Can We Just Start The Post-Season Already?

[Chunkylover 26]

The Wings played a good game against San Jose. There was something of a letdown against LA and they were back to not really caring about the game until the last ten minutes of the game.

We're all nervous about their ability to play a complete game. Babs called it: "Our guys, when they're excited, they can play pretty good." Essentially they just don't care about the games until they realize they are in jeopardy of losing, which obviously they all hate.

Given that they beat up on Nabokov and the Sharks because their opponent "excited" them, do any of you think we might see a completely different team once the post-season starts, one that shuts down their opponent for a full 60 minutes because of the excitement of the post-season?

Additionally I think this will make the Winter Classic a real good game because both teams will be "excited" and into the game.

[Guest Shoreline]

I hope we see a different team, in a few ways. One, includes trimming the fat and the worst producing players for younger, more energetic talent. Energy is something I saw the Wings have all last season that they completely lack this time around, except against this one game against a tired San Jose team.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

TBH, if they don't start ramping it up right now, I truly hope they do once the trade deadline passes. That's the time where its really about buckling down, fixing imperfections and truly showing your hunger. If we don't see it in March, I'll be nervous mid-April.

[TheSupafly 50]

I'm with you OP...other than some time to heal up a couple players, I wouldn't mind the playoffs starting in January. We'll just have to wait a few months while we nit pick our own teams.

[Chunkylover 26]

I hope we see a different team, in a few ways. One, includes trimming the fat and the worst producing players for younger, more energetic talent. Energy is something I saw the Wings have all last season that they completely lack this time around, except against this one game against a tired San Jose team.

I agree that they look less energetic than last year but I think that speaks to how painful their loss to Anaheim was. They were so close and that drove them last season.

As for calling up inexperience for the post-season, I say don't hold your breath. Helm only got called up because McCarty and Maltby were injured. He proved himself, but that doesn't mean everyone will.

[Chunkylover 26]

TBH, if they don't start ramping it up right now, I truly hope they do once the trade deadline passes. That's the time where its really about buckling down, fixing imperfections and truly showing your hunger. If we don't see it in March, I'll be nervous mid-April.

I'm not trying to discount the sloppy play and obviously a team plays the way the practice (with the regular season being practice for the post-season). I just think that it's possible that their intensity would change like night and day once the playoffs start because they'll actually be interested in or excited about the games.

[RWK23 0]

I'm going to look at the first four and a half months of the regular season the same way I always do with this team. Fun to watch, yeah, but not really all that important in the grand scheme of things. When all is said and done, the Wings will be a top-3 Western Conference seed more times than not and it's going to be all about getting ready for the playoffs, working out the kinks, and performing when the postseason begins. I'm not going to worry about the percieved "lack of effort" until, like someone else mentioned, about March when its time to start getting things in gear.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I'm not trying to discount the sloppy play and obviously a team plays the way the practice (with the regular season being practice for the post-season). I just think that it's possible that their intensity would change like night and day once the playoffs start because they'll actually be interested in or excited about the games.

With the amount of talent on this Wings team, that could very well happen. However, I'd much rather see this team ramp-up rather than change play on the drop of a dime. It's just not the greatest way to head into the postseason (not that it means you'll be eliminated either--I.E. 2002).

[Guest Shoreline]

I agree that they look less energetic than last year but I think that speaks to how painful their loss to Anaheim was. They were so close and that drove them last season.

As for calling up inexperience for the post-season, I say don't hold your breath. Helm only got called up because McCarty and Maltby were injured. He proved himself, but that doesn't mean everyone will.

They're not even half way through the season yet. Screw waiting for the playoffs.

[RWK23 0]

With the amount of talent on this Wings team, that could very well happen. However, I'd much rather see this team ramp-up rather than change play on the drop of a dime. It's just not the greatest way to head into the postseason (not that it means you'll be eliminated either--I.E. 2002).

Wouldn't you be worried about the potential for burnout if they played with 100% intensity every game for the next four months? I'd like to see them play their asses off for games like the Winter Classic or important games along the schedule, but as long as they flip the switch sometime in mid-March, I'm just fine. Not to mention, I believe that all of these late comebacks and one-goal games could prove to be invaluable in the playoffs.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Wouldn't you be worried about the potential for burnout if they played with 100% intensity every game for the next four months? I'd like to see them play their asses off for games like the Winter Classic or important games along the schedule, but as long as they flip the switch sometime in mid-March, I'm just fine. Not to mention, I believe that all of these late comebacks and one-goal games could prove to be invaluable in the playoffs.

Sure, there's a potential for burnout giving 100% intensity every night, but the Wings have given 100% intensity in no more than a couple games all season. That's not enough at this point in.

Wouldn't you be worried about the potential for burnout if they played with 100% intensity every game for the next four months? I'd like to see them play their asses off for games like the Winter Classic or important games along the schedule, but as long as they flip the switch sometime in mid-March, I'm just fine. Not to mention, I believe that all of these late comebacks and one-goal games could prove to be invaluable in the playoffs.

Which is what I initially said...but I wouldn't mind seeing the intensity grow more frequently as the season wears on, especially for the "big" games. That's just smart play.

Wouldn't you be worried about the potential for burnout if they played with 100% intensity every game for the next four months? I'd like to see them play their asses off for games like the Winter Classic or important games along the schedule, but as long as they flip the switch sometime in mid-March, I'm just fine. Not to mention, I believe that all of these late comebacks and one-goal games could prove to be invaluable in the playoffs.

I would like to think so too.