Will the Wings add more grit to lineup?

[Dabura 12,232]

Fighting/fighters tend to bring/be energy guys.

I like energy guys -- if they can contribute more than just fisticuffs. I have a sneaking suspicion Kenny and co. feel the same (see McCarty being dressed over Downey in last season's playoff run).

[pockets 9]

i think the wings are tough enough without a "goon" and having a one wouldnt allow Babs to roll 4 lines like he does and on a another note sometimes picking/winning a fight doesnt go your way see Carcillo vs Talbot. Carcillo whooped Talbot but the Pens got the momentum and with the proposed rule against staged fights that will lessen the roles of enforcers

[vangvace 12]

I like energy guys -- if they can contribute more than just fisticuffs. I have a sneaking suspicion Kenny and co. feel the same (see McCarty being dressed over Downey in last season's playoff run).

True, but Downey's role and impact during the regular season had it's benefits too.

And yes, note the term "regular season" in that.

[Broken 16 381]

The bottom line is that the Wings don't need an enforcer. Kenny's in the business of addressing legitimate needs and holes. He does this to make sure the team stays competitive. If, for example, we need a solid #3 d-man, he'll go out and get one because that's a hole that would likely be exploited to devastating effect in the postseason. The Wings' lack of "tough guys" is not as serious a hole. It's something the opposition always talks about in the playoffs and vows to exploit -- but in the end, the opposition usually realizes s***-stirring is not the way to beat this team.

Skill, strong two-way play, puck-possession, chemistry, class -- these are the cornerstones of this Wings' team and its success. Goonery is not part of the plan, as Downey's complete absence from the playoff roster last season illustrated.

Dead on. [/thread]

Edited April 26, 2009 by Broken 16

[Cicada 4]

Talbot turned the tide with tussle

that was all on Carcillo...

wtf was he doing getting into a fight i'll never know, and then he did that lame celebration and fired up the Penguins. He's responsible for that comeback... terrible trade the Flyers made geting him, especially considering what they gave up for him.

3-0 up the opposition is looking for any kind of spark, and he gave it to them.

utterly moronic

and that article is no call for a dedicated enforcer, since Talbot is far from one. 34.7 ring any bells? he fights as often as Kopecky does, which is basically never.

[vangvace 12]

that was all on Carcillo...

wtf was he doing getting into a fight i'll never know, and then he did that lame celebration and fired up the Penguins. He's responsible for that comeback... terrible trade the Flyers made geting him, especially considering what they gave up for him.

3-0 up the opposition is looking for any kind of spark, and he gave it to them.

utterly moronic

and that article is no call for a dedicated enforcer, since Talbot is far from one. 34.7 ring any bells? he fights as often as Kopecky does, which is basically never.

The article isn't a call for an enforcer. It's an article about how a fight sparked a team and turned the game around.

But wait... It wasn't really about the fight, but Carcillo being dumb?

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

You want to add two fighters to it. That's a pretty big thing. And, by your own admission, that has more to do with you wanting to see the Wings fight than with genuinely improving this team.

Every thing about every line matters if you're going to win the Cup. Right now (and for the last several seasons, really) all of those things add up to success. It's monumentally difficult to steal a win from this team, let alone take an entire series. That's why this team's the class of the league.

Not really. Imagine if Maltby and Kopecky actually fought. Would that somehow diminish this team's philosophy or worsen the play of the top 3 lines? I don't think it would make our skilled players or the team strategy any worse.

How exactly would you classify the Wings 4th line this season? Were they important to the team's success? Did they have a solid season? For that matter, did they really contribute that much to the overall team style of play?

i think the wings are tough enough without a "goon" and having a one wouldnt allow Babs to roll 4 lines like he does and on a another note sometimes picking/winning a fight doesnt go your way see Carcillo vs Talbot. Carcillo whooped Talbot but the Pens got the momentum and with the proposed rule against staged fights that will lessen the roles of enforcers

Actually, Talbot is the one who wanted to fight, and he got his team back into the game just by doing so. Him losing isn't the point, it's the fact that he was willing to go to boost his team that matters.

That's what the Wings could use more of, is guys like Talbot who are willing to fight just to spark their team. Everyone here is looking at that fight from Carcillo's perspective, instead of looking at it from Talbot's.

[Frozen-Man 144]

I wonder if Kopecky could take her in a fight?

[Guest micah]

Will the Wings add more grit to lineup?, next seasons roster

Judging by recent history, I doubt it. I wish they would though. I don't enjoy watching Maltby and Sammy and Dats (recently) et al talk trash and through facewashes and gloved punches after the whistle. I think that'[s garbage, as I have a very hard time respecting the kind of men who act that way but refuse to throw down when invited. I never respected loudmouths who would talk tough but not back it up on the playground, I don't respect them in bars, and I have a very hard time respecting them on the ice. If you refuse to fight, fine, shut your *****-mouth and quit with the gloves-on after-the-whistle fondling. If you're going to talk s*** or push and shove, man-up and do it all the way.

Let's be real here. Just about everyone on this board probably agrees that a diciplined tough guy on the Wings 4th line (in Maltby's aspot, for example) would not likely result in the Wings winning or losing a whole lot of games. Just about everyone on this board also probably likes to see a good hockeyfight now and then. Why not dress someone to play 4 minutes a night who can provide that? It's not like it would make the Wings a lot less succesful, but it would give the folks who buty the tickets and scream for their team something else to enjoy.

[puertoricanWingsfan 5]

Detroit, Michigan is the murder capital of the United States. The Wings players have plenty of grit just from living there!

[StevieY9802 6]

the days of a dedicated enforcer are over

Yup. Unless your enforcer is lke McCarty was back in the late 90's, an enforcer who also can play two way hockey, the guys just take up a roster spot. A guy like Downey isn't a good skater, doesn't add anything on offense or defense so why have him in the lineup. Fights only happen in the playoffs when teams like Calgary or Montreal start acting like little kids who don't get the toy from Toys R Us so they try to hurt the other team. So having a guy in the lineup for that is dumb and for the other stuff the Wings do a good job of sticking up for themselves.

Detroit, Michigan is the murder capital of the United States. The Wings players have plenty of grit just from living there!

Actually Chicago is...

Holland should sign UFA Chris Neil, & send Kopecky to T.O. for Jamal Mayers, & call it a day...But that's just my opinion.

That would add probably 3mil more to the cap with those two guys next year so wouldn't happen. Plus would take up spots of Leino and Helm.

Edited April 27, 2009 by StevieY9802

[GORM19 0]

Bob Probert:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4391

Man was an enforcer and could score. Of course that was in the old NHL.

My point, the Wed Wings have so many players that play good 2-way hockey and play physical when need be, we have no need for an enforcer.

And yes, enforcers had to change the way they played in the new NHL. Good example, Bertuzzi.

bertuzzi has never been a enforcer just a big body

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

I think Detroit will bring in some Vetran's for tryout this year, unlike last.. Might not be straight up enforcers.. but possibly some gritty players.

I think we'll see a boost in FM next year though.. With Big Rig and Lilja playing together with the 6th pairing.. Both will prolly stick up for eachother and clear the crease for the goalie..

Abdelkader i'll assume will get a few more games next year, I dont expect him to ever have more then 4-5 fights in a year through his career, but he will scrap if the moment is right. and with his confidence rising hopefully some more chippy play will result from him also

Mac and Downs have proven to still be viable options for call ups next year.. Downey is skating the best he has in along time, and Mac's superior positioning doesn't make him a liability.

It's a stretch, But maybe Jakub Kindl gets a call up. He's not the most chippy player, But he's certaintly an upgrade over Raffi and Lebda when it comes to physical play from the D. He's had 2-1-1-2 for fights the past years and none this year. So maybe when he gets a call up, He'll do it to get noticed more.. to say Hey, I may be an awesome offensive talent.. I may lack a bit on the defensive side.. But i'll chuck em for my team to make up for what i lack.

Optimism, It's a lions fans best friend.. and it carries over to the wings