dobbles 252 Report post Posted August 6, 2009 I've been saying this since mid-June. People act like this last year was a failure because we lost when I'd say if anything, we were probably more successful this year than last proportionally. Last year we had no excuse to lose because we were fairly healthy. This year we had so many reasons why we should've lost with all the critical injuries we had and the rough defense and we still took it to game 7 and lost by a goal. Again, considering all of our injuries to top players, that's unbelievable. Last year was anything but a failure. We just didn't have any luck in terms of injuries. i think the biggest difference was earlier round opponents. in the 08 run, the wings got the avalanche that forgot to show up to the 2nd round. they got a pretty easy series that allowed them to rest up and stay healthy. this year, the penguins got the hurricanes who totally ran out of gas after game 7 against the bruins. while we had a relatively easy opponent in the conf finals, i think the penguins ability to pretty much coast through that 3rd round helped give them the edge needed to win. the sad thing is that we are tied with pit. for most playoff wins in the last 2 seasons with 31... yet people are acting like we are the coyotes or something... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcom007 1,465 Report post Posted August 6, 2009 i think the biggest difference was earlier round opponents. in the 08 run, the wings got the avalanche that forgot to show up to the 2nd round. they got a pretty easy series that allowed them to rest up and stay healthy. this year, the penguins got the hurricanes who totally ran out of gas after game 7 against the bruins. while we had a relatively easy opponent in the conf finals, i think the penguins ability to pretty much coast through that 3rd round helped give them the edge needed to win. the sad thing is that we are tied with pit. for most playoff wins in the last 2 seasons with 31... yet people are acting like we are the coyotes or something... True. What also annoys me though is that I often times and called a pessimist and a "doom and gloomer" for saying that I don't think the Wings are going to be a lock for the finals like they were the last couple years. So many here have opinions that run all over the place because there's little to no logical basis to support them. It's all about hype and extremes. We're either screwed or the best, we win the Cup in sweeping, glorious fashion or utterly and completely fail. In reality, all such analysis is pretty off-based and subjective. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slave 31 Report post Posted August 6, 2009 True. What also annoys me though is that I often times and called a pessimist and a "doom and gloomer" for saying that I don't think the Wings are going to be a lock for the finals like they were the last couple years. So many here have opinions that run all over the place because there's little to no logical basis to support them. It's all about hype and extremes. We're either screwed or the best, we win the Cup in sweeping, glorious fashion or utterly and completely fail. In reality, all such analysis is pretty off-based and subjective. i think the pens only have 30 wins in the last 2 seasons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted August 6, 2009 i think the pens only have 30 wins in the last 2 seasons. Yeah in the playoffs. 14 wins in 2008 and 16 wins in 2009. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Donaldjr2448 43 Report post Posted August 6, 2009 The Jason Williams deal has got me thinking that this was a last resort kind of thing! Holland did not want to wait on Grier who wanted to wait until September to decide where he wanted to go! I think that is fair on Hollands part because he wants to make sure the player can hack it on this team! Am I happy about Williams?? HELL NO!! I didn't like him when he was here the first time and I was excited when Williams was traded! I for one was not happy about Hossa last year, I think he is a bit overrated and I was never a big fan of his, but we gave it a shot lastyear and it almost worked out. That being said, I have followed this team since 1984 and I have the all the confidence in the world that we will defend the Western Conference Title again for the 3rd striaght time. There are no other teams in the west that can roll 3 consistant lines like we can. Ozzie will be good as well, and our D is deep, again, there is no other team in the west that can roll out 3 defensive pairs like the Wings! It all comes down to the playoffs, and since Hossa only netted 6 goals in the show, I fully believe anyone that is worth 7 million needs to do more and we all knew he was a playoff ghost! I thought Hossa was a bust and he proved me right. So if Williams nets 7 goals in the playoffs they we just saved 5.5 million. I have always believed in this team even during the crappy years and a signing of a guy who I am not happy about is not going to make me jump ship!! This just shows how many of you are real bandwagon fans, I understand you all have opinions, but have some confidence in the team and the organization and especially Kenny Holland! Remember it is only a 1 year deal and that is a big plus at the trade deadline, JW will net 20 goals this year and that will help at the deadline!! WE WILL BE IN THE FINALS AGAIN THIS YEAR!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manoir 70 Report post Posted August 6, 2009 I completely agree with that, including your lines. And I did not even mention our real strength making us a Cup contender - our defenseman. Lids, Rafalski, Stuart, Kronwall, Ericsson are now best top-5 defs in this league. We're going to be good. Very good in the upcoming season. Lidstrom and Rafalski are going to be 40 and 37 years old respectively by the time the playoffs roll around next year. That "strength" could turn out to be a major weakness pretty quickly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 The Jason Williams deal has got me thinking that this was a last resort kind of thing! Holland did not want to wait on Grier who wanted to wait until September to decide where he wanted to go! I think that is fair on Hollands part because he wants to make sure the player can hack it on this team! Am I happy about Williams?? HELL NO!! I didn't like him when he was here the first time and I was excited when Williams was traded! I for one was not happy about Hossa last year, I think he is a bit overrated and I was never a big fan of his, but we gave it a shot lastyear and it almost worked out. That being said, I have followed this team since 1984 and I have the all the confidence in the world that we will defend the Western Conference Title again for the 3rd striaght time. There are no other teams in the west that can roll 3 consistant lines like we can. Ozzie will be good as well, and our D is deep, again, there is no other team in the west that can roll out 3 defensive pairs like the Wings! It all comes down to the playoffs, and since Hossa only netted 6 goals in the show, I fully believe anyone that is worth 7 million needs to do more and we all knew he was a playoff ghost! I thought Hossa was a bust and he proved me right. So if Williams nets 7 goals in the playoffs they we just saved 5.5 million. I have always believed in this team even during the crappy years and a signing of a guy who I am not happy about is not going to make me jump ship!! This just shows how many of you are real bandwagon fans, I understand you all have opinions, but have some confidence in the team and the organization and especially Kenny Holland! Remember it is only a 1 year deal and that is a big plus at the trade deadline, JW will net 20 goals this year and that will help at the deadline!! WE WILL BE IN THE FINALS AGAIN THIS YEAR!!!! I agree. I heard someone say they'd sell their season tickets if they signed Williams. Of course that guy was exaggerating, but it still shocked me. I've liked every single player on the Wings, despite my frustration with some I've always supported them. However, I hate Williams at this point. The guy is a prima donna without a reason to be, it seems. I also have a feeling he may cause a problem in the locker room this year. But I will always bleed red and white, no matter what. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 Good players don't go through THREE teams in 2 seasons. Hossa. 3 in 2, and 4 in 3. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sixer 37 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 It would start with not signing Jason Williams. +1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted August 7, 2009 What an enormous bunch of bandwagoners. "Holland signed the wrong guy! He's a moron! We're going to suck this year!" Go away and root for some other team, then. Or do the proper thing and trust the GM who has given us a great team year after year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslionstigers 12 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 Man you guys are idiots. Past 10 years i love Ken Holland best GM in the world. Signs one person you don't like and now hes a dumbass and needs to be fired. Get real. Our teams fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lomekian 201 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 Well, not the signing I was looking for considering some of the other free agents, and more than I feel we should pay for williams, but he did ok for cbj, will get more points than sammy imho (not as solid defensively admittedly), and is a reasonable but disappointing signing. I guess He's there partly because Eaves was a risk signing, and apart from abde, not many of the griffins seem close to graduating this year...though I'd be happy with oulahan as 13th fwd. mostly just meh about it. He'll justify his price in points, and will be gone in a year when either our cap issues will be eased or the cap goes down...I guess the 1 year deal is why we got him and not some of the other ufas.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Crazy 201 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 Not Sure what to think about the Williams signing. I was never a big fan of his when he was with the Wings the first time. If they were going down memory lane I was hoping for Bert but I guess we have to trust Kenny. I am still concerned about the Ozzie/Howard combo. If Ozzie was to go down with an injury or play like he did at times last year can Howard win us a few???????? If Lilja is put on the LTIR I would hope they save some cap space for later in the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kronthewall55 14 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 jason williams no doubt will be someone who puts 20 goals in the net for the wings. look what chi town paid glass bones kopecky. this is a pretty good deal. and im not saying williams will be our next superstar, he is what he is. he will be here for a year, earn his money on production, and let us get by a year untill we are in a better cap situation. i feel the sad truth that everyone needs to come to realize is that you can't be the number 1 cup contender every year to be a long term successful hockey team in the cap world. some years you need to sit the free agency frenzy out and wait for the better hand. i have all faith in the one that is called holland. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 I love my team, I love what Holland has done with it over the years, but I just can't back him up on this one. I simply can't. He really bit the big one with this signing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 Roster will be fine. Jason Williams alone isn't going to make/break the team's season. The team is going to make the playoffs per usual. After that we shall see... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hockey23 79 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 The highest Jason Williams has managed in the last 4 years is 36 points. And 3 points in 24 playoff games. Guys who could achieve that and more: Pyatt, Comrie, Bertuzzi even Grier. Hell Im pretty sure an enforcer with even the biggest of cement hands could put up 3 points in the playoffs. He had 47 points last year. He may be soft, but he'll put up more points than a grinder. You could argue a grinder may do more for the team, but it wouldn't be on the scoresheet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 He had 50 points ONCE in his whole career. Good players don't go through THREE teams in 2 seasons. No one wants this guy. Did you guys watch the Wings before 2008? Do you remember how he played with the team? I sure as hell do. I mean, it was because of his lackluster play and s*** attitude that got his ass benched by Babs (which Willaims bitched about to the press later which pissed me off even more). This is also the guy who looked by far the worse player during the Edmonton series in 06. Have you all forgotten this? It was a godsend that we got rid of this nuisance when we did, and now we're just bringing him back? Ugh. Couldnt have said this any better. Awesome post. I still am in shock over this piece of sh!t signing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted August 7, 2009 Couldnt have said this any better. Awesome post. I still am in shock over this piece of sh!t signing. Great. Then go whine up a storm as usual and find another team to root for; clearly this one has inept management, right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 He had 47 points last year. He may be soft, but he'll put up more points than a grinder. You could argue a grinder may do more for the team, but it wouldn't be on the scoresheet. Why did we have to sign him though? If we merely want offense and dont care about him defensive liability, floater, wont touch anyone to save his mothers life, then why didnt we just let that Jeremy Williams kid play that we brought in from Toronto? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 Great. Then go whine up a storm as usual and find another team to root for; clearly this one has inept management, right? Another illogical post from a LGW poster. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted August 7, 2009 Another illogical post from a LGW poster. I fail to see the absence of reason in my post. Would you elaborate? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newfy 695 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 Another illogical post from a LGW poster. I second that. The way he said cheer for another team you would think the guy was talking about wanting a fighter or something. Geeze Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WingZNut13 99 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 I am a little effy about the Williams signing. I have faith in Holland but this one is pushing my faith. Maybe Holland believes Williams will work well in the system he has and can have a 45-65 point season. WHO KNOWS! What I do know is that I trust the front office and Holland and Babcock. I think the core of our team is solid. It just has the potential to crack.(like all teams do) Have faith in your team. ***** if you want to, but keep it off the boards unless it's a logical post. And by logic, I mean supporting your statement with some sort of facts. Not just you think Holland is a Moron! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted August 7, 2009 I fail to see the absence of reason in my post. Would you elaborate? There are actually many errors in reasoning in your post. No True Scotsman fallacy, fallacy to irrelevant conclusion to name a few. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
