GDT 3/15 GDT : Red Wings at Philadelphia Flyers, 7:30 ET

[kickazz 5,459]

That's the problem who can score and play on the pk... Helm, AA?

He plays his heart out, I guess that's why he gets my respect.

I have zero issue with Glendening. I love his work ethic.

I have issues with how he is used.

I think they need to groom guys like AA and Larkin into great PKers and centermen who can take important faceoffs. It will take some time.

Used to be that our best PKers, face off AND best offense guys were our 28 year old Datsyuks and Zetterbergs. Now we have to rely on Luke to win a faceoff. But he can't do much else after that offensively speaking.

Edited March 16, 2016 by kickazz

[DRW Dominance 255]

Yep, our defense is shockingly bad. Yeah it hasn't been that good since Lidstrom retired, but this year.... they constantly look flustered and get trapped in their end a lot

This....and sometimes they're just plain stupid. Many times they have clear possession and do nothing with it aside from turn it over with little presssure.

[Paul MacLean's Mustache 44]

Yep, our defense is shockingly bad. Yeah it hasn't been that good since Lidstrom retired, but this year.... they constantly look flustered and get trapped in their end a lot

also, what a mistake signing Green.

Living so close to DC, I hated the term on Green's contract when I saw he signed this past summer. Caps fans waited years for him to hit free agency. Easy to see why.

[Nyquistfan14 489]

I have zero issue with Glendening. I love his work ethic.

I have issues with how he is used.

I think they need to groom guys like AA and Larkin into great PKers and centermen who can take important faceoffs. It will take some time.

Used to be that our best PKers, face off AND best offense guys were our 28 year old Datsyuks and Zetterbergs. Now we have to rely on Luke to win a faceoff. But he can't do much else after that offensively speaking.

I'd still rather rely on pav to win a faceoff then Luke

[NerveDamage 4,176]

I have zero issue with Glendening. I love his work ethic.

I have issues with how he is used.

I think they need to groom guys like AA and Larkin into great PKers and centermen who can take important faceoffs. It will take some time.

Used to be that our best PKers, face off AND best offense guys were our 28 year old Datsyuks and Zetterbergs. Now we have to rely on Luke to win a faceoff. But he can't do much else after that offensively speaking.

I understand your point about being misused. But both Blash and Holland rely too much on him or keep pushing him more and more. Hopefully he'll deliver. I do miss his backhand goals and how he kept losing his helmet, looking like an old time hockey player.

[chaps80 1,591]

Well, I see the Wings lost this very important game. Once again though, it was only a one goal game at least.

[DRW Dominance 255]

We need at a minimum to go 8 &4 to make the playoffs. With our sked I just don't see this happening

[Ram 240]

Flyers deserved to win that game. This one hurts, but DRW ain't out yet. Showed a few bright spots. Pick up and move on to the next one.

[LeftWinger 4,959]

Sums it up...period.

[larionov_8 12]

Nyquist's regression in such a short period of time is Hudler-esque.

Very true, but a lot of guys are having down years, stats-wise. Riley Sheahan has scored about a half point per game in the two last seasons while this year he's at half that rate. I think the biggest challenge is the dramatic drop in the powerplay. Whether that's the result of subtractions (e.g. coaches/systems), additions (e.g. Green) or just the same guys not playing well, who knows....I wish we had the solution to get it back where it was.

​One would have to think that if their PP was producing at the rate of last year, the Wings place in the standings would be a little less precarious than they are today.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Well, at least Mantha looked good. Should've had a goal, I look forward to his progression down the stretch.

[LeftWinger 4,959]

Very true, but a lot of guys are having down years, stats-wise. Riley Sheahan has scored about a half point per game in the two last seasons while this year he's at half that rate. I think the biggest challenge is the dramatic drop in the powerplay. Whether that's the result of subtractions (e.g. coaches/systems), additions (e.g. Green) or just the same guys not playing well, who knows....I wish we had the solution to get it back where it was.

​One would have to think that if their PP was producing at the rate of last year, the Wings place in the standings would be a little less precarious than they are today.

The problem is, those same guys you are referring to weren't awarded a nearly $5M per year contract to take a s***.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

The defense is really really bad but the worst part is I wouldn't replace any of them with somebody from GR

Really exciting forward group. Hard to say if Flyers sat back and the wings took advantage or that they really found a gear but they looked as good as they have all year. Without some really dumb mistakes they would have tied that game. Mason was really good too

Just everything in the D zone is a nightmare. Every team in the NHL is telling their team to get on their D because it's really effective. The defense is really bad and nobody in the organization can make it better

Rather have ouellet who's more responsible than smith who takes stupid penalties and can't cover anybody

[larionov_8 12]

The problem is, those same guys you are referring to weren't awarded a nearly $5M per year contract to take a s***.

Touche!

I don't mean to defend Nyquist's play, that's for sure. You could argue that his inability to score is one of the major reasons the PP is struggling. I only mean to say that if the PP was doing well, he'd likely be factoring in on more goals (as was the case last year, where he scored many of his) and therefore it would be easier to see past his obvious shortcomings as a player.

​And so, perhaps if the Wings can find a way to generate on the PP, it would look less appealing to see Nyquist gone.

In the same breathe, there are guys that I don't see turning the corner. I'd be quite happy if Smith and Ericsson played their last games as Wings. I suppose it's more likely that Quincey will leave as a free agent and perhaps Smith gets dealt next year at some stage too. Can't imagine anyone taking Ericsson and his contract. And the doubt has really got to be creeping in for guys like Jurco and Pulkkinen.

[kipwinger 8,524]

We are actually pretty good when we press the pace. Maybe we should do that the whole game. Heaven forbid we try to score goals and lose occasionally rather than, you know, losing more often when we don't.

[chaps80 1,591]

He won't make 5 more years on his contract.

I'm sure he'll finish out his contract. Either playing however he can, or on LTIR if something sidelines him indefinitely. He won't retire early and leave money on the table. I know I wouldn't. lol

[kickazz 5,459]

I'm sure he'll finish out his contract. Either playing however he can, or on LTIR if something sidelines him indefinitely. He won't retire early and leave money on the table. I know I wouldn't. lol

It wouldn't benefit the organization if he retired. He would have to Chris Pronger his contract.

He'll transition into a 3rd liner in a couple years and stay there like Yzerman did. The youth will need his leadership - he's been through a lot and learned from very successful predecessors (Yzerman and Lidstrom). The org will want someone who still retains those roots to pass it onto Larkin etc.

[chaps80 1,591]

It wouldn't benefit the organization if he retired. He would have to Chris Pronger his contract.

He'll transition into a 3rd liner in a couple years and stay there like Yzerman did. The youth will need his leadership - he's been through a lot and learned from very successful predecessors (Yzerman and Lidstrom). The org will want someone who still retains those roots to pass it onto Larkin etc.

Yep. He'll be around until his contract is up. Depending on the situation and how his body holds up, he may even re-sign on a year by year basis like Yzerman and Lidstrom did. The organization is very loyal to it's captains. It will be his decision.

[wingfan1991 221]

Absolute heart broken tonight with this loss, stings like a mother------. I feel this is by far the best team (especially at forward) that we have had in a long time and yet we could (or will) miss the playoffs. Our defense is atrocious. Mrazek doesn't seem consistent (yet again) and as soon as he's been given that #1 role has not played as confident.

[hardcoretom21 71]

I usually wait 24 hours before posting after a game but... I still trust this team. At one point in the season they were a lot higher and have been cold since the Florida trip...

If the TO game didn't do anything to wake them up this game sure will. They showed some fight, and coming this Thursday they will be looking to make up for the past performances

LET'S GO WINGS

[Krayzie_Bone 58]

Rather have ouellet who's more responsible than smith who takes stupid penalties and can't cover anybody

Yeah Smith has no reason playing on this team he is a complete fool. Only if they want him to play 4th line wing or something maybe.

[puckbags 863]

At this point I would rather be 4 pts back and playing great than 1 pt up and playing like hot garbage. People are slamming the D but this has been our problem since day 1 , we don't have a number 1. I love Kronner but he's a # 2, Green and DK are 3/4 and all the rest are 5/6. We have a whole pile of average d men. They can't get the puck up the ice and have no idea how to jump into the play. Tons of games left...lets get on a run here. LETS GO

[RedWingsRox 614]

Why do we always start sucking around this time of season?

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I usually wait 24 hours before posting after a game but... I still trust this team. At one point in the season they were a lot higher and have been cold since the Florida trip...

If the TO game didn't do anything to wake them up this game sure will. They showed some fight, and coming this Thursday they will be looking to make up for the past performances

LET'S GO WINGS

The Columbus game should have been a wake up call of what happens when you don't start on time and only play hard for part of the game.

[twopups 19]

At this point I would rather be 4 pts back and playing great than 1 pt up and playing like hot garbage. People are slamming the D but this has been our problem since day 1 , we don't have a number 1. I love Kronner but he's a # 2, Green and DK are 3/4 and all the rest are 5/6. We have a whole pile of average d men. They can't get the puck up the ice and have no idea how to jump into the play. Tons of games left...lets get on a run here. LETS GO

When Lidstrom retired and Kronwall became #1, I almost cried. They knew Lids was contemplating the retirement 3 years before it happened and should have traded Francine and whatever for a top Dman.