Berry 2 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 I'm sure that the Wings will do the playoffs, but will they be able to reach, at least, the conference finals? Personally, I think we are getting older and older and if we don't do any changes, next years will be more and more difficult to do well... Discuss please... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWings 79 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 We are not an old team. Lidstrom is not having a great year, but he might come back in the playoffs. Franzen missing means a lot of clutch goals and a lot of points. With this guy healthy in the playoffs we can go far. Right now i am seeing a Red Wings team with a much better defense than last year. Datsyuk is starting to play well (2 last games), Zetterberg and Franzen will hurt everybody when they come back, and we don't have Hossa bad mojo with us. We can go all the way. I'd love to see a Belle against the Penguins Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cupforwings 138 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 are big guns, Zetterberg and Datsyuk, still have a few years left to be great players... although they are in their 30's, the are still great players... Nothing is a guarantee in the playoffs for any team, but I think its possible to go all the way again... I think healthy, they are top 3 in the league... my prediction for the conference finals: Detroit vs. San Jose (we knock out Chicago in the first round as the 7th seed) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 (edited) This is the first year in around two decades that the team has had to face real adversity in the regular season. It also doesn't hurt that half of our "tired" team from extensive playing in the past is out injured long-term. All this spells energy and hunger come playoffs as far as I'm concerned, and if they can ride it appropriately as well as play the stellar defense that they've learned is essential, then they're winning the Cup. Edited January 3, 2010 by Echolalia Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lidstromboli Report post Posted January 3, 2010 der hurr they gunna win da stanley cups Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marty Barry 230 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 Yep. Bring on the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miller Brew 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 A healthy Red Wings team is the last team any #1 or #2 seed teams will want to play. Actually Red Wings are the last team ANY team will want to play in the playoffs. Wings are going to upset a lot of teams in the playoffs. Bottom line, this is a fact... the road to the Stanley Cup runs through HockeyTown. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dertz.LoL! 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 Bottom line, this is a fact... the road to the Stanley Cup runs through HockeyTown. Every team in the West knows that they have to get past Detroit to go far in the playoffs. No team wants to play a healthy Wings team in the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 There are a number of factors that lead to the Cup 1. Talent 2. Depth 3. Drive 4. Leadership 5. Coaching 6. Luck 7. Lack of injuries IMO, the most talented teams are San Jose, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, New Jersey San Jose is short on leadership and has an inexperienced head coach Chicago does not have the coaching leadership or goaltending Pittsburgh has no depth and obviously the drive isn't going to be as strong as last year New Jersey has all of the ingrediants Detroit has all the ingrediants and the drive is going to be stronger than last year Of course Detroit had everything but #6 and #7 last year so who knows. I'm picking New Jersey and Detroit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 We are not an old team. Lidstrom is not having a great year, but he might come back in the playoffs. Franzen missing means a lot of clutch goals and a lot of points. With this guy healthy in the playoffs we can go far. Right now i am seeing a Red Wings team with a much better defense than last year. Datsyuk is starting to play well (2 last games), Zetterberg and Franzen will hurt everybody when they come back, and we don't have Hossa bad mojo with us. We can go all the way. I'd love to see a Belle against the Penguins Actually, we are the oldest team in the league based on the average age but interestingly, look at the top teams in the league Detroit Chicago San Jose Pittsburgh New Jersey Chicago is the youngest out of all 30 teams and the others are all above the league average in age. Maybe experience does mean something... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Winged 8 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 The Wings can win it all this year. If the injuries stop. We have just as good a chance as anyone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shady Ultima 40 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 We've been an old team for 15 years. That subject is boring. I remember hearing it before we won the cup in 97. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rice 42 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 If the Wings go into the playoffs healthy they can beat anyone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maaq 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2010 No team would want to play the Wings in the playoffs, especially if let's say we go 8th seed and San Jose stay 1st then we'll do the biggest upset ever (maybe not ever, but you get my point) Wings in finals against Jersey or Bruins, that's for sure Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stiffy 0 Report post Posted January 4, 2010 Hey, I'm all for rooting for the home team, but a non Detroit fan might stumble on this thread and suspect heavy drugs and drinking are at play. I hope you are all right, but IF we make the playoffs, second round tops. I'm worried injuries will creep back and either drive, goaltending