kipwinger 8,756 Report post Posted July 6, 2012 After all the lauding and back slapping the fans, organization, and sports media have given the Wild since the Parise Suter acquisions I started to sit down and really think about how dangerous these moves really made them. Certainly all the reactionaries around the hockey world have already penciled them as one of the top teams in the west. But anymore, being a top team doesn't cut it, you have to be elite, and in my opinion...elite they aren't. Obviously building a roster is an evolutionary thing, and I'm certainly not claiming to know much about their prospects and young talent, but for what it's worth I can think of at least 5 teams in the West scarier than the Wild. San Jose and Chicago are better up front than Minny with as good or better defenses, but with worse goaltending. Vancouver and Los Angeles are better in every regard. St. Louis has a better defense and goaltending, but doesn't have the offensive punch. As for Nashville and Detroit...well, let's just wait and see on those. So here's my question, is anybody else not afraid of the big bad wolf? 1 Z Winged Dangler reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted July 6, 2012 Elite or not, as it stands, they have a much stronger roster than us and I'm willing to guarantee that they finish ahead of us in the standings next season. 1 centcougar07 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kipwinger 8,756 Report post Posted July 6, 2012 Elite or not, as it stands, they have a much stronger roster than us and I'm willing to guarantee that they finish ahead of us in the standings next season. I'll take that bet. They were last in the league in "goals for". So, unless Zach Parise scores 40 goals and 100 pts. (which he's never done in his career), they haven't really improved that much. Suter helps the defense, which was middle of the road at best. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 They have one good defenseman (and one or two borderline ones). Their goalie is middle of the road. These days, that could be good or bad. And their offense looks good on paper but wound up scoring the least in the league last year. They added Parise but I don't see one player transforming their lackluster offense. Specifically, they will have one very good (on paper) top line, a decent second line, and nothing under that. They might make playoffs, but won't make any noise if they get in. Maybe 5 years from now they might have a one and done hot season, but no. They're just a middle of the road team. 1 Z Winged Dangler reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
55fan 5,133 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 They needed Suter as much as we did. Their D is not exactly notable. That said, I have high hopes for them. I was talking to a Wild fan yesterday, and he was telling me that on July 4th once the news got out, they had to call in extra people to man the phones for season ticket sales. Will they be a top team? Not without better D. Will they make the playoffs? I think so. 1 Drake_Marcus reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 I really feel this is gonna completely reenergize their team. I see them going into the playoffs either a 5th or 6th seed. All we've gotten is older and weaker with no intentions to change it. Quote me on it though, Wild will top the Wings next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atodaso 279 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 They're not even gonna make the playoffs. The only way they finish ahead of us is if we have one s***ty ass year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 I live in Minnesota and all my sports friends are like OMG TIM TOLD YOU THE WILD WOULD GET PARISE AND SUTER. s***. In regards to them they are a better team and should contend for a playoff spot. We'll see. I don't think you can take this next season and determine their success on one season. Hard to look 3-4 years from now but that's when things might make them an elite team. We'll see but huge buzz here in the state of Hockey no doubt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 They needed Suter as much as we did. Their D is not exactly notable. That said, I have high hopes for them. I was talking to a Wild fan yesterday, and he was telling me that on July 4th once the news got out, they had to call in extra people to man the phones for season ticket sales. Will they be a top team? Not without better D. Will they make the playoffs? I think so. And that's another thing. Holland needs to understand the press and excitement that come with signing new players. He's given us NOTHING to be excited about. I can't wait to see next season's Red Wings commercial. "The 2012 Detroit Red Wings.......we got Tootoo!!!". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Salviaman 104 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 They're not even gonna make the playoffs. The only way they finish ahead of us is if we have one s***ty ass year. With the current defense that we have right now it sure looks like it. Holland needs to do something before the season starts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atodaso 279 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 And that's another thing. Holland needs to understand the press and excitement that come with signing new players. He's given us NOTHING to be excited about. I can't wait to see next season's Red Wings commercial. "The 2012 Detroit Red Wings.......we got Tootoo!!!". Here's the thing, though... Our excitement as fans has zero impact on the team's performance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoWings1905 2,694 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 They're not even gonna make the playoffs. The only way they finish ahead of us is if we have one s***ty ass year. Unfortunately, I don't think that is entirely unlikely. I'm with everyone else that the Wild probably aren't a true contender still, but the Red Wings certainly aren't either and are going in the opposite direction. The Red Wings had defensive breakdowns galore with Nick Lidstrom and Brad Stuart around. The offense got completely shut down in the playoffs. I'm just not buying at all this internal development plan Holland is selling. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 Here's the thing, though... Our excitement as fans has zero impact on the team's performance. When we tank and 50% of the seats at the Joe are empty, I'd say I disagree. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted July 7, 2012 Elite or not, as it stands, they have a much stronger roster than us and I'm willing to guarantee that they finish ahead of us in the standings next season. How much will you donate to a charity of the community's choice if you're wrong? 2 Frozen-Man and zetterisbetter reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoWings1905 2,694 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 (edited) When we tank and 50% of the seats at the Joe are empty, I'd say I disagree. Exactly. How does fan excitement not play a role at all? Is anyone truly stoked to buy tickets for the Red Wings right now? I will still attend, but there is going to be minimal buzz around the team if they go into the season with this group. Edited July 7, 2012 by GoWings1905 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atodaso 279 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 With the current defense that we have right now it sure looks like it. Holland needs to do something before the season starts. Sure we have a weak D on paper as it stands. But they might just pleasantly surprise us. Look at 2007-08 and 2008-09: 07-08 we had 257GF and 184GA, won SC. 08-09 we had 295GF and 244GA, lost in SCF. The point is that in 09 we had Lidstrom and Stuart, and some of the other guys we have now but our D still sucked. And we still almost won the cup (BS imo). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pucktividi 472 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 The Wild got better,no doubt,but let's see first how they are able to handle the pressure of "must make the playoffs" situation. In this parity NHL,there's no such a guarantee of anything anymore,lol We've learned our lesson with Bobby Lang,Schneider and Hossa Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beachwing 426 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 And that's another thing. Holland needs to understand the press and excitement that come with signing new players. He's given us NOTHING to be excited about. I can't wait to see next season's Red Wings commercial. "The 2012 Detroit Red Wings.......we got Tootoo!!!". Bare in mind, we as wing fans are sof****** arrogant and 'entitled' anything short of a Hossa-Esqe signing and the excitement needle wont even quiver. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hatethedrake! Report post Posted July 7, 2012 The Wings are still better than the Wild. We're getting worse mind you but we're still better than they are. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoWings1905 2,694 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 Sure we have a weak D on paper as it stands. But they might just pleasantly surprise us. Look at 2007-08 and 2008-09: 07-08 we had 257GF and 184GA, won SC. 08-09 we had 295GF and 244GA, lost in SCF. The point is that in 09 we had Lidstrom and Stuart, and some of the other guys we have now but our D still sucked. And we still almost won the cup (BS imo). We also had a better Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen then. The best third line in hockey by far as well. Plus a guy named Marian Hossa. This offense, well... Sammy is back at least. The luxury of not playing defense won't work like it did in the 2009 regular season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atodaso 279 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 Exactly. How does fan excitement not play a role at all? Is anyone truly stoked to buy tickets for the Red Wings right now? I will still attend, but there is going to be minimal buzz around the team if they go into the season with this group. After 21 straight years of winning, you would think the fans would have a little more faith than this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 (edited) How much will you donate to a charity of the community's choice if you're wrong? $50 sounds fair. Question is, how much will you donate if I'm right? Edited July 7, 2012 by ShanahanMan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jericho613 74 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 (edited) Elite or not, as it stands, they have a much stronger roster than us and I'm willing to guarantee that they finish ahead of us in the standings next season. I respectfully disagree. Suter and Parise make them better on paper, but I still think they will place 7 or 8 tops. I can see the Wings making 4-6 seed. Edited July 7, 2012 by Jericho613 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoWings1905 2,694 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 After 21 straight years of winning, you would think the fans would have a little more faith than this. Faith in what? I still love the team, but they won one playoff game and got noticeably worse since then. You (not you directly; the front office more) cannot rely on the past success of the team to continue forward just because of their amazing run. Let's be honest -- the Red Wings have been a stale group since 2009 now and with three early playoff exits, fans need a new reason to feel excited beyond everything the organization has done for two decades. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Salviaman 104 Report post Posted July 7, 2012 Tootoo and Sammy are not going to energize the fan base either lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
