Malik with a Pretty Intense Article

[rage 24]

Yeah. See an article like this: DetNews is EXACTLY what I'm talking about. This is what pisses Malik and me off.

Instead of telling it like it is by saying something like, "things aren't clicking, we need to reorganize and turn it around", they go into denial and "better luck next time!" mode by saying things like:

"Eventually, it has to go in for us."

"We just have to stay positive and believe in what you do, keep doing the right things and don't analyze too much,"

"We will be all right," Cleary said. "We just have to stay upbeat and stay with the program."

Seriously? Will they say the same things if they lose ANOTHER three in a row? It's time to call themselves out and admit they have NOT been playing as they should. Shrugging it off and saying "we'll get it!" just is not the right strategy.

Why not look at the glass half-full? How many posts and crossbars have we hit in the last 5 games? I just don't see the point in our players losing their confidence or shouting off to the media in a way that portrays them losing their confidence.

So if people are really really looking at this start as a way the rest of the season will go, then the West will be w/o Detroit in the Playoffs with one of the AVS/OIL/COY/KINGS taking their place.

PLEASE people. Step up off that ledge my friend! (this post wasn't a shot at you ShanahanMan, you're a great poster and fan).

Edited October 25, 2009 by rage

[rage 24]

As a coach you have to manage the "media teeter-totter" when things are going well and the team wins you will see Babcock point out the negative things the team does, but when they go on a losing streak he focuses on the positives. It's what all good coaches do. You will never get a real candid answer from Babock because he understands it can and will be used against his team.

And as a team you have to stay positive no matter what. They aren't going to start pointing fimgers at each other through the media, because that does nothing but complicate an already negative situation. You really think Babcock and the team is happy with their performance so far in the season? If you do then you are severely underestimating the commitment of a core of players that have achieved the highest level of the game almost twice in back to back season.

This is a great post!

You know the way people want the Wings to "own up" or whatever in the media could cause some serious damage in the locker-room (one thing the Wings' have prided themselves upon for YEARS!).

Edited October 25, 2009 by rage

[Winged_Wheeler 3]

This article is great, and I love the fact he called out Babcock. Everyone needs to get their heads out of their asses and start caring. Nobody gives a s*** if you made the Stanley Cup final two years in a row, us Red Wing fans expect our team to win EVERY game and if we don't, we become so pissed, it's not even imaginable. Well it kind of is, you get a taste of it on this message boards. This is not the Red Wings, this record we have is not what we're capable of, we can do much more if EVERYONE in that locker room and EVERYONE above them, including Illitch, CARE about what this team has become. Something needs to be done. Don't be surprised if Babcock and the rest of the coaching staff gets fired if this s*** doesn't stop. WE'VE HAD PK PROBLEMS SINCE LAST YEAR AND YOU CAN'T FIND A WAY TO FIX IT? THAT'S THE COACHING STAFF NOT DOING THEIR JOB. Illitch needs to light a fire under everyone's ass and tell them this team was built to win, not sing the blues on how we had "bad bounces" or "we need to play 60 minutes". Shut the hell up and play hockey.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Amazing write up. I tend to stay away from commenting on a lot of things George writes, but this one deserves a round of applause for it sums our situation up perfectly - I mean we're talking 100% spot on.

So this is spot on to you?

Get busy winning, stop blaming the salary cap, free agency losses, injuries, bad karma, whatever (and this means you, loose-lipped managerial Wings personnel), right your ship, and until you start winning, shut the hell up. Actions speak much louder than words.

He is basically saying Wings management isn't allowed to say anything to the media until they start winning. And that saying that the salary cap hurt Detroit is an excuse.

You mean to tell me you agree with those bats*** insane assessments?

[waitahochiminute 2]

Yeah, this is a wee bit premature. Things will be changed and winning will happen it's inevitable for a team of this calibur...

[Earthhuman 8]

I haven't heard of this writer before... maybe he learned the word "Pollyanna" and decided to shape an article around it. I can't see why else he would bother.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

As a team you have to stay positive especially to the media. Focusing on the negatives does no one any good. Hell if they wanted to the Wing's could fill a 2 hour show on dissecting how many mistakes they make in a game, but so could other teams. I'm a hard critic usually on the Red Wing's, but I think they have done enough the past two decades to not be a dominate team that wins 50 games this year. I'm happy with watching the young players improve. I just don't know what the guy want's the team to do so early in the season...

