WingNut722

@SpikeDDS Two straight losses against the Jackets and no goals for Abby and no goals for Pav. OK, experiment failed. Back to the 4th line you go. I anticipate Babs putting Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Brunner back on the top line for the next game against Calgary. All of their numbers need to come back up, The other lines will follow suit. Havent' checked the injury report yet, but when's FIlppula due back?

I could never get over that goofy face mask he wear in the later part of his career....

Bar scene was great too. Great food and cold beer, and good fans too! Great conversation before and after the game

@SpikeDDS I never liked San Jose at all, but I think they've fallen a bit. They don't appear to be the Wing-stopping powerhouse they have been in years past. They ain't so tough no more.......

@SpikeDDS Please don't misunderstand my post. I do not believe that Abby "belongs" on the top lines. I think this is a temporary solution to get him going and get some confidence in him. The option is particularly open while Filppula is out. If Fil were not hurt, I doubt Babs would have made this move, but that's beside the point. If he can get Abby going by sticking him with Pav for the time being, he can go back to the 3rd/4th lines with a stronger confidence and tear it up. I'm certain there will be a time limit on this favor. As long as the Wings keep winning and Fil remains out, Abby will stay in the top spot. Either one of those conditions change, and he goes back to the pack, goals or not. Begs the questions...would you have told Joe Dumars to just stick with the easy lay-ups in '89?

Sounds more like good parenting than coaching advice. The way he's been playing, Lashoff will certainly get his chance in the enxt few years, particularly if White is not optioned after his contract expires. I do like watching him play though, and I think there would be an overall benefit by his return.

@yave1964 Think of how many times recently the Blackhawks have done so well in the regular season only to drop out of the playoffs...especially if they meet Vancouver. For some reason, Vancouver seems to have their number. I would welcome the opportunity to play the 'Hawks in any playoff series. The Wings have faced them twice this season so far and have taken them to overtime both times. They're not impossible. But I do agree with you on the Kings. They seem to be the only "mystery" in the west. I'm a little wary about Anaheim too... @Wingsallday Good topic !

@yave1964 Truce

@yave1964 I respectfully disagree about Abdelkader... Sure he has no "goals" (in quotes to acknowledge the charity empty netter last night), but he's been digging in every game. He's playing hard and is always in the mix. Up until this season, he's typically been linemates with Darren Helm and Drew Miller. But since Helm is out, and Tootoo is still adjusting, he's not been on his game. Babs moving him up to the top line shows a lot of faith in that if he just gets more ice time, and is saddled with a playmaker like Datsyuk, he'll start to resurrect his offense. Matter of fact, that may be why Datsyuk is not scoring as much, simply because, when he can, he's trying to feed Abby. This is more than just a guy who can't score...this is a team rallying to lift one player who needs a helping hand to get him out of a slump.

@yave1964 Absolutely! I'm thinking Amtrak is going to get a LOT of money out of me going back and forth to Boston all the time! A GREAT place to watch a hockey game!

@SpikeDDS Agreed. Four games is long enough. But who do you sit instead? Kindl had a strong performance last night against Edmonton. Would have to be Lashoff, and then only by default. He's been playing well lately. I guess seniority rules..

@jammer2 Agreed...Kindl is forgettable. I like Lashoff, though. He shows some promise. He needs to hone in the finer points, but he's in there when needed. With Ian White and the occasional assistance of Kyle Quincey, I think the defense is pretty well set. The biggest problem is the injured forwards. Bertuzzi and Helm being out is absolutely killing the Red Wings' production numbers. Thankfully, this has given Tatar and and Andersson a chance to shine. But I would certainly like to have Bertuzzi and Helm back in place of Andersson and Patrick Eaves -- stronger net-front presence and more face-offs won.

