Brad McCrimmon should be fired

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

In Conklin's defense on that 5-4 go ahead goal that he will probably want back. Having a player one-time a shot from right in front of the net/bottom of the circle isn't the best coverage. It's a combination of two issues, let's hope it can be corrected with playoff hunger.

But it also wasn't a great shot. That *particular* shot needed to and should've been saved, especially given the circumstances and momentum of that moment in the game.

[Carman 387]

But it also wasn't a great shot. That *particular* shot needed to and should've been saved, especially given the circumstances and momentum of that moment in the game.

Yep, it should have been saved especially at that moment in a big game.

I was just pointing out that it wasn't all on Conklin, we aren't helping the goalies in general as much as we should. There is absolutely no reason Backes should have been that open on that play. Well, all I can say is at least we aren't paying our goalies 7 million a year, because I think people would start jumping off of bridges if a goalie gives up a bad goal.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Yep, it should have been saved especially at that moment in a big game.

I was just pointing out that it wasn't all on Conklin, we aren't helping the goalies in general as much as we should. There is absolutely no reason Backes should have been that open on that play. Well, all I can say is at least we aren't paying our goalies 7 million a year, because I think people would start jumping off of bridges if a goalie gives up a bad goal.

My thought on that goal was regardless of the defense in that situation, *the shot he got on goal* needs to be saved.

If the Wings were paying a goalie $7 million that would be the final stage of the perfect storm for the masses to jump off the bridge. Well played.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

The final goal was a lousy one, no two ways about it. He was on the post, the pass came out from behind the net, he came off the post, which is of course where the puck then went. He was where he needed to be and didn't make the save. So, I can live with the defense surrendering shots (which is going to happen no matter how hard you try anyways) that the goalie can stop.

Edited April 3, 2009 by Heroes of Hockeytown

[talex 1]

All season, 3 for 5...8 goals against regardless of who is between the pipes. The consistent factor is the players and the coach, not the goalie, it doe snot matter if it's Osgood, Conklin or Howard between the pipes, same result. Unless they somehow turn on some factor that has been off (which would piss me off because I have to pay for every game and we as fans have every right to expect 100% effort every game) and I think that is just not true. Someone will have to pay the price if we have an early playoff exit and the D coach would be the obvious choice and I have no problem with it. We are becoming Hat Trick Central.

As to the poster who quoted Helms comments about players confident in their goalie play better, I think that is a 2 way street and right now the consistent factor has been the D, does not matter who is in the pipes, the D steps up or we stay Hat Trick Central...

[Guest Shoreline]

How is it knee jerk when its been happening for 75 games?

This is a team thats completely lost in its own zone. They get caught inbetween. They do alot of standing around watching the play. The puck goes behind the net one defensemen gets cauight half way and the other has his back to the ice watching the play while an opponent moves right into the slot. The puck carrier has no pressure because the first defenseman half assed it, makes the pass to the guy in the slot who is wide open because the second defenseman doesnt know hes there. I see this happen over and over. Our opponents own the boards in our zone. They are allowed to make play after play. We dont pressure the puck carrier. I watched one St Loius player last night fumbling the puck at the blueline while Draper watched him. Just stood there and watched while the player got the puck under control and made a play that resulted in a scoring chance. I watched Kronwall do his best impression of a tree all night in our zone. This is getting beyond pathetic. Peewee teams do a better job in thier zone.

I do think this is to a great degree coaching. McCrimmons philosophy seems to be to stay at home in our zone. Like its a 5 on 5 PP. Just stay in your box. Dont pressure the puck carrier just guard your section of the ice. Try to keep them to the outside. Its looks like a zone defense in football. And its not working.

Even though the post was clearly made to people who like to suggest fire this, get rid of that, after every loss, you're 100% right. To add to this, something I've been criticizing since Day 1 is them not finishing checks enough. I've seen a handful of times now where they didn't finish a check while on the forecheck, that player ends up zooming down the ice and either assisting on a goal or scoring one. I don't know why they're laying off opponents but it irritates me to no end.

[motorcitykid 42]

What came first, the inconsistent goaltending or a defense that looks so timid and half-assed some nights?

[Electrophile 3,554]

Whoever said this is on the players not the coaching staff, hit the nail on the head.

This isn't a mini-mite team. When those players fail, it's the coaches. They're kids.

