The Wings NEED Scoring...

[LeftWinger 5,152]

NHL conspiracies aside, it's painfully obvious that this team cannot score like they used to. We were ALL excited last off season for the likes of Abdelkader, Helm and Leino to be in the lineup full time. We knew we were gonna miss Hossa's 40 goals, Hudler's 50ish points (well not me ) and Sammy's production. Of course the injury bug has taken it's toll on us, but really, do you think Franzen was gonna put it 40 or more?

The point being, sure Ott's shoot out goal was a killer, as has been a ton of games this year where they called off the tying goal or allowed another teams non-goal to stand, but if the Wings could score some freaking goals, we wouldn't be in the situation where one goal would matter. Zetterberg is a non-factor anymore, every player in the NHL has Datsyuk figured out and Bertuzzi cannot carry this team on his own, Helm has been Kris Draper, Leino has been Miroslav Frycer and Abdelkader has been Kirk Maltby. At what point do you become that BUYING team in order to make the playoffs and give yourself the chance to win the Cup? Even when Franzen returns, he is not gonna turn this team into a contender. Jason Williams won't either, neither will Kronwall. This is an odd place for Holland to be at this point in the season, but I have a feeling if the Wings don;t make a splash at the deadline, they will miss the playoffs. Even after the season, they need to make a huge splash in the UFA market, the kids that everyone thought were ready to be in the NHL, obviously are not who we thought they'd be. Sure they are rookies, but this is their year to prove they belong and other than Helm and Abdelkader, the rest are just wanna-be's. (of course Howard is here to stay, I am not including him in the disappoinments.)

So what does Holland do? Stand pat and miss the playoffs? Or is it time to trade some assets for a sniper or two? To me, Zetterberg has been a huge let down after signing his life-time contract. It's gonna be ugly, especially if we miss the playoffs. Does Holland REALLY have what it takes to rebuild this team? We will see, but I believe it's time to trade some future for the now. Of course, who are we gonna trade? Kronwall? Filppula? Leino? Meech? Who would want them? We might have to go back to trading first rounders to teams.....

[thedisappearer 291]

When Franzen get back.

[ShanahanMan 473]

When Franzen get back.

Everyone might wanna lower their expectations a bit when it comes to Franzen. Don't expect him to be putting up miracle numbers when he comes back, the guy IS just coming off an ACL tear you know. Even when a player is full healed, it takes quite a while to get your stride again.

[Yzermania 156]

Everyone might wanna lower their expectations a bit when it comes to Franzen. Don't expect him to be putting up miracle numbers when he comes back, the guy IS just coming off an ACL tear you know. Even when a player is full healed, it takes quite a while to get your stride again.

yeah and he's never been a great skater.

tearing your acl doesn't f*** with your hands or your shot much.

[CenterIce 83]

When Franzen get back.

This and add Williams, Holmstrom, and Kronwall.

Most of our goal scores are the ones that have been getting injured, leaving the Wings with mostly 3rd and 4th liners. Their trade deadline acquisitions will be getting the injured players back.

[Carman 387]

I don't think we will make a move. We are banking on Zetterberg actually scoring, and Franzen hopefully producing when he comes back.

I don't see Holland leaving with the future to make a run just to get in the playoffs. He has high expectations for this team when they are healthy, and until the prove that they cannot win when healthy(or atleast somewhat) he's going to stand pat. I'd say this team if healthy would still be great, and rather than ruin the chemistry that has gotten the team to back to back SCF Holland would rather have the roster moves come to him. He isn't going to actively look to change the core of this team until they prove they do not have what it takes. I'd say we would have to go on a monster losing streak and have major lockeroom disturbances for Holland to make a major move before the deadline. He's staying pat in my opinion.

[LeftWinger 5,152]

Everyone might wanna lower their expectations a bit when it comes to Franzen. Don't expect him to be putting up miracle numbers when he comes back, the guy IS just coming off an ACL tear you know. Even when a player is full healed, it takes quite a while to get your stride again.

Exactly. People seem to think that Franzen is gonna be the savior. IT won't be that way. If the Wings haven't solidified a playoff spot by the time Franzen returns, he is gonna do very little to help them into a spot. Trade deadline is upcoming, we must get some scoring. Teams are killing the Euro-twins and that's our only threat. And like I said, they are playing crappy anyhow. Soon, we will become buyers, but not without selling some assets. Who goes? It's time for Holland to prove to us that he is the best GM in the business, time to play lets make a deal, come on Kenny, make your magic happen... or lose it's your choice.

[Carman 387]

I love your confidence that this team isn't good enough to win without making a move.

Not saying you can't have your opinion, it just seems you want to make a move to make a move.

