Williams is lacking moxy

[titanium2 867]

Is it me or does Willy always look like an Abercrombie and Fitch wannabe?

[jollymania 162]

Abdelkader will take his spot for sure

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Ok, so I would put Rig on the point on the second PP unit with Kronic. HE HAS A 100MPH SLAP SHOT BABCOCK!!!

[Guest screwdahawks]

Lack of moxy is not Willy's problem. It's lack of BALLS, he plays like a f***in girl and is too much of a ***** to go into the corners. If the f***** would play as hard as Eaves he would be a pretty consistent 30 goal scorer.

[McAwesome 754]

Eaves might not be a bad idea. He seems to have a decent shot, and he is good in the defensive zone. Just has to watch out for those shootout attempts.

Good thing there are no shootouts in the playoffs. Another reason why we don't need Williams in the playoffs.

[Casey 145]

Lack of moxy is not Willy's problem. It's lack of BALLS, he plays like a f***in girl and is too much of a ***** to go into the corners. If the f***** would play as hard as Eaves he would be a pretty consistent 30 goal scorer.

Moxie. Stones. Guts. Balls. Heart.

All the same thing, man.

[newfy 695]

So I think its agreed, Williams is a ***** and Abdelakder isn't so He needs to play in the playoffs.

Ericcson second PP

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

So I think its agreed, Williams is a ***** and Abdelakder isn't so He needs to play in the playoffs.

Ericcson second PP

If anyone is lacking balls, it sure is Ericcson as well.

Nothing like a 6'5" *****.

[newfy 695]

If anyone is lacking balls, it sure is Ericcson as well.

Nothing like a 6'5" *****.

I never said Ericcson had balls. But I wouldnt say he's completely lacking. He's one of the few that can drop the gloves and handle themselves on this team and clear the crease.

Either way, Ericcson doesn't have someone like Abdelkader to come in and replace him come playoff time that will out perform him that much and he was a beast in last years playoffs. Maybe Janik or OKT have more balls but we wont see them, we'll see Lebda replace Ericcson if he plays poorly.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Hopefully Babcock realizes how overrated that whole idea is.

I don't think we need Williams, but I do think that the importance of handedness is huge on the PP. It's about having more options and having better options when the handedness match well. Average player with the matching handedness can many times be better than good player with wrong handedness.

[newfy 695]

I don't think we need Williams, but I do think that the importance of handedness is huge on the PP. It's about having more options and having better options when the handedness match well. Average player with the matching handedness can many times be better than good player with wrong handedness.

The handedness doesn't matter as much on our PP. The D don't even switch sides unless its 5 on 3 most of the times. And I'm pretty sure Ericcson and Willy shoot the same hand?

[Finnish Wing 110]

The handedness doesn't matter as much on our PP. The D don't even switch sides unless its 5 on 3 most of the times. And I'm pretty sure Ericcson and Willy shoot the same hand?

I haven't seen a PP yet in which handedness wouldn't matter. It doesn't matter how you play it it always does. I dunno how could you possibly ignore it. Ericsson is left, Williams is right if that was what you were meaning.

As I said I don't think we need Williams, but handedness DO matter alot in any PP. Even if they don't shoot from the point, it's about the threat that they CAN shoot from there. If the handedness match well there are much more options for passes and much more scoring chances.

Edited April 8, 2010 by Finnish Wing

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

At the time of Williams coming back here, it was a pretty decent signing. We lost Hossa (expectedly), Samuelsson (wasn't too surprised) and Hudler (unexpected). Hopefully Williams could've filled some of the scoring gap some there with maybe a 15-20 goal season, but it just hasn't happened.

What I hate about deals like these is people that say "so-and-so" was a bad trade or signing months and months or years and years after it happened. Anybody can play armchair GM and say that something didn't go right after somebody didn't quite perform or whatever. If that were the case, the Wings should've have traded for Bertuzzi the first time, or sign Uwe Krupp because they could magically predict he was going to have a dog-sledding accident. That's going to irritate the hell out of me if or when that is done with Williams.

I don't think he's the cause of cancer like some have portrayed often in here during both of Williams' stints in Detroit, but he just can't produce worth a lick lately. Part of it is probably bad puck luck, and I wander also if his injury is affecting him more than we can see.

He's got more offensive upside than his possible replacements (Abdlekader, May) in the playoffs so I understand won't be disappointed if he's scratched and, but it won't kill me to see Abdlekader or May take Williams' spot on a 3rd/4th line (with them obviously playing different role(s) than Williams).

My guess is Williams starts the playoffs, but if he's bone dry in production, he'll be out after the first few games.

[titanium2 867]

I don't think he's the cause of cancer like some have portrayed often in here during both of Williams' stints in Detroit, but he just can't produce worth a lick lately. Part of it is probably bad puck luck, and I wander also if his injury is affecting him more than we can see.

Well I think many here on LGW are asking themselves, "Has Williams really changed all that much for the better since the last time he's been here?" My answer in short is no. How many puck battles does he win a game? I don't know the exact statistic but it seems like the amount would be really low.

