• Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

Sign in to follow this  
Dabura

Are the Wings a Contender?

Rate this topic

Recommended Posts

I doubt Kenny's untouchable list is much different from mine. Kenny is very conservative when it comes to trading away assets and for good reason. Unless there is a big name player coming this way, our list of players to hold on to should be pretty lengthy. My list consists of Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Nyquist, Tatar, Jurco, Sheahan, Kronwall, DeKeyser, Smith, Pulkkinen, Mantha, Athanasiou, Larkin, Sproul and Mrazek. Like I said, unless a big name player in coming our way...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No, we are not a contender this year in my opinion. Box out our forwards and forecheck the heck out of our D and most teams take us out in the first or maybe second round. I'm enjoying watching the kids get better and my veteran favs this year so I'm not a hater or anything. I, like most here just think we need some ingredients to really contend. The equivalents of Mac, Shanny and Lids would do it in my opinion.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No, we are not a contender this year in my opinion. Box out our forwards and forecheck the heck out of our D and most teams take us out in the first or maybe second round. I'm enjoying watching the kids get better and my veteran favs this year so I'm not a hater or anything. I, like most here just think we need some ingredients to really contend. The equivalents of Mac, Shanny and Lids would do it in my opinion.

Oh, is that all? Just a power forward and two hall of famers? Lol.

I'm just kidding with you. I agree. We're a decent team, but we're not a contender. I've said elsewhere, we don't beat good teams and we're only .500 against crappy teams lately. Our offense is not existent most nights, and our blue line defense well but does nothing else well.

Like krsmith17 said in another thread, I think we could be a contender in the next couple of years but a couple solid acquisitions. But not this year.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

His untouchable list or the one some fans have that include virtually every kid who has a legit shot of being an NHL player?

The only untouchables for me are Larkin mantha nyquist datsyuk and z.

Great list and that's really where the untouchables should end everyone else has to be in play if the Wings want to improve the team in the coming years.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would say an outside contender... if that even makes sense. I think Montreal could drop as far as a wild card spot and the Wings will be is a race with Boston for the second seed in the division. Although we are close to Tampa right now they are a more polished team and should walk away with the division.

Low Expectations: Finish in wild card and 1st round win.

High Expectations: late 3rd round finish.

I feelz ya boston rising but I feel montreal will be close to us... last year they were a similiar but better executing team than us..similiar style though imo..I think boston montreal tampa in the cards as we will make playoffs imo

+1 to avatar taking me back to the good old days when live was good cuz someone else paid the bills lol

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The only untouchables for me are Larkin mantha nyquist datsyuk and z.

Zetterberg, Datsyuk. That's it. For the right player I'd move anyone else. It'd take a lot for me to move some guys, but I'd do it. Anyone who says ANY prospect is off the table is nuts if they wouldn't move Mantha, Larkin, etc. as part of a package for a young established high end player.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Zetterberg, Datsyuk. That's it. For the right player I'd move anyone else. It'd take a lot for me to move some guys, but I'd do it. Anyone who says ANY prospect is off the table is nuts if they wouldn't move Mantha, Larkin, etc. as part of a package for a young established high end player.

Nope. Because what I would want in return for any of the prospects I mentioned would be way too high of a price that no one would pay.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dickie, I think it's pretty clear that anyone would trade a Mantha or Larkin type of prospect for a Weber, Doughty, Pietrangelo, Tavares, Seguin, Benn, Giroux, or any other young, established player in the league. But those types of players simply are not available. When I say, "this is my untouchable list", I mean, "in any plausible trade that Ken Holland could make, I would not trade...". The type of trade that Holland is likely to make (if any) leading up to the trade deadline would be for a rental / veteran / depth defenseman. So no, I would not trade anyone on my lengthy "untradeable" list for what Holland could possibly get in said trade... You (some people) may be okay with trading away a Pulkkinen or Athanasiou for a few months of a Zidlicky or Petry, but I would not...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh, is that all? Just a power forward and two hall of famers? Lol.

I'm just kidding with you. I agree. We're a decent team, but we're not a contender. I've said elsewhere, we don't beat good teams and we're only .500 against crappy teams lately. Our offense is not existent most nights, and our blue line defense well but does nothing else well.

Like krsmith17 said in another thread, I think we could be a contender in the next couple of years but a couple solid acquisitions. But not this year.

Lol I was scared to get flamed for naming those equivalents but I'm gonna say Yandle, Evander Kane and Bickell from our 7 game series with the Hawks. Blech I didnt want to say Bickell but I can't think of a comparable to DMac. Physical guy who can make giant plays in the playoffs. Not Hofer's but I think that gets us the Stanley Cup. (Mrazek in goal)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This team is a top 6 fwd and a top 2 D away from going deep in the post season.

I feel like we've been saying this for years.

IMO the glaring hole is at at D. I think an addition there would be more than enough.

The top 6 has Datsyuk, Zberg, Tatar, and Nyquist holding it down, plus more than a few guys who can rotate in.

The D has Kronwall.

DK steady, just doesn't contribute offensively as I'd like.

Edited by number9

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This team is a top 6 fwd and a top 2 D away from going deep in the post season.

