Are the wings underrated?

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Well, all I am saying is what I seen from the kids the other night just re-enforces my stand on we would not miss Franzen, Helm, Andersson, Q or K or E one bit if they were not on this team. And my point was with that roster if you read the entire thing, IF ALL WERE HEALTHY, I would very happy with a roster that looked like that come opening night.

I disagree with Mule and E. I don't think you replace his goal scoring, or E's defensive skills and PK ability with the kids the team has now. On the other hand, I feel like Andersson, Quincey and Kindl could all be upgraded or swapped for someone of similar value. I'm on the fence with Helm, but with all his nagging injuries and the depth the Wings have at center right now, I think they could get by without him. He's still got a lot of value, but slotting Dats, Weiss, Sheahan and Glendening down the middle works out well. Not to mention, they'll have some good bottom 6 depth at center with Larkin and Turgeon down the road.

[kipwinger 8,522]

I disagree with Mule and E. I don't think you replace his goal scoring, or E's defensive skills and PK ability with the kids the team has now. On the other hand, I feel like Andersson, Quincey and Kindl could all be upgraded or swapped for someone of similar value. I'm on the fence with Helm, but with all his nagging injuries and the depth the Wings have at center right now, I think they could get by without him. He's still got a lot of value, but slotting Dats, Weiss, Sheahan and Glendening down the middle works out well. Not to mention, they'll have some good bottom 6 depth at center with Larkin and Turgeon down the road.

Not to mention Nosek and Athanasiou.

[joshy207 156]

No, Nyquist was the only one that could go down without being exposed to waivers. Anybody could be sent down. The whole team can be sent down. Depends on whether you're willing to waive someone. Holland waives guys all the time. So why didn't he do it to start last year? Well I suspect that it has at least something to do with a coach who has EXPLICITLY made clear that until this season he preferred to have veterans in the lineup over unproven kids.

Sorry if this point was already brought up, I haven't read the entire thread. Holland didn't waive Samuelsson, Eaves, or Tootoo at the start of the year because he didn't have to. They had some players already injured, so there was room on the roster and under the salary cap for all of them to stay. That also gave him more time to try and work out a trade, which we all know didn't happen until Eaves was traded at the deadline. Had everyone been healthy to start last year, those three would have been waived.

Also, DeKeyser could have been sent down without waivers last year, but that was not going to happen.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Nobody has said Brendan Smith is bad? Really? You can't be serious... There are numerous people on here including yourself that constantly ***** and complain about him, or even go as far as to say he should be traded... Some fans clearly don't see the potential in this kid, and to me that is frustrating, especially after witnessing first hand, our two top defenseman going through the same type growing pains at the same age. Fans just need to learn to be patient with players (and the team), but they want immediate success / satisfaction.

Also, you don't have to "listen to me drone" about anything. I'm just stating my point, and that is that Smith is a really good defenseman in the making and he doesn't deserve half the s*** he gets on here from some fans. I find once a player rubs someone on here the wrong way, they will always be that player, no matter how much better they get over time. I also think that some of the users on here feed off of each others negative energy, it becomes the thing to do, ***** about specific players. eg. "Kylef***ingQuincey"...

Anyway, you have your opinion on Smith and I have mine, so let's just leave it at that...

I don't think smith is awful but I can't see him having a future in detroit , only time will tell but I think we're really fortunate and we got some great prospects that will be be nhlers and down the road better than smith (again time will tell)

Course I'm talking about backman ouellet sproul and marchenko and there's also jensen the team is high on and I know we got some other 18-20 yr olds we drafted but still don't know how they'll develop

Kronwall Ericsson and dekeyser are locks to stay so I gotta figure in the next 1-3 yrs all of Quincey lashoff kindl and smith will eventually be gone

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Nobody has said Brendan Smith is bad? Really? You can't be serious... There are numerous people on here including yourself that constantly ***** and complain about him, or even go as far as to say he should be traded... Some fans clearly don't see the potential in this kid, and to me that is frustrating, especially after witnessing first hand, our two top defenseman going through the same type growing pains at the same age. Fans just need to learn to be patient with players (and the team), but they want immediate success / satisfaction.

Also, you don't have to "listen to me drone" about anything. I'm just stating my point, and that is that Smith is a really good defenseman in the making and he doesn't deserve half the s*** he gets on here from some fans. I find once a player rubs someone on here the wrong way, they will always be that player, no matter how much better they get over time. I also think that some of the users on here feed off of each others negative energy, it becomes the thing to do, ***** about specific players. eg. "Kylef***ingQuincey"...

Anyway, you have your opinion on Smith and I have mine, so let's just leave it at that...

I don't think smith is awful but I can't see him having a future in detroit , only time will tell but I think we're really fortunate and we got some great prospects that will be be nhlers and down the road better than smith (again time will tell)

Course I'm talking about backman ouellet sproul and marchenko and there's also jensen the team is high on and I know we got some other 18-20 yr olds we drafted but still don't know how they'll develop

Kronwall Ericsson and dekeyser are locks to stay so I gotta figure in the next 1-3 yrs all of Quincey lashoff kindl and smith will eventually be gone

When those guys aren't playing up to their ceiling and are experiencing growing pains early on are you going to want them moved and say they have no future, too? Lidstrom wasn't Lidstrom from day one, Kronwall had issues, and Smith is improving. People want rookies in the line up ASAP then don't want to let them develop. Bad rookie year, he sucks and will always suck.

