will the expanded playoff roster spark this team?

[Rick Zombos Ghost 82]

They seem extremly unmotivated. I find myself yelling at the tv for them to skate. They kinda just start coasting around while the other team is going 100 mph. With the expanded roster maybe a few of our 3rd and 4th liners will kick it into gear knowing that Babcock will not hesitate to bench any of them. I can only hope.

On a side note.... What does Sammy bring to the point on the power play that Erickson doesnt? Erickson has a harder shot and seems to have equal or better decision making ability.

[Carman 387]

It's definitely not going to hurt. I'm sure it would be a good change to add some new blood to snap back into playoff form.

Also Ericsson probably doesn't have the experience on the PP, but to be honest seeing Meech out there I have no justification for...

Edited April 3, 2009 by Carman

[Broken 16 381]

We can only hope...

As for Sammy, I think it has something to do with him being a right-handed shot. I think.

[lets go pavel 2]

They seem extremly unmotivated. I find myself yelling at the tv for them to skate. They kinda just start coasting around while the other team is going 100 mph. With the expanded roster maybe a few of our 3rd and 4th liners will kick it into gear knowing that Babcock will not hesitate to bench any of them. I can only hope.

On a side note.... What does Sammy bring to the point on the power play that Erickson doesnt? Erickson has a harder shot and seems to have equal or better decision making ability.

Sammy's a righty, Ericsson's a lefty.

And yes, hopefully some of the GR boys ... Helm, Abdelkader, maybe even Downey or Mac ... will bring some energy.

[OsGOD 3]

Round1 Game1 will spark our team... atmosphere and intensity picks up as soon as regualer season ends... then there is really no tomorrow. Four f*** ups and you are done.

[Herr Hockey 0]

We can only hope...

As for Sammy, I think it has something to do with him being a right-handed shot. I think.

Yep, having a lefty and a righty gives you the option of using both point men for one-timers.

[VM1138 1,921]

Yes, the expanded roster will help. They played really well when the kids came up before, and it looks like Babcock has no intention of playing Maltby, Draper, and probably Kopecky during the playoffs, if recent games are any indicator.

I think the whole team will step it up come playoff time (probably around Game 2 or 3), but especially those young kids. Helm is born for the playoffs, Leino was born scoring goals, and the others are just really energetic as well. Ericcsson as well will play more physical and hopefully be on the point for the PP.

Quote me for posterity somebody!

[gcom007 1,465]

Let's just hope the playoffs spark this team. I'm not convinced yet that we won't see a totally different team for Game 1 of Round 1.

[Casey 145]

I'll damn near guarantee it lights a fire on them- they've played their best games of the season with Helm, Leino et al. in the lineup. Couple a load of hungry rookies/pseudorookies (Helm, Downey) with a bunch of vets, and they're going to play well.

[DatsMyWings13 4]

Well it can't hurt.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Yes, the expanded roster will help. They played really well when the kids came up before, and it looks like Babcock has no intention of playing Maltby, Draper, and probably Kopecky during the playoffs, if recent games are any indicator.

Don't the kids have to play in the AHL playoffs?

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Don't the kids have to play in the AHL playoffs?

Pretty sure they aren't obligated to do anything.

[RusDRW 155]

year after year we find ourselves in this kind of discussion. I would say it is time to stop worrying and just try to wait till the play-offs start. We'll be fine I'm sure. Leino in, Helm in, Maltby out, as well as Kopecky... Clearly is always energized in the play-offs. Hossa last year was a real force in the play-offs so why not this year when he is playing for a team he wanted to? I have no doubts that Dats, Zeta, and Franz will be our best guys and when they are "on" nodoby can stop them. A lot of worries about Sammy? Take a look at Columbus where Huselius is getting three times more for the same amout of nasty turnovers and people say he is fine. Our D can't really play hockey? We have the best pairing in NHL in Lids and Raf. Kronwall is ready to lay some of those hits. Ericsson looks really promising... Goaltening is a bit of concern... but it always was. Do not forget that Osbad has won it three times. We are much better that we all think.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Pretty sure they aren't obligated to do anything.

Yeah I know they don't have to do anything, but you don't hang your AHL team out to dry right when they start the playoffs.

[Casey 145]

Yeah I know they don't have to do anything, but you don't hang your AHL team out to dry right when they start the playoffs.

Lots of teams do just that. The Tigers absolutely gutted the AAA Toledo Mud Hens in '06, right when the Hens were gearing up for a Governor's Cup run.

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

Yeah I know they don't have to do anything, but you don't hang your AHL team out to dry right when they start the playoffs.

Calder Cup = Child's Play

Stanley Cup = Ultimate Prize

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Yeah I know they don't have to do anything, but you don't hang your AHL team out to dry right when they start the playoffs.

There was a story on this the other day, about the BJs pulling Filatov out of their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, to just sit in the pressbox and absorb the experience of a team making a run for the playoffs, while the Crunch are clawing and scraping their way into the playoff picture. He was one of if not the best player for the Crunch during the year and their stretch run. The big league teams don't care.

[55fan 5,133]

You would think they'd adjust the AHL schedules so they wouldn't have this dilema. I realize that they'd be short-handed during the beginning of their season whilst they were waiting to see which guys got called up to the big time, but I would think it's better to be short at the beginning than the end.

Back to the topic:

Guys like Draper and Malts ramp it up for the playoffs. Guys like Helm and Leino are trying to make a name for themselves. All of them are playing for the Cup. They've all got the motivation necessary on a couple of fronts. Competition to outplay the other team as well as play up to their fullest potential for their future can only be a good thing if they remember to play as a team and not as individuals.

In answer to the thread question: yes.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I'd hope so. Look not too long ago when Helm and Leino were up and Leino was in/out on the 4th line with Kopecky, Maltby, etc. Everybody raised their games up then IMO.

[lidstromfan5 3]

They seem extremly unmotivated. I find myself yelling at the tv for them to skate. They kinda just start coasting around while the other team is going 100 mph. With the expanded roster maybe a few of our 3rd and 4th liners will kick it into gear knowing that Babcock will not hesitate to bench any of them. I can only hope.

On a side note.... What does Sammy bring to the point on the power play that Erickson doesnt? Erickson has a harder shot and seems to have equal or better decision making ability.

Ya know, a few months back I asked Babs why Sammy was on the point on the power play, is it because of his right handed shot? And with the straightest of looks and answers Babs proceeded to tell me, "No, the reason is because he shoots a ton and we have nobody else." So there ya go, the secret is out.

Edited April 5, 2009 by lidstromfan5

[daniel1 32]

Interesting situation for the Wings; I wonder if there are any other NHL teams who have players on their farm team who the they know are BETTER than the ones on their NHL team but only because of the cap they're not on the team during the season? Helm and Leino are better than Maltby and Kopecky, Ericsson is better than Meech, but due to the cap they're on the farm team for most of the year. The trade deadline for the Wings will actually be when they playoffs start and we can sit Maltby, Kopecky and Meech and replace them with Helm, Leino and Ericsson full time. Even though E is up with us now if Lils came off the DL he would have to go down till playoffs started. I would like to see a Lils- Ericsson third pairing that would give us some size and reach in the playoffs.