Datsyuk to play Thursday? Weiss to be a healthy scratch?

[rrasco 1,312]

Seems like Babs has really been calling out Holland lately, even comparing him to a nagging wife who always gets her way. I like that Babs is getting fed up, but this also doesn't speak too well for his contract negotiations if he and the GM are so far apart on things.

He did have those quotes about a week ago that said they never agree on things, but that's the way he likes it, because something about if everyone is thinking alike then nobody is thinking. He's so cryptic though, who knows what he really means.

[Crashnburnluder 385]

There is no way lashoff is getting traded, he has 0 value. Kindl barely has any and he at least had upside at one point. Only reason I think lash is still here is because they want to trade kindl and need lash for 7

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

There is no way lashoff is getting traded, he has 0 value. Kindl barely has any and he at least had upside at one point. Only reason I think lash is still here is because they want to trade kindl and need lash for 7

Not that I'd want them to, but honestly Lashoff might be easier to move than Kindl. A big, somewhat physical defenseman who's still young and could improve. Signed at 725k for the next two seasons he could be a cheap bottom pairing guy for some team.

Kindl on the other hand is signed for $2.4 million for the next 3 seasons. That's a lot to pay for a 27 yr old, 5 year vet who has struggled to hold his bottom pairing spot.

[wings4thecup06 504]

Not that I'd want them to, but honestly Lashoff might be easier to move than Kindl. A big, somewhat physical defenseman who's still young and could improve. Signed at 725k for the next two seasons he could be a cheap bottom pairing guy for some team.

Kindl on the other hand is signed for $2.4 million for the next 3 seasons. That's a lot to pay for a 27 yr old, 5 year vet who has struggled to hold his bottom pairing spot.

While I see your point, it's also not what you'd want sitting most nights of the year as the number 7 guy because XO is working his tail off on the 3rd pairing.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

I agree with this, and if Smith was on the PP, I wouldn't want him as the high defender. But if Kronwall or Dekeyser was the high defender, Smith could work one of the walls.

I agree that Smith as the high defender could spell trouble, but the right side half boards... he could pull off what DeKeyser did the other night with Nestrasil. I think Smith has the offensive instincts to play well in that position, but we'll see what happens.

[T.Low 1,011]

I'm prepared for an 0-3 start to the season, with that lineup vs Boston, Anaheim, Boston. Even with Pavel coming back healthy, vs Toronto, Toronto, Montreal, Montreal, we could easily see 1-4-2.

Weiss as 2c really is this team's wild card. He's got to bring his compete level up higher than ever before for this team to win. If he plays with any kind of complacency, we simply don't have the top 6 to compete in this league.

Babcock knows this, and is keeping him down, putting the pressure on, to make him or break him. Weiss is either going to get so pissed at being scratched that he's foaming at the mouth to return, or he's going to wuss out and use his time off with injuries and the new team experience as an excuse for never regaining form.

Edited October 8, 2014 by T.Low

[Internet.Unknown 422]

I'm prepared for an 0-3 start to the season, with that lineup vs Boston, Anaheim, Boston. Even with Pavel coming back healthy, vs Toronto, Toronto, Montreal, Montreal, we could easily see 1-4-2.

Weiss as 2c really is this team's wild card. He's got to bring his compete level up higher than ever before for this team to win. If he plays with any kind of complacency, we simply don't have the top 6 to compete in this league.

Babcock knows this, and is keeping him down, putting the pressure on, to make him or break him. Weiss is either going to get so pissed at being scratched that he's foaming at the mouth to return, or he's going to wuss out and use his time off with injuries and the new team experience as an excuse for never regaining form.

Keeping Tatar out in the beginning of last season seems to have worked. Let's hope it has the same positive effect on Weiss.

[kipwinger 8,755]

Keeping Tatar out in the beginning of last season seems to have worked. Let's hope it has the same positive effect on Weiss.

Do you really think it was some sort of strategy to make him hungrier to take a spot? Seems like it was just the last vestiges of Babs' "tie goes to the vet" philosophy.

[Internet.Unknown 422]

Do you really think it was some sort of strategy to make him hungrier to take a spot? Seems like it was just the last vestiges of Babs' "tie goes to the vet" philosophy.

Hell, I dunno. You could be right. But I like to think it was a master plan that successfully motivated a feisty young player. Care to borrow my rose-colored glasses?

[Bannedforlife 403]

Do you really think it was some sort of strategy to make him hungrier to take a spot? Seems like it was just the last vestiges of Babs' "tie goes to the vet" philosophy.

I read this article on the subject just this morning

http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2014/04/08/how-coaches-emotionally-manipulate-their-players-and-how-that-changes-in-playoffs/

[T.Low 1,011]

Do you really think it was some sort of strategy to make him hungrier to take a spot? Seems like it was just the last vestiges of Babs' "tie goes to the vet" philosophy.

I certainly do.

Look how vanilla our lineup is without Weiss, and/or with a lackluster complacent Weiss doing f***all.

We simply don't have the personnel to support D &Z as 1c, 2c.

D and Z need to be together, with a solid threat 2c, otherwise, we get shut down more often than not.

Edit: mis-read your post. I thought you were referring to his agreeing with me about Babs/Weiss, but I now see you're referring to The Babs/Tatar situation.

Edited October 8, 2014 by T.Low

[kylee 727]

Ansar Khan @AnsarKhanMLive · 1h 1 hour ago

Datsyuk confirms he is not playing tomorrow. No further update after skating again.

Edited October 8, 2014 by kylee

[kipwinger 8,755]

I certainly do.

Look how vanilla our lineup is without Weiss, and/or with a lackluster complacent Weiss doing f***all.

We simply don't have the personnel to support D &Z as 1c, 2c.

D and Z need to be together, with a solid threat 2c, otherwise, we get shut down more often than not.

Edit: mis-read your post. I thought you were referring to his agreeing with me about Babs/Weiss, but I now see you're referring to The Babs/Tatar situation.

I was talking about Tatar. Do you really think keeping him out of the lineup for the first part of last season was a strategy to get him going?

[dirtydangles 1,328]

I'm not sure how Nestrasil has earned a spot over Weiss... I like the kid but in the past we have seen Cleary over Nyquist and Cleary over Tatar and I just don't see how it doesn't go Weiss over Nestrasil.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Tatar sat because they misjudged his level of talent, the level of talent of their veterans and possibly because they didn't like some of his comments prior to the season. I don't think much had to do with motivation. If you wanna get some snu-snu from your lady friend, you don't take her to McDonald's, you go to The Keg.

[T.Low 1,011]

I was talking about Tatar. Do you really think keeping him out of the lineup for the first part of last season was a strategy to get him going?

No, but he did hit the ice like a man possessed when he finally was inked in to the lineup.

I can easily see Babcock spinning Holland's roster situation into a bit of a Good Cop/Bad Cop routine: Babcock blowing a little wind up Tatar's skirt while Holland holds tight on the chains...but honestly I can't recall too many details about that time...

But kind of like what Babcock was doing with Jurco this year, supporting Jurco while at the same time telling him that what he's done so far still may not be enough to convince management, so he's got to pick it up even more.

I'm not sure how Nestrasil has earned a spot over Weiss... I like the kid but in the past we have seen Cleary over Nyquist and Cleary over Tatar and I just don't see how it doesn't go Weiss over Nestrasil.

Exactly. So why is that? He's putting pressure on Weiss.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

What I find funny about this situation is that the one guy Weiss kind of clicked with during the preseason was Nestrasil. Obviously didn't put up the numbers, but I thought they had some bright spots. I think a big part of this, not that it has to do with Weiss specifically, has to do with the Kid Line playing so well. You can send those guys out to be a 2nd line.

Honestly, even when Datsyuk returns, I wouldn't be surprised to see Mule-Weiss/Helm-Gus get some sheltered minutes. The Kid line has been a huge positive this preseason, in my eyes.

Edit: Oh, and as of right now, Smith-DeKeyser is still a pairing. That's also good... right?

Edited October 8, 2014 by Jesusberg

[Nyquistfan14 489]

Just give Weiss a chance I really don't get it. Guy was brought here for a reason for that money. I loved him in Florida you can't tell me he can't play anymore/lost all his talent. Give him a couple good linemates and he will produce. I would put money on it

[Echolalia 2,961]

Just give Weiss a chance I really don't get it. Guy was brought here for a reason for that money. I loved him in Florida you can't tell me he can't play anymore/lost all his talent. Give him a couple good linemates and he will produce. I would put money on it

I'm sure that's the eventual plan, but I think right now the big thing is getting him back to game form. He's been off the ice for the greater part of two years, and now that's he's ready to come back, its with a team/system/coach that he hasn't really had an opportunity to play with at 100%. He had a hop in his step during the preseason that was absent all last year, and he was looking to get involved more, but Weiss' timing was way off. He wasn't completing passes well, he didn't seem in synch with his line-mates, or the game overall, for that matter. I don't know what Babcock and co are thinking with benching him because I obviously don't have access to the practices or lockerroom, but I have to imagine that they want him to get back up to speed, and comfortable with the pace and the way the Wings play before giving him time on the top 6, against other team's top players. I suspect this process will take a few weeks.

[VM1138 1,921]

Why isn't Nyquist with Franzen and Z? Yeah, we want to bury on of our best goal scorers and neuter tthe top line with Abdelkader?

[canadian wings fan 305]

Wow is Stephen Weiss seriously a healthy scratch to start the season? Or is this all speculation?

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Why isn't Nyquist with Franzen and Z? Yeah, we want to bury on of our best goal scorers and neuter tthe top line with Abdelkader?

Nyquist can't pull the piano or play "heavy". He only scored 28 goals and provides speed and play-making, so that makes him a natural fit for third line minutes with Helm and Nestrasil instead.

[kipwinger 8,755]

Don't worry guys, Babs has a PhD from McGill in sports psychology.

He's got this.

[T.Low 1,011]

Don't worry guys, Babs has a PhD from McGill in sports psychology.

He's got this.

Pyle it Higher and Deeper!

[kipwinger 8,755]

Pyle it Higher and Deeper!

I have no idea what you're getting at. None at all.