edicius 3,269 Report post Posted September 9, 2009 http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20..._andreas_l.html Tears of JOY, man. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted September 9, 2009 A lot of that falls squarely on Osgood's shoulders. Osgood was flat-out awful on the PK last season.... with a save percentage of .852 on the PK. I do think Lilja was one of the many straws that alone could have put Detroit over the top. Not really, since our PK also sucked in the playoffs, when Ozzie was good. Thus, it can't all be on the goaltender, since he did improve his play. It was our s***ty defense that caused it in my opinion. The goals that we gave up in the playoffs on the PP were mostly shots from the point that Ozzie never saw. The PK unit did a poor job of blocking shots and covering the point. I blame it all on Hudler, even though he didn't play the PK. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted September 9, 2009 I fear that this may not be the case... Lebda is so cheap, that letting him go doesn't really make a difference salary cap-wise... He said he would never fight again, but I guess Kopecky doesn't count. But Koko has a few tricks up his sleeve, like the patented FaceBlockâ„¢ (where he blocks heavy punches with his face) and IcePossumâ„¢ (where he falls over so much that he spends half of his shifts lying on the ice). What I'm looking forward to is seeing Kronwall dish out a big hig - Havlat is gone, so he'll need to find someone else... Oh, and you heard it here first - Detroit wins and shuts out Chicago, but Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook combine for 5 assists. Can you say, Hossa? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casey 145 Report post Posted September 9, 2009 (edited) Should have been in the 5 Things thread. Edited September 9, 2009 by Casey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Inultus 12 Report post Posted September 9, 2009 they also told Randy 'The Ram' Robinson he'd never wrestle again Yeah, and Randy died because he didn't listen to the doctors. Lilja will too. If I was a doctor there is no way in hell I'd clear him. Just because he doesn't want to fight doesn't mean that some thug won't sucker punch him and then he's out for the season, if not dead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGKEIB 32 Report post Posted September 9, 2009 Can you say, Hossa? Well, unlike Havlat, Hossa isn't made of glass. And he's much bigger than Kronwall, but who knows? Maybe the Upstate New York Teamsters Union could bribe him to take out Kane By the way, re your signature, where does Douglas Murray fit in? I like how you deliberately didn't include Mikael Samuelsson there, just because it's so obvious there is no point in stating it. I seem to recall that during the playoffs someone posted a picture of him where he had tape around his gloves tightening them. Clearly an NHLPA directive forced Samuelsson to keep his gloves taped on, so that he didn't destroy someone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted September 10, 2009 Well, unlike Havlat, Hossa isn't made of glass. And he's much bigger than Kronwall, but who knows? Maybe the Upstate New York Teamsters Union could bribe him to take out Kane By the way, re your signature, where does Douglas Murray fit in? I like how you deliberately didn't include Mikael Samuelsson there, just because it's so obvious there is no point in stating it. I seem to recall that during the playoffs someone posted a picture of him where he had tape around his gloves tightening them. Clearly an NHLPA directive forced Samuelsson to keep his gloves taped on, so that he didn't destroy someone. Douglas Murray is a great hitter, but his pugilistic skills don't rank up there with Nystrom and Lilja. Sammy was afraid to fight anybody. He talked a mean game during scrums, but that was about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGKEIB 32 Report post Posted September 10, 2009 Douglas Murray is a great hitter, but his pugilistic skills don't rank up there with Nystrom and Lilja. Sammy was afraid to fight anybody. He talked a mean game during scrums, but that was about it. I hope you realised I was being sarcastic re Samuelsson... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Inultus 12 Report post Posted September 10, 2009 No offense guys but Lilja made a dirty play and got what he deserved. I don't want him on the team even if he could come back. Go back and watch the video of what happened before he got his ass handed to him by Weber. Also, he's not an enforcer by any means. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGKEIB 32 Report post Posted September 10, 2009 No offense guys but Lilja made a dirty play and got what he deserved. I don't want him on the team even if he could come back. Go back and watch the video of what happened before he got his ass handed to him by Weber. Also, he's not an enforcer by any means. Lilja threw a cheap shot! Let's get him out of here along with all of our other dirty players. Goodbye Maltby, Draper, Kronwall, Holmström, Stuart, Franzén etc. Why would you not want him back? Because he 'made a dirty play' and got beaten up? Are you forgetting what a good season he was having? He's been forced to play the enforcer a number of times because there is no one else, and with that considered, he hasn't done that badly... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Inultus 12 Report post Posted September 10, 2009 Why would you not want him back? Because he 'made a dirty play' and got beaten up? Are you forgetting what a good season he was having? He was having a good season for Lilja. He was not having a "good" season in the sense that he's a good defenseman. Look at his stats. All he was good at was taking penalties. I will give him this, he was good at blocking shots, but that was mostly because he was the biggest defenseman on the team. I don't want him back because he took stupid penalties and made stupid decisions with the puck at the worst possible times. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casey 145 Report post Posted September 10, 2009 He was having a good season for Lilja. He was not having a "good" season in the sense that he's a good defenseman. Look at his stats. All he was good at was taking penalties. I will give him this, he was good at blocking shots, but that was mostly because he was the biggest defenseman on the team. I don't want him back because he took stupid penalties and made stupid decisions with the puck at the worst possible times. 13 points in 60 games, after 12 in 79 the year before, projecting for 17. That's a 30% increase in production, pretty nice. He was on pace for a 7% drop in PIM during that span, from 93 to 87. Also nice. 133rd in points, though his projected stats would have had him 108th, above the likes of Brad Stuart. 52nd in penalty minutes, 22nd if projected. Still some heavy names in front of him- Chara, Kubina, Phaneuf. Stupid decisions, sure. They all do on occasion. The advancement he made in reducing those means I'd welcome him with open arms. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGKEIB 32 Report post Posted September 10, 2009 He was having a good season for Lilja. He was not having a "good" season in the sense that he's a good defenseman. Look at his stats. All he was good at was taking penalties. I will give him this, he was good at blocking shots, but that was mostly because he was the biggest defenseman on the team. I don't want him back because he took stupid penalties and made stupid decisions with the puck at the worst possible times. I would have agreed with everything you said about Lilja if you weren't referring to last season. He was one of our better, and certainly one of the most consistent defensemen. Kronwall and Stuart weren't clicking, and if you accuse Lilja of making dumb decisions with the puck, look at how many times Rafalski gave it away in front of the net. Who would you rather have? Lebda? Meech? I certainly would like him back, but I think that he'll be on the LTIR list (which isn't a bad thing, considering our cap situation). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGKEIB 32 Report post Posted September 10, 2009 Lilja's stats for 2008-9: 60 2 11 13 13 66 Stuart's stats for 2008-9: 67 2 13 15 -3 26 He also had a better plus-minus than Kronwall and Lebda. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGKEIB 32 Report post Posted September 10, 2009 Lilja had 66 PIM, including 3 fighting majors. Kronwall had 50 PIM, including 0 fighting majors. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Inultus 12 Report post Posted September 10, 2009 I would have agreed with everything you said about Lilja if you weren't referring to last season. He was one of our better, and certainly one of the most consistent defensemen. Kronwall and Stuart weren't clicking, and if you accuse Lilja of making dumb decisions with the puck, look at how many times Rafalski gave it away in front of the net. Who would you rather have? Lebda? Meech? Let me clarify by saying that I don't want him back *in his current condition*. Him being unable to fight or sacrifice his body in front of the puck or another player makes him essentially worthless to me. His physicality was one of his biggest assets and he himself said that he can no longer fight, which certainly means he wouldn't hit as hard and he would think twice about laying down to block a shot. I agree, Stuart isn't that great either. Rafalski did make some really bad decisions but he also came through in the clutch many times. He's an offensive defenseman so I give him more leeway. I'm not saying we have someone better on our roster, I was just saying that a frail and fearful Lilja is not much use. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGKEIB 32 Report post Posted September 11, 2009 Let me clarify by saying that I don't want him back *in his current condition*. Him being unable to fight or sacrifice his body in front of the puck or another player makes him essentially worthless to me. His physicality was one of his biggest assets and he himself said that he can no longer fight, which certainly means he wouldn't hit as hard and he would think twice about laying down to block a shot. I agree, Stuart isn't that great either. Rafalski did make some really bad decisions but he also came through in the clutch many times. He's an offensive defenseman so I give him more leeway. I'm not saying we have someone better on our roster, I was just saying that a frail and fearful Lilja is not much use. The way you put it here I agree with. Didn't Stuart have to take a year out to injury? I wouldn't midn seeing Lilja doing the same. LTIR for the whole year, to give us cap space, and to make sure that he recovers fully. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icesurfer 75 Report post Posted September 11, 2009 Can the Wings keep him on LTIR all year even if he is cleared to play and says he is ready and wants to play??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