or D will fail as well. I'd like the Wings to show me otherwise, but I am not so easily convinced this *entire* group accepts what needs to be done. Chicago will not be a walk in the park this year if we meet them again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vladifan 680 Report post Posted January 4, 2010 I want to think it's way too early to talk about this. We as Wings' fans have no idea what's going to happen during the time that all our players come back healthy. Who goes? Who stays? Is the chemistry gonna happen for the lines (I say yes)? And who do the other teams play during the next three months? What's their injury situation gonna be like? What coaches are gonna be fired? What's gonna be the price of pucks? Are composite sticks gonna lose their market share because of iffy quality? Will Barret Jackman still be taking cheapshots after the whistle? Will the Tootoo whistlers collectively choke on 'em? Will Bettman continue to work on his bobblehead behavior? See where I'm going with this? Puhleeese...! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted January 4, 2010 There are a number of factors that lead to the Cup 1. Talent 2. Depth 3. Drive 4. Leadership 5. Coaching 6. Luck 7. Lack of injuries IMO, the most talented teams are San Jose, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, New Jersey San Jose is short on leadership and has an inexperienced head coach Chicago does not have the coaching leadership or goaltending Pittsburgh has no depth and obviously the drive isn't going to be as strong as last year New Jersey has all of the ingrediants Detroit has all the ingrediants and the drive is going to be stronger than last year Of course Detroit had everything but #6 and #7 last year so who knows. I'm picking New Jersey and Detroit I don't know if you were putting those in priority order, but if you were, honestly I'd put lack of injuries higher. It was a big factor in the Wings losing in the conference finals a few seasons ago, in their cup run, and in running out of steam last season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casey 145 Report post Posted January 4, 2010 I'm sure that the Wings will do the playoffs, but will they be able to reach, at least, the conference finals? Personally, I think we are getting older and older and if we don't do any changes, next years will be more and more difficult to do well... Discuss please... Older and older? Really? Under 30- Abdelkader, Eaves, Ericsson, Filppula, Helm, Howard, Janik, Kronwall, Lebda, Leino, Meech, Miller, Ritola, Williams, Zetterberg. 30-35- Bertuzzi, Cleary, Datsyuk, Franzen, Lilja, Stuart 36-39- Draper, Holmstrom, Lidstrom, Maltby, May, Osgood, Rafalski 40 and up- None. A huge part of this team is under 30. Datsyuk and Cleary are both 31. Franzen's 30. Look at the lines you can mae using nothing but guys under 30. How about under 35? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut40 176 Report post Posted January 4, 2010 I would love nothing more than to see my Wings go all they way, but I have a feeling we won't make it out of the 2nd round. But then I have this theory that needs to be tested and if it's right then I can see us making it to the Finals, if that makes any sense. But then it also depends on health. We got the talent, we just need the luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted January 5, 2010 I'm more concerned with actually making playoffs. This is a playoff team, we'll go far IF we make playoffs. But since the team dropped the ball early on, the destiny of the team is out of their hands. They now have to wait for other teams to lose in order to make it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted January 5, 2010 I'm more concerned with actually making playoffs. This is a playoff team, we'll go far IF we make playoffs. But since the team dropped the ball early on, the destiny of the team is out of their hands. They now have to wait for other teams to lose in order to make it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted January 5, 2010 (edited) Can't we at least get to the Olympic break before we start wondering how far we would get in the playoffs? Edited January 5, 2010 by Broken 16 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stuck in socal 56 Report post Posted January 5, 2010 Can't we at least get to the All-Star break before we start wondering how we would get in the playoffs? All star break? I am sure you mean Olympic break . Also, this is now the time when we can start discussing the playoffs. We have half a season left to make the push for the big dance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stuck in socal 56 Report post Posted January 5, 2010 I'm more concerned with actually making playoffs. This is a playoff team, we'll go far IF we make playoffs. But since the team dropped the ball early on, the destiny of the team is out of their hands. They now have to wait for other teams to lose in order to make it. Nope, destiny is still in our hands. We have a couple of huge games with LA this month. Yes LA. We get them ON thurs, then later this month in Detroit then in February. I think on 2/6. These are some big games because its almost like double the points. Instead of just 6 points up for grabs, it is essentially now. LA is fighting for the playoffs so are we. These games are more important than the games against Pittsburgh and Washington. Though those are also big point/ statement games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted January 5, 2010 All star break? I am sure you mean Olympic break . Also, this is now the time when we can start discussing the playoffs. We have half a season left to make the push for the big dance. Fixed. Thanks. I can't wait to witness this playoff push. This has been a great season from a excitement/anxiety standpoint. I love the urgency we are seeing from the young guys. If Howard continues to improve at his current pace, we are going to be looking REALLY, REALLY good down the stretch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
