IF the Wings DON'T Make the Playoffs

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I don't know if this has already been said, but here I go:

The reason this team has been so successful is that Holland doesn't have knee-jerk reactions. He's very calculating and usually knows exactly what to do to keep this team competitive. If the Wings miss the playoffs, he won't be looking at superficial fixes (i.e. firing Babcock), he's going to find out why we didn't make it (lack of scoring, stupid defense) and fix accordingly.

This season was ALWAYS intended to be a sort of interlud. They told us what to expect. The cap pretty much forced Holland's hand this year, and he's evaluating the season based on HIS expectations, not ours. Considering he was pretty much forced to sign Williams, Bert, Eaves, Miller, and call up Helm, Ericsson and Abdelkader I think he's probably only slightly disappointed.

Holland doesn't take a hack saw to fix things, he takes a scalpel.

Changes that we might be able to expect: With some cap space freed up, he will be more picky about who he adds and removes from the team. Depending on Lidstrom's move, expect defensive moves and obviously offensive moves. Howard is set in goal for next year, as is Osgood.

He may put pressure to fire McCrimmon and try to get Babcock to find someone (if that's how it works) who actually can make the Wings play decent defense, but he won't fire Babcock who has made very few mistakes in his tenure.

Fans here take so much for granted. They think a defensman of Rafalski's caliber is just waiting to come in, they think coaches like Babcock are a dime a dozen. If these people ran a team it'd look like Toronto the last decade.

Knee jerk reaction of the year goes to Darryl Sutter.

As for the defensive coach, why not someone like Larry Murphy? He certainly can't be worse than McCrimmon.

[Broken 16 381]

Knee jerk reaction of the year goes to Darryl Sutter.

As for the defensive coach, why not someone like Larry Murphy? He certainly can't be worse than McCrimmon.

I say hire Ken Hitchcock for the remainder of the season.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I hear Michel Therrien is also available.

[ben_usmc 253]

it doesn't matter because the wings will make the playoffs. Whether they get curb stomped or return to domination is completely up to them

[TheOwl 77]

Prediction: Red Wings keep playing like they are, we all give up. They win their last 10 of 12 games, giving us hope, then miss the play-offs by a single point.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

Prediction: Red Wings keep playing like they are, we all give up. They win their last 10 of 12 games, giving us hope, then miss the play-offs by a single point.

imagine how hard it is for panthers fans

[Stiffy 0]

The neagitivity on LGW has reached an all time high.

Guess what. We are 2 fricking points out of a playoff spot with 24 games to go and people are throwing in the towel.

In case you haven't been watching, the teams in 7th and 8th place have also tanked. Both Calgary and Nashville have only won 3 out of their last 10.

Oh and we get that Franzen guy back on Tuesday.

But go ahead, throw in the towel. I just don't want to see you people back on the bandwagon in April.

Hey I was on the bandwagon before we had Bowman as a coach. Trust me, this is worse than the bad old days because there is no excuse for it, not with these players and this coach. I can't speak for everyone, but my "negativity" comes from a team that is not showing up and playing to their potential. Any way, I didn't say they aren't going to make the playoffs, so who knows who is talking to who here.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

imagine how hard it is for panthers fans

Except they wouldn't know what they're missing.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

The neagitivity on LGW has reached an all time high.

Guess what. We are 2 fricking points out of a playoff spot with 24 games to go and people are throwing in the towel.

In case you haven't been watching, the teams in 7th and 8th place have also tanked. Both Calgary and Nashville have only won 3 out of their last 10.

Oh and we get that Franzen guy back on Tuesday.

But go ahead, throw in the towel. I just don't want to see you people back on the bandwagon in April.

I'm not throwing in the towel, but these past few games, espeically last game don't give much excuse. They blew a 3-0 lead last game and have blown leads way too much lately.

This would be much more tolerable if they weren't sweating bullets to make the playoffs, but they are sweating to make the playoffs and cannot just count on help from lower seeds possibly tanking as well.

They need to win much more. And do it now.

It is not outside the realm of possiblity that they miss the playoffs, and if they keep blowing leads or play around .500 hockey down the stretch, that possiblity goes much higher.

It's about being positive AND realistic. If being realistic pointing out that 9th place right now this late in the season might not cut it makes me negative, well then I'm sorry, that's your problem to deal with, not mine. And yes, I get that Pitt made the playoffs last year and won a Cup in a similar scenario.

Edited February 8, 2010 by SouthernWingsFan

[Stiffy 0]

I wonder. As the Nazi's rolled through France in a cakewalk defeat of what was then the largest army on Earth, did some Frenchmen chide others for being "negative" about their chances?

Still, viva le Red Wings!

Edited February 8, 2010 by Stiffy

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I'm not throwing in the towel, but these past few games, espeically last game don't give much excuse. They blew a 3-0 lead last game and have blown leads way too much lately.

This would be much more tolerable if they weren't sweating bullets to make the playoffs, but they are sweating to make the playoffs and cannot just count on help from lower seeds possibly tanking as well.

They need to win much more. And do it now.

It is not outside the realm of possiblity that they miss the playoffs, and if they keep blowing leads or play around .500 hockey down the stretch, that possiblity goes much higher.

It's about being positive AND realistic. If being realistic pointing out that 9th place right now this late in the season might not cut it makes me negative, well then I'm sorry, that's your problem to deal with, not mine. And yes, I get that Pitt made the playoffs last year and won a Cup in a similar scenario.

Good post.

[Stiffy 0]

I always thought a bandwagon type fan was somone who never followed the sport, but once the team was winning suddenly became a "fan." Anybody who has continued to suffer through this season, even if they are depressed and cynical, fully deserves to be thought of as a true fan. In fact, I would argue it takes more internal effort to suffer like this than to be the delusional "hope never dies" type of fan.

[superstarsingh 23]

Wrong Thread.

They are still in a position where they could easily make the playoffs but at the same time, the exact opposite could happen as well.

Edited February 8, 2010 by superstarsingh

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Hey I was on the bandwagon before we had Bowman as a coach. Trust me, this is worse than the bad old days because there is no excuse for it, not with these players and this coach. I can't speak for everyone, but my "negativity" comes from a team that is not showing up and playing to their potential. Any way, I didn't say they aren't going to make the playoffs, so who knows who is talking to who here.

Good point.

It's one thing when the Dead Wings couldn't make the playoffs with their roster, but this is one of the best teams right now in the league on paper, and on the ice they suck.

[Kwame_Kilpatrick 0]

dont worry we will make it you guys just support the team, trust me howard can lead us