I think this is spot on. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Nyquist and Tatar are true "Top 6" guys, IMO. Abdelkader is a great complimentary piece, so if they could find someone else in that same vein, I think it would do them worlds of good. I don't think you have to add another overly skilled guy, but a better net presence/power forward type guy for Tatar-Datsyuk to play with would be nice.

The defense is in obvious need of an upgrade, especially offensively. I actually like seeing Smith next to Kronwall, but I think it's more because of how bad Ericsson has looked than anything. I'm all for having balanced defensive pairings, but Kronner could really use a better partner at this point.

Edit: Yeah, what he said ^

Edited by Jesusberg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I wouldn't call it glaring hole but I agree, our D lacks offensive firepower. Just keep in mind D is still very young. What was our third pairing last night ? Oullet and Smith ? There are rookie-forward lines with a higher average age. Therefore we probably see more contribution from those guys in the years to come.

I'm all for getting a guy like Green, but only for the right price. We don't need to overpay just make a deep run this year.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Smith is 25 and has played over 150 games. He's not exactly inexperienced. And he was a first rounder, so he doesn't exactly get the kind of leeway that Ericsson did either. He had proper development in the AHL (perhaps even overripened) too. By all accounts, for a first rounder with his pedigree (Hoby Baker finalist, 1st round pick, AHL stud), he's developing at a snail's pace.

At what point do we say Smith is garbage? Seriously, how old and how many games before we stop using the "he's inexperienced" excuse for his f*** ups and lack of production?

Edited by kipwinger

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

He's not garbage. Defensemen tend to develop slower, though, and he very well could top out as a 2nd pair D which is fine for when he was taken. The 4 27th overall picks beore the Wings took Smith, 2 of them barely played, Tambelinni played 242 NHL games and is in Europe now, and Jeff Schultz has spent most of the last 2 years in the AHL. The 3 drafts after Smith was taken, Carlson is the only NHL player taken at 27.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So, the reason you say he's "garbage" now is because he's developing slower than you would have liked? Because he was a stud in college and in the American League? Because he was a first round draft pick? So what? Look at all the first round draft picks in the past 7-10 years, from around 20-30 overall that have been complete busts. Smith isn't developing that slow at all in my opinion. Sure, there are guys such as John Carlson that are complete studs, but Smith is a lot better than the majority of late first rounders.

Kindl was a higher draft pick, has played nearly 100 more games than Smith and is still around, not that he should be... Because Ericsson was the last guy picked in his draft year, he should get a pass?

Smith will be fine, and lucky for us, he's not going anywhere...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So, the reason you say he's "garbage" now is because he's developing slower than you would have liked? Because he was a stud in college and in the American League? Because he was a first round draft pick? So what? Look at all the first round draft picks in the past 7-10 years, from around 20-30 overall that have been complete busts. Smith isn't developing that slow at all in my opinion. Sure, there are guys such as John Carlson that are complete studs, but Smith is a lot better than the majority of late first rounders.

Kindl was a higher draft pick, has played nearly 100 more games than Smith and is still around, not that he should be... Because Ericsson was the last guy picked in his draft year, he should get a pass?

Smith will be fine, and lucky for us, he's not going anywhere...

Exactly, at what point is he one of these? How old, and how many games, before he can no longer get a pass because he's got "potential"?

Also, saying he's better than Kindl isn't saying much. And yes, Ericsson should be given a longer leash. When you draft a guy dead last in the draft you assume it's going to take a while for him to develop. When you draft a guy in the first round you assume it won't take him as long. I don't that's too controversial a statement.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Smith is 25 and has played over 150 games. He's not exactly inexperienced. And he was a first rounder, so he doesn't exactly get the kind of leeway that Ericsson did either. He had proper development in the AHL (perhaps even overripened) too. By all accounts, for a first rounder with his pedigree (Hoby Baker finalist, 1st round pick, AHL stud), he's developing at a snail's pace.

At what point do we say Smith is garbage? Seriously, how old and how many games before we stop using the "he's inexperienced" excuse for his f*** ups and lack of production?

You're right, he isn't inexperienced but he is also not in his prime yet. As Dickie pointed out defensive players need more time to get good. Give him 2 years or so more and then we will see how far his talent will carry him. And even if he's stuck at this level and won't improve I wouldn't call him garbage. He's now a more or less steady #4-#6 D-Man, not exceptionally good, but also not exceptionally bad. A better version of Lashoff so to speak. Thats not what the Wings are expecting him to be but it's far from being garbage.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Babcock musta yelled A LOT between periods lol

Doubt it. Good ole Danny boy came down from the press box and voiced his opinion, his leadership is strong.

I think this quote from Nyquist clears up at least part of what happened in that locker room.

"He's the one that raises his voice here in the intermission, tells us we're not good enough and he comes out and scores three and I'm assuming he had a couple assists too (just one), I don't know how many points, obviously led the way for us and that's what he does," Nyquist said. "We're lucky to have him."

via foxsports: http://www.foxsports.com/detroit/story/zetterberg-s-hat-trick-lifts-red-wings-over-sabres-011815

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I hadn't realized Smith was playing particularly bad this season. He has mistakes here and there, but so does Quincey, Dekeyser, Oulette, Kindl, Lashoff, Ericsson, and Kronwall. Its funny how often Kronwall turns the puck over in the defensive zone, and yet its almost exclusively Smith that people latch onto and obsess over.

Edited by Echolalia

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this