149 replies to this topic

[Mabuhay Red Wings]

If I had to put into words the way I feel about the Wings chances this season, I'd say I feel half caution and half excitement with fairly high expectations. Everybody may feel differently from one person to the next. I got to reflecting on how I felt about years past as far as I could remember in my years as a competently enough fan of the game. Feel free to share any memories you guys have from past regular seasons going into the playoffs.

• 93: More or less, "I'm going to watch one game at a time and just see how this goes."
• 94: I actually had really high hopes this year because of the 1st seed and everything. So sad.
• 95: Very much a feeling of, "This seems to be going really, really well... Hmm..." and then the Wings landed in hell.
• 96: Definitely thought they would win it all. Had very little, if any, doubts. And then it happened.
• 97: 20% cautious, 80% not expecting much. And then they won it all.
• 98: The same as 97, actually. Even though they were defending champs and the theme of that year was, "Believe."
• 99: I really felt they would three-peat. The 99 post season definitely pissed me off more than any other run for any of my sports teams. I got greedy big time.
• 00: Had a decent level of excitement but not much. Nothing exceptional. God I hate Colorado.
• 01: A little less excitement than what I had for '00. Ugh... Late night first round against the Kings definitely ruined some grades.
• 02: Haha. I actually felt like, "They betterf****** win it all, dammit... Or else... (shakes fist)." So very sad after Game 5 against the Avs. But it all ended very well.
• 03: Wasn't excited at all for this playoff run. I remember how they didn't get the 1st seed and thinking something just didn't seem right. I was more excited about the birth of the Euro Twins. From what I remember, Fedorov was on fire that year and then he ran into Steve Rucchin.
• 04: I actually felt really good about this year. I really liked the team from that year on paper. But it wasn't to be.
• 05: Lockout.
• 06: I was fairly excited but also a tad cautious because I started to see how the Wings would get one of the highers seeds and then lose.
• 07: Cautious with low expectations. I was very impressed after this playoff run. The foundation of the team was starting to really emerge.
• 08: A very slow building feeling of shocking amazement as they year went on. "Wow... They could really do this and I can't think of a better team in the league," is how I felt.
• 09: Definitely believed they would win it all.
• 10: Very much a "One game at a time, let's see where this goes" kind of feeling.

[matt198913]

1993 I was expecting them to beat the Leafs in the first round but thanks to Pat Burns god rest his soul that didn't happen
1994 They were supposed to be in the finals with New York, horrible first round though
1995 Should of won the cup, I expected them to win the cup they had the best team but maybe still needed to learn how to win a little bit more
1996 This was the year right we had the best record in history, everything going for us. Nope
1997 Did not expect them to win it at all, I just wanted to see them play Colorado some time durring the playoffs
1998 After they got Fedorov back I fully expected them to win the cup and with ease
1999 After getting Chelios, Wenddel Clark, Ulf Samuelson, and Bill Ranford to play goal how could they not win the cup! Didn't expect then to get blown away by Colorado
2000 Adding Pat Verbeek but still didn't expect them to win
2001 Never expected them to lose in the first round I thouhgt they might have a shot at the confrence finals
2002 Really did someone that follows hockey not expect them to win that year
2003 Fully expected them to repeat, stupid Giggy
2004 Chaos that season however they got Hatcher back at the right time so I expected them to at least be in the mix for the cup
2005 Even though there was no season I still expected them to win the cup
2006 Led the league in points best team overall, everyone felt like it was going to be Stevey Y's last year definitely expected them to comptete for the cup, didn't see that loss to Edmonton in the first round coming
2007 Thought they had a great shot after beating Calgary in the first round and after getting Bert at the trade deadline but it wasn't to be
2008 Fully expected them to win the cup with Hasek playing lights out in the regular season, who knew that Ozzie would lead them to it
2009 Expected them to win the cup
2010 If they got to the conferecne finals it would have been a small miracle still this is Hockeytown, so I have to be honest I expected them to win the cup
2011 In my opinion for top to bottom they have the best line up out there, the only question is in goaltending which I believe Howard can answer. I think they win the cup beating Pittsburgh if Crosby comes back in 6 games if he doesn't come back then they beat Philadelphia in 6

[VM1138]

I'll stick with from '00 on, because before that I just watched hockey and didn't really get into the finer art of prediction.

