Zeke 5 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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? 3 Matt, TheDetroitRedWings and T-bone reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted April 5, 2010 (edited) 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 April 5, 2010 by mindfly 1 T-bone reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zettie85 106 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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. 2 Hockeymom1960 and teebo reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zettie85 106 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lidstromboli Report post Posted April 5, 2010 he's got an itch.. someone scratch him! 1 Lidstrom for life reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylee 727 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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. 1 Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 Well he is an alternate captain... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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 3 Lidstrom for life, 55fan and Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zettie85 106 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 (edited) 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 April 5, 2010 by zettie85 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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. 2 55fan and swiss_fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted April 5, 2010 (edited) 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 April 5, 2010 by mindfly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,788 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kolo 10 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylee 727 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,788 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cupforwings 138 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 He provides leadership which is a huge part of any team, especially in the playoffs. It's not like he has been bad this year? 1 Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clutchngrab 12 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 His role is to skate around and not really do anything, but look damn good at it. 1 T-bone reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooon 1,089 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 Williams hasn't done a damn thing for us this season. I understand the logic behind having a right handed shot on the point on the PP, but what good is it if that right handed shot is terrible? As per the topic: I think the OP is right in a lot of ways, but I think he'll play most games. Might depend on the matchup. I wouldn't mind seeing even May get back in a game or two if the opponent is right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 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 I think Scotty Bowman once said that good locker room players should remain in the locker room. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
talex 1 Report post Posted April 5, 2010 Draper adds experience and you do not see his line making nearly as many mistakes as the other lines, he always seems up on the forecheck and you can feel pretty good a safe when he is out there that there will not be mistakes, that is a great thing for a grind line. It would be nice to see his line score a bit more, but Draper is doing a good job, I will say the same about Malts, not many mistakes that cost at crucial times, although it is time for at 1 to move on and I think that is happening. Draper is an excellent leader and has an amazing conditioning routine which shows the young guys what it takes, they need to keep him in, next year as well and then take a good hard look at things then, if the kids are ready to play mistake free 90% of the time then it will be time for Drapes to hang them up, but not until then, we need mistake free players on this team, not fast mistake prone players. I say sit Willimas when Abby can come up, then possibly Bert unless he starts to do something, Bert can be great but when he is cold, he is a big liability, does not score and cough's up the puck way to often. 1 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites