenging Oz to get better and this might be just the thing to do it.

No kidding.

Why must people constantly fixate on who is the Starter? Like they get a letter on their sweater or wear a cape. With Ozzy and Conklin, it was always going to be a relatively close split in number of games. Neither one of them is playing particularly well at the moment, if one of them needs to start a few in a row or sit a few in a row, so be it.

[interminded 1]

He does and he even called himself out on it. Same goes for the rest of the team. I stated this many weeks ago, Babcock needed to start doing this if the team was not on the level.

I do not go around posting the sky is falling, we need Hasek back, or goalie threads like many others. So your telling me, when Lebda was sat for a few games, Babcock was not trying to send a message to him and the rest of the team? Please.

I just think (or rather hope) that these guys are performing on such a high, professional level, they don't need messages to be sent to them.

If they play poorly, they know.

They know they have to step it up a notch, otherwise a coach, any coach, won't let them play.

Ozzie knows he can and must play better.

Benching him 3 games or 5 games or 10 games doesn't make him more aware of that.

[Rivalred 630]

I just think (or rather hope) that these guys are performing on such a high, professional level, they don't need messages to be sent to them.

If they play poorly, they know.

They know they have to step it up a notch, otherwise a coach, any coach, won't let them play.

Ozzie knows he can and must play better.

Benching him 3 games or 5 games or 10 games doesn't make him more aware of that.

He may be aware of it, but the fact that if he see's another goalie playing when he should, maybe he will work harder in the areas that he needs improvements. I am not just saying it is Osgood, the entire team has played with partial ambition. The other players may become more aware of the entire situation and step up their game also which needs to be done.

There is no way Babcock will sit both goalies, so he sits Ozzie and Ty is allowed to play, but he will know if he starts slipping more he will be riding the pine too.

But Osgood also came out and said he has not played well. Maybe be is being TOO hard on himself and it is effecting his play. Maybe Babcock is giving him some time off to relax and get his head back into sync. The man is pretty hard on himself at times.

[The Secret 304]

Giving him a chance to get his head together doesn't equate to a complete loss of confidence by everyone. Conklin's GAA isn't much better, and questions from the media are normal. In the articles I've read the coaches have expressed confidence that he will turn things around.

Your personal view I can't argue with ...

Seems the coaches lost confidence in Lebda earlier in the year too and he had to endure the same actions.... did him some some good too.

The fact that the articles you are reading suggest the coaches have confidence that he will turn things around imply confidence that he can change his play but currently they do not have that confidence in how he is playing.

[lets go pavel 2]

Seems the coaches lost confidence in Lebda earlier in the year too and he had to endure the same actions.... did him some some good too.

The fact that the articles you are reading suggest the coaches have confidence that he will turn things around imply confidence that he can change his play but currently they do not have that confidence in how he is playing.

I think we're just splitting hairs here and we essentially agree. To me when you say you lose confidence in someone it implies something more than just a temporary dissatisfaction with their performance. But I understand what you mean ...

[The Secret 304]

I think we're just splitting hairs here and we essentially agree. To me when you say you lose confidence in someone it implies something more than just a temporary dissatisfaction with their performance. But I understand what you mean ...

Although i have never felt Osgood to be a #1 goal tender he has proven that he can do what we need him to and I do believe that he can play better then he currently has. He really does seem to play his best when there is stiff competition with the other goalie. I thought last years tandem worked really well and maximized what each goalie had to offer. I hope that this years tandem can blend just as good and Having a #1A and #1B competition might just be the answer... no pressure on either to be labelled the #1 and a good comradery between the 2 could prove to be valuable as it did last year... Osgood and Hasek seemed to have fun together and spurred each other on.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

<chuckle>

Oz has gotta be chompin' at the bit right about now, eh?

Babs knows what he's doing.....

I never said Babcock didn't know what he is doing, or anything remotely close to it. I said it was an interesting decision to start Conklin against Dallas when Ozzie has played very well in his career against the Stars. Considering the Red Wings are playing back-to-back games, it figures Ozzie was going to start one of the two games anyways.

[Outsider 42]

Oz ain't gonna get any better riding the pine.

Man, I hate these goalie head games. Detroit does this more than any other franchise, I swear.

I figured Oz would start in Dallas for sure. and YES, he does own them. Everybody owns them this year, though.

Dallas could have been a sweet slumpbuster.

It does suck, if you happen to be a fan of a particular goalie, as I am.

However, the "goalie head games" you refer to have played a part in the Winning of more Cups over the past 11 years than many Teams, (and fans of Teams), have seen in their entire Franchise history.

Babs has been coaching Oz for a few years, now. I think he knows what it takes to get the best outta him.

Ozzie's a competitive guy. He hates to sit. Hates it. Hopefully he's fired up, and plays his next string of Games with a bit more of a chip on his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Go Wings! Go!

[Outsider 42]

Him being benched for 3 games,

It's happened before. It'll happen again. I think it's a bit more than a stretch for you to assume that "everyone" has lost confidence in a goaltender behind whom they won a Cup 5 months ago.

him letting in 3 + goals every game

In case you hadn't noticed, Conklin has been letting in 3 or more goals a game as well, lately.

Him being questioned about his play,

Questioned by the media? What does that have to do with anything?

Articles from the coaches stating that our goal tending blows

I haven't read a single comment about the Wing's goaltending "blowing". All I've heard from Babcock and Bedard is how confident they are that Oz will get back to where he should be, because he's too good not to. Babcock's statements about "Win as a Team, Lose as a Team" can hardly be construed as an indictment of the goaltending.

and My own personal view on the situation.

No comment.

Edited December 12, 2008 by Outsider

[kylee 727]

what's to stop chris chelios from leading the team in scoring at the end of the season?

[OsGOD 3]

It is being done to send a message to Osgood and to the rest of the team.

and what message was that... we know your record against the team but you know...because you have been bad we will take the loss than allow you to play???

nice going babs!

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Whats to stop Chris Chelios from lighting a fire under the team tommorow? Hopefully nothing..

I really hope Ozzie has it in him to steal one tommorow, that'd get him back in the good books.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

No kidding.

Why must people constantly fixate on who is the Starter? Like they get a letter on their sweater or wear a cape. With Ozzy and Conklin, it was always going to be a relatively close split in number of games. Neither one of them is playing particularly well at the moment, if one of them needs to start a few in a row or sit a few in a row, so be it.

You must have not been around for Hasek-Cujo-Legace . lol This is nothing compared to that!

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

You must have not been around for Hasek-Cujo-Legace . lol This is nothing compared to that!

*Now having terrible flashbacks*

Which is why I like to talk about goaltending as very little as possible as the nutjob level of Wings fans goes beyond nutty in regards to this subject.

[hokeychik22 17]

Conks for starting goalie!!

[Outsider 42]

For those who questioned ( a ) Babcock's confidence in Osgood, and ( b ) Babcock's reasoning in starting Conklin in 3 straight.....

Per Bruce MacLeod

Coach Mike Babcock said after tonight's game that Chris Osgood will start Monday's game against Colorado at Joe Louis Arena.

"We're always trying to get the competitive juices going. Ozzie's a competitor."

Looks as though Babs knows who "his guy" is, after all.

Edited December 14, 2008 by Outsider