Wings physical play is underrated

[MidMichSteve 1,115]

Link

Wow! Most hits per game among remaining teams.

F******* soft Europeans.

DETROIT -- Perception doesn't always match reality with the Detroit Red Wings.

Because they are loaded with skilled players, most of them European, and they're not the biggest team, and they rarely fight, their physical play is underrated.

But they hit people. They have recorded more hits per game (32.5) than the other three teams still alive in the postseason. That's all the more impressive considering they control the puck most of the game.

"I think we finish more checks than people realize," coach Mike Babcock said. "We don't do it for (all) 82 games. I try to get them to do it for about the last 22 games and then in the playoffs."

Forward Darren Helm leads the way with 66 hits. But when it comes to punishing checks, the defense tandem of Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart do the most damage.

Martin Havlat can attest to that. The Chicago Blackhawks' leading regular season and playoff scorer was knocked out of Game 3 of the Western Conference finals with a devastating hit by Kronwall. Havlat returned for Game 4, only to be knocked out again, this time by Stuart early in the second period.

The Red Wings, leading the series 3-1, will try to knock out the Blackhawks on Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena in Game 5.

"The physical aspect is very important. It's important that we all do it," Kronwall said. "When you see a guy like Stewie making a big hit like that, it gets you fired up. It makes you want to go out there and do the same thing. It elevates you to a whole new level."

Despite being accused of dirty tactics and called "gutless" by Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell, Kronwall wasn't deterred on Sunday. He hit star forward Patrick Kane near the end of the first period, triggering a melee.

"You can't focus too much on what people are saying or what's going on around you," Kronwall said. "You have to keep playing the way you always do. When there's a chance, and I thought I had one, I tried to go for it."

Said Babcock: "They know he's out there. And no one likes getting hit like that. Who does he usually get? They're usually puck (skill) guys."

Kronwall's open-ice hits drew comparisons Monday to former New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Stevens, one of the hardest hitters to ever play the game.

"He's not as big as Scotty, but he still delivers," said defenseman Brian Rafalski, who played with Stevens.

"Scott Stevens, like Junior (Kronwall), he hunted you down," Babcock said. "Junior is not a big man, so he has to use timing and momentum, and he does a good job of that. I think Stewie and him, the way they play is they're not racing around trying to get (hits). If they're there, they take them."

At 6-foot and 189 pounds, Kronwall doesn't think he intimidates anyone like Stevens did. But his presence can distract opponents.

"Scoring a big goal is something you always want to do," Kronwall said. "I think a lot of times a big hit can give you more boost than anything else."

Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg said he had a few "close calls" playing against Kronwall for a couple of seasons in the Swedish Elite League.

"He knows when to step up," Zetterberg said. "You look up and he's standing still, but as soon as you put your head down, he's coming. You have to be aware.

"Most of the time it's clean hits. He doesn't come with his elbow or leave the ice. He just comes with his shoulder and has great timing."

Kronwall and Stuart timed their hits on Havlat perfectly. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Monday that Havlat "looked fine," but will be reassessed today.

Babcock said Kris Draper (pulled groin) won't play Wednesday, but Nicklas Lidstrom (lower-body injury) and Pavel Datsyuk (bruised foot) are possible for Game 5.

Edited May 26, 2009 by MidMichSteve

[Guest Four]

Favourite part of the article:

Forward Darren Helm leads the way with 66 hits. But when it comes to punishing checks, the defense tandem of Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart do the most damage.

Martin Havlat can attest to that. The Chicago Blackhawks' leading regular season and playoff scorer was knocked out of Game 3 of the Western Conference finals with a devastating hit by Kronwall. Havlat returned for Game 4, only to be knocked out again, this time by Stuart early in the second period.

ROFL!

[crotty99 302]

What's the bet that all of this is forgoten when we get beaten a few times next regular season. People revert to the age old "wings are too soft" "omfg we need Downey!!!" etc

[BowHuntingFool 0]

Let the Freight Train roll right thru Chicago...... Oh wait, it already did! GO WINGS!

[thedisappearer 291]

What's the bet that all of this is forgoten when we get beaten a few times next regular season. People revert to the age old "wings are too soft" "omfg we need Downey!!!" etc

True story.

[Zion 93]

We need a 4th line of all goons next year.

Real goons. Goons so bad at skating that they can't catch the other teams' 4th liners. But the kind of goons that linesmen are hell-bent on restraining because they are afraid of what will happen should they break free...

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

LoL that was a fun read.

[Guest micah]

"I think we finish more checks than people realize," coach Mike Babcock said. "We don't do it for (all) 82 games. I try to get them to do it for about the last 22 games and then in the playoffs."

