Jesusberg

I'm fine with Babs not being nominated, but how the F*** is Quennville on there!?!? If I'm remembering properly, hockey fans were citing Babcock having a stellar team in front him as being the reason for so few nominations. So now Quennville has a juggernaut Blackhawks squad and gets the nod? Unreal.

I feel like MacLean should get it, but Boudreau is deserving, too.

As much as I hate to see Helm out, his absence has given Andersson a chance to show he's a capable center at the NHL level. I appreciate the effort Emmerton puts forth, but I think Dats/Flip/Andersson/Helm gives us much better depth at center. One positive to take out of it.

More of this, please.

Just remember Eastern Conference....Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Buffalo....big teams.  Wings need to get bigger. No more small skilled. We need Big Power forwards...

Boston, sure... but the others? Sure, they have some bigger 4th liners, but in their top six, where's the size? Toronto has Kulemin, Montreal has Pacioretty, Stafford for Buffalo. Generally speaking, those teams are kind of small, and before all of their injuries on defense, Montreal was the best of them. Speed and great passing kill. The puck moves faster than any player can.

Detroit's biggest issue is getting someone with the skill to rush the puck up ice and get it to the forwards. You can have big bodies in front of the net, but that doesn't do much good if you're always in your own zone/cut off in the neutral.

And, again, if you can be so sure that Petr Mrazek will definitely be a Top 15 goalie in the NHL (which is what Howard is, easily), then there are literally 35 goalie prospects around the league for which the same thing can be said.  Jacob Markstrom, Darcy Kuemper, Matt Hackett...

 

The best you could possibly hope for is for Mrazek to turn out as good as Jimmy Howard already is. 

Obviously, no one can predict how well a guy is actually going to do, but if you re-call Howard's time in the AHL... it wasn't pretty. Not many people had much faith that he could come into the NHL and put up better numbers than he did with the Griffs. You get a guy in Mrazek who blows up at the WJC, does pretty darn well in juniors and then comes in and takes the AHL job from McCollum and Pearce (not tough, just saying.)

The kid has done pretty well for himself so far, and I actually imagine he's going to hit a wall next season and slow down. After that, it's up to him. If he bounces back and works out well, cool. That 2014-15 year could be when he jumps in as Jimmy's back-up, or maybe he takes an extra year in GR - who knows? Regardless, he's the most hyped up goalie prospect around here in awhile. I'm rooting for the kid, personally.

Enhh, this one's a little on the high side for me on both cap hit and term. I really would have preferred to see something like 4.5-4.8 over 3-4 years, but at this stage that probably doesn't make sense for Howard. I think in his mind, this is probably his "retirement" contract, and so he's going to try to get his money now.

In terms of the actual structure of the team, I can see Mrazek truly challenging (and perhaps overtaking) Jimmy in about 3-4 seasons. What then? We'll have a 5.3 million dollar back-up? Love Howie, just not 100% sold on the deal. Glad we still have him, though.

I dated Gordie Howe back in high school.  

He told me you two were just a one time thing.

The same people who complain about our prospects not being inserted into the line-up are the same ones advocating signing a 30-year old winger in David Clarkson. Not trying to point the finger at anyone in particular, but this guy is basically what Dan Cleary was 3-4 years ago. I've paid close attention to Clarkson, and the word "streaky" doesn't even begin to describe him. Burst out of the gates early, then went about as cold as Brunner did. 

Let the contracts for these older players run out (Cleary, Miller, Sammy, Bert, etc.) and bring along the younger players. Why pay for a band-aid? That would just take away a spot from one of the kids. The "grass is always greener" mentality is just crazy around here sometimes. I think people just want change, no matter what that change is. This team isn't going to be that great for about two-three season... let's deal with that.

Because for as much hockey as I have ever, or will ever watch, nothing makes me happier than when a Red Wings' player scores a goal. It's a natural gut reaction.

Can't wait for another "grab a spot and take hold of it" quote from Babs. 

"You know, he's gotta ask himself, 'Do I want to be an NHL player?'. Does he? We'll see. I think he's got a good compete level; good composure. If he keeps it simple, he'll do well."

Post game: "He did well. Good for him."

I think the fears stem less from direct records and more from just the style of play fro teams like Boston and Philly.  They try to rough you up.  And while our short term record may be good against them, it will definitely have an effect towards the end of the year. 

And the Ducks and Blues haven't done this to the Wings for years? To a lesser extent, the Sharks' cycle game has killed us. There are big/nasty teams in each conference. 

For every one saying Holland lacked the "balls" to do anything, I've already posted this but:

“We offered some of (prospects). At the end of the day someone didn’t like them as much as we do or they liked someone else’s players better.”

He made an effort to acquire someone. Other teams outbid him. Maybe it's not a matter of him not making an effort, but a matter of our prospects not being viewed as highly as someone else's? If Holland moved Nyquist, Mrazek and a 1st and 2nd to get Pominville, would you be happy? I'd be pissed off.

Just his biceps. He had to sculpt his guns at the office.

April Fools'? I'm surprised Holland is actually admitting we need top six talent. I'd be pleasantly surprised if he can add something for the right price.

The vibe I'm getting is that he'll definitely sign with the Red Wings in the next few days. Also, I know a lot of people are pretty excited about the kid here, but I hope no one expects him to put up a ton of points, or be super flashy off the bat. Maybe eventually he develops into that role, but from what I've seen (and heard second hand) he's a really quiet type of player who does all the little things right.

He's been touted as a Brad Stuart type of player, and that's what the Red Wings really need, imo. I'm pretty pumped to get him myself, but I feel like I know what to expect out of him (all around solid play).