Holland will pull the trigger if he thinks it will make his club better. He hasn't given us a reason to doubt him since he's been the GM. Sure he isn't perfect, but the Wing's are about as consistently good as you can be in the game today and that has a lot to do with Holland's ability to forecast future talent and production.

So in other words, in Holland I trust.

[ShanahanMan 473]

Franzen alone won't solve anything. If having one natural goal scorer automatically equaled success than Atlanta and New York would be on top of the east right now.

[Carman 387]

Franzen alone won't solve anything. If having one natural goal scorer automatically equaled success than Atlanta and New York would be on top of the east right now.

It would be interesting to see the impact of actually having a good second powerplay unit. Or actually have two very good lines before we all make the assumption that the Wing's won't make the playoffs without making a move.

I think we'll be fine.

[TheOwl 77]

Zetterberg and Datysuk have really been slacking off. These two guys are supposed to be two of the NHL's best forwards. Detroit has NO player other then Howard who can single handedly win a game. Franzen won't be a quick fix. If the Wings can get into the play-offs, maybe Franzen will be the difference. But he alone won't help the Wings make the play-offs. They need Kronwall, Williams, and Franzen, so some chemistry between the lines can begin. Every game Detroit is a one line team.

The huge problem is, Detroit doesn't have any cap space to make a move. And who would they trade? Cleary? Homer? Flipulla? Moving any decent player off the roster won't make a difference. Pick any roster player, what could you possibly get that's better then what we have? Moving Rafalski would be a dream, but won't happen. Our D is pretty much set. You can't move Helm. You can't move Osgood, and you wouldn't get anything in return anyways.

Detroit is set with this roster. And the pathetic thing is, ON PAPER, it's one of the best teams in the NHL. We don't need another scorer (once Mule gets back). We need the guys who we pay millions of dollars a year, to do what their paid to do.

Datysuk doesn't get paid 6.7 million to back steal the puck.

Zetterberg doesn't get paid 6 million to back check.

These two players should be scoring, often and a lot. Look at Thorton, Heatley, Marleau. They don't have any excuses, they combine for 5 points nearly every night. Are these three really that much better then what we have? The injury excuse is pointless. We have capable players who are playing badly.

Edited January 16, 2010 by TheOwl

[Finnish Wing 110]

Just put May on the 1st line and things will start to work.

[stuck in socal 56]

Tatar.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

One possiblity that a lot of people may not think of is Teemu Selanne. If the ducks are out of the playoff picture more than they are now I could see them moving him for a reasonable price.

2nd + mid prospect for Selanne?

I'd do it and then run these lines

Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Line 1A

Selanne-Zetterberg-Franzen Line 1B

Williams-Filppula-Cleary

Draper-Helm-Eaves

Abdelkader/Maltby/Miller

Before someone goes with the "ZOMFG YOU ARE AN IDIOT EZ DONT YOU NOSE THAT ANAHEIM WONT TRADE TO A RIVAL TEAM LULZ" rant, take a look at the situation. Contrary to what many people belive, the Wings and Ducks are not rivals, they were simply both good at the same time. The Wing's having a good run in this years playoffs will do nothing detremental to the Ducks, seeing as they will not be there. It's not like Holland f***ed their G.M.'s GF, the Duck's gm will do what is best for his team and so will ours. Since Selanne is in the last year in his contract I could see them moving him to us, as once again, if we do good they don't suffer at all, meanwhile us having a stronger team makes it worse for their REAL rivals in San Jose and LA this April. Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend. Both teams would win in that situation.

EDIT: I mistyped when I said the Wings and Ducks were not Rivals, I meant the GM's werent. These players are rivals yes, and the games do get heated, but they are professionals and I really doubt Datsyuk will pay Bertuzzi to break Selanne's legs in the lockeroom. I trust the G.M.s to do what is best for their team regardless of a little heated play. The only real problem Selanne has ever had with aplayer currently on the Wings could possibly be on the Wings is Bertuzzi since Selanne was teamates with moore at the time, however since they played togher in Anaheim I doubt thats the case.

Edited January 16, 2010 by EZBAKETHAGANGSTA

[Datsyuk2Zetterberg 1]

in March when Franzen gets back, give him 2 weeks and you got your goal scorer. Sure he won't put up monster numbers, but when Kronwall comes back, the GAA will come down, making the difference.

Lids+Rafi+Kronwall+Stuart+Ericsson will be huge.

Then factor in the secondary scoring once Williams comes back, and Helm+Flip get bumped down and get to play with chepaer defense.

