Missing goals due to FA

[Marty Barry 230]

When we signed Pasha, and Mule, and Z to long term contracts along with Lids, Raffi, Stewi, Homer, etc. I didn't think that losing Hossa, Sami, etc. would be such a big deal. Then, all the injuries. But when everybody came back I thought for sure after a couple games of re-gelling all would be ok. It's not! Are we really missing those lost goals? Is it a lack of heart? Coaching? I hate to think that s***sburgh took all the wind out of our sails last year. WTF is going on?!?!?!?

[Carman 387]

They aren't playing well.

Edited March 10, 2010 by Carman

[ShanahanMan 473]

Some of the players we/Holland expected to pick up the slack simply didn't. Zetterberg is having a HORRENDOUS season (and is starting to make me question that insanely long 12 year contract), Datsyuk is having a decent season, Franzen seems like he's still working on getting his groove back, Filppula is good at times and then god awful other times (ie tonight), Cleary isn't putting up any points, and also, we were counting on Leino for like 15+ goals.

All that right there is a formula for disaster. In short, we simply overestimated the capability of our players.

Edited March 10, 2010 by ShanahanMan

[MotorCityMadness 388]

while some players have been not playing nearly to the level they are capable of playing at some of the blame has to be on coaching because it just seems like there is almost no motivation some games and then they show shots of Babcock and he is simply standing there with his hands in his pockets like everything is okay. I wish he would have a "Bobby Knight" type blowup once in a while to get some fire under them, but at this point I know a fit would not be the answer as well as not helping.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

I blame this season solely on injuries. If you look at the numbers from our SC season when we didnt have Hossa, besides Z and D, we had Samuelsson, Hudler, Cleary, Holmstrom, Franzen, Filppula around 40 points. All of which were relatively healthy

This season we have Bertuzzi that will eclipse 40 points. Cleary and Holmstrom would if they didnt miss 10-12 games. Filppula has 25 points in 39 games, thats a 50 point pace if he didnt have a lengthy injury. Franzen has 7 points. We've been hit hard with injuries this season and quite frankly if we were healthy, we'd be looking at a 4-5 seed.

As for Zetterberg and Datsyuk, Datsyuk has returned to form his last 15 games, but these two are just better together. The only reason you split these guys up is if we are playing Pittsburgh. They are the best duo in hockey. PUT THEM TOGETHER!!! Zetterberg simply isnt going to produce with Williams (a guy that shouldnt be on this team), and Cleary, who is a third line player.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

I blame this season solely on injuries. If you look at the numbers from our SC season when we didnt have Hossa, besides Z and D, we had Samuelsson, Hudler, Cleary, Holmstrom, Franzen, Filppula around 40 points. All of which were relatively healthy

This season we have Bertuzzi that will eclipse 40 points. Cleary and Holmstrom would if they didnt miss 10-12 games. Filppula has 25 points in 39 games, thats a 50 point pace if he didnt have a lengthy injury. Franzen has 7 points. We've been hit hard with injuries this season and quite frankly if we were healthy, we'd be looking at a 4-5 seed.

As for Zetterberg and Datsyuk, Datsyuk has returned to form his last 15 games, but these two are just better together. The only reason you split these guys up is if we are playing Pittsburgh. They are the best duo in hockey. PUT THEM TOGETHER!!! Zetterberg simply isnt going to produce with Williams (a guy that shouldnt be on this team), and Cleary, who is a third line player.

Solely on injuries?

Nothing else?

Just the injuries?

Wow.

[Marty Barry 230]

Why is it that Helm can play so well for so many games? Because he has the fear of being sent down? Maybe everybody needs that.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

Solely on injuries?

Nothing else?

Just the injuries?

Wow.

Im obviously exaggerating. However, we wouldnt be questioning whether this team will be in the playoffs if we were fully healthy. So maybe Im not exaggerating. If you think we'd be in this same position if we were healthy this season, please explain.

[shoe 165]

Why is it that Helm can play so well for so many games? Because he has the fear of being sent down? Maybe everybody needs that.

Send him down and he goes on waivers and you loose him, the guy plays for his team not the fear of a demotion

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Im obviously exaggerating. However, we wouldnt be questioning whether this team will be in the playoffs if we were fully healthy. So maybe Im not exaggerating. If you think we'd be in this same position if we were healthy this season, please explain.

We wouldn't be, but still it's hard to say that now with everyone back.

I won't feel sorry for them for missing thye playoffs, I'll just be pissed at them instead.

[gcom007 1,465]

To everyone saying things about our stars such as "they're not playing well..."

Did you ever stop to think that having better guys around overall helps other guys play better? It's not as simple as a guy having a set potential he's capable of under any circumstances. When you lose as many quality guys as we did, then deal with injuries, then have to constantly try to gel with new guys game to game, it's going to hurt. People underestimate how much another real solid goal-scoring threat could change the momentum in a game for the team and for the individuals, including the stars.

[Joe S 11]

Whatever the reason, they are not a playoff team this year. All this talk about the top teams in the conference not wanting to play them is BS. Who wouldnt want to play them? To advance in the playoffs you have to win four out of seven games. The playoffs were on the line tonight against a team with a worse record than the Wings, and the Wings dropped the ball. I hope I am wrong but its over for this year. Its tough enough to win when you are playing well most of the time. It seems like they are just going through the motions half the time. Maybe they simply are not that good. They are all a year older than they were last year, and they do not have a sniper like Hossa. Samuelson is gone, (I think he got a goal tonight), along with the others who left in free agency. It could be that they are not playing up to their potential, which I would like to think is true, or they dont have the potential that we (including Ken Holland) think they have. Whether they dont make the playoffs or make the playoffs and exit early , whats the difference? I guess I would like to see them make the playoffs just to keep the consecutive playoff appearances going, but they are not a Stanly Cup contender at this point. As I said before, I hope I am wrong.Joe S

[puckbags 863]

While on the topic, Sammy has a hat trick tonight and a career high in goals

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

The Wings were the #1 seed and won the Cup without Hossa. Therefore I dismiss losing Hossa's REGULAR season goals as an excuse. Definitely losing the depth of Sammy and Hudler hurts though.

[uk_redwing 495]

Kenny Holland always gets it done...he saw we were struggling to even reach the playoffs so he made that big move that saved the day.

[superstarsingh 23]

The Wings were the #1 seed and won the Cup without Hossa. Therefore I dismiss losing Hossa's REGULAR season goals as an excuse. Definitely losing the depth of Sammy and Hudler hurts though.

This.

As well. You cannot replace Samuelsson and Hudler with Williams and Bertuzzi because they are not puck possession players. These are two players (on different lines) that are not suited for the style of hockey played in Detroit. f*** Hossa. His loss has nothing to do with this team's poor play. He was an irrelevant signing in the first place. Injuries? Yeah, to a certain extent. It is a bit difficult to blame it solely on injuries. The "banged up Red Wings" blew SEVERAL leads prior to the Olympics so obviously they could get the lead, they just could not hold it, injuries is not a viable excuse in that regard. Holland said that this team would have to tighten up defensively to address the loss of Hudler, Sammy and Hossa's goals, instead the exact opposite happened.

Let's look at out two superstars. Zetterberg and Datsyuk have both been subpar this season and I refuse to blame that on injuries alone. Datsyuk is waking up and he will be fine in the playoffs. If Zetterberg follows suit (I am sure he will) the team will be fine.