gdt Maple Leafs 2 @ Red Wings 3

[dirtydangles 1,328]

I'd like to see ferraro go. Bert is pretty slow out there 5on5 and especially with low end line mates. Bert with an injury out there will be even worse - he is still valuable as net front presence on the pp but we need more than that with our depleted lineup.

[HolyMackerel 40]

Great work Flashy! With all our injuries, a possible tagline could have been:

Who ya gonna callup?

[uk_redwing 495]

What an embarrassing season. Heads should roll.

We need goals. That's probably what it comes down to.

Best put a defensemen with 3 goals in 90 games up as a forward instead then. Tootoo has a better goals per game ratio than that and is actually a forward. I personally think this is Babs starting to creak under the pressure a little bit, with a bit of a fallout with Tootoo thrown into the mix.

Feel so bad for Toots. Why the hell did we even sign him in the first place?

[Andy Pred 48 337]

moving Smith to forward could be a master stroke by Babs, maybe even as good as Scotty moving Feds to D ?

[kylee 727]

We need this W in regulation in the worst way.

[pucktividi 472]

Kindl's name is by Smith's picture,otherwise hilarious GDT

[wings87 1,290]

Well, at least we finally get to see Smith as a forward.

You mean Smith wasn't already playing forward...?

What the hell has he been doing all year?

[canadian wings fan 305]

well a bunch of you asked for it. Brendan Smith as a forward? f*** what a season, pull it out in regulation boys. I literally couldn't give a flying s*** how they do it just win this in regulation

[Dabura 12,207]

If it was about goals I assume they'd call up Callahan since he's second on the Griffs in goals, rather than convert a defenseman to forward (all put ensuring he won't score). Babs likely wants Smith for his perceived forechecking ability and "heavyness", which will yield exactly zero goals, make our defense weaker, and take a chance away from a kid who's worked his tail off for an opportunity to play a game with the big club.

I think you're reaching because you hate Smith.

I don't like him as a defenseman. If he were a few years older and wiser and more mature, maybe. But, right now, I'd like to see what he can bring to the bottom six - which is why I've been calling for it all season long. He has good offensive instincts. He's an excellent skater. He likes to hit, isn't afraid to get his nose dirty. He's bigger than most of our forwards. He's been a weak link on the back end, a guy you know every opposing coach is telling his bench to exploit. And, finally, all forwards are morons (I played defense and forward, so I'm allowed to say this), so he's less likely to look like a fool as a forward.

I'm not sold on Callahan. I think having Glendening, Ferraro, Emmerton, and Callahan is too much (i.e. too little). Maybe Callahan should've been called up instead of Ferraro, but whatever. Coin flip.

[wings87 1,290]

[kipwinger 8,520]

I think you're reaching because you hate Smith.

I don't like him as a defenseman. If he were a few years older and wiser and more mature, maybe. But, right now, I'd like to see what he can bring to the bottom six - which is why I've been calling for it all season long. He has good offensive instincts. He's an excellent skater. He likes to hit, isn't afraid to get his nose dirty. He's bigger than most of our forwards. He's been a weak link on the back end, a guy you know every opposing coach is telling his bench to exploit. And, finally, all forwards are morons (I played defense and forward, so I'm allowed to say this), so he's less likely to look like a fool as a forward.

I'm not sold on Callahan. I think having Glendening, Ferraro, Emmerton, and Callahan is too much (i.e. too little). Maybe Callahan should've been called up instead of Ferraro, but whatever. Coin flip.

Smith is a better defenseman than Kindl, so our defense is now worse. Any forward is better than Smith, ya know, cuz he hasn't played forward since he was like 14 according to reports. You don't have to be sold on Callahan, but to think that he's not a better option than a converted defenseman who hasn't played forward since he's hit puberty is nuts.

I also don't hate Smith. You'll notice that every time I talk about him I say "he'll get better, but he's not good yet". I legitimately believe that. I do, however, hate how everybody bends over backward to make excuses for the guy rather than just saying "he sucks...right now".

Edited March 18, 2014 by kipwinger

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

If smith goes out and makes a fool of himself on the wing, he won't be there too long.

Babs will juggle bodies around.

[Dabura 12,207]

I agree with you that we need to score more, and keep the opposition off the board as much as possible, but maybe - just maybe at this point in the season Tootoo might bring some energy, and jump that this team lacks.

I think energy and jump is good, but if he's only playing five minutes, because he's a liability...

[Dabura 12,207]

Also, I think it's sort of the same thing with an enforcer. Sometimes carrying a tough guy takes the pressure off the rest of the team to play tough and take care of business.

[wingedominance13 112]

If there was a must win game, besides the last three, this is it.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Just win, please, in regulation, please

[frankgrimes 1,836]

So we have an Original 6 matchup tonight and the front page on tsn is loaded with Roy and Montreal *lol*

If Babcock is really trying Smith at the forward position we'll have a problem, because the defense will be even worse.

not playing Tootoo when you face Orr, McLaren and Brodie is very risky not that he would have had a chance against either one, but at least provide some energy.

[Tr!PoD#19 524]

Need 2 points in regulation..

[wings_fanatic 677]

I am thinking our top line has a big night tonight... Alfie and Franzen especially. Alfie has put together a couple strong games and him playing with actual decent players should help... not to mention Alfie loves to play against the Leafs.

I am expecting a tight game, but I see the Wings coming out on top.

[LeftWinger 4,951]

have we heard if Ferraro is going to get a shot? Smith at forward, really? Babs really hates Tootoo. Does Holland even consult him when he is offering someone a contract? First Commodore, now Tootoo.

[LeftWinger 4,951]

Malik says that Ray Ferraro is at the Joe in anticipation of Landon possibly going tonight...hell may as well let him play! But this is Babcock we are talking about, the same guy who knew The Millers were going to be in Buffalo because they've never watched their sons play against each other, yet Babdick made Drew a healthy scratch...prick.

[LeftWinger 4,951]

ok, so Ken Daniels just said if Bertuzzi cannot go, Ferraro will go...f*** Bertuzzi! He brings nothing to the game!

[ben_usmc 253]

If smith goes out and makes a fool of himself on the wing, he won't be there too long.

Babs will juggle bodies around.

That's a valid thought. Maybe he is doing this just in case he decides he needs another dman, and then converts Smith back to D?

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

The Wings have 11 players on their roster from the Calder Cup winning team. Griffins have 10.

Let that sink in for a little.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Brendan Smith's move to forward will ultimately make him outscore his brother this year on his way to a Conn Smythe