What's the Deal with Babcock and Chelios?

[Rivalred 630]

Chelios is old enough to be BabCOCK's father.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Chelios is old enough to be BabCOCK's father.

Why did you spell Babcock's name in such a suggestive fashion?

[Wombat 26]

Even if I was out there, Chicago wouldn't have come back to win the game.

Chelios is still an NHL player right? He can't singlehandedly lose a big lead, can he?

For most of this year, Chelios has not looked like a legit NHLer to me. I thought he was pretty bad versus Anaheim when he played and I'd rather see Meech play over him.

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

Is Chelios injured, or does Babcock just hate the guy for some reason.

Um...yeah, let's go with that....

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

For most of this year, Chelios has not looked like a legit NHLer to me. I thought he was pretty bad versus Anaheim when he played and I'd rather see Meech play over him.

Meech has been worse this season than Chelios. Just look at his plus/minus.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

Where have you been for the past few days boy?

There's not deal. Cheli is our #7 Dman and will play when needed. Not sure why when dressed he gets so few mins, but the guy is 47 yo. Kind of cool to see him suit up for a smoke out in Chitown though, esp after the whole JR thing.

I know there is a lot of dislike for Eddie O on here, but even he spoke on NHL live Friday and said "If JR want to make a story out of the WCF he might try actually playing one one" lol

[Rivalred 630]

Why did you spell Babcock's name in such a suggestive fashion?

Question is why not?

How many 50 regular season games has he won since coming to the Wings?

Is he one of the top coaches in the league?

Do the players respect him? Does he bring the best out of his players?

Is he considered one of the better coaches the Wings have had in their organization?

Edited May 24, 2009 by Rivalred

[drfnr14 0]

Even if I was out there, Chicago wouldn't have come back to win the game.

Chelios is still an NHL player right? He can't singlehandedly lose a big lead, can he?

not saying it would be ALL cheli's fault just that we need to win every game we can, no chances for the opponents. Win and keep on winning, no backing down, no mercy. im sure babs would of like to seen 10-1 instead of 6-1. pedal to the floor, no lift!

TAKE EVERYTHING AND GIVE THEM NOTHING!!!

[Zion 93]

Chelios was great. I was thinking the same thing at the end of the game: "Why hasn't he played a little more?" Especially at the end of the 2nd and mid-way through the 3rd?

But, our terrific LGW response: He's lazy and he sucks.

f*** you all.

[Wombat 26]

Meech has been worse this season than Chelios. Just look at his plus/minus.

Plus/minus is not an end-all-be-all statistic. Meech is in a different situation anyways because he played a lot of forward as well which can impact the comparison. Still, Brad Stuart was a -3 this regular season. Chelios, Lebda, Ericsson, and Lilja all had better +/- in the season. Are they all better than Stuart, and would the Wings be better with them playing over Stuart? Cleary was Even this season, and Holmstrom a +18. Which is a better player, and if you think it's Homer, is he THAT significantly better than Cleary? I guess since Helm was a -7 during his 16 games in Detroit, perhaps he's worse than Kopecky (also -7), McCarty, Abdelkader, Downey, and Leino.

Stats can tell some of the truth, but more can be gleamed from watching them play. For this season, I'd mark Meech ahead of Chelios based on his level of play. He's not significantly better, but he has looked better to me. Meech is a 6/7 defenseman in the NHL, and Chelios often looks to be sub-NHL in caliber of play.

I trust my lineup to Dr. Babcock... you should too.

[Vilmer 0]

I would've played Chelios much more as well if I were Babs.

[Wombat 26]

Chelios was great. I was thinking the same thing at the end of the game: "Why hasn't he played a little more?" Especially at the end of the 2nd and mid-way through the 3rd?

But, our terrific LGW response: He's lazy and he sucks.

f*** you all.

I don't think that's a fair summary of what people are saying. I would have preferred Chelios to get some more time in the game (I said so to my g/f while watching the game). But that for me was in spite of him playing below the NHL level for most of the season. Overall, it just seems like picking nits to complain about the 20th man on the roster's ice time in a 6-1 victory.

[Dabura 12,232]

I haven't see enough of him to make an evaluation of his recent play.

He was terrible in the last series.

He's in his eleventh hour. By not playing him regularly, Babs is doing what's best for the team. That's just the way it goes.

/story

[sixer 37]

He should have retired last year and gone out with another ring and then focused on his family.

[Guest Four]

Question is why not?

How many 50 regular season games has he won since coming to the Wings?

Is he one of the top coaches in the league?

Do the players respect him? Does he bring the best out of his players?

Is he considered one of the better coaches the Wings have had in their organization?

Many, yup, yup, yup, yup..

Don't see why you spell it BabCOCK still

[cupcrazy 13]

He should have retired last year and gone out with another ring and then focused on his family.

If he's smart that will happen this year.

[puertoricanWingsfan 5]

as it has been stated before on this thread, Chelios has a different role on this team, and this team is built entirely on the roles that every player plays. Cheli's role is as a #7 or #8 Dman, and as a vocal locker room presence for the younger players. He provides much needed veteran leadership. He's 47 years old for goodness sake. If you expect him to be playing 10-15 minutes a game, you're out of your mind

[Rocket Queen 30 1]

Is Chelios injured, or does Babcock just hate the guy for some reason.

In a blowout game, when our team needs to rest our defense, the guy gets basically no ice time. Why was he even dressed?

At this point, Chelli is being treated like some fan who has never played in an NHL game before.

I mean he's not that bad that he can't even play in a blowout is he?

Also, I know there was lots of special teams in this game, but being up 4 and 5 goals, there's no reason he shouldn't have gotten more ice time.

I'm kind of disappointed in Babcock for the way he's handled Chelli. This game is the ultimate insult to him that he won't even get time on the ice in a game that's completely out of control.

I don't care if it's a blow out and I like Cheli as much as the next person... but what's the sense in putting him in unless its absolutely necessary, none.. Cheli can't really skate with the Hawks and if we don't need him.. we don't need him and we didn't.

[NHLrules? 32]

Not to mention how many leg injuries Cheli has had in his career.

Dude has some seriously tore up wheels.

He seems to like his role on this team, although he probably wishes he could be more invovled on the ice: the man is a pro and understands his role on this team. I am sure he takes pride in helping develop the new D man and is looking forward to a role in the front office (I hope!).

[truebladearmy 33]

Ever consider maybe Chelios is getting too old to log much ice time, even if Babcock did want to give it to him? Even Yzerman was barely chipping in 7-8 minutes in his final seasons, and obviously nobody on the planet hated Yzerman. There's a rumor that God himself calls yzerman for advice.

I think he's just old. He brings some veteran status to the game, but much like Yzerman I think Chelios is just kind of hanging around as an inspiration, a leader, and a guy with experience.....moreso than an active player. Hell, he's scratched most games. I understand you guys are saying that Chelios could have given some releif to the other defensemen by logging a few more minutes, but at the most he would have shaved maybe another minute off someone elses time -- And lets face it -- Kronny and crew were producing.

Which is better? A minute of rest, or the shot at boosting your +/-, getting a goal, an assist. Kicking ass for another minute to me seems more refreshing than shaving a little ice time.

He played Chelios 3 minutes in the third. That's more than the first two periods combined. I think it's time to accept, that maybe that's all Chelios has got left in him.