I'm not saying it's acceptable to be this bad, I just don't understand what the Wing's are supposed to say to the media in interviews, do you want the whole team turning into Mike Richards' and not say anything?

You stay positive.

Geez... the team's had a few losses and people don't know how to react. It's not the end of the world.

Coaching changes, and players asking to leave Ottawa have been handled better publicly.

I can't believe that interview. I lost a lot of respect for Jimmy D. After he basically runs outta breath patting himself on the back for his award, he follows it up by bashing his own team and telling fans to lower their expectations. He states that his opinion is that a team needs one (or more) stars and successful in the sport to succeed. He's being real and honest, which is cool, but he contradicts himself from a business & marketing perspective. He should never talk down about the team publicly.

Edited October 25, 2009 by CaliWingsNut

[dropkickshanahans 463]

The only thing that bothers me is wondering if Babcock, Jimmy, etc actually believe we will turn it around. I know they won't ever say it to the media, but I'd like to know if they actually believe in this team.

Babcock's most used quote is "I'm a big believer in this team."

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

If there were positives in their play they could say they are improving and can say the tide is turning. But when you couldn't be favored against any team in your conference in a 7 game series, there is no place for high expectations.

[dat's sick 1,002]

That article is disgusting. "Shut up and win." Are you serious? This team has been chugging like a frieght train for over a decade and this is the thanks they get? Red Wing players and staff deserve much better than that article and the legion of mouthbreathers that actually agree with it.

This.

[Creasemonkey 30]

I get the feeling Malik may eventually regret being quite so harsh, as the article comes off a little like a drunk dial. I'm with him on the idea of "just win some damn games already", but to go off the deep end like that is another thing.

[scotvm 0]

welcome to the world that most NHL fans live in. the truth is that its hard to be successful in this league from one season to the next, let alone 15 in a row.

are we a bad team? far from it. are we a great team? far from it.

start getting used to the feeling of being a fan of an average team. this is what a salary cap is supposed to do, level the playing field. it just took longer to affect us, mostly because of the amazing job of people like Jimmy D. so dont tear his head off when hes honest. i think our organization is filled with pro-active, optimistic, realists. in my opinion they know that ripping everyone a new ******* like Malik did, isnt going to help the situation. they also realize that if we are lucky and end up firing on all cylinders, we could be better than most teams. if they feel that a little shake up will help the team theyll do it. if not, they wont. just trust them for gods sake!

sit back, relax, and try to enjoy yourselves. i dont care if we are a 1 seed, an 8 seed, or in last place. im still gonna love the Wings. hell, it could actually be an exciting new experience to be the underdogs for once.

and if none of this seemed to connect with you and youd still rather bash the Wings, just remind yourself of how hard it is to be a Lions fan and youll see that life in Hockeytown isnt so bad

[VM1138 1,921]

We can always hope that this slump is the annual February slump happening a few months early, and that we'll tear it up for the rest of the season, too.

[Zetts 236]

Pathetically immature article. You would hope that people in the media wouldn't be quite as bad as these boards sometimes get, where one loss is the end of the world.

Admittedly, it's been more than one loss, but get over it. Really. He sounds like a child. The season has barely started. It's worrying, yes, but not to this extent.

And as I think someone already mentioned, "Shut up and win"? What the hell is that?

I think that Malik should shut up and learn how to write.

[Buppy 1,720]

If there were positives in their play they could say they are improving and can say the tide is turning. But when you couldn't be favored against any team in your conference in a 7 game series, there is no place for high expectations.

There are plenty of positives in their play. It might not mean much to the fans if we're not winning, but the team played as well or better in the two games against Colorado and the game against Phoenix as they did in the wins against Chicago, Washington, and LA.

Whether or not anyone likes it, or believes it, the team is doing a lot of good things. The PK has allowed 2 goals in the last 17 chances after allowing 6 in their first 18. They are generating shots and scoring chances. Neither the defense nor the goaltending have been terrible, mostly just suffering from occasional breakdowns.

The offense is suffering from a lack of finishers. Willy, Leino, and Bert have looked good at times, and will likely get better as they fully integrate into the system. But they're not Hossa and Franzen. Pav and Hank have both had early injuries that, coupled with their traditional slow starts, have also hurt.

