b.shanafan14 733 Report post Posted February 4, 2009 NOOOO.... Helm replaces Kopecky on the 4th line, keep Leino in. Helm will be playing on the 4th line again these playoffs for one of those bums anyways, might as well get him started. Don't like the move at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted February 4, 2009 I think it depends on the game situation, it looked like during the 5 min major that Babs used 4-5 if not more combos on the PK. I think it would also depend on what line just got off of the ice and who is in the box. But I thought Hossa was out there with Dats after the face off and zone being cleared. For instance (hypothetical based not on real line ups) if Franzen sits in the bin for 2 and his pk partner is usually Hossa, for chemistry sake you may not want to throw Hossa out with Draper. Speaking of the 5 min major, did anyone else notice how Draper took all (Most is probably a better term) of the own zone face offs, and then once the PK cleared the zone he hopped over the boards? Babs is thinking during these games, he is not going through the motions. Which makes me wonder even more why people 2nd guess his line combos and roster moves. Did anyone notice how he lost almost all the faceoffs he took? Maybe he just had a bad day, but I feel like he is not the same go-to-guy he used to be in important face-off situations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted February 4, 2009 A) Have you seen some of the rosters around the league????? B) Having two people who are without a doubt a step behind the game, is not going to help him. Even if he were the best grinder the game has ever seen what can he do when his line mates are out of position? This is not basketball, one player can not win the game (or even a shift) on his own. I am not saying he is the best ever or even that he is the best option, but with no cap room and a month left until the TD the Wings have to evaluate what they have for this year's push and for the upcoming years. If Kopecky is sent down he in all likelihood will be lost to waivers. You may not think so but the Wings think he is worth more than being lost to waivers. When Stuart comes back, the team will have no leverage against the cap to do anything and will need to know where they stand and what they have. They may see that Leino, Abdelkader, Helm, Hartigan or whomever has more value to them and then let Kopecky go to Waivers if no one wants him in trade and then bring up one of the others to take his place. They may trade flip and waive Kopecky and then bring up Leino and Abdelkader. Who knows. Unfortunately with the signing of Hossa, Stuart, and Flip this offseason the team has no cap space, which also means no way to evaluate talent that is in the AHL other than to let them play in the AHL. C) I never compared Boyd and Kopecky. The fact that Meech has been getting time for Maltby and Kopecky is a sign of the value and long term goals the team has for these two players. The problem is that if they bring up Leino for Kopecky and 2 weeks later realize it was a grave mistake, too late, he is gone from waivers. The freedom to experiment with the lines on this team is very limited this season. They pretty much have the 22 players and that is it! BTW: Before I take you assessment of players as the word of Hockey can I see your Player development/Scouting resume! (You state your opinion like it is fact, I don't really know you from other posters who post their opinion as fact or others who post their opinion as opinion. But since you didn't say it was your opinion it comes off as though it is a fact.) What really was the last straw for me on Kopecky was when he didn't fight Commedore. I mean sure he would have gotten his ass kicked and he isn't just a goon or anything, but when a 4th line grinder can take out the best dman of the other team for an extended period of time it's a must. He could have just hugged him the whole time but get him off the ice. Kopecky has been playing better as of late, but that still doesn't mean he is playing good. I do agree however that his line is just brutal but I put most of the blame on Draper and then Maltby, lastly Kopecky; his career might have become a bust in potential route with all the injuries. B/c when he was 1st called up against the Flames about 3 years ago he hit everything that moved. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
under_par_00 45 Report post Posted February 4, 2009 (edited) What is up with Kopecky and fighting? There are 2 videos of him on youtube fighting, Sharp on Chicago and some May guy from the AHL I think (not Brad), both of whom seemed smaller than Kopecky. Does anyone know if he ever showed more of an interest in fighting or does he only take on guys who are smaller than him? Edit: It was Scott May who is 5'10" 195, and Sharp is 6' 200 Edited February 4, 2009 by under_par_00 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted February 4, 2009 (edited) Oh man. Two great games and NOW he sits out? I just don't get it..... If anyone should sit out its ******* Kopecky. Don't need to put him on waivers (though I wish we would) but at least scratch the dude or soemthing. Edited February 4, 2009 by ShanahanMan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted February 4, 2009 What is up with Kopecky and fighting? There are 2 videos of him on youtube fighting, Sharp on Chicago and some May guy from the AHL I think (not Brad), both of whom seemed smaller than Kopecky. Does anyone know if he ever showed more of an interest in fighting or does he only take on guys who are smaller than him? Edit: It was Scott May who is 5'10" 195, and Sharp is 6' 200 Kopecky isn't a fighter. People saw him tango with Sharp just one time and all of a sudden the Wings have a fighter. He would get his ass kicked by anyone with any fighting experience and he knows it. That's why he doesn't fight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted February 5, 2009 I sincerely hope not to see Kopecky bending his ankles in a Red Wings uniform in the playoffs. There are many blatant under performers on the wings. In particular the 4th line. We have some amazing prospects (Leino, Helm, Erikkson, Downey) that have done nothing, but perform very well. I cannot think of anything Leino has done in the last couple games to earn him a sit(defensively could use improvement for sure), but compared to that of Maltby or Kopecky I haven't seen a great reason for them to earn their roster spot. /mind boggle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