Edited January 16, 2010 by Datsyuk2Zetterberg

[evil204 4]

Datsyuk isn't scoring. Zetterberg isn't scoring. Lidstrom and Rafalski aren't scoring. Williams, Franzen and Filppula have been injured. Now Holmstrom is gone. We have enough talent to score a lot more. Getting a goal-scorer through trade isn't going to help us. We need it to come from within - from players that we know are capable of scoring more and haven't done so this season. If the players we have can't pick it up, then we won't go far in the playoffs anyway, even if we do get someone like Kovalchuk.

[stuck in socal 56]

One possiblity that a lot of people may not think of is Teemu Selanne. If the ducks are out of the playoff picture more than they are now I could see them moving him for a reasonable price.

2nd + mid prospect for Selanne?

I'd do it and then run these lines

Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Line 1A

Selanne-Zetterberg-Franzen Line 1B

Williams-Filppula-Cleary

Draper-Helm-Eaves

Abdelkader/Maltby/Miller

Before someone goes with the "ZOMFG YOU ARE AN IDIOT EZ DONT YOU NOSE THAT ANAHEIM WONT TRADE TO A RIVAL TEAM LULZ" rant, take a look at the situation. Contrary to what many people belive, the Wings and Ducks are not rivals, they were simply both good at the same time. The Wing's having a good run in this years playoffs will do nothing detremental to the Ducks, seeing as they will not be there. It's not like Holland f***ed their G.M.'s GF, the Duck's gm will do what is best for his team and so will ours. Since Selanne is in the last year in his contract I could see them moving him to us, as once again, if we do good they don't suffer at all, meanwhile us having a stronger team makes it worse for their REAL rivals in San Jose and LA this April. Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend. Both teams would win in that situation.

Hell no, I want no part of the Ducks to be part of the Wings, not even Selanne. And, I consider the Wings to have a rivalry with the Ducks. It may not be a locational rivalry but the games are very heated and just look at the last few years in the playoffs.

[Outsider 42]

The Wings are playing dump and chase hockey right now, for the first time in a very, very, very long time.

You can say it's because of all the Offense they have on IR. But you also have to watch the Games. When was the last time you saw the Wings spending so much time crashing the net, and skating so hard after rebounds....

IN THEIR OWN ZONE?

By the time they get possession of the puck, many times they're so exhausted, all they can do is dump it down the ice and go for the change. Then the cycle starts all over again.

That's not Red Wings Hockey. Red Wings hockey is to get possession of the puck, keep possession of the puck, and carry the play down into the Offensive zone. Play keep-away. While that leads to lots of shots on goal FOR the Wings, and fewer shots against, it also leads to more "dangerous" scoring chances against on the few shots they used to give up.

Now? The puck is bouncing around their end of the ice like a ping-pong ball. They're chasing the puck. Sometimes they win that battle, sometimes they don't. But after all that chasing, (and don't deny that they are chasing), they don't have the energy to carry the puck down ice. So they just dump it down. Sometimes they win that battle. Sometimes they don't.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Hell no, I want no part of the Ducks to be part of the Wings, not even Selanne. And, I consider the Wings to have a rivalry with the Ducks. It may not be a locational rivalry but the games are very heated and just look at the last few years in the playoffs.

THE PLAYERS have a rivalry not the BRASS.

[stuck in socal 56]

THE PLAYERS have a rivalry not the BRASS.

Selanne is not the missing scorer IMO. Wings have enough older players and he is injury prone at this point in his career.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Selanne is not the missing scorer IMO. Wings have enough older players and he is injury prone at this point in his career.

Just because he's had one injury doesn't mean he's injury prone. He was on pace for almost 40 goal season.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Selanne is not the missing scorer IMO. Wings have enough older players and he is injury prone at this point in his career.

Well I guess we agree to disagree. I'm saying he would be a low-risk high reward type player we could get, though I can understand why you woulnd't want him. Do you have any suggestions (not trying to call you out, legitment curiosity).

[Guest Lidstromboli]

Hell no, I want no part of the Ducks to be part of the Wings

[stuck in socal 56]

Well I guess we agree to disagree. I'm saying he would be a low-risk high reward type player we could get, though I can understand why you woulnd't want him. Do you have any suggestions (not trying to call you out, legitment curiosity).

I honestly have no suggestions because Holland won't go out and do a blockbuster like deal. At least I do not think. I have to agree if we could get Selanne cheap it could be good, but it could also be moot. If we want a true goalscorer, like a Kovalchuck it would end up shaking up the team and I do not think Holland wants that.

[stuck in socal 56]

Just because he's had one injury doesn't mean he's injury prone. He was on pace for almost 40 goal season.

He just got back from an injury and broke his jaw. He seems pretty prone to me.