Gaggster 4 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 What i always loved about this organisation is that they never seem to send old workhorses to the slaughter, they show respect for what they've done and use them in the best way possible, as mentors and leaders. Wouldn't we all hate to see faces so strongly associated with drw beeing disrespectfuly handled? 2 Hockeymom1960 and 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 What i always loved about this organisation is that they never seem to send old workhorses to the slaughter, they show respect for what they've done and use them in the best way possible, as mentors and leaders. Wouldn't we all hate to see faces so strongly associated with drw beeing disrespectfuly handled? Loyalty is an admirable trait,but come playoff time,I want the best players on the ice. He can mentor in the locker room and in the warmup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted April 6, 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? 1) Leadership 2) Faceoffs 3) Defensive play 4) Offense when he's not on a defensive line He's a good player, and he's not very expensive. 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... The team isn't perfect and this leads to the team not dominating everyone and the team losing makes mindfly angry for days! Waaaah! Waaah! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaggster 4 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 Loyalty is an admirable trait,but come playoff time,I want the best players on the ice. He can mentor in the locker room and in the warmup. I don't disagree, less icetime if they can handle it, and off the team if they are a liablility. I do get a warm fuzzy feeling when i see malts, draper, homer etc doing good. I do also think there's an real upside to treating your players fairly over time too. The sentiment DRW is the place to be, is not to be taken lightly imo. 2 Hockeymom1960 and 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceebs 2 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 Was it last playoffs or the playoffs before that he scored a goal off his face? Maybe he'll get another one off the jaw in playoffs cause there is no way in hell that slapshot of his is finding the back of the net. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lidstromboli Report post Posted April 6, 2010 Eaves just needs 1 more point and he'll be tied with Drapes and Helm with 22 points 1 ManLuv4Clears reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 Was it last playoffs or the playoffs before that he scored a goal off his face? Maybe he'll get another one off the jaw in playoffs cause there is no way in hell that slapshot of his is finding the back of the net. That was 2008, Cup year The Sammy-Draper-Drake line was great when it was put together in that series. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 Nope. I have faith that Babcock will bench Williams. I truly believe Williams could have contributed to this team (he has talent), but his injury is one he simply has not recovered fully from, and he is ineffectual out there right now. Management has to see that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 Nope. I have faith that Babcock will bench Williams. I truly believe Williams could have contributed to this team (he has talent), but his injury is one he simply has not recovered fully from, and he is ineffectual out there right now. Management has to see that. Not sure if you're being serious or not. I doubt it will happen but I hope the Wings do so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 Wow, not a lot of love for Drapes in here....his best offensive season in several years, the 4th line of him, Eaves and Helm has been terrific, and he is a leader off the ice - not just vocally, but also by example. The (deservedly) much maligned Williams said when he re-signed here last summer that in all his travels around the league he hasn't come across better conditioned athletes than Draper & Datsyuk. 1 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jamaica Jon 1 Report post Posted April 6, 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 Draper is also the ONLY Red Wing who is EVER called for offsides it seems like... Anyone else notice this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icesurfer 75 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 There is no substitute for playoff wisdom someone can bring to the team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdavis 28 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 (edited) When will the DHE line be reunited? How can anyone be bitching about Draper, I thought that he played very well together with Helm and Eaves. Draper gives the team a nice spark of energy. Edited April 6, 2010 by bd2988 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 When will the DHE line be reunited? How can anyone be bitching about Draper, I thought that he played very well together with Helm and Eaves. Draper gives the team a nice spark of energy. Putting Flipper on Zetterberg's line kinda put a monkey wrench in the 3rd and 4th lines, if we're talking about each line having just 1 center. Overall, I think Flipper-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi is working out all right. If they remain together, I honestly think you could interchange either Draper or Cleary with Helm and Eaves. Both are solid defensively, and Cleary has more offensive upside. With Helm's speed and hopefully him and Eaves contributing a goal here/there, it could hopefully turn into somewhat of a secondary scoring line consistently. I'm all for keeping them together. With Draper-Miller-Williams, it's neither a great/bad line, I just wish Williams could get going. He hasn't been awful by any stretch, but hasn't contributed much to the scoresheet lately. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
13dangledangle 965 Report post Posted April 6, 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. We could have used May against Philly I also agree with Williams on the Point too, someone said on here that Eaves should get a "shot" at playing the ponit on the PP and I cant think it would hurt to try but why not even go back to the Fedorov days and put Z back there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cupforwings 138 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 Putting Flipper on Zetterberg's line kinda put a monkey wrench in the 3rd and 4th lines, if we're talking about each line having just 1 center. Overall, I think Flipper-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi is working out all right. If they remain together, I honestly think you could interchange either Draper or Cleary with Helm and Eaves. Both are solid defensively, and Cleary has more offensive upside. With Helm's speed and hopefully him and Eaves contributing a goal here/there, it could hopefully turn into somewhat of a secondary scoring line consistently. I'm all for keeping them together. With Draper-Miller-Williams, it's neither a great/bad line, I just wish Williams could get going. He hasn't been awful by any stretch, but hasn't contributed much to the scoresheet lately. Thats a good idea... a third line of Eaves-Helm-Cleary sounds really good actually.... The 4th line, however, should be Draper-Miller-Abdelkadar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted April 6, 2010 Face off specialist, how many times does this guy take a face off, win it and then head to bench. He is the perfect person to come off of the bench in a situation where it is a close game, face off in the own zone, put him out as a winger or as the primary face off guy, he wins it, moves to the bench. Draper may not often make it to the box score, but he does a lot for this team. Arguably the best line for a better part of the season was Draper, Helm, Eaves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites