Bummer, Miller & Pulkkinen out a while

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

This is usually true when it's your superstar players that are slumping and/or the team is struggling. The Wings are in a tight race right now. The last thing Blashill is worried about is his 14th guy.

To me, it actually makes more sense to get Richards going than Jurco. Richards is a proven winner. A proven center and power play quarterback. He's played at all levels and he has been a dynamic player in his career. Right now he's sucking. But if he can bounce back and become that center we need him to be - this team would very well be a cup contender. The plan was for Richards to center the 2nd/3rd line so Datsyuk and Zetterberg can play together i.e allow them to increase their longevity in the long run of the season. Right now Zetterberg is already slowed down (in fact I think the guy is probably slower than Mrazek in goalie skates lol) and Datsyuk is showing zero signs of being magical.

But I do want to point out that there is a reason Richards was signed to a 1 year deal. This team is still looking to contend for the cup. If they were just looking at purely "what could be 5 years from now with our kids" then the whole Richard's signing would have been pointless to begin with. Their obvious aim is to look at the present while making sure to work towards the future.

Also you can't really compare Tatar to Jurco. Tatar and now Larkin have both legitimately generated their own offense in their short time regardless of their line mates. Then again neither were given a 4th line situation like Jurco has - which I get does suck.

that's not always the case. more than once our coaches have broken up lines that were going well to try to get one player specifically going. I cant recall blash saying anything like this this year, but babs did it/said it many times.and I know babs and blash are two different entities completely but the principle is still the same.

I know Richards is a proven winner, and just came off winning a cup, but getting Richards back to a 40 point center now i think is less important than getting jurco going (to hopefully score 30 this season)

Richards is going to be gone, we have Larkin we can slot into the 2nd line center position and I'm hoping sheahan is just having an off season, but he's awesome defensively and chipping in 30-40 points while playing shutdown d is a good 2nd line c. Jurco should be in the plans for the team past this season, he's big, fast, and skilled and those players come up big in the playoffs.

Getting him going gives us more depth this year and for future, Richards is playing well enough, he's just snake bitten, and he's a smart player. We don't need to shake things up around him to get him going, he can do that on his own.

And jurco with confidence definitely created his own chances, his speed and hands in tight are good enough that we just need him to have some semblance of confidence to carry the puck. Lately he's been treating the puck like its a hand grenade.

He's versatile enough that we could use him in pretty much anyway, but he's not experienced enough to bounce back and forth and immediately produce results with only a game or less time to adjust. I wish we could get them both scoring, but if they both go on a tear we could be serious contenders.

And Sheahan nyquist and tats have been Good, but Nyquist can do his thing pretty much anywhere(aside from the fourth line) moving him up in the lineup doesn't take away from him carrying his own line, just ups the difficulty a bit.

were used to seeing/hearing square pegs put into round holes, but putting a skilled guy in a checking role seems more egregious.

Its not a bad problem to have, but it comes with the territory when we have this much depth. Like I said, I just hope he takes advantage of the players we have out being out so the problem will sort itself out.

Edited December 5, 2015 by jimmyemeryhunter

[vladdy16 2,154]

Look at Jurco. Now back to the injuries. Now back to Jurco. Now back at the injuries. This is what the topic could be if Jurco were injured. But he's not, so let's get back to the injuries, please.

Internet cool points to whoever gets the reference.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Look at Jurco. Now back to the injuries. Now back to Jurco. Now back at the injuries. This is what the topic could be if Jurco were injured. But he's not, so let's get back to the injuries, please.

Internet cool points to whoever gets the reference.

Its the old spice commercial, right?

And honestly, I didn't realize I wasn't posting in the Jurco thread.

So.

Thanks for the reminder.

And Eighteen MySpace scene points if you forgive me for continuing the conversation in this thread.

And for continuation.

Does miller being out mean Andy's automatically in the lineup? And if we call Callahan up, well still have to expose him to waivers before sending him back down right?

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Also are they going to call someone up or are they expecting miller back soon?

They only have 12 forwards up right now, right? Or am I missing someone?

[Jacksoni 418]

No that's right, got 12. And they'll stick with that for today's game. They will decide if and whom to pick up for the 13th spot tomorrow, before the road trip.

[e_prime 1,936]

Needless to say, I'm a bit disappoint that my boy Drew is out for that long! Jeeezzzuusss.

My real, and I do mean real question: Who's gonna take up his role as primary shot blocker?

I'm certainly going to be watching this and see what difference it makes on shot totals/scoring chances for the opposition.

On the other hand, I do hope that in light of the injury to Pulkkinen, Jurco does get some more ice-time and a shot at showing us what he's really made of.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Needless to say, I'm a bit disappoint that my boy Drew is out for that long! Jeeezzzuusss.

My real, and I do mean real question: Who's gonna take up his role as primary shot blocker?

I'm certainly going to be watching this and see what difference it makes on shot totals/scoring chances for the opposition.

On the other hand, I do hope that in light of the injury to Pulkkinen, Jurco does get some more ice-time and a shot at showing us what he's really made of.

I wonder if this is when dylark will start to get serious pk time like blash was talking about before now that silver fox is out for an extended period of time.

A forward pk tandem of helm and Larkin could be dangerous.

Also, has anyone heard how drews surgery went?

And Glendenning will become the primary shot blocker up front, with big rig holding it down behind him.

Edited December 5, 2015 by jimmyemeryhunter

[matt198913 932]

I was being a jokester with the Tangradi suggestion, but his numbers are pretty good right now.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

I was being a jokester with the Tangradi suggestion, but his numbers are pretty good right now.

I think aa will get the call again.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

I think aa will get the call again.

Probably ... Wouldn't wanna see him called up though unless he's on the top 3 lines, don't wanna see him on that 4th line

Maybe it's time to see if Callahan has a future on the wings

Edited December 5, 2015 by nyqvististhefuture

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Probably ... Wouldn't wanna see him called up though unless he's on the top 3 lines, don't wanna see him on that 4th line

Maybe it's time to see if Callahan has a future on the wings

I don't think You have to worry about seeing AA on the fourth line, not when Jurcos penciled into the lineup.

Cally would be a decent choice, but I don't remember how the waiver thing works. Would he have to be here for ten games before he'd have to clear waivers, or would he have to as soon as we sent him down no matter how much he played?

Regardless, I think its a safer bet to assume they'll call someone up who can be sent up and down without waivers, which is the only reason I think AA gets the call again. Bertuzzi doesn't really deserve a call up at this point, but I think Tangradi would go unclaimed if it came down to it.

Maybe well see Mantha, I know he's not exactly lighting up the score sheet, but by all accounts he's been one of the best players down there. And I would like to see what he could do in the NHL, give him a taste of regular season NHL hockey. Maybe he'll surprise us and be a better player here than he is in the A.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Once a player clears he doesn't have to pass through waivers again unless he's on the NHL roster for 30 days or 10 games.

[kliq 3,755]

Once a player clears he doesn't have to pass through waivers again unless he's on the NHL roster for 30 days or 10 games.

If thats the case, I would like to see what Mitch Callahan can do in MIller's role. Leave Anderson in the press box, insert Jurco and Callahan in. That's what I would like to see. I'm guessing Anderson is in on 4th line though.

[e_prime 1,936]

If thats the case, I would like to see what Mitch Callahan can do in MIller's role. Leave Anderson in the press box, insert Jurco and Callahan in. That's what I would like to see. I'm guessing Anderson is in on 4th line though.

That would be rad! ...bring up Cally and see what he's got!

[KATIEBARTHEDOOR24 426]

Miller may or may not be missed. Pulks is useless

That would be rad! ...bring up Cally and see what he's got!

Been waiting 2 years since Cali has been back up... Seems that long anyway..

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Callahan needs to play the same in Detroit as he does in GR. What I've seen of him in limited time against NHL players, he acts scared.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

Callahan needs to play the same in Detroit as he does in GR. What I've seen of him in limited time against NHL players, he acts scared.

He's played 1 NHL game and, according to hockey-reference.com, has a total of 9:01 NHL ice time. I don't think that's enough to judge how he plays against NHL players. Most players are probably scared their first NHL game.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

He's played 1 NHL game and, according to hockey-reference.com, has a total of 9:01 NHL ice time. I don't think that's enough to judge how he plays against NHL players. Most players are probably scared their first NHL game.

Plus preseason games

[Franzine 739]

Hey, guys. I just want to mention that Miller isn't a good player, and it's not a bummer that he is out. I promise.

Edited December 7, 2015 by Franzine

[e_prime 1,936]

Hey, guys. I just want to mention that Miller isn't a good player, and it's not a bummer that he is out. I promise.

Ha. Taking up the torch for Bill in his absence?

I can't wait until Drew, with jaw wired shut, dons a full-cage and gets back out on the ice, and takes what will, in all likelihood be a pathetic PK in his absence and "magically" makes it better.

[LeftWinger 4,961]

Hey, guys. I just want to mention that Miller Franzen isn't a good player, and it's not a bummer that he is out. I promise.

Fixed. A bit much with the fries, serious mancrush.