mmamolo

As much as everyone is frustrated with the lack of success the last few years I think we should all be looking at this differently.  Most teams in the NHL go through rebuilding modes where they miss the playoffs.  The Wings are able to go through their rebuilding periods while having early playoff exits.  Everyone who was screaming for UFA signings last summer would be the same people pissed that the Wings wouldnt have cap space heading into this summer to try and get a big ticket player.  

I think too often people look at hockey teams on one year intervals.  People always say things like, 'the Wings didn't make any trades at the deadline this year, wtf?'.  Personally if you look at the cap and the way teams manage it you have to be looking at it on a much larger scale.  The Wings are in a prime opportunity to go after big ticket players now and have some prospects that can potentially be impactful.  Every time of the last number of years when fans have called for the re-tooling of impact players Holland has done it.  Yes, some of those times were pre-cap but he was also able to replace Schneider with Rafalski.  I honestly think the Wings have had this summer as their target over the last 2-3 years of cap planning.

I'm not a Holland apologist and I do think some of the moves he has made could have been better.  But I do still believe that the overall plan was to move forward this year.

As long as Kenny let's Quincey go, smith will be in the lineup

Honestly, I know Quincey had a rough time adjusting to the system and turned the puck over a lot but I would rather see the Wings move White (instead of Quincey).  I know White is a right handed shooting RD but I see more upside in Quincey and I think White is now overrated on these boards because of the first half of this season.  White played so well in the first half that people didn't seem to notice his massive fall off in play.  He turns the puck over, over commits against the rush (he was the problem in that horrible goal in Game 4), and offensively he is really streaky with trying the same shots from the top of the point all the time (and they get blocked a lot).

Overall I liked White this year but Quincey is bigger, about as good a skater, has more offensive potential and (to me) has a higher ceiling.

I voted no.  Even if the Wings make very few moves this summer the status quo is not lose players who dont have any more options (Andersson) in favour of a player with options (Tatar).  That being said, I'm not even entirely sold on Mursak/Emmerton being on the starting roster.

Honestly, I hate to even say it because I have always been a Filppula supporter but I think he needs a serious shot in the arm right now.  He has played way too much on the perimeter so far and Zetterberg has had to carry way too much of the load on that line.  I would be in favour of big changes to the lines in Game 4.  

Nyquist - Datsyuk - Filppula (this line needs to use it's speed)
Cleary - Zetterberg - Hudler (Cleary has been playing well, he can grind and help Zetterberg down low)
Bertuzzi - Abdelkader - Franzen (Big boddies that need to take the puck to the net)
Miller - Emmerton - Holmstrom

What I find funniest about this entire thread is that although all the posts have gotten pretty ridiculous (at this point) I have a massive banner ad on this page trying to sell me ping pong tables...friggin Google knows all

I typically don't post in the GDTs but I did on Friday and the Wings won.  I didn't for games 1 and 3 and the Wings lost.  I was also posting a ton of Wings pictures, in one of the threads (I dont remember which), which I say is a good luck charm.  So here is an assortment of Wings pictures in anticipation of the biggest game of the season (thus far):

This always happens...the Wings never play well with noon starts.  They come out slow and then finish strong as they finally get their legs.  Then they end up pissed because they lost so the next game they come out flying.  

The amount of puck luck NSH has gotten in the first 3 games has been significant (meaning, they've been getting the bounces when they scored some goals and when they've stopped some pucks).  That will change sooner or later.  It's like the SJ series last year.  Come game 4 all the bounces went the Wings' way.  They just need one nice bounce/goal early on in the game and the onslaught will start.

If the Weber scores a goal tonight...

I've never seen that pic

ha ha  me either, I literally laughed out loud sitting at my desk at work.  

Ok, I'm outta here for the day.  Everyone enjoy watching the Wings beat down the Preds tonight! LGW!

ha ha ha WOW

found on google

Omgness I will cheer extra hard for you! You can always go to Game 4 or 6! If you live in Michigan?

Even if he/she doesnt live in Michigan, if it is at all remotely possible I say make it happen.  I'm making the 4+hour drive from Toronto.  If you can, you gotta see a PO game at the Joe

To me, these are the types of situations that have separated the Wings from the rest for so many years.  When teams think they can intimidate the Wings or think they're going to push them around and get up in a series the Wings always find a way to come out quick and grind.  I honestly feel like we may see just about the best effort team wide from this year's Wings tonight