Next Seasons Needs/Team Future

[Son of a Wing 1,644]

Did you guys hear Ken Daniels quoting Babcock on Glenny:

"Other than Nick Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Crosby, Toews, and Bergeron, Luke Gendening is the most competitive player I've ever coached."

I heard it that night, but I thought the quote was "...most dependable player." Either way, HUGE compliment.

I recorded the game and remembered it. He says this at 14:20 of the 2nd period. This is word for word.

"Mike Babcock got our attention today when he rated Glendening one his top 10 most competitive players he's ever coached.

I mean he's got Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg...talking about guys like Crosby and Toews.

Here's a kid who was a walk-on in college, undrafted in the NHL, 3rd/4th line minutes in the NHL and ranking right up there with those future hall of famers.

Just the names he said...Yzerman, Lidstrom, Crosby, Toews and Bergeron........and Glendening....."

[Datsyukian-Deke 722]

Can we sign one or all 3 of Lidstrom's sons to contracts? I gotta imagine having three mini number 5's on defense wouldnt be so bad.

[wings87 1,290]

Did you guys hear Ken Daniels quoting Babcock on Glenny:

"Other than Nick Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Crosby, Toews, and Bergeron, Luke Gendening is the most competitive player I've ever coached."

Its a nice sentiment but I think it's a bit of an overstatement.

[Guest DeGraa55]

Its a nice sentiment but I think it's a bit of an overstatement.

I don't think so. He doesn't have the natural god given talent like other players have. But if you watch him every shift he is always bringing it. He gives 100% every single shift.

Franzen can float and give 5% and score because he has some natural god given talent(all wasted I know but still natural talent).

[T.Low 1,011]

Its a nice sentiment but I think it's a bit of an overstatement.

Why?

[rick zombo 3,739]

Babcock has a soft spot for mostly plug type guys with hands of lead that work their ape-s***-******* ballz off all the time. Like Cleary used to be (only the newf had pretty good hands)

It’s because he’s from the prairies.

He probably slaps Tatar around after every game, while eating steak and watching Justified with Luke.

Srsly though, Glendenning’s great IMO.

Edited April 1, 2014 by rick zombo

[wings87 1,290]

Why?

Let me preface what I'm about to say,so no one gets the wrong idea, by stating that I'm a huge fan of Glendening and hope that he continues to get a chance to develop with the Red Wings.

Glendening is a good fourth liner with potential, that tries every shift, but listing him 8th in competitiveness out of all the players Babs has coached is the essence of Hyperbole. Now I'm not Babs and I can't flat out state that his views are wrong, but how do you quantify a players competitiveness and what makes Glendening more competitive then say, Draper or Cleary? I'm not disputing at all that Glendening is ultra competitive just the fact that after only seeing him for half a season Babs has anointed Glendening as the 8th best competitor he's ever coached, it's too much too soon. If Babs said, "Glendening is one of the most competitive and hard working players I've ever coached" that would be just fine, but IMHO he took it a step too far; which made it seem like an overstatement from a coach that has fallen in love with a player.

[Dabura 12,232]

I don't think so. He doesn't have the natural god given talent like other players have. But if you watch him every shift he is always bringing it. He gives 100% every single shift.

And it's not just what we see of him on the ice in games.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2013/12/red_wings_luke_glendening_is_e.html

“Luke Glendening came to Michigan as a recruited walk-on with no promise that he’d ever play,” Berenson said. “He just wanted a chance with the team. He made a mark every day in practice. He ended up being our captain his junior and senior years.

“He never led the team in scoring, but he was our leader on and off the ice. Now he’s showing that he can play pro hockey and now he’s in the NHL. He’s a good example for young kids that aren’t getting all the attention and aren’t draftable and aren’t this and aren’t that, but they really want a chance.”

Edited April 1, 2014 by Dabura

[gcom007 1,465]

Babcock has a soft spot for mostly plug type guys with hands of lead that work their ape-s***-******* ballz off all the time. Like Cleary used to be (only the newf had pretty good hands)

It’s because he’s from the prairies.

He probably slaps Tatar around after every game, while eating steak and watching Justified with Luke.

Srsly though, Glendenning’s great IMO.

Definitely agree with what you're saying, but again, not to take too much away from Glendenning at all. He's a hell of a player and if he can keep working as hard as he is, he's going to have a great career and likely pick up his fair share of Selkes.

But the best part of this comment is the image of Babs and Luke's post-game ritual. Hysterical. No wonder Tatar's gotta party so hard when he gets home.

Edited April 1, 2014 by gcom007

[gcom007 1,465]

And it's not just what we see of him on the ice in games.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2013/12/red_wings_luke_glendening_is_e.html

So is there anything not to like about this guy? I really think this guy could be such an important part of this team for some time to come the way he's going. I've always thought that it's really important and beneficial to have guys out there that make it on work ethic alone because they push everybody. If you look at any pursuit in life, there are people who have natural talent and it's a lot easier for them to coast along on it, at least for awhile, but at some point, the people with the fire and passion who outwork everyone around them tend to catch up. Those are the guys that can push all of your players to be better, and they're great guys to build a unit around.

