10/3 Preseason Game: Detroit Red Wings vs Toronto Maple Leafs

[SimonSin 192]

Only preseason but this is pathetic. Horrible last couple games.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Is he gonna score our goals too?

No, but he probably won't allow five either. Mrazek has looked far superior in the pre-season and Monster was atrocious after the new year. I think it's pretty safe to say Mrazek is the better goalie, waiver options or not.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Consistency is going to be our biggest challenge. Last year we had absolutely no consistency. From special teams, goaltending, scoring, and defense. This team needs to discover some sort of identity or we are doomed the same fate as last year...

And no injuries

[Guest Playmaker]

What's most annoying is that Franzen isn't even a good defensive player like he seems to think he is. I don't think anyone expects him to score 50 goals, but damn, can he at least LOOK like he's trying out there? Could he pop right back up when he goes down instead of taking a minute and half to get to his feet? Could he stand in front of the net and block the goalie? Could he throw his body around just a little? Ack, that interview just got under my skin.

[Z and D for the C 712]

I think I've got a new drinking game: every time Mick tells a story about how the "old days" were way better and everything new these days sucks: shoot me because I cannot stand it anymore.

[martinezsvsu 240]

jonas will pull his groin soon enough and petr will be wearing the winged wheel

[Ekmanc 586]

This game is seriously just horrible on every level

[SimonSin 192]

Looks like the Tigers rubbed off on the Red Wings today.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

I was watching the game in canada so I don't know if it didn't who here or I just missed it but Franzen said he likes to play defense and cares about winning??? Lmao wtffff man he was signed so he can get us 25-30 a year at least otherwise he's useless to us as he's been last few years

Really starting to get annoyed with Franzen and weiss as well

[WingsallTheway 383]

cleary is good at dumping the puck, thats basically all he does.

didnt even notice he was playing.

Atleast hes improving

[number9 3,297]

So Franzen looked good tonight huh?

[RyanBarnes! 293]

The lack of offensive depth is hurting us as any one line but the top line is unable to establish offensive pressure. Andersson and Nosek arent good enough. This game could easily have ended 8-1.

[Guest Playmaker]

I've tried endlessly to defend Franzen, but his attitude is just killing me right now. The canned responses from some athletes can get somewhat tiresome, but Franzen's finger pointing and basically blaming the fans for expecting him to produce more is nauseating. Acting like he's some 4th liner who got a little lucky a few times around the net makes him look like an unmotivated lazy idiot. Putting out the impression that he's some Selke candidate who would be hurting the team if he actually tried to score more, just unbelievable. I don't even think he's in the top 10 on his own team defensively, let alone in the league. Playing well defensively doesn't seem to stop Hossa from scoring. He's a scorer who doesn't want to score, he's a big guy who won't use his body, and he uses his lower than average defense as an excuse for all of it. Enough already.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

didnt even notice he was playing.

Atleast hes improving

I didn't notice Cleary either. Sadly, I would throw Weiss in that same category.

[Rivalred 630]

I didn't notice Cleary either. Sadly, I would throw Weiss in that same category.

Give Weiss 25 games, then after that, then classify him.... This entire team is under the microscope

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Give Weiss 25 games, then after that, then classify him.... This entire team is under the microscope

Oh, I'm not writing him off already. I was just stating he was rather unnoticeable in last night's game, much like Cleary.

I still think Weiss can and needs to be a reliable second line center for the Wings. He hasn't shown much yet in the pre-season to inspire confidence; though to be fair, his conditioning is probably still off and his linemates haven't been ideal either.

Edited October 4, 2014 by GoWings1905

[Red Crazy 201]

I had to shut off the game last night. It doesn't happen often that I do but last night it was terrible. Detroit's forwards are not good enough. Glendening, Abby, Miller, Andersson, Cleary, Sheahan, and even Helm are more or less the same player. Yes some are faster and some are slower but goal production wise they are meh at best. I do understand that it does take a few plugs to fill out a line up but 7???? Ken Holland needs to land a goal scoring winger more then a D man.

Vent over

[Internet.Unknown 422]

I had to shut off the game last night. It doesn't happen often that I do but last night it was terrible. Detroit's forwards are not good enough. Glendening, Abby, Miller, Andersson, Cleary, Sheahan, and even Helm are more or less the same player. Yes some are faster and some are slower but goal production wise they are meh at best. I do understand that it does take a few plugs to fill out a line up but 7???? Ken Holland needs to land a goal scoring winger more then a D man.

Vent over

I like Sheahan. Helm? Trade bait. The rest are, like you said, plugs.

[WingsallTheway 383]

I had to shut off the game last night. It doesn't happen often that I do but last night it was terrible. Detroit's forwards are not good enough. Glendening, Abby, Miller, Andersson, Cleary, Sheahan, and even Helm are more or less the same player. Yes some are faster and some are slower but goal production wise they are meh at best. I do understand that it does take a few plugs to fill out a line up but 7???? Ken Holland needs to land a goal scoring winger more then a D man.

Vent over

Sheahan is aweome. Helm fits on the team and is the perfect third line player but is injured way too often. Glendenning is also a great 4th liner as he can play against the teams top lines without being a liability, opening up room for Z and D.

The miller re-signing was terrible. Abby has his perks but if he was gone it wouldnt affect us. Andersson and cleary have no business on the team, so ill agree with those 4.

Honestly, I think our weakness is our core. Dats getting older and soft apparently. Zetterberg has been throwing no look passes like its his day job. Franzen is lazy and he sucks. Weiss is average at best as a 2nd line center. Nyquist is still a massive question mark and hasn't looked great. Kronwall has been questioned as a #1 defenceman (although he is one) and besides him, we have noone on D that can bring any sort of offence.

Edited October 4, 2014 by WingsallTheway

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

Oh, I'm not writing him off already. I was just stating he was rather unnoticeable in last night's game, much like Cleary.

I still think Weiss can and needs to be a reliable second line center for the Wings. He hasn't shown much yet in the pre-season to inspire confidence; though to be fair, his conditioning is probably still off and his linemates haven't been ideal either.

Well, I didn't watch the game last night, but I just watched the highlights and Weiss's battle in front of the net and screening was responsible for the Ouelette goal.

The lineup also said yesteday that Weiss played wing for some reason. That might not be the best time to judge him. He's looked quite good in earlier preseason games.

Edit: It wasn't really a full screen on second look - I kind of withdraw the first comment.

Edited October 4, 2014 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[dirtydangles 1,328]

Through the entire preseason Babs hasn't given Weiss much in terms of line mates. It looks like he wants to split Z and Dats up and have Weiss play with with Sheahan as 3rd line C. I just think Weiss needs to be able to play where he is comfortable and not think too hard about things. That being said he is skating much better out there and getting involved (when his line mates can help).

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Put Weiss with Franzen and Nyquist and let's see what happens. He has been given no line mates what so ever. Z has 0 points in the preseason why not give Weiss a chance with those guys.

[wings_fanatic 677]

Sheahan is aweome. Helm fits on the team and is the perfect third line player but is injured way too often. Glendenning is also a great 4th liner as he can play against the teams top lines without being a liability, opening up room for Z and D.

The miller re-signing was terrible. Abby has his perks but if he was gone it wouldnt affect us. Andersson and cleary have no business on the team, so ill agree with those 4.

Honestly, I think our weakness is our core. Dats getting older and soft apparently. Zetterberg has been throwing no look passes like its his day job. Franzen is lazy and he sucks. Weiss is average at best as a 2nd line center. Nyquist is still a massive question mark and hasn't looked great. Kronwall has been questioned as a #1 defenceman (although he is one) and besides him, we have noone on D that can bring any sort of offence.

That is inaccurate and you are basing that off of pre-season. We know that Pav and Hank are 2 of the most premier forwards when healthy and we know that they were by FAR our best 2 players in the playoffs AGAIN last year (and Hank only played two games)! The problem has been that they have been given no support. Ever since 2009 finals, the only consistent players for us in the playoffs have been Lidstrom, Rafalski, Pav, Hank and Kronners. Besides that, all our other players have been hit and miss and Ken Holland has not done a thing about it. Franzen should have been gone two seasons ago along with Cleary. But, it is what it is. I still say that we have a very good group of forwards this year. Pav is rumoured to be back sooner then expected so latest being a week or so into the season by the sounds of it. Based on how awful our top line of Hank and Mule has been, I think it is time to put Pav and Hank together and hopefully we re-sign Alfie (Yes I want Alfie to play).

Hank- Pav- Alfie

Nyquist-Weiss- Franzen

Jurco- Sheahan- Tatar

Abby-Helm-Miller

To me that is a very solid group of forwards. I do not know why Babs has been playing Weiss with no one, because we know he has talent and can skate well and I really want to see his speed along with Goose.