Have you lost confidence in certain players?

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Just bring up Larsson and put Ozzie down in GR for conditioning or something. Can't be any worse at this point. And who the hell is gonna claim Ozzie on waivers?

No.

Osgood has played much better this season than last.

[eva unit zero 271]

And who the hell is gonna claim Ozzie on waivers?

Most teams would grab him. Very few have two better goalies, even with Ozzie may not be playing among the league's elite this season. Teams like Columbus, or Ottawa could certainly use a great veteran presence in net to help their young guys, and he's easily the league's top money goalie over the past two years so a lot of playoff teams would pick him up as an insurance policy. Especially with his cap number.

[digitaljohn88 4]

Osgood hasn't been bad - he's been pretty average, but I can understand everyone wanting to see him in playoff form instead. He has a season .901%... fairly average. But he's barely played. Howard got hot and he hasn't really had many chances. We gave him 7 goals of support in 6 November starts, and just got shutout infront of him again tonight. Overall he's been a bit disappointing. We need him in better form.

Leino had 9 points in 13 games last year. I think it's fair to expect him to be doing much better than 6 points in 32 games this year. I didn't expect him to keep last years pace... but this is just terrible. I was hoping for a 40-45 point year. He's on pace for 15 points. Terribad.

Datsyuk needs to step up and put the team on his back. He doesn't seem to do that often anymore. Dallas was nice. Too bad we still lost.

Lidstrom is nearly 40. He's going to fall off, that's a fact. It probably wouldn't look as bad if we had an NHL roster.

Edited December 21, 2009 by digitaljohn88

[ShanahanMan 473]

Here's some food for thought:

Leino is now a team worst at -8!

[vangvace 12]

Can the trainers be added to the poll?

[newfy 695]

Well if this were the Red Wings circa 1988 - you might just get your wish...With todays roster??!!...No way in hell.

While driving to the inlaws this morning I was thinking how disappointed I'm gonna be when I miss tonights game...Seems as though I didn't miss much...I was also thinking how "back in the day" when the Wings were battling for a playoff spot (again back in the 80's) - they always iced teams with a plethora of tuff guys that always made things interesting.

Today with May, Newbury,Janik, Bert and Abdelkader all in the line up you think that we could manage to goon a little bit.

I saw Newbury trying to fight twice once on Fraser at center ice and he gave Kopecky a hot after that hit on the icing. This team lacks fire.

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

I understand that Osgood didn't completely lose the game for us, but I'm so sick and tired of him giving up bad goals when we all know what he is capable of. I think it's sad that most of us are more confident in our rookie goaltender than our proven championship-winning veteran.

Also, I'm a little disappointed in Datsyuk. I know I expect a lot out of him as a fan, but it's times like this when he needs to step up and give it a little extra. He does wear the "A" after all.

[Miller Brew 0]

This tea is built on a foundation of a system. With many of our injuries, our players who excel in this system are out and we are depending on rookies and AHL players to 'learn' this system, and get skilled in part of a system they are not programmed for. So Babcock has no choice but to throw players in a position they are not built for. That weakens the entire system as a whole.

Osgood was rusty his 40 minutes was solid after he warmed up in the 3rd.

Dats has been great

Leino is forced into place he's not built for. The guy hasn't even been groomed for the NHL, and now we are trying to depend on him. He was good with Flip and Williams, both of whom are out injured. Leino should be on the 3rd line with Flip and Williams and slowly given more responsibility. I feel bad for the guy, actually.

I for one am not going to hit the 'panic' button. This team has been amazing. We lost 2 road games back to back., it can happen to the best of teams, let alone to an injured Red Wings team. I know we are known (and expected) to be the "best", but it's hard to be the "best" when your best players are out.

[dragonballgtz 273]

Osgood hasn't been bad - he's been pretty average, but I can understand everyone wanting to see him in playoff form instead. He has a season .901%... fairly average. But he's barely played. Howard got hot and he hasn't really had many chances. We gave him 7 goals of support in 6 November starts, and just got shutout infront of him again tonight. Overall he's been a bit disappointing. We need him in better form.

That save percentage would be a lot higher if he wasn't allowing bad goals. When you know your offense isnt as good as it use to be and with a goalie like Ozzie I'm sorry but he is losing it.

Ozzie is the one I voted on.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

I for one am not going to hit the 'panic' button. This team has been amazing. We lost 2 road games back to back., it can happen to the best of teams, let alone to an injured Red Wings team. I know we are known (and expected) to be the "best", but it's hard to be the "best" when your best players are out.

i'm with you. this team is playing as well as could be expected considering its current roster. we're right on the cusp of a playoff spot. i thought we could have competed harder in the third tonight, but honestly, i don't know how much it would have done. we were playing the best defense in the league and ozzie's on the other side letting in 62 footers. overall, i'm proud of these guys. they're playing their hearts out for the most part. we just don't have the talent to really compete with a team as stacked as the hawks. the made us look silly much of the night.