When this team fails, it's the players. They're grown men and for the most part, NHL veterans. If they're not playing up to par, it's their fault. They know when things work and when they don't. You wanna fire this person, that person......if you got rid of who was really the problem, we'd have no team to field.

[soonboomer 31]

I know that some people hate this excuse but I really do think we need to appreciate the reality of the Stanley Cup hangover.

Winning the cup, or even making the playoffs, following a Cup win is extremely tough. Jim Rutherford put it like this "You ask your players to sweat blood and tears to climb mount Everest. And then when they get there and come back down to celebrate their accomplishment, you ask them to do it again in 2 months".

The league is so close in terms of talent and coaching that most nights it's about mental lapses that decide wins and losses.

That's exactly what's happening here. Our defense is not playing that well because they're still mentally tired from the long journey they took just a short time ago.

In all honesty, I'm amazed that we're even close to winning our conference, or President's Trophy. Our depth, leadership and coaching has made that happen.

But in the end, if the players aren't 100% in the mind and body, we're not going anywhere.

True, it doesn't help that our goaltending has been suspect. But in many of these games where we've allowed more than 3 goals, it wasn't Conklin, it was the wide-open chances the other team was given. Backes had all day to score some of his 4 goals. Last year that wouldn't have happened.

I think the best thing this team can do is give up on winning the #1 seed and start resting guys like Lidstrom, Zetts, etc. We have enough farm hands to carry the load the rest of the way.

This is 100% dead on correct. There's a reason why only 1 team has repeated in each of 3 of the major sports (NBA, NFL, & Major League Baseball) and none have repeated in the NHL over the past 10 yerars, and it all relates to "Championship Hangover". No one thought that, personnel wise, at the start of this season that the Wings were as not good as they were last year. It all comes down to chemistry and desire, both of which are hard to maintain when you've just "climbed the mountain". Is Detroit good enough to win it again????? Certainly!!!!! Do they want it bad enough? We'll soon see.

[chrisdetroit 189]

I don't mean to call you out on this, but defensive/assitant coaches have a heavy heavy influence on the defensive scheme. It's very much like football in that respect. There is a difference in the style the wing's have been playing and I feel that should have some blame on the team giving up ~200 more shots then they did last season.

EDIT: I'm also not saying it's 100% McCrimmon's fault certainly the players have to hold some accountability. I don't think I've said that, I just feel he is going to be the expendable one if this situation continues into the playoffs. If you don't agree with me that's fine, not the end of the world.

You obviously didn't look into the possible reasons for this and just decided that you would use this point to add to your argument. You are wrong.

Shots against are up across the board this year. Last year the Wings averaged 23.5 Shots against per game which was first in the league, this year it is 27.8 which ties them for 3rd and 0.1 behind the 2nd place team.

NOBODY has averaged 23.5 or 24, or 25 or 26 or 27. The leader is San Jose at 27.5 which is a BIG 0.3 below Detroit's average.

So your comment about the Wings giving up more shots and that is somehow the result of poor defense is just plain wrong.

[Carman 387]

Yep, already got called out on that one, thanks!

[LIDDYGIBBY5 1]

Is it just me, or do Wings fans here never want to blame the defense for ANYTHING?

"Defense has sucked all season? Must be the coach. All our defense would be perfect if it weren't for that damn coach. Damn him."

The only thing that has changed from this year to last is McCrimmon. Occam's Razor. You explain to me why things have gone to crap. I don't think it is just the defensemen, but the defensive play of the ENTIRE team.

[LIDDYGIBBY5 1]

Shots have been up across the league due to the new faceoff in the penalty killing zone.

Not to mention the old defensive coach is still on the staff. MacLean did the defense last year. Don't you think Babcock, Holland, Mr. Ilitch would say something if they thought a simple switch or consultation would've changed anything?

Hell, why wouldn't the players say something if this new coaching style wasn't conducive to their playing style? The coaching staff has done everything this year to try and right the ship.

They sent Osgood home to clear his head.

Changed lines in almost every way imaginable.

Changed defensive pairings.

Changed PK pairings.

Worked them even harder in practice.

Emphasized greatly on the PK in practice.

This is a veteran group, it's not like the entire system is different, the players just aren't preforming.

They did all of those things and look at what came from it. More of the same lazy play. What is the one constant? Coaching!