Do you think we can win

[dat's sick 1,002]

How are my lines the worst ever? All four lines have scoring and solid defense. Not one line would be a weak spot. T\

For one they're completely unrealistic. No Maltby, Draper or Homer? Sorry man, no matter how much you don't like it, they're all going to be on the team this year. Maltby might split time with Eaves though.

Then you have Leino on the 4th line, which would be a waste of talent and waste of his chemistry with Fil.

But those lines work great in NHL10, I'll give you that.

[topsideplaya 0]

For one they're completely unrealistic. No Maltby, Draper or Homer? Sorry man, no matter how much you don't like it, they're all going to be on the team this year. Maltby might split time with Eaves though.

Then you have Leino on the 4th line, which would be a waste of talent and waste of his chemistry with Fil.

But those lines work great in NHL10, I'll give you that.

Well duh that is what I was going for lol

[Buppy 1,720]

Of course we can we win with this roster.

We won with a similar roster two seasons ago, and came within a bad break or two less from doing it again last year.

And for those on the grit/toughness/fighting wagon...just face it, the Wing's skill-first management philosophy isn't going to change as long as it is so successful. Start rooting for the Wings to miss the playoffs. Maybe then you'd see us emphasizing a different type of player. Of course, our scouting and development staff might not be as good at that as they are at finding the skilled players.

[waitahochiminute 2]

I don't think we can win with what we currently have. I think the Wings are missing one piece, and that's another forward who can bang. I'm not sold on Bertuzzi being that guy, so I'd like to see a midseason deal for the likes of a player like (it pains me to say this) Tootoo.

Thoughts?

Tootoo just does not fit in this offense to me. The defense supplies the physical aspect of this game IMO. It's a smart possesion minded offensive attack that requires hockey sense and two way players. This team (the current lineup of the red wings) is projected to finish no worse than 4th overall in the West in just about every review magazine and every website ive read up on. What is wrong with that? I think it's obvious that the good ole days of winning presidents cups and 50+ win seasons are coming to an end. The only thing that could stop the red wings this year from being a power house and finishing high if not on top in the west is there mind set & health. The talent is there...proven and unproven talent. If we need anything on the offensive side of things its chemistry and desperation.

Honestly, how could anyone automatically think without seeing this lineup play a regular season game that we need something or will need something. We have young guys coming up that are worth being excited about and a couple prime aged guys trying to get there game back. What more could you want as a viewer? Do we not trust our players or the decisions that were made in the off season and free agent signing? Im 100% satisfied with what we currently have and think it's pretty darn incredible that we were able to keep as much as we did. Let the season progress and view the stats as they happen and then talk about trading for a mediocre player that wont contribute anything

[Jake Ryan 1]

Tootoo just does not fit in this offense to me. The defense supplies the physical aspect of this game IMO. It's a smart possesion minded offensive attack that requires hockey sense and two way players. This team (the current lineup of the red wings) is projected to finish no worse than 4th overall in the West in just about every review magazine and every website ive read up on. What is wrong with that? I think it's obvious that the good ole days of winning presidents cups and 50+ win seasons are coming to an end. The only thing that could stop the red wings this year from being a power house and finishing high if not on top in the west is there mind set & health. The talent is there...proven and unproven talent. If we need anything on the offensive side of things its chemistry and desperation.

Honestly, how could anyone automatically think without seeing this lineup play a regular season game that we need something or will need something. We have young guys coming up that are worth being excited about and a couple prime aged guys trying to get there game back. What more could you want as a viewer? Do we not trust our players or the decisions that were made in the off season and free agent signing? Im 100% satisfied with what we currently have and think it's pretty darn incredible that we were able to keep as much as we did. Let the season progress and view the stats as they happen and then talk about trading for a mediocre player that wont contribute anything

Good points. I just worry about the playoffs. I know this team is going to be alright no matter what during the regular season. I just want to see a little bit more toughness added come playoff time. Maltby, Draper, and Holmstrom do NOT provide this.

[waitahochiminute 2]

Good points. I just worry about the playoffs. I know this team is going to be alright no matter what during the regular season. I just want to see a little bit more toughness added come playoff time. Maltby, Draper, and Holmstrom do NOT provide this.

Helm, Abdelkader & Eaves

besides a short temper & some more experience I can't see what else Tootoo would offer that those 3 players can't

[RedWingsRox 614]

I'm not sure if we can win with this group. I have no problems with forwards and defencemen. I've got a bad feeling about the outshoot the opponent by a wide margin SOG 45-19 and cross your fingers that no more than 3 goes in our net strategy. In the words of Babcock, we don't have a backup that can win us 25 games. I think the deficiency in goal will really show itself this year. Last year Conk helped us out a lot but Howard? Cloutier? Larson?

Edited September 24, 2009 by RedWingsRox

[waitahochiminute 2]

I'm not sure if we can win with this group. I have no problems with forwards and defencemen. I've got a bad feeling about the outshoot the opponent by a wide margin SOG 45-19 and cross your fingers that no more than 3 goes in our net strategy. In the words of Babcock, we don't have a backup that can win us 25 games. I think the deficiency in goal will really show itself this year. Last year Conk helped us out a lot but Howard? Cloutier? Larson?

I agree, the one spot on this team that gets to me is the backup situation. It can either work out great or poop the bed IMO. I personally would like to see Larsson eventually...but this is another topic.

