Abdelkader

[jvxp 0]

Abdelkader fight.

[titanium2 867]

Agreed. I'd rather see our guys stand up for themselves and get bloodied than refuse to fight and instead opt to talk s*** when there's a Linesman next to him.

Of course, if you're the sort of guy who can't fight without getting injured (not the same as getting hurt), then I hope you just keep your mouth shut, skate back to the bench and focus on playing the game. There's no shame in having a frail body, being concussion prone or in having a glass jaw - just accept that you cannot be a tough guy, and don't talk or posture like a tough guy. If you're gonna talk, you better be ready to fight. That's really all I ask of any hockey player, toughness wise. Winning fights is nice, but there is plenty of honor in a hard fought loss too. There is honor in being the silent type, ala Sakic. Don't talk like a toughguy, just skate back to the bench and focus on the game. There is no honor in being a coward who likes to chirp but won't back it up.

What about Corey Perry? He talks and does the act and tries (...actually I'm not sure if that's the right word for it) to defend himself but looks like an idiot more often than not?

[Guest micah]

What about Corey Perry? He talks and does the act and tries (...actually I'm not sure if that's the right word for it) to defend himself but looks like an idiot more often than not?

No, Correy Perry is a mouthy coward. Way too much chirping for the ammount of fighting he does, plus the guys he fights are scrubs, aalmost without exception. I recall he fought Carcillo - with that lone exception, I don't think he's ever willingly gone with anyonewith any sort of rep.

Yeah, maybe I should like Perry....but I cannot and will not. Sorry. I really enjoy watching the Ducks, but I always kinda root for Kunitz and Perry to crash into eachother, both breaking their Femurs. Does that make me a bad person?

I like the way Lapperierre chirps. I don't like the way Maltby and Perry chirp.

[titanium2 867]

I always kinda root for Kunitz and Perry to crash into eachother, both breaking their Femurs.

My goodness that was brilliant. I seriously lol'd. If only Datsyuk had pulled one on them in 07 for both of them to break the hardest bone in the body.

I've heard worse. Femurs heal. Well, eventually. They'd live. Comments from St. Louis Blues Fans who wish they could bomb Joe Louis Arena seriously take the cake in terms of "bad person" comments.

[eva unit zero 271]

Man, if only we had drafted Guillaume Latendresse instead of Abdelkader in that spot like everyone on this board wanted!

/sarcasm

[pockets 9]

What about Corey Perry? He talks and does the act and tries (...actually I'm not sure if that's the right word for it) to defend himself but looks like an idiot more often than not?

my biggest beef with corey is he chrips and then he wont take his damn visor off

[WingsNick5 0]

my biggest beef with corey is he chrips and then he wont take his damn visor off

He's a lot like Malts is now. In the old days--Malts would throw down, but he's too afraid now.

As far as Justin, he's got game when he wants or needs to. I can see him defending his team mates no problem. He's soft spoken and he's got an even temper and it takes a bit to rile him, but when he's riled, he can throw the punches pretty darn good. I think he'll work out nicely on the 3rd line.

Edited July 16, 2009 by WingsNick5

[irishtemper14+25 11]

the penalty.......

DEATH BY ABDELKATION!!!

[sputman 1,268]

He's a lot like Malts is now. In the old days--Malts would throw down, but he's too afraid now.

maltby never threw down, he'd just get into scrums and facewash. he's thrown a couple of gloved punches but that's all.

[mmamolo 287]

Personally I think ABdelkader will end up starting the season in GR. If he is on the main roster I can't see him being on the 4th line, it just doesnt make sense to have a guy like him playing such few minuntes. At the same time though I don't know how I'd feel about having Helm centre Leino and Abdelkader either. Obviously if he was to play on the third line we'd see some different line combinations. I think we'd see Leino get moved up to the second line and then maybe drop down a guy like Cleary to fit well on a line with Helm and Abdelkader. They would have speed, grit and some scoring ability.

[VM1138 1,921]

Personally I think ABdelkader will end up starting the season in GR. If he is on the main roster I can't see him being on the 4th line, it just doesnt make sense to have a guy like him playing such few minuntes. At the same time though I don't know how I'd feel about having Helm centre Leino and Abdelkader either. Obviously if he was to play on the third line we'd see some different line combinations. I think we'd see Leino get moved up to the second line and then maybe drop down a guy like Cleary to fit well on a line with Helm and Abdelkader. They would have speed, grit and some scoring ability.