We don't need major changes. At least none that we could actually make. We don't have the tradable assets or cap room. The truth is that we do need to keep doing the things we've been doing the last few games. Keep the PK and PP strong. Keep putting up 30+ shots. Pav and Hank will start producing. Our secondary scorers will continue to produce or even improve. Then we'll start winning. Not likely 50 games, maybe not 100 points, or a division title, but enough to make the playoffs for sure.

Then, with a hopefully healthy roster that has had a season to gel, another good run or even a Cup is very possible.

[BruiseBrother 2]

Why is this so difficult? Our goaltending ain't up to par, nothing more, nothing less. This team is good enough to compete with any team in the league, we just aren't getting the saves when they count.

[Zetts 236]

Why is this so difficult? Our goaltending ain't up to par, nothing more, nothing less. This team is good enough to compete with any team in the league, we just aren't getting the saves when they count.

It's really not fair to put it all on goaltending. We went what, 0 for 7 on the powerplay last night? Howard certainly gave us a chance to win.

[cjm502 165]

Please. This is just annoying to me.

I guess I'm the only one not in full panic mode about this team and this year's start.

After 9 games and little improvement panic is starting to set in.

It's really not fair to put it all on goaltending. We went what, 0 for 7 on the powerplay last night? Howard certainly gave us a chance to win.

Howard gave us more than a chance. Losing last night is unacceptable. Nearly 50 shots, so many good opportunities. Despite the 49 shots we had not many of them were too hard for Anderson to get. Also, I agree that 0-7 on the powerplay is out of control.

[BruiseBrother 2]

last night, ok, not ALL goaltending, but the 2 against St. Louis, last week against the Avs and the 'Yotes; all goaltending.

[Earthhuman 8]

There are plenty of positives in their play. It might not mean much to the fans if we're not winning, but the team played as well or better in the two games against Colorado and the game against Phoenix as they did in the wins against Chicago, Washington, and LA.

Whether or not anyone likes it, or believes it, the team is doing a lot of good things. The PK has allowed 2 goals in the last 17 chances after allowing 6 in their first 18. They are generating shots and scoring chances. Neither the defense nor the goaltending have been terrible, mostly just suffering from occasional breakdowns.

The offense is suffering from a lack of finishers. Willy, Leino, and Bert have looked good at times, and will likely get better as they fully integrate into the system. But they're not Hossa and Franzen. Pav and Hank have both had early injuries that, coupled with their traditional slow starts, have also hurt.

We don't need major changes. At least none that we could actually make. We don't have the tradable assets or cap room. The truth is that we do need to keep doing the things we've been doing the last few games. Keep the PK and PP strong. Keep putting up 30+ shots. Pav and Hank will start producing. Our secondary scorers will continue to produce or even improve. Then we'll start winning. Not likely 50 games, maybe not 100 points, or a division title, but enough to make the playoffs for sure.

Then, with a hopefully healthy roster that has had a season to gel, another good run or even a Cup is very possible.

These are all good points. I forgot that both Datsyuk and Zetterberg have had injuries (not to mention are slow starters). That line should be good for a goal a game, and if you look at the losses we've had, all it would take is another goal earlier in the game to keep it out of reach. This may be a bit of a slippery slope argument, but a team up two goals will lock it down sooner than a team up one goal.

[Doc Holiday 0]

last night, ok, not ALL goaltending, but the 2 against St. Louis, last week against the Avs and the 'Yotes; all goaltending.

The Yotes game was all goaltending?

Didn't realize that Osgood wasn't let down at all during regulation in that game.

[tommingthepuck96 1]

I dont think its too early for babcock to start making some big line changes.

Were obviously not going to bring anyone in, so something has to change. I wouldnt mind seeing helm playing on a line with datsyuk and zetterberg (yes i realize their all 3 centers.) Or moving ericcsson on the first unit with lidstrom. Those types of moves have the potential to spark something on this team. Only thing that i think needs to stay the same is the filppula/leino/williams line.

[Vladifan 680]

As a team you have to stay positive especially to the media. Focusing on the negatives does no one any good. Hell if they wanted to the Wing's could fill a 2 hour show on dissecting how many mistakes they make in a game, but so could other teams. I'm a hard critic usually on the Red Wing's, but I think they have done enough the past two decades to not be a dominate team that wins 50 games this year. I'm happy with watching the young players improve. I just don't know what the guy want's the team to do so early in the season...

