• Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

Hockeytown0001

12/15 GDT: Blues 2 at Red Wings 5

Rate this topic

Recommended Posts

I know what the numbers are. The marginal differences are irrelevant. Franzen's marginal difference are marginally higher because he plays with Datsyuk on the first PP. Just watch the game and you'll see that Franzen and Bert are under performing and while Filppula may not be playing to the best of his ability (And I mean that literally, I'm not implying he isn't playing well - he is), he is getting no help out there.

I also got no rebuttal to my rebuttal in the last GDT. :ph34r:

I'm actually pretty happy with Bert's play. It'd always be good to see him get more goals, but he's a cheap addition that plays hungry every game and he's really transformed his game to fit into this system. He's had a very good season aside from putting up descent numbers already. Last summer when we brought him back, we were more worried about his being able to stay healthy enough to play and whether or not he'd be a liability let alone whether or not he could actually contribute. He's only "underachieving" lately because he's done such a good job of overachieving, especially this year in developing his two-way game and taking less penalties.

If Franzen was truly slumping even Dats and the power play wouldn't help him. He may not be hot but he's not quite slumping. Again, 4 points including 2 goals in 7 games isn't great, but is it really bad, let alone slumping? Either way, it must be nice to have a "slumping" stretch that puts you on pace to put up more points than Flip is on pace for on the whole season.

Flip's had power play time too, no?

Flip did play a good game and he did create chances. Again, I never said he didn't. I just think it's ridiculous to rip Bert and Franzen, declare them to be slumping when they'e both completed better not only lately but all year.

The line isn't clicking right now, it's as simple as that. Tough to assign blame for that and I would've been fine with the suggestion that the line simply isn't clicking. But again and again, it makes no sense to criticize the guys doing more while praising the guy doing less and then blaming any such issue on the players who have been doing more.

Flip is hardly above criticism lately despite a good effort tonight. Babcock called him out Monday in the press too...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I can't stand Paul Woods, his "uh" every other word make it nearly impossible to follow what he says. "And-uh Datsyuk had-uh a good-uh game-uh tonight. Uh, let's-uh hope they can repeat-uh tomorrow."

it's sub-conscious. I work with a guy that says "...and all that" after like EVERY sentence. ARGH! Also, have you ever listened to a Marty Lapointe interview? "you know..."

Edited by LeftWinger

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Proud to say I tossed my first hat on the Joe Louis Arena ice tonight. Had some great seats and a brand new hat (tonight was the first time I've had a chance to wear it) -- it went to a worthy cause!

Thanks Nick!

:thumbup: So worth it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

28975980.jpg

How about that young guy getting his first career hat trick tonight?

Too bad there's no curly fries this year :(

It is for this game!!!!!

FSND.com

"You just never know," Lidstrom said. "Towards the end of the game, I thought Clears was going to look for me. I think the puck was standing up on end, just trying to get it on net and I got a lucky bounce again."

The feat is also lucky for local Wings fans, who can get a free order of curly fries from Arby's Thursday with a copy of the box score.

As is typical of Lidstrom, he didn't show a lot of emotion as the hats cascaded onto the ice in celebration of his feat.

"That's how he is," said Henrik Zetterberg, who assisted on all three of Lidstrom's goals. "I think he's pretty happy inside and relieved to get that one. I think he's happy to get it on home ice in front of our fans."

Most of the Wings, including Zetterberg, had no idea that Lidstrom had never gotten a hat trick in his storied career.

"I didn't know until the guys said it after the game here," goaltender Jimmy Howard said. "It's amazing. But he definitely deserves it. He's Mr. Perfect. He does everything right."

nlhatty.jpg

nlhatty2.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Seriously, I know I'm captain obvious, but how good is Lidstrom? I fear what will happen when he retires, he'll leave a huge hole in this team, not just by his play, but mentally, not having him in the rooms and on the ice will be a major blow.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Seriously, I know I'm captain obvious, but how good is Lidstrom? I fear what will happen when he retires, he'll leave a huge hole in this team, not just by his play, but mentally, not having him in the rooms and on the ice will be a major blow.

Detroit has always recovered from losses of players.

When Yzerman started going, people wondered where our offense would come from. Shanahan, Fedorov, people were worried to see all of them leave. When Murphy left people wondered who would pair with Nic, Schneider stepped in and did well, then when he left, Rafalski stepped up.

That said, usually we had an "option" to replace all of those guys (And the dozens of others that have come and gone through the years), but I must admit I don't see any type of replacement for Lidstrom.

Guys like Stevie Y, Shanahan....they're great forwards, but you can find diamonds in the rough like Zetterberg and Datsyuk to keep the locomotive chugging along.

In order to replace Lidstrom you need to draft a Bobby Orr. I don't see that happening.

Great forwards are rare, but there are a few of them each year. Great all around defense-Man are almost impossible to find.

Bright side: When Lids retires, we'll have a lot of cap room to mess with.

Dark side: Our style of play will change, and the first year or two without him, we will definitely feel an impact.

Lets hope Holland is still active when Lidstrom retires. We'll need the front office on their toes that year.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Seriously, I know I'm captain obvious, but how good is Lidstrom? I fear what will happen when he retires, he'll leave a huge hole in this team, not just by his play, but mentally, not having him in the rooms and on the ice will be a major blow.

lids should take over as defensive coach!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I get the weird feeling this is Lidstrom's last year..hopefully i'm wrong, but anyhow, although it will be a significant blow to the team, there will be plenty of guys we will look at to take his spot. I wouldn't mind seeing Ryan Suter or Keith Yandle in his place. Obviously i'd love to see Drew Doughty or Shea Weber in a Wings sweater, but that seems like a long shot right now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Detroit has always recovered from losses of players.

