Draper had seen enough and told them so

[Stiffy 0]

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"It seemed a lot of the same things were being said and nothing was being done, and I don't know, I just kind of got in there and had a little bit of a snap."

It's about time a veteran stood up and told this team to act like Redwings. That it was Draper is interesting. Not surprising.

Edited December 7, 2009 by Stiffy

[DMAC 25 18]

hes always seemed to have good work ethic no matter how well he has been doing during the season, glad to see him step up

[Carman 387]

Glad to see someone step up like this. But I would hope it would of been our Captain.

That said, whatever Draper said seemed to work.

Edited December 7, 2009 by Carman

[Rivalred 630]

We will see how long it lasts...

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

[SDavis35 140]

It's good to hear about the leadership in the locker room they always talk about in action.

Sometimes the captains voice is tuned out and not as effective, so I'm thinking Draper was just pissed off that this wasn't a team that cared and had the words to say so.

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

I think Lidstrom is a good captain, but he is too nice. But this is why we have the three A's on our team, so they can make up for whatever is lacking a little bit in the captain. I'm glad Draper stepped up.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I think Lidstrom is a good captain, but he is too nice. But this is why we have the three A's on our team, so they can make up for whatever is lacking a little bit in the captain. I'm glad Draper stepped up.

Stevie wasn't exactly the meanest of captains either. Like Lidstrom, he didn't say much in the locker room unless it was absolutely necessary. Lids already did that earlier this season and it worked for a few games. My guess is that Draper was just fed up with how long this has gone on and decided to try his luck. What's nice about having him rotate the "A" is he's so different than the other three captains, which I think bodes extremely well for the Wings. Our other three are more soft-spoken and lead by example and although Drapes is just as humble as the others, he certainly speaks as much as the other three combined. Hopefully his rant will get them and keep them going until they get some of their injured pieces back.

[Wing Across The Pond 196]

Stevie wasn't exactly the meanest of captains either. Like Lidstrom, he didn't say much in the locker room unless it was absolutely necessary. Lids already did that earlier this season and it worked for a few games. My guess is that Draper was just fed up with how long this has gone on and decided to try his luck. What's nice about having him rotate the "A" is he's so different than the other three captains, which I think bodes extremely well for the Wings. Our other three are more soft-spoken and lead by example and although Drapes is just as humble as the others, he certainly speaks as much as the other three combined. Hopefully his rant will get them and keep them going until they get some of their injured pieces back.

Yeah I agree. It's always seemed like Lids and Stevie were Captains on the ice, playing the sportmanship game and showing the others how to conduct themselves, whereas others were left to doing the talking in the locker room (apart from the Nashville game a few years ago where Stevie sure as hell spoke his mind on the ice!).

[dat's sick 1,002]

Glad to see someone step up like this. But I would hope it would of been our Captain.

I could understand this reasoning if it was Abdelkader or Lebda that stepped up and did this. But Draper is an Assistant Captain and a veteran guy that the team listens to. Lidstrom is a great captain but I don't see him screaming and shouting at the players, even though they might need it. Which is why it's good to have a guy like Draper around, that maybe is a bit more vocal.

The guy with the C shouldn't be the only one leading the team.

Also, this is a great example of why it's not always good to get rid of older players as soon as they start dropping off a bit. The Maltby's and Draper's that have been around a while are often great to have when the going gets rough.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Good to hear from Drapes, and glad he's still around.

[Rivalred 630]

I still think the whole lack of the "Scotty Bowman Factor" and "Defensive Coach" are the reasons.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I still think the whole lack of the "Scotty Bowman Factor" and "Defensive Coach" are the reasons.

Actually we do have a "defensive coach", but we really need a DEFENSIVE COACH.

[Rivalred 630]

Actually we do have a "defensive coach", but we really need a DEFENSIVE COACH.

Could of fooled me... He may be present physically, but mentally... Whole different thread; wait, think we went there before.

[Carman 387]

I wasn't aware of Lidstrom doing a similar tactic earlier this season. Anyone have a link of it?

If I could find anything against Lidstrom at all, it would be his demeanor once things aren't going well. I could recall Yzerman getting pretty PO'd and was pretty apparent in interviews. Yet Lidstrom seems even keel all throughout everything. Which is fantastic when things are going well to keeps things in check, but sometimes I wish I could hear Lidstrom getting on some of the players. Then again his positives far far outweigh this one little gripe of mine.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I wasn't aware of Lidstrom doing a similar tactic earlier this season. Anyone have a link of it?

If I could find anything against Lidstrom at all, it would be his demeanor once things aren't going well. I could recall Yzerman getting pretty PO'd and was pretty apparent in interviews. Yet Lidstrom seems even keel all throughout everything. Which is fantastic when things are going well to keeps things in check, but sometimes I wish I could hear Lidstrom getting on some of the players. Then again his positives far far outweigh this one little gripe of mine.

There wasn't a video or anything like that, but it was written about in a pre or post game article a month or so ago.

[Frozen-Man 144]

I could understand this reasoning if it was Abdelkader or Lebda that stepped up and did this. But Draper is an Assistant Captain and a veteran guy that the team listens to. Lidstrom is a great captain but I don't see him screaming and shouting at the players, even though they might need it. Which is why it's good to have a guy like Draper around, that maybe is a bit more vocal.

