Do you think we can win

[Jake Ryan 1]

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?

[GMRwings1983 8,799]

You don't think ninety-sux can be that banging forward?

I actually do think we can win in the regular season, but I'd like to see some more grit on the 3rd or 4th line in the playoffs. Bertuzzi is an X-factor, but with his history, I don't think he can be anywhere near the force he once was. Hopefully, Abelkalder will step us as a physical force or we can make a deadline acquisition. I actually want some more grit on defense, rather than forward.

It's just too bad we lost a forward who can "bang", as you put it, when Hudler left in this offseason. No one could "bang" like him.

[Number19 159]

They won in 08 with pretty much the same line-up. I don't see why not.

Hopefully Dats stays healthy this time.

[Jake Ryan 1]

You don't think ninety-sux can be that banging forward?

I actually do think we can win in the regular season, but I'd like to see some more grit on the 3rd or 4th line in the playoffs. Bertuzzi is an X-factor, but with his history, I don't think he can be anywhere near the force he once was. Hopefully, Abelkalder will step us as a physical force or we can make a deadline acquisition. I actually want some more grit on defense, rather than forward.

It's just too bad we lost a forward who can "bang", as you put it, when Hudler left in this offseason. No one could "bang" like him.

Ha. You really don't think Kronwall, Stuart, and E are enough for toughness at D? I was wondering if Rafalski might be a little too frail for the playoffs too. It's odd that he hasn't worked on getting his upper body up to Red Wings standards (See Lidstrom and Datsyuk's physiques), and he's the one that goes down with an upper body injury. You'd think that he would have done that over the course of his career, but he comes out at 175 pounds each and every year.

[GMRwings1983 8,799]

Ha. You really don't think Kronwall, Stuart, and E are enough for toughness at D? I was wondering if Rafalski might be a little too frail for the playoffs too. It's odd that he hasn't worked on getting his upper body up to Red Wings standards (See Lidstrom and Datsyuk's physiques), and he's the one that goes down with an upper body injury. You'd think that he would have done that over the course of his career, but he comes out at 175 pounds each and every year.

Kronwall and Stuart were terrible most of last season. They can be physical, but not as consistently as I'd like to see. Ericsson is by far our most physical force, but if he's paired with Lebda, a lot of that could be negated.

[Heaton 1]

Expecting the Wings to be a grind it out physical team for the first 60 games isn't realistic. It's too taxing on the players. The last 20 or so and the playoffs is where the physicality picks up.

As for the question: Yes.

[topsideplaya 0]

I don't think this current team is good enough to make it to the finals this year let alone win the cup. Here is what I think we are missing.

Top six forward

Bottom pairing stay at home defenseman

Physical 2-way 3rd line winger

This year we will be leaning too heavily on Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Franzen to do most of our scoring. I'd love to see the Wings get Frolov even though it's unlikely with our cap situation. Cheap player I'd also like to Wings try and acquire is Shane Hnidy. He would be a nice 6-7 defenseman and a definite upgrade over Meech. Abdelkader can be that banging 3rd line winger. My ideal team would look something like this......

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi

Frolov-Filppula-Franzen

Cleary-Abdelkader-Williams

Leino-Helm-Eaves

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Ericsson-Lebda/Hnidy

[Jake Ryan 1]

I don't think this current team is good enough to make it to the finals this year let alone win the cup. Here is what I think we are missing.

Top six forward

Bottom pairing stay at home defenseman

Physical 2-way 3rd line winger

This year we will be leaning too heavily on Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Franzen to do most of our scoring. I'd love to see the Wings get Frolov even though it's unlikely with our cap situation. Cheap player I'd also like to Wings try and acquire is Shane Hnidy. He would be a nice 6-7 defenseman and a definite upgrade over Meech. Abdelkader can be that banging 3rd line winger. My ideal team would look something like this......

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi

Frolov-Filppula-Franzen

Cleary-Abdelkader-Williams

Leino-Helm-Eaves

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Ericsson-Lebda/Hnidy

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

[RusDRW 155]

Absolutely yes. The critical part is Dats and Zeta staying healthy throughout play-offs.

[RusDRW 155]

Datsyuk - Helm - Bertuzzi

are you joking, right?

[AtomicPunk 296]

Thoughts?

My thought? You're an idiot. Tootoo?

[Carman 387]

Absolutely, with the experience gained for the young guys it should translate into a better defensive year.

[Vilmer 0]

We'll be fine

[Jake Ryan 1]

are you joking, right?

