gdt ECQF - Game 5 - Red Wings at Bruins - 3:00 PM EST

[gcom007 1,465]

Or he could have had surgery when the olympics started, then got 2 additional weeks of rest.

Absolutely. I don't disagree. He was putting it off until he couldn't though Olympics or not. He probably should've had it done in December.

[lomekian 201]

We drafted the wrong brother.

To be fair, Smith has been vastly improved in the last 3 months. Lets see if that's permanent first, shall we?

[gcom007 1,465]

To be fair, Smith has been vastly improved in the last 3 months. Lets see if that's permanent first, shall we?

Smith was shockingly pretty good down the stretch here. If he can keep improving he'll be solid. But yeah, we definitely need to see if it can last before we get too excited. He's about the only Wing that seemed to really find that extra gear to shift into for the playoffs.

Edited April 26, 2014 by gcom007

[Guest Playmaker]

DId you say the same after the Penguin's series in 09, when the league basically made an executive decision that sid needed his cup for marketing reasons? That was even worse because the off-ice disciplinary procedure was changed to make it more competitive. That was far worse than this, because it was decisions made in the cold light of day that broke their own rules. This is just the usual inconsistent NHL officials making things up as they go along and slightly favouring the NHL's preferred team. Its deeply frustrating because it is essentially a lack of impartial professionalism, but it happens to varying degrees in favour of certain teams every year. When we had the hall of fame roster, we got the calls in 02 in the SCF.

Not true. Read the GDT for game 1.

No, the Wings made an executive to decision to choke away a 2-0 lead, then come out absolutely dead in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals on home ice.

Edited April 26, 2014 by Playmaker

[lomekian 201]

Lashoff doing his best Franzen impression with that clear.

At least Franzen has recent memories of playing well to frustrate us. Lashoff is just not good enough for this level, never was, and never will be.

[lwing 68]

No, the Wings made an executive to decision to choke away a 2-0 lead, then come out absolutely dead in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals on home ice.

Don't forget Barb Stuart's contribution to blowing that game 7. How we wasn't run out of town for his bone headed penalty and play (goals 1 and 2) is beyond my comprehension.

[lomekian 201]

No, the Wings made an executive to decision to choke away a 2-0 lead, then come out absolutely dead in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals on home ice.

So the non-suspension of Malkin and the multiple incorrect 'goalie interference'' calls that wiped off our goals and put them on the PP despite NO contact, and the spectacular range of bought dives by the kid slip from your mind...particularly as the the wrongly wiped off goals and dives were in one goal games. Even game 7, though gassed, we got f***ed on 2 appalling calls late on.

Nope - there needs to be a focus change. If there's one thing Holland has shown is he's trying to use the same tricks that worked when the Wings were close to winning the cup and trying to use that as a slingshot to get them competitive for one now. The Wings just aren't that close to a Cup. If Washington and/or Toronto hadn't collapsed we're having this conversation 3 weeks ago.

Fair enough....now we have categorical proof of how far away we are, this is sort of his last chance to change approach.

[Hey man nice shot! 144]

Smith was shockingly pretty good down the stretch here. If he can keep improving he'll be solid. But yeah, we definitely need to see if it can last before we get too excited. He's about the only Wing that seemed to really find that extra gear to shift into for the playoffs.

Needs about 10lbs in the summer, and i agree that smitty turned up a notch.

[lomekian 201]

Franzen signed first, I don't think he was picked over Hossa. I dont think they wanted to gamble to see if Hossa would re-sign and end up losing both. Truth be told though, Hawks had a worse cap situation than the Wings at the time and still managed to sign Hossa. Holland worries too much about depth, depth guys can be easily picked up. Legit stars are much harder to come by.

Yup. I never saw a legit reason why we didn't sign both. That was how Holland screwed up.

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

All you can say now is....LETS GO GRIFFS!

[pucktividi 472]

Yup. I never saw a legit reason why we didn't sign both. That was how Holland screwed up.

Hossa wanted long term deal,Holland offered short term.

[KATIEBARTHEDOOR24 426]

They shoulda been playing hard the whole fricken game.. NOT JUST THE LAST SIX MINUTES!!!!!!!

[wings_fanatic 677]

They shoulda been playing hard the whole fricken game.. NOT JUST THE LAST SIX MINUTES!!!!!!!

The problem is this. Pavel and Hank accounted for 4 of the team's 6 goals. Hank, playing two games, had a goal and an assist for 2 points. Hank had more points in those 2 games, not even close to his full potential, then pretty much anyone on the team. Thats pathetic. Once again, Pav and Hank were carrying the offence in the playoffs for the Wings and got no support. Yes the kids learned a tough lesson and they will grow from that. But, Kenny needs to make some changes to this team to make it go from being above average to the next level, possibly even elite. Even if they keep Franzen I would try to make my team look somewhat like this next year:

Zetty- Pav- Alfie

Nyquist- Weiss- Gaborick

Jurco- Sheahan- Tatar

Glendening- Helm- Franzen/ Abby

Kronwall- Smith (Gotta keep them together)

Dekeyser- Boyle

Oulette/ Sproul- Ericsson

That makes our team almost elite. Maybe also try to add a big forward like Chris Stewart if possible.