The guy with the C shouldn't be the only one leading the team.

Also, this is a great example of why it's not always good to get rid of older players as soon as they start dropping off a bit. The Maltby's and Draper's that have been around a while are often great to have when the going gets rough.

I absolutely agree. Lids is a great captain but like almost every captain he has his weak spots. He has never come across as the type of guy to yell and scream and I think it would probably come across a disingenuous if he did. That is why it is important to have alternate captains and veteran players who compliment Lids strengths and it appears Drapes did it perfectly here.

[Nev 1,085]

Glad to see someone step up like this. But I would hope it would of been our Captain.

I remember watching a documentary a few years back on the last Avs Stanley Cup season. Early doors they were struggling, and it showed the players having it out in the locker room. The one guy standing up doing all the shouting and finger pointing? Adam Foote. Joe Sakic just sat there and nodded his head.

I'm a big believer that great teams don't just have one inspirational captain, thats BS propagated by hack columnists and bad commentators because it makes for a great "story" The best teams have numerous leaders who are prepared to say what needs to be said, and more crucially, walk the talk, where it matters - on the ice.

As for what Draper says, I liked this the best

This one came from the heart. ... And I have a lot of pride being a Red Wing, and I just kind of felt like we weren't playing with enough pride. That was one of the things I tried to hammer home

Proffesional athletes rarely talk like this. Despite what fans think or like to think, they are much more detached emotionally than we want to admit. Draper is not one of those athletes, and I deeply hope that he passes on some of the identity of the Detroit Redwings to the likes of Helm and Abdelkader. An identity he helped forge.

Oh, and shouting and screaming is over-rated. Players soon switch off at that.

Edited December 7, 2009 by Nev

[VM1138 1,921]

I remember watching a documentary a few years back on the last Avs Stanley Cup season. Early doors they were struggling, and it showed the players having it out in the locker room. The one guy standing up doing all the shouting and finger pointing? Adam Foote. Joe Sakic just sat there and nodded his head.

I'm a big believer that great teams don't just have one inspirational captain, thats BS propagated by hack columnists and bad commentators because it makes for a great "story" The best teams have numerous leaders who are prepared to say what needs to be said, and more crucially, walk the talk, where it matters - on the ice.

As for what Draper says, I liked this the best

Proffesional athletes rarely talk like this. Despite what fans think or like to think, they are much more detached emotionally than we want to admit. Draper is not one of those athletes, and I deeply hope that he passes on some of the identity of the Detroit Redwings to the likes of Helm and Abdelkader. An identity he helped forge.

Oh, and shouting and screaming is over-rated. Players soon switch off at that.

I agree. Athletes (even when they say they do) often don't feel a huge attachmen tto a team. After all, it's not their hometown, and it's just a job. They can be happy where they are but like any job, it's not necessarily a part of them.

Draper has been one of the guys to BE a Red Wing since the '50s. He virtually defines what a Red Wing is and I think he genuinely feels proud of being one. I think this city and team mean a lot to Draper and it's good to see an athlete really put their heart and soul into a team.

[T-Ruff 47]

Imagine the kind of effect it would have if Lidstrom did just lose it on his team... They'd be good to go for the rest of the season and playoffs

[Jake Ryan 1]

I wasn't aware of Lidstrom doing a similar tactic earlier this season. Anyone have a link of it?

If I could find anything against Lidstrom at all, it would be his demeanor once things aren't going well. I could recall Yzerman getting pretty PO'd and was pretty apparent in interviews. Yet Lidstrom seems even keel all throughout everything. Which is fantastic when things are going well to keeps things in check, but sometimes I wish I could hear Lidstrom getting on some of the players. Then again his positives far far outweigh this one little gripe of mine.

What's hilarious is that "not going well" to us means the team is in a 10 game funk. Remember that the Red Wings have gone through decades of funk in the past. It's about time people start looking at the bright side a little more. We're going to charge back to 2nd or 3rd in the conference and get a first round match-up we like in the playoffs. We'll get our injured guys back within the next 2-3 months, and we'll have a little extra cap space when it's all said and done, if I'm not mistaken.

Good job by Draper, though. The Euros need a wake-up call once in a while.

[cupforwings 138]

We will see how long it lasts...

Maybe LGW will go one day without a negative comment.... but i doubt it

This is great. Whats even better is Draper backed up his rant with a goal the very next period. I bet you that fired the team up even more, to see on of their leaders give them a wake up call and then back it up on the ice.

I see this happening in the future as well. Zetterberg will be like Lidstrom, while Cleary will be like Draper...

[Echolalia 2,961]

Imagine the kind of effect it would have if Lidstrom did just lose it on his team... They'd be good to go for the rest of the season and playoffs

I can't even imagine him swearing and it being sincere. Seriously, mold a swear word in your mind around his voice. It's probably best that he doesn't peptalk too much.

[Yellowknife Redwing 57]

The awesome part is that Drapes has been noticably better than 90% of the rest of the team lately, so he's backing it up where it counts.

[Jake Ryan 1]

The awesome part is that Drapes has been noticably better than 90% of the rest of the team lately, so he's backing it up where it counts.

That last play last night showed how pumped Draper is. Helm barely touches the puck and Draper yells "MINE!" and Helm lets go of it IMMEDIATELY. Then Draper rifles it into the empty net. Best wrist shot I've ever seen from the blue line.