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

[RedWang 422]

Babs is using his genius in benching Weiss to light a fire under him n make him compete harder. Classic coaching mind games.

Its a long season, we wont know if Weiss is a real bust or not until the end of this season, barring any more injuries.

[kipwinger 8,754]

Mike Babcock, against all odds, heroically clawed and scraped Stephen Weiss' career back from the brink of oblivion through his genius and sheer force of will; despite Weiss' no-talent ass, whining and lolly gagging the entire time.

[TheXym 2,606]

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

I'm guessing B.S. degree = bull ****, M.S. degree = more ****, Ph.D. = Piled High and Deep or something along those lines.

[T.Low 1,011]

PhD=Pyle it Higher and Deeper

As in, the bs. It's an old one, maybe you young guys don't know it.

[number9 3,297]

Babs is really helping Ian white's, I mean Stephen Weiss's, career by benching him. What don't you ppl understand about that?

Isn't Weiss German for white?

Scary.

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

Babs is really helping Ian white's, I mean Stephen Weiss's, career by benching him. What don't you ppl understand about that?

Isn't Weiss German for white?

Scary.

Actually it's written "weiß" but it's the same sound.

And with 'Babcock' being an English surname, and 'Weiss' being German surname.....Maybe - just maybe - Babs has a grudge against zee Germans.

Which would also explain why Erhoff chose Pittsburgh. I think we're onto something.

Edited October 9, 2014 by derblaueClaus

[VM1138 1,921]

Weiss was an established and effective NHL player when we signed up to a four year contract to replace Flip. He spent the first year of his contract injured. Now he's not, and Babcock benches him, presumably due to performance with poor linemates in four games in six nights or something like that? Sports psychology or no, this isn't a Scott Gomez situation. The guy's been injured. He hasn't had a chance to show he had some drastic reduction in talent yet. At the very least let him center some kids or something.

Tatar-Sheahan-Jurco is set becuase it works, but a 2/3 line of Nyquist-Weiss-Nestrasil could tear stuff up, at least early in the season. It's painfully clear we're still missing that much needed scoring winger. I suppose Helm could play on that line, as a winger, but he has hands of steel. But he does make things happen with his speed. Unlike Abdelkader, who doesn't make much happen despite his hitting.

[rick zombo 3,739]

On the plus side, this might be the biggest group of forwards we've played in a while. A pretty decent mix of size to go with the smaller, faster skilled guys.

Abdlekader

Franzen

Sheahan

Jurco

Nestrasil

Andersson

Half of the forwards at least 6'1"/200 lbs.

I know Franzen and Andersson aren't overly physical, but as a Wings fan, I'll take what I can get.

[kipwinger 8,754]

On the plus side, this might be the biggest group of forwards we've played in a while. A pretty decent mix of size to go with the smaller, faster skilled guys.

Abdlekader

Franzen

Sheahan

Jurco

Nestrasil

Andersson

Half of the forwards at least 6'1"/200 lbs.

I know Franzen and Andersson aren't overly physical, but as a Wings fan, I'll take what I can get.

I don't think "being physical" matters at much as people tend to think. Many fans (around the league) think if you're big and you're not playing like Backes or Lucic then you're "easy to play against". Which is likely not true. Obviously its harder to play against guys like that, but it's probably no walk in the park trying to body up Franzen for 60 minutes. No matter how "physical" he is (or isn't), he's still 225 lbs. of forward that you've got to try and contain for an entire game.

So in short, I agree lol.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

I don't think "being physical" matters at much as people tend to think. Many fans (around the league) think if you're big and you're not playing like Backes or Lucic then you're "easy to play against". Which is likely not true. Obviously its harder to play against guys like that, but it's probably no walk in the park trying to body up Franzen for 60 minutes. No matter how "physical" he is (or isn't), he's still 225 lbs. of forward that you've got to try and contain for an entire game.

So in short, I agree lol.

I think the Wings are very easy to play against physically. The big guys aren't known for their hitting. Franzen is big and skilled, but doesn't really battle for pucks. Team speed is supposed to be our real strength, but that didn't really work for us when playing against a team like Boston.

[kipwinger 8,754]

I think the Wings are very easy to play against physically. The big guys aren't known for their hitting. Franzen is big and skilled, but doesn't really battle for pucks. Team speed is supposed to be our real strength, but that didn't really work for us when playing against a team like Boston.

We're certainly not as physical as Boston. Good thing we don't play them 82 times every season. Also, I don't think Franzen is as big a pattycake as everyone makes him out to be. He battled along the walls all the time. Babcock wouldn't play him as much as he does if Franzen didn't.

[kipwinger 8,754]

I dunno.....Maybe it's the scotch I'm usually enjoying in the evening hours when I watch hockey.....Franzen doesn't look like he's giving 100% a good portion of the night, and he seems to be getting pushed, or knocked down along the boards more often than not.

It's been said numerous times before...Babs is more or less forced to give the Mule top 6 ice time since there's few options...I'd much rather see the young guys get more ice time.

I'm not saying Mule is a workaholic or anything. But I don't think he's "a soft, lazy, floater" either. If you haven't noticed, once people around here (and around hockey in general) start saying something, it keeps getting said no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary. Babcock was using Franzen on the PK last year...before the injuries started to happen. He didn't have to, he chose to. Somehow I doubt that the hockey coach equivalent of IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer would use a lazy, soft, stupid, weak, pathetic, spineless, ***** on the PK just for kicks.

[rrasco 1,312]

I want to like this 1000X... "If you haven't noticed, once people around here start saying something, it keeps getting said no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary.

Probably the most annoying thing about a lot of the people on here...

It's not just here though, I hear stuff here and it seems like it spreads. Hell, even this year Franzen said he doesn't like the lazy label. We've gotten to his head!

[krsmith17 7,191]

I'm well aware of it on most other sites, but it's these types of fans that irritate the hell out of me. I watch games and base my opinion on the team and individual players on what I see in each game, not what others are saying on forums. Give up the labels and watch the ******* game! Lol and note that this is not directed at anyone in particular but you guys know exactly who you are.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Enough with the discussion about how people post here.

I'm getting tired of posting reminders about this, so warnings and suspensions are coming next time a thread gets derailed with talk of how fans post.

Let's get back on topic and actually discuss hockey.

[matthewdanna 143]

Stephen Weiss is 32 years old on the buyout date of June 15, 2015, setting the buyout ratio at 2/3 and the total buyout cost at $10,000,000, in addition to $1,000,000 in signing bonuses, spread over 6 years. His contract was originally valued at $24,500,000 beginning in 2013 and ending in 2018, with $15,000,000 remaining from the buyout year forward (which does not include $1,000,000 in remaining signing bonuses that are paid regardless of buyout). The following is a season-by-season breakdown of the buyout. A negative buyout cap hit indicates a credit.

BUYOUT DETAILS

SEASON SALARY CAP HIT BUYOUT SAVINGS BUYOUT CAP HIT

2015-16 $5,500,000 $4,900,000 $1,666,667 $3,833,333 $1,066,667

2016-17 $5,500,000 $4,900,000 $1,666,667 $3,833,333 $1,066,667

2017-18 $4,000,000 $4,900,000 $1,666,667 $2,333,333 $2,566,667

2018-19 $0 $0 $1,666,667 -$1,666,667 $1,666,667

2019-20 $0 $0 $1,666,667 -$1,666,667 $1,666,667

2020-21 $0 $0 $1,666,667 -$1,666,667 $1,666,667

Edited October 11, 2014 by matthewdanna

[e_prime 1,936]

The Red Wings are certainly NOT going to buy out Stephen Weiss.

Why?

1. Forward Depth

2. Trade Value (whether you personally think he has value or not, he most certainly does)

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

The Red Wings are certainly NOT going to buy out Stephen Weiss.

Why?

1. Forward Depth

2. Trade Value (whether you personally think he has value or not, he most certainly does)

I know they won't buy him out, simply because having his cap hit would still suck.

But his value is as low as its ever been, and he has a no trade clause.

[Nev 1,085]

I think the Wings are very easy to play against physically. The big guys aren't known for their hitting. Franzen is big and skilled, but doesn't really battle for pucks. Team speed is supposed to be our real strength, but that didn't really work for us when playing against a team like Boston.

Interestingly, when we moved East there was a thread on HFboards with fans of Eastern teams saying how soft Detroit were. I was pleasantly surprised to see fans of Chicago, San Jose and Anaheim posting to say essentially "if you think Detroit is soft because they don't have any tough guys, you're in for a shock".

Comparing us to Boston (and I know you want us to be just like Boston) is comparing us to the gold standard. They are a blend of size, toughness, goaltending and elite skill that rarely comes along - Anaheim 2007 is probably the last example. And they've still only won 1 cup with it.

Edited October 11, 2014 by Nev

[wings_fanatic 677]

Interestingly, when we moved East there was a thread on HFboards with fans of Eastern teams saying how soft Detroit were. I was pleasantly surprised to see fans of Chicago, San Jose and Anaheim posting to say essentially "if you think Detroit is soft because they don't have any tough guys, you're in for a shock".

Comparing us to Boston (and I know you want us to be just like Boston) is comparing us to the gold standard. They are a blend of size, toughness, goaltending and elite skill that rarely comes along - Anaheim 2007 is probably the last example. And they've still only won 1 cup with it.

And the same can be said about Boston. Well said. And Chara is aging. When they lose him, they will be losing a LOT of their structure and stability on the blue line.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

And the same can be said about Boston. Well said. And Chara is aging. When they lose him, they will be losing a LOT of their structure and stability on the blue line.

Boston as tough as they are did lose some heavy hitting, toughness and blue line rockets by trading Boychuk. Chiarelli literally closed their cup window if he doesn't find some much needed magic come trade deadline. Also when it comes to a rugged, heavy game the St. Louis Blues are another prime example or the Los Angeles Kings they are mean, big, physical and man can they ever shut you down.

So that's three great models

I would instantly deal Weiss for a guy like Sobotka

Edited October 11, 2014 by frankgrimes

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

[number9 3,297]

Boston as tough as they are did lose some heavy hitting, toughness and blue line rockets by trading Boychuk. Chiarelli literally closed their cup window if he doesn't find some much needed magic come trade deadline. Also when it comes to a rugged, heavy game the St. Louis Blues are another prime example or the Los Angeles Kings they are mean, big, physical and man can they ever shut you down.

So that's three great models

I would instantly deal Weiss for a guy like Sobotka

Doesn't Sobotka play in the KHL? Lol

[Bannedforlife 403]

Doesn't Sobotka play in the KHL? Lol

I would totes trade Kindl for Gretsky in his prime.

[Nev 1,085]

Boston as tough as they are did lose some heavy hitting, toughness and blue line rockets by trading Boychuk. Chiarelli literally closed their cup window if he doesn't find some much needed magic come trade deadline. Also when it comes to a rugged, heavy game the St. Louis Blues are another prime example or the Los Angeles Kings they are mean, big, physical and man can they ever shut you down.

So that's three great models

I would instantly deal Weiss for a guy like Sobotka

Well, the Blues haven't done anything in the playoffs so far, despite all their potential.

Lombardi has done a great job buidling the Kings, but he's also had the luxury of 2nd overall Drew Doughty, 11th overall Anze Kopitar, 13th overall Dustin Brown, and 5th overall Brayden Schenn who begat Mike Richards. All higher picks than we've had than forever.