Not at all. I want to see how much better Datsyuk plays when he has someone open the ice up for him. Datsyuk and Hossa had to play short handed all last year because their line-mate was slow as molasses. I really want to see what happens when Datsyuk doesn't have a stick in his gut all game long because the team has to focus stopping the 2nd AND 3RD member of his line. I'd also like to see if Helm has a scoring touch. We've seen flashes of brilliance, but never any consistent streaks yet. But he's never gotten a chance to play. I hope he gets it. Why is it that the whole crowd at the Joe and me LOVE Helm, and noone on here does?

[Finnish Wing 110]

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

Still people putting Leino on the 4th line? And Abby in the 3rd over Leino. That's weird. Seems like this is some different Red Wings you're speaking of. Some Red Wings in other dimension with all the same players but different skills?

[VM1138 1,921]

Helm, Abdelkader, and from what I hear, Eaves, all like to bang people around. With a full season of them knocking everything that moves to get to the net, plus Bertuzzi, I'm not so sure having a physical forward is what we're missing right now.

There's a difference between a fighter and a physical player. We have physical players, just not a fighter.

[dat's sick 1,002]

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

I was going to say that topsideplaya's lines were the worst ever, but then you posted these right after and took the crown right away from him.

Leino shouldn't be on the 4th line, neither should Williams. Abdelkader ideally shouldn't play Wing, and Filppula damn sure shouldn't. Helm isn't a 1st line NHL center. Maybe one day if he keeps improving, but right now he's a 3rd or 4th line player. Tootoo?? Now I know you're a joke character.

That 3rd D-pairing would get destroyed. Kindl isn't good enough to play in the NHL. And if he was going to be on the Wings this year it would be insanity to put him next to Stuart. I'm sure you would want McCollum to be our starting goalie too, right?

[BeeRYCE 2]

If Bertuzzi plays decent, Ville Leino has a season like they're hoping, and Filppula does his job as a top forward well... All that along with Dats, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Franzen, Rafalski, and Osgood all having good season, we'll have a shot. It might seem like that's asking for a lot, but really it isn't.

[Lancz 0]

I throw up a little in my mouth whenever someone mentions tutu playing for the Wings.

[MadMan Mark 0]

A lot of "ifs". . . Wings are going to be fine. We have yet to put a true team on the ice in the preseason. Babs said it best when he gets a full week of practice and exhibition before the Sweden games, they WILL be ready.

Tootoo? I hope never!

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

It's odd that he hasn't worked on getting his upper body up to Red Wings standards (See Lidstrom and Datsyuk's physiques), and he's the one that goes down with an upper body injury.

He hurt his back getting out of his car; it was a freak injury.

And frankly I don't know what you're talking about in regards to "not keeping his upper body up to Red Wings standards" anyhow.

[Guest micah]

Yes, this wings team can win,. They aren't likely to win the Cup, but they'll be among the best teams in the league.

Yes, I'd love to have Tootoo on the Wings.

[Jake Ryan 1]

I was going to say that topsideplaya's lines were the worst ever, but then you posted these right after and took the crown right away from him.

Leino shouldn't be on the 4th line, neither should Williams. Abdelkader ideally shouldn't play Wing, and Filppula damn sure shouldn't. Helm isn't a 1st line NHL center. Maybe one day if he keeps improving, but right now he's a 3rd or 4th line player. Tootoo?? Now I know you're a joke character.

That 3rd D-pairing would get destroyed. Kindl isn't good enough to play in the NHL. And if he was going to be on the Wings this year it would be insanity to put him next to Stuart. I'm sure you would want McCollum to be our starting goalie too, right?

Yah, I should have clarified. Those forward lines aren't in order. By no means do I think the playing time should be 20 mins, 15 mins, 10 mins, 5 mins or something like that for the descending lines. I think those lines are very well balanced for a rolling 5 on 5 type of play. That was what I was gunning for. Not a knock on Leino or any of the other players.

[Jake Ryan 1]

He hurt his back getting out of his car; it was a freak injury.

And frankly I don't know what you're talking about in regards to "not keeping his upper body up to Red Wings standards" anyhow.

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).

[topsideplaya 0]

I was going to say that topsideplaya's lines were the worst ever, but then you posted these right after and took the crown right away from him.

Leino shouldn't be on the 4th line, neither should Williams. Abdelkader ideally shouldn't play Wing, and Filppula damn sure shouldn't. Helm isn't a 1st line NHL center. Maybe one day if he keeps improving, but right now he's a 3rd or 4th line player. Tootoo?? Now I know you're a joke character.

That 3rd D-pairing would get destroyed. Kindl isn't good enough to play in the NHL. And if he was going to be on the Wings this year it would be insanity to put him next to Stuart. I'm sure you would want McCollum to be our starting goalie too, right?

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