The solution to our problems...

[Guest blueadams]

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary

...for the love of god, please, put these three out on the ice together. they were unstoppable at the end of last season. put them out there together, again, and they will produce! (i promise!).

Leino-Filppula-Williams

...this has been our best line thus far this season, might as well keep it together as our second. it sort of bugs me to have such a small line out there, but whatever i guess, as long as they keep producing.

Abdelkader/Eaves-Helm-Bertuzzi

...this could be an exciting line. some speed, some bang, some scoring, some youth. if we decide to groom abby a bit longer in gr, go with eaves. here and now though, id prefer abby.

Maltby/May-Draper-Holmstrom

...homer just can't play 5on5 hockey anymore, sadly. hes going to retire a legacy after the season. cant roll this line too often, but u gotta have a place for the specialists.

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Ericsson-Kindl

...give the kid kindl a shot. what do you have to lose!? at the very least, it will push lebda and meech. he could be as ready right now as ericsson was last season!?

Osgood

TRADE

...must trade for a decent backup. put some pressure on ozzie. get him to re-focus. i've got no problem giving up any of the following: howard, lebda, meech. dont take on any long term contracts though...we're signing a sick goalie after this season (like we tried to do with cujoe!).

[b.shanafan14 733]

There are already like 4 of these threads....

[anthonyn66 89]

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary

...for the love of god, please, put these three out on the ice together. they were unstoppable at the end of last season. put them out there together, again, and they will produce! (i promise!).

Leino-Filppula-Williams

...this has been our best line thus far this season, might as well keep it together as our second. it sort of bugs me to have such a small line out there, but whatever i guess, as long as they keep producing.

Abdelkader/Eaves-Helm-Bertuzzi

...this could be an exciting line. some speed, some bang, some scoring, some youth. if we decide to groom abby a bit longer in gr, go with eaves. here and now though, id prefer abby.

Maltby/May-Draper-Holmstrom

...homer just can't play 5on5 hockey anymore, sadly. hes going to retire a legacy after the season. cant roll this line too often, but u gotta have a place for the specialists.

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Ericsson-Kindl

...give the kid kindl a shot. what do you have to lose!? at the very least, it will push lebda and meech. he could be as ready right now as ericsson was last season!?

Osgood

TRADE

...must trade for a decent backup. put some pressure on ozzie. get him to re-focus. i've got no problem giving up any of the following: howard, lebda, meech. dont take on any long term contracts though...we're signing a sick goalie after this season (like we tried to do with cujoe!).

I agree for the most part, however, the goalie we get in return won't really be an improvement over Howard.

Lebda (Horrible) + Meech (not much better) + Howard (We'll see after tonight's game)

who would we get that is a decent backup?

Edited October 24, 2009 by anthonyn66

[Guest Lidstromboli]

travis moen

[Dertz.LoL! 0]

who would we get that is a decent backup?

I still think that Manny Legace is a better option than Howard.

[Buppy 1,720]

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary

...for the love of god, please, put these three out on the ice together. they were unstoppable at the end of last season. put them out there together, again, and they will produce! (i promise!).

....

While I agree that would be a very good line, they were never a 'regular' line last season, unless you count the last three games of the Finals...in which they were, in fact, quite stoppable.

As for the rest of your post, I can't agree that any of it would solve our problems, though I wouldn't think it would hurt either.

[Doc Holiday 0]

I still think that Manny Legace is a better option than Howard.

Bingo.

He is money in the regular season, and since Osgood will be the one with the playoff duties, there is no worry about Legace choking in the post-season.

[Winged_Wheeler 3]

Lets fire Mike Babble on Cock.

[gcom007 1,465]

We haven't given Howard enough of a chance yet. I've been as critical and questioning of him as anyone, but he needs more NHL games as the Wings backup before we really get an idea of whether or not he's going to be able to get it done.

I don't think Osgood needs to refocus. I think he's looked pretty good so far; certainly MUCH better than last year. He's let in some crap goals, but every goalie does time and again. He's also played great despite the floundering defense quite often. Again, people can piss and moan about that Phoenix game all they want, but Osgood was the only reason we didn't lose in regulation. The rest of the team wasn't doing anything. If Osgood gets some help, he'll be top 5 in the league for just about all goalie stats by mid-season.