2000: Honestly didn't expect much.
2001: I expected a bit more than 2000, that LA series just about killed me.
2002: It was sort of a foregone conclusion that they would win it all.
2003: At the start of the season I expected them to win it all but before long it just didn't feel like it would happen.
2004: Same goes for '03.
2005: Lockout
2006: Thought for sure they would win it. It seemed like they were destined for it, even moreso than in 2002.
2007: Felt really good about our chances, considering the "chip on their shoulder" storyline and that Anaheim series.
2008: Felt like it was destined to happen, and it did.
2009: During the regular season I didn't see how they could win it all, but once playoffs started it began to feel inevitable that they would win.
2010: Was seriously concerned about just making playoffs. Something felt off, even once they got healthy.
2011: Something just feels off. I want them to win, but they've been so inconsistent that I don't have that feeling that it's a foregone conclusion. Hope that changes come playoff time.

[RusDRW]

This year I feel that we're much better than any other team. I rarely had that feeling in the past. Last time it was in 2007 when we lost to Anaheim and back in 2002 for obvious reasons. If our players want it hard, we're going to win. However, I don't think our players are motivated enough.

[DatsMyWings13]

Feeling pretty good about this years team. I say we have as good a chance as any team at this point and time.

[puckbags]

We win...end of story.

[HankthaTank]

All leans on #35 and what he can do for us. He plays like last night with a better product in front of him? Could be looking at a long playoff run into June

[Mabuhay Red Wings]

2005 Even though there was no season I still expected them to win the cup

[F.Michael]

Honestly - I dunno.

Our inconsistency with defense has me concerned...Be lucky to get beyond the 2nd round.

[xtrememachine1]

However, I don't think our players are motivated enough.

They should watch Game 7 of the '09 Finals over and over again if they need motivation. That should give them an endless supply of motivation and pissed off energy.

[F.Michael]

2011: Something just feels off. I want them to win, but they've been so inconsistent that I don't have that feeling that it's a foregone conclusion. Hope that changes come playoff time.

Agreed.

Some here feel the Wings laziness is just a reg season issue, and they'll snap outta it once the playoffs begin...I'm not that optimistic; I'm afraid their inconsistent play in their own end will continue come spring time.

[HankthaTank]

Agreed.

Some here feel the Wings laziness is just a reg season issue, and they'll snap outta it once the playoffs begin...I'm not that optimistic; I'm afraid their inconsistent play in their own end will continue come spring time.

Not trying to "live in the past" or anything but in 2009 I have to say I had my doubts going into that playoff year too and then....try switch was flipped. The concerns are real but they are also not something we can expect to see come April.

[newfy]

I dunno, this year I'm not super confident but I do think they have enoughw eapons to win it all if they peak at the right time.

When you look at it, Vancouver and the Sharks are the 2 teams in the west that are the other best. Both teams have playoff demons, Luongo is not much of a playoff goalie and I think the Sedin sisters can be shut down with some physical play.

I still think this team needs some fresh blood somewhere in the line up

[stinky fish taco]

2011: they won't win the cup. defense and goaltending is simply not good enough.

[Rick Zombos Ghost]

defense wins in the playoffs. were decent but not good enough. I predict a ton of pucks dumped behind Rafalski until hes turned into hamburger like every spring...

[Reds4Life]

Not good.
Defense is horrible compared to Red Wings standard. Way too much time is spent in our end, and Howard is not exactly playing great either. Barring a complete defensive turnaround, Wings have very little chance, if any, of winning the Cup.

Also, it does not help that Modano MUST be on the roster. He is not a very good player anymore and the younger guys at least provide more energy.

[Echolalia]

The Wings aren't going to win the Cup with how they have been playing. Teams crack down on defense way more in the post season so those 5+ goal games that have been bailing our D out aren't going to be commonplace.

[HankthaTank]

If everyone thinks that the Wings will continue with this defensive play when literally every single team that is in the playoffs, including the Wings, tightens up defensively, then I believe everyone is more of a chicken little and delusional than I thought.

Edited by HankthaTank, 03 March 2011 - 02:50 PM.

[stinky fish taco]

If everyone thinks that the Wings will continue with this defensive play when literally every single team that is in the playoffs, including the Wings, tightens up defensively, then I believe everyone is more of a chicken little and delusional than I thought.

just like last year when the wings GA/G went up from 2.50 to 2.75, right?

...oh wait.

[HankthaTank]

just like last year when the wings GA/G went up from 2.50 to 2.75, right?

...oh wait.

Comparing this year to last year.

Ok then....