[dropkickshanahans 463]

The handedness doesn't matter as much on our PP. The D don't even switch sides unless its 5 on 3 most of the times. And I'm pretty sure Ericcson and Willy shoot the same hand?

Well it's not just about shooting, it's about having a better angle at passing when being pressured as well.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Well I think many here on LGW are asking themselves, "Has Williams really changed all that much for the better since the last time he's been here?" My answer in short is no. How many puck battles does he win a game? I don't know the exact statistic but it seems like the amount would be really low.

No doubt about it.

I didn't think Williams was bad last time around with the Wings overall, but he didn't stand out to do anything all that great/good consistently. Same this year as well.

Again I'll stress since my other post is at the bottom of the last page, at the time of needing more offense with Hudler and Hossa and Samuelsson leaving and not that much cap space, Williams was a decent signing at the time.

Hopefully he'll have a change of fortune/luck but he hasn't done much to change as pointed out by titanium2.

Edited April 8, 2010 by SouthernWingsFan

[kylee 727]

i just wonder if the consensus to sit williams and play abdelkader is this overwhelming for Babcockand co. if there is one criticism i have with babcock is his seemly unrelenting obsession with having a right handed forward on the 2nd PP unit. that scares me to think that maybe williams wont be sat during the playoffs...

[Buppy 1,720]

I haven't seen a PP yet in which handedness wouldn't matter. It doesn't matter how you play it it always does. I dunno how could you possibly ignore it. Ericsson is left, Williams is right if that was what you were meaning.

As I said I don't think we need Williams, but handedness DO matter alot in any PP. Even if they don't shoot from the point, it's about the threat that they CAN shoot from there. If the handedness match well there are much more options for passes and much more scoring chances.

Matters in a general sense, sure, and all other things being equal of course you'd want 'matching' shots.

In our particular case though, I would suggest that Lidstrom playing on his 'off' hand >>>>>>>>> Williams.

I think a Lidstrom-Kronwall pair could be very close if not equal to Nick and Rafi, and Ericsson-Rafi quite likely better than Kronwall-Willy. Ericsson has accuracy issues, but that shot is wicked. I won't hold my breath, but that's what I'd like to see.

And though it's hard to judge due to all the other injuries, I don't think we really missed Willy's point presense while he was out.

[brett 1,029]

sammy > williams

oh s***tt

[newfy 695]

At the time of Williams coming back here, it was a pretty decent signing. We lost Hossa (expectedly), Samuelsson (wasn't too surprised) and Hudler (unexpected). Hopefully Williams could've filled some of the scoring gap some there with maybe a 15-20 goal season, but it just hasn't happened.

What I hate about deals like these is people that say "so-and-so" was a bad trade or signing months and months or years and years after it happened. Anybody can play armchair GM and say that something didn't go right after somebody didn't quite perform or whatever. If that were the case, the Wings should've have traded for Bertuzzi the first time, or sign Uwe Krupp because they could magically predict he was going to have a dog-sledding accident. That's going to irritate the hell out of me if or when that is done with Williams.

I don't think he's the cause of cancer like some have portrayed often in here during both of Williams' stints in Detroit, but he just can't produce worth a lick lately. Part of it is probably bad puck luck, and I wander also if his injury is affecting him more than we can see.

He's got more offensive upside than his possible replacements (Abdlekader, May) in the playoffs so I understand won't be disappointed if he's scratched and, but it won't kill me to see Abdlekader or May take Williams' spot on a 3rd/4th line (with them obviously playing different role(s) than Williams).

My guess is Williams starts the playoffs, but if he's bone dry in production, he'll be out after the first few games.

I really don't think Williams has higher offensive upside then Abdelakder, especially come playoff time. During the regular season if you give Abdelkader different line mates then Maltby and May or the PP time Williams got and he would've gotten way more points as well.

In the playoffs Abdelakder is a big body thatll go to the net and get the dirty goals, Williams I doubt will score much if at all in the playoffs because of the physical nature .

[Finnish Wing 110]

I really don't think Williams has higher offensive upside then Abdelakder, especially come playoff time. During the regular season if you give Abdelkader different line mates then Maltby and May or the PP time Williams got and he would've gotten way more points as well.

In the playoffs Abdelakder is a big body thatll go to the net and get the dirty goals, Williams I doubt will score much if at all in the playoffs because of the physical nature .

I agree here. Williams is obviously the more skilled etc. of the two, but that doesn't always mean producing when in playoffs.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

What does Williams provide this team with (aside from an ineffective point man on the PP)?

[Carman 387]

What does Williams provide this team with (aside from an ineffective point man on the PP)?

A good scapegoat, and a once a year goal in a shootout?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

A good great scapegoat, and a once a year goal in a shootout?

Fixed it.

[Zetts 236]

Williams plays exactly the type of game that caused our early round upsets in the past. Skilled, but refuses to engage in the play. Actually, this year he doesn't even look particularly skilled.

Bench his ass.

Besides, Abdelkader showed that if anything, he steps it up for the playoffs.