3/3 GDT: Canucks 6 at Red Wings 3

[ShanahanMan 473]

OK, so who is our next superstar hidden gem, diamond in the rough, last draft pick, walk on that we can call up to provide a spark?

I'm sure Holland is begging Andersson to find one at this very moment to cover his ass.

[Dave 324]

Yeah but, with Osgood?

When is the last time the guy played a hockey game? I mean come on we are supposed to be trying to prop these goaltenders up motivationally and you kill two birds in one stone by pulling Howard after 4 goals and then putting a very rusty Osgood to play arguably worse.

Me no likey.

He's been keeping sharp with that sweet ass home made outdoor rink!

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

This forum is ridiculous.

Not as ridiculous as an unmotivated team in March.

[ShanahanMan 473]

I'll side with the best GM in hockey.

Yeah, you keep on doing that while we continue to lose.

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

Not as ridiculous as an unmotivated team in March.

after a 2 week break.....in which the gravity of their dire playoff positioning should have gotten through to them.....

[gcom007 1,465]

Where were you guys earlier when I was practically the only one seemingly upset at our management's decision not to do a damn thing today? A shake up was EXACTLY what the team needed. Perhaps you see why now?

Did you read what I read earlier about a shakeup in the off-season as opposed to now?

[Marty Barry 230]

The real question is how long will that moniker still be attached to Holland?

every team eventually has a bad year, but this off-season will determine if Holland truly is the best GM in hockey.

Thing is, he called it for this season. He told us. Why all the Holland haters? Not saying you, your post wasn't hate. I agree with what you say, after this season he will have a lot of dollars and trade bait to rebuild this team and secure his legacy. Or ruin it.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

I seriously miss Huds, 57 points while getting 13/14 mins per game? Ridiculous.

Who needs goal scoring when you have FILPPULA!?

I mean the guy is on pace for 13 goals in an 82 game season... OFFENSIVE JUGGERNAUGHT!!!!!!!!!!

For god sakes, maybe after a few more game's of doing nothing some people will finally eat their crow for telling me to stfu, when I suggested trading Filppula when his stock was high to afford Hossa?! Nah not on LGW.

I honestly belive that if you had 12 Filppulas on offesnse with an average defense and Goalie, the team would not make the playoffs.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Sure glad I missed this one.

Good to hear Mule continues his streak, though. Think Babcock will go with Howard against Nashville?

[ShanahanMan 473]

Not as ridiculous as an unmotivated team in March.

I'm not quite sure its just unmotivation thats the problem. They played exactly the same at the beginning of the season.....theres no reason the be unmotivated then is there?

Honestly, I'm not quite sure the skill level we all expect is there with the team. I think that has a lot to do with it.

[Marty Barry 230]

Who needs goal scoring when you have FILPPULA!?

I mean the guy is on pace for 13 goals in an 82 game season... OFFENSIVE JUGGERNAUGHT!!!!!!!!!!

For god sakes, maybe after a few more game's of doing nothing some people will finally eat their crow for telling me to stfu, when I suggested trading Filppula when his stock was high to afford Hossa?! Nah not on LGW.

I honestly belive that if you had 12 Filppulas on offesnse with an average defense and Goalie, the team would not make the playoffs.

Step aside Stevie, there is a new heir apparent.

[Z and D for the C 712]

For god sakes, maybe after a few more game's of doing nothing some people will finally eat their crow for telling me to stfu, when I suggested trading Filppula when his stock was high to afford Hossa?! Nah not on LGW.

So after having 17 points in 22 games, he plays 2 games with nothing linemates so now he sucks right?

[Yak19 303]

3 in a row is too much to ask from this team unless its in the L column

[gcom007 1,465]

Wow. Babcock sounding a little more honest than usual. No "we did a lot of things right" and more "we didn't play hard at all, we didn't look like a team desperate to make the playoffs in any way, shape or form. It's unacceptable. It's not tolerated. It's crazy to play like that."

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

It's odd hearing you say that seeing as Flip would've been the obvious first guy to go if we kept someone like Hossa. And not surprisingly, I would've made the move. As I've said numerous times, Flip's strengths (and they are great strengths in many ways) don't help with enough of the teams weaknesses, or really the teams biggest weakness, that being scoring.

We've got one pure goal scorer who's consistent in Franzen. Bert and Homer are goal scorers but they're older, inconsistent, and especially in the case of Holmstrom, fragile. Dats and Z can score goals but they're not necessarily "shoot first" guys.

As much as I think Hossa would've helped this team down the stretch (and for years to come), I really think this season would've been a lot different even with Sammy. I'm not even thinking injuries here or considering that Sammy's having a better year than most expected him to. I'm just talking balance in general as far as roles go.

I mean, hell, for all the s*** we gave Sammy while he was here, the guy SHOT THE PUCK!!! Even the crap shots can help create opportunities and get the other team on its heels a bit. And there's no question that the same and more times ten stands for Hossa's ability to SHOOT and SCORE all while playing a great 2-way game and being an excellent play-maker as well.

*sigh...

Agreed. Besides pseudo-fancy playmaking and soon being able to say that the Wing's have the first openly *** player in the NHL (just wait a few more months folks), Filppula really dosen't bring what we need at all, and could've fetched a huge return this offseason in the trademarket (for a player relative of his talent).

I'm not saying he's a bad player... he is not, but we have enough playmakers and enough defesnive players on this team. Honestly I can honestly not realize how people are happy we kept him over Hossa and the would be trade return.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

So after having 17 points in 22 games, he plays 2 games with nothing linemates so now he sucks right?

So you would rather have Filppula at 3 mill than Hossa at 5.4 and the most likely strong draft pick return of the trade?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Lou Lamoriello?

[gcom007 1,465]

So after having 17 points in 22 games, he plays 2 games with nothing linemates so now he sucks right?

In about as many games, Hossa has almost as many goals as Flip has points. I can't wait to see your rebuttal to that.

[ShanahanMan 473]

So you would rather have Filppula at 3 mill than Hossa at 5.4 and the most likely strong draft pick return of the trade?

Exactly. Hossa only wanted about a mil more then we offered and we let me walk. Instead we could have traded Filp while his value was high for a VERY high draft pick, allowing us to shed some salary and sign Hossa. It would have been a win/win. Instead, its a loss/loss.

Edited March 4, 2010 by ShanahanMan

[gcom007 1,465]

Who needs goal scoring when you have FILPPULA!?

I mean the guy is on pace for 13 goals in an 82 game season... OFFENSIVE JUGGERNAUGHT!!!!!!!!!!

For god sakes, maybe after a few more game's of doing nothing some people will finally eat their crow for telling me to stfu, when I suggested trading Filppula when his stock was high to afford Hossa?! Nah not on LGW.

I honestly belive that if you had 12 Filppulas on offesnse with an average defense and Goalie, the team would not make the playoffs.

I couldn't agree any more, at any point in time.

I've said numerous times, letting a truly elite superstar player like Hossa who's GREAT at both ends of the ice when he could've been signed for around $5 million a year was nothing short of INSANE!!! Pure insanity. I said it numerous times throughout last season, you do what you have to do and move who you have to move to keep a player like Hossa at $6 million let alone around $5 million...

Edited March 4, 2010 by gcom007

[Dynheart 42]

This is where I believe Babcock has dropped the ball. Howard has been showing signs of slowing down. A cold spell in inevitable. You need Ozzie, who is a proven goaltender, to get some games so he can run with it as well. Throwing Osgood into games where the team is getting totally owned is NOT good goal managment. Why not play the goalies 50/50 the rest of the way. Get both goalies running on all cylinders...see who get's hot. When you run into a situation like today, or against the islander (or was it oilers?) where you need Ozzie to take over, you want him well oiled. Not sitting and taking routine practice shots. But alas, most here will probably tear my head off for even thinking the goalies should be played 50/50 the rest of the way.

[ShanahanMan 473]

I couldn't agree any more, at any point in time.

I've said numerous times, letting a truly elite superstar player like Hossa who's GREAT at both ends of the ice when he could've been signed for around $5 million a year was nothing short of INSANE!!! Pure insanity. I said all year last year, you do what you have to do, move who you have to move, to keep a player like Hossa at $6 million let alone around $5 million...

[Z and D for the C 712]

So you would rather have Filppula at 3 mill than Hossa at 5.4 and the most likely strong draft pick return of the trade?

So what would the trade have been? I love how everyone on LGW knows more than everyone in the Wings organization.

In about as many games, Hossa has almost as many goals as Flip has points. I can't wait to see your rebuttal to that.

Umm....Hossa is one of the best players and top 5 goal scorers in the game....?

[Marty Barry 230]

Exactly. Hossa only wanted about a mil more then we offered and we let me walk. Instead we could have traded Filp while his value was high for a VERY high draft pick, allowing us to shed some salary and sign Hossa. It would have been a win/win. Instead, its a loss/loss.

I have to think he was thinking budget. When you are that close to the cap and can't see that the future is chock full of injuries, it may have looked like the right thing to do.

[gcom007 1,465]

Exactly. Hossa only wanted about a mil more then we offered and we let me walk. Instead we could have traded Filp while his value was high for a VERY high draft pick, allowing us to shed some salary and sign Hossa. It would have been a win/win. Instead, its a loss/loss.

This idea hurts more and more with each passing game.