Straight from the coach's mouth. That's kinda sad. You cannot argue with their skill or their success, but the Wings should really reduce regular season ticket prices for the first 60 games. 60% ticket price for a 60% effort.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Straight from the coach's mouth. That's kinda sad. You cannot argue with their skill or their success, but the Wings should really reduce regular season ticket prices for the first 60 games. 60% ticket price for a 60% effort.

That's not 60% effort....that's 100% intelligence. If you throw your body around with reckless abandon like Kronwall and Stuart do in the playoffs, you won't be healthy throughout the year, and most certainly not in the playoffs when those types of hits are so crucial and helpful.

It's called saving yourself for when its important. Until the Red Wings struggle in the regular season, there's no need to play that way all 82 games.

[Guest micah]

That's not 60% effort....that's 100% intelligence. If you throw your body around with reckless abandon like Kronwall and Stuart do in the playoffs, you won't be healthy throughout the year, and most certainly not in the playoffs when those types of hits are so crucial and helpful.

It's called saving yourself for when its important. Until the Red Wings struggle in the regular season, there's no need to play that way all 82 games.

I didn't say it wasn't intelligent.

I said that one ought not have to pay the same ammount of money to seea team coast as they pay at the end of the season to see them play hard.

[maltbymaniac 13]

twas an excellent read.

[Wingman 0]

They more or less outplayed Anaheim physically, that's a really clear indicator to me.

I seems like the reputation of Detroit as being "soft" is slowly diminishing. Judging not only by this article, but many others along with pundits, commentators etc. This is a good thing.

[Guest micah]

They more or less outplayed Anaheim physically, that's a really clear indicator to me.

I seems like the reputation of Detroit as being "soft" is slowly diminishing. Judging not only by this article, but many others along with pundits, commentators etc. This is a good thing.

Oh, they're quite clearly soft - but the instigator rule allows them to be soft without much consequence. They very rarely accept and invitation to fight, and when they do, they have an irritating tendency as of late to get their asses kicked and their heads broken. Some of them will throw their bodies around sure, but of them very few will answer the bell when they're called out by their opponents. You can call it smart, and maybe theuy're so physically weak ansd fragile that it is smart to avoid the fisticuff like they was the swine flu, but I'll call it soft.

[Rocket Queen 30 1]

I didn't say it wasn't intelligent.

I said that one ought not have to pay the same ammount of money to seea team coast as they pay at the end of the season to see them play hard.

You're kidding right? Because the Wings don't always need to out hit a team doesn't mean they're "coasting" it means that they're talented enough that they don't need brutalize teams during the regular season to get their wins. If they don't have to get overly physical during the regular season I'm all for it. I'd rather have the least amount of injuries heading in to the playoffs than the most amount of hits leveled against the opposition.

[jollymania 162]

Oh, they're quite clearly soft - but the instigator rule allows them to be soft without much consequence. They very rarely accept and invitation to fight, and when they do, they have an irritating tendency as of late to get their asses kicked and their heads broken. Some of them will throw their bodies around sure, but of them very few will answer the bell when they're called out by their opponents. You can call it smart, and maybe theuy're so physically weak ansd fragile that it is smart to avoid the fisticuff like they was the swine flu, but I'll call it soft.

1.you dont have to fight after clean hits

2. The wings never will be goaded into fights, its part of the agitation fo rthe other team to get them off their game, i owuld gander that next year Ericsson will at least pick up as much as 8 FMs next year if not more, but i hope he only fights when it is needed.

[Guest Shoreline]

This soft team won't win a single playoff game this year. We need hockey heroes like Ken Shamrock, Chuck Norris, and Mike Tyson to come back and play for the Wings.

Edited May 26, 2009 by Shoreline

[vangvace 12]

You're kidding right? Because the Wings don't always need to out hit a team doesn't mean they're "coasting" it means that they're talented enough that they don't need brutalize teams during the regular season to get their wins. If they don't have to get overly physical during the regular season I'm all for it. I'd rather have the least amount of injuries heading in to the playoffs than the most amount of hits leveled against the opposition.

Realistically, they do coast alot during the regular season. Many a complaint here wishing they would play a full 60 minutes. (Not that it isn't working for them mind you)

Oh and hits is a BS judgemental stat imo.

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

Oh, they're quite clearly soft - but the instigator rule allows them to be soft without much consequence. They very rarely accept and invitation to fight, and when they do, they have an irritating tendency as of late to get their asses kicked and their heads broken. Some of them will throw their bodies around sure, but of them very few will answer the bell when they're called out by their opponents. You can call it smart, and maybe theuy're so physically weak ansd fragile that it is smart to avoid the fisticuff like they was the swine flu, but I'll call it soft.