I actually wouldn't mind giving Kindl a few games. I don't think he's going to do much better than Lebda or Meech, but I don't necessarily think he'd be much worse and perhaps it'd motivate Leech or Lebda to pick it up. At the end of the day though, I really think we just need Lilja back. I also think we'll likely need to make a trade as well at some point. If we don't get Lilja back, we MUST make a trade to strengthen the D.

I'm not worried about offense down the stretch. We'll be fine there especially once Franzen is back. I think Williams will continue to improve and contribute there as well.

Again, it's nearly the same as last year, the biggest concern is the D. If we don't get that straightened out, we won't get very far. Dats and Z will get going and that'll help a lot and despite what the usual suspects say, Osgood's really been pretty good this year, so it really boils down to the D.

[DMAC 25 18]

Lets fire Mike Babble on Cock.

yea lets fire the guy who took us to two finals appearances in a row. i'm sure kenny could get dave lewis back for u

[BruiseBrother 2]

I like the Legace idea.

Manny=regular seaon, Ozzie=playoffs.

What about Fernandez, is he an option?

[gcom007 1,465]

Bingo.

He is money in the regular season, and since Osgood will be the one with the playoff duties, there is no worry about Legace choking in the post-season.

To be completely honest, at this point I think the bigger issue with Legace is that he has a disruptive personality. To be frank, the guy's a headcase. His emotions have a stranglehold on his decision-making process and behavior and even as a backup, I just don't think it's worth bringing that into the room.

You know he's going to be shooting to start because he has that "drive" which tends to translate to him burying his head and talking about hanging himself. Legace doesn't respect his role. He doesn't like to think of himself as a backup despite the fact that that's all he's ever proven himself capable of being. If you don't manage your expectations reasonably by being honest with yourself, you're setting yourself for a lot of disappointments and issues.

Conklin worked hard and won a lot of games but kept his mouth shut and respected his role. That was why Conklin was really the perfect backup. You didn't get the sense that he was obsessed with the idea of becoming the starter. He knew he was the backup and he respected that role. He did his best to achieve in the role, but you never heard any extra chirping when the media constantly was asking questions and you didn't hear a peep from him when Osgood got the nod to start despite regular season stats.

Conklin epitomizes what it means to be a professional. Legace is quite simply unprofessional.

Again, we've got to give Howard more of a chance to see what he really can do. If he doesn't work out, Holland will pull something off no doubt, but don't expect it to be Legace. I think, or at least I hope to the heavens, that Holland has more sense than that.

[Stiffy 0]

There are already like 4 of these threads....

I think you forgot to add two zeros to your 4! :-)

I'd love to get Manny back. If we did, I bet he would hold autograph sessions where instead of signing jerseys fans can hug him and sob together then talk about their feelings and stuff. That would be so cool. We need a goalie who isn't afraid to explore his emotions in public!

Edited October 25, 2009 by Stiffy

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I still think that Manny Legace is a better option than Howard.

Umm, no thanks.

Legace can't even get a backup job in the NHL these days, as a healthy veteran goaltender.

[thedisappearer 291]

Lets fire Mike Babble on Cock.

I hope this is just a sarcasm failure here.

[Guest blueadams]

i was referring to pav-hank-clears in the finals...and they were unstoppable!!

ure crazy!

[Hack & Whack Rule! 160]

Hmmm...I thought this thread was going to be about us, as fans, having faith in the players and staff of the Red Wings organization. Sure, they haven't had an auspicious start to the year, but it's not the first time. I think that's the solution to our problems. Let them work it out the way they do. If there is anybody on this forum that thinks they can see issues with this team that the coaching staff, with the possible exception of McCrimmon, doesn't see, then that is one delusional fan.

All I'm saying, is give them some time. There's a lot of fresh faces this year. They are trying to find their spot, trying to gel with their linemates. It's a waiting game, people. Have faith...I do.