This will be a huge opportunity to rack up some much needed points. However, since the middle of the western conference is bunched together within 2 points (I think there are about 8 teams in this area), it would almost be more important for those wins to come from within that pack in order to put some distance between them. This is shaping up to be very dangerous situation drawing close to the end of the season. The Wings could finish at 4th place with a healthy record, but at the same time, could be kicked out of the playoffs by a few stategic wins from some other teams in the middle of the pack. We'll never catch Chicago for tops in the Central, so a wide margin in points will go along way to securing that playoff berth.

Ian White has been a healthy scratch for three games now. If Babcock was wanting to get a message across for sub-par play, I think only one or two games would have done it. White is an UFA at the end of this season. Anybody else feel like Detroit is testing the defensive quality without him? The salary cap is going to be lowered by almost $6 million for next season. An extra $2.875MM in Holland's pocket would certainly help them adjust.

No real room for him on Detroit's team, unless we dump Johan Franzen. However, if that were the case, it would change the dynamic of the scoring lines, particularly the power play.

@blesser09 Rest assured, blesser, the rivalry is alive in Hockeytown. I would be real sad to see 6 great games per season get whittled down to 2 or fewer.

Dontcha just feel awful for poor ol' Danny Gare?

@yave1964 Good discussions, all, and a GREAT topic!

@yave1964 Gonna have to agree with @jammer2 on this as well. However, your statement of "a rookie is a rookie is a rookie" is essentially what I'm basing my argument on. Being a rookie is defined as your first season (or so) of playing professional ice hockey. If you choose to do that in Europe or the NHL, that's where you spend your rookie season. Someone who plays for ten years in Europe obviously has more experience than a kid just called up, so it presents an unfair advantage in the Calder race simply because its his first year in the NHL as opposed to elsewhere. Remember to look at the "spirit" in which the award of presented, and not the "letter" by which the nominees are named.

@SpikeDDS Boyd Devereaux. But unfortunately for him, Zetterberg came in the next year so he's been relegated to antiquity... It's like asking who was Detroit's Captain before Steve Yzerman? Almost nobody knows......

Try this on for size... When the NHL was considering this a couple years ago, I put together a fun little exercise to see if I could get the Original 6 teams in a Division by themselves. Now I haven't figured out the regular season or playoff structure for this yet, but since there are five divisions, it will obviously have to include a wild card situation. But anyway here is the arrangement for preliminary review and approval.... Original Six Montreal Toronto NY Rangers Chicago Detroit Boston Atlantic Buffalo NY Islanders New Jersey Pittsburgh Philadelphia Ottawa Southeast Washington Tampa Bay Florida Carolina Columbus Nashville Central Minnesota Dallas Phoenix Colorado Winnipeg St. Louis Pacific Vancouver San Jose Anaheim Los Angeles Calgary Edmonton

Wild Thought: I wonder if putting Detroit in the same conference as Steve Yzerman's Lightning is anything more than a coincidence.....

I say yes to the proposal because I'm a huge fan of the Wings moving out east. That's the biggest concern of all...however, I have a couple issues which are just my own preference... 1) Losing Chicago. Detroit and Chicago hold the record for the most games played against each other. The two clubs are very competitive as it is, but always manage to turn it up one more notch when facing each other. The games are hugely exciting, spirited, and incredibly well-played. I would sincerely lament seeing six times a year whittled down to just two. 2) Too few games in New York area. I live in New Jersey. I'm a Wings fan. I would have preferred a relocation plan that put Detroit in the same conference as the three NY-area teams as it would give me that many more opportunities to grab a seat. However, I won't complain about a total of three games out this way every season. Those tickets cost money, ya know! I do have to say that I would be pretty excited to see the Wings play Boston, Toronto and Montreal a lot more. The Original Six rivalries would certainly flare up again, and (personally) I enjoy seeing hockey games at the TD Garden more than I do at Prudential Center or MSG.

@yave1964 Agree with your list, Yave. And I would be very interested to see the underrated list.

I understand none of the clothing stores near Columbus will even stock yellow/blue apparel, regardless of whether or not there's a logo on it. Likewise for Ann Arbor.