wings87 1,290 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 (edited) Ever since Holmstrom left this team has had absolutely nobody that can consistently tip pucks in front of the net. For the last several years its either a puck goes in cleanly off the shot or the wings have a tough time scoring. Not sure what you do to fix this but not being able it tip pucks past goalies has really demolished the offense. Iwonder if its becoming a lost art, every team seems to want to score on the rush or with traffic, and no team seems to have a Holmstrom or a Smyth. Edited October 25, 2013 by wings87 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 Cleary and Abdelkader haven't done a bad job, but Homer was the best net-front player since Phil Esposito, of course we're going to miss him. We miss Lidstrom too. Despite all that, he was only ever a complimentary player. Without Lidstrom and to a lesser extent Rafalski/Kronwall/Schneider/Murphy etc firing slapshots from the point, he wouldn't be half as effective. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wings87 1,290 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 Cleary and Abdelkader haven't done a bad job, but Homer was the best net-front player since Phil Esposito, of course we're going to miss him. We miss Lidstrom too. Despite all that, he was only ever a complimentary player. Without Lidstrom and to a lesser extent Rafalski/Kronwall/Schneider/Murphy etc firing slapshots from the point, he wouldn't be half as effective. I agree but im not just talking about a net-front guy im talking specifically about re-directing pucks, which we suck at. It helps having more accurate defenseman but you still have to be able to tip a puck and not just block a goalies vision. 1 Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
55fan 5,133 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 Come to think of it, it wasn't so bad having half of our goals waived off when there were three times more going in the net in the first place. 3 Nev, Hockeymom1960 and raven756 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeymom1960 5,107 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 Of course we're missing Homer. A goalie can't make a save he can't see. These goalies see everything we shoot at them. Besides most players don't have the balls Homer had to take the abuse. He was very smart. He found a niche for himself many players don't discover themselves and he has 4 Stanley Cup rings to prove it. I miss him 3 RedWingfaninCO, puckloo39 and roboturner reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 Holmer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Playmaker Report post Posted October 25, 2013 (edited) Holmer was a shell of his former self the last few seasons he played. Guys get old, they retire, they move on. Fans should too. Edited October 25, 2013 by Playmaker Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,205 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 (edited) Holmer was a shell of his former self the last few seasons he played. Guys get old, they retire, they move on. Fans should too. There's nothing with missing a player and what he brought to the team (when he wasn't a shell of his former self). With your attitude, we might as well not celebrate hockey's past at all. And the truth is that this team is indeed "missing" the Homer component and would greatly benefit from some form of worthy replacement. Edited October 25, 2013 by Dabura 2 55fan and Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paulwoodsfan 52 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 As time goes on it is becoming more and more apparent just how unique Homer was. There really has never been any player in hockey quite like him. Other guys have tried to screen the goalie and occasionally get slashed for it, but Homer did it night after night for something like 16 years, without ever letting the punishment -- or the risk of being beaned by a high slapper -- deter him in the least. He is one of my all-time favourite players because he was truly one of a kind. 1 Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
55fan 5,133 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 (edited) No one else does this: Notice the skates. Out of the crease. Edited October 25, 2013 by 55fan 5 puckloo39, Dabura, RedWingfaninCO and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Euro_Twins 4,473 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 Homer ALWAYS knew where the goalie was without even having to look. I miss his swenglish as well 2 Hockeymom1960 and puckloo39 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 We also miss Lang, Maltby and Draper. 1 puckloo39 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 Someone should plot goals waived off/game before and after Homer retired. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 At this point in time, a cardboard cutout of Holmer could contribute just as much of what we're seeing. 1 wings87 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BottleOfSmoke 5,965 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 No one else does this: Notice the skates. Out of the crease. Definitely warrants a nose blow during the next time out. I want to boot just thinking about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wings87 1,290 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 At this point in time, a cardboard cutout of Holmer could contribute just as much of what we're seeing. I think you are being way to generous to what we are seeing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Playmaker Report post Posted October 25, 2013 We also miss Lang, Maltby and Draper. There's nothing with missing a player and what he brought to the team (when he wasn't a shell of his former self). With your attitude, we might as well not celebrate hockey's past at all. And the truth is that this team is indeed "missing" the Homer component and would greatly benefit from some form of worthy replacement. And we miss Lidstrom, and we miss Yzerman, and we miss Fedorov, and we miss Hasek, and we miss Konstantinov. Not to mention the scores of other unique and talented players who have worn the Winged Wheel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeymom1960 5,107 Report post Posted October 25, 2013 Holmer was a shell of his former self the last few seasons he played. Guys get old, they retire, they move on. Fans should too. It's not about moving on, it's about what this team is missing and that type of player...HOMER! 1 55fan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Playmaker Report post Posted October 26, 2013 And we're missing the best defenseman of a generation like Lidstrom, and we're missing a power forward like Shanahan, and we're missing a big tough defenseman like Konstantinov, and we're missing a point man on the PP like Rafalski and we're missing PK's like Draper and Maltby, and we're missing a sniper like Hull and we're missing a tough guy with offensive skills like McCarty and we miss the playmaking skills of Larionov and on and on and on. With the possible exception of Datsyuk and Zetterberg, who from the past wouldn't you rather have than anyone on the current team? 1 Nev reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MabusIncarnate 5,343 Report post Posted October 26, 2013 Patric Hornqvist has potential to be somewhat of a Homer-like player, if we ever made trades he might be someone to try and pry away from Nashville. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wings87 1,290 Report post Posted October 26, 2013 (edited) Patric Hornqvist has potential to be somewhat of a Homer-like player, if we ever made trades he might be someone to try and pry away from Nashville. Huh. The only trades we make are no brainers like Quincy for a first rounder. Edited October 26, 2013 by wings87 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Euro_Twins 4,473 Report post Posted October 26, 2013 And we're missing the best defenseman of a generation like Lidstrom, and we're missing a power forward like Shanahan, and we're missing a big tough defenseman like Konstantinov, and we're missing a point man on the PP like Rafalski and we're missing PK's like Draper and Maltby, and we're missing a sniper like Hull and we're missing a tough guy with offensive skills like McCarty and we miss the playmaking skills of Larionov and on and on and on. With the possible exception of Datsyuk and Zetterberg, who from the past wouldn't you rather have than anyone on the current team? Lebda 1 Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frankgrimes 1,836 Report post Posted October 26, 2013 I think Holmer retirement has been one of the most underestimated for a long time, he brought something to the table which is really hard to replace. The guy gave his back for this club, doing a tough job in the toughest areas, obviously losing the perfect human did hurt more but losing Holmer was another tough loss. We should be glad to at least have another few more years of Z and Pasha once they are gone or heavily over the hill, the future will be shallow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,205 Report post Posted October 26, 2013 (edited) We should be glad to at least have another few more years of Z and Pasha once they are gone or heavily over the hill, the future will be shallow I'm all about the doom and gloom and pessimism, but honestly, I feel pretty good about our future. Edited October 26, 2013 by Dabura Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted October 26, 2013 Honestly, I think the biggest loss of the last 5 years has been Lidstrom (obviously), Rafalski and Stuart on the back end. For all the crap the latter two caught for "sucking" we're only now seeing the value of players of their caliber on the back end. Having 4 quality defencemen, all of whom could move the puck, was such a huge part of the way we played. Now we're lucky if our defencemen manage to chip the puck out the zone to centre ice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites