Red Wings Appreciation- Playing Thru Injuries Like Warriors

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

If someone told you before the start of the season, "Hey, Red Wings will be playing without Franzen, Filppula, Kronwall, Williams, Lilja, and in some games without Rafalski, Osgood, Eaves and Ericsson... but will be 13-10-4 and only 3 points back from 6th place and only 7 back from 1st place in the division with only $35 million dollar payroll."

Would you believe them? I wouldn't! I would be amazed knowing we're only 7 points back from 1st place in the division, especially considering the slow start!

The Wings struggles began even before all those guys got injured. This team has struggled all season, even when Franzen was the only guy injured.

Much of it is injury related, but I'm not going to excuse the entire team for games like that Edmonton debacle. Lots of teams have injuries right now.

If before the season you told me how many points Datsyuk would have at this time, I wouldn't have believed it either. Same with Bertuzzi and Lidstrom. They're supposed to perform more consistently and they haven't.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Just a hunch... Maybe these $55 million dollar teams have some talented players and (deep) depth that allows their coach to throw players out there line after line to shut down our 2 star players, playing 1 star per line. The games I've been watching, opposition players have been doing everything they could (with their $55 million dollar payroll players) to shut down our two stars in Zetterberg and Datsyuk; smothering them like white-on-rice. Our depth is running kinda thin, wouldn't ya say? Of course you wouldn't.

Lidstrom isn't a spring chicken anymore and I think he's having a elbow or wrist problem... but that just speculation on my part. However, I have noticed that Lidstrom is reluctant to firing the puck like he use to... Is he lazy or sore/injured? You be the judge.

I'm sure the fact that the Red Wings (core) have played more games the past 3 seasons than any team in the entire NHL has nothing to do with their play. I mean, they're not human, are they? This is the Detroit Red Wings, they are cyborgs and we should be able to hit a button on our TV remote to make them score on command, right?

After all, Wings did have... what, 15-17 people at the Joe last night cheering on the team. That should really ignite the team and give them the burst of energy to win any game!

The game that I'm watching is, if anything can go bad or have bad luck, it is against the Detroit Red Wings. They are cursed this year.. they are playing through it, and despite all odds, are doing relatively well. Better than anyone could ever expect of them. Get.over.it.

Our top players are supposed to be our top players regardless of who is covering them. That's why we're investing so much into them. They've never had trouble producing in the past, despite being up against Iginla, Thornton, Crosby, etc, but now they're being shut down by the opposition relatively effectively. Unfortunately this is also coming at a time when we need them to produce more than ever I'm hoping they can turn it around because they always seem to, but I am definitely not content with their play and rightfully so.

I don't have as much of an issue with Lids as I do some of our forwards, but I have been noticing his positioning this year has been off. There have been a number of breakaways or turnovers where I was surprised to see Lids in the middle of the cause. Granted he is still an elite defensman (hence my giving him a bit of a break) but he is definitely on a downward slope right now.

And again, you seem to be missing the entirety of what I am saying and focusing rather blindly at the "the wings are hopeless and its all their fault they aren't going to have an 82-0 season." I understand they are suffering from injuries, and I understand they've played more games than anyone else the past three years, and I understand [insert excuse here], but the fact is the team that's healthy right now is capable of playing better than they have been and they aren't doing so on a regular basis. That's why our past 10 games have looked so terrible, and thats why Zetterberg has called himself out to play better, and thats why Babcock has repeatedly said this year he is disappointed in how the team is looking. The team on the ice last night and the past couple weeks is NOT giving 100% of what they're capable of.

[Miller Brew 0]

The Wings struggles began even before all those guys got injured. This team has struggled all season, even when Franzen was the only guy injured.

Much of it is injury related, but I'm not going to excuse the entire team for games like that Edmonton debacle. Lots of teams have injuries right now.

If before the season you told me how many points Datsyuk would have at this time, I wouldn't have believed it either. Same with Bertuzzi and Lidstrom. They're supposed to perform more consistently and they haven't.

So... you're the "glass is half empty" kinda person?

[Miller Brew 0]

Our top players are supposed to be our top players regardless of who is covering them. That's why we're investing so much into them. They've never had trouble producing in the past, despite being up against Iginla, Thornton, Crosby, etc, but now they're being shut down by the opposition relatively effectively. Unfortunately this is also coming at a time when we need them to produce more than ever I'm hoping they can turn it around because they always seem to, but I am definitely not content with their play and rightfully so.

I don't have as much of an issue with Lids as I do some of our forwards, but I have been noticing his positioning this year has been off. There have been a number of breakaways or turnovers where I was surprised to see Lids in the middle of the cause. Granted he is still an elite defensman (hence my giving him a bit of a break) but he is definitely on a downward slope right now.

And again, you seem to be missing the entirety of what I am saying and focusing rather blindly at the "the wings are hopeless and its all their fault they aren't going to have an 82-0 season." I understand they are suffering from injuries, and I understand they've played more games than anyone else the past three years, and I understand [insert excuse here], but the fact is the team that's healthy right now is capable of playing better than they have been and they aren't doing so on a regular basis. That's why our past 10 games have looked so terrible, and thats why Zetterberg has called himself out to play better, and thats why Babcock has repeatedly said this year he is disappointed in how the team is looking. The team on the ice last night and the past couple weeks is NOT giving 100% of what they're capable of.

I don't remember them playing with $700k players like Leino, Miller and a washed up Bertuzzi in the past. I remember Datsyuk playing with an all-star named Hossa and Zetterberg playing with an amazing finisher and clutch goal scorer named Franzen.

Weird.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

So... you're the "glass is half empty" kinda person?

No. I'm a glass completely empty kind of person.

Edited December 4, 2009 by GMRwings1983