[Broken 16 381]

I don't think we can win with what we currently have. I think the Wings are missing one piece, and that's another forward who can bang. I'm not sold on Bertuzzi being that guy, so I'd like to see a midseason deal for the likes of a player like (it pains me to say this) Tootoo.

Thoughts?

I have a few thoughts.

Shoehorning a player into the roster just because he is tough is dumb.

I think our chances are better this year than they were last year. I think our lineup is much more balanced than a lot of you seem to realize.

They are pissed.

Larsson is going to somehow emerge and be the next Brodeur. (wouldn't that be sweet?)

We don't need another "banger"... if anything, we need a big, huge shot blocker.

Last season the Wings overcame every obstacle except utter exhaustion and have only lost Hossa, Hudler and Sammy. Sammy has been upgraded, in my opinion, with Williams. Hudler has been upgraded (maybe not upside wise, but 'right now' wise) with Bertuzzi. Hudler all but disappeared after the Brown hit... Brown nor anyone else is gonna catch Bert like that. You can't really replace a player like Hossa, but he wasn't really a key element in the playoffs anyway. He played solid... but not great by any means. I don't think the Wings offense is going to miss him too much.

I noticed you managed to threadjack your own thread with a slewfoot dig on Homer.

Tootoo is a clown.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Seems like I'm not alone in thinking that the Wings need a forward who can bang on the 2nd and 3rd lines. I'd like to see Tootoo aquired late in the season.

Datsyuk - Helm - Bertuzzi

Cleary - Zetterberg - Filppula

Abdelkader - Draper - Tootoo

Leino - Williams - Eaves

Lidstrom - Kronwall

Rafalski - Ericsson

Stuart - Kindl

Not that I agree with your lines, but you forgot Franzen.

[jollymania 162]

Tootoo should just make a cheapshot on some one like crosby that will get his cheap ass banned finally.

[topsideplaya 0]

Free agents out there that might help this team are Kyle Mclaren and Manny Fernandez. Mclaren can be that 6-7th shot blocking, hard hitting, big defenseman I think this team could use since it looks like Lilja won't be playing this season. Manny has been a solid goaltender and as a backup would be ideal for a year.

[esteef 2,679]

Tootoo is a clown.

/Thread

[Buppy 1,720]

Not that I agree with your lines, but you forgot Franzen.

Maybe that's who he traded for Tootsie

[BeeRYCE 2]

Maybe that's who he traded for Tootsie

I would boycott Holland forever...

[HD30 6]

I think I learned from last season that it's not a matter of "can" the wings win it, but more of wanting to.

[Louisville 112]

Seems like I'm not alone in thinking that the Wings need a forward who can bang on the 2nd and 3rd lines. I'd like to see Tootoo aquired late in the season.

Datsyuk - Helm - Bertuzzi

Cleary - Zetterberg - Filppula

Abdelkader - Draper - Tootoo

Leino - Williams - Eaves

Lidstrom - Kronwall

Rafalski - Ericsson

Stuart - Kindl

That is funny funny stuff.

[Jake Ryan 1]

Not that I agree with your lines, but you forgot Franzen.

I can't believe that!!!

Damn, we are deep!

[cjm502 165]

We have enough toughness, Hossa, Sammy, and Hudler are out. Kopecky was never really effective at being "tough". New to our roster are Helm, Eaves, Bertuzzi, Ericsson, Williams, and Leino. I expect Abby to play a few games for us this year.

We gained some grit this offseason, the majority of player we picked up are physical guys. Maybe not fighters, but they are "physical" nonetheless.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

We have enough toughness, Hossa, Sammy, and Hudler are out. Kopecky was never really effective at being "tough". New to our roster are Helm, Eaves, Bertuzzi, Ericsson, Williams, and Leino. I expect Abby to play a few games for us this year.

We gained some grit this offseason, the majority of player we picked up are physical guys. Maybe not fighters, but they are "physical" nonetheless.

The only ones you mentioned with grit are Helm, Abby, Bertuzzi and Ericsson. Three of of those guys were already on the roster. Thus we only picked up Bertuzzi.

I think a move still needs to be made before the deadline. Doesn't look like anything will be made now.

[Casey 145]

There are couple pictures of Lidstrom and Datsyuk without their shirts on floating around out there. Those two guys are RIPPED. Probably why they are so durable (Datsyuk's broken foot, aside).

Any ideas on where for Datsyuk? My wife's a huge Dats fan.

[RedWingsRox 614]

Wow, everyone is just talking about the forwards. We definitely have the best corps out there, I'd put our group with any other group out there including the remade San Jose Sharks. We have 3 if not 4 lines that can score.

BUT ... no one else think that our biggest problem next year is depth in goal?

[puckbags 863]

I can't believe that!!!

Damn, we are deep!

I dont take any of your threads seriously anyways but to forget The Mule? Cmon..most of the time you sound like a fair weather ass hat and now I'm totally convinced.

And to answer your question..yes we can win and until its proven other wise we are going to win the cup !!

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Yes.

[Jake Ryan 1]

I dont take any of your threads seriously anyways but to forget The Mule? Cmon..most of the time you sound like a fair weather ass hat and now I'm totally convinced.

And to answer your question..yes we can win and until its proven other wise we are going to win the cup !!

I agree with you 100% on me being an asshat for forgetting about Franzen. He's the best ***** player on the team in the playoffs, and I don't even pencil him into the starting line-up. Total Fail there.