Is it really a time for changing goalies and 4th liners?

[hckypete96 3]

Ironic, a guy who has been a member here for 3 days calling a long time member junior

thanks for the respect!

[Guest Four]

Lilja to first line. Give it to someone whose trying.

Lilja - Lidstrom

Rafalski - Stuart

Kronwall - Lebda

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Maltby is a lot more valueable then Draper. Draper is getting 1.5 million and is by far the worst player on the team. He's worthless.

He's one of the best faceoff men in the league. That is far from worthless.

And for people suggesting to call up Howard, at least from what I've been reading he hasn't even been outplaying the other goalie in the minor league system, and there is suggestions to call him up to replace the current two goalies when he cannot outplay at the LOWER LEVEL? I have nothing against Howard personally but that just doesn't seem like wise decision making.

The only way either of the other goalies get called up is if Osgood or Conklin get injured, or in an absolute extreme circumstance the play of either goalie just goes so far in the crapper to make such an extreme decision. Nobody is even close to that point yet. Osgood and Conklin are far from incompetent just to forget how to play. Blame goes all around, not just to the goalies. They are a part of the current defensive struggles, but so is the defense as well turning pucks over and leaving them out to dry every now and then.

This team will make the playoffs barring just something astronomically wrong, so there's no need to do anything overly dramatic or extreme.

[The Secret 304]

i would clap him out the door. he is completely useless and 100% expendable. the red wings must have 15 guys in the minors who could do his job better.

I'm with you. Sure he plays his heart out every game but considering he can't play hockey at all it really doesn't do him much good. If he never set foot on the ice again we would never remember him nor would we miss him.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Abdelkader-Helm-Downey might make games watchable

Fresh off my suspension for talking 'team toughness', I'm baaaaaaaaack! =) Anyways, I completely agree. The games are getting mind numbingly boring to watch. We have our finesse players tossing the puck around and being cute. I just hope Downey doesn't get called up THIS week as I plan to go watch the Griffins this weekend.

I know one thing for certain- if we keep our 4th line the way it is right now, we will be embaressed by San Jose Thursday.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Not to mention actually provide a bit of energy like a 4th line is supposed to do.

Our 4th line atm must be the worst in the league. Not in terms of skill, but in terms of purpose and production. If we're going to have a 4th line for scoring, which we shouldnt, then it should at least do that.

An energy line is what this team needs to give it a kick start, as well as some roster moves to let them know their current play wont be tollerated.

I agree.

Doggy clearly doesn't understand the purpose of a 4th line, especially with the scoring power of our 1st and 2nd. Well said UK_RedWing. You obviously watch PLENTY of hockey and understand the game; unlike Doggy.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Is it time to call up Howard? No, it is not... it's throwing him into a defense collapsing fire at the wrong time. Ozzie is fine for now, he'll sharpen, although he's at the later stages of his career.

Is it time to totally abolish our 4th line? Absolutely.

Maltby= without team loyalty would be in AA hockey by now or coaching minor league hockey. He's no longer gritty, has no scoring ability, and is invisible.

Draper= yes, he's good on faceoffs, but he wasn't with 5 seconds to go last night when a clear win would've given us a chance. He's good, but doesn't matter if the people he's winning it to on the 4th line don't do something. He's expendable.

Kopecky= I remember hearing all the big talk about this kid when he was coming up... He's 'tough, gritty, has scoring power'... Where?

[uk_redwing 495]

If you really think that, you don't watch enough hockey.

Says the one who the great Mindfly himself proclaimed a know-nothing foreigner.

If Mindfly said it, it must be true...

[b.shanafan14 733]

Blame goaltending too. Its true Osgood has been left high on many occasions, but you can tell he doesn't trust himself in net with how many rebounds and uncharacteristic "softies" hes letting in.

I completely agree. We all know Osgood has played poorly so far this season, Conklin hasn't been much better. They both need to step it up a lot. My concern is that our goaltenders aren't given the opportunity to heat up or work through their rough patch because they start the game with a terrible turn over right in front of their net that goes in. Like in last nights game, first shot on goal is a 2 on 0. I think the defensive play is working against our unconfident, uncomfortable goaltenders and thats whats preventing their play from improving.

Ozzy is my favorite goaltender for the Wings all-time, but he's played like hell this season. Both goaltenders seem to make saves they shouldn't make more than the softer ones that either end it in regulation or win it in OT.

But when it comes down to brass tacks, the Wings don't spend a lot on goaltending like most teams in the league because their skaters are supposed to be the best defensive players in the game, like they were last year. When the defense goes from caviar to crap like it has this season, its hard to blame the bulk on a goaltending tandem thats making less than $2.5 mil combined.

[Guest mindfly]

Why can't they trade/remove draper, maltby, kopecky, chelios, lebda and bring up abdelkader, helm, downey and ericsson? its possible within the cap.

[CrossoverThrash 0]

Im starting to think what team would want kopecky and, is he even the right player for this organization?

[Rivalred 630]

Why can't they trade/remove draper, maltby, kopecky, chelios, lebda and bring up abdelkader, helm, downey and ericsson? its possible within the cap.

Do you even read your own posts?

Some of the players have a NTC I believe and no one will take Cheli simply due to his age. I could care less what happens to Koper and I do not think we could get much for him besides freeing up some cap space IF he can be moved.

