h2obury 6 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 http://freep.com/article/20100505/SPORTS05/100505062/1320/Loose-Wings-might-sub-in-Ritola-for-Williams It says that Babcock is contemplating this move. I for one am for it I think Williams has been bad this season for what he was supposed to be. We signed him to help replace some of the offense we lost but so far he has been anemic at best. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
b.shanafan14 733 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 I say why not, this team is going to need some fresh enthusiasm at this point. That and ANYTHING is better than Williams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darvesh88 8 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 http://freep.com/article/20100505/SPORTS05/100505062/1320/Loose-Wings-might-sub-in-Ritola-for-Williams It says that Babcock is contemplating this move. I for one am for it I think Williams has been bad this season for what he was supposed to be. We signed him to help replace some of the offense we lost but so far he has been anemic at best. After last night's performance by Williams. Missing the net constantly on the point and then the high wide shot in OT to top it off, it's a no brainer. If this was a rough series we would've gone with May but seeing how we need speed against the Sharks, Ritola is a nice upgrade, just like Lebda was chosen over Lilja for speed out of the zone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BamaWing 37 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 I just read "in for Williams" and I'm voting yes. 3 VikingMark, zettie85 and Heavymentill reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
h2obury 6 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 agreed his incredible point shot (miss) led directly to a 2 on 1 the other way Im not blaming him solely for the loss but its bad when I forget that he is even on the team at times. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 Poor May. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edicius 3,269 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 You could put a blueberry muffin in for Williams and I'd be fine with it. 6 EuroTwinLove40, Grypho, heinz57 and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoWings1905 2,694 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 Ritola, May, Meech, 11 forwards... I don't care because anything is better than Jason Williams. 1 heinz57 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drwscc 212 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 This team needs Bobby Lang. 1 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rbkhockey43 52 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 You could put a blueberry muffin in for Williams and I'd be fine with it. True that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CenterIce 83 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 So, this means Eaves is still out? The fourth line probably will not play much, so it won't matter much there. The big issue will be special teams, where Stuart would be back on the power play point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
motorcitykid 42 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 They need some energy inserted into the lineup. It ain't like Williams will be missed in the lineup anyway. So really, anyone is at least equal to himation this point. Unfortunately Babcock won't sit Ericsson instead of Lebda if indeed Lilja is back in. At the least, Ericsson should sit Game 4 and refocus himself. This is all moot though, if the officiating continues the way it has. No sourgrapes, just facts. I mean with Canadian media talks about us being next to the least penalized team all year, only to now get 10 penalties in playoff games, people ARE seeing it besides the fans. And if Howard doesn't get his s*** together, lineup changes will not matter anyways. He has NO room for error now. For F sakes, if/when we get up by a couple of goals tomorrow, he can't fall apart when we need him to make the big save. I just don't know what else Howard can read see talk about or hear. Rookie means nothing - he NEEDS to give us a chance to win. I've been such a supporter of his ... geez I used to scream my ass off at Griffins games ... but I'm just disgusted with him right now. We shall see. Go WINGS!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grateful Gadsby 10 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 After last night's performance by Williams. Missing the net constantly on the point and then the high wide shot in OT to top it off, it's a no brainer. It wasn't just the absurd, ridiculous shot. Check out the replay on Marleau's game winner and you'll see Williams lazily pull up/slow down just as Marleau tees up the shot. Unbelievable. Why isn't he lunging or doing anything and everything to break up the play? Because he sucks. His clueless, boneheaded plays were a major reason the Oilers shocked the Wings in '06, so there should be no surprise that history is repeating itself. The guy is toxic, pure and simple. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCleveland89 122 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 He tried to sign up for golf, but went into the wrong room and thought "Eh, I'm here anyways." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ogreslayer 1,069 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 Good idea. If I remember correctly, Ritola is out of options next year so it's either he's with the big club or they lose him to another team ala Quincey. Might as well get him some time in the playoffs now to see how he handles himself. Can't be any worse than J-Will. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SDavis35 140 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 PK Subban has worked well for Montreal, so I really hope Ritola will put in the effort that Williams hasn't given. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 maybe I should be coach, because I was saying this the moment Eaves went down, hell I would have put him in for Draper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeowingsfan 16 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 I approve using Ritola instead of Williams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Green Wing 26 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 Yes, please. Apart from the obvious 'nothing' that Williams brings, he won't be back next year and Ritola will be, so yes. Personally, I'd throw in May too, for Draper, who's doing nothing. Of course that won't happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
55fan 5,133 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 Ritola, Meech, May, Larsson, Heck put in Ella Maltby... (She's the one in the middle.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grypho 195 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 Sometimes it's good to have a sacrificial goat. We throw coaches under the bus all the time, routinely recycling them, and it often invigorates. I just read an article that includes some updates on what's happening that might carry into game 4: Shuffling the deckFour Wings - defenceman Brian Rafalski, and forwards Dan Cleary, Darren Helm and Patrick Eaves - didn't practice Wednesday. "Eaves won't play (Game 4)," Babcock said of the winger who's missed the last two games with an elbow injury. "The others are fine." Babcock tried Mattias Ritola in Eaves' spot during practice, suggesting he might be looking to pull Jason Williams, who'd originally come in for Eaves. "I haven't decided that," Babcock said. "I had a bunch of extra guys on the ice today, but I figure I didn't have to make any decisions until tomorrow." He changed his defence up in Game 3, dropping Andreas Lilja for Brett Lebda, but Babcock was unsure which one would play Thursday. "Lilja's not hurt," Babcock confirmed. "It's just a decision I made to go that way to generate more speed from the back. "I haven't decided what I'm going to do." Lebda admitted it was tough to make his playoff debut in such a critical game. "I hadn't played in a long time, so it was hard," Lebda said. "I just tried to keep it simple, make simple plays and not put yourself in a position where you're in trouble." If I had to bet, I'd say that Williams is more than likely going to miss game 4. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Lilja on the ice as well. Lots to prove, a lot of chances for everyone to make NHL history. Fresh blood to go along with a sacrificial Williams goat couldn't hurt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casey 145 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 Anybody but Williams! Ritola, Meech, Maltby with a bad shoulder, May, Janik, I don't care. Sit Williams! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mjtm77 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 It wont happen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 I say put May in. He's been there before, he's scored big playoff goals before, and if your a Sharks defenceman you better keep your head up when he's out there cuz your going into the 1st row. Williams hasnt done anything, it was a huge mistake bringing him back in the first place, but at the very least we can salvage that by benching him in the most important game of the series. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brett 1,029 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 (edited) should have happened 2 games ago. f*** you williams i refuse to watch game 4 if williams is in. maybe even if ericsson is in instead of lilja. depends on my day Edited May 6, 2010 by brett Share this post Link to post Share on other sites