Pretty soon - Who are the THREE odd men out?

[russianswede919293 95]

Why does everyone assume this is a certainty? Who's to say someone doesn't make a claim on Janik... even thought it's the most likely scenario, I would much rather loose Lebda or Meech for nothing than Janik...

That is a valid point. And I think that the Wings will talk it over with Babs as to who he would most want and who they feel won't make it through waivers.

The ideal situation is to keep all three in the system. There is bound to be more injuries and depth is not a bad thing. IMO Janik has the best chance of clearing waivers, I could be wrong.

[Finnish Wing 110]

I'd bet my year's salary that Leino will not score 10 goals in the next 2 months... especially since he'll be benched more than not since he has no heart

He had it earlier. Just because your confidence is at zero, doesn't mean you have no heart. That's a pretty rough thing to say.

[dragonballgtz 273]

I'd bet my year's salary that Leino will not score 10 goals in the next 2 months... especially since he'll be benched more than not since he has no heart

That and if its hard for him to score in the regular season good luck in the playoffs.

I always thought since the Grand Rapids guys were brought up because of injuries they could be sent down no worries?

[stevkrause 1,247]

May probably won't even be waived. I don't see Ville going anywhere, and I don't want him to either.

Miller is the guy I expect to see go over May. That makes me sad, I would rather keep Miller long term, but I also really like May.

The long and short of it is nobody has done anything in my eyes to warrant a change from the healthy roster that started the first 3 games. Abdelkader out for Helm coming in.

May was signed before the injuries and has done everything he was brought in to do.

The question is: Has Drew Miller proven to be more valuable to the team than somebody that already was on it at the start of the year. The only possible guy I can think of would be May.

So it comes down to May or Miller. The Free Agent Enforcer or the Waiver Picked Grinder, which one would you rather have down the stretch.

Miller has DEFINITELY proven more valuable than Maltby (not going anywhere though), Leino and May... and Babs loves him - he's incredibly versatile and works his ass off... to let him walk to keep Leino would be a huge mistake...

Also, the team they iced at the beginning of the season hadn't even gelled before injuries and we've been competing at least with bottom 6 guys in top 6 spots, so you keep those guys (Eaves, Miller) on the roster and roll with it...

He had it earlier. Just because your confidence is at zero, doesn't mean you have no heart. That's a pretty rough thing to say.

his back checking, effort on lose pucks and desire to go to the rough spots on the ice does say it though...

That and if its hard for him to score in the regular season good luck in the playoffs.

I always thought since the Grand Rapids guys were brought up because of injuries they could be sent down no worries?

not if they'd been up more than 10 days I believe the number is... it might even only be 7 days...

[russianswede919293 95]

I'd bet my year's salary that Leino will not score 10 goals in the next 2 months... especially since he'll be benched more than not since he has no heart

What about 6.

Leino when playing will most likely play with Zetterberg or Filppula until Franzen gets back. He has played well with both at times earlier in the season. If he gets chemistry with either of those players he could score 6 goals. I also think he is starting to play more like Babs wants him to after some of his more recent quotes.

I could see Leino scoring 6 goals before Franzen gets back. You may not see it, but I think success or failure are both possible for Ville. I'm not gaurenteeing it will happen. In fact I don't think it will, but I do think its possible.

I am not asking if you think he will, I want to know that IF he gets hot and scores 6 goals before Franzen is back, do you think he is worth hanging on to at the age of 25 in his first year in the NHL?

Which brings me back to my first point: Its not between Leino or May, its more between Miller or May.

[Finnish Wing 110]

his back checking, effort on lose pucks and desire to go to the rough spots on the ice does say it though...

It's about confidence.

And the other thing: again, Leino's a low risk to take which can actually be something. May won't be anything better than he is now, probably even worse. I'd definitely gamble as we're speaking of such a minor change in the lineup.

[stevkrause 1,247]

What about 6.

Leino when playing will most likely play with Zetterberg or Filppula until Franzen gets back. He has played well with both at times earlier in the season. If he gets chemistry with either of those players he could score 6 goals. I also think he is starting to play more like Babs wants him to after some of his more recent quotes.

I could see Leino scoring 6 goals before Franzen gets back. You may not see it, but I think success or failure are both possible for Ville. I'm not gaurenteeing it will happen. In fact I don't think it will, but I do think its possible.

I am not asking if you think he will, I want to know that IF he gets hot and scores 6 goals before Franzen is back, do you think he is worth hanging on to at the age of 25 in his first year in the NHL?

