Guest mindfly Report post Posted January 11, 2010 Good read from Mr.Ferraro, it's also on the front page right now at TSN.ca/nhl When the Detroit Red Wings were dissected before the 2009-10 season, it was pretty easy to see a few things. One, that they have extremely high end skill. Secondly, that this team would be hard pressed to equal last year's season. GM Ken Holland told management that this would be a season to re-tool. Jimmy Devellano, the long-time personal man in Detroit, said he hadn't seen a season like this for the Red Wings in over 20 years. Gone were Mikael Samuelsson (Vancouver), Jiri Hudler (KHL), and most notably Marian Hossa (Chicago). This was before the season. The first half hasn't gone very smoothly, but here are the Wings, just one point out of a playoff spot. Injuries have crippled them and even though most teams have been hit hard by injuries this year, the Wings' list is almost too long to believe. Zetterberg (8), Cleary (12), Filppula (26), Franzen (41), Kronwall (23), Ericsson (11) and Williams (29) among other have spent significant time on the shelf. Now Tomas Holmstrom joins the list - at least three weeks with a broken foot. How are they still in the mix? Unexpected help has saved the Wings so far. Former Ottawa first rounder Patrick Eaves seems reinvigorated. Youngsters Darren Helm (5 goals in his last 5 games), and Justin Abdelkater - who Mike Babcock sees as a future match up centre - have excelled of late. No team can win without goaltending. When I saw Jimmy Howard at the end of October in Edmonton, he looked over his head. He was swimming all over the place. With Chris Osgood reverting to, 'early season Ozzie' as opposed to the one who was brilliant in last year's playoffs, Howard has seized the net. He has played 11 of the last 12 games and often brilliantly. His 51-save performance at L.A. in a 2-1 OT win is an example. And Drew Miller was picked up on waivers from Tampa (Huh?). When was the last time you saw that transaction - a player waived by Tampa ending up in Detroit? Miller has fit in well in a checking role. Todd Bertuzzi is being constantly praised for his work without the puck. I guess what was down is up in Detroit these days. Babcock, who throws compliments around like manhole covers ('Nick Lidstrom is a good player' - thanks tips!), has done an amazing job grinding out points with his depleted roster. I know I wouldn't be tickled to get a healthy, relatively rested Detroit team in the first round of the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted January 11, 2010 Only concern of mine is when all players get back, with the other 1/2 of the team be worn out due to picking up the slack for so long? These players are not rested... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted January 11, 2010 (edited) Only concern of mine is when all players get back, with the other 1/2 of the team be worn out due to picking up the slack for so long? These players are not rested... But the ones who picked up the slack, helm, eaves etc are young and hungry for more... and besides getting back skillz in franzen and kronwall could only be possitive imo Edited January 11, 2010 by mindfly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted January 11, 2010 Only concern of mine is when all players get back, with the other 1/2 of the team be worn out due to picking up the slack for so long? These players are not rested... The guys who picked up the slack will be given more opportunity to rest since their playing time will be reduced. Not a massive help, but still helpful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted January 11, 2010 The guys who picked up the slack will be given more opportunity to rest since their playing time will be reduced. Not a massive help, but still helpful. Very good point... They have been doing a great job and deserve a breather... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Green Wing 26 Report post Posted January 11, 2010 His 51-save performance at L.A. in a 2-1 OT win is an example It wasn't an OT win, Ray, but I guess it was as good as. Good read. Good to see some praise from the media, even if Ferraro does have a vested interest in the Wings these days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stiffy 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2010 Loved the comment about 'early season Ozzie' Kind of a wake up call if your play at a particular point in the season is known. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Third Man In 2,091 Report post Posted January 11, 2010 The guys who picked up the slack will be given more opportunity to rest since their playing time will be reduced. Not a massive help, but still helpful. Except Lidstrom, who's probably been given more ice time than was intended, but won't see his minutes cut down the stretch if the Wings are fighting for a playoff spot. Ozzie should be nice and rested though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted January 11, 2010 Except Lidstrom, who's probably been given more ice time than was intended, but won't see his minutes cut down the stretch if the Wings are fighting for a playoff spot. Ozzie should be nice and rested though He's only averaging 25:24 per game even with the myriad of injuries the Wings have sustained on the blue line. Atleast his TOI isn't hovering around 29-30 minuntes like it used to before Rafalski was added. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
b-random 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2010 Ray Ferraro's interest in the Wings has probably increased 10 fold since we drafted his boy, regardless, I agree with everything he wrote. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted January 11, 2010 Ray Ferraro's interest in the Wings has probably increased 10 fold since we drafted his boy, regardless, I agree with everything he wrote. He ripped wings apart some months ago though, he's spot on and objective i'd say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,803 Report post Posted January 11, 2010 I didn't know Ray Ferraro even wrote columns. I knew he was a color commentary guy for some games, but I figured that was all. Don't forget that the Wings were the team that retired him in 2002 when he played for the Blues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
b-random 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 He ripped wings apart some months ago though, he's spot on and objective i'd say. Just curious, what did he say that "ripped them apart"? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Just curious, what did he say that "ripped them apart"? Didn't you see the list of injuries? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
b-random 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Didn't you see the list of injuries? Huh? I was asking mindfly about how he "ripped wings apart some months ago". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted January 12, 2010 That howard was an awful goalie (he was the color announcer at the edmonton game) and generally wings defense was brutal etc etc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 But in OCT howard was an awful goalie, and generally wings defense was brutal etc etc. He may have dogged on the Wings in OCT, but they deserved it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edicius 3,269 Report post Posted January 12, 2010 He may sometimes say things I disagree with, but Chicken Parm is one of the few columnists/commentators that I can actually read without grinding my teeth the entire way. Good read. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
