TANK IT! 2014-2015 Season

[wings4thecup06 504]

With how the regular season has gone, and the promise this team has gone, I'd be happy if they can win a playoff round. After that, really, anything else is a bonus. I thought that they would make the postseason before the year began, but I didn't expect this team to have performed this well.

[number9 3,297]

With how the regular season has gone, and the promise this team has gone, I'd be happy if they can win a playoff round. After that, really, anything else is a bonus. I thought that they would make the postseason before the year began, but I didn't expect this team to have performed this well.

I think where you exit in the playoffs is extremely overrated. Sometimes teams drift to the 3rd round. Sometimes they have to fight tooth and nail to get there. And sometimes the best teams are upset very early. Getting there is the goal of the regular season. If you do that you deserve praise. The goal of the playoffs is to win the cup. If you don't do that you, you should start focusing on the next regular season and what it's going to take to get back to that position. Not blow up the team.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

I think where you exit in the playoffs is extremely overrated. Sometimes teams drift to the 3rd round. Sometimes they have to fight tooth and nail to get there. And sometimes the best teams are upset very early. Getting there is the goal of the regular season. If you do that you deserve praise. The goal of the playoffs is to win the cup. If you don't do that you, you should start focusing on the next regular season and what it's going to take to get back to that position. Not blow up the team.

#croptopit2016

[chaps80 1,591]

Well I don't think expecting the team to become better each year is being a spoiled Wings fan aren't all fans wanting their teams to get better each and every year ? I mean, even in a rebuild-retool phase some progress needs to be shown right ?

2 years ago Babcock himself said it, that losing in the 2,2 and 1 first round is not painting in the right direction. Also don't confuse not being happy or not liking the playstyle of a team with stopping to be a fan. I don't think it's cup or bust but at least a third round would nice once in a while and that's for sure not waiting 5+ years for that.

No, expecting the team to get better is'nt being spoiled at all, and if this is our re-tooling phase, were doing damn good. I just mean some people seem to expect too much out of the team every year because we've had so much past success, and I know i'm not the first to say that.

[chaps80 1,591]

I'll call it now. We will make the conference finals. After that it's anyone's guess. I have lost all faith in Holland being able to trade or sign free agents. But he has done a wonderful job drafting and developing

Holland MAY be able to land some free agents in the offseason now that the team is on an upswing again and players might want to come here, but in the trade dept. he def is'nt aggressive enough and won't make risky trades for needed pieces. If he does make a move its a depth trade, or a good prospect for an aging veteran at the deadline.

[number9 3,297]

Holland MAY be able to land some free agents in the offseason now that the team is on an upswing again and players might want to come here, but in the trade dept. he def is'nt aggressive enough and won't make risky trades for needed pieces. If he does make a move its a depth trade, or a good prospect for an aging veteran at the deadline.

He already so he won"t make any depth moves. It's big move or sit tight.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Holland MAY be able to land some free agents in the offseason now that the team is on an upswing again and players might want to come here, but in the trade dept. he def is'nt aggressive enough and won't make risky trades for needed pieces. If he does make a move its a depth trade, or a good prospect for an aging veteran at the deadline.

I would generally agree with you, but he said he wasn't going to do a minor deal. Edited February 3, 2015 by jimmyemeryhunter

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

Lol. You guys are eating up his every word. He said the exact same crap he fed you last year too. Then he traded for legwand. I still am not bothered by that trade and I never cared that jarnkrok was traded, but Kenny sshoveled that same pile last year and then made a trade for a depth rental.

[number9 3,297]

Lol. You guys are eating up his every word. He said the exact same crap he fed you last year too. Then he traded for legwand. I still am not bothered by that trade and I never cared that jarnkrok was traded, but Kenny sshoveled that same pile last year and then made a trade for a depth rental.

That was a whole lot of a different circumstance than we are in now.

[chaps80 1,591]

He already so he won"t make any depth moves. It's big move or sit tight.

Usually he sits tight. It's like he's afraid of screwing up now that he does'nt have unlimited money to fix things. Since the cap came into affect, he has'nt done anything major trade wise. Who knows though, he may surprise us.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

That was a whole lot of a different circumstance than we are in now.