[stuck in socal 56]

In all fairness to "losing" confidence, no I am not losing confidence in anyone. I expected the Wings to be like this due to all the injuries. I gurantee if we had zero injuries we are sitting top 3 in the conference and Leino is probably more comfortable. Right now everyone is expecting too much of Leino. If we were healthy he would have "eased' into his role. He has a lot of talent and he just needs to grow into the role. The whole team is a little down because of injuries but that is expected .We get Filpulla back on the 26th and by end of January we will be healthy and the record will start to improve. Regardless of what seed we make the playoffs we are a threat just because of all the experience.

[eva unit zero 271]

i'm with you. this team is playing as well as could be expected considering its current roster. we're right on the cusp of a playoff spot. i thought we could have competed harder in the third tonight, but honestly, i don't know how much it would have done. we were playing the best defense in the league and ozzie's on the other side letting in 62 footers. overall, i'm proud of these guys. they're playing their hearts out for the most part. we just don't have the talent to really compete with a team as stacked as the hawks. the made us look silly much of the night.

As I stated in another post, the Wings' offense failed to show up when opportunities were present, and the Wings were completely decimated at the dot, especially in the offensive zone. Can't score if you don't have the puck. No goalie wins a game where his team scores 0 goals. Osgood was brilliant in the third period and the offense couldn't buy a decent scoring chance.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

As I stated in another post, the Wings' offense failed to show up when opportunities were present, and the Wings were completely decimated at the dot, especially in the offensive zone. Can't score if you don't have the puck. No goalie wins a game where his team scores 0 goals. Osgood was brilliant in the third period and the offense couldn't buy a decent scoring chance.

Being brilliant in third doesn't help when you give up two bad goals in the first two periods. When a goalie lets in two softies, his team is probably going to lose the game. In this instance it didn't really matter because the Wings did nothing on offense as you pointed out, but all that means is there's more blame to go around. Nobody had a very good night, Oz certainly included.

[AtomicPunk 296]

I came in to vote on who has disappointed me most, in the spirit of Festivus.

Leino.

The delusion that Kovalchuk will ever be a Wing is RIDICULOUS. We can barely afford to sign Jason Williams and people think he will not take the max out contract Atlanta is going to throw at him and come here for less than 50% of that money? I would LOVE to see him here but...

AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN, FOLKS. Stop it.

[Zetts 236]

I don't see how anyone could lose confidence in Osgood. Remeber last season? He was infinitely worse last season and was still good for the playoffs. The reality is, he's not a very good regular season goalie. The fact that he's so much better in the playoffs, to me, suggests a lack of professionalism. There's no reason he shouldn't play at least average in the regular season if he can be that good in the playoffs. Ultimately though, he's good in the playoffs, when it matters, and he's cheap.

Obviously we need him more this year, but it's still not a disappointment how he's played.

I was stuck between Datsyuk and Leino. Datsyuk has been god-awful offensively, which is how we most need him right now (with the exception of the game against Dallas).

Ultimately though, I had to go for Leino. Not only is he sucking, but he doesn't look like he's trying. Robert freaking Lang finished more checks than this guy. He's completely uninvolved. Yes, he's a rookie, so hopefully he will improve, but this is still nowhere near what I expected, particularly given how good he was in his limited time last year.

Edit: And as for Kovalchuk, as has been mentioned, it's probably not realistic. But hell, I'd be supportive of it happening. Anyone not named Zetterberg, Dastyuk or Lidstrom can go if we could get this guy (and were able to sign him to an extension).

Edited December 21, 2009 by Zetts

[Guest Crymson]

Leino is useless.

I was also disappointed that we didnt goon it up at the end of todays game. If we lose, might as well kick their little ***** asses in the process.

I'd rather not see the team lower itself to that level.

[Zetts 236]

I'd rather not see the team lower itself to that level.

Exactly. Sign #1 that there's a huge problem: fans start sounding like St. Louis Blues fans.

[Theophany 110]

Kovy won't happen. He doesn't fit in the type of organization that Holland has built, and that Yzerman will continue.

As for who has disappointed me, I picked Lidstrom; mainly because I thought he still had a lot in the tank after how strong he was in the playoffs, but it seems that he's been trying to pick up too much of the slack that his partners have been dropping, thus overplaying certain situations.

Don't get me wrong, he's still the #1 defenseman on the team, IMO. The number of small plays that don't get noticed that he makes are astronomical. He's just been a bit disappointing because I thought he still had 4-5 years left in him, and he's looking like it'll be two at best.