A Cleary-Helm-Abdelkader line would be great.

I know everyone loves Abdelkader on here, but in all honesty, why is he too good to be ont he 4th line? Of all our Black Aces he has the lowest potential, so why is it so bad to give him some 4th line time to develop a bit more?

[mmamolo 287]

I agree. Personally Im a little surprised Abdelkader wouldn't be on the 4th line in some ways. I do think he'd be better served to spend the season in GR than play on the 4th line but it really all just depends on what Holland decides to do before the season begins. If he signs a 4th line grinder/pk guy and keeps Abdelkader then Abdelkader plays on the third line. If Holland signs someone like a Sykora or Bertuzzi or whoever and keeps Abdelkader then he plays on the 4th. Or Holland can sign two players and send ABdelkader down. Hell, He could even move Meech up to play forward for the time being. We'll see I guess

[LeftWinger 5,130]

A Cleary-Helm-Abdelkader line would be great.

I know everyone loves Abdelkader on here, but in all honesty, why is he too good to be ont he 4th line? Of all our Black Aces he has the lowest potential, so why is it so bad to give him some 4th line time to develop a bit more?

Here is why Abdelkaer will spend most of his time in GRR this year. RFA. After this season Justin will be a RFA and will NEED to be re-signed, for he is a huge part of our future. Now, with Hudlers departure upcoming, that only gives us 10 forwards on the roster, so we'd have to sign 2 or 3 UFA's (or bring up Oulahen for one of those spots.) Now, this is from a business stanpoint only, and I tend to believe that along with being a great GM, Holland is also a VERY saavy businessman. Lets say Abdelkader comes up and contributes more than expected, lets say he plays as well as or even outplays Helm (who BTW is also an RFA in 2010 and will get a nice raise) then when it comes time to re-sign him he has to get a large raise compared to if he spends most the time in GRR, he would be cheaper on the CAP next year than id he spent the entire season in the NHL. You may even get hm re-signed for $1M or less if he spends most of his time in GRR, to where if he came up here, he could very well get over $1M and maybe bigger offers from other teams. Either way, you have to keep Helm and Abby in our organization, altough there is no avoiding Helms $1M plus raise this season, at least you can avoind Abby's for a couple two or three years if he stays in GRR this year...

...so without Hudler and Abby this year here is what we look like:

Cleary - Zetterberg - Datsyuk

Leino - Filppula - Franzen

Holmstrom - Helm - ???????

Maltby - Draper - ???????

??????? (Meech maybe)

a decision has to be made on Oulahen, if Holland re-signs him, he either gets a spot of has to clear waivers to play in GRR, if Holland doesn't re-sign him, we'll losr him with no compensation because he won't sign anywhere for enough money to get us a compesation pick, so, what do you do? (without Abdelkader we still have $2.5M roughly (before any defensman trades as well.))

Edited July 22, 2009 by LeftWinger

[NGKEIB 32]

He's a lot like Malts is now. In the old days--Malts would throw down, but he's too afraid now.

maltby never threw down, he'd just get into scrums and facewash. he's thrown a couple of gloved punches but that's all.

Yeah I was going to say... Maltby may start them, but he's never in them. His chirpy aspect hasn't changed, he just doesn't throw reckless big hits anymore.

Here is why Abdelkaer will spend most of his time in GRR this year. RFA. After this season Justin will be a RFA and will NEED to be re-signed, for he is a huge part of our future. Now, with Hudlers departure upcoming, that only gives us 10 forwards on the roster, so we'd have to sign 2 or 3 UFA's (or bring up Oulahen for one of those spots.) Now, this is from a business stanpoint only, and I tend to believe that along with being a great GM, Holland is also a VERY saavy businessman. Lets say Abdelkader comes up and contributes more than expected, lets say he plays as well as or even outplays Helm (who BTW is also an RFA in 2010 and will get a nice raise) then when it comes time to re-sign him he has to get a large raise compared to if he spends most the time in GRR, he would be cheaper on the CAP next year than id he spent the entire season in the NHL. You may even get hm re-signed for $1M or less if he spends most of his time in GRR, to where if he came up here, he could very well get over $1M and maybe bigger offers from other teams. Either way, you have to keep Helm and Abby in our organization, altough there is no avoiding Helms $1M plus raise this season, at least you can avoind Abby's for a couple two or three years if he stays in GRR this year...

