I'm a big fan

[plopster 136]

Plain and simple - we suck with all these injuries and old people. flat out. Holland spent too much on rafalski, Z, and franzen. Thats why we didnt keep any of the other guys. With the competition in the division and the league, this will be a really bad year.

[skyphoenix 153]

Cool story, bro.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Yeah, if only Holland had used his crystal ball and predicted all the injuries this team would get.

This team was not going to have great depth going into the season, and the only way it would be a competitive team is if they had little to no injuries. Instead the worst happened. One of the top goal scorers out for the year, powerplay point man out for a few weeks, top defensive forward out for a few weeks, top 4 defenseman out for a few weeks, etc.

Not good at all. Especially in the areas that needed to have healthy players.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Overspent on Franzen and Zetterberg? You think he could've gotten better players than those two for cheaper?

[Carman 387]

Hell Franzen has probably one of the best contracts in the NHL. Same with Zetterberg. This post is funny.

[cupforwings 138]

Overspent on Franzen and Zetterberg? You think he could've gotten better players than those two for cheaper?

Turning on are best players now because we aren't winning every game?

[skyphoenix 153]

I cannot believe we are essentially paying Zetterberg $6mil a season to have 24 points in 23 games. What a waste of money and he hasn't even won a Conn Smythe or gets nominated for the Selke! How ridiculous!

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

This is the silver lining if the Wings have an off season. It will thin the herd of fans who have only been watching since the Wings have been completely dominant.

This team doesn't suck, it just doesn't have near the talent it used to and has a lot of injuries.

This is what an average hockey team looks like.

[plopster 136]

Look, the Z franzen remark wasn't to say they aren't that good. I just don't think you can pay those guys that much and have the depth you need in this league, I would say a mil or so less for them and rafalski, and boom you keep hossa, or samuelson and hudler. instead you sink to picking up the leftovers. and they are leftovers for a reason. Bertuzzi and williams, i think going into the season we were all optimistic that those two would be good, but they proved their salary. neither has done much, i dont care if we are paying them a 100k a season, winning is the goal, not just filling roster spots and throwing the scoring on the shoulders of three or four guys. this is a team sport. look at teams like anaheim, they double shift their top line the whole game because they know they don't have four lines that can play. that type of strategy doesn't work. you need 16 forwards playing at a high level for 60 minutes that produce. bertuzzi and williams were not doing that. I even question the miler pickup. he is decent, but the guys in ahl would have been better. they have prospects down there that can contribute better than the players passing around the league. they get passed around because they aren't that good. the magician holland just missed getting it done this year. he is trying to hard to make it work. but keeping some of the other guys from last year needed to be done, otherwise you end up with a season like this. no, you certainly couldnt predict the injuries. but if the depth had been there, you wouldnt be losing to the thrasher 2-0 or the panthers only scoring one goal. it is flat out inexcusable. you have to win those games. those are the ones that bite you in the end. if they do make the playoffs a 6-8 seed, they wont go far because it would be an exhausting effort to make it. they will be drained by the time they make it. Basically, all I am saying is this will be a bad year, as well as an early playoff exit like the one against the oilers a few seasons back.

[Wings3:16 324]

One million each less? Hell, why not 2 million each less! Then trade Williams and Bertuzzi for Kovalchuk! Problem solved!

If you don't see that Zetterberg and Franzen are steals, you're crazy...Zetts coulda got loaaaaads more in free agency.

Get off the bandwagon if you can't handle a couple of losses in a row, Jesus.

[wingsgirl001 983]

This team doesn't suck, it just doesn't have near the talent it used to and has a lot of injuries.

This is what an average hockey team looks like.

This.

If you're gonna jump off the bandwagon because 'oh noes we're not winning and scoring 5 goals and getting shutouts in every game' then maybe you shouldn't call yourself a 'big fan'

[RedWings Gone Wild 6]

Look, the Z franzen remark wasn't to say they aren't that good. I just don't think you can pay those guys that much and have the depth you need in this league, I would say a mil or so less for them and rafalski, and boom you keep hossa, or samuelson and hudler. instead you sink to picking up the leftovers. and they are leftovers for a reason. Bertuzzi and williams, i think going into the season we were all optimistic that those two would be good, but they proved their salary. neither has done much, i dont care if we are paying them a 100k a season, winning is the goal, not just filling roster spots and throwing the scoring on the shoulders of three or four guys. this is a team sport. look at teams like anaheim, they double shift their top line the whole game because they know they don't have four lines that can play. that type of strategy doesn't work. you need 16 forwards playing at a high level for 60 minutes that produce. bertuzzi and williams were not doing that. I even question the miler pickup. he is decent, but the guys in ahl would have been better. they have prospects down there that can contribute better than the players passing around the league. they get passed around because they aren't that good. the magician holland just missed getting it done this year. he is trying to hard to make it work. but keeping some of the other guys from last year needed to be done, otherwise you end up with a season like this. no, you certainly couldnt predict the injuries. but if the depth had been there, you wouldnt be losing to the thrasher 2-0 or the panthers only scoring one goal. it is flat out inexcusable. you have to win those games. those are the ones that bite you in the end. if they do make the playoffs a 6-8 seed, they wont go far because it would be an exhausting effort to make it. they will be drained by the time they make it. Basically, all I am saying is this will be a bad year, as well as an early playoff exit like the one against the oilers a few seasons back.

I don't know what you thought would happen with Z and Franzen's contracts, but they took DISCOUNTS to play with us... the idea that we would be able to get comparable or better players, and then be able to get additional skilled players, at less of a rate than we got this season... well sir, I am guess you don't know much about hockey contracts.

