41 replies to this topic

[Zeke]

It seems that Draper has always been heralded as a great 'role' player on the team. Never scored a lot of goals,but chipped one or two in once in a while,and was a faceoff specialist,as well as an excellent penalty killer.

Is it just me,or:

He now rarely kills penalties...
He always gets booted from the faceoff circle...
When did he last score a relevant goal?
His only contribution is freezing the puck against the boards like its 1995?

I'm all for loyalty,and recognize his past achievements ,and I know there's another year on the old (gratuitous)contract,but what exactly does he bring to the table?

[mindfly]

He is nowdays Redundant on this team imo..

You're spot on about everything, I don't see why freezing the puck along the boards is a good thing, though...

Edited by mindfly, 05 April 2010 - 04:21 PM.

[zettie85]

Draper has been great this year for his age and ability. Helm and Eaves really re-energized him. He does kill penalties but probably not key penalties.

His forecheck is still great and he does a good job filling in a roster spot and making this team better.

[Zeke]

Draper has been great this year for his age and ability. Helm and Eaves really re-energized him. He does kill penalties but probably not key penalties.

His forecheck is still great and he does a good job filling in a roster spot and making this team better.

When Abelkader is ready (for the playoffs),is he the obvious choice to sit,or do we need his 'veteran'presense?

[zettie85]

When Abelkader is ready (for the playoffs),is he the obvious choice to sit,or do we need his 'veteran'presense?

I think he has played well enough to stay in the line up. I see Abs getting in more over Eaves because as much as I like Eaves, he's fragile and may not make the whole first round.

We will see I guess. I would like to see Abs in the line up but I don't know if I wanna scratch Draper to do it.

[Lidstromboli]

he's got an itch.. someone scratch him!

[Heroes of Hockeytown]

I think he has played well enough to stay in the line up. I see Abs getting in more over Eaves because as much as I like Eaves, he's fragile and may not make the whole first round.

We will see I guess. I would like to see Abs in the line up but I don't know if I wanna scratch Draper to do it.

I'd prefer that they scratch Willy if they're going to bench someone, but that seems unlikely.

[kylee]

draper deserves to be playing in the play-offs. why would babcock sit a guy through the playoffs who has played all year? only on LGW.

[Echolalia]

Well he is an alternate captain...

[Konnan511]

I love him being around for two reasons:

1) He is one of the reasons, why when young grinders make it into the Detroit Red Wing's line-up, they are very good at face-offs and are excellent back checkers. I know that the Red Wing mantra has been to always be defensively responsible, but I undoubtedly believe Draper has a huge hand in a lot of the on-ice preparation of this defensive mentality for these young forwards in the Red Wing roster.

2) Every team needs someone who looks like Chuck Norris.

So.... bullet points:
1) Mentorship and leadership
2) Chuck Norris

[zettie85]

he's got an itch.. someone scratch him!

I'd prefer that they scratch Willy if they're going to bench someone, but that seems unlikely.

Good call. Completely forget that this guys even on the team.

Edited by zettie85, 05 April 2010 - 04:39 PM.

[Detroit # 1 Fan]

Williams should and hopefully will be the one scratched, he has been slow and ineffective since his broken leg and Abdelkader brings everything he does and more.

[titanium2]

Draper is to Helm, Eaves, Miller and Abdelkader what Osgood is to Howard. They both offer guidance and support that only an experienced veteran can provide.

[mindfly]

Williams should and hopefully will be the one scratched, he has been slow and ineffective since his broken leg and Abdelkader brings everything he does and more.

That's so funny , first thing williams said in his first interview after signing here again "It will be nice to get back to the winning ways and hopefully win the cup" and then after played the regular season, although injured like 40games, he gets scratched right when the playoffs starts

But he's useless... no physicality, no forecheck, slow legs, sucks on the point, no defensive skills at all.

Edited by mindfly, 05 April 2010 - 04:43 PM.

[Konnan511]

draper deserves to be playing in the play-offs. why would babcock sit a guy through the playoffs who has played all year? only on LGW.

Happened last year to Draper. Played 79 games in the regular season and only saw 8 in the playoffs. Same thing with Kopecky. I don't remember if they were hurt or not, but if they weren't then it's not unprecedented.

[Heroes of Hockeytown]

Happened last year to Draper. Played 79 games in the regular season and only saw 8 in the playoffs. Same thing with Kopecky. I don't remember if they were hurt or not, but if they weren't then it's not unprecedented.

I know Kopecky got his s*** pushed in by Beauchemin and was KO'd for the playoff year. Draper was injured at some point but he returned in the Finals (to replace none other than one Justin Abdelkader even after he scored those goals in the first two games) but I don't remember if he was scratched before then or not.

[GMRwings1983]

I love Draper, but it's hard for me to refute anything the OP said.

He freezes the puck along the boards.


Hopefully he'll score some big playoff goals and show some usefulness, but yeah it's been a long time since he's done anything at all other than be a seat filler.

[kolo]

Its official, draper has been signed to Manchester United futball club, as you can see... all he does is play soccer and uses his feet...

[kylee]

two things draper promises in nearly every game he plays:

(1) he will almost certainly pin someone against the boards and

(2) if the opportunity rises, he will take a slapshot from a face off dot

[GMRwings1983]

two things draper promises in nearly every game he plays:

(1) he will almost certainly pin someone against the boards and

(2) if the opportunity rises, he will take a slapshot from a face off dot

And miss the net with it.