Pretty soon - Who are the THREE odd men out?

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Not a big difference whether it's Meech or Lebda but at least Meech has some upside (at least I'd like to think so). As for Helm, yes he's valuable but you also have to think roster management-wise. Wings can still take advantage of him being waiver exempt and bring him back up when the number of roster players is no longer limited.

What possible upside does Meech have that Lebda doesn't? This isn't Meech's rookie season and atleast Lebda has big game experience. I'll take him any day over Meech's "possible" upside.

As for Helm, the guy contributes something that the Wings don't have in abundance. Leino is useless and May doesn't serve much of a purpose. Abdelkader can easily be sent down and should be given his waiver situation, which leaves the Wings with 13 forwards. They need 13 up anyway in case of injury or normal rotation, not to mention the fact that this may not even matter given Franzen's status. It's not as if Miller or Eaves are playing at a level far and above Helm to warrant this conversation anyway.

[stevkrause 1,247]

He's not a 3rd line type player anymore than Leino is. Maybe not good enough for 2nd line in this team, but still not defensively good enough for 3rd and 4th lines in SOME teams. Luckily, this is a puck possession team which actually PLAYS hockey. That's why we can have Leino-Filppula-Williams as our 3rd line as we did in the start of the season.

I disagree...

Williams is a 3rd/2nd line player with speed and a good shot, but lacks finishing ability playing a 3rd/2nd line role

Leino is a 1st/2nd line player with great hands and a good eye for the ice, but stone for feet that would essentially be playing a 3rd/4th line role...

Not the same at all... also, at the beginning of the year, we didn't have an active and gelled Miller and Eaves in the system that have earned the time over him and have JUST as much upside...

[FinRedWing 172]

Unfortunately it'll most likely be Abs,Janik & a mystery man which I'm not going to comment 'cause I might have Finnish homer glasses on.

Meech is staying 'cause of the old "can also play as a forward" thing,which I find strange and Janik/Lebs is a no contest. Babs' man love for Brett is too strong we all know that.

Also great that I don't have to do the battling for the Finns here anymore.

Carry on...

[Hey man nice shot! 144]

willy can score 20goals a year and has a right shot on the pp and mans the point well, not to mention a shootout specailist. If they played the same position there would be no reason to talk about ville... i wouldnt let him skate in gr he has nothing to offer this team at this point. Mind you i am not a huge fan of either but atleast willy has something to offer the team.

[Guest mindfly]

willy can score 20goals a year and has a right shot on the pp and mans the point well, not to mention a shootout specailist. If they played the same position there would be no reason to talk about ville... i wouldnt let him skate in gr he has nothing to offer this team at this point. Mind you i am not a huge fan of either but atleast willy has something to offer the team.

20goal... not gonna happen... right-shooter on point is vastly overrated everyone knows this, shootout specialist LOL good one he sucks.

[Hey man nice shot! 144]

20goal... not gonna happen... right-shooter on point is vastly overrated everyone knows this, shootout specialist LOL good one he sucks.

on any retrospec, he still alot more useful than ville lieno. I you think otherwise please explain

[Guest micah]

20goal... not gonna happen... right-shooter on point is vastly overrated everyone knows this, shootout specialist LOL good one he sucks.

He netted 21 goals for us in '05-'06.

'06-'07 15 in 68.

'07-'08 13 in 43.

19 last year.

Was only on pace for 11 in his 15 games played this year (note: still better than Leino), but I don't think it's impossible or even unlikely that he can get back to a 20 goal per year pace.

[Guest mindfly]

I didn't say he was worse than leino but he still sucks, leino of course sucks more, williams does not deserve 1.5M salary on this team

[Hey man nice shot! 144]

He netted 21 goals for us in '05-'06.

'06-'07 15 in 68.

'07-'08 13 in 43.

19 last year.

Was only on pace for 11 in his 15 games played this year (note: still better than Leino), but I don't think it's impossible or even unlikely that he can get back to a 20 goal per year pace.

ty for the info micah and if i could find the numbers for his shootouts it not bad at all aswell, also lies* about right man on the point plaing with a lefthander counterpart is very usful for opening up passing lanes and fast 1 touchs passes....anyone that has played d with that option will tell u the same

[Hey man nice shot! 144]

as far as salary i agree with u mindfly

[martyrme19 73]

If he improves I expect May or Miller to be waived, and I think Miller would be the one to go (I would be sad over either leaving though)

just to clear up a little confusion, the wings brass just told drew to buy a house - so it looks like they plan on keeping him around for a bit.

Source: saw drew and ryans dad today

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

The roster limit is abolished after the trade deadline, March 3rd. That's just two games after returning from the Olympic break, and it would be much easier to just try and get under the cap with everyone healthy than try to get under the roster limit. Maybe keep Franzen hanging for a couple extra days? Not having to waive anyone not waiver-exempt would be a nice bonus.

[mmamolo 287]

I disagree...

Williams is a 3rd/2nd line player with speed and a good shot, but lacks finishing ability playing a 3rd/2nd line role

Leino is a 1st/2nd line player with great hands and a good eye for the ice, but stone for feet that would essentially be playing a 3rd/4th line role...

Not the same at all... also, at the beginning of the year, we didn't have an active and gelled Miller and Eaves in the system that have earned the time over him and have JUST as much upside...

Although I agree with what you are saying in principle I think something is a little off. I think Leino is a projected top six forward. I dont think anyone expected him to be one today - as exhibited by him being placed on the 3rd line at the beginning of the season with Filppula and Williams. Even with the great showing he had last year with 9 pts in 13 games I dont think anyone thought he'd be a mainstay top six on this team this season - hence the signings of Bertuzzi and Williams. After Franzen went down Williams was seeing time on the second line with Zetterberg and Cleary while Leino remained on the 3rd with Filppula.

So although I agree with you in saying that Leino may have top six hands and vision we already knew there were aspects of his game that, today, didn't make him a top six guy. He was always, and still in a lot of ppl's minds, a top six forward in the making.

[uk_redwing 495]

Finnish Wing has a humongous boner for Leino.

In my own perfect little world, Lebda is traded for a stick of peppermint gum, Leino is waived and sent to sulk in Finland and unfortunately Abs is sent down to GR but at least gets 1st line minutes.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Finnish Wing has a humongous boner for Leino.

In my own perfect little world, Lebda is traded for a stick of peppermint gum, Leino is waived and sent to sulk in Finland and unfortunately Abs is sent down to GR but at least gets 1st line minutes.

And hates Brad May because he doesn't score many goals.

Apparently, Leino will sometime in the future.

[Finnish Wing 110]

And hates Brad May because he doesn't score many goals.

Apparently, Leino will sometime in the future.

The only reason I "hate" Brad May is because people here think choosing May over Leino is better for this team future and present combined, while it certainly isn't.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

The only reason I "hate" Brad May is because people here think choosing May over Leino is better for this team future and present combined, while it certainly isn't.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is Leino's last year in Detroit, while May comes back next season.

You just don't want to admit that your countryman turned out to be a big bust over here.

[mjlegend 155]

just to clear up a little confusion, the wings brass just told drew to buy a house - so it looks like they plan on keeping him around for a bit.

Source: saw drew and ryans dad today

What if he prefers to rent?

[cjm502 165]

I wouldn't be surprised if this is Leino's last year in Detroit, while May comes back next season.

You just don't want to admit that your countryman turned out to be a big bust over here.

Thats what I have been thinking.

[stevkrause 1,247]

The funny thing is we'd be in such a better situation if one of the role players/grinders we dont want to lose got hurt as ppl return. I know that's a s***ty thing to say but if we sent Abdelkader down and say Lebda and Maltby got injured, boom, problem solved.

I think it's basically the consensus that Janik should be kept over Lebda and Meech but that most likely won't happen. However, I do think that'd be a big blow to our defensive depth if he got picked up on waivers.

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!

GOD DAMN YOU MMAMOLO!!!!

See the thread about Holmstrom...

[martyrme19 73]

What if he prefers to rent?

In today's economy, you'd have to be an idiot to rent! Especially in good ol' Michigan real estate.

[Theophany 110]

GOD DAMN YOU MMAMOLO!!!!

See the thread about Holmstrom...

Yeah, looks like this thread is irrelevant now. 3-4 weeks puts Homer almost to the Olympics, and Franzen will be after the Olympics, so that's $6.2m off the books. Looks like we've got the space again.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Yeah, looks like this thread is irrelevant now. 3-4 weeks puts Homer almost to the Olympics, and Franzen will be after the Olympics, so that's $6.2m off the books. Looks like we've got the space again.

Wait... I'm not sure that's how it works. I might be wrong though.

[Theophany 110]

Wait... I'm not sure that's how it works. I might be wrong though.

Yeah, I'm not sure how it works either; I know you have unlimited roster space after the trade deadline, but how does that effect the salary cap?

If you have unlimited space after the trade deadline (as it would make sense, since you have to make everyone fit under the cap before) so you can move players up from the AHL, we should be fine. If I'm totally wrong, then we still need to shed some players.

I'd really rather not, but I'd imagine if Leino and May aren't playing better by then, we may see them sent to waivers and to the AHL (if someone doesn't pick them up).

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Well there's absolutely no question that Abdelkader will be in Grand Rapids (where he belongs right now).

Abs needs the 22 mins a night in GR way more than he needs 8 mins in Detroit at this point. Right now I feel like he's lost his scoring touch and that's due, in part because he's spent all this time as a grinder. He's playing that role very, very well-- he's hitting like crazy and skating like an NHLer. But I think he needs more time in GR as one of the 'go to guys' who's expected to score.