I really think the key to success in the cap era is going to be bargain hunting for a crew of less-skilled guys with tremendous work ethics on your back lines. Those are the guys that are really coachable and can work great in a system; they're a tremendous value for what you get which allows you to spend more on your top lines. They also tend to contribute what they contribute more consistently than the guys you rely on to score. If you can consistently shut down another teams top guys for the most part game after game, even if you're struggling to score yourself, you're going to have a much better chance of grinding out a win.

On that note, and to be more on topic, I'd love to have Eaves back at some point when we have an actual role for him to fit into consistently. Again, another guy with great character and work ethic. On a team where he actually had a consistent role and didn't get tossed around like he has this season due to our roster issues, I think he can become a really important player working on a 3rd line, and the guy does have a bit of offensive upside. It's really too bad he was traded because he would've been real nice to have around if he didn't succumb to injury during this last month or so. And I honestly think if not for some of the injury issues, he'd be a more important part of this team still. He was definitely helpful in the playoffs last year for us, which is all the more impressive considering what he had to come back from to be there.

[Shinzaki 72]

He's Maltby with about 15lbs of added muscle. He could stay stuck on zero goals and still be a key part of a cup winner.

Re Folin...eh...we have two RH shooting Dmen on the GR roster in Sproul and Marchenko who are just about NHL ready from what I've seen and read. Haven't seen anything of Folin, but that one talking head on CBC said scouts thought he was a notch below Dekeyser

[LeftWinger 5,153]

Ok, lets look at the players a lot of folks here deem expendable and not upcoming UFA's.

Kindl, Andersson, Almqvist, Callahan, Ferraro, Tootoo, and maybe Lashoff, Miller.

Throw in our 1st round pick in any package, and I don't think any combo of the above mentioned is going to bring us a #1/2 defenseman. That is why, Holland should trim the fat by only re-signing Legwand and MAYBE Alfredsson and Gustavson as UFA's and then making room on his roster by acquiring draft picks for the expendable players that would open up enough roster spots to keep all the kids here and get a couple of solid second to third pairing d-men the make this D tougher to play against.

[Dabura 12,232]

It's going to be extraordinarily difficult to land a top-end defenseman this summer. I think our best bet is Ehrhoff, as he's a solid #2 who wouldn't cost a thousand roster players. Also, I think we've sort of debunked this idea that his contract would be a tremendous burden. Also #2: Quincey, Lashoff, and Kindl are replaceable, so it's not like adding a defenseman or two would necessarily mean that there'll be no room for up-and-coming Griffins. Plus, Almqvist's future probably doesn't lie with the Wings (watch him become the next Lidstrom on another team), and one of Sproul/Ouellet/Marchenko would be going to Buffalo for Ehrhoff.

Kronwall Ericsson

Ehrhoff DeKeyser

Smith Marchenko

Something like that, maybe. I guess Marchenko could be Matt Greene or Derek Morris instead, if only because Smith should probably be paired with a steady vet.

[Prashanth Iyer 3]

So I created an offseason gameplan that I think puts the Wings in a good position for coming years. What do you guys think?

http://thehockeywriters.com/detroit-red-wings-offseason-gameplan/

[wingedominance13 112]

Looks pretty good. I think there is a good chance legwand is resigned however.

[Buppy 1,720]

So I created an offseason gameplan that I think puts the Wings in a good position for coming years. What do you guys think?

http://thehockeywriters.com/detroit-red-wings-offseason-gameplan/

Meh. I wouldn't complain too much since there isn't really a ton of options out there, but I'd like to see a bit more on defense, and I'd like a penalty killer with some scoring upside. Someone who could be a direct upgrade over Miller, Andersson, or Glendening.

[wings87 1,290]

I want the WIngs to heavily invest in cloning, and have a Nyquist on every line.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

I want the WIngs to heavily invest in cloning, and have a Nyquist on every line.

If we're going with cloning, I think it's high time we get that Lidstrom out of cryo freeze...

[wings87 1,290]

If we're going with cloning, I think it's high time we get that Lidstrom out of cryo freeze...

He's not ready yet, he's too busy partying with Ted Williams.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Man mattias backman's team lost 8-2 today and he somehow managed to pull off being a +1 LOL .... I think that says a lot about him , he also finished first in +/- in the swedish elite league

Think we might have a good one there

[Son of a Wing 1,644]

Figured I'd put this here. I think there's already far far too many new threads being started for needless things. Really junking up the main forum. /End rant.

Athanasiou with another amazing move. This time in a playoff game when down 4-0. Hence why there's no celebration.

http://youtu.be/YxUG3M_b0-E

[Dabura 12,232]

If Darren Helm and Jesus had a baby, it would be Andreas Anatahanasiounosaoisuou.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

Next season needs more Hampus and a whole lotta Melen.

I'm getting tired of waiting. Get your s*** together Holland!

[trule23 119]

Anyone think we'll get a defenseman in the offseason? Or will Holland keep being Holland?

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

We do have dedicated threads already to off season moves we think might happen