Why the short bench?

[55fan 5,133]

As I'm sure everyone knows, we are dressing only 11 forwards tonight vs CBJ.

Can anyone tell me why this is?

Is it because of cap? I've heard we had enough saved that we could afford to call up a GR forward.

Is it because of roster limit? We are currently at 23, but Mac is on LTIR (or has been gone long enough that he could be placed there). I had understood that players on LTIR do not count towards the 23. Am I wrong on this?

Is it Holland's choice? Has he chosen to play short for one game to further conserve money?

Is it something else that I have just missed?

I've been all over this and I can't find any answer to my question. Any help is appreciated.

[egroen 384]

I believe they have the cap space to do it (over $900,000 in cap space, actually), but Holland has shown a reluctance to bring players up from GR, as I assume he is saving up as much as he can to at least have the option of making a deadline deal, or to have the option of playing some of the GR boys down the stretch.

Edited January 27, 2009 by egroen

[dat's sick 1,002]

I don't know why, but the previous times this season when we've had to play with less than 12 forwards (the games when Franzen & Stuart/Datsyuk were injured) things have not looked very good.

Hopefully we can still win this game.

P.S. I think D-Mac is injured.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I believe Columbus is suffering from their share of injuries also, and who knows, maybe Babcock doesn't want his team to have backup from Grand Rapids. Maybe its a way to light a fire under their asses to start off the second half of the season, as they know they'll be without some quality superstars tonight.

I'm actually looking forward to see who's going to step it up.

[HOCKEY MATTERS 167]

I believe Columbus is suffering from their share of injuries also, and who knows, maybe Babcock doesn't want his team to have backup from Grand Rapids. Maybe its a way to light a fire under their asses to start off the second half of the season, as they know they'll be without some quality superstars tonight.

I'm actually looking forward to see who's going to step it up.

me, too.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I believe Columbus is suffering from their share of injuries also, and who knows, maybe Babcock doesn't want his team to have backup from Grand Rapids. Maybe its a way to light a fire under their asses to start off the second half of the season, as they know they'll be without some quality superstars tonight.

I'm actually looking forward to see who's going to step it up.

QFT. This would be a prime time for both Filppula and Cleary to step up their game.

[Konnan511 1,736]

QFT. This would be a prime time for both Filppula and Cleary to step up their game.

Agreed. Now that Flip should be getting some 2nd line minutes and some PP time tonight, let's see what he can do with this opportunity to impress the LGW brass.

[DMAC 25 18]

just letting u guys know i'm sure some of u already know but i went to the game when mccarty was at GR and he said he would be skating in GR in 3 weeks just lettin u know

[rage 24]

I believe they have the cap space to do it (over $900,000 in cap space, actually), but Holland has shown a reluctance to bring players up from GR, as I assume he is saving up as much as he can to at least have the option of making a deadline deal, or to have the option of playing some of the GR boys down the stretch.

I've been wondering about this too, and your opinion seems to make the most sense. Every little bit will help down the stretch since we are so close to the max Cap limit.

QFT. This would be a prime time for both Filppula and Cleary to step up their game.

That would be great to see!

[Jedi 1,865]

From what I understand, the reason that we can't is because Lidstrom and Datsyuk aren't really suspended, so to speak. Suspended for disciplinary issues usually means suspended without pay, meaning the Club isn't off the hook for the money owed to them. If that were the case, we could call someone up from GR without worry about their salary.

However, Lidstrom and Datsyuk are still receiving their salary, because they're not really suspended. They're being forced to sit the game out to "prove" their injuries. As a result,we are still just as cap strapped as ever, and unable to make a callup without sending someone else down. Hence, the short bench tonight.

There was a recent snippet about that in a story from Yahoo Sports' Puck Daddy blog...

Was the NHL without fault here? Hell no. There is a double-standard at play when a guy like Steve Mason of the Blue Jackets can skirt his spokes-model duties because of injury without recourse, simply because he's in the skills competition instead of the main event. The notion that the Red Wings won't be able to replace these players because they're not officially suspended, as The Chief pointed out, is almost like punishment on top of punishment. And Lidstrom and Datsyuk aren't exactly Sean Avery; you could argue that the suspensions are harsh, and I'd listen.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I can see it now, Jared Boll runs Zetterberg into the boards hard. Cuts to JR and King

"Good God King! The lights have gone out!"

"What's going on J.R.?!?"

The lights come up, Aaron Downey is standing at the far blue line.

"Oh my, HERE COMES DOWNEY!"

Aaron Downey then begins pummeling Jared Boll. Tied at 2, Zetterberg scores the GWG in OT off a feed from Downey.

If only, If only