Edited November 26, 2009 by RedWings Gone Wild

[mmamolo 287]

they double shift their top line the whole game because they know they don't have four lines that can play. that type of strategy doesn't work. you need 16 forwards playing at a high level for 60 minutes that produce. bertuzzi and williams were not doing that.

I just like the fact that apparently now we need 16 forwards dressed every game.

[Tommy_Like_Wingy 25]

We hit a patch of bad luck with injuries after losing some quality players from last year. Things will turn around in time for the playoffs.

[Miller Brew 0]

Look, the Z franzen remark wasn't to say they aren't that good. I just don't think you can pay those guys that much and have the depth you need in this league, I would say a mil or so less for them and rafalski, and boom you keep hossa, or samuelson and hudler. instead you sink to picking up the leftovers. and they are leftovers for a reason. Bertuzzi and williams, i think going into the season we were all optimistic that those two would be good, but they proved their salary. neither has done much, i dont care if we are paying them a 100k a season, winning is the goal, not just filling roster spots and throwing the scoring on the shoulders of three or four guys. this is a team sport. look at teams like anaheim, they double shift their top line the whole game because they know they don't have four lines that can play. that type of strategy doesn't work. you need 16 forwards playing at a high level for 60 minutes that produce. bertuzzi and williams were not doing that. I even question the miler pickup. he is decent, but the guys in ahl would have been better. they have prospects down there that can contribute better than the players passing around the league. they get passed around because they aren't that good. the magician holland just missed getting it done this year. he is trying to hard to make it work. but keeping some of the other guys from last year needed to be done, otherwise you end up with a season like this. no, you certainly couldnt predict the injuries. but if the depth had been there, you wouldnt be losing to the thrasher 2-0 or the panthers only scoring one goal. it is flat out inexcusable. you have to win those games. those are the ones that bite you in the end. if they do make the playoffs a 6-8 seed, they wont go far because it would be an exhausting effort to make it. they will be drained by the time they make it. Basically, all I am saying is this will be a bad year, as well as an early playoff exit like the one against the oilers a few seasons back.

Cool story, bro.

[BeeRYCE 2]

I LOL at overspending on Z and Franzen... There are no 2 underpaid players in the league right now.

Zetterberg - 6M, should be at 7.5M

Franzen - 3.95M, should be at 6M

[Zohan Franzen 18]

Plain and simple - we suck with all these injuries and old people. flat out. Holland spent too much on rafalski, Z, and franzen. Thats why we didnt keep any of the other guys. With the competition in the division and the league, this will be a really bad year.

Yeah, the Team is definetly too old! Don´t get me wrong, Lids, Homer or Draper are great players for their age, but IMO the Wings need to become a younger team. Nonetheless how this season will end up, I hope they start to rebuild the team with some young and ambitious players !

[King Crane 289]

If you're gonna jump off the bandwagon because 'oh noes we're not winning and scoring 5 goals and getting shutouts in every game' then maybe you shouldn't call yourself a 'big fan'

Win. :beerbuddy:

[zettie85 106]

Plain and simple - we suck with all these injuries and old people. flat out. Holland spent too much on rafalski, Z, and franzen. Thats why we didnt keep any of the other guys. With the competition in the division and the league, this will be a really bad year.

Absolutely did not spend to much on Z and the mule. That's ridiculous to say although I agree with the Rafalski comment. He's a bum and as much of a defencive liability as Lebda. He contributes some offence but for 6 mil a year the guy can tighten up defnecivley and start going into the corners or he can take a hike.

Mind you when they re-signed Rafalski he was quicker and a little better defencivley.

Edited November 26, 2009 by zettie85

[GSBrooks13 204]

I have to agree with the vast majority here and say that anyone who thinks Zetterberg and Franzen are Overpaid is being completely assinine. Zetterberg has been the best player on the team all season long and is pretty much a lock to wear the C next. And when he is healthy I have no doubt Franzen could easily net 40+ Goals a season. The only person who can be called overpaid on this team is Rafalski. He might be worth 4 mil.. if that. But if I remember correctly at the time he was signed it was a pretty good deal. And how can you complain about the Miller pick up? He has dont nothing but impress me since he has been called up, if you think that calling up another prospect from GR to play on a checking line for 7 minutes a night instead of having them stay in GR playing 20 minutes a night on the scoring line was the right move to make then you are as redundant as your posts would make you out to be.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Rafalski is the only over paid player on the team.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I'm thinking about joining letsgopens.com to pursue my first love.

A WINNING team.

[Electrophile 3,554]

Turning on our best players now because we aren't winning every game?

Welcome to LGW. Pull up a chair and grab the popcorn.

We're not playing well. We all get that. We aren't playing well because we've been besieged by injuries all year, not because we have a full team of players and they're all choking. We don't suck. We're playing hurt and it shows. This too shall pass. Relax.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Plain and simple - we suck with all these injuries and old people. flat out. Holland spent too much on rafalski, Z, and franzen. Thats why we didnt keep any of the other guys. With the competition in the division and the league, this will be a really bad year.

Well s**t. I guess we better stop watching now. Season's over already with just 25% of the games played! We're f**ked.

Get a grip. The season is far from over.

[puckbags 863]

Any time anyone starts a post with " I am a big fan but..." you know this guy/kid/dog/alien is ripe to jump right off the wagon. We will be roughly 6-8th in the conference by the time we get our injured guys back and it sounds like the Mule is ahead of schedule. We will be able to get guys playing the minutes they are supposed to and we will get this team cranked up for the last 30-40 games and get ready for the playoffs !