[Euro_Twins 4,476]

When those guys aren't playing up to their ceiling and are experiencing growing pains early on are you going to want them moved and say they have no future, too? Lidstrom wasn't Lidstrom from day one, Kronwall had issues, and Smith is improving. People want rookies in the line up ASAP then don't want to let them develop. Bad rookie year, he sucks and will always suck.

Sorry, what? Lidstrom had 60 points and a +36 in his first season in a wings jersey... everything else I agree with, but Lids was a walking legend from day 1

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

When those guys aren't playing up to their ceiling and are experiencing growing pains early on are you going to want them moved and say they have no future, too? Lidstrom wasn't Lidstrom from day one, Kronwall had issues, and Smith is improving. People want rookies in the line up ASAP then don't want to let them develop. Bad rookie year, he sucks and will always suck.

Nope ... I been saying for a long time how we needed to bring up a rookie every year so wouldn't be stuck with a bunch of rookies in the same season which is where we are headed

Ouellet needs to start the season here and then next year sproul and whoever else (maybe even get a taste of nhl hockey during the season)

There's a reason Babcock wanted ouellet over kindl in the playoffs ... Sure there will be some tough times but in the king run it'll make us better

[Internet.Unknown 422]

Mike Babcock is a good coach. Evidence of that is 2003, 2008, and 2009. Not 2014.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=718107

[number9 3,297]

Ah, I remember when smith was but a griffin and LGWs coming savior.

In those days things were simpler. Ericsson sucked but goddamn it we had Lidstrom.

Now Ericsson rules and Smith sucks.... How times change.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Could a moderator please merge the two threads? This one and the prediction thread

[LAWings 160]

Anyone consider that perhaps we are 'overrated' because we're biased die hard fans? We're a middle of the pack team at best, granted the last 2 years we finished #2 and 3 in man games lost (or something like that). But the Wings are almost a decade removed from the last Cup, FA's no longer want to come to play in Detroit, and our coaching and other leaders leave for greener pastures for a chance to win.

In all fainess though, I do think the man games lost has been the biggest problem, when compared to the other teams with similar losses, they are all bottom feeder teams with the exception of Pittsburg and Anaheim.

If you'd like to crunch your own numbers:

http://www.mangameslost.com/category/nhl/

[kliq 3,755]

Anyone consider that perhaps we are 'overrated' because we're biased die hard fans?

I dont think many people on here are overrating this team. The general consensus is we are a middle of the road team with a lot of upside moving forward if we stay healthy and the young kids keep progressing.

The other opinion is we are awful and being led into the ground by the worst GM in history and nobody wants to play here (not my opinion).

I dont see anyone here saying that we are elite, or that we are a cup favourite. That would be overrating them. One point I will give is with prospects, I do believe all fans think their prospects may be a bit better then they truly are. I just hope we are right lol.

Edited October 4, 2014 by kliq

[twopups 19]

What Cup could we have won last season?

Yzerman's old one?

[krsmith17 7,191]

Agree kliq and I would also add that just because we haven't been the most successful with our free agent signings, I think people are really overstating that no free agents want to come here. I bet we will be a huge free agent destination within the next few years. This team is definitely on the upswing with the prospects coming along quite well and the new building to be finished in a few years. Also, our coaching and other leaders have not left for greener pastures for a chance to win, they left for a more prominent roles. eg. assistant coach to head coach or assistant general manager to general manager...

[kliq 3,755]

Agree kliq and I would also add that just because we haven't been the most successful with our free agent signings, I think people are really overstating that no free agents want to come here. I bet we will be a huge free agent destination within the next few years. This team is definitely on the upswing with the prospects coming along quite well and the new building to be finished in a few years. Also, our coaching and other leaders have not left for greener pastures for a chance to win, they left for a more prominent roles. eg. assistant coach to head coach or assistant general manager to general manager...

People have very short memories, its as if Weiss and Alfie never came here. The fact that Weiss was injured last year some how dismisses the fact he came here in the eyes of some. In the case of Alfie, he left a team he played on for almost 2 decades and turned down a reported offer from the Bruins to come here. But since he is older, again, people dismiss it.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Home ice in the playoffs, heard it here!

[marcaractac 3,963]

Anyone consider that perhaps we are 'overrated' because we're biased die hard fans? We're a middle of the pack team at best, granted the last 2 years we finished #2 and 3 in man games lost (or something like that). But the Wings are almost a decade removed from the last Cup, FA's no longer want to come to play in Detroit, and our coaching and other leaders leave for greener pastures for a chance to win.

In all fainess though, I do think the man games lost has been the biggest problem, when compared to the other teams with similar losses, they are all bottom feeder teams with the exception of Pittsburg and Anaheim.

If you'd like to crunch your own numbers:

http://www.mangameslost.com/category/nhl/

They don't leave for a chance to win, they leave for a chance to be a GM or head coach, and not an assistant. Big difference.