Leino I didn't expect too much out of, and he hasn't really done anything. That's below my expectations, but it's not as large of a step down as Lidstrom's drop; then again, I've had the image since I was 7 that Lidstrom was like a force of nature on defense, and to have him start to show flaws and weakness is really weird.

[kylee 727]

Kovy won't happen. He doesn't fit in the type of organization that Holland has built, and that Yzerman will continue.

As for who has disappointed me, I picked Lidstrom; mainly because I thought he still had a lot in the tank after how strong he was in the playoffs, but it seems that he's been trying to pick up too much of the slack that his partners have been dropping, thus overplaying certain situations.

that's actually my opinion on Lidstrom. i dont think his skills have decreased (at least not so markedly), but that hes trying to be the top two pairings all by himself. i mean think about....he was paired with derek meech tonight!!

im not too worried about Lidstrom. i think he (and the rest of this team) will come around when everyone gets healthy and gets a chance to gel. Lidstrom is Lidstrom; a hall of famer; no one else like him. i think all of here @ LGW are just a little too trigger happy when it comes to throwing players under the bus. its a tough time right now for us fans w/ the wings, but lets hang in there. you dont lose 9 regular players and expect everything to be like it usually is.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

On Dissapointment:

Both Osgood and Lidstrom are playing worse then I expected, but I can't really fault either. Age is catching up.

On Kovalchuk

If Atlanta were to have significant interest in a package, it's going to have to either include Filppula and Kronwall. Kronwall right now is invaluable to the team, so Filppula will have to be the centerpiece.

I can see each of these trades potentailly being enticing to both teams

Filppula, Cleary (convince him to waive ntc somehow, yeah i know unrealistic but this is my pipe dream), 1st, 3rd (Ideal trade, as if you Sign Kovy long term 6.5 million, you bascially wash all the salary but 700k)

Filppula Kindl 1st, 2nd

Fippula, Ericcsson

Filpulla 2x 1st, 2nd

If my pipe dream of Kovy at 6.5 million comes true, then I'd be all over the first proposal. Then we resign Bert for same, ditch Williams, resign Holmer for less, and lidstrom plays for 3, and we suddenly have 6 million to throw at Chara.

[egroen 384]

I am probably most disappointed with Datsyuk - unlike Lidstrom and Osgood, he's in his prime and now would be a great time to shine... I guess I had hoped he could be that type of player (and he still might be). Chris Osgood is not exactly paid to be a difference maker - Datsyuk is.

I would have traded Filppula if it meant keeping Hossa... I would certainly do the same for Kovalchuk, with a 1st and a top prospect.

Edited December 21, 2009 by egroen

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I am probably most disappointed with Datsyuk - unlike Lidstrom and Osgood, he's in his prime and now would be a great time to shine... I guess I had hoped he could be that type of player (and he still might be). Chris Osgood is not exactly paid to be a difference maker - Datsyuk is.

I would have traded Filppula if it meant keeping Hossa... I would certainly do the same for Kovalchuk, with a 1st and a top prospect.

I used to hate Kovalchuk, but he's developed an almost Danny Markov like temper, which has made him alot better in my eyes. Plus he's a snipe show hard.

Kovalchuk-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi

Cleary-Zetterberg-Franzen

Williams-Helm-Homer

Eaves-Draper-Miller/Abby/Malts

Is pretty sick line-up, but I seriously doubt it'd ever happen.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I wake up to see that yes, the Detroit Red Griffins did indeed lose, like any sane person expected them to when playing on the 2nd night of a back-to-back against maybe the best team in the league, and as usual this board goes absolutely bananas and wants to trade everyone.

But trying to be on-topic, it looked like Ozzie let in some weak goals last night. I'm sad to see that it seems he just can't get it done in the regular season anymore. Hopefully he's still got another great playoff run in him though.

[Finnish Wing 110]

I used to hate Kovalchuk, but he's developed an almost Danny Markov like temper, which has made him alot better in my eyes. Plus he's a snipe show hard.

Kovalchuk-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi

Cleary-Zetterberg-Franzen

Williams-Helm-Homer

Eaves-Draper-Miller/Abby/Malts

Is pretty sick line-up, but I seriously doubt it'd ever happen.

I'm sorry but this looks better:

Frolov-Datsyuk-Cleary

Zetterberg-Filppula-Franzen

Abdelkader-Helm-Eaves

Miller-Draper-TOUGHGUY

I lol'd at your 3rd line and having Abby on 4th line wing or not on the team at all.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I get a kick how, at least on perception here, people also almost always forget to consider that other teams are actually good/doing good whenever the Wings hit a snag.