[Stiffy 0]

Hmmm...I thought this thread was going to be about us, as fans, having faith in the players and staff of the Red Wings organization. Sure, they haven't had an auspicious start to the year, but it's not the first time. I think that's the solution to our problems. Let them work it out the way they do. If there is anybody on this forum that thinks they can see issues with this team that the coaching staff, with the possible exception of McCrimmon, doesn't see, then that is one delusional fan.

All I'm saying, is give them some time. There's a lot of fresh faces this year. They are trying to find their spot, trying to gel with their linemates. It's a waiting game, people. Have faith...I do.

Dude, where does this blind faith in hockey management come from? I mean, it's not like they are the guys who manage massive financial firms and are super intelligent, educated, experienced and never ever screw up.

I'm just being a smart ass. :-) However, Jimmy Dev said it himself - we are going to struggle this season. It's not "negative thinking" - he said it. We are in trouble this season. Still, I'm not turning off the tube. We have great players and a great team and this slump will not be allowed to continue without action. That part of the Wings won't change.

[Hack & Whack Rule! 160]

Dude, where does this blind faith in hockey management come from? I mean, it's not like they are the guys who manage massive financial firms and are super intelligent, educated, experienced and never ever screw up.

I'm just being a smart ass. :-) However, Jimmy Dev said it himself - we are going to struggle this season. It's not "negative thinking" - he said it. We are in trouble this season. Still, I'm not turning off the tube. We have great players and a great team and this slump will not be allowed to continue without action. That part of the Wings won't change.

Smartassedness (huh?) aside, it's not blind faith, just the regular kind of faith. They do manage a massive financial firm of a sort. It's called the Detroit Red Wings. It's big money, and it's all on the line.

And you are right, change is coming. Whether it's personel or attitude adjustments, the stars will line up and things will improve.

[Theophany 110]

I keep wondering what games people who say Homer can't play 5 on 5 hockey are watching.

He's looked great (better than he has in years, very similar to Maltby) thus far in the season.

Oh, and he's leading the team in goals.

BTW, Howard was .909 Sv% tonight. That's pretty damn good. If he keeps that up, put him in net every damn game.

[Stiffy 0]

Smartassedness (huh?) aside, it's not blind faith, just the regular kind of faith. They do manage a massive financial firm of a sort. It's called the Detroit Red Wings. It's big money, and it's all on the line.

And you are right, change is coming. Whether it's personel or attitude adjustments, the stars will line up and things will improve.

Smartassedness - I like that word! :-)

We did see some change. Babcock's scolding to the press about playing a full 60 minutes was interesting. Personally, I want to see more from him along this line. Hard ass coaching, but also smarter coaching. I think that is what this team needs more than anything. People need to see their job as on the line. THAT will change things. So, full circle, unlike the financial firms, no bailouts for the Detroit Red Wings. Nope, they will have to do things the old fashioned way and work hard and smart and dig themselves out of it.

[NGKEIB 32]

i was referring to pav-hank-clears in the finals...and they were unstoppable!!

ure crazy!

What finals are you talking about? Maybe you mean Franzén-Zetterberg-Cleary...

In any event, Bertuzzi-Draper-Cleary had a good game, and while Howard did let one in that he should have stopped (though he also made a number of good saves), you can't in any way blame him for the loss.

[Guest blueadams]

What finals are you talking about? Maybe you mean Franzén-Zetterberg-Cleary...

i guess someone was out of town for the last three games.

[Guest blueadams]

games 5 6 and 7 we rolled...

pav-hank-clears

mule-flip-hoss

homer-helm-sam

huds-drapes-malts

[NGKEIB 32]

games 5 6 and 7 we rolled...

pav-hank-clears

mule-flip-hoss

homer-helm-sam

huds-drapes-malts

I'm not debating that, I'm debating the fact that they were 'unstoppable'. Our only goals in games 6 and 7 came from Draper and Ericsson. The closest thing we had to an unstoppable line in the playoffs was Franzén-Zetterberg-Cleary. And in any event, none of this changed my point, Cleary should stay where he is as he played well with Draper and Bertuzzi, they had a lot of good chances. Holmström's best chemistry is with Datsyuk and Zetterberg so keep him there.