...so without Hudler and Abby this year here is what we look like:

Cleary - Zetterberg - Datsyuk

Leino - Filppula - Franzen

Holmstrom - Helm - ???????

Maltby - Draper - ???????

??????? (Meech maybe)

a decision has to be made on Oulahen, if Holland re-signs him, he either gets a spot of has to clear waivers to play in GRR, if Holland doesn't re-sign him, we'll losr him with no compensation because he won't sign anywhere for enough money to get us a compesation pick, so, what do you do? (without Abdelkader we still have $2.5M roughly (before any defensman trades as well.))

Good points. I think that Abdelkader should be in GR. Oulahen and McGrath were just signed, so I imagine that they will come to camp. If Oulahen plays well, I don't see why he shouldn't make the team as a 4th line defensive specialist.

[NomadFromKazoo 42]

You may even get hm re-signed for $1M or less if he spends most of his time in GRR, to where if he came up here, he could very well get over $1M and maybe bigger offers from other teams. Either way, you have to keep Helm and Abby in our organization, altough there is no avoiding Helms $1M plus raise this season, at least you can avoind Abby's for a couple two or three years if he stays in GRR this year...

A "good business man" keep his players down so he can pay them less. Suuuuurrrrrrre. Let's go with that.

Abdelkader may spend most of the year in GR and I hope he does, so he can PLAY. If he's good enough to come to the Wings and play big minutes then he comes. If he's a part time 4th liner, part time bench warmer, part time healthy scratch in Detroit he's not in Detroit, he's in GR. THAT is the reason he'll probably be in GR most of the year. Not so Holland doesn't need to scrape up an extra mil to keep him and stay under the Cap next year.

[LeftWinger 5,130]

A "good business man" keep his players down so he can pay them less. Suuuuurrrrrrre. Let's go with that.

Abdelkader may spend most of the year in GR and I hope he does, so he can PLAY. If he's good enough to come to the Wings and play big minutes then he comes. If he's a part time 4th liner, part time bench warmer, part time healthy scratch in Detroit he's not in Detroit, he's in GR. THAT is the reason he'll probably be in GR most of the year. Not so Holland doesn't need to scrape up an extra mil to keep him and stay under the Cap next year.

that is why you sign him NOW before he has a chance to come up and have a career year.

Tell me, it doesn't make sense to re-sign him after a great year in the AHL rather than have to re-sign him after a great year in the NHL? If Justin has a great year in Detroit, he'll cost you more to re-sign him than if he has a great year in the AHL, he won;t cost you as much, if that is not good business, then you need to go be GM for the Hawks. You kill two birds with one stone by keeping him in GR. He gets quality 1st line playing time PLUS when you have to re-sign him (although he will get a raise) it won't cost you as much as it would if he had a great year playing on the third line in Detroit. I wouldn't be surprised if Holland gets Helm and Abby inked before they become RFA or possibly even before the season starts. Helm is already gonna get a nice increase in pay because if his great play in the playoffs the last two seasons, but he'll cost even more after this season if he has the year he is projected to have...

Edited July 23, 2009 by LeftWinger

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

He's a lot like Malts is now. In the old days--Malts would throw down, but he's too afraid now

He definately has no shortage of chirping, though.

[Stiffy 0]

Which is why Holland will probably sign a veteran grinder free agent and let Abs get 20 mins a night in Grand Rapids. His development will be much better served playing a season of 20 min games than a season of 6-8 min games.

I really don't understand this. I think scoring two SCF goals shows the kid is more than ready. If not, at least he showed us something plenty of others on the roster didn't. True, less ice time in the big leagues to start, but he can use that time to earn a higher spot - maybe? This is what bothered me about the Wings last season - a little too much resting on seniority and not enough based on merit. I'd like to see things a lot more open in terms of players being assigned ice time and lines based on *performance.* I can't think of anything more motivating to kids and the old timers alike than having to play for your job. I'm sorry, but players like Maltby, Draper and Holmstrom did little to impress last year and I think were given something of a pass. Homer had no business on top lines in the playoffs - he was not performing. I can't help but think back to Hudler who of all Wings had to prove himself to Babcock over and over a few years back - it was brutal, but the right thing to do.

So, is there a better way to balance all of this? Developing young players who are somewhere in the middle ground between GR and Detroit? I think there is, but if having a few years under your belt means your job is safe no matter what is the way we play, then it won't work.