Its become abundantly clear

[Motown4013 350]

First off I would like to say that I have been really impressed with role guys stepping up. Eaves, Helm, Miller and Abby have all really risen to the occasion throughout. Ever Jankik and Meech have exceeded my expectations but after watching the Hawks game tonight (20/12), its become abundantly clear that our injuries have caught up to us.

We simply do not have the depth at this point to rally. Osgood was weak tonight but in saying that, there were 4 odd man rushes and two breakaways and that cant happen.We lost that game on every level: outshot, outchanced and on faceoffs...every aspect of the Wings game looked vulnerable. I think we were able to still compete with Zetty in the lineup because we had a solid #1 line and a "decent" second line.

A lot of these guys are not used to the intensity of the NHL. Its much faster, much more physical and a whole lot more demanding. How do we expect a guy like Eaves, who has been great, to play 8 minutes on the 3/4 line and then become a 20 minute guy on the second PP? Its too much to ask. Its not Eaves fault...or anyone elses...the guys are playing with a ton of heart. They are playing hard and hanging tough but they must be exhausted and it really showed tonight.

Just wanting to know thoughts about how long we can stay close to a playoff spot with the roster we have. I am looking for Flip to be back but after that, its not until 2010 that we will see any of the other injured guys.

Despite this, I have to admit that I have been proud of how the young guys responded but I wonder how long we can play with a team like like this?

Thoughts?

[lfd250 1]

Duh?

Ok, that was a bit mean. But come on we know this already and this will just be another post of people bashing the players they hate. Keep up the positive attitude.

Edited December 21, 2009 by lfd250

[Echolalia 2,961]

So THAT explains it!

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

It's impossible to rally when there's over half the season left? Last time I checked a season doesn't end in December.

Injuries right now stink but they're doing as good as we can expect them right now with the roster. Just don't go on any lengthy losing streaks and slowly get healthy and they'll be fine. I see no reason to obsess about missing the playoffs.

[ShanahanMan 473]

LOL. Obvious thread is obvious.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I don't think Flip coming back will help us that much.

He's a set up man and not a goal scorer. Right now, there's no one to set up. We won't become a decent team until mid January, and that's providing we have no more injuries.

I just don't want this team in February or March having to make up a whole bunch of points, because it's hard to start clicking all of a sudden and passing teams by.

Bottom line is that we can't have these stretches where we go several games without even getting a point. In today's NHL, points are awarded for pretty much everything. That's why there's so many teams now that crack 100 points every year.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Bottom line is that we can't have these stretches where we go several games without even getting a point. In today's NHL, points are awarded for pretty much everything. That's why there's so many teams now that crack 100 points every year.

It's pretty obnoxious following scoreboards and seeing every team from the West getting points every single night. It feels like the teams above the Wings right now never lose; and even when the Wings went on a nice run and won a lot of games for a stretch they barely moved up in the standings because everybody is just winning constantly.

[Carman 387]

Wow, did not notice those injuries piling up. Geez.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Wait, Detroit has players inured? Who?

[Motown4013 350]

Thanks for the thoughtful insights guys...I wasnt DOGGING anyone- if anything I think I praised this team. My post may be obvious but I was looking for some thoughts from other Wings fans about how the team can tread water during the storm.

[digitaljohn88 4]

We're still good enough to beat #6-15 seed teams and hang around .500, just can't expect to compete very well with the top teams until we get guys back.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

It's pretty obnoxious following scoreboards and seeing every team from the West getting points every single night. It feels like the teams above the Wings right now never lose; and even when the Wings went on a nice run and won a lot of games for a stretch they barely moved up in the standings because everybody is just winning constantly.

Which is exactly why I'm tired of people talking about how great we'll be once we're healthy.

Even if we do become healthy, it'll be hard to pass a bunch of teams in a short span of time. Especially with this Olympic s*** coming up and players needing time off from the games.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

oh, they have the internet on computers now?

[Tommy_Like_Wingy 25]

We're still good enough to beat #6-15 seed teams and hang around .500, just can't expect to compete very well with the top teams until we get guys back.

Great teams find ways to stay competitive in situations like this and I'd say we're doing a pretty good job of it. We've been a bubble team through most of the year which bodes well for when we finally get our top guys back.

[Motown4013 350]

oh, they have the internet on computers now?

WOW....nevermind

[ShanahanMan 473]

Thanks for the thoughtful insights guys...I wasnt DOGGING anyone- if anything I think I praised this team. My post may be obvious but I was looking for some thoughts from other Wings fans about how the team can tread water during the storm.

Just teasing ya dude. The fact is, the Salary Cap +injuries + players we thought would be contributing a LOT more then they are (ie, Leino, Helm, Abs) = a struggling season, simple as that.

Theeeeeen again, even when we had our full lineup in Sweden, we still didn't look good at all. I don't know, this season's been pretty bewildering. I'll get a bit of hope at times and then watch games like this and think we have no chance at the playoffs. But as someone else said, I don't see much of a difference when Flip returns to the lineup. Once we get our full group back, we'll be able to judge if we truly have what it takes to succeed......if we're still in the race by then...

Edited December 21, 2009 by ShanahanMan

[vOrophin 5]

Oh god guys Lilja just got injured!

[Guest Lidstromboli]

+ players we thought would be contributing a LOT more then they are (ie, Leino, Helm, Abs)

lol wut

Edited December 21, 2009 by Lidstromboli

[ShanahanMan 473]

lol wut

What do you mean, "wut"? It's true. While they're doing SOMETHING, they're not putting up numbers anywhere near what management hoped.

[Motown4013 350]

Just teasing ya dude. The fact is, the Salary Cap +injuries + players we thought would be contributing a LOT more then they are (ie, Leino, Helm, Abs) = a struggling season, simple as that.

Theeeeeen again, even when we had our full lineup in Sweden, we still didn't look good at all. I don't know, this season's been pretty bewildering. I'll get a bit of hope at times and then watch games like this and think we have no chance at the playoffs. But as someone else said, I don't see much of a difference when Flip returns to the lineup. Once we get our full group back, we'll be able to judge if we truly have what it takes to succeed......if we're still in the race by then...

You are teasin' a chick BTW

I actually think this team plays a bit better with adversity. Hell, I havent seen Pavel get that "spur in your boot" attitude until the game against dallas when he had 8 takeaways. He was relentless and sometimes players need to be backed into a corner to get them fired up.

I think the struggle may help this team because at the beginning of the year we played with a lot of complacency but I havent seen that attitude in the last 10 games (with exception of a few guys that always look that way)

I think Flips return will really help actually. It will relieve some of the pressure of the other role guys and he and Leino did have some mojo together before Flip got hurt, so his return...even if it takes some stress of some of the guys and helps are PP is a plus.

[wingnut40 176]

Aw, you guys are so mean. Poor OP. Yeah, it's apparent we're doing poorly because of injuries. And duh, we're not gonna suddenly get better when one or two players come back. Like the saying goes, "Adversity produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Some people are hopeful and why not? We've all seen what this team can do in a tight spot, and it's nothing short of amazing.

[VM1138 1,921]

I agree with you guys, the team may be great when healthy, but even if they win all the time they'll still have to wait for several teams above them to start losing, which can't be counted on. The only way the Wings can influence is if they beat those teams that need to lose (coughBLACKHAWKScough).

I don't want to say it's the end of the line if they don't win next game against the Hawks, but it's going to make it that much tougher to allow the Hawks to further their lead.

Example: If we beat the Hawks next time, we'll be right back where we started points-wise relating to the Hawks. If we lose, we'll be behind where we were last week.

This is where beating division rivals comes in handy. You can't juts beat crappy teams, you need to beat the teams above you. We're within striking distance of the Hawks lead, but we need to beat them every time we play them from here on out, really, on top of beating the random Western teams above us.

Healthy might be too late. They need to find ways to win now, which they have been. I'll say this was inevitable and due to injuries and exhaustion, but they better have the cojones to beat the Hawks next game.

[stuck in socal 56]

For those nagging on the OP shame on you. For some idiots here who get all pissed in the game day threads I don't think they understand that injuries are effecting the team. They seem to put all the blame on Ozzy, and yeah the OP has a point. It was pretty obvious we can not contend with the hawks now. They were farly superior due to the fact the wings are so injured.

[Theophany 110]

What do you mean, "wut"? It's true. While they're doing SOMETHING, they're not putting up numbers anywhere near what management hoped.

Expected fourth line player and Grand Rapids Griffin to score a lot?

What? Do you know how hockey works? That Helm and Abdelkader have points at all is frankly shocking, since neither one of them have much of any scoring touch.

[Zetts 236]

What do you mean, "wut"? It's true. While they're doing SOMETHING, they're not putting up numbers anywhere near what management hoped.

I sure hope our management wasn't expecting big numbers from them. Helm has always been projected as a third or fourth liner, and while Abs may develop a little more offense some day, there was no reason to expect him to be putting up big numbers now. Heck, he wasn't even supposed to be on the team, so his projected point total would have been a whopping 0.