Injury wise yes. But we still had the assets last year to make a big trade at the deadline for someone who wouldn't be a rental and was in their prime. Last year his hand was forced into a trade and he traded for a rental after saying he wouldn't trade for a rental. So he either won't make a trade or he'll get a rental (hopefully green)

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Lol. You guys are eating up his every word. He said the exact same crap he fed you last year too. Then he traded for legwand. I still am not bothered by that trade and I never cared that jarnkrok was traded, but Kenny sshoveled that same pile last year and then made a trade for a depth rental.

True.

But the injury situation kind of forced his hand.

I don't necessarily believe him, but if a minor depth move came up that made a marginal improvement for the right price (Andy, kindl) then I could see him doing it.

But who knows with Holland.

I don't believe he'll part with anything of value, so I doubt we'll get anything or note anyway

Edited February 3, 2015 by jimmyemeryhunter

[number9 3,297]

Injury wise yes. But we still had the assets last year to make a big trade at the deadline for someone who wouldn't be a rental and was in their prime. Last year his hand was forced into a trade and he traded for a rental after saying he wouldn't trade for a rental. So he either won't make a trade or he'll get a rental (hopefully green)

So he's only going to get a rental if his hand is forced? By your own admission? In that case I agree with you, but I wouldn't count on last year repeating.

[chaps80 1,591]

He should have traded Franzen for Legwand. Franzen is useless and Legwand was a rental, and not a great one, so that would have worked out well and opened up some cap room. But I have a s***ty feeling that if Franzen went to another team he'd instantly turn into a 40-50 goal scorer. lol

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

He should have traded Franzen for Legwand. Franzen is useless and Legwand was a rental, and not a great one, so that would have worked out well and opened up some cap room. But I have a s***ty feeling that if Franzen went to another team he'd instantly turn into a 40-50 goal scorer. lol

Franzen legwand and goose was a giant part of our making the playoffs last year

[chaps80 1,591]

Franzen legwand and goose was a giant part of our making the playoffs last year

Yeah, I forget Franzen has actually been very useful at times instead of being a 230lb floater who won't hit anything.

[number9 3,297]

Yeah, I forget Franzen has actually been very useful at times instead of being a 230lb floater who won't hit anything.

Don't get me started on Ericsson. 6'4 220lb non-physical floating waste of space.

[chaps80 1,591]

Don't get me started on Ericsson. 6'4 220lb non-physical floating waste of space.

Yeah, he's another one. Funny how even big guys like Franzen and Ericsson are soft in Detroit. Its the way things work. It's like they were told if they wanted to play here they can't play rough.

[kliq 3,755]

Well I don't think expecting the team to become better each year is being a spoiled Wings fan aren't all fans wanting their teams to get better each and every year ? I mean, even in a rebuild-retool phase some progress needs to be shown right ?

2 years ago Babcock himself said it, that losing in the 2,2 and 1 first round is not painting in the right direction. Also don't confuse not being happy or not liking the playstyle of a team with stopping to be a fan. I don't think it's cup or bust but at least a third round would nice once in a while and that's for sure not waiting 5+ years for that.

You are obviously starting your time frame with 2008 & 2009, which we won the cup and then lost in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Outside of winning the cup, there is literally no direction to go then down from your starting point.

2010 & 2011 & 2012 we did decline from the cup winning/finalists teams, I fully admit this (shocker, when there is one direction to go in). In those years we got 102, 104, 102 points respectfully. 2012 playoffs was arguably our low, but it was also a tough time to be a GM in the NHL with the uncertainty of the salary cup around the corner. I for one am glad Holland didnt put himself in the type of position Phily is in right now (not good, and right up to the cap)

2013, IMO the very beginning of the upwards swing, specifically in the playoffs. We did finish 7th seed BUT we did it without Lidstrom, upset Anaheim and almost Chicago in the playoffs. This was the first year we really started to showcase our young players.

2014, to me was the breakout. I know the simplistic way of looking at it was "you got 8th seed". BUT it was the first year the youth movement was in full effect. With Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Smith, Jurco, DD all playing big roles. This all being done with our studs D&Z injured for a large part of the season. Boston (the #1 seed) showed to be too much, but at the end of the day they were better.

2015, we take it to the next level. We are currently sitting 2nd in the conference, and 5th in the entire NHL. I dont see how this year can be a part of this fictional gradual decline.

It truthfully feels like you are watching a different team. Yes we declined from back to back finals from 2010-2012, but now we are back on an upswing. The narrative in your post would indicate that we have not improved at all since 2010 which is just wrong.