Which brings me back to my first point: Its not between Leino or May, its more between Miller or May.

If he was willing to spend more time in GR and develop, then, yes I'd be willing to take a shot at him, even if it just meant sending him down to get his confidence up, but the fact that he expects to get top 6 minutes here, refuses to go down and does not play like a top 6 player when he's in - no - I do not think we should suffer through the growing pains because he's too stubborn to admit he isn't ready yet...

[esteef 2,679]

Seeing as how May has demonstrated that he can actually play hockey and forecheck, I would be surprised if he was waived, especially with a lot of scoring returning to our lineup. If it comes down to Miller or May, my guess is Miller's gone. Also, with Rittola looking better each game, it's gonna be hard for Leino to keep his spot unless he picks it up pretty quick.

As others have said, I'd like to keep Janik over Meech or Lebda but the Wings will probably keep Lebda.

esteef

[russianswede919293 95]

Miller has DEFINITELY proven more valuable than Maltby (not going anywhere though), Leino and May... and Babs loves him - he's incredibly versatile and works his ass off... to let him walk to keep Leino would be a huge mistake...

Also, the team they iced at the beginning of the season hadn't even gelled before injuries and we've been competing at least with bottom 6 guys in top 6 spots, so you keep those guys (Eaves, Miller) on the roster and roll with it...

I agree with you here.

I would keep Miller over any of those guys myself.

But Leino just has too much upside to give up on him.

Maltby though in my opinion the most expendable will go nowhere due to Wings loyalty (it has its pluses and minuses, it is what it is)

May brings something that nobody on this team has been able to bring since they bought out McCarty, toughness and hockey sense.

Miller has been a great PK'er and a great forechecker and a great backchecker.

I don't want to lose any of the 4 guys. I just don't want to see people write of Leino before he even gets a shot.

[Reds4Life 51]

Trade/get rid of Leino, Meech and Lebda

[Finnish Wing 110]

If he was willing to spend more time in GR and develop, then, yes I'd be willing to take a shot at him, even if it just meant sending him down to get his confidence up, but the fact that he expects to get top 6 minutes here, refuses to go down and does not play like a top 6 player when he's in - no - I do not think we should suffer through the growing pains because he's too stubborn to admit he isn't ready yet...

Where did you get that?

[T.Low 1,011]

They're not going to move all forwards, one of the D-men is down/out... and unfortunately, it's probably Janik...

but they've got to know that Janik is the future here, Lebda and Meech have given everything they've got to this organization and done all they can in Wings Uni, it's time to set them free to flourish elsewhere.

Detroit could right a book on the quality Defensemen they've lost one way or another in modern history.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Trade/get rid of Leino, Meech and Lebda

Trade Lidstrom.

[russianswede919293 95]

If he was willing to spend more time in GR and develop, then, yes I'd be willing to take a shot at him, even if it just meant sending him down to get his confidence up, but the fact that he expects to get top 6 minutes here, refuses to go down and does not play like a top 6 player when he's in - no - I do not think we should suffer through the growing pains because he's too stubborn to admit he isn't ready yet...

Here I can agree with you. I think he needs more time in Grand Rapids. But I think he wouldn't pass through waivers, and I think that he would bail. Both those things make it impossible to see that happen.

[Reds4Life 51]

Trade Lidstrom.

Yeah..lets trade Lidstrom because Leino, Lebda and Meech sucks.

I bet you also think Filppula is a 2nd liner

[Echolalia 2,961]

Isn't a team allowed to have an unlimited roster size after a certain day (trade deadline? start of playoffs?) What day is that, or does this even exist?

Anyway, Abby is a certainty to be sent down as he is the only one waiver exempt. May is the next most likely to be bumped from the roster, imo, as a bottom liner who's only real niche on the team is enforcing. Also, I feel he has the best chance of clearing waivers out of all our players. As for the last player, I believe it likely to be between Miller or Janek if it came to a last resort of waiving, although I could see Holland trying to trade to avoid losing someone for nothing.

[mmamolo 287]

he may only get 700k, but his cap hit is 800 and he clears up a lot more space than Miller and May and a lot can be said about the intangibles that they both bring that he does not... also, any one of Filppula, Williams and Eaves can move to the top lines if needed, we're better off carrying our extras for the bottom 6... Letting Miller or May walk to keep Leino would be a massive mistake if they have any hopes to win anything this year...

