Jeff6851 168 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 I don't know if Smith was ineligible for the playoffs but he should have never gone back to GR. Sure, he has no playoff experience but what about next year when he's full time and he goes into the playoffs with no experience? Not like keeping him here and getting rid of Kindl would have hurt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff6851 168 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 I don't know if Smith was ineligible for the playoffs but he should have never gone back to GR. Sure, he has no playoff experience but what about next year when he's full time and he goes into the playoffs with no experience? Not like keeping him here and getting rid of Kindl would have hurt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Holmstrom96 347 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 You can say that again. 9 roboturner, T.Low, atodaso and 6 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,794 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 More like why didn't Datsyuk and Zetterberg play on the same line in this pivotal game? Too many why's we could ask about these losers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsfan_indian 39 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Kenny has babcocks balls hostage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff6851 168 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 You can say that again. I have no idea why it posted twice lol 1 Byorski reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff6851 168 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 More like why didn't Datsyuk and Zetterberg play on the same line in this pivotal game? Too many why's we could ask about these losers. But bro! They played together for the last few seconds! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Because class matters to the Wings, unfortunately. Stuart is leaving, it's all but guaranteed and he's been awful all series, it really couldn't have hurt. But whatever, Smith will be a full timer next year Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingfan19 293 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Pretty sad because Smith could of been a difference maker much like Klein was for Nashville. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Ruff 47 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 I was expecting him to be on the top 6 full time in the playoffs as well, but of course it wouldn't have turned the tide in the series... We'll see lots of him next year no doubt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atodaso 279 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Like he would've made any difference. Kindl didn't play a second in the playoffs so I'm not sure why you're bringing him into this. 1 Nev reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z Winged Dangler 2,082 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 same reason Nyquist wasn't given a fair chance on a good line....he's not old enough to get ice time on the Wings. Fresh young legs are guided by experience and the Wings showed yet again that all the experience in the world won't win puck races and battles if you don't have enough young legs. Can't wait to see Smith up full time on the 2nd or maybe even 1st line and same for Nyquist. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,794 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Like he would've made any difference. Kindl didn't play a second in the playoffs so I'm not sure why you're bringing him into this. If Kindle played, it would have been a lot worse. 1 Nev reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingfan19 293 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Like he would've made any difference. Kindl didn't play a second in the playoffs so I'm not sure why you're bringing him into this. So his youth, skating ability, grit, and exceptional offensive instincts would not have helped a team that could hardly score and was outmuscled the entire series? And don't pull the experience card because Nashville ran two rookies and a guy with only 2 full seasons in the NHL out there and beat us. And Kindl sucks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atodaso 279 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 My point was that swapping Smith for Kindl would not have made any difference because Kindl didn't play. Which defenceman would you have taken out to put Smith in? Stuart? Kronwall? Lids? Quincey? White? Ericsson? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingfan19 293 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 My point was that swapping Smith for Kindl would not have made any difference because Kindl didn't play. Which defenceman would you have taken out to put Smith in? Stuart? Kronwall? Lids? Quincey? White? Ericsson? Quincey, Ericsson, or Stuart. They were all bad in this series. 1 Z Winged Dangler reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 But bro! They played together for the last few seconds! Putting Z and Dats together would have decimated us at center. We were already losing faceoff battles. The problem was quite simply having a random hodge podge of forwards thrown together instead of a carefully assembled forward corps. And Babcock recognizes this and said offense was the big problem, which means that will be the focus in the offseason, which is good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff6851 168 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Like he would've made any difference. Kindl didn't play a second in the playoffs so I'm not sure why you're bringing him into this. Difference or not we all knew this team was a longshot to win the Cup. Smith would have gotten some valuable experience by playing in this series and there's no way he'd be worse than Stuart or Quincey were Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atodaso 279 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Quincey, Ericsson, or Stuart. They were all bad in this series. Ericsson was actually not that bad. He was very good on the PK and at times outplayed Q and Stuart 5-on-5. Stuart is a veteran and while I agree that he was terrible (and I really didn't expect anything better from him), he is still a highly paid, experienced d-man so there is no chance he gets benched. Holland traded our first round pick for Quincey. And as much as some people here rag on him, he's still a better option than Smith right now. To me the problem was with our stale offence. Smith will hopefully get his chance next season. Stuart will be gone for sure. Difference or not we all knew this team was a longshot to win the Cup. Smith would have gotten some valuable experience by playing in this series and there's no way he'd be worse than Stuart or Quincey were Come on guys, get real. No team in the league would've benched any of our top 6 d-men in favour of a rookie d-man. It doesn't matter how much potential he has. This was about winning now. And our best chance was with the guys we had. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Because class matters to the Wings, unfortunately. Stuart is leaving, it's all but guaranteed and he's been awful all series, it really couldn't have hurt. But whatever, Smith will be a full timer next year f*** stuart, he's played like he checked out a few months ago Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingfan19 293 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Ericsson was actually not that bad. He was very good on the PK and at times outplayed Q and Stuart 5-on-5. Stuart is a veteran and while I agree that he was terrible (and I really didn't expect anything better from him), he is still a highly paid, experienced d-man so there is no chance he gets benched. Holland traded our first round pick for Quincey. And as much as some people here rag on him, he's still a better option than Smith right now. To me the problem was with our stale offence. Smith will hopefully get his chance next season. Stuart will be gone for sure. I try to like Ericsson, I really do, but until he starts to mash people into the boards and clear the crease he will always be on my s*** list. No excuse for a guy that size to be so soft. Aki Berg 2.0 Stuart is gone, who gives a damn if he gets benched and gets his feelings hurt. He was a good warrior for us but his best days have passed. I like Q, but he needs to play with a defensive D guy who can cover up for his bad pinches and turnovers. Oh well, Smith should be full time in the top 4 next year... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Quincey, Ericsson, or Stuart. They were all bad in this series. I would have said Stuart, Kronwall and sometimes Quincey. Quincey at least had a few agmes of playing decent, I thought Ericsson has looked a lot better since coming back from injury. However Kronwall was bad and Stuart was just ******* pathetic. White was average if being generious. I think babcock really was WAY to slow in line juggling and sending messages, he should have sat that useless f*** Mule, and Bert/Abby played good when together same as Dats/Nyquist, yet he waits until 5 min left in the final game, WTF is that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff6851 168 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Smith/Dekeyser = New Lidstrom/Konstantinov 1 Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted April 21, 2012 Ericsson was actually not that bad. He was very good on the PK and at times outplayed Q and Stuart 5-on-5. Stuart is a veteran and while I agree that he was terrible (and I really didn't expect anything better from him), he is still a highly paid, experienced d-man so there is no chance he gets benched. Holland traded our first round pick for Quincey. And as much as some people here rag on him, he's still a better option than Smith right now. To me the problem was with our stale offence. Smith will hopefully get his chance next season. Stuart will be gone for sure. Come on guys, get real. No team in the league would've benched any of our top 6 d-men in favour of a rookie d-man. It doesn't matter how much potential he has. This was about winning now. And our best chance was with the guys we had. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough. Wasn't Chris Stewart benched by Hitchcock, granted not Dman, but still a message was sent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites