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Dabura

Are the Wings a Contender?

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Much of Detroit's success can be attributed to its stout defense: No team is allowing less even-strength shot attempts per 60, and just three have surrendered less shots on net per game.

This is a testament to their forwards' defensive acumen -- especially Riley Sheahan, Tomas Jurco, Tomas Tatar and Justin Abdelkader.

Among NHL forwards who have skated in at least 200 minutes of even-strength action, those four rank first, third, fifth and sixth in shot attempts against, respectively.

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There are many here that still remember the 2002 Wings team that won the cup. They were #1 in the preseason rankings. In 2008 the Wings were #3 before the season started. Many analysts gave the nod to San Jose or the Rangers because they were so deep. Many Wings fans felt that those teams were "contending" teams.

Before the season started here, many Wings fans were on the cusp of bailing on this team. No real significant signings in free agency. No changes to the personal. This team was ranked in the middle of the pack in the preseason and were going to possibly miss the playoffs. I loved the tanking thread by the way.

Two months ago, this team was only going to be contending for a playoff spot. Its amazing to see what happens when the team is playing well and is healthy for the most part. Now, all of a sudden, shocked Wings fans are thinking this team can contend for the cup. Guess what? They can! The teams are so even that anyone who makes the playoffs can win the cup. Health, getting hot at the right time, and puck luck are all it takes to make it happen.

I believe this team can challenge for the cup so long as they stay healthy, stay hot, and get those bounces that wins games (look at the Tatar goal against Carolina where it goes in off a defenseman's skate for instance).

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Guest DeGraa55

Yes.

If the Wings can stay healthy, and continue to play as they are then I don't see any reason why they cannot compete for the Eastern Conference championship come spring.

A good number of our rivals have lost some players due to cap issues, or injuries (suck it you d-bags!), and it appears our youngsters are becoming the players we had hoped that they would become.

It's been a while, but I'm really beginning to feel confident about this team, and their ability to stay at, or near the top in the standings...It's really awesome, and as a handful of analysts/critics like Pierre Maguire have said - 'Detroit doesn't rebuild - they just reload'.

Agreed.

I firmly believe that a guy with most of his teeth missing adds bite - erm - character to this team...Mind you I have all my teeth.....

Don't say that. Others will soon jump on your ass cause you're just so negative.

I mean it's 100% true an accurate but you're just

Mr negativity!!

Yes I'm channeling my inner number9, did I do good?!?!

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Don't say that. Others will soon jump on your ass cause you're just so negative.

I mean it's 100% true an accurate but you're just

Mr negativity!!

Yes I'm channeling my inner number9, did I do good?!?!

Good? Lets go with better. I've been preaching exactly what F Michael is saying for multiple seasons, so I don't know why you think I'm opposed to what he's saying. In fact I personally don't find anything he was saying negative. Have you developed a complex or something?

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Guest DeGraa55

Good? Lets go with better. I've been preaching exactly what F Michael is saying for multiple seasons, so I don't know why you think I'm opposed to what he's saying. In fact I personally don't find anything he was saying negative. Have you developed a complex or something?

LOL. You mean that's what I've been saying and you akways jump on my ass.

Now about that complex you've developed...

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LOL. You mean that's what I've been saying and you akways jump on my ass.

Now about that complex you've developed...

I don't even know what this means...

are you trying to say that you've been preaching what F Michael is saying for years now?

Edited by number9

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Don't say that. Others will soon jump on your ass cause you're just so negative.

I mean it's 100% true an accurate but you're just

Mr negativity!!

Yes I'm channeling my inner number9, did I do good?!?!

What? His post wasn't negative at all. It was pretty realistic. You saying Philadelphia will most likely seed higher than us was negative.

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Guest DeGraa55

What? His post wasn't negative at all. It was pretty realistic. You saying Philadelphia will most likely seed higher than us was negative.

That's the sarcasm behind it. He said what I've been saying for years. So I was pulling my number9 ****** baggery out before he was given te chance!

And they finished ahead of us last year 1 point or 50 points ahead of us is ahead...

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That's the sarcasm behind it. He said what I've been saying for years. So I was pulling my number9 ****** baggery out before he was given te chance!

And they finished ahead of us last year 1 point or 50 points ahead of us is ahead...

What's last year have to do with this year? We were decimated by injuries last year and they finished ONLY one point ahead of us. Not to mention you said it the day we beat them pretty soundly lol. It was a negative comment, accept it. It's still early in the season but there is nothing to indicate the Flyers are even equal to the Wings, let alone better.

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That's the sarcasm behind it. He said what I've been saying for years. So I was pulling my number9 ****** baggery out before he was given te chance!

And they finished ahead of us last year 1 point or 50 points ahead of us is ahead...

haha yup

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Just a thought, I haven't looked at all the other posts. After one-half year in the east the Wings are first in the big bad easy east.

Are they a contender? Yes.

I know the post season is a different game. But that isn't for another few months. They will only get better.

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It would be amazing if Arizona would accept Franzen+Kindl and a prospect/pick for Yandle. I would even retain 1M on Franzen's contract and that way Coyotes get a lot of production for dirt cheap. Add Pukinnen and he probably makes their roster and they get a lot of scoring

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It would be amazing if Arizona would accept Franzen+Kindl and a prospect/pick for Yandle. I would even retain 1M on Franzen's contract and that way Coyotes get a lot of production for dirt cheap. Add Pukinnen and he probably makes their roster and they get a lot of scoring

I'd retain ALL of Frazen's salary, like, for evah if Arizona were willing to make that deal.

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Handle isn't that good to give up that much. I don't like defense men who are bad in their own end.

Yandle's one of the premier offensive defensemen in hockey; he's consistently been good for 10+ goals and 40+ points on a team that's perpetually short on high-end skill and scoring. He's not a great defender, no, but he's so good at moving the puck, driving the attack, and generating offense that he 1) doesn't spend much time in the d-zone anyway, and 2) can really help his team outscore his and their mistakes. I won't bring fancy stats into this discussion, but I'll also point out that he hasn't missed a game in six years, partly because he doesn't spend a lot of time in the d-zone and, by extension, doesn't subject himself to much physical abuse at the hands of opposing forwards. (It helps that he's a fantastic skater.)

Babcock wants this to be a relentless attacking team like what we had with Rafalski and Lebda. That means our breakouts and transition game have to improve above and beyond what I feel our current D corps is capable of providing. We have plenty of steady, responsible shutdown options (Kronwall, Ericsson, DeKeyser, Quincey, Lashoff, Ouellet, Marchenko), and that's great, but I think we need to add a gamebreaking offensive defenseman if we're going to really, truly compete for the Cup. I'd love for that guy to be superb at both ends of the ice, but then we're talking about an extremely short list of all-stars.

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