Do your homework before you post.

Edited December 16, 2008 by Rivalred

[Red Crazy 201]

Lilja to first line. Give it to someone whose trying.

Lilja - Lidstrom

Rafalski - Stuart

Kronwall - Lebda

This just may be the answer! It works with all other levels of hockey so why not?

Although it may be hard to find enough trying forwards to complete 2 lines! lol

[JPT 26]

I for one would enjoy seeing some new blood on our fourth line. I think everyone here on LGW has loyalty to Draper and Maltby but at this point in their respective careers their contributions have become limited and in some cases detrimental to the team. If it can work under the cap why not bring up a Leino or Abdelkader and see what they can bring to the team.

[Johnny Law 15]

Why can't they trade/remove draper, maltby, kopecky, chelios, lebda and bring up abdelkader, helm, downey and ericsson? its possible within the cap.

Leino isn't ready, he needs more time in GR to get his game back together. Pre-injury he played a fantastic smart aggressive style in the zone, I didn't see the game against Manitoba but I doubt he pulled everything together in one weekend.

Abdelkader is a rookie, he is fantastically talented but still rough around the edges, he isn't ready either.

Downey, at least in Babcock's mind doesn't add anything to the team that they need right now.

Helm should be up, end of story.

Ericsson, I think you would agree is the really interesting one. He was ready three months ago and could add something to the team that we desperately need right now in energy and a general hunger to play. His 900,000 cap hit is a problem though.

4th liners would help but this team really needs to get its s*** together mentally, the have everything a team needs to be fantastically successful they just have to want to do the necessary work. Until they do that no player from GR is going to make a real difference.

Edited December 16, 2008 by Johnny Law

[Guest mindfly]

Ken Holland shouldn't let the old dudes have NTC.. if they want NTC then dont sign 'em, pretty simple.

[scotzman 29]

You know the thing that amazes me is that this team can look so different this year as opposed to the last couple of years. Have they stopped listening to Babcock? Was losing Todd McClellan a bigger deal than we thought?

Maybe Ozzie has just lost his edge mentally... last night after the second goal, he looked shaken. He just seemed like he knew he had lost. Crazy thing is, this team should be able to spot the goaltender at least 3 to 4 goals a night. They have to address this somehow.

Kenny and Babs have to be talking about some scenarios when it comes to the team as a whole. Last year, by necessity, they brought up some young guys that really performed. This year they don't have the flexibility due to the cap (Hossa signing). Helm & Abdelkader played great last year and they would provide a spark immediately... both Kenny and Coach Babcock have to be talking about this. Kopecky & Maltby definitely look like skating turds out there... they need to start hitting some people.

Rafalski just looks lost... I have no idea what happened to him. Lids, Lilja and Stuart seem to be solid, but even Kronwall doesn't look right.

[Holmstrom96 347]

Kopecky & Maltby definitely look like skating turds out there...

I don't know if I fully agree about Kopecky, but I haven't seen much good from Maltby except on penalty kills. He's like a goon minus the goon aspect, which makes him just a body.

[Dominator2005 558]

Send Flip to Montreal for Halak - put Conklin on waivers and you have $$$ to bring up Ericsson and cie

[OsGOD 3]

Abdelkader-Helm-Downey might make games watchable

I have to give Mr. Moneybags credit... He found a way to get OsGOD to go to a bunch of games this year....

The team is so painfully boring to watch on TV this season that i have to go to games to fully enjoy them.

Last night was a snooze fest.... maybe a fight would spark it up or something... anything..... Big hit??? maybe.

i am all for that line!

[CrossoverThrash 0]

I have to give Mr. Moneybags credit... He found a way to get OsGOD to go to a bunch of games this year....

The team is so painfully boring to watch on TV this season that i have to go to games to fully enjoy them.

Last night was a snooze fest.... maybe a fight would spark it up or something... anything..... Big hit??? maybe.

i am all for that line!

i was pretty impressed and entertained by pavel's wizardry last night although there was no good hits.

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

Send Flip to Montreal for Halak - put Conklin on waivers and you have $$$ to bring up Ericsson and cie

Not gonna happen.

[2probert4 8]

pretty sure kops would have to clear waivers first.. and that wouldnt happen.....

kopecky, draper, maltby, filppula, and everyone else on the wings team would have to pass through waivers in order to go down to GR... Filppula wouldn't last past the first team in line to grab someone off the waiver wire.

[scotzman 29]

Not gonna happen.

What's gonna' happen? Because something has to change on this team... yes I am worried about a 20-6-4 team. Forgive me.

[taxijim 11]

What's gonna' happen? Because something has to change on this team... yes I am worried about a 20-6-4 team. Forgive me.

I feel that no matter what it takes Helm will be brought up for the playoff run next spring. Even Babcock stated that Helm was an important part of the Wings cup in 08, giving the team a solid 4th line. I have followed his career for years & he is one of these guys that finds an extra gear in overdrive when the playoffs come around...the more crucial the game the more energy he brings.....I don't know if anyone noticed but in the finals overtime game last spring,he was one of the best Wing forwards & as the OT periods wore on he seemed to get better. I think Babcock & Holland have him G.R. to improve on faceoffs & his scoring touch as he has a knack of always hitting the cross bar or goal post! However I feel come next April he will be back.