Opie 308 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Didn't get to watch last night's game, how did Downey look? Any fisticuffs? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jvxp 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 I know this was said in last night's game...but he really hasn't had too many minutes in the GR games I've seen lately. He started the season getting a lot of ice time, but it has dramatically dropped off. I've looked for a TOI stat for AHL games to support this, but have never been able to find where its published. The fans (including me) love the excitement when Downey plays, buts the minutes have been fewer and fewer. Wrong. I've been to plenty of G.R. games and he has played his fair share of minutes. I have not seen a drop off in his minutes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wombat 26 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 I like what Downey brings to the team on the ice and I want him to be dressed in a majority of the rest of regular season games. I don't think he adds as much to a playoff situation but his spark and physical defense is needed for the regular season. At this point I see Maltby and Kopecky as two guys that should rotate into the last forward spot, and Downey can take Leino's spot when he's sent back down to GR. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maltbymaniac 13 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 after watching last nights game i relize what has been missing.DOWNEY'S spark that he brings.i love his style and role.i just wish management would relize this 2.lol.i hate it when we dont have a enforcer in the linup..I HATE IT. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drwscc 212 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 He sure did spark them to victory, right? wooooo! I like Downey just as much as the next guy, but he's not the missing ingredient. Ozzie needs to get his "groove" back, and the D needs to step it up. They're scoring enough goals, just giving up too many. Not even a line of Aaron Downeys can fix that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingfan1991 221 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 sit kopecky and dress downey all the waaaaaaaay! he definitely brings the energy to the Joe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 At this point, I can not think of a single reason Kopecky deserves to be in there over Downey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManLuv4Clears 7 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Didn't get to watch last night's game, how did Downey look? Any fisticuffs? He hustled, worked hard, no major or minor mistakes or give aways, and the fans loved him. The one thing I noticed that stood out is the way the team as a whole played tougher. As ESAD mentioned Val was throwing blows sticking up for himself as was Pavel. The team seemed to play with a little more of a chip on their shoulder. This was probably also due to going to 4-0 early on and still have to take nonsense from the Dallas players. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deltsig87 3 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 I love downey just as much as the next guy but realistically he just will not be able to crack this line up on a permanent basis. As some of you may know or have realized, the main reason for useless kopecky even making this team is b/c of HOSSA. Kopecky "recruited" hossa to come here and they are still roommates (correct me if I'm wrong). That means kopecky could never be sent to GR. Therefore at best he could only be a healthy scratch w/ downey in the lineup. Then when stuart comes back from LTIR we'll have even less cap room to work with if we need to bring somebody up from GR due to injury or what not, or dare I say.. make a trade. I love downey but b/c of mainly hossa he just doesn't fit into this team's current plans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 He sure did spark them to victory, right? wooooo! I like Downey just as much as the next guy, but he's not the missing ingredient. Ozzie needs to get his "groove" back, and the D needs to step it up. They're scoring enough goals, just giving up too many. Not even a line of Aaron Downeys can fix that. Ingredients and issues are two different things. We have the 'ingredients' to have good goaltending, they are just having issues right now. We have the ingredients for superior defense, they are also having some issues right now. We don't have an ingredient for toughness/fighting/enforcement unless Downey plays. just sayin' esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GROwl 5 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Wrong. I've been to plenty of G.R. games and he has played his fair share of minutes. I have not seen a drop off in his minutes. I believe Downey's been on the 4th line for most of the the past 4-6 weeks. He doesn't penalty kill, and not on the Power Play. The shifts he does play seem extremely short. I hope I am wrong. I really enjoy watching him. He plays with a lot of enthusiam and draws in the crowd even when he's not playing the role he's so good at. During warm-ups, he's the most popular man in the building; the number of Downey signs far outweigh all of the other players put together. And he never fails to acknowlege each one with a wink (if its a cute girl)or a fist/puck shot hard at the glass in front of the person (if its a kid)! All very important in the AHL when fan appreciation has a direct impact on arena attendance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mors 201 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 At this point, I can not think of a single reason Kopecky deserves to be in there over Downey. QFT, honestly this is really bothering me. Downey does what Kopecky is supposed to be doing every game and doesn't. It's not like Kopecky is putting up the points, so why bother with him? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drwscc 212 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 QFT, honestly this is really bothering me. Downey does what Kopecky is supposed to be doing every game and doesn't. It's not like Kopecky is putting up the points, so why bother with him? Hossa. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest micah Report post Posted January 30, 2009 I love downey just as much as the next guy but realistically he just will not be able to crack this line up on a permanent basis. As some of you may know or have realized, the main reason for useless kopecky even making this team is b/c of HOSSA. Kopecky "recruited" hossa to come here and they are still roommates (correct me if I'm wrong). That means kopecky could never be sent to GR. Therefore at best he could only be a healthy scratch w/ downey in the lineup. Then when stuart comes back from LTIR we'll have even less cap room to work with if we need to bring somebody up from GR due to injury or what not, or dare I say.. make a trade. I love downey but b/c of mainly hossa he just doesn't fit into this team's current plans. Serious question: Who cares? Am I to believe that Hossa is such an emotional invalid that he would quit playing at a high level if his bff Kopecky is sent down to GR and told that in order to be on an NHL team he has to improve his play? Hossa is a professional, he and Kopecky may be pals, but he must know by now that hockey players earn their spot or they don't get a spot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scotzman 29 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Serious question: Who cares? Am I to believe that Hossa is such an emotional invalid that he would quit playing at a high level if his bff Kopecky is sent down to GR and told that in order to be on an NHL team he has to improve his play? Hossa is a professional, he and Kopecky may be pals, but he must know by now that hockey players earn their spot or they don't get a spot. :thumbup: I agree. Downey may not be the answer, but he gave us something we haven't had many times this season... ENERGY! No matter what all the soft super skilled hockey lovers think, we need ENERGY. It's not even about fighting, it's about getting the crowd into it... taking the other team out of there game... silencing the crowd on the road. Did anyone notice the way the team responded after just one shift of hitting and the energy the 4th line brought? If you didn't see it, you know nothing about hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 It was nice of Downey to give us one entertaining game... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deltsig87 3 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) Serious question: Who cares? Am I to believe that Hossa is such an emotional invalid that he would quit playing at a high level if his bff Kopecky is sent down to GR and told that in order to be on an NHL team he has to improve his play? Hossa is a professional, he and Kopecky may be pals, but he must know by now that hockey players earn their spot or they don't get a spot. . I know, I do agree with what you said about Hossa. Unfortunately, that's in an ideal world, and this isn't one. Hossa is our most expensive player (tied I know) and there's no way Ilitch or Holland or anyone will allow something to affect Hossa's mindset or lifestyle. If Kopecky is sent away to GR, will Hossa just live by himself at Kopecky's place during homestands? I don't doubt Hossa himself would not throw a hissy fit or pout or anything since he is a stand up guy. But the fact is Ilitch or Holland will be making that decision for him, and they don't want to take any chances in messing up Hossa's routines or what not and potentially affecting his game. That's why Kopecky will not get sent down. Mark my words, Kopecky could only get 5 pts. the rest of the season and his spot in the lineup will never be in jeopardy. Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I believe this is the truth. Edited January 30, 2009 by deltsig87 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Crazy 201 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 I love how much needed energy Downey brings to the ice. But lets face it he's not that great of a skater. I wish that all of our 4 line players would give us this kind of energy because this is what the 4th line should bring night after night. Glad he got one game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lets go pavel 2 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 I know, I do agree with what you said about Hossa. Unfortunately, that's in an ideal world, and this isn't one. Hossa is our most expensive player (tied I know) and there's no way Ilitch or Holland or anyone will allow something to affect Hossa's mindset or lifestyle. If Kopecky is sent away to GR, will Hossa just live by himself at Kopecky's place during homestands? I don't doubt Hossa himself would not throw a hissy fit or pout or anything since he is a stand up guy. But the fact is Ilitch or Holland will be making that decision for him, and they don't want to take any chances in messing up Hossa's routines or what not and potentially affecting his game. That's why Kopecky will not get sent down. Mark my words, Kopecky could only get 5 pts. the rest of the season and his spot in the lineup will never be in jeopardy. Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I believe this is the truth. I'm all for trying to sign Hossa long-term if possible, but if that means we have to keep Kopecky for 10 years too forget it, they can leave together. At least Franzen doesn't come with baggage ... As for Downey, it was good to see him up, and hopefully he'll be back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 sit kopecky and dress downey all the waaaaaaaay! he definitely brings the energy to the Joe. This is too logical of a move for it to occur. I completely agree with it though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,803 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Hossa. If Hossa likes Kopecky so much, he can either teach him to be a better player, or take him with him when he leaves Detroit next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylee 727 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 No way can Kopecky be playing over Downey if he's going to come out like that every night, non-stop hustle from him everytime he hit the ice. Kopecky needs to go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GROwl 5 Report post Posted January 31, 2009 www.theahl.com reports that the Wings sent Downey back and recalled Abdelkader to Detroit. Bob Kaser (the radio announcer for the Griffins) just confirmed that both Abdelkader and Leino are expected to play in tomorrow night's game, and that Downey is back in GR. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jvxp 0 Report post Posted January 31, 2009 I believe Downey's been on the 4th line for most of the the past 4-6 weeks. He doesn't penalty kill, and not on the Power Play. The shifts he does play seem extremely short. I hope I am wrong. I really enjoy watching him. He plays with a lot of enthusiam and draws in the crowd even when he's not playing the role he's so good at. During warm-ups, he's the most popular man in the building; the number of Downey signs far outweigh all of the other players put together. And he never fails to acknowlege each one with a wink (if its a cute girl)or a fist/puck shot hard at the glass in front of the person (if its a kid)! All very important in the AHL when fan appreciation has a direct impact on arena attendance. He has never played on the PK or the Power Play in the AHL or NHL. He's always been a 4th line guy/energy guy/enforcer. His minutes have not dropped off is what I am saying and I agree with the rest of your post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M0DAN01999 6 Report post Posted January 31, 2009 From the game last night, I would say Downey sure filled his role very well that night. I will always like Downey a little for his demolishing of Jesse Boulerice though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
