scotzman 29 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 I am in favor of the huge blowout game... last night was pretty close to being one. The Stars dominated us (as did O'Hallaran). They played the way we played last year in the playoffs. Ozzy is not awful, but our D just hasn't played like the Cup winners of last year. All that said, Ozzy has to step up too. Even though Downey wasn't a huge factor, did anyone notice the huge injection of momentum that came after that nice 4th line shift where there were hits all over the ice? That is something we are really lacking this year. Kronner has not made the big hits this year. Drake is not here to add that energy and we need it. They look flat 3 out of 5 games... that is a problem. They need a wake up call. I also think that have to seriously consider shipping Flip at the deadline for a hard nosed energy guy. That would also free up some cap space for Franzen/Huds and maybe even Hossa. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Call me crazy, but the Wings are missing a Dallas Drake type player this year. A hungry vet that will do anything including sacrifice his body for the team and a win. I doubt many people will call you crazy. In fact, not only do I think they are missing a Dallas Drake type of player, I think they could use more than one. Which is to say, not necessarily one more hungry, gritty vet that is on his last legs, but hungry, gritty vets with some good play left in the tank in general. For example, if they didn't cost so damn much, adding Roberts and Knuble to this roster could do wonders. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 I totally agree and I've been saying that before that without that kind of player Wings will be out of the Cup contention pretty soon. I do not believe that it's magically will all change during playoffs; team can inherit bad habits during season and carry it over to the playoffs and be out pretty soon. Now, since Dallas is progressing and Wings are playing the way they are we'll have a chance to meet them in the first round (it's still a long shot, but who knows) and that the last thing I want to see happen. I love to hear someone echoing the same sentiments as me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scotzman 29 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) I doubt many people will call you crazy. In fact, not only do I think they are missing a Dallas Drake type of player, I think they could use more than one. Which is to say, not necessarily one more hungry, gritty vet that is on his last legs, but hungry, gritty vets with some good play left in the tank in general. For example, if they didn't cost so damn much, adding Roberts and Knuble to this roster could do wonders. What about Chris Neil? Ottawa is out of it completely and he is UFA after this year... I'm looking mainly in the East. Guerin might be a possibility too, but I don't know that he adds a lot of grit or energy. Roberts would be a good one... what about Laperiere (also a UFA)? Edited January 30, 2009 by scotzman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ms_Hockey 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Simple solution ... make Conklin the starter. That really won't do much in terms of turning this around. Shaky goaltending is a problem. Nobody can deny that. But let's face it - our defense isn't anything to cheer about. We've been less than Red Wings average for the last however-many games. Our D just cannot get it together. Offense isn't doing too bad. I don't have much criticism in the way of that. But all of our problems do not land on the goaltending. Defense AND goaltending both need to be woken up. Simply changing the goaltender isn't going to do too much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
digitaljohn88 4 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Agree with guy above about defense and goaltending. Both are shaky right now. Bad defense is amplifying bad goaltending and vice versa. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holiday 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Defense is way too inconsistent. At times (Conklin's shut outs against teams like the Kings and Chicago) they play great, but then other times (Last night, 3 pp goals) they just decide to screw the pooch and let their goaltender out to dry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Never_Retire_Steve 35 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 We definitely do not need a blowout loss. TBH I don't know what that accoplishes other than lowering team confidence. I say run with Conklin for a while and see how the team responds. This is simply not a goalie solution (although it is partly) but seeing how the team plays with a different guy in between the pipes, people say it doesn't matter but that is the most important position on the team and is the main reason (most likely) why Osgood got pulled last night. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWingsRox 614 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 I think we all know that the 2 major problems are: 1. Inconsistent goaltending 2. Shoddy defence. When you go down 2 goals in 5 shots, then down 3 goals in 12 shots ... like in Dallas, that's a pretty big hole to get yourself out of. Osgood is a character guy but let's face it, he is nowhere near where he needs to be and 1/2 the season has gone by. Osgood consistently lets in 2 goals in like the first 8 or 9 shots! What is with that? Babcock has tried everything to light a fire under his arse, but nothing is working. If we go into the playoffs like this, we can easily lose in first round. When a goalie plays like that, no one in front of him has any confidence. We don't need a 6 million dollar goalie to win but even the Wings can't win consistently with a goalie who is third last in stats (GAA). I'm afraid we need to treat Osgood like we did with Hasek, bench him and ride the more consistent goalie ... except this time, Osgood is the one being benched for Konk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwings604 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 There is a clause in the CBA which allows you to buy out players contracts...Draper and Maltbys both need to be in my opinion. If you watch the PK Andres Lilja makes so many ****ing mistakes drives me insane. Dont know if anyone else notices. In the new cap world you need to give your younger players a chance to play. Holland is a smart guy pretty sure he can see whats going on. For next season hopefully he can convince Lidstrom to take a small pay cut (to him anyways) of 500k- 750k to keep one more player cause i have a suspicion Red Wings are gonna be extremely close to the cap. (obviously) But who knows it is still early its a long season. Kris Draper -12 avg: 12:28 a game Kirk Maltby -3 avg: 9:00 a game Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Fire McCrimmon Make Conklin the starter until Ozzie starts picking up his play. Give Helm more playing time. Trade Lebda or Lilja or Kopecky (even though Lilja isn't as bad as he used to be and has impressed me this season) for a high energy defensive specialist and hope they click with whoever is left on the third pairing. Come playoff time, when waiver rules lift, play the hell out of Helm and Co. over Draper and Kopecky. Badabing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winged_Wheeler 3 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Fire Brad McCrimmon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Statts 4 Report post Posted January 31, 2009 I thought this topic was going to be about something else and now I'm pretty disappointed... With a cold fish? Your one sick man As for the topic, I think Kenny H on down to the players realize their are problems. A blow OUT is not necessary IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted January 31, 2009 Ok, this "we just won the Cup, we have no drive" is BS. When we won the Cup last year, how many players hoisted their fourth frigging Cup? This "Drake drove us because he wanted a Cup" is BS. Hossa BY FAR has more ability to take over a game and just win it, and he wants a Cup hella bad. Does the D need to get better? Yes. Does the goalie suckage need to stop? Yes. Is the PK pathetic at times? Yes. But we can do this. We have too much veteran leadership here. Babcock is too good. I know it's dark right now, but it's darkest before the dawn, and I think we will dawn in April. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ms_Hockey 0 Report post Posted January 31, 2009 Ok, this "we just won the Cup, we have no drive" is BS. When we won the Cup last year, how many players hoisted their fourth frigging Cup? This "Drake drove us because he wanted a Cup" is BS. Hossa BY FAR has more ability to take over a game and just win it, and he wants a Cup hella bad. Does the D need to get better? Yes. Does the goalie suckage need to stop? Yes. Is the PK pathetic at times? Yes. But we can do this. We have too much veteran leadership here. Babcock is too good. I know it's dark right now, but it's darkest before the dawn, and I think we will dawn in April. Post of the day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLWINGSFAN4013 5 Report post Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) one person who wants to win the cup who has never been to the playoffs that comes to mind is on phoenix named olli jokinen but is way too expensive for us, he is a hard player who can score and back up his team mates. also a blow out is not the answer... Edited January 31, 2009 by FLWINGSFAN4013 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted January 31, 2009 Chris Neil. Our defence pulls their head out of their ass, and we get a save. More Helm, More Downey. Kopecky done as a Wing. Think we'll do pretty well then, even a couple of those things get it in the right direction. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedStormRising 7 Report post Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) Ugh, not another one of these threads... Unless we are winning games by 5 goals, we aren't a good team apparently. I just don't get it. Edited January 31, 2009 by RedStormRising Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FireCaptain 563 Report post Posted January 31, 2009 Go for a ride in a minivan? Babcock needs to pull a Herb Brooks. too soon? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted February 1, 2009 Ugh, not another one of these threads... Unless we are winning games by 5 goals, we aren't a good team apparently. I just don't get it. Are you effing kidding? Did you watch all the games this year and last? The Wings this year do NOT look like the Wings last year. If the Wings were scoring 2 goals a game and letting in one goal I wouldn't mind one bit. Routinely letting in 3+ goals is not the way you prepare for playoff hockey. 50 games in and the Wings look as terrible as they have since the start of the seasons- even in 95% of the wins. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wingsallwin 0 Report post Posted February 1, 2009 Are you effing kidding? Did you watch all the games this year and last? The Wings this year do NOT look like the Wings last year. If the Wings were scoring 2 goals a game and letting in one goal I wouldn't mind one bit. Routinely letting in 3+ goals is not the way you prepare for playoff hockey. 50 games in and the Wings look as terrible as they have since the start of the seasons- even in 95% of the wins. Very agree about this part. We have not made any perfect game except for some. I don't care the Wings were brutal in the first part of the season. And most of our winning games were one goal game. But I meant, like you, the team knows to win by scoring only 2 goals. Like the Devils, do they score a lot? No. Do they have Brodeur? No. Is Scott good? Yes he is playing well but as everyone saw the progress of the Devils, they were horrible in the first part of the season but they showed the improvement. To contrast to that, what has been done in a good in this team right now? We have to score more than 5 goals to win the game. That's not supposed to happen in the playoff. In the playoff, better defensive team and more motivational team is winning doubtlessly. Do the Wings show both cases as well? Not at all. I just sometimes don't understand people here who just say " we have good offenses, we will win". Are you guys kidding me? Defenses are far more important than offenses and you guys have to know this if you guys watch any other sports! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted February 1, 2009 Very agree about this part. We have not made any perfect game except for some. I don't care the Wings were brutal in the first part of the season. And most of our winning games were one goal game. But I meant, like you, the team knows to win by scoring only 2 goals. Like the Devils, do they score a lot? No. Do they have Brodeur? No. Is Scott good? Yes he is playing well but as everyone saw the progress of the Devils, they were horrible in the first part of the season but they showed the improvement. To contrast to that, what has been done in a good in this team right now? We have to score more than 5 goals to win the game. That's not supposed to happen in the playoff. In the playoff, better defensive team and more motivational team is winning doubtlessly. Do the Wings show both cases as well? Not at all. I just sometimes don't understand people here who just say " we have good offenses, we will win". Are you guys kidding me? Defenses are far more important than offenses and you guys have to know this if you guys watch any other sports! Moreover, defensive play is what this team is built to do. All the forwards are at least decent defensively and all the d-men are solid defensively. Red Wings hockey is solid, defensive-minded hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wingsallwin 0 Report post Posted February 1, 2009 Moreover, defensive play is what this team is built to do. All the forwards are at least decent defensively and all the d-men are solid defensively. Red Wings hockey is solid, defensive-minded hockey. Another agreement on you, but we also have to know the deadly last PK on the road and best PK at home should have something to do with a goalie. During the game against the Hawks this season when we beat them by 4-0, Babcock interviewed that goalie should be the best penalty killer. We all know we have many two way forwards that can cover up some mistakes on the defensive zone. And they have done pretty good this season. Others are on defenses. Except for Lids and Lilja, Rafalski is an exception for me but like Kronwall and Stuart, they are not clearing the puck well enough. Moreover, Stuart can hit well but I don't know what happened to Kronwall since the last summer, but he does not hit that much, which is the forte of him. As we watch, defenses are the most important part in this team. Every our play starts from defenses. Hopefully, we can do some surgery on this defense problem and become very tight defensive team again like last past many years Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CdnWingsFanEh 2 Report post Posted February 1, 2009 (edited) I'd be curious to know how many of our games this year have been decided with goals against us of 3 or more, whether we won or lost. I'm not bashing the goalies here, just curious. how many games last year did we have where we had 3 or more goals in it? I don't know the numbers, but it certainly seems much higher this year. The penalty kill really needs work. They players just aren't clearing the puck enough.. edit (sp) Edited February 1, 2009 by CdnWingsFanEh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cern 0 Report post Posted February 1, 2009 Could be worse. We could be the Canucks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