OK, you want to obsess on Kopecky and ignore Ericcson's fight Kronwall and the rest of the playoffs. This post is completely and utterly clueless. Why don't you actually watch the games and get over this crap? The only thing the Wings aren't doing is cheap shots, other then that they're hitting and fighting with anyone, including the Ducks. Avalanche fans suck, why don't you stay on their boards where you belong? If you want to get on other boards with a clue that works. To get on boards and write this retarded s*** is a waste of time. Not that anyone can really make the Avalanche look worse then they make themselves. I hope your beloved Avs hire Roy, just so they can keep identifying themselves for the pathetic organization they are.

[bruisebrother15 29]

The Wings are smart about fighting. Remember that Eager for Kronwall for 5 minutes is not a fair trade. Especially if you are rolling 4 dmen. But Big Rig for Perry was a good trade off since you gave a 3rd pair dman for one of their top line players for 5 minutes.

I also like how we turn down fights when the other team is clearly trying to change the momentum. Kopecky should have known better and not fought. No reason to give the other team anything to build off.

During game 4 a couple of legal center ice hits and Chicago totally lost their minds. We don't fight and next thing you know it's 6 to 1.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

It depends what your definition of "soft" is. We make hits and lots of 'em.. but we don't fight. To some, the not fighting part is enough to make them scream "soft". It's pretty subjective and unless you outline the definition of "soft", we'll never agree.

[Rocket Queen 30 1]

Oh, they're quite clearly soft - but the instigator rule allows them to be soft without much consequence. They very rarely accept and invitation to fight, and when they do, they have an irritating tendency as of late to get their asses kicked and their heads broken. Some of them will throw their bodies around sure, but of them very few will answer the bell when they're called out by their opponents. You can call it smart, and maybe theuy're so physically weak ansd fragile that it is smart to avoid the fisticuff like they was the swine flu, but I'll call it soft.

Are you a Red Wings fan? Do you crack beer cans across your head for fun? Declining an invitation to fight when fighting is unnecessary does not make them soft. Why take a penalty when its unnecessary? That's just dumb an undisciplined. Also...since when is hockey about fights? It's not. Fights are great but if that's why you're watching hockey stick to the beer leagues or go be a Ducks fan. I don't want to see a game degenerate in to a brawl every time I watch. Fight when it's necessary and I have no doubt they will. It's more important to win a game than win a fight, at least from my perspective. The Wings aren't soft.. they're just not goons and quite frankly I'm glad of that.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Are you a Red Wings fan? Do you crack beer cans across your head for fun? Declining an invitation to fight when fighting is unnecessary does not make them soft. Why take a penalty when its unnecessary? That's just dumb an undisciplined. Also...since when is hockey about fights? It's not. Fights are great but if that's why you're watching hockey stick to the beer leagues or go be a Ducks fan. I don't want to see a game degenerate in to a brawl every time I watch. Fight when it's necessary and I have no doubt they will. It's more important to win a game than win a fight, at least from my perspective. The Wings aren't soft.. they're just not goons and quite frankly I'm glad of that.

Heh, beer cans eh Rocket Queen?

Didn't know that was you, micah! Thought you died years ago.

Edited May 26, 2009 by Datsyerberger

[Headmanthepuck! 0]

What's the bet that all of this is forgoten when we get beaten a few times next regular season. People revert to the age old "wings are too soft" "omfg we need Downey!!!" etc

Why waste the physical play during the regular season and risk being injured? Stuart and Kromwell saved it for the playoffs and add Helm's hits to the mix and suddenly they are physcial enough to win the Cup.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

To be fair, it's not as bad this year as it was last year.

Last year Kronwall served the league notice- he'll hit you out of your f***in' skates if you don't keep your head up.

And of course Stuart absolutely brutalized Cindy Crosby, so he'll be watching out for that next week.

[Guest micah]

Are you a Red Wings fan? Do you crack beer cans across your head for fun?

Sometimes. I'm an idiot that way. I probably make more money than you do though, so how dumb can I be?

Declining an invitation to fight when fighting is unnecessary does not make them soft. Why take a penalty when its unnecessary?

Matching 5s? Why not? It's fun. Ever been in a hockeyfight? Good times. Your teammates like it, your fans go crazy...fun stuff.

It's more important to win a game than win a fight, at least from my perspective.

I'm sorry, did someone say that you have to choose between winning a hockeyfight and winning a hockey game?

The Wings aren't soft.. they're just not goons and quite frankly I'm glad of that.

Oh come on now. Lidstrom isn't soft? He's great but he's soft. Franzen? Maltby? Sammy? Draper? Soft soft soft.