I'm not saying it's acceptable to be this bad, I just don't understand what the Wing's are supposed to say to the media in interviews, do you want the whole team turning into Mike Richards' and not say anything?

Very nicely put. So far, this comes closest to how I feel about his article. It's opportunistic, cheapshotting and pretty short-sighted for a sports writer. They can't shut the hell up. They are asked questions and they have to come up with answers. What are they supposed to do (EVEN if it might be true in their eyes)? "Yeah, we pretty much suck and there are some players who are just not cutting it and we'll weed them out, and yeah, we have goalie issues and we're not playing for crap in the third period especially". Really? What would anything close to that kind of commentary do for the morale of the team?

You can't call out your team mates in front of the media. What the hell good would that do? And he conveniently does not mention that all this could be going on in the locker room already, where it should be happening, one way or another. He comes off as just another spoiled Wings' fan that thinks they should be pretty much perfect from the get go. I agree with you. They just may not be as good this year as they have been in the past.

Anybody remember the coach of the Flyers (Murray? I think...?) calling out his team in our SC finals with them and calling his players' play "desperate"? There was an absolute s***storm over that one single comment. I didn't even think it was that bad a comment, but it indeed affected their team for days, thanks to the opportunistic media.

[gcom007 1,465]

That article is pathetic. He sounds like a LGW's fanboy who can read. I've never been as high on Malik as some are, but this is the first time I've really been utterly turned off by something he's said.

Am I in denial about the situation the Wings are in? No. I get that there are issues that need to be resolved. I get that Lebda is a liability. I get that the defense is terrible lately.

But you know what else I get?

It's ******* October.

The reality is we DID get dealt a s*** hand in the off-season. On top of that, Zetterberg barely had a preseason and Datsyuk's had some early injury struggles. Franzen went down early and Lilja's still not back. You can't close your eyes and pretend those things don't exist.

On top of that, we've got a lot more rookies and new guys in general on this team so it's going to take more than a few games to get the chemistry going again.

And again, it's October.

If this is still going on in February, there's merit to the panic and the attacks. But it's October. October. Again, October. And it's a more complicated and "new" October than the Wings have had in a long time. Again, you can't just close your eyes and pretend that nothing happened in the off-season because a lot happened and it's going to take a bit of time to get everything straight, but there's plenty of positives to take from the start of this season.

To be completely honest, I'm thrilled they're not getting blown out at this point, and I think that's a testament to the strength of the goaltending overall especially considering Osgood's had to deal with as much or more defensive bulls*** as last year. Last year with this defense Osgood would be giving up 5-6 goals a game on low shot totals. Now he's giving up 2-3 with far higher shot totals not to mention the drastic increase in scoring chances allowed.

Obviously, Lebda is a disaster on D and Ericson is a rookie. Unfortunately, we were up against the cap until Franzen went down and Lilja's simply not ready yet, and heaven knows if he ever will be. Until they get a better idea of that, it doesn't make a ton of sense to make a move. Because hey, after all, it's still October. If you're foolish enough to not recognize how much things can change over the course of a season, you're better off keeping your mouth shut.

Again, I just find this whole circus between so many fans and the press ridiculous. It's pathetic. It's juvenile. It's illogical. It all amounts to hype-driven, knee-jerk reactions and rampant hysteria. It's senseless panic.

It's October. This too shall pass, and George Malik and the trusty tribe of LGW's sheep will soon be eating their words again.

Don't you guys ever get tired of just bulls***ting all day?

By the way, I'll be the one saying, "told you so" in April.

Edited October 26, 2009 by gcom007

[Buppy 1,720]

.... Only thing that i think needs to stay the same is the filppula/leino/williams line.

The line has been very good, probably our best in fact, but they haven't really been producing all that much. I think they need someone to play in front of the net. They seem almost unwilling to shoot at times. I would've never believed it before seeing it, but Leino looks more reluctant to shoot than even Flip.

Ideally, Leino will start firing more often, since I'd rather keep the line intact. But if they don't start getting some more goals, I think they need someone like Cleary or Homer in Willy's place.