[shoe 165]

We drafted the wrong brother.

Because we need another forward?

[VM1138 1,921]

I don't know how player development goes, but I hope this series doesn't stunt Tatar and Nyquist. The Bruins were a brick wall that barely broke a sweat beating us. We never even really threatened them. Starting against the Penguins would've been a much better playoff experience.

There's nothing really the kids can learn from this series. They didn't get better. They just got ground up. They're just as likely to have PTSD as to have learned anything.

This is the first postseason where I really feel like there were no positives. Only Datsyuk, Smith and Zetterberg even tried. It was so lopsided even I feel shell shocked.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Because we need another forward?

Ummm.....................yeah.

We scored 6 goals the entire series.

[Guest Playmaker]

Yup. I never saw a legit reason why we didn't sign both. That was how Holland screwed up.

He offered Hossa a long term deal also, but Hossa turned it down and wanted more money.

[wings_fanatic 677]

He offered Hossa a long term deal also, but Hossa turned it down and wanted more money.

That is partially true. But Kenny made the mistake of working out a contract with Franzen BEFORE HOSSA!!! He should have worked out a contract with Hossa and THEN try to re-sign Franzen. You sign the better player first. After that if Franzen wanted to walk, then w.e we would have had Hossa which is better.

[brett 1,029]

better luck next year

[roboturner 562]

I don't wholly disagree, but I think Z's back was going to go real quick Olympics or not. In some ways, it might've been a blessing that he went this year as he was able to get the surgery done and then he had 2 weeks to start rehab where he wasn't missing games. If it had gone during a normal season, he would've been missing 2 more weeks of games at least. But overall, not sure how I feel about the Olympics. I love them and all, but they really do derail a season and set up some teams for some horrible issues.

He didn't have the surgery until after the Olympics were over. If he had, then he would have gotten back at least at a week before he did (and we sure could have used him). I don't know why they waited so long for him to come back and get the surgery. I mean s***, I know jet fuel isn't cheap, but they could have just sent a plane to go get one of your biggest investments when it happened.

[Nyquistfan14 489]

He didn't have the surgery until after the Olympics were over. If he had, then he would have gotten back at least at a week before he did (and we sure could have used him). I don't know why they waited so long for him to come back and get the surgery. I mean s***, I know jet fuel isn't cheap, but they could have just sent a plane to go get one of your biggest investments when it happened.

He was in such pain that he couldn't fly

[Guest Playmaker]

That is partially true. But Kenny made the mistake of working out a contract with Franzen BEFORE HOSSA!!! He should have worked out a contract with Hossa and THEN try to re-sign Franzen. You sign the better player first. After that if Franzen wanted to walk, then w.e we would have had Hossa which is better.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Water under the bridge. He tried to work out long term deals with two (at the time) star players. Franzen was the homegrown product, and had just come off two fantastic playoff series. Hossa only spent a season here and wasn't all that impressive in the playoffs. Not to mention, we don't know all what went on behind the scenes with agents and what not. Again, ancient history. Time to move on to next season.

[dragonballgtz 273]

Yup. I never saw a legit reason why we didn't sign both. That was how Holland screwed up.

Uhh because we had no cap space. People forget Hudler was also another player he had to sign that year as well. It basically became Mule+Hudler over Hossa. If Hudler didn't go overseas the following year we would've been way over the cap.

[KATIEBARTHEDOOR24 426]

Ummm.....................yeah.

We scored 6 goals the entire series.

We've had trouble scoring for the last three years.

[LeftWinger 4,961]

...without Franzen preferably.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Water under the bridge. He tried to work out long term deals with two (at the time) star players. Franzen was the homegrown product, and had just come off two fantastic playoff series. Hossa only spent a season here and wasn't all that impressive in the playoffs. Not to mention, we don't know all what went on behind the scenes with agents and what not. Again, ancient history. Time to move on to next season.

Uhh because we had no cap space. People forget Hudler was also another player he had to sign that year as well. It basically became Mule+Hudler over Hossa. If Hudler didn't go overseas the following year we would've been way over the cap.

exactly! Holland was choosing Hudler and Franzen over Hossa....a decision he surely regrets today. Considering he will soon be without all three. Holland gave Franzine $4M and offered Hudler $3.5M. Plenty of money for Hossa if not wasted on the others.

Edited April 27, 2014 by LeftWinger