I really don't see the Wings giving up on Leino. Another point is that although May has done very well in the role he was brought in for, come playoff time, his value goes way down. No one really fights in the playoffs. In some ways I think that will be the determining factor - even though we're only half way through the season. Despite May's fighting ability I think Miller is more valuable at this stage and I can't see him being waived over May either.

It's obviously a really tough call for the Wings.

listen... that's something that we all just think and never say!!!

No more bad ju-ju to the injury gods, he doesn't mean it!

ha that's true...and I hope that doesn't jinx anyone but it certainly would solve this whole discussion.

[mmamolo 287]

Isn't a team allowed to have an unlimited roster size after a certain day (trade deadline? start of playoffs?) What day is that, or does this even exist?

Anyway, Abby is a certainty to be sent down as he is the only one waiver exempt. May is the next most likely to be bumped from the roster, imo, as a bottom liner who's only real niche on the team is enforcing. Also, I feel he has the best chance of clearing waivers out of all our players. As for the last player, I believe it likely to be between Miller or Janek if it came to a last resort of waiving, although I could see Holland trying to trade to avoid losing someone for nothing.

Well all teams are exempt from the cap come playoffs and you are free to dress anyone in your system. But I think during the regular season you are bound by the max roster size. At least, that's how I think it works.

But I agree with what you said. Although I think Janik gets sent down before Miller. I think Janik has a better chance of clearing at this point. Well, that and the fact I feel like it's almost a certainty the Wings keep Meech and Lebda on the roster ahead of Janik. Once healthy, there's no point in having Meech and Janik sit every game and losing Miller for nothing (if he got picked up)

[leelanau 0]

Drew Miller has been told to move out of his hotel and find a permanent residence in the Detroit area. He is not going anywhere.

Edited January 7, 2010 by leelanau

[Finnish Wing 110]

Yeah..lets trade Lidstrom because Leino, Lebda and Meech sucks.

I bet you also think Filppula is a 2nd liner

I've said numerous times that I'm not biased by nationality. I've been a fan of this club since -99 and there were no Finns here back then.

If you look at the points Filppula is just as much a 2nd liner as Cleary and Bertuzzi. But you can look my previous lines posts and you'll see that I've got Filppula centering the 3rd line in pretty much every one of them. He's an elite 3rd liner and an average 2nd liner. He would be 2nd liner in some teams, but he's not probably one of NHL's 60 best centers so that means he's not a 2nd liner, if you look it that way.

Edited January 7, 2010 by Finnish Wing

[Finnish Wing 110]

Drew Miller has been told to move out of his hotel and find a permanent residence in the Detroit area. He is not going anywhere.

"Has been told"? By who? Source, please.

[russianswede919293 95]

Drew Miller has been told to move out of his hotel and find a permanent residence in the Detroit area. He is not going anywhere.

Where did you hear that? I would be happy about that.

[esteef 2,679]

I really don't see the Wings giving up on Leino. Another point is that although May has done very well in the role he was brought in for, come playoff time, his value goes way down. No one really fights in the playoffs. In some ways I think that will be the determining factor - even though we're only half way through the season. Despite May's fighting ability I think Miller is more valuable at this stage and I can't see him being waived over May either.

It's obviously a really tough call for the Wings.

ha that's true...and I hope that doesn't jinx anyone but it certainly would solve this whole discussion.

21 fights in last year's playoffs. Doesn't sound like a lot until you consider that there were only 6 the year before. Just sayin'...

If May is kept over Miller it will be because he's a great 4th line grinder who can hit, forecheck, enforce and is a great lockerroom guy. Miller is good too but he's essentially another Eaves, which ain't bad either. Tough choice!

esteef

[stevkrause 1,247]

I agree with you here.

I would keep Miller over any of those guys myself.

But Leino just has too much upside to give up on him.

Maltby though in my opinion the most expendable will go nowhere due to Wings loyalty (it has its pluses and minuses, it is what it is)

May brings something that nobody on this team has been able to bring since they bought out McCarty, toughness and hockey sense.

Miller has been a great PK'er and a great forechecker and a great backchecker.

I don't want to lose any of the 4 guys. I just don't want to see people write of Leino before he even gets a shot.

So we basically see eye to eye, it's just a personal preference of who we'd rather lose if we have to, Miller or Leino... for me, it's Leino - but you make valid points.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Where did you hear that? I would be happy about that.

me too - source please if you're going to make such a lofty announcement.