[wings4thecup06 504]

I know this is the 'TANK IT' thread, but could we refrain from turning this thread into a 'bashing ritual of franzen and other softies'? The Wings are, after all, one of the better teams in the league this season, much to our chagrin.....

[krsmith17 7,191]

Well said kliq. Completely agree.

[TheXym 2,606]

Great analysis of the post cup years, kliq!

[frankgrimes 1,836]

You are obviously starting your time frame with 2008 & 2009, which we won the cup and then lost in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Outside of winning the cup, there is literally no direction to go then down from your starting point.

2010 & 2011 & 2012 we did decline from the cup winning/finalists teams, I fully admit this (shocker, when there is one direction to go in). In those years we got 102, 104, 102 points respectfully. 2012 playoffs was arguably our low, but it was also a tough time to be a GM in the NHL with the uncertainty of the salary cup around the corner. I for one am glad Holland didnt put himself in the type of position Phily is in right now (not good, and right up to the cap)

2013, IMO the very beginning of the upwards swing, specifically in the playoffs. We did finish 7th seed BUT we did it without Lidstrom, upset Anaheim and almost Chicago in the playoffs. This was the first year we really started to showcase our young players.

2014, to me was the breakout. I know the simplistic way of looking at it was "you got 8th seed". BUT it was the first year the youth movement was in full effect. With Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Smith, Jurco, DD all playing big roles. This all being done with our studs D&Z injured for a large part of the season. Boston (the #1 seed) showed to be too much, but at the end of the day they were better.

2015, we take it to the next level. We are currently sitting 2nd in the conference, and 5th in the entire NHL. I dont see how this year can be a part of this fictional gradual decline.

It truthfully feels like you are watching a different team. Yes we declined from back to back finals from 2010-2012, but now we are back on an upswing. The narrative in your post would indicate that we have not improved at all since 2010 which is just wrong.

That's why I've mentioned at least the third round would have been nice while Godström was still playing. Like I've admitted many times the youth movement is nice and I like watching them.

We differ when it comes to 2014 yeah making the playoffs was an unbelievable coaching job and smart decision to sign the hometown boy DeKeyser even if it didn't work out I would have had no problem with missing the playoffs and standing pat.

Standings are nice and all but it will amuses me when people are talking about the playoffs before a team has made them (that goes for all fanbases not just us), as far as I know ~ 96 points are needed and the best teams haven't even clinched 70 points yet so why not wait till it's mathematically impossible to miss them and then talk about improvement ?

I mean sure it's possible to use other base years let's say last year and this year ...if they make the playoffs and take whatever team Wings are going to face to 6 games that would be an improvement - although marginal - but still. But a lot can happen in the remaining games I'm not going to mention it because karma but right now no team should feel save. Look at the Predators they've been really dominant and 1 injury to the best goalie in the league and they are struggling.

[krsmith17 7,191]

If we continue on the same track and keep at a similar pace for the remainder of the regular season (which I fully expect), we will finish, top 3 in the East, and that is dramatic improvement compared to what was expected of this team prior to the season by analysts and even much of the fan base. Even if we do happen to get bounced in the first or second round this season, I definitely won't take that to be a failure of a season. This is a very young and inexperienced team, compared to what we're used to. These kids are only going to improve over the next few seasons, and gaining experience, even if it is the bitter taste of defeat, will only help along their development. I wouldn't be surprised if this team makes some noise in the playoffs this year, but fully expect them to be a legit threat next season, and win a Cup within 3-5 years.

[wings4thecup06 504]

If we continue on the same track and keep at a similar pace for the remainder of the regular season (which I fully expect), we will finish, top 3 in the East, and that is dramatic improvement compared to what was expected of this team prior to the season by analysts and even much of the fan base. Even if we do happen to get bounced in the first or second round this season, I definitely won't take that to be a failure of a season. This is a very young and inexperienced team, compared to what we're used to. These kids are only going to improve over the next few seasons, and gaining experience, even if it is the bitter taste of defeat, will only help along their development. I wouldn't be surprised if this team makes some noise in the playoffs this year, but fully expect them to be a legit threat next season, and win a Cup within 3-5 years.

Couldn't agree more.

I think the California road trip this month will really test what this team is made of. If the wings play anywhere near as good as last months 6 game road trip then I know for sure we're in good hands.