When Yzerman started going, people wondered where our offense would come from. Shanahan, Fedorov, people were worried to see all of them leave. When Murphy left people wondered who would pair with Nic, Schneider stepped in and did well, then when he left, Rafalski stepped up.

That said, usually we had an "option" to replace all of those guys (And the dozens of others that have come and gone through the years), but I must admit I don't see any type of replacement for Lidstrom.

Guys like Stevie Y, Shanahan....they're great forwards, but you can find diamonds in the rough like Zetterberg and Datsyuk to keep the locomotive chugging along.

Shanahan was a great forward. Yzerman is a legend. He was an all-time great and he was the superstar player and leader, the nucleus around which the Red Wings rebuilt the franchise. Without Yzerman, you don't have the 90s full of winning teams. The Wings might look like the Pistons or Tigers, stumbling between a chance at the division championship all the way down to missing the playoffs, with no real consistency.

In order to replace Lidstrom you need to draft a Bobby Orr. I don't see that happening.

Great forwards are rare, but there are a few of them each year. Great all around defense-Man are almost impossible to find.

Bright side: When Lids retires, we'll have a lot of cap room to mess with.

Dark side: Our style of play will change, and the first year or two without him, we will definitely feel an impact.

Lets hope Holland is still active when Lidstrom retires. We'll need the front office on their toes that year.

Lidstrom is irreplaceable; finding someone to fill the open spot in the top four may be difficult, depending on when he leaves. Kronwall is becoming a very good defenseman, Rafalski is still one of the league's most talented offensive defensemen, and Stuart has a very strong two-way game. The best solution is to start playing Ericsson more and Rafalski less at even-strength, as next season is the last contract year for Rafalski, Kronwall, and Stuart. Rafalski will likely retire, but the other two are probable to return. The major questions are, does Lidstrom return next year? Does Salei return next year? If Nick is back, perhaps he plays with Stuart and Kronwall with Ericsson. Perhaps Rafalski mans the third pairing and the PP, until his expected retirement at (2011-12) season's end.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would like to think that there's another year, or 2 left in the tank for Lids - however there's a distinct possibility this will in fact be his final year as a Detroit Red Wing.

While he's certainly not in Lids tier of play, but I'm thinking Tomas Kaberle might look good in a Red Wings sweater come next fall.

Kaberle would be an interesting pick up. Be interesting to see if he could play in a city where winning isn't only expected, its almost required to keep a job in Detroit..Polar opposite atmosphere of Toronto, in that sense, anyway.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Lidstrom is irreplaceable; finding someone to fill the open spot in the top four may be difficult, depending on when he leaves. Kronwall is becoming a very good defenseman, Rafalski is still one of the league's most talented offensive defensemen, and Stuart has a very strong two-way game. The best solution is to start playing Ericsson more and Rafalski less at even-strength, as next season is the last contract year for Rafalski, Kronwall, and Stuart. Rafalski will likely retire, but the other two are probable to return. The major questions are, does Lidstrom return next year? Does Salei return next year? If Nick is back, perhaps he plays with Stuart and Kronwall with Ericsson. Perhaps Rafalski mans the third pairing and the PP, until his expected retirement at (2011-12) season's end.[/font]

I agreed with everything you said, except I don't see Rafalski retiring after next season. He's still capable of putting up 50+ points a season.

Edited by Konnan511

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm actually pretty happy with Bert's play. It'd always be good to see him get more goals, but he's a cheap addition that plays hungry every game and he's really transformed his game to fit into this system. He's had a very good season aside from putting up descent numbers already. Last summer when we brought him back, we were more worried about his being able to stay healthy enough to play and whether or not he'd be a liability let alone whether or not he could actually contribute. He's only "underachieving" lately because he's done such a good job of overachieving, especially this year in developing his two-way game and taking less penalties.

If Franzen was truly slumping even Dats and the power play wouldn't help him. He may not be hot but he's not quite slumping. Again, 4 points including 2 goals in 7 games isn't great, but is it really bad, let alone slumping? Either way, it must be nice to have a "slumping" stretch that puts you on pace to put up more points than Flip is on pace for on the whole season.

Flip's had power play time too, no?

Flip did play a good game and he did create chances. Again, I never said he didn't. I just think it's ridiculous to rip Bert and Franzen, declare them to be slumping when they'e both completed better not only lately but all year.

The line isn't clicking right now, it's as simple as that. Tough to assign blame for that and I would've been fine with the suggestion that the line simply isn't clicking. But again and again, it makes no sense to criticize the guys doing more while praising the guy doing less and then blaming any such issue on the players who have been doing more.

Flip is hardly above criticism lately despite a good effort tonight. Babcock called him out Monday in the press too...

I pretty much agree with everything you say here. Bert has been a solid 2 way forward that has stopped giving the puck away incessantly. Flip has shot more, though still needs to be more of an offensive force. To be honest, I think the biggest problem with that line is that neither Bert or Franzen want to use their bodies. Franzen is vastly underachieving due to his unwillingness to be physical. We will see what happens come playoff time.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Or c)his relationship with his children

His oldest son is in Sweden happily going to school and living with relatives, and I assume that Lids has enough money that his son can come home for holidays.

Doubt children are much of an issue after the first one leaves the nest, frankly. Yeah it's rough, but parents can deal with it more easily when there's a prior experience to fall back on.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now