redwinger40
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About redwinger40
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Draftee
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I have to admit, when the injuries started to pile up I was getting fairly upset and was about to give up on the season. However, I think the injuries could be the best thing that could have happened to us. We have always had such a deep system that hasn't allowed for the youngsters to play much, but this has allowed ample (and valuable) playing time for several of the young guys. It has also allowed for a rejuvination for some guys (Bertuzzi for example). Another aspect where it may help us is the fact that the guys that are injured will be back soon enough to shake off the rust for the playoffs, but will be more rested than notmal (I realize that rehab is tough, but not nearly as tough as taking hits every night). I have confidence that we will rise in the standings as more and more guys come back into the fold and we will make the playoffs, but now we have a solid goaltending tandem and lots more experienced depth, not to menition the best coach in the league. I like how this team is shaping up personally, let me know your thoughts.
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I love Matby and Draper, but both (along with Kopecky) have been a liability this year. I love the organization's loyalty to veteran players, but we have too much talent in Grand Rapids to allow this to continue. Kopecky is the biggest head-scratcher for me. He has never displayed the upside that players such as Helm have shown, yet continues to be in the lineup. He doesn't use is size very well and is far from enforcer status. I think that there may need to be a rotating scratch of Maltby and Kopecky players on that line to get younger guys like Meech, Helm, Leino, Abdelkader, etc. some playing time and see if they stick. Draper is too valuable in key faceoff situations still to scratch at this point.
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I just ran across a great article on Red Wings Central (http://www.redwingscentral.com/stories/2009_01/05_RWCReport.php). I have always been a big fan of Jimmy Howard, but I have never really felt that he could be anything but a 2nd tier goaltender at the NHL level. That being said, I have always coveted an elite goalie for the Red Wings. Granted, we have had lots of very good goalies over the past several years, but only Hasek (during his 1st tenure) really deverved the status of elite in my opinion. I think Larsson could develop into this elite goalie that the Wings have been lacking. At only 21 he was the Swedish Elite's Goalie of the Year last year and he has not missed a beat switching to North American hockey this year. Larsson is only 22, but I think the Wings should consider moving Howard so that Larsson can develop more and start contributing to the big squad maybe as early as next year. I think 2-3 years down the road we may have an elite goaltender (think Lundqvist) that could be a wall in Detroit for years to come. I realize that McCollum is also playing great, but I think that Larsson could be great. Let the discussion begin....!
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Haha, I absolutely love Helm's game and think he will be a big part of our team next season and for years to come, though he will most likely spend time in Grand Rapids. How lucky are we that a great player with loads of potential like Helm probably won't start the year on the big squad because we have TOO MANY great players!!! Ken Holland is a genius, and I absolutely LOVE being a Red Wings fan!!
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I think we all need to take a minute and reflect on what a blessing Ken Holland has been to the Red Wings. I don't make many posts, but I feel very this one needed to be made. Most on this board (myself included sometimes) have bashed Holland at some point this year for either not bringing in a big name "star" at the trade deadline or signing a player of seemingly little value (i.e. Drake), but look how those moves (or lack of moves) has paid dividends this year. Holland has never stayed from his plan for this team and it has truly paid off. He has made the transition to the new age of salary restrictions seamless. He looks for players of character that the fans can truly love. He has a great ability to judge when a player needs to be brought in to fill a hole (like Drake and Downey this year) and when a player can be allowed to leave because we can fill the hole internally (i.e. letting Bertuzzi, etc. walk and giving bigger roles to Filppula, etc.). I will stop rambling, but I really think we probably have one of the best GMs in the history of any sport. Great job this year Mr. Holland!
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This put me back in a good mood after last night...I live 2 blocks from Wrigley- I'll get to WALK to the game, unbelievable! Anyone have any idea when tickets would go on sale and for how much??
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I agree that Lilja didn't necessarily cost us the game, but he was one of the contributors to the loss. I'm not sure he is a good fit for our puck possession style, and there is no reason that a man of his size should be pushed around as easily as he is. HOWEVER, I thought that Stuart and Rafalski also had subpar performances. Stuart had at least 2 key turnovers in our own zone and many of Rafalski's passes were at the feet of teammates rather than on the stick. Kronner, Lids and even Lebda were pretty solid in this game, but the rest of the D needs to refocus a little. I don't think Lilja should be the scapegoat, but I do think that we have much better options to use in our system and Babs should make the change for next game...
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You have a great point. Like I said at the beginning of the year when everyone on this board was crying out about our lack of offseason activity, we have a great team RIGHT NOW. We have a great mix of young guys and veterans to bring them along. Its as though being the best team in the league is not enough... Keep in mind that our offense is tops in the league (88 goals to 2nd place Carolina's 86 while playing 1 less game), so even though I love Sundin as a player and think he'd fit in well in Detroit, offense is not a NEED we have. Right now we have the players to bridge the gap when players like Lidstrom and Chelios retire. If anyone is looking for a trade "splash" at or before the deadline, we should look to use our excess of young defencemen to obtain a young, promising goaltender- because (from an outsider's observation) it doesn't look like Howard will be the answer based on his play in Grand Rapids (even though I love the guy), and though Ozzie could hold down the job for a couple of years, he can't play forever. We should be looking for a young guy that can get some work as Ozzie's backup the next couple of years (I believe Hasek will retire after this season) and immediately step in and be effective when its time. So in summary, though I love the possibility of getting Sundin, we shouldn't break up the good thing we have going, and he may not be what we need most right now...
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This is my first post ever, but I had to chime in during this off-season talk. I don't understand why all Wings fans think we can only win by playing the free agent game. We have talent in our system, we just need to develop it (in a similar way to how Anaheim has with their talent, such as Penner and Getzlaf). Players like Hudler, Grigs, Quincey and even Jimmy Howard should be able to show us what they've got. I think that many of our young guys will thrive in expanded roles, lets not wait till they are in their late 20s to give them full-time duty. Have a little faith in what we have- lets not sign a 40 year old who's glory days are in the rearview mirror.
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This is my first post ever, but I had to chime in during this off-season talk. I don't understand why all Wings fans think we can only win by playing the free agent game. We have talent in our system, we just need to develop it (in a similar way to how Anaheim has with their talent, such as Penner and Getzlaf). Players like Hudler, Grigs, Quincey and even Jimmy Howard should be able to show us what they've got. I think that many of our young guys will thrive in expanded roles, lets not wait till they are in their late 20s to give them full-time duty. Have a little faith in what we have- lets not sign a